Filed under: Key Event for Maddy
Maddy was okay at the start of Ms. Jaime’s wedding. She wore her flowergirl dress and was good at waiting for the entourage as well as for her queue. Alex, the pageboy, also offered to hold Maddy’s hand whilst walking, at my request. So, I kept my fingers crossed and hoped for the best.
To calm Maddy down and distract her (for she was already refusing all photos taking of her by that time), I told her that I shall also train up to be a civil marriage celebrant, just like the lawyer who was then going to witness Jaime’s wedding. I have recently decided to validate weddings so as to earn more to better provide for Maddy.
When the wedding music started, I returned to my seat. Memory is a strange thing. It was amazing how my watching this then “to-be-wedded” couple marching down the aisle could remind me of mine almost 6 years ago.
“Till death do we part” and “Through sickness and in health”. How cynical and how guilty and “failed” that made me feel.
Seeing Maddy so beautiful and having grown to the age of 4, I really do not know whether I should be, afterall, happy that my wedding did take place before. The thought that ”careful due diligence of the spouse” should have been a university module of its own right did cross my mind quite alot, though. So, why were we not taught what to watch out for and what to expect in marriage life? And why are Disney movies and Disney cartoons the material source of globalized media records of romance available to us?
Once Maddy and Alex reached the entrance of the “hall”, Maddy was already falling behind Alex (who was smiling and beaming from ear to ear). Maddy was pouting as if alot of complaints were trying to escape from her stomach. Strange as it may seem, it was a funny sight. Besides, the 2 smaller page girls behind Alex and Maddy were so nervous that they even forgot to scatter their petals.
Half way up the “altar”, the wedding song ended its first cycle. The entourage continued to march, whilst Maddy stopped in her tracks and started to look very miserable. I noticed the familiar warning that she might be soon having a small tantrum. Just in time, I swiped Maddy into my aisle seat with my arms. The entourage marched on and luckily no disruptions nor embarrassments were caused.
Photo album of Maddy’s 4th birthday party herewith http://www.flickr.com/photos/23981596@N07/
This is the 10th party I had organised for Maddy. To me, holding a party, though takes effort, is very worth while. Children and toddlers love parties, balloons and cake cutting. Though there would be some hard work involved like (i) buying presents; (ii) cooking food; (iii) confirming guests; (iv) decorating venue; and (v) arranging games, the angelic smiles on the children’s faces AT THE END will make it all worth the sweat.
There were 90 attendants in this party held on 19 January 2008, more than in any previous parties before. We hired a clown and it was such a relief to have her do the hosting and games organisation. Previously, it was me who alos act as the clown and child entertainer.
Another point of pride is that Maddy has kept her friends well. Noting single parenthood means that Maddy would have no siblings, I have always made a point to become friends with Maddy’s little friends’ parents. We have done very well so far. Maddy has kept close contact with more than 3 friends (ie. Andrew, Ern Ern and Alex) and I ended up becoming friends of their parents. Sometimes, I also organise English cooking lessons of French cooking lessons, so that Maddy and her friends could learn a language whilst exploring their budding cuisinary skills. For those of you who are still single and/or childless, do mark my words that children are the best thing that could happen to one’s life!
