We are here to see Mr President...

Dear readers, sorry for not blogging for the longest time...no discipline and many other things have taken higher priority. Shall attempt to back-date some of the things I wish to update.

Last Thursday, May Day, we brought the family to the Istana... Ashamed to say that being a singaporean, this is my 1st time to the Istana (ie completing the walk). The last time I went to instana when I was in my primary school with my dad and mum...I remembered that halfway walking , we gave up and went to the then Plaza Singapura or Yaohan for shopping instead.

So last Thursday, was my 1st complete visit : )

We went all ready with picinic mats and snacks. After some security checks and about 30 mins of queuing, we were soon having picnic at the greens and enjoying the music from the brass band performed by some schools. Thank God that the weather was not so humid though it was sunny.

The two older kids enjoyed themselves running freely in the vast greenery while the adults just sit and chit chat ...even baby nicole is excited with her 1st visit. Enjoying her home-cooked porridge when sitting on the mat.

No, we didnt manage to see S R Nathan, our president...he is in NZ for official visit when we were there...according to the news on TV, the previous nite.

A Child's World

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":

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Memo from Your Child

(Author: Unknown)

Dear Mum and Dad,

Please help me to love myself.

Don't spoil me. I know quite well that I shouldn't have all that I ask for, I'm only testing you - but please give me the discipline I need!

I need my sense of dignity, so please don't belittle me in front of people. I'll take more notice of you if you talk to me with as much respect as you give to your best grown up friends.

Don't ridicule me or imply that my inappropriate behaviour means that I am bad. It errodes my sense of worthiness.

Don't be too upset when I say "I hate you". It isn't you I hate, but your power over me.
Please be patient with me. I may be a late bloomer.

When You have a bad day, please don't take your frustrations out on me.

Please don't shout or nag. If you do, I will have to protect myself by appearing to be deaf.

Please help me feel good about myself by telling me of the good things about myself more often than you tell me of the things you don't like.

Don't bribe me or make rash promises. remember that I feel badly let down when promises are broken.

Don't be inconsistent. That completley confuses me and makes me lose faith in you.

Don't tell me my fears are silly. They are terribly real and you can do much to reassure me if you try to understand.

Don't ever think that it is beneth you to apologise to me. In honesty, apology makes me feel surprisingly warm towards you.

Please praise and acknowledge me for who I am and not for the things I do, for then I will grow up without the stress of comparing and competing.

Please keep reminding me that I am basically good and capable and worthwhile, so I can grow up loving and accepting myself.

Don't forget that I can't thrive without a lot of love and understanding... but I don't need to tell you, do I?

P.S. I love you, and I don't expect you to be perfect either!

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What a nice piece of parenting 101 for all parents!

New Piano Teacher

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.

A salute to all Stay At Home Mums (SAHMs) and all Mothers

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 : )

The Earth shakes...

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...

Home Blessing

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 Challenges

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 : )

Funny photos from sis' mobile

My sister just emailed me some photos taken using her mobile. Amazed at how interestingly the photos turned out to be using the picture frames esp for Nathan and Nicole..so cute with the judge wig.