Let’s just say I’m having a case of in-law overdose this week. A cousin on DH’s side is getting married which means all my in-laws from far and near are gathered here in town, for better or for worse.

On the one hand, I’m happy for my kids to meet their hordes of cousins, aunts, uncles, grand-aunts and grand-uncles they hardly ever see. I’m lucky in that DH isn’t very close to his family so I’ve been spared the horror stories that are often told about in-laws.

On that count, I’m ever the outlaw in the eyes of my in-laws since we hardly visit and I don’t speak their lingo. I don’t know for sure but I’ve got a feeling they blame me for keeping my kids out of circulation with the rest of the clan and for them not learning their dialect. Rebel that I am, I feel no guilt whatsoever .

When we were at the wedding eve party last night, everyone was a-gush at seeing how my 3 kids have grown. We spent the entire evening answering exciting questions about their age and school and hearing endless comparisons with so-and-so’s kids who are around their ages.

Of course, language is always the problem whenever the in-laws are in town. Where words fail us, sign language and perfunctory nods always work for me. By the time we got home last night, I swear I had a permanent, pasted smile on my face that I had to wipe off together with my makeup.

This morning, we made an obligatory appearance at the church wedding purely out of courtesy. The kids and I sat patiently through it all, albeit with MP3 players and pocket PCs to while away the time waiting for the ceremony to end. I hope DH knows we were doing this just for him .

We didn’t stay for the buffet lunch. Since everyone was too busy to notice us, I exchanged a few courtesies with FIL and a few others, bid them a hurried goodbye and we scooted off to Carls’ Jr for a peaceful burger and salad. Whew!

Two down, one more to go and that’s the grand wedding dinner tonight!! Can’t wait .

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We always feel a bit uncomfortable when our friends ask Steev “so what books are you reading now?” and Steev would just shrug the question off with an inaudible mumble under his breath, an answer I always hope our friends won’t hear .

Truth is we’ve been trying to get him to read without much success, or so we thought. Steev and Raine were both early readers. Before age 3, they were able to read simple Peter & Jane books and were progressing nicely up the number series and onto Enid Blyton books.

Skye started late because I was so busy with the two older ones and she always being the ‘baby’, I didn’t realize she was already 3 and still couldn’t read a word!

Today, Raine and Skye are my two bookworms always reading, always hungry for more books. Steev, on the other hand, has probably read all of two books in his entire school life.

I only realized recently that we’ve probably wrongly accused him of not reading when all this while, he’s been soaking up technical and technology articles on the internet. Okay lah, bad mommy thought he was only playing games!

Today I read in The Star that many of our schoolkids read only two books a year! It’s a shame, too many distractions competing for their attention these days. The trick is to start them young and consistently build on their interest from there (how to get kids to start reading?).

I did it the hard way but it really doesn’t have to be that hard. Funetics actually has a phonics-based Early Reading Program that’s not only a great place to start but also lots of fun for both parent and child.

It also makes a valued Christmas gift, or anytime gift, for friends with kids. It contains 81 lessons from early letter recognition to preschool concepts to reading and writing.

Like I always say, each child is different and this kit contains lots of interesting games and activities to suit your child’s learning style and allows you to pace the lessons according to your schedule and his/hers.

The printed version comes with a free audio CD of the program. You can try out 3 lessons for free. Shipping is available worldwide and it’s free for those living in the US.

Many working parents don’t have time to figure out how to get their kids interested in books and a guided program like Funetics is just the thing to get started.

McDonald’s has two new flavors of McFlurry, Mudpie and Berries. Steev was standing in line to order.

The situation was quite chaotic at the takeout counter because the two servers were temps who didn’t have a clue how to handle lines.

Finally it was our turn.

Server (signaling to Steev): Yes?

Steev (pointing to signboard): McFlurry, one of each.

Server (leaning across counter): Yes?

Steev (pointing to signboard): McFlurry, one of each.

Server: What flavor?

Steev: One of each.

By now, it’s quite obvious this very simple expression is lost on our two teenaged servers (one of the girls goes to Raine’s school)!!

Me: One Mudpie, one Berries.

That’s what they needed to hear! The exact words. No phrases, expressions or indirect references please!

And people are still fighting for less English to be used in the school curriculum!