Usually, I feel rushed for time, but today, I intentionally walked another route to have breakfast with the son. I let him know that Yishun-Innova Junior College was my first workplace ever - and that I had frequented this kopitiam in the past.

It turned out to be a good move because we saw a tank filled with six turtles outside someone’s house along the way. We then came across a set of Science flashcards at the book exchange corner. Of course, I took those home!

Subsequently, we went to my school and tackled the tedious task of writing his name behind every Chinese flashcard that he would use from July onwards. All this dilly dallying set me back the entire morning but it enabled me to “dump” him at the student care centre with peace of mind.

And a milestone haiku from seven years ago

Milestone Haiku

As if magnetized,
his hands hold the milk bottle,
seizing my heartstrings