You know what’s the surprise with your kid going into Primary One? Suddenly, you’re swarmed with lots of forms to sign every week! If it’s not about a new policy, it’s about an upcoming activity and parents’ signature are required to acknowledge receiving such updates. I even have to sign for his weekly Chinese spelling! Maybe my memory has failed me but I certainly can’t recall these formalities during my time.

But these I remember! Selling donation tickets for the school! I remember asking my brothers to buy from me, and then getting my dad to pay for the rest. I mean, who could I have approached? As for my son, he’s even more clueless. All he did was to pass me the booklet and promptly expected me to put in the $10 note for him to return to his teacher.

So of course I had to buy up all the tickets! Luckily it’s only 10! My only gripe was that I had to complete my details on the booklet 10 times!

But never mind, perhaps I’ll have some luck with the prize money. Ten bucks for the hope of winning $30K is a fair betting amount anyway!

I heard the prediction for my Chinese zodiac sign over the variety programme like two nights ago. Apparently, I’m going to have some mix fortune this year and to negate the negatives, I have to be more communicative.

I wonder.

How much is this going to help me if others are constantly misconstruing my messages, both verbal and non-verbal? I can’t be responsible for the wrong ways people are reading me can I? And what’s the point of being more communicative when all I get in return are abuses and swears?

I used to think that communication is the key to a successful relationship but increasingly, I don’t. Because you can communicate, but it’s not going to work if there is no understanding and acceptance. There’s a huge difference to communicating openly and communicating blindly.

Maybe I was blind all this while and I didn’t even know it.

This is the first time after so many years that I was back at my mom’s to celebrate the first day of the Chinese New Year, and meeting all my siblings and their families. I usually head back on the second day but made an exception this year, at the invitation of my eldest brother.

I was rather excited because I haven’t seen some of my siblings and their families for a long time. I was particularly looking forward to meeting my nieces and nephews – many of whom I’ve seen growing up. However, most of them have their own families now and seem less interested to catch up. And apart from a brother whom I’m close with, I could hardly find much to talk to my other siblings.

It’s kind of sad that family gatherings at Chinese New Year are marked by obligations rather than a genuine interest to connect. If not for my mom, I doubt the siblings would bother. As it is, one was not around and some others who were not on talking terms had to be strategically seated apart. And even at the same table, comments were curt and eye contacts were lacking.

Obviously, it’ll take more than sumptuous food to be able to mend broken relationships. But I wonder…what?