Joy made the gown for her Jane doll (from Disney's Tarzan) with some tissue and scotch tape. I am impressed by her fashion sense and ability to use the materials around her.
If this continues, she may become a world-famous fashion designer, then I can retire.
I also had this conversation with her while I was brushing her hair…
Joy: "Papa, how will I find a husband like Mommy found you, someone who makes good rules?"
Me: "You are too young to be thinking about a husband lah. But thank you for thinking I am a good catch for Mommy."
One of my friends on Facebook said, "Wow, for a kid to call 'em 'good rules'… Must be really good… Please give examples :)"
So I decided to share a few of "Papa's Rules for His Kids", compiled in one place for the first time:
Rule 1: Thou shalt not read during dinner.
Rule 2: Thou shalt not watch TV during dinner.
Rule 3: Thou shalt greet thy parents in the morning. Preferably in Cantonese.
Rule 4: Thou shalt not take toys with thee when you go out.
Rule 5: Thou shalt not draw on Papa's walls.
Rule 6: Thou shalt stick thy stickers only on the assigned cupboard.
Rule 7: Thou shalt NEVER EVER hit Faith, your 姐姐, who has autism, and must always love her. Cheh Cheh does not know what she is doing sometimes.
Rule 8. Thou shalt do the morning rituals of BBB (Breakfast, Bath, Brush teeth) as quickly as possible every day and not dilly dally.
Rule 9. Thou shalt ask permission before taking Papa or Mommy's toys from the display cabinet.
Rule 10. Thou shalt not ask for toys whenever we walk into a toy store just to browse, nor shalt thou ask for Happy Meals every time we walk into a McDonald's.
Rule 11. Thou shalt not run buck naked to the living room after a bath. Wrap thyself with a towel and change in your bedroom, by yourself, and close the door. Do not dance in the living room in your towel either.
Rule 12. Do not attempt to replenish orange-coloured paper by photocopying your last orange-coloured paper on Papa's inkjet printer.
Rule 13. Thou shalt keep thy toys after playing with them. Papa is tired of getting jabbed to death by random Lego bricks or Power Rangers every time he sits on the sofa.
Rule 14. Thou shalt refrain from asking Papa to buy yet another Ben 10 or Barbie sticker magazine from the Cheers store every time we visit 婆婆 and 公公. They cost $5 and you finish the activities in the magazines within 5 minutes and lose interest.
Rule 15. Thou shalt not whine or cry when it is time to leave someone's house after a fun day there. Say thank you and goodbye.
Rule 16. Pray daily. Especially for 姐姐.
Rule 17. Thou shalt obey before Papa counts to three. Or else.
Rule 18. Thou shalt answer the home telephone politely with a "Hello" at all times. "Yes?" is not an acceptable telephone greeting.
Rule 19. Thou shalt only operate Papa's and Monmy's computers/iPhones with permission/supervision. Thou shalt not buy apps without asking Papa and Monmy first.
Rule 20. Thou shalt go to bed by 9.30pm, 10pm latest. And thou shalt not talk and giggle in the room but go to sleep as soon as possible.
Rule 21. Thou shalt not speak to strangers or take sweets or toys from them. Toys acquired this way will be confiscated by Papa. Forever.
Rule 22. Thou shalt dine at the dining table. Not ON the dining table.
Rule 23. Thou must never scream, slam doors or lose your temper at Papa, Mommy or Grandma. Or any elder, for that matter. The consequences will be dire if this happens.
Rule 24. Thou shalt not ask for soft drinks, especially with ice, at meals outside. We have your water bottles, you may drink from that. In the event that Papa and Mommy allow you to have the occasional soft drink, thou wilt share said can of soda between you. Nobody gets a full can.
Rule 25. Thou shalt love thy siblings with all your heart. Even if you fight sometimes because one of you thinks it's funny to repeat the words of the other. Even if you argue over who is the winner at mealtimes. Even if sometimes, Faith breaks one of your toys.
P.S. Papa's cane is not to be used as a sword in a pirate reenactment.
