Meanwhile, Estelle was creating a half-crown braid for Christina, who had requested it. She looked at Yvonne and came up with a solution. After a moment, she said patiently, “Yvonne, you don’t need to wear both pairs. How about one strawberry hair clip on one side and one bunny hair clip on the other?”
Yohan required less preparation before going out, so he checked their school bags after getting dressed. He made sure his sisters’ water bottles were secure and put some candies in the side pocket. Then he asked, “Mom, what else do we need?”
Estelle inspected the bags and saw that Yohan had already packed everything they needed. She praised him, saying, “Great job, Yohan. We have everything we need. We can go once I double-check everything.”
Even though it was just a kindergarten activity, all three kids were excited, as if it were a special outing. Before leaving, Aurora walked them to the car. While fastening the girls’ seatbelts in their child car seats, she expressed her concern to Estelle, “Are you sure you can handle them all by yourself? Do you want me to come with you?”
Estelle reassured her with a smile, “Yes, I’m sure. Mom, you can go back and rest. We’ll be fine. They are well-behaved.”
Aurora had been taking on most of the household chores lately, allowing Estelle to focus entirely on her career. She cooked three meals, helped the children with their homework, and even put them to bed. However, Estelle was worried that her mother would become too tired.
Sometimes, after Estelle revised her drafts or finalized designs with Bella late at night, Aurora would wake up to prepare snacks for her. So, Estelle wanted her mother to have a relaxing weekend instead of helping with the kids. Aurora understood her daughter’s concern and waved her off, saying, “Enjoy yourselves. I’ll prepare a delicious dinner.”
The kids were thrilled to hear about their grandma’s promise of a good meal, so they bid her farewell with a cheerful voice, “Goodbye, grandma!”
Amused by their enthusiasm, Estelle reminded them, “Stay seated, kids. We’re heading out now. No fooling around in the car. You can play once we arrive there.”
“Okay,” Yohan, the most well-behaved of the three, ensured his sisters behaved and didn’t wrestle on their child seats.
Upon arrival at the kindergarten, they joined many other parents and children. The entire place was adorned with balloons and confetti, transforming it into a fairytale castle.
Estelle accompanied the kids to the entrance to receive the cards with stamps. However, they encountered some difficulty when trying to sign in.
The teacher handed Estelle a card and explained, “There’s a map on the back of the card with a sequence of games you can play, or you can choose the ones you like. After completing each game, you’ll receive a stamp and a small gift. Those who finish all the games get a star and a mystery gift.”
“Thank you,” Estelle replied, confident in her ability to win the star. She asked with a smile, “Can we start playing as soon as we enter?”
The teacher had a soft spot for Yvonne and Christina, so she chatted with Estelle as she answered, “Certainly. However, it’s best to wait for the kids’ dad to join. Most of the games are designed for families to play together. Is their father parking the car? Why isn’t he here yet?”
Yvonne and Christina couldn’t hide their disappointment upon hearing this. Despite not wanting to trouble their mom, their emotions were clearly visible. Seeing their reactions, Yohan quickly pulled some candies from his small school bag and offered, “It’s okay. I’ll play with you later.”
Estelle couldn’t muster a smile. She quietly explained to the teacher, “Their dad is injured and can’t participate in these games, so I brought their brother along.” Yohan then stood tall beside Estelle and introduced himself to the teacher, saying, “Good morning, I’m Yohan Hans, Yvonne and Christina’s older brother.”
“Wow, what a good boy!” The teacher was amazed by how considerate this young boy was, but she said regretfully, “But I think Yohan is still too young for some games, and he cannot replace his father. I think you should skip over some games for safety’s sake.”
The kindergarten wanted parents who were busy with work to bond with their kids through games, so they set up games that needed two adults to play together.
Estelle had worried that Yvonne and Christina might feel sad because their dad couldn’t come. She felt a heavy weight in her chest when she heard the teacher’s words. Despite her disappointment, she forced a smile and said, “Thank you for the suggestion. I’ll take the kids to play some other games. Just being here and having fun is good enough.”
“Yes, having fun is what matters most.” The teacher knew they might not get all the stamps today, but she didn’t think the kids would mind too much about winning. She smiled at them as they entered the gate.
Estelle let Yohan walk ahead, holding each girl’s hand on either side. She started looking for games she could play on her own. She passed on the chalk jump game, which required two adults to carry one child, and searched for other options.
“How about the sandpit?” Her face lit up when she saw some kids digging in the sand with small buckets. “There are four of us, so we can play the treasure hunt game in the sand.”
Upon hearing the suggestion, Yvonne and Christina eagerly led Estelle to the sandpit, excited to finally join in a game. The PE teacher by the sandpit enthusiastically explained the rules to them. “Wow, with three kids in your family, you have an advantage. The children can dig up gemstones in the sand, and two adults can help transport the gemstones to the finish line in the relay. Oh, wait, where is their dad?”
Estelle regretted not checking the track before rushing over, her lips twitching. She asked tentatively, “Can’t I just run back and forth?”
The teacher looked surprised by her question, glancing at her and then at other families happily running. He hesitated before saying, “Well, no one has said you can’t.”
“In that case, I can.” Estelle seized the opportunity and rolled up her sleeves, excited to earn the first stamp on the card. She handed shovels and buckets to the kids and said with determination, “Let’s go!”
However, it proved to be more challenging than she expected. When she carried the first bucket of gemstones, she quickly realized how tough it was to run the entire track by herself. The organizers had utilized all the facilities in the kindergarten, and she had to climb two ladders to complete it.