Archive for the 'Parenting' Category

Only 2 more days to go before the school holidays. As usual we have grand plans. No, not to go anywhere but we have lots of activities planned for the kids. As usual, mummy will be more busy than ever during the school holidays, so I will take a blog break too.

I hope that the schools won’t dish out too many homework for them. It is only a week’s holiday after all. Minus the weekends, it is only 5 days. That is too little for all the things we want to do. I hope to…

• let them explore the computer more (on mommy approved games and sites only) Hehe. No shooting, racing or other mindless games. There are many educational games that are fun and equally challenging
• brush up their languages by letting them watch more Malay and Chinese cartoons
• let them read stories in 3 languages (learning 3 languages at the same time is tough.) and discuss with them afterwards
• do arts and crafts (which the children love)
• teach them a little bit of English because it has been neglected to make way for learning Chinese and Malay
• let them play ball and skipping and bean bags (we made two to play with this holidays)
• let them practise more piano (I am glad that the kids love the piano. I do not have to nag at them to practise. It is the other way around, they beg me to let them practise but usually there is not enough time, so piano practise is low in priority, unfortunately, unless there is a piano exam around the corner)

That is a tall order indeed. Crafts, Languages, Music and PC Skills plus a little bit of sports. That is our objective this school holidays. Only 5 days to do the things that they seldom get to do during regular school days due to lack of time. What a pity.

The kids love holidays even though we seldom go anywhere. They look forward to our own home school holiday program. We usually draw up a timetable together and they look forward to following the timetable of activities. During some school holidays, if there is a test pending afterwards, then we have to do more revision and practise in workbooks. However, this holidays, with the test just over, we can do more fun things.

Science in English has been removed from my girl’s timetable and replaced by English periods. Maths in English is still being taught at this point of time.

At first, I thought I am happy that at last the kids do not have to study the Maths and Science in two languages in school thus reducing their workload. To me, although I preferred the subjects to be taught in English, having it taught in just Mandarin was better than having it taught in two languages both at the same time and having to sit for two sets of tests. However, on hindsight, I think that it has been a good thing.

Although their workloads and bag loads were heavier with the two subjects being taught in two languages, it allowed me to teach my girl the two subjects easily. I taught her in English and then we translated the terms to Mandarin. It was good that way because she thinks in English. Some of the workbooks were bilingual too so it was useful.

I hope that now that the two subjects will no longer be taught in English, those bilingual books will not go too because I find them really useful. It is harder to learn the subjects directly in Mandarin. It was easier for us to learn the concepts in English and then translate the terms into Chinese. Now it will be harder for me to teach my kids.

Last year, there was a fair in my girl’s school. There was all sorts of games and food at the fair. The kids had to purchase coupons and use them to play games.

When my girl came home that day, she brought along with her two little fish in a plastic bag. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Although I was amused but secretly horrified (what would I do with two little fish!), the little boy was delighted. He had been reading about pets and was thinking about keeping a fish as a pet. He immediately claimed one fish which his sister generously agreed to.

Their doting dad went out to buy a small tank to keep the two tiny fish. The tank is really small, just nice for two or three tiny fish.

We called the fish “Goldie” and something else I can’t remember. I think Goldie died a few days later. So daddy had to go to the pet store to buy two more little fish. They soon died one after another in the following weeks and were replaced by two guppy fish like the one in the picture.

So now we are the proud owners of three little fish. Goldie’s first partner plus his two new Guppy friends. These three are hardy. It has been a couple of months now and they are still well and alive. The guppy fish looks an ugly grey from far but upon closer inspection, they have lovely colourful tails like that of a peacock. Goldie’s original partner has also grown in size.

The kids feed the fish once a day during lunch. Fortunately, kakak helps to clean the tank, otherwise,  I would have thrown out the fish a long time ago.

You know, there is something about pets. At the end of the day, it is always the mum who has the last responsiblity of looking after the pet like picking out cat or dog hairs from the upholstery and rugs, cleaning the fish tank, making sure no one steps on animal poo, bathing the pets and the list goes on. Everyone loves pets but at the end of the day, it is not easy to look after pets. They are living things that require gentle care. So who is the nurturer at home who is good at giving gentle care? Mummy of course!

During the school holidays I allowed the kids to stay up later. When I was tired, I told them they could continue to chit chat after the lights were off. Listening to them really made me laugh.

First they decided what time they would chit chat till. “Lets chit chat till 11.20pm” said the older one. “What shall we chit chat about?” said the younger one.

They decided to chit chat about their day. “Today, we did……” They went on about their day till 11.20pm when the older one said it was time to end their chit chat.

They said their goodnights to each other which is a lengthy one as we usually do “Goodnight. I love  you. Have a Good Night’s Sleep. Goodnight, Sleep Tight. Happy.”

So they went “I love you.” said the small one and “I love you too.” said his older sister…..and then …. silence….

After a while, a small voice said “Cheh Cheh, Why don’t I love you?” followed by “Why do we always fight and argue?”

Cheh Cheh said “Yah, we always argue but then sometimes we are nice to each other too.” The small one said “Ok” and that was that. They both went to sleep while I had a hard time trying to stiffle my laughter.

Afterthought: I know the little one wishes that his sister would love him more. Once he said, “If I had a magic wand, I wish to have a nice cheh cheh who won’t argue with me so much.” It is because cheh cheh is a bit older, in primary school now and sometimes gets a bit impatient with him. They have different likes and dislikes and because of the gender difference as well, sometimes cheh cheh does not like to play the games he likes even though he keeps saying “Please cheh cheh” . However, my girl often laughs at the antics of her little brother. He can really amuse her and make her laugh with much amusement. When they do play games together, I can see that they really do have a lot of fun together.

Today is the day. Yes, today I have time for me again. You will notice that my blog post has been in a lull but now perhaps, I shall be able to churn out more posts again.

It has been a hectic 6 weeks of school holidays for the kids. We didn’t go anywhere, only Genting, but it was still hectic all the same. It is always hectic when you have young kids at home. The days fly by in a whirlwind.

During the 6 weeks, I did not do any exercises at all! I also ate and ate and ate along with the kids. I made tea for them and ate with them. Instead of their regular breakfast of a piece of toast and milk, I made them pancakes, and french toasts etc and I ate along with them. I also added marjerine and peanut butter and bananas and honey just like them.

What have I got to show after 6 weeks of school holidays? Why, a bigger pouch of course around the tummy area and a smaller pouch as the money drained from the real purse or pouch since we ate out more and took them to the movies etc. Oh oh!

So, my New Year’s resolution which I just made today or right now, is to exercise everyday for 30 minutes each day. Then hopefully, in 6 weeks time, I will lose the weight that I gain in the last 6 weeks, just in time to fit into a new Cheongsum for Chinese New Year.

Last night I was stirring a glass of honey and suddenly I was small again, in my mother’s kitchen, drinking the same smelling honey which I had drunk often as a child. Its funny how certain smells can invoke childhood memories almost instantaneously transporting us back through time.

I know many smells remind me of my mother. Smells of peeling or chopping onion reminds me of helping her in the kitchen. Smells of cakes being baked reminds me of mum too. Smells of half boiled eggs reminds me of my dad who took it daily when we were young. Smells of Fish Oil reminds me of, well of Fish Oil taken as a child. Smells of plain white porridge or plain bread dipped in Milo reminds me of being sick as a child etc etc.

Most of my olfactory memories relate to childhood events. So I guess, if I want my children to remember me when they are older, I better go and whip up some good regular cooking of the same foods they love often. A pity, I don’t bake. That would make some good childhood memories.

I’m never short of hugs at home. A hug is the most powerful thing. With just a short hug you say “I Love You and I Care About You” without words. Its a warm lovely feeling to be hugged and to hug and cuddle.

The thing with children is they give their hugs so freely. With two young kids at home, I’m never short of hugs. If I want a hug, all I need to do is put out my arms to one of them and they’ll run eagerly into my arms for a hug. The man is a little bit more restraint than that.

I wonder why people give out hugs so easily when they’re young and then shy away from them when they’re adults? Why do people find it so easy to hug their children but not their parents?

Even if I don’t put out my arms, they’ll usually creep or gravitate towards me somehow. Last night after lights were out and everyone was told to shhhh after a while, one little one crept towards me, hugged me and said “Mummy, you’re a good mummy.” That gave me the warmest feeling ever.

I hope to raise children who will not be afraid to hug. I hope that they will not become shy or afraid to hug me when they grow up so I’m going to teach them that there is nothing to be shy about in hugging and showing someone that you care about them through hugs. How do you teach that? By giving out plenty of hugs naturally.

Hopefully that will keep my hug supply going for many more years to come and not only in toddlerhood or childhood.

I realise this year that our many parenting firsts do not end after baby’s first turning over, first crawl, first tooth, first walk etc. After that, we had first walk, first swim, first fall, etc etc. Along the way, we had first smile, first words, and many other firsts. We also had first holidays, first day in kindy, first concert, first test, first school trip without us, first …..

However, this year, we as parents had our many firsts instead. We went to the primary school to register our kid for the first time. We got to know other equally anxious parents doing their first registration too. We had our first school orientation… all in Mandarin as we sat there in awe not understanding a word.

Then we collected our kid’s first report card in primary school. We were nervous when she sat for her first school test, performed at her first piano concert and sat for her first piano exam recently. We were probably more nervous than her worrying that she would be nervous.

At first the firsts we truly enjoyable, the first smile, the first toddler, the first words… But as they grow, the firsts become more and more nerve racking for us. Time flies too and before we know it, we’ll be experiencing their first love, first boyfriend/girl friend, first job, first kid! Help!

Nevertheless, however nerve racking, we love them all. We love all the firsts and we don’t want to miss any firsts at all. We want to be the first to watch and experience the firsts with all our kids because we love them dearly. We wouldn’t miss any firsts, not for anything in the world.

I just can’t seem to stop buying books for the kids as well as for myself occassionally but more for the kids. Everytime I see a book, I think about how they would enjoy the stories inside or if its an activity book, the hours of fun they would have or if its a lesson book, how much they would learn and how I’d spend time teaching them from the book etc. Yup. I’m a self-confessed book buyaholic.

On Sunday, we went to Ikea because we wanted to get the kids their “road carpet” because their old one had worn out. We reached there at about 1pm. The car park was full and so we were directed to park at the side of the road. Oh my! It was a mad crowd. Looking at the crowd, you can’t help but think….”Errr….. but I thought we’re having a slowdown?” as you jostle among the crowd who sat on beds, tried chairs and stacked their trolley up with goodies. We couldn’t find the carpet and the crowd at the cafeteria was crazy so we ended up at Ikano Power Center and found the Popular Bookstore Book Fair.

Oh my! I ended home with a stack of books instead. lol. I was so pleased to find a stack of 5 lesson books for Primary 1 for only RM3. In it was English, Math, Chinese and Malay practise books. Miss Book Buyaholic decided to buy the Primary 2 one as well. It has 2 English Books, 2 Maths books and even a medium sized black and white Chinese picture dictionary in it. All for another RM3. Wow! 10 books for only RM6. Each book is between 50-80 pages so its not exactly thin thin cheapo type of books either. I guess each book would be worth about RM3. What a value buy! (Pictured above is my treasure trove of the 10 books). The info within those 10 books is definitely worth much more than RM6. Miss Book Buyaholic was estatic! Hahaha.

Help! My bookshelves are exploding! says Miss Book Buyaholic.

Yawwwwn! Aaaachooo! Yaawwwwnn……..

Getting up at 6am and getting the girl ready for school is hard work. Making sure I get some exercise after she goes off to sleep instead of going back to sleep is hard work. Then getting the boy up and ready for school is another round of hard work.

Yup! My holiday is definitely over. Its back to school and back to work for all the mummies and daddies out there. Back to waking up early and worrying about how our little ones are coping in school especially if they claim they don’t like school or they start wetting their trousers in school when they have never had this problem at home before. Something is not quite right so mummy has to do some investigative work.

On the last two days of school before the school holidays the little one told me that he wanted to bring extra trousers to school because he was afraid that he would wet his trousers. I was surprised because he never had this problem at home before. On the last day of school, he came home without his socks, underwear and in someone else’s trousers because he had wet his. Definitely something is amiss. I couldn’t get it out of him exactly. He said he’s not afraid to ask teacher. He said the toilet is dirty, far away, teacher didn’t hear him, teacher asked him to ask someone else and then it was too late etc. So, which is it? So today, I’ve got to go and see the teacher to investigate. As for the girl, last night she said “Mummy, I really don’t like to go to this school.”  and then she started worrying about school. Yup! The holiday is definitely over for me.

I wish for another week of holiday.