Recently both Michelle and I heard Shee Yun and Chen Rui, when talking to each other, refer to me as "your father", as opposed to just saying Baba. Sometimes Michelle and I do something similar when referring to the children, especially when they misbehave. We'd say, "你的大女儿啊……", or "你的小女儿啊……" (more often 小女儿). It surprises me a little to hear the children do this. I definitely didn't misbehave. I wonder whether they learned it from us.
I realise that when the children play pretend with Daisy the baby seal, they promote themselves precisely one step. Shee Yun plays the role of mother, Chen Rui the role of big sister, and Daisy the role of little sister. This exactly reflects the hierarchy at home, except there is no boy to play the role of father. I hear Shee Yun tell Daisy to finish her homework, like how Michelle does it with both children. She sometimes even explains why so-and-so needs to be done, and the consequences of not doing them, like how Michelle does it. I find it funny how children imitate adults.
On the way back from Bukit Tinggi, whenever Chen Rui spotted a motorcycle, she quickly exclaimed "Moto!" (like 摸堕), and then ducked, hiding herself from the view of the motorcyclist. Shee Yun did the same too. At first we didn't understand what was going on. Later we realised it was because they perceive motorcyclists as threats. We often tell them they must fasten their seat belts, lock car doors, and not open the windows, especially when the car is stationary at traffic lights. It is because some motorcyclists may be bad people (kidnappers or robbers), and may hurt them. So now they have the impression that motorcyclists are a sign of danger.
It is funny to hear some of the things that Chen Rui say, and how she says them. Once Michelle asked Chen Rui who Princess Lily was, because Shee Yun kept saying she (Shee Yun) wanted to play with Princess Lily on the computer. Chen Rui knew who Princess Lily was, and impatiently replied, "啧，那个horse“辣”！". Princess Lily is what Shee Yun named her horse in an online Barbie horse-rearing game. Also sometimes when asked where something is, Chen Rui replies with a you-don't-even-know-that "Neh2", pointing to where it is.
Chen Rui used to speak English with a Malaysian accent, something I think she learned from her schoolmates. Now she has converted to more proper English, which I think is largely influenced by Shee Yun. However sometimes she still says some funny English (without the Malaysian accent though), e.g. "I'm not give upping". She thinks of "give up" as one word.
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