It was my first time as a parent volunteer. When I joined the other parents in the room within the school, the place was bustling with self organising activities.
At one end, a group of passionate and artistic mummies are hard at work making a standee Rat (for this is the year of the Rat) out of re-purposed materials. Cloth, red packets, ribbons and all. You name it, we have it in the warm and packed room.
Near to the entrance, we have another group of enthusiastic daddies and mummies. The common goal for this group is to draw and cut out the other 11 animals in the Chinese Horoscope. I learnt later that these are meant for the canteen.
I had sent my toddler to childcare centre before joining fellow parents in the CNY decoration activities.
Seeing that everyone is so motivated to make the school come alive with the festive mood, I did what I am good at – making paper lanterns from red packets. Each year, I would make six lanterns, for my extended families and mine. This year, I am glad to make additional six – for ALPS. This primary school is now part of family’s ” extended family”, and I am glad to have participated, in my small little ways, in the festive decoration.
The daddies were instrumental in hanging many of the decoration in high places. The mummies were the heart and soul in making and hanging the decorations.
I took a few pictures of the fruits of the parents’ labour, and shared with my Primary 1 child at the end of the day. “Wow, mummy, did you do all these?”, my child asked. “Oh, mummy did what I was good at; the lanterns. Other daddies and mummies did the other parts. It was teamwork.” I replied. “Thank you, daddies and mummies!”, my child responded with glee. And I take quiet satisfaction in seeing the delight written all over her face.
-Lynn (1 Optimism)