Back from hiatus!

Oh gosh, when I decided to revive my blog this morning, I checked back at my last posting and I can't believe that it has been 9-10 months since my last post.

Took a short hiatus because I was swarmed with children and work. Went back into teaching during the second semester to a school that is near my house and just opposite my children's school. However, things didnt work out well as school ended really late for me and by the time I picked my children up from school, it was close to evening and I had to rush preparing dinner before I scoot off for tuition at 630pm.

Did not like having so little time with my children. Did not like asking my children to always have lunch in school which always end up them eating so little and unhealthily. Did not like the fact to hear them complain when they have to stay back in the school library to wait for me to finish class. On the other side, I also face complains from my Sec 3 students as they want me to stay back and give them remedial. They need to see me after school to ask questions etc etc.

So, I guess its better to make one side happy then to make both sides unhappy. That explains my retirement..for the SECOND time. (First time was when Caleb, my older one was about to enter primary one)

Having time now with my children is priceless as I watch them grow and being co-workers with God to raise them up. He has opened my eyes to see my children differently and to be their friend, mentor and coach is definitely a learning process but am definitely embracing it with love.

As a parent volunteer on the first day of school to help out the Primary One Parents, had the opportunity to catch my children during recess. How awesome!

These are wonderful memories that I will treasure forever.

Caleb's first visit

It's Caleb's first visit to the hospital as a patient since birth. Thank God my children has been healthy enough to avoid going by to hospitals. On 1st July, just the second day after school reopened, Caleb commented that he fell down and his bone hurts. When I first looked at his elbow, it seems swollen and out of place.

During lunch he seemed okay but nearing to evening time, he said it was more painful. So I took him to the doctor down at my block, thinking maybe they have xrays in clinics. Sigh, but I was wrong. I made a wasted trip, paid for consultation which was about $20 just for the doctor to write a referral letter to someone to do the job for him. What easy money for the doctor to earn!

So after dinner, the family all went to bring Caleb to KK hospital. We had the peace and knew it wasn't a big problem but still, I wanted to get an xray done. Even if all is fine, well, at least Caleb gets to have fun seeing his bone in the xray film! I knew he would like that! :)

The process of seeing the triage nurse, to getting an xray done and a doctor's review went on so smoothly. The children had fun watching "Tom and Jerry" cartoon on TV while waiting.

The doctor said there's no bone out of place and maybe some hairline cracks causing the swell. So his hand was wrapped up in cast and was given a day of MC.

A week later, he was supposed to go back for a review but before it came, he seemed alright to me as he was already bouncing balls with his arm! So I took out the cast on my own and set him free!! Of course, I didn't go for the appointment back at the hospital!

Thank God for his speedy recovery and protection from an injury that could be worse!

Classes

Finally, its all taking shape with the classes my children are taking. Since having children, I have always wanted my children to take up piano as well as swimming. As I said in my post on "Purposeful Parenting" , everything has to be intentional and meaningful. To me if not, I would probably end up in circles, wasting time and money. So why piano and swimming?

Well, I believe that in whatever instrument my children end up playing, starts with the basics of piano. I am more of a guitar player and I have understood my guitar better because I have a piano background. As for swimming, obviously I want them to be confident in the water for safety reasons.

My son has mentioned to me that he would like to play drums in future, while my girl, guitar. So they promised me that they will go through the piano lessons first for the basics before they start learning on their own in whatever instrument they like to explore in future.

My children goes for swimming every week and though they have not learnt to swim basic strokes, their confidence in the water has grown exponentially as they paddle about 5 to 10m without a board. To me, its an achievement and a milestone from the time they used to hesitate to go down the adult lap pool and need to hold on to me so tightly. The main thing is that they are enjoying and always looking forward to the next lesson!

As for piano lessons, my friend from church comes to my place every week to teach both my children. I trust her because she is an excellent pianist who plays in the worship team and more importantly, she is an experienced piano teacher and loves the Lord as well. So I mentioned to her that my direction for my children is not necessary on getting their grade certifications but to enjoy learning and playing worship songs.

So far so good and my children seems to like it as well.

Besides these 2 classes, they go for weekly Chinese class down at the RC(Residential Committee) near my block. Their Chinese has improved quite significantly as well since they seldom have any practise at home.

And lastly, one ad-hoc lesson that they have is tennis. My friend from church volunteered to coach all of us tennis as a family! I used to play tennis, going through lessons before but its definitely more fun now with my children and husband!

At the end of it all, I believe in seeing my children enjoy what they do, having fun and at the same time, learning!

Make it purposeful

I am a very practical person who doesn't like to waste time or resources on anything useless.
I make sure that the time I have is well-spent, the money I have is well-earned etc etc..

So with that background of me, I tend to be intentional and purposeful in the things I do while parenting. To me, parenting is similar to gardening. Read my previous post on "Gardener of Souls".

 

 

 

Anyway, that is why whenever I visit the library with my children, I make sure I know what I am borrowing. I flash out my cell phone, open up the memo app and look through the long list of Alphabets and Dewey Decimal codes for the books which I have researched on to find.

As I am particular in what my children watch on TV, its the same for books.  At this age, it may not be as bad as there will not be as many trashy stuff in children's books. But I am still particular. So usually, when they select their books, I would sieve through them as well as select my own recommended ones.

Here's some of the books from the library that me and my children love (with the Singapore library number)

1) Berenstain Bears series (English and Chinese versions) - JP BER

2) Little Bear Series (English) - JP MIN

 

3) Frog and Toad Series (English) - JP LOB

 

 

4) Usborne Illustrated Stories - They have many series to this.

• Usborne illustrated stories from Shakespeare (JL USB)
• Illustrated classics for children  (JL ILL)
• Usborne illustrated adventure stories  (JL USB)
• Usborne illustrated stories for the holidays (JL USB)

 

and many many more..Go to the National Library Website to search for availability and many more stories from this series!

 





Though my children still loves to look at pictures and have yet to be independent in their reading, I will still continue to make every effort to introduce them classics and wholesome books as well to continue reading to them because I know the benefits of reading.

Truthfully when I was young, I never really read much books. Either I do not have time or I was simply too lazy to carry it through to finish one. But I am glad I enjoy reading now and I wish for my children to pick up the love of reading!

 

 

 

And to add some fun to reading, I just started the Reading Bingo game for my family.. At the end of crossing out all the boxes, there will be a prize!

 

(Just seconds later after putting it up on the wall, my younger daughter quickly went to grab a funny book and laughed each time she read just to make it look funnier! She was happy striking off the "Read a Funny Book" box. Initially, she took "David and Goliath" book and insisted it was a funny book because of how funny the giant looked after David hit him with the stone. After crossing her first box, she wanted to read more to cross out the next one..I can't keep up with her!)

 



Chronicles of hairstyles

I thought it would be interesting to dig out past photos of my children to compare how they have grown or rather, to specifically look at how their hairstyles have changed..

Let's take a look at my firstborn son,Caleb. Take a look at his journey..

Before 1 year old




Before Haircut (5 months old)

After haircut



Shaved (7 months)

1 year old

 



 

 

His WORSE haircut

2-4 years old

 

5 years old-present

 

 

                   

     

Here's my second child, Danielle's hairstyle journey

Before 1 year old

 

 1-3 years old

 

4 years old- present

If you notice Danielle's hairstyle, it is basically the same throughout. Only trim. Its just one style.

But on the other hand, it's Caleb's hairstyle that has gone through many changes that I have lost count.

So, who says guys only have the same hairstyle from young?

(Had fun looking through my children's photos as I think back about their past when they were young and how much they have grown....Time flies)

Organic Play

My children, aged 6 and 7 are not the typical kind of children who goes all crazy over parties or any activities organised. They rather stand at the side lines watching or simply do what they want to do, without being told or instructed what to do.

So initially, I was quite hesitant to sign them up for this event but went ahead since it was my friend, Sarah ("The Playful Parents") who organised it.

This event was named "Organic Play Party" as play to be organic in nature and spirit. So what does that mean? Mess of course!! It is fluid and uncontrolled play time for my children. Something which I felt was different-away from shopping malls or the confines of walls but it was held in the void deck and multi-purpose hall of HDB in Tampines.

There were about 5 stations for them to go to and play. First station was bubble fun where they learnt how to make their own bubble dough. Its a softer version of play dough made with conditioner! So, it smells really nice.

 

 

The second station was where you use marbles and different sizes of ball, dip them in paint and roll them on the drawing paper. Caleb had fun in that station as he gets his hands dirty!

 

 

 

 

There was also a music station where they could take any items provided to make music. It was quite creative as the child could discover various ways in making sound.



 

 

 

 

The next station was the dirtiest station where they did the water-filled balloons in paint and simply throw them. I was surprised both of them had fun playing. Danielle even commented that this was her favourite station!

I was practically cringing each time I see paint get onto their tees..yes, I dread the washing. Ha. But I kept reminding myself that it is ok..play is meant to be dirty and fun!

 

Finally, the last station was where they could make use of their bubble dough to decorate using pasta, straws, leaves, rubber bands etc. I like this station is its not dirty and it instils creativity as well.



At the end of it, I was glad my children gave this a try and took part in the activities.

 All in all, I am glad I brought them here to experience what play should be about-simple (in transforming public places into playful places) and how simple objects found everyday at home can be transformed to experiences with some imagination.

Sometimes I feel we are crowding our children with so many things that they forget how to be a child anymore-how to play, laugh and have fun with the simple things in life, nature etc.

Are we striving too much in wanting extraordinary things to happen in our children's lives? Why not focus on the ordinary instead?

I love what it says below..