It is almost the end of the year and it like I have not taken a break at all and I felt like I am mentally drained now.
Yes, I went overseas several times but it did not feel like I had a proper break.
When have I not taken a holiday alone or with my immediate family?
Only 20 months ago! I would have done it again but I will miss my child terribly.
Let me recap. Cruise with the extended family last year which the parents commented it was too fancy. Argh… Asian parents…
June this year to visit the sister with a bad divorce and a court case in Sweden and Bali in August with the sister in law to show that the property we invested five years back is legit.
Upcoming is a trip to China to visit the birthplace of my dad. It has been a chore and all conversations has not moved away from money, prayers and red packets. Damn. I don’t even give the equivalent of two to 300 RMB in Singapore. Aiyah. Just contribute lah.
Given my dad’s old age, it will probably be the first and last time we visit the village with him, so I don’t want to comment so much. If it makes him happy, so be it.
My mum refused to join and made snide comments whenever she can and it is annoying. Her weekly rants on discrimination regarding preferences for boys over girls when she was there runs like a broken record.
On top of it, she will mention things like we will never understand because all of us gave birth to boys.
Well, counting down to the upcoming big family holiday this time. I am not sure how well or how disastrous it will turn out.
I guess next year will be all about keeping my sanity intact and there will be no more big holidays for a while.
Ever since my child’s teacher commented he was “rough” during play, I had been trying to plan more play dates for my child to play with other kids after a parent teacher meeting.
I am unable to put it down in words appropriately but I could see some link and attributed the behaviour to him spending a lot of time playing with his autistic cousin. Yes, they do play differently.
As much as I want my son to spend more time with his cousin, it will be good for him to have other play mates too since is an only child.
When Legoland came up during a conversation during a play date with my clique of mummies, we decided to plan and visit during the last week of school holiday,
Logistics, three out of four families have cars so someone decided to be a saint and suggested to split the family up.
Thing is… I don’t stay around the same area and it takes my 45 mins journey to pick one member up when it only takes me 20 mins to the causeway…
Convenience for one family but inconvenience to another? Never mind, It is okay since it is not everyday I travel with them, but if I am that family I wouldn’t want to split my family up and I would have hired private transport. I am sure it is small money compared to regular botox sessions.
Closer to the date, another mummy commented Legoland tickets are expensive since it will cost her family $300+ after discount. Seriously?
You posted on social media that your husband gifted you an Hermes bag and also your multiple shopping trips at luxury boutiques, $300 is too much? Maybe buy one less branded t-shirt?
Then the group collectively decided not to visit and opted indoor playground the whole day since is it much more affordable in JB. Fine, but I hate to disappoint my kid.
One week before the trip, branded family could not make it so botox family could not go as well since there is one less car. Great.
Leftover family and I decided our families are going ahead to Legoland since they are unable to cancel their hotel stay. Mummy from leftover family invited another friend along.
Come travel day, turns out leftover family has not bought their tickets. I found it rather strange because she was the one that told me tickets are half price on their website earlier in the week. I bought mine off Agoda and they were at half price too.
We reached when the theme park was about to open and she went to queue. I found it strange as well because it is two families without tickets and the problem can easily be solved buying them online. E-tickets from such portals are instant and fuss free.
We were outside waiting together until my son decided he wanted to go inside to look for Lego aeroplane set which I promised I will get him. Time check 10.45am.
We returned to the entrance at 11.30am and leftover mummy said they are undecided because they have to pay full price. Hello, book online using other portals? She commented only is still $20 more than she last saw. Yah, a lot less than paying full price but I don’t know how her mind works.
Time wasted is more important than money. You rather spend wasting 90 mins at the entrance than spend precious moments with your kid?
I still don’t understand how you can spend all the time and money at branded outlets decking your kids in Kenzo and Hugo Boss but find $20 more too much on theme park tickets.
It was 12.30pm when I bumped into them at a ride. Finally, they decided to come in. Another hour more when I found them under a shelter sulking at the weather because it rained.
Cloudy, light rain and no direct sunlight. This is perfect weather my dears. I did not want to say so much but I took all the kids and went to the tower, took a few train rides before they joined for 4D shows. How can Legoland be fun when you waste time being stationary?
My husband said next time don’t go out with leftover family anymore. I told him, unless he can arrange play dates with other 5 year olds, I will gladly ditch the group.
Do the locals do — Recommended by an almost local.
Get your Go City and SL travel pass (app) ready. Museums are generally free for under 18s. Adults are the ones that needed to pay.
Plan your travel and itinerary with these two apps in Stockholm.
Transport used to be free with Go City but not anymore. One way transport on the bus cost SEK 43 (SGD 5.75) regardless of distance. I bought a 7 day pass for SEK 470 after realising how expensive transport is. Visit here for more information.
It is always a challenge traveling with children but Stockholm is very much child and elderly friendly. Transport is free if they are on a stroller upon boarding.
Day 1: Distract and Conquer
We arrived early on Sunday morning. The plan was to distract and keep the preschooler up as long as possible to combat jet lag.
First stop, Sparvagsmuseet (Transport Museum) since my boy loves buses. Everything screams vintage and I love it!
Transport Museum
The Singapore Mobility Gallery had one real bus on display a few years back but it was removed which disappoint my child greatly. This museum made him so happy.
This museum is not part of Go City, so I did not activate my pass on this day.
After two hours, we headed out across the street and grabbed some snacks from the supermarket before hanging out at the playground nearby for a while before chilling at a deck near the waters behind this playground.
My son said the red houses look like those in his story books.
Seems very common to own a yatch
Day 2: Hop On Hop Off
We were wide awake and came out too early, so we hanged out with Karl XII first while waiting for the Hop On Hop Off Open Top Bus to start operations.
Karl XII StatueOpen Top Hop on Hop Off Bus. By the fifth stop, everyone started wearing their jackets.
I activated my Go City Pass for the ride. We took one full round and hop off at the last stop, walked to the first stop and hopped on another one again.
Ambience on point
I managed to drag my child to Gamla Stan (Old Town) for lunch before heading back at late afternoon.
Day 3: The Great Outdoors. On a quest to use my Go City pass again.
I visited this place with my niece and nephews when they were younger. It was a much better experience seeing people in traditional costumes doing traditional crafts previously.
Summer holiday activities has not started when I was there yet so many places are not open. The preschooler was hungry when we arrived and we spend a lot of time looking for restaurants that are open.
He was more intrigued with the aquarium.
Since our lunch place was near the entrance, I did not want to walk back to the crowd and decided to exit and visit another place with my child.
The amusement park is a short walk from where we were. I went past it on my previous trip and now I finally got to visit with my child.
He only asked for a balloon and ice cream (luckily no rides), so we just walked around aimlessly before heading back.
Day 4: Another day of museums
We started the day taking the bus to the park before heading to the museum.
I needed the toilet at this point but I can’t find any public toilets so I had to convince my child we had to head to the next destination ASAP. Public toilets are also expensive.
The museum we wanted to visit is only open at 11am. Luckily the one next to it is already open so I finally got my toilet break.
I love the real life size displays. Can we have something like these in Singapore too? We spent some time here before heading back.
Day 5: Free Activities Day
By this day, I already made up my mind not to extend my Go City Pass because I find it a struggle to use it since my child’s mood and interest is unpredictable.
There are so much more places to visit with the pass and will be good to go on hop on and off boats and tours with the card but all I really needed was the SL Pass to get around on the bus, train and even tram.
We started the day by taking the bus to The Royal Palace. I was hoping to catch the changing of guards since we missed it on Day 2.
The boy remembered the route and told me he did not want to go there again but I made him. I was afraid he will throw a tantrum. Stressed.
We reached 30 minutes before the parade and the preschooler was already whining after waiting for 10 minutes. I wanted him to at least watch and appreciate it and chose not to give in to him.
We went for another walk in Gamla Stan where I bought some goodies and gifts back before we headed to Hard Rock Cafe for lunch.
After lunch activity. Another park in the area.
At 3pm when we reached the park, he asked me why the kids are all younger than him. I told him because kids his age are in school. No such problems after 4pm though.
Day 6: Swedish National Day
It was a holiday so we got an additional day to hang out. I was really happy to see my niece and nephew playing with my son.
We had picnic and there was opera in the park which the crown princess graced the event.
Events like this in Singapore Botanical Gardens were too hot and humid. We can never replicate this because the weather in Stockholm summer was cold but so suitable for such events.
Day 7: Shopping Day
My sister asked my niece to babysit my son at The Post Museum while we went shopping at Gamla Stan (Again!). Museums are free for them so no brainer. I just had to buy more tourist stuff back.
Just appreciating the colours on the street.More performances
We had lunch and ice cream before we headed back to town. My niece wanted to buy some clothes so I went along and bought her some.
Day 8: Another chilled day with teenage babysitters.
I visited this museum before and I had no interest to go in again so the arrangement that kids go in and adults go for coffee was good for me. Free entry for kids again.
Lazing around with coffee and enjoying the view and weather. Shiok.
I went thrift shopping with my niece alone in an attempt to establish myself as a trusted adult figure in the family after this and called it a day. Really not easy.
My son cried to sleep on this night which was the last night. He said he likes his cousins and did not want to leave. I joined him in crying as well. We wiped off each other’s tears.
Day 9: Goodbye is never easy.
I woke up before 4am because I could not sleep and did some last minute packing and had another cup of coffee and chat with my sister.
She helped me carry all my luggage down and we bade goodbye after loading everything into the cab.
With a sibling so far away, it felt like a part of me was missing. I was holding in my tears until the cab drove off. I cried whenever they leave Singapore and I cried whenever I leave Sweden.
Memoirs of a Singapore Auntie 新阿姨传记 