Do you like going to school?

Since enrolling in the local pre-school, Bobo has been more than keen to go to school every week.  As soon as he opens his eyes in the morning, he starts chanting enthusiastically in his pyjamas: 乜書包!" (Carry my school bag!)  "鯊魚襪!" (Wear my shark socks!)

Alas, the novelty wears off fairly quickly.  Two weeks ago, after the birth of Baby Ladder, he's not so certain about this whole "Going to School" idea anymore.  Yes, he still savour the carry-my-cute-schoolbag  and wear-my-cute-socks rituals at breakfast time.  But as soon as we step into his classroom, Bobo stops in his tracks with sudden realisation, and protests loudly, "唔要返學!" (Don't want to go to school!) Right next door, my 4yo Cola is cooling putting away his school bag and hat in his locker, pretending that he didn't see the fuss made by his younger brother.

I am faced with a dilemma: should I be the gentle and understanding mum who patiently negotiate and make this 2yo toddler understand, or should I be quick and efficient by resorting to brute force dumping him into the classroom?

With all good intentions, I tried to play my negotiation cards: the lure of Food and Toys.  Those are the only things in the world that  Bobo would never let go.

"Do you want to eat your special lunchbox?"
要食飯盒! (Want lunchbox!)
"Really? Hmm... the lunchbox is only for you if you stay in school.  How about the sandpit? Do you want to play in the sand pit?"
要玩沙! (Want play sand!)
"Well then, you must stay in school. What do you think?" (I was so hopeful that he could draw his own conclusions. How naive am I!)
唔要返學! (Don't want to go to school!)
Uh oh. Back to square one.

Last resort: A quick goodbye wave and I'm off.

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At pick up time, I asked Bobo about his time in school.
"Was today fun?"
好玩! (Great fun!)
"Do you like school?
鐘意! (Like!)
"Do you want to go to school next time?"
要返學! (Want to go to school)

Whew... a breathe of relief.  Shall we have to go through this again next week? The answer is, sadly, yes.