Our holiday to China Yunnan

It is the end of the year once more, and time for us to travel again. This trip took quite a bit of effort as I liaised with our agent in China and kept searching for the best fares across different airlines and routes. Felin was not keen at first, as she was simply hoping for a lazy Club Med holiday with a shorter and cheaper flight. What started as a quick look at Lijiang Club Med eventually became a full tour of Yunnan, with her mum joining us, too.

Each year, my hope is that the kids will remember how much thought and preparation went into these trips, and that they will look back and know they had a once-a-year tour with Daddy and Mummy. This journey will be memorable and something they carry with them through life, even though they are still young. May they continue to enjoy their bubble baths together, in a season when brotherhood still feels like a precious companion. One day, when I retire, I know I will look back at all these photos and smile at the good old days when they were small, noisy, and still so needy for our presence.

The things I want to say to the boys still remain the same. I keep reminding them to have a spirit of excellence and perseverance in everything they do and learn – whether in studies, sports, or any skill they are trying to pick up. I worry a lot about this for both of them. Joshua can learn fast, but he may not always be willing to put in the effort to really do the work. Josiah needs to be calmer and follow through with his learning, rather than stopping so quickly when challenges arise.

I often sit with them to go through their Maths worksheets, and both of them are simply too careless and unwilling to think more deeply about the questions to find the answers. I get frustrated when they refuse to follow my steps and detailed explanations, and instead just scribble their workings all over the page. Primary 5 starts soon, and I am not confident they are ready for the challenges ahead, especially with the higher Mother Tongue. Sometimes I can only shake my head at their current standard. I am becoming one of those parents who are very concerned about studies, and to me, PSLE starts from today, not next year.

As for my work, I am also reminding myself to keep the same perseverance and never-say-die spirit that I hope they will develop. This year was my best sales year yet, but I am wondering how to repeat my 2025 success. The future still feels bleak at times, and I am not entirely confident in my own abilities. When doubts and anxieties creep in, thoughts of the boys appear, and I remember what I want to tell them about resilience and effort. They are my best motivators, and I hope to be a strong source of motivation for them in their own journey towards excellence, too.