Jealous Ally or Naughty Ally?

From about three days ago, Ally has not been keen on going to school. She kicks up a fuss everytime we leave the house and bawls her eyes out at the school entrance. Considering that she has been real good about it for a year and a half, I found it odd.

Yesterday, she kicked up the same fuss again and begged not to go to school. My mother in law mentioned that the teachers said she might be jealous of her mei mei Angie. So, I decided to ask her teachers.

Amidst a wailing Ally, the school principal and her Annie Apple form teacher all told me that Ally had been pretty quiet the past few days, not her usual self. She would also tear when she spoke. And this is what got to me. The teacher said Ally said that she doesn't want to come to school because she wants to be with Mummy. "Mummy always goes home to Mei Mei." The teacher told her that Mummy went to work, but Ally said, " No, she is at home with Mei Mei everyday!" Which is true lah, since I work from home most of the time.

I felt sorry for Ally and realised that she must really be feeling jealous all of a sudden. When Mei Mei was still an infant, she really wasn't much of a threat I guess, being just the "baby". But Angie has really grown into this lovely little charm of a baby who knows how to melt people's hearts just with her smile, her tendencies to lie and snuggle on your shoulder, her outstretched arms when you call her, her funny little babbles. Mark and I, and also everyone else have certainly started paying more attention to Angie.. She's so cute! Every morning, Mark carries Angie out from our room where her cot in, smothering her with kisses. It was really no surprise that Ally would be feeling the heat.

Make no mistake. Ally still gets the bulk of all the attention and is seriously not short of any loving. But I got a bit worried when I heard the teacher's words and decided to have some alone time with her yesterday. I took her out to MacDonalds for breakfast , where she spent one hour slowly relishing her pancakes and milk - long after I had finished my meal and seemingly stalling for time. All the while chattering happily away. We even went for a walk by the beach. Finally , two hours later, I brought her back to school where her form teacher managed to get her to let me go.

Today, she made a fuss again. But, when she thought I was out of sight, I overheard her secretly telling Rachel, " Rachel, you must cry, you be naughty, then your Mummy will take you to MacDonalds ok?!

Ha! She went right back to school today.

Anyone has any ideas what's going on with her?