Unexpected Nightmare

Since coming to Adelaide, our lives and routines have completely changed. Everyone is adapting and accommodating to the new environment, be it physically, socially, spiritually or mentally. One of the toughest thing for me since moving here is re-position myself in educating and nurturing Jayden.

Prior to moving here, I didn't expect any changes in Jayden, as what's happening now. He has always been the good boy to me. Since coming to the new place, he was still the same old little guy that I ever know. After a month here, things are gradually changing in him.

From a fun filled lifestyle in KL, Jayden's life has changed completely. I found him very bored of his routines. Other than going to school, he has nothing else scheduled for him. He is all alone when he is back home from school, there is no BaoBei class and plays with his cousins on weekdays, and no playdate on weekends. I feel rather guilty and sorry for him, as I couldn't afford to send him to any fun classes at the moment, until we are financially more sound and steady.

In fact, not just that. I found out from him that he does not really enjoy his school as much as Hummingbird, I guess he is still taking some time to adapt to the new environment. One of the major reason is because of the different accent in our language. Apparently, Jayden is speaking English with Malaysian accent back at Hummingbird, therefore he is very used to his teachers and classmates back in KL.

As for here, he doesn't have problems understanding the teachers and new friends, but they have problem picking up what Jayden is trying to say. There were times that he got frustrated because nobody seemed to understand him, and this is causing a slight bit of social blockage on him. This morning, I witness him gathering a lot of courage to talk to the teacher to get the toys he wanted to play with. After repeating patiently for a few times, the teacher still couldn't get him. Finally, the teacher came to me and asked what he wanted. Sometimes I wonder if our English is much better, at least we are not constrained by a certain accent. I would say Malaysians are really good, we can pick up multicultural English with ease (or not as bad as the Caucasians).

While picking him up just now, I also witness that some children don't want to play with him.. I am not sure if it's because he is new and the kids don't really get to know him yet, or they can't understand him so chose not to play with him. Well, I saw Jayden is making a huge effort to initiate a play with the kids. Hopefully it will pay off very soon! Another thing that I found is, he is the only Asian in the class, so I am really not sure if this is a good thing. I tried to find some schools which has a more balance and diversified ethnic groups, but perhaps only for the primary school since he is already attending the current kindy. I somewhat believe this will rather affect his Social Quotient, and maybe EQ too.

It might take some time for him to learn up the Australian accent too, as he is only going to school 2.5days a week, that's not even half a week! :( I do not know how to help him, that's why I feel rather helpless. I really hope this will be over soon. Recently, I have been trying to check out some community playgroups, hoping to be able to find some that he will like to join. I am also looking at some children's program from the local churches, hoping we will be able to find some groups that he likes to socialize with. I do miss the little Jayden that was ever so happy, cheerful and confident!