This December school holidays season has been a busy one not only for us, but the children as well. Naomi and Nathan have had so much fun at the 3-day Chinese drama class held at the Marine Parade Community Club.
Today, the last day of class, the children had a mini-concert for the parents. Naomi was absent today due to her Crestar ballet rehearsal at the Victoria Theatre.
Nathan had a fun time singing along with the other children. It helped that Sean, his friend was in the same group.
Here's a snap shot of one of the 5 singing items performed by the group. The boy wearing the red Elmo tee is Nathan (Sean is in the front row wearing the GAP tee). It's amazing how young children could remember the lyrics and dance steps for all the 5 drama and dance items, with just 3 days of drama lessons!
Sept 13 marks a special day for my dear pastor Angela's wedding. She is really an old time friend, cell leader, zone supervisor (during cell days) and my current pastor. We are all looking fwd to her big day including my kids who have been looking fwd to it since the day she announced of her marriage plans last year...so finally the big day came. My G12 group did two special items ..one is a fun fun song which we changed the lyrics to the old time favourite oldie "I only want to be with you" and the other one was to thank her for everything in the ministry doing a montage with the "Thank you" song by Bob fits as the background music. Some photos - Didnt take many cos we were too excited with the preparation and talking to old time friends that we have not met for years during the reception :
I attended a seminar this afternoon, the "Complete Ways to Raise a Well-balanced Child" parenting masterclass and was glad that I had learnt some parenting tips from some of the speakers.
Ms Anna Jacob, a nutritionist and dietician, shared a memorable poem at the end of her presentation entitled "Memo from Your Child":
Have been searching for Private piano teacher for some time since last Sept.Both Naomi and Nathan were attending a piano school. The challenge with schools is that they have a very high turnover in teachers. The teachers are not paid alot after splitting the fees thus they would prefer to teach on private basis.
We held back our plans to change to private one on one class for Nathan , thinking that he may be too young to go on individual coaching. The last straw came when the school lost another good teacher again. Again we have to change teacher ! Arrgh
After asking friends, searching on the internet, calling a few teachers, we finally settled on one. Recommended by my ex-church friend who gave her good comments. Her rates are really very competitive for private coaching. In fact, we are paying much lesser than in the music school which is a group lesson for Nathan.
We also wanted them to switch to a weekday afternoon class so as to free them on Saturdays for other things like swimming lessons or just relaxing or waking up later on a Saturday morning.
Had our 1st lesson with Teacher LL today..the kids likes her and I find her patient and approachable.
Thank God for leading us to this teacher through my friend.
Havent been blogging for some time as I am really really busy. It seems that a SAHM is really not easy...a duty that I need to fulfill for 24 hours. For me, I am half a SAHM and WAHM so is a double whammy.
I really must salute all SAHMs without helpers - is really a tall order and a very challenging job indeed. I have a domestic helper and yet I am so busy ...
The other day, my husband showed me an article from Reader Digest which we thought that the author wrote it in a very humourous manner describing the qualities that made a good mother.
The qualities are :
1. Organisational skills , ability to drive and to be in two places at one time
2. Financial Skills if you have to budget for birthdays , weekly grocery shopping which was growing as fast as the kids
3. Good mathematical skills will come in handy when u are trying to divide 7 sweets among 4 kids
4.Chemistry and biology when your two year old shows you a blemish, you will have to be able to tell if it is the beginning of a flesh-eating disease or just a freckle. You will also need to know which laundry soap makes the baby itch, why the sky is blue etc
5. Good memory to remember all the birthdays, names of the stuffed animals, the child who likes peas and cant stand grape juice
6. Creativity to do the art and crafts, teaching them music, turn a nightgown and a roll of tinfoil into a fairy costume for party etc
(Taken from Reader Digest Nov 07 pg 81 - 83)
Really can identify with some of these qualities...esp now I have kids of different ages. Wonder how my mum cope in the earlier days of bringing us up..maybe we werent as inquisitive as the kids nowadays or we were not that demanding or ....
Thank God for all mothers. No matter whether you are SAHM, WAHM or working mums, I think u are all great : )
This afternoon while doing our work in our study room, both myself and Naomi felt ourselves swaying left and right for a few seconds. We looked at each other and I said "Is the earthquake !". We quickly rushed down to tell my helper and carry baby Nicole up to my room. Called my mum who is staying near my house and she said that she couldnt feel the tremors. 15 mins later, went to check the CNA website and true enough, Sumatra in Indonesia experienced a 7.2 earthquake. This is the 2nd time we felt the earthquake tremors since we have shifted here. The first time was in Aug and Sept when there was a major earthquake in Indonesia...
May God heal the earth from the fractures and protect the people from any death, injuries...
Today I conducted a home blessing in one of my cell member BK's new house. Though it was a small group, we however had a wonderful time fellowshipping with each other. The kids had a good time playing with her son in the front yard too.
We are very thankful that not only did we bless the house, BK's maid also accepted the Lord when Pastor asked her if she wish to.
Thank God for his presence and for blessing BK and her family incl her maid. The heaven rejoices even when one soul is saved. : )
Parenting is really not easy esp so when I stay at home. With me staying at home since my resignation from a full time job in Aug 06, I find that I may be giving myself too much pressure to do too many things that I planned to do while not working. Esp now that things are settled compared to previously when I have maid problems, renovating house, moving house, pregnancy, delivering etc.
Not that I am a perfectionist..people always say dont sweat the small stuff but really is easier said than done esp. when coaching them in their work, piano. Emotions run high and my expectations of them too.
Both Naomi and Nathan are considered fast learners or advanced in their age according to "external" standards but still... Maybe becos I am still working on a part-time basis...so tend to expect them to learn faster so that I can get down to my job.
Many parents are also faced with this problem, juggling between work, family, children and many other things... For Christians readers out there.. we really need to ask God to grant us the strength from God to carry us through and give us patience, unconditional love and help us be good role models for our kids to follow and in turn on pass these good values to their kids.
Having said all these, staying at home grants me joy too , seeing them grow and experiencing their first milestones. I didnt regret my decision to stay at home and work part-time as I strongly believe in making a difference in their growing up years by being there in their formative years.
Everyday, is a new learning experience for me...it is not learnt thr' books, parenting articles or anywhere : )
A week ago, I received a phone call from a photo studio offering us complimentary makeover and 2 digital shots to take home. We went ahead with the apppointment, though we expected some sort of sales speech following our shoot. Today being the 3rd day of the Lunar New Year, the studio was quite crowded..we were surprise that we dont have to wait too long for the makeup, photo-shoot as we were the 2nd family and there are plenty of studios and photographers.
Naomi and Nathan are especially excited with the hairdo and the dated Korean costumes which we wore for the 2nd round of photo shoot.
At the end of it, we took 50 shots but were disappointed that we couldn't buy just a few of the nice shots. The package price is way too expensive , so we just took the two complimentary digital photos. I must say that the photo shots are nice, and they dont really hard-sell...but we find that the package price is not value for money.
Seb and Myself may have been too harsh to Naomi and Nathan while helping them to practise on the piano. We both felt quite bad after flaring up at them - always not taking the practise seriously.
After reflecting, both of us felt that we should not have reacted this way, they are still young after all and we should not kill their joy of learning. It is really my desire to want to create a fun learning environment for the kids be it in academic, music learning etc...cos that's what I have learnt from Mindchamps. Only when you have fun learning, u will be motivated and you will remember when u've learnt. Especially for theory, it is pretty hard to teach them in a fun manner. Have been searching for good resources or even thinking of creating one myself , so that the kids can learn the theory through fun and games. Got to know about this software,PianoIsFun. It has got very good reviews, will purchase and update all of you on the progress of the kids in this area.
Is a relieve to have completed the 40 hours for parent volunteering at Kong Hwa School today. Clocked a total of 41 hours 5 mins. We hope that Naomi can get it as it is near to our home (10mins walk) and is a pretty good school - not so stressful as the super good schools and not too bad in their standard too. Actually, kinda of enjoy the phonics class and excusions that I have volunteered. So pray that we can get in ...when Pri 1 registration starts in June.
The Chinese New Year festive mood is in full swing! We visited Parkway Parade last weekend and the mall was packed with shoppers. Geraldine signed up as a member of Borders and got a 40% discount on some children's bargain books, much to the delight of the kids.
As a parent volunteer in a pri school that is near my place, I followed the students for a heritage tour to Chinatown yesterday morning. The tour is conducted by a very experienced STB tour guide Mrs May. Her interesting commentaries made the tour really informative and I was surprised that being a Singaporean I didnt even know of such places and some of the things shared. It was really an eye opener for me. Though we walked for nearly 3 hours from Telok Ayer, Amoy Street, Ann Siang Hill to Pagoda street, Chinatown, I enjoyed myself admidst the hot scorching sun and tired feets. If given a chance, would like to bring my kids to experience such tours.
Unfortunately, I rushed out in the morning and forgot all abt my camera so dont have any photos to put in the blog.
Some of the interesting facts shared are :
1. Tan Thiam Hock temple is built without any nails. The whole structure is built so precisely on top of each other (just like lego blocks)
2. The 1st ACS school is along Amoy Street. The badge and the name is still at the shophouse and preserved but too bad , now is sold off to a PUB
3. Along Chinatown NE Line exit , we went to the shophouses which used to be an opium den and the coolie squarters.
4. At Telok Ayer Gardens (opp Hokkien Huay Kuay), there are those iron scupltures displaying the olden days lifestyles like the indian milk man, the old junk boat etc
5. We went into the Lee Clan Association where they still use blackboard and chalk for their announcement and there is an airwell in the centre of the hall for ventilation.
6. At the indian temple in Chinatown, the guide explained that the mango leaves symbolises welcome and to walk of evil and the leaves that are shaped like spears are to ward off evil. The banana leaves outside the temple symbolises that a special event is coming up. Apparently , today is Taipusum Festival .
Many many other interesting stuff shared...
The Yiangsters posing for a good shot (from left : Nathan, Nicole and Naomi)
This morning, I began the day with a bad start. It was supposed to be good news to me but with a twist to it, it turned out to be a disappointment to me. It is not appropriate to elaborate the long story in this blog but it is work related.
Through the daily devotions on Psalms since the new year, the themes about injustice, about forgiveness towards people who have done me wrong , about standing victorious in trials are really applicable esp today.
I was feelling quite down and bothered by it that I went window- shopping with my two kids in the afternoon just to cheer myself up. Woman dont call "Retail therapy" for nothing, the shopping really helps , trust me !
I have learnt a lesson from both in the physical and spiritual side of things today.
Thank God for your test and trial, so that I may learn from it and emerge stronger than before. May God's promises and strength be a constant encouragment to me. Amen !
Find that I am constantly busy especially after moving to new house and having a newborn. Now that Naomi and Nathan are older, more time is also spent on disciplining them, stopping the fights, nagging them to do this and that instead of wasting their time etc..
Find that my time is not well spent but rather busy juggling my work and managing the kids though I have a domestic helper. Especially when the kids are having the recent school break, I find that my day passes so fast without doing anything productive (in terms completing my work or doing something worthwhile with the kids). I think WAHM (Work at Home Mum) is even tougher than a WM (Working Mum).
Upon reflecting and reading the book "Terrific Toddlers" by Mel Hayde, I realised that I probaby need a schedule for myself and to put my kids in a flexible daily routine. In the book, Mel teaches how mothers can frequently feel calm and in control and children can learn self-control when they can play independently, to share and to be polite and obey. After reading the book, I feel inspired to make a difference in my home and to allow my day to be organised and to do what I need to do as planned in a day.
This is one of my new year resolution and I will blog further next time if this is going to help.
While fetching Naomi from Sunday School today, Seb realised that she was holding a green bangle that doesnt belong to her.
S : Where did you get this bangle ?
N : My friend gave this to me ?
S : Then where is your necklace ?
N : I gave to my friend because she gave me the bangle
Both myself, Seb and my family were angry and disappointed by Naomi's weakness in this area. Though she is only 5 and is a time for her to learn from her mistakes,we were however tired of constantly reminding and telling her not to accept things from people or to borrow or exchange things in school.
Naomi was crying all the way from church to home as she felt bad that she has given away the pearl necklace that grandma gave to her.
I hope that she will learn from this lesson and to have self-control over this area. For me, the lesson to learn is to have the patience to help her to understand why she is behaving this way and to discipline her in love rather than give her an earful of lectures.
Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, don't make your children angry. Instead, train them and teach them the ways of the Lord as you raise them.
Lord, please give me a strength and patience to make use of every teachable moment to train my children in the ways of the Lord so that they will not depart from the truths when they grow up. Amen !
This whole afternoon had a wonderful planning session with my G12 sisters and the pastor for the Year of Sabbath. This year, our church will concentrate on 3 main areas :
1. Intimacy with God (renew our first love with God), 2. Inter-dependance (build relationship with one another and renew ties with our loved ones) and to 3. Integration (rest and re-creation of the land ie to bless the community). I am looking forward to what's in store for us this year as we begin to draw closer to God and to renew and strengthen our ties with one another.
With the new year, there are new hopes and new plans..is exciting as I was planning what I hope to achieve this year. Some of the things I hope to do this year :
1. Spend deliberate quality time with baby nicole daily on a fixed routine- building her love for stories, literacy, play etc
2. To do up a flexible routine timetable for myself, Naomi and Nathan so that the day can be much more organised to learn, to play and to practise on the piano
3. To help Naomi with Math and Chinese which are the weaker subjects so as to prep her for P1 next year
4. To teach Nathan to read
5. To help them to have a mindset that learning is fun and not boring andnot to pass tests or exams only
6. To have time to play, communicate ideas and values, play or do crafts together, pray and read the bible together.
7. My personal plan this year, I hope to start a parenting website with information , newsletters etc soon so that I can share with other parents what I have learnt from parenting books, parenting courses,websites, my experience in Mindchamps and through teaching Kindermusik.
8. Hope to read one parenting book and one christian book every 2 mths.
9. On the spiritual side, I hope to be more diligent in my quiet time, to pray for my children and family needs on a daily basis and to enjoy the intimacy and to draw near to God.
10. As for family matters, I plan to have couple time alone with my husband once every month , to go out have dinner or lunch together , without the kids.
11. To incorporate on some of the teachings I have learnt during Focus on the Family seminar ie to draw up a family mission statement and to spend individual time with each kid and to discipline them using the methods taught.
12. To have family cell with/without my extended family.
I hope to achieve most of it if not all by end 2008. Hope is not wishful thinking : )
Let's see if I can do it when I blog at the end Dec 08.
A very interesting read indeed. Sarah Mahoney, in her article "The Brat Pack" (Parents, March 2007 Issue, pp 122-126), believes that there is a "manners meltdown" for today's children. One of the main reasons is that today's busy working parents are too tired to discipline their children after a hard day's work. That aggravates the children's rude behaviour because of such "permissive" response from the parents.
Some parents are also being over-protective over their kids. They think that their kids are already stressed up in their school work and it's okay for them to be occasionally rude to them or even others instead of rebuking and correcting them. Other parents are also guilty of feeding their kids with over-sized portions of self-esteem, so much so that kids have rendered themselves more superior than other kids (even adults in some circumstances) in terms of talent and other gifted abilities. The TV media has also promoted rudeness as a cool act.
In her article, she quoted experts' advice to parents to serve as role models to our children. This in fact places the children in good stead in life compared to their peers because of their ability to show empathy to others and not to develop a self-centred approach to the world. It is said that rude children are more likely to face problems in school and even cause trouble to society when they grow up.
What is mind-boggling to me is that the choice of play toys can be influential in a child's perspective of rudeness! Toys encouraging rude behaviours include th breaking of wind from a teddy bear when pressed on its tummy (it should say "excuse me" after breaking of wind), and an ice-filled water gun that makes the squirt hurt.
Sarah also urges parents to set clear standards and communicate them consistently to the children, telling them the reasons behind the rules. For example, telling them not to interupt when someone is speaking. TV programs should be selective and limited whenever possible.
Personally, I try to be consistent in my counselling of my kids. Be real patient that you may need to keep reminding your children to say "please" and "thank you", or to sit still while dining. And you know what, I think my persistence pays off. Nowadays, Naomi and Nathan are behaving much better at meal times instead of running around. The trick is to also get our domestic helper to cooperate with you to maintain consistency in your teachings.
