There’s really nothing as sweet or as loud as happy children, am I right?
Just like last year, we gathered at my coworker’s house for an afternoon of fun with the kids. I could not believe how much baby L had grown! She was so tiny before! Her brother R now talks non-stop and it’s the cutest thing trying to decipher what he is saying. He is a huge Mike fan (from Monsters Inc) and is very serious about operating the trains!
The twins are in fourth grade and were great “older sisters” to L and R. We spent a large part of the afternoon constructing an intricate railway system together. We had multiple trains moving in every direction and R was in charge of keeping them on track. It was quite the job, which included a lot of shouting and jumping up and down.
It’s not everyday I get to spend an afternoon with so many entertaining kids all at once. I definitely had a great time. Nothing better than hearing kids giggling together. Makes me smile, too!
But I’m not going to lie…I fell fast asleep the minute I got home ;D
Here are some photos:
My coworker makes the most amazing felt art…isn’t this amazing?
The twins are better at cellphone games than I am.
A miracle I was able to get this group picture!
She is so grown! I still can’t get over it!
The kids watching Totoro while we got ready for lunch.
Happy railroad construction workers!
“I’ve been working on a railroad…all the live-long day!”
I laugh every time I see these photos, these girls are so silly! 😀
Kaori Square Feet 
Hanging out with kids is great. It looks like you all spent a great time with each other. More than: ♪just to pass the time away♬.
I couldn’t believe that birthday cake was felt art until I clicked on the photo. What talent!
I really love the Path of the Wind song in Totoro.
Kids have so much energy. It’s a wonder you could keep up at all. From their point of view, at my age, I am probably so slow they would mistake me for a plush doll.
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This reminds me of my good friend here in Tokyo. He just had a kid and he is dying. Rather, his wife is. She is in their hometown and he can only do his best to train her. He knows how to help kids, but she is sometimes at a loss. I think he'll be a good father but his wife needs some help.
Sounds like a good time for you. I doubt I'll be so good with kids. I can't even teach them now! 🙂
I wonder how Ru is with kids… … …
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Yes, my colleague has amazing talent with felt art. She makes them on the train ride to work! And thank you for that Totoro link! That cello…amazing!
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He's trying to train his wife??? What? 😀
I'm still always surprised how many women go back to their hometown to have the baby. A lot of my male coworkers miss the birth of their child because the baby unexpectedly comes early and they're still on the plane/shinkansen after hearing word of the start contractions. Although I guess having their mothers around to help may be assuring, I end up wondering why the mother doesn't just come out to Tokyo for awhile.
Wow, didn't meant to write so much on child birth, especially since I haven't done it before. I'll shut up now. And I'm sure Ru would be great with kids. Scary…but great! ;D
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Yup. Training his wife on how to care for their kid. He says he does a better job at keeping him quiet and she just doesn't know how, even though he tells her what to do. Basically, keep the baby close and sing. Or play music.
My friend's wife had their baby in Tokyo. Her hometown is Kamakura, so it is easy to go down there. He usually goes there on every day off he has, but this week he couldn't. He caught a cold so it was better to stay in Tokyo than to get everyone sick. Not even sure if he'll go down there next week either.
Having mothers around doesn't always work either. It depends on if they help enough, or just cause stress. Not sure how it is in your family but from what my friend's mother-in-law seems to be doing, not all of it is helpful.
Observing childbirth from the outside is fun. No responsibilities. 😀 The more you observe and hear about it, the better you can be at it in the future, if you choose to do so.
Ru would be scary. She already is! 😉 I can see her now, riding a zebra with a baby in her arms. 😀
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Well, I've come to realize that some men and women who are an only child or the baby of the family have really never interacted with an infant before in their lives. I'm the oldest and have 3 younger siblings so you sort of get an idea of what you need to do for babies without having to learn step by step, although I'm sure it's much different than being a parent. But I guess some people do really need to learn how to care for their children. Especially if it's their first.
And regarding the mother, also true. It would probably depend on the mother. Although moral support is a very big confidence booster for new mom's (I'm guessing).
Well whatever the circumstances, having a child to care for is scary business! I wish much luck to your friends and their new baby! 😀
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Hehe. Can you guess that I'm the youngest in my family? Got an older brother and that's it. Maybe that's why I can't deal with kids very well. Just have no idea what to do with them.
For mothers, moral support is very important. And grandparents do love their grandkids. All the love, but none of the work. Well, just a little.
Just an update, my friend's wife just returned to Tokyo with their baby. Let's just say he is no longer allowed to go out anymore. Worst part, his wife doesn't trust him enough, yet, to take care of their kid… … Talk about motherly protection. 🙂
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Well, I've heard that a lot of new mothers don't leave the house soon after their babies are born. I remember watching old family movies with some friends and they were in shock to see that my family was at the beach three weeks after my baby sister was born.
But I guess each culture has their “norm” and then every person has their different “norm” so you can't really say what is right and wrong when it comes to parenting. I say keep the mother happy and she will learn to gradually relax. I mean, post-pregnancy hormones would make any new mother a little crazy. *Again, I've never experienced any of this…but my friends assure me that it's not a urban legend 😉
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My French friends (married couple), had their son in Japan and within a week or two they went out to the park and dinner. Some of the Japanese people were shocked. They heard that in Japan, babies are “not supposed” to go out for at least a month. I can understand the reasoning but it still seems strange to me.
Those motherly hormones, I have read about it, and my friends will all attest that it is true. I think that's one good reason to not have a kid. 😉
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