Amir's "fashion" show

School is almost out here. Four more weeks to go. And only today, for the first time since I got here, I went to Amir's school to give him the much needed moral support a child needs from his/her parents. Finally! I had missed his sports day, international costume day, and his swimming gala and I am so ashamed to admit this really. Especially, when I had never missed any of my children's school activities back in KL,came rain or shine. Even when their sports day was held on a working day, I applied for leave. I NEVER missed any event. But since I came here, I became very calculative that  I had chosen not to attend any activities in their schools just because I can't stand the crazy, unreasonable taxi fares.

Like today, I spent 100 riyal on taxi!! Gila you! That's like a third of our weekly grocery spending. I knew it would cost me but I had enough of "hurting" my children's feelings. My excuse for not attending Amir's other  school event before this - what I told him lah - was because of Imran. He would be running around here and there out of boredom and in the end, I would not be able to focus on his big brother's main event. And most of the times, Amir and Nina would say they understand.

But for Amir's school assembly where his class is doing some songs and dances on fashion and Amir being given some lines to recite out loud (listening to him practising the lines this past week and sounding very British at it!), I promised him I would not miss it for the world.

And I am glad I did. As the kids appeared on stage I could see how their eyes and faces lit up when each of them spotted their parents at the back of the hall. I got teary-eyed a bit actually as I was overwhelmed with guilt for missing his previous performances/participation. And at the end of the show, when all the kids ran down the stage to hug their parents, I am HAPPY that I did not let Amir down.

A few of the pupils did not have their parents there and they looked so heartbroken, I felt sorry for them. One Malay girl, upon noticing that I am Amir's mom, came to me shyly and I felt like hugging her! She told me her mom can't come because "adik demam." I hope it's true because from what I heard, her parents hardly never turned up to other events too. Well, they missed quite a show because her performance was better than Amir's!

Next week is Nina's swimming gala. She said she wants me to come and I said, see first lah. I have to fair what? I had missed Amir's swimming gala but have attended Nina's choir show and Alice the Musical play (both were held at night and the ride was FOC of course courtesy of Papa).

But I told them, next year I will try not to miss anything more. Because Imran will start his school next year and I will ride the FREE school bus at 7am even if the show/event starts at 10am or 12pm, I would not mind the long wait because I am a caring and cheap mom!