I Am A Teen!

Today I am 13 years old. Wow.

It has been an incredible 13 years. And today I am officially a Teen. Hmm... this day has great significance but since my mom has been super-busy, I just have to take things in my own hands and register this special day on this blog :)

I was born in the Year of the Rat. According to the Chinese Lunar calendar, individuals born under the sign of rat are shrewd and intelligent, possessing a strong zest for life. So far, in the first 13 years of my life, many would attest that I have lived up to my reputation *blush*.

My mother’s earliest memory of me - the real me, not the image of me in her womb – said much for my zest for life. My mother told me that, in the nursery of the hospital where I was born, I cried the loudest. My screams constantly disturbed the other infants who had the dubious pleasure of sharing the nursery with me.

Resting in a ward several doors away down the corridor, my mother could recognize my screams (or so she claims) but would surreptitiously feign ignorance. [“Wow, whose kid is that? What strong lungs, *laugh*!] Nevertheless, the wise nurses had a way of dealing with such situations – they just rolled my crib down the corridor so that I landed up next to my mother who had no choice but to acknowledge me.

My novice mother moved up the learning curve quickly, putting all the theories that she had read from her parenting books into practice immediately. Indeed, here is one mom who would refer to her book before attending to her child. When Method 1 did not work, flip a few pages, apply Method 2. If Method 2 did not work, try Method 3 on page 64. If it still did not work, repeat Method 1... or pass the buck to dad. (Just kidding)

But as all experienced mothers would tell you, nothing beats learning on the job.

I continued to test my mom's patience during the first two months of my life. But as we got to know each other better, we began to tango together smoothly, each day better than the previous day. She understood with her maternal instinct the things that upset me and I knew where she would draw the line and not push my luck too far. We were bonding.

I would not be able to condense 13 years of my life here. But I know my mother loves me more than life itself. I am sure she will write more about my special day another time.

So, nite, nite for now!