Ideal?

Most people have goals, aspirations, hopes, wishes, ideals. As a homemaker, my ideal is for my children to get into a purposeful routine where they do work most of the time without me telling, some time set aside for play and without wasting their time on meaningless activities like walking around the house like a zombie or wasting ink of whiteboard markers which I seem to replenish quite frequently.

Last meal spent in my house- Having a McDonalds Picnic

I have officially stopped my nanny duties after one month, when I helped to take care of a 8 year old girl who stays in the same block as me. Her mum did want to extend as her daughter enjoys playing with my children but I had to reject as my helper would be leaving very soon and I need to spend real quality time alone with my children,  trying to get them into a nice routine and  get used to doing housework all over again.

Right now the situation is far from ideal. The excuse is probably because my helper is still around. So, I am basically trying to take it as easy as I can right to the very second before she goes back home.

My helper, Wina with the children and cousins 

So for now, I basically do what I feel like doing- watching my American TV Series in bed, napping, cooking when I feel like it and reading to my children. Yup, that's about it. I am reassuring myself that I do deserve all these. After all, its only going to last about 10 more days. Yikes!

Define Success

What does success mean to you as a parent? What is your vision for your family and children? A few days ago, my friend shared a video clip on facebook which really reinforces what I want my children to grow up to be.

Take a look!



I know this world teaches us that success is about making it big in life- to be rich, own a landed property, drive big cars, have children who are doctors or lawyers etc etc. There is nothing wrong with that but does it really matter in the end?

When I was a teacher and even now, I tell parents,who are worried about their children's studies, that they should not worry and fret over their child who is not doing well. They can be late bloomers or just not cut out to study.

To me, what's important is that the child learn life skills, develop perseverance, do their best in everything they do, be kind and compassionate, be confident etc. These are more important as this will bring them further in life and prepare them for eternity as they pass down the same set of skills to the next generation.

Year in, year out. when I teach my Secondary 4 for their final O Level exams in the past, those who didn't do well in the exams, also eventually went to polytechnic or ITE, passed and have a good job which they enjoy doing. They are also the ones who keeps in contact with me and goes back to their old school to visit their teachers.

God does not expect perfection from us, parents. We just need to be faithful in what He has entrusted us with and continually endeavor to make the right choices so that our children receive such a foundation upon which a child can begin to build the fortress for his own life.

Gardener of Souls

" By wisdom a house is built, 

And by understanding it is established;

And by knowledge the rooms are filled

With all precious and pleasant riches."

Proverbs 24:3-4

I have just finished reading this amazing book, "The Mission of Motherhood". It is very insightful and reinforces what kind of home I want to have and the kind of children I want them to grow into. I, especially love this particular chapter, "Gardener of Souls".

In this chapter, it talked about how children, do not accidentally become mature adults of strong character, great faith, gracious relationship skills, effective leadership qualities, and sharp intellects.

As a garden cannot flourish without a gardener, neither can a child reach his or her potential without someone committed to careful cultivation. If left unsupervised or left to chance, most likely it will grow wild and undisciplined, stunted and unfruitful.

As a mother, I see myself as a gardener (though I haven't have much success in real gardening). I want my children to thrive-grow up confident and civilised. I want them to prepared to live as abundantly as possible. In order for that to happen, I need to do a little intentional "gardening".

Like how the chapter in the book puts it-
"Blessed are the children whose mothers garden in the soil of their souls. The fruit they bear will not only serve them in the future, but a whole generation will be beautified and enriched."

With that in mind, I will definitely be getting my hands dirty as I do some gardening - metaphorically and literally!

Let's take care of our gardens by planning and tending it carefully so that it will be a source of beauty and growth where our children blossom in mind, heart and soul because you took the time not only to love and protect them but to cultivate their skills, experiences, relationships and appetites!

God's Art

" Art is man's nature; nature is God's art. " Phillip James Bailey

I have always been fascinated and in love with nature. Give me a time spent alone in the mountains or sea, and I will feel right at home. I am intrigued by how each day, the skies look so different and spectacular. It changes every day even if you are in the same spot.

Last Wednesday, my children had no school because the teachers had staff training. So I took the children out at 640am for a jog from my place to the Punggol Promenade which was about 15 mins jog/walk. The skies were amazing. It was quite dramatic, despite the heavy rain that took place that very early morning.

It was beautiful just seeing the clouds, the various colours, and the reflection in the water.

It makes you forget about everything as I gazed at this, in awe of God's creative art!

The next day when the children went off early for school at 630am, I cycled to the same spot and it was a different feel that morning. It was soft and subtle..very calming and misty.

There is something quite reassuring as I did my quiet time with God and enjoying His presence everywhere.

This reminds me of the book of Genesis in the Bible where God talks about how He created this whole earth in the beginning, as well as man and God saw that it was good. So let's just slow down, look up and admire His creation. 

God is good!

Gardening

Gardening has not been my forte after being the murderer of many plants, including the pandan leaves plant which is claimed by many that it is a hardy plant and easy to grow. However, I do dream of growing my own crops and still have interest in them. It just takes me a while to heal my wounds of past failures and get back into the mode of gardening again.

After stopping for about 3 years, I am back again. What bounce me back into action is whenever I am at my lift lobby to see the nice sunlight shining down on my useless pots of dried up soil. After seeing that, I knew I had to do something. I don't wish to see the sunlight go to waste and I am sick of facing pots of dried up soil just lying there getting more dried up from the sun. (if it can get even drier than what it already is)

Even my block cleaner helped me to stack up the rectangular pots to neaten up my area. Maybe she too can't stand the sight of it.

Anyway, I decided to go in search for soil and seeds in the supermarket and managed to lug it back home.

With my helper's assistance, she put the seeds on cotton wool first since they are still young.

There are 7 different kinds of seeds in this-  tomato, coriander, mint, chives, sage, green chilli padi (from Australia which my helper keep stressing), big red chillis

I was quite doubtful that this would work. But here's what has taken place 3 days later..

I am really crossing my fingers and praying  it will be a success. Stay tune to this blog for more updates! :)

4-eyed boy

I used to wonder why children in Singapore are wearing spectacles at such a young age and most of the time, I would think it's because they are spending too much time on the TV or computer.

Little did I know that my son would also end up being 4-eyed at a young age- even before starting Primary school! But now, I know that instead of  'judging' the child for watching too much TV or playing computer games, I know that the answer can just be genetic because my son hardly watches TV or play games.

I used to only restrict my children to playing with my ipad for 10 mins each on Saturday and Sundays (which to me is already quite pathetic) and they hardly watch TV only maybe one or two shows on weekends but about 1-2 months ago, I totally stopped them from computer games as me and my hubby agreed that they can be more healthier substitutes than jumping over obstacles or beating up people in computer games, that can also be fun for them. So since then, I have been playing more board and card games with them. So if you do not know what to get for my children on Christmas or birthday, please get me board games or card games that is fun and engaging, especially those from the creators of GameWright!

I have been playing Board Games like Monopoly, Sudoku, Snakes and Ladders, The Game of Life and for card games-Donkey, Old Maid, Pictureka. Also went on to teach them checkers and tic tac toe as well. I have to say..I need patience as it does take a while for them to understand the game and learn the strategies.

Anyway, back to my 6 year old son. His right eye is quite bad with a degree of 275 while is left eye is almost perfect. So because of that, he has to wear spectacles so that he does not get lazy eye. Caleb hates it and initially refuses to wear. He was also very self-conscious that his friends would laugh at him. But of course with much encouragement and explanation, he wears them and is probably a matter of getting used to it.

From all this, I am thinking to myself that I am getting a more mature boy who is growing up fast and hopefully, matching his actions to his looks as a professor or doctor now, which he claims he now looks like with his spectacles on!

While I was taking this picture (as we were waiting for their school bus), I started feeling that very soon, both my children will not be going to school together in the bus as my son goes to Primary One next year..aw.. He is really growing up faster than what I want.

New friend

I have just turned my status from a teacher to a stay-at-home mum to a nanny all within 2 months. Just last week, I saw an advertisement pasted outside my lift lobby asking for someone to take care of her Primary 2 daughter during the day time as both parents work. I was interested as I am always at home, have a helper for now and I can have a bit of income just by being at home. So why not?

So I contacted the mum and she happens to stay in the same block as me. So I told her it may be hard for me to commit as I may go out at times and my family goes on holidays. She came down to my place for a visit with her daughter and liked my house. She commented that she likes the environment. So she said why don't I just take care of her daughter for one month while she go look for a more permanent nanny. Yep, so I agreed since my helper will be with me till end October. So she can also help me take care of this girl.

Her name is Ying Xi and I only agreed this because she is old enough to take care of herself since she is 8 years old. And its also a good opportunity to know my neighbours and bless them. So why not?

On the first day, when I went to her school to pick her up, it was terrifying and so surreal for me as I saw throngs of people gathering outside the school gate, waiting to pick up the kid. It was interesting to see the emotions of mums outside the school gate and sad to see mums raising their voices and ticking their child off at the school gate after picking them up.

Was pleasantly surprised when my children adapted to Ying Xi very well and vice versa. They warm up to strangers much faster than adults, I feel, as they do not have their guards up. For adults, we probably overthink and worry too much that our walls are usually up.

Anyway, glad Ying Xi could fit in so well with my children. I cook for her lunch and dinner. After lunch, I would tell her to go do whatever she likes first. Then about 30 mins later, I would revise work with her or prepare her for her tests.

It is fun as I love investing my time in what is meaningful and I am glad she is not a difficult child to handle.

When my children come back from school, they would have their tea time together before they start on their homework.

Then usually after bath, they would play!

After dinner, her mum would come about 8pm to pick her up and often, I see how she doesn't seem to want to go back with her mum even after spending the whole day at my house. I really thank God that my family has this opportunity to bless her family and I pray that they will see Christ love in us!