Dan & Ben @ Church Camp

Posted by spots (Singapore, Singapore) on 14 June 2009 in People & Portrait and Portfolio.

After Port Dickson, we headed up to join 700 other church members for Church Camp @ Palace of the Golden Horses in KL (3-7 June). What a difference a year makes! Compared to last year, things were much better this year mainly because the kids were older and more "mature". Last year was Dan's first church camp, having skipped the previous year's because we were in America. I still remember how CRAZY he went--upon seeing 700 other people, he got totally excited and wound up. Age also had something to do with it--he was 2+ last year, an age where self-control is difficult. I remember the countless times he ran around the auditorium squealing and screaming in delight or just to let off pent up excitement. It was so difficult to get him to calm down. This year, Dan was so so so so so much better. He was able to sit down during meals and actually have extended conversations with people, both familiar and strangers. He was better able to listen to and remember instructions (even when excited, which has always been his weak point--i.e., being overly excited to the point of forgetting basic instructions) and he also managed to take all his naps & sleep well at night. YAHOO!

And how about Ben? Last year, Ben was just beginning to walk. He was absolutely silent, not being able to speak much yet. This year, Ben was much more talkative--he's able to speak in broken sentences and definitely, he can whine and fuss more! NOT a good thing. Still, Ben did well--with lunches and dinners being at slightly later times than usual, he did not complain, just adapted. And with boisterous Daniel around, Ben also soon made himself at home, playing with new kids, dancing to the music, running around and even, praying when asked to! Ben does not seem to have the same problem as Dan with regard to self-control and being easily overly excited to the point of forgetting basic instructions. Instead, one of the things we need to work on for Ben seems to be that being not as verbal as Daniel, he sometimes still relies on whining & fussing to get what he wants, instead of speaking properly. I remember Dan being much more verbal at Ben's age. But still, different kids are different--each have their weaknesses and strengths. ^__^