Why is it in caps? Cos it's the MAIN thing on Mummy's mind now (and the past few weeks). She had completed 40 hours of parent volunteer work at a neighbourhood school beside our place early this year. In fact she had been rather happy with what she understands and seen at the school thus far.
However she is still kind of holding on to 2 other "more prestigious" schools, Radin Mas (Daddy's old school) and Rosyth which is within 1km of our place. The problem here is Radin Mas is sooooo far from home and Mummy don't forsee we will move to anywhere near there soon. The other choice, Rosyth is probably a risk as there'll be balloting required.
So ... we are back to square one. Daddy said Mummy is just giving herself problem. Just settle with the one nearby and that's it. Mummy certainly hopes she won't regret this decision.
Anyway Reyden had given her some insights of his views about this matter and it kind of assured Mummy of her decision.
Showing posts with label My thoughts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label My thoughts. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Mummy's "nitemare"
Mummy's post:
The next nightmare after Reyden's dropout from his taekwondo class is Reyes wanting out from her ballet class too. Both had been in the 2 classes for more than a year and had shown much interest. So it came as a shock and caused some unhappiness (in me). My initial thought was "what?!! you are wasting the past 1 year time and effort!" However after listening to the Daddy and them, I guess it's good to give them time out from the classes before it kills all their interest.
Reyden had been complaining about tiredness and long hours for the taekwondo class. It didn't seem to be the real reason and after much questioning, he admitted that he wants to stay at home and play with the sisters and to be with us. Apparently Reyes gave the same reason (or excuse) too. Needless to say, I feel happy that Reyden still wants to be with us despite all the scolding and nagging. But at the same time, I questioned myself if I should indulge them and let them be.
Anyway we had a talk and both agreed they will give it a serious thought the next time they want to go for any enrichment classes out of school curriculum. Daddy says they won't have much time with us once they are in primary schools so we shall let them stick to us for now.
The next nightmare after Reyden's dropout from his taekwondo class is Reyes wanting out from her ballet class too. Both had been in the 2 classes for more than a year and had shown much interest. So it came as a shock and caused some unhappiness (in me). My initial thought was "what?!! you are wasting the past 1 year time and effort!" However after listening to the Daddy and them, I guess it's good to give them time out from the classes before it kills all their interest.
Reyden had been complaining about tiredness and long hours for the taekwondo class. It didn't seem to be the real reason and after much questioning, he admitted that he wants to stay at home and play with the sisters and to be with us. Apparently Reyes gave the same reason (or excuse) too. Needless to say, I feel happy that Reyden still wants to be with us despite all the scolding and nagging. But at the same time, I questioned myself if I should indulge them and let them be.
Anyway we had a talk and both agreed they will give it a serious thought the next time they want to go for any enrichment classes out of school curriculum. Daddy says they won't have much time with us once they are in primary schools so we shall let them stick to us for now.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Another angel added to heaven ...
Mummy's post:
I received a sms on 21st Nov 08, Fri morning. "Baby Jillian had went back to the Lord last night".
I got to know about this girl, Jillian Lee thru Sally. Her parents are from the same church as Sally. I vaguely remember that the 1st time I heard about her illness was somewhere around Apr. I didn't want to find out more for fear that it'll bring distressing thoughts.
It was only till recently in Oct then I visited her blog thru the link in Sally's blog. The Lee family including little Jilian had been so brave and strong all these while.
To begin with, little Jillian was only 23 months old when diagnosed with this illness. And she's the 2nd case in Singapore to be found with this Malignant Rhabdoid Tumour. It's actually a very rare and aggressive type of kidney cancer. Therefore there wasn't much information or past illness history for them to refer to. The symptoms were mainly complaints of stomach pains and it really struck them hard to find out that their girl was already in the 3rd stage of this rare cancer by the time they sent her for tests and checkups.
Somehow it seems like I do not know how to continue this post from here cos I'm having mixed feelings about her demise. One part of me is shedding tears for her & her family cos she'll be physically gone from this world and away from her family. They will definitely miss her a great deal. The other part is actually rejoicing over it cos she's now in heaven, free from sufferings and pains. The mother referred to her memorial service as "celebrating her life" which I find that it's more apt than "mourning for her demise".
With this I'm quoting what Sally had posted in her blog (I simply don't know how to continue cos tears kept flowing uncontrollably):
"Jillian has fulfilled her mission in life on earth, she has shown us that in adversity God's covenant still stands strong and that God will see us through to a glorious conclusion. For Jillian, she is now enjoying her reward in heaven which is eternal. Therefore this separation is temporary cos it's only the physical part that is gone but her spirit shall prevail."
May Jillian rest in His perfect peace and the family find comfort and support in God at this difficult time. Amen.
You can view her blog here:
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jillianlee
I received a sms on 21st Nov 08, Fri morning. "Baby Jillian had went back to the Lord last night".
I got to know about this girl, Jillian Lee thru Sally. Her parents are from the same church as Sally. I vaguely remember that the 1st time I heard about her illness was somewhere around Apr. I didn't want to find out more for fear that it'll bring distressing thoughts.
It was only till recently in Oct then I visited her blog thru the link in Sally's blog. The Lee family including little Jilian had been so brave and strong all these while.
To begin with, little Jillian was only 23 months old when diagnosed with this illness. And she's the 2nd case in Singapore to be found with this Malignant Rhabdoid Tumour. It's actually a very rare and aggressive type of kidney cancer. Therefore there wasn't much information or past illness history for them to refer to. The symptoms were mainly complaints of stomach pains and it really struck them hard to find out that their girl was already in the 3rd stage of this rare cancer by the time they sent her for tests and checkups.
Somehow it seems like I do not know how to continue this post from here cos I'm having mixed feelings about her demise. One part of me is shedding tears for her & her family cos she'll be physically gone from this world and away from her family. They will definitely miss her a great deal. The other part is actually rejoicing over it cos she's now in heaven, free from sufferings and pains. The mother referred to her memorial service as "celebrating her life" which I find that it's more apt than "mourning for her demise".
With this I'm quoting what Sally had posted in her blog (I simply don't know how to continue cos tears kept flowing uncontrollably):
"Jillian has fulfilled her mission in life on earth, she has shown us that in adversity God's covenant still stands strong and that God will see us through to a glorious conclusion. For Jillian, she is now enjoying her reward in heaven which is eternal. Therefore this separation is temporary cos it's only the physical part that is gone but her spirit shall prevail."
May Jillian rest in His perfect peace and the family find comfort and support in God at this difficult time. Amen.
You can view her blog here:
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jillianlee
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Terrible Twos??
Mummy's post:
I would prefer to call it the "Understanding and bonding" stage rather than what's in the title cos it sounds really horrifying.
Anyway, the two-year-olds have long been saddled with a bad reputation. Alternately clingy, whiny, negative, fearful, and loud, their unpredictable behavior is epic, and it's often been written off as the "Terrible Twos." But just what does this dreaded stage mean?
Got this from some online "researching":
"The Terrible Twos are often characterized by oppositional behavior, mood changes, and temper tantrums. "No" becomes a favorite word. All are considered normal parts of child development, say the authors of "What to Expect: The Toddler Years." This is in part due to the fact that a toddler's ability to communicate hasn't caught up with his desire to communicate, hence his frustration and challenging behavior.
Like other childhood phases, the age range is fluid. The Terrible Twos can begin shortly after your child's first birthday or not until they are closer to age 3."
Reyes had been displaying the above behaviour for the last few days. She starts screaming, shouting, crying and throwing tantrums for even the slightest thing. I was pretty upset that my all-along-good-gal had turned into a terror overnight. I admit that I was guilty of yelling and losing my temper at her. With her teeth all out, I couldn't connect her behaviour to teething issues. I simply don't understand what went wrong till I surf the net for info on toddlers' behaviour ... then I realised she's actually going thru a harder patch than me now.
These are some useful tips which I found online. Wanna share with mummies who are going thru it now or perhaps in the future.
1. Assist with speech development. One of the big problems for these little guys and gals is they know what they want but they cannot express it. Make a big effort to give them words. Read children's books whenever possible and if your child has a speech delay, seek out help from your pediatrician. Every state has programs to help you with this at little or no cost. If you are having a particularly hard time, try cutting pictures of foods and toys out of magazines so that your little one can point to them to communicate with you. Here are several starter words that will help ease the frustration for your little one: "Up, down, help, more, drink, cracker, cookie."
2. Give her choices. Don't ask if she wants her breakfast. You know the answer to that one will be a resounding "no" even if she is hungry. Ask if she wants cereal or bananas. Give limited choices and be firm. Don't give in to inappropriate requests as this will create uncertainty for the child.
3. Let him dress himself. Again give controlled choices;blue or red shirt. They key is that he needs to feel he is in control and he should be (in a very small and safe way). You just don't want to go overboard and present him with ten pairs of shoes. Most grownups would have a hard time with that sort of decision making. Offer small controlled choices and help him feel like the big boy he is becoming.
4. Offer praise when you find her being "good." This may seem a tall order, but thank her for all those cuddles, and for trying to help you unload the dishwasher, even if she puts the Tupperware in the dog bowl. She wants to think of herself as a big girl who helps mommy and daddy and it is your job to make this true for her. Catch her being good and make a big show of praising her.
5. Stay out of the tantrum. Tantrums are normal and you should not get involved. Validate and walk away. Say, "I know you are upset because I wouldn't let you play with the glue. When you stop crying we will find something safe to play with." Then step over him and wait for the storm to pass. Do not get angry or involved in any way. This will prolong the tantrum. Just tell yourself that this is normal and try to see the humor in it.
6. Don't give in to public pressure. If your beloved is having a tantrum in the cookie aisle of the grocery store, you have two choices; gently take her to the car to settle down or simply wait for the storm to pass. If you choose the latter, you will inevitably have five elderly people asking your child what is wrong, but you'll never see them again anyway.
7. Do not spank a child who is having a tantrum. In addition to being just plain wrong, it is scary for the child to be out of control and she needs to know that you are in control. Stay calm. Tell her you love her, but that her behavior is not appropriate. Remember that you are parenting for the long term, not just for the moment. Don't do things in the heat of the moment that you will regret later.
8. As a stress reliever, keep a log of the worst tantrums. They will seem pretty hilarious later and you will find yourself embellishing how bad it was. Older kids get a certain glee out of hearing stories about how awful they were and it will help you stay mindful of the fact that this is just a stage.
9. Stick to routines. If you stick to your bedtime and mealtime routines, tantrums will be reduced. Your child will be less frustrated because he knows what is happening next and you will have more energy to deal with the terrible twos when they do strike.
Now that I applied some tips from the above, things had became better. It only takes a little bit more patience. She still loses her tantrum but it gets controlled faster.
- I let her choose what she wants to eat, wear, watch or play.
- I paid attention to her when she's upset about something instead of brushing it off as naughty behaviour.
- I get her to tell me or point to me what she wants when she refused to do the thing I want her to.
Let's just hope Reyden won't have to go thru this stage. (yes, not all toddlers will go thru it)
If not, I'll just have to hope that I will handle him better from my experience with Reyes.
I would prefer to call it the "Understanding and bonding" stage rather than what's in the title cos it sounds really horrifying.
Anyway, the two-year-olds have long been saddled with a bad reputation. Alternately clingy, whiny, negative, fearful, and loud, their unpredictable behavior is epic, and it's often been written off as the "Terrible Twos." But just what does this dreaded stage mean?
Got this from some online "researching":
"The Terrible Twos are often characterized by oppositional behavior, mood changes, and temper tantrums. "No" becomes a favorite word. All are considered normal parts of child development, say the authors of "What to Expect: The Toddler Years." This is in part due to the fact that a toddler's ability to communicate hasn't caught up with his desire to communicate, hence his frustration and challenging behavior.
Like other childhood phases, the age range is fluid. The Terrible Twos can begin shortly after your child's first birthday or not until they are closer to age 3."
Reyes had been displaying the above behaviour for the last few days. She starts screaming, shouting, crying and throwing tantrums for even the slightest thing. I was pretty upset that my all-along-good-gal had turned into a terror overnight. I admit that I was guilty of yelling and losing my temper at her. With her teeth all out, I couldn't connect her behaviour to teething issues. I simply don't understand what went wrong till I surf the net for info on toddlers' behaviour ... then I realised she's actually going thru a harder patch than me now.
These are some useful tips which I found online. Wanna share with mummies who are going thru it now or perhaps in the future.
1. Assist with speech development. One of the big problems for these little guys and gals is they know what they want but they cannot express it. Make a big effort to give them words. Read children's books whenever possible and if your child has a speech delay, seek out help from your pediatrician. Every state has programs to help you with this at little or no cost. If you are having a particularly hard time, try cutting pictures of foods and toys out of magazines so that your little one can point to them to communicate with you. Here are several starter words that will help ease the frustration for your little one: "Up, down, help, more, drink, cracker, cookie."
2. Give her choices. Don't ask if she wants her breakfast. You know the answer to that one will be a resounding "no" even if she is hungry. Ask if she wants cereal or bananas. Give limited choices and be firm. Don't give in to inappropriate requests as this will create uncertainty for the child.
3. Let him dress himself. Again give controlled choices;blue or red shirt. They key is that he needs to feel he is in control and he should be (in a very small and safe way). You just don't want to go overboard and present him with ten pairs of shoes. Most grownups would have a hard time with that sort of decision making. Offer small controlled choices and help him feel like the big boy he is becoming.
4. Offer praise when you find her being "good." This may seem a tall order, but thank her for all those cuddles, and for trying to help you unload the dishwasher, even if she puts the Tupperware in the dog bowl. She wants to think of herself as a big girl who helps mommy and daddy and it is your job to make this true for her. Catch her being good and make a big show of praising her.
5. Stay out of the tantrum. Tantrums are normal and you should not get involved. Validate and walk away. Say, "I know you are upset because I wouldn't let you play with the glue. When you stop crying we will find something safe to play with." Then step over him and wait for the storm to pass. Do not get angry or involved in any way. This will prolong the tantrum. Just tell yourself that this is normal and try to see the humor in it.
6. Don't give in to public pressure. If your beloved is having a tantrum in the cookie aisle of the grocery store, you have two choices; gently take her to the car to settle down or simply wait for the storm to pass. If you choose the latter, you will inevitably have five elderly people asking your child what is wrong, but you'll never see them again anyway.
7. Do not spank a child who is having a tantrum. In addition to being just plain wrong, it is scary for the child to be out of control and she needs to know that you are in control. Stay calm. Tell her you love her, but that her behavior is not appropriate. Remember that you are parenting for the long term, not just for the moment. Don't do things in the heat of the moment that you will regret later.
8. As a stress reliever, keep a log of the worst tantrums. They will seem pretty hilarious later and you will find yourself embellishing how bad it was. Older kids get a certain glee out of hearing stories about how awful they were and it will help you stay mindful of the fact that this is just a stage.
9. Stick to routines. If you stick to your bedtime and mealtime routines, tantrums will be reduced. Your child will be less frustrated because he knows what is happening next and you will have more energy to deal with the terrible twos when they do strike.
Now that I applied some tips from the above, things had became better. It only takes a little bit more patience. She still loses her tantrum but it gets controlled faster.
- I let her choose what she wants to eat, wear, watch or play.
- I paid attention to her when she's upset about something instead of brushing it off as naughty behaviour.
- I get her to tell me or point to me what she wants when she refused to do the thing I want her to.
Let's just hope Reyden won't have to go thru this stage. (yes, not all toddlers will go thru it)
If not, I'll just have to hope that I will handle him better from my experience with Reyes.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
A day with Carol yi-yi
This is actually Mummy's day with Carol yi-yi. The day started with a visit to the supermarket for ingredients for dinner. Mummy whipped up her favourite beef stew and a 1st time dish - stir fry Lala (white shell clams) with sambal chilli.
She was glad that Carol yi-yi likes her cooking. They had spent the whole day chatting just like before and we know that Mummy's pretty happy about it. (If you had read her previous post to Carol yi-yi)
Mummy told Daddy she hopes Carol yi-yi will drop by more often and she'll be more than willing to prepare sumptous meals for her. :)
Pictures that Carol yiyi took for us
Mummy says she feels so sweet when she looks at this picture.
She was glad that Carol yi-yi likes her cooking. They had spent the whole day chatting just like before and we know that Mummy's pretty happy about it. (If you had read her previous post to Carol yi-yi)
Mummy told Daddy she hopes Carol yi-yi will drop by more often and she'll be more than willing to prepare sumptous meals for her. :)
Pictures that Carol yiyi took for us
Mummy says she feels so sweet when she looks at this picture.
The 1st and the last ...
Having snack at Breeks before Gymboree
Baby Naomi getting all excited over Reyden.
Our 1st time at the new Gymboree premises.
Reyes with Naomi
Reyden's joining the gymnastic team
Another monkey comes along
More stunts with a worrying Daddy beside.
Getting lazy again
It's our 1st time at the new Gymboree premises and probably also our last Gymboree outing with Naomi. Aunty Sally had resigned from AIA and will be joining a company for a 9-5 job. Therefore she told Naomi and us that we might see lesser of each other after she starts work.
Mummy felt a tinge of sadness since Aunty Sally broke the news to her on Thurs. For the past 5 years, they had been together from shopping to playing mahjong, to soul-baring and till parenting. Mummy had never thought that Aunty Sally will leave the agency especially after she had just got her 10th year service award.
However she eventually did decide to move out of her comfort zone and go for something which the Holy Spirit had planned for her. Mummy wishes her all the best for her decision and new job. May everything turn out well and good for her. Amen.
Photo taken 2 years ago at Bintan with Aunty Sally (2nd left)
p.s (from mummy): We'll still be able to bring them out together when you are on leave. :)
Sunday, August 17, 2008
The once familiar childhood days ...
Mummy and Daddy were reminiscing their childhood days when they saw us playing at Nainai's house today. It was an once familiar sight with the kids playing at corridor, climbing up & down the stairs, cycling, running & etc ... The only thing that had changed are probably the kids. The old kids had all grown up and are now watching their own kids doing what they had once enjoyed.
Favourite activity: climbing up and down the stairs
Reyden running in excitement
Daddy, Mummy, doesn't this gate and the steps look familiar to you?
Looking at the big bros cycling
Hoping to join in as well
Having snacks by the staircase
Favourite activity: climbing up and down the stairs
Reyden running in excitement
Daddy, Mummy, doesn't this gate and the steps look familiar to you?
Looking at the big bros cycling
Hoping to join in as well
Having snacks by the staircase
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
An angel added to Heaven
http://ashleyisourangel.blogspot.com/2007_06_01_archive.html
An angel added to Heaven - This is the title of the blog a mummy had set up in the remembrance of her little angel that had gone home to the Lord after fighting a tough 36 hours battle.
I came across this when I was in the Motherhood forum. It really struck me hard. It had been days since I read the thread & seen the blog and I just simply couldn't get over it.
Ashley and Joash were conceived as twins in Dec 06. Her brother Joash was delivered stilborn at week 22. She hung on with her mummy till week 24 before she was born. She was merely 685 gms then. Admitted into NICU at KKH with bleeding in the brain & weak lungs. She fought hard for the 36 hours she was there. Eventually God took her away. Her brief struggle with all the tubes ended ...
I learnt that every little life in this world is a gift from God. They don't come easy.
To all parents out there ~ Love your little ones, cherish them, nurture them and TELL them you love them all the time! Do as much as you can to make them happy, live each day as if it was the last!
An angel added to Heaven - This is the title of the blog a mummy had set up in the remembrance of her little angel that had gone home to the Lord after fighting a tough 36 hours battle.
I came across this when I was in the Motherhood forum. It really struck me hard. It had been days since I read the thread & seen the blog and I just simply couldn't get over it.
Ashley and Joash were conceived as twins in Dec 06. Her brother Joash was delivered stilborn at week 22. She hung on with her mummy till week 24 before she was born. She was merely 685 gms then. Admitted into NICU at KKH with bleeding in the brain & weak lungs. She fought hard for the 36 hours she was there. Eventually God took her away. Her brief struggle with all the tubes ended ...
I learnt that every little life in this world is a gift from God. They don't come easy.
To all parents out there ~ Love your little ones, cherish them, nurture them and TELL them you love them all the time! Do as much as you can to make them happy, live each day as if it was the last!
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