sometimes words can give too much happiness

It was a sleepover night in Albert's room. While we were in bed, I showed to Albert that my hands were having tremours and he asked me why I was having tremours. I told him that sometimes when our hands are too tired or exposed to heat for a long time and if we wash them right away, this will happen. He took the Vicks and offered me a massage. He said that, next time if I needed to cook food for visitors I need not prepare and cook lunch for him. He said that he could buy at school anyway, he said that he wont get mad, sad, upset or angry and he understood that im busy. Actions speaks louder than words but sometimes words can give too much happiness. I felt like I was carebears in the clouds. Too happy that my little boy cares about me.

Lunch box

15 July 2013

I wrote a note and put it in Albert's lunch box. After fetching him during dismissal he immediately told me that he saw the note and said thank you to me. He told me he showed the note to his friends and classmates. One of the friend told him that your mother really cares about you. I told Albert that all mothers are caring to their children. They only express it in different ways. When we reached home, I unpacked his bag and surprisingly, he finished all his meald including the apple slices. Could the note have give him motivation to finish his lunch?

Simple parenting makes children happy and us feeling blessed. To all mothers, let us inspire each other

Watch our words

This morning while he was taking a bath, i was reminding him all the steps that he needed to do and was nagging at him if he misses one step.
He said to me "Please don't push me to my limit!" It was the same statement i used to him two weeks ago when Albert and I was having some mother-child argument. Lesson learned don't use words/statements that you don't want your child say back to you.

What is emergency funds?

This afternoon, Albert and I were watching Suze Orman Show. While I was tacking in Albert's blanket before saying goodnight...

Albert: What is emergency funds.
Me: In life now there are many uncertainties that include the work of each individual. We need the emergency funds so in case Daddy lost his job, we still could eat, have your piano/swimming/french lessons, school allowances, school fees, transport allowance, pay bills and all our expenses while he is looking for new work.
A: Why do you need 8 months emergency funds.
M: It's the safest span of time to get another job.
A: Is the emergency funds the same as savings.
M: They are different piggy banks. You can use savings if you want to buy something that is not included in your monthly expenses.
A: oh dear, i only have one piggy bank. I only save for my savings. I never save for my emergency funds.
M: You don't need to save for your emergency funds yet because you're still our responsibility.
M: Can we sleep now...

Wonderful morning

25 June 2013
It is still school holiday and Albert still sleeping. Alvin and I took our breakfast earlier. After Alvin left for work, I set Albert's breakfast and started my chores and cleaning routines. When he woke up, he said good morning to me and went immediately to our dining table to check the breakfast. I went to his room to fix his bed and he came to me and said in a joyful voice "Thank you for waking up early to prepare my breakfast" and hugged me.

Lesson from a child: Cheers!

Lesson from a child:
Cheers!

Almost everyday during our meals at home or when dining out, Albert always calls for a toast with a matching "Cheers!". How good life will be if we can always be thankful for each day, regardless of how good or bad the day is, because surely there's always something to be thankful of. Most of the time we complain about our work (we should be thankful that we have a job), we envy others or simply unhappy about our situation. It's really amazing how our kids can teach us to see things in a better perspective. May we always open our eyes to see their perspective that happiness comes from appreciating the little things that we have or do.

Lesson from a Child: Unity

Lesson from a Child:
Unity

Today, Albert and I went to the Singapore City Gallery at URA (Urban Redevelopment Authority). The gallery showcases Singapore's remarkable physical transformation from past, present and even the future. Albert was astonished with the beauty of Singapore's model 270 degree sights and sound show. While looking at the wall pictures from the 1950s, I told Albert how amazing the big change of Singapore in a such a short span of time & I felt sad for the Philippines. He answered to me, Singaporeans are united and willing to work hand in hand.

Lesson from a child: Don't give up. Sometimes the reason for giving up is laziness.

esson from a child: Don't give up. Sometimes the reason for giving up is laziness.

Our house was messy because of our house painting work in progress. Our books and stationeries we're stacked. Last night he was looking for our label printer and I was so tired and lazy to look for it. So I just told him it was under of some boxes and asked him to use pen to label his notebook instead without trying to know where it was. He was very persistent and never gave up to ask for Alvin's help to look for it. And they found it. But there was no battery and told Albert again, just use pen to write. But still he was persistent to print the label, he took the battery from our aircon remote and it worked. He managed to print his name and after that he told me that "Please mommy don't give up so easily next time." Ouch..

Lesson from child: List your to do's so you won't miss any at the end of the day

Lesson from child:
List your to do's so you won't miss any at the end of the day.

I'm a little bit forgetful person. Albert was a little bit unhappy that I forgot to sign one of his worksheets. He reminded me but i couldn't really remember that he did. So he gave me a solution, he went to the room and took a white paper and pen to write my to do's so i won't miss anything. Our minds are sometimes loaded with so many things that we forget those things that we think are not so important.

Lesson from a child: On doing your best and not expecting rewards...

Lesson from a child:
On doing your best and not expecting rewards...

Today, Albert got his results for his exams and he surpassed my expectations. He didn't study last weekend because of his Natgeo and Mother's Day activities. After telling me the results, I asked him if he wanted something as a reward after getting those marks. He said, "I did my best and it's for my own good and not for any rewards" .

...I wish i could think this way. I wish adults could think this way.

A drawing

Tonight after our dinner, Alvin drew a face of a man. While he was doing that, Albert was hiding behind him, kind of scared of the face. Then I suggested to Albert that he also drew a face. I was surprised to see his drawing. It actually looked like a cartoon character. This is his first time to draw such kind of face.

Smalish Citizen

Last year, I have been bringing Albert to Ikea-Smaland for at least twice a month during my off. I was waiting for Albert to turn 4 so he could be a “citizen of Smaland”. With that, he can participate in indoor and outdoor fun activities of Smaland. Last week, we visited Ikea but I forgot to bring his birth certificate. Today, we went there again and I managed to apply a “Smaland passport” for him.

Here are some of the rights of Smaland Citizen:

· Every visit, can scan at the smales shroom (coupon machine), and receive a sticker for passport (maximum one per day). By scanning the passport, a visit will be registered and he will receive S$0.50 Smalish sants.
· The smalish dollar and sants can be withdrawn and printed from the smales shroom.
· By scanning the passport, a Smalish can also receive a coupon for one discounted kid’s meal and one free drinks at the Ikea Restaurant from a price S$2.90 to S$1.50.
· A chance to participate in special activities and events of Smaland

Funny little fish(reading at 4yrs Old)

Two weeks ago I ordered a book series from Colliman.com, the distributor of Paul and Mary.

We’ve been reading at least once a day with Albert for almost two weeks. It takes Albert a longer time to recognize all the words in the story which has longer sentences and more new words.

click here video

"our" room

It’s been a while since we had a guest in our home so we decided to make one or our rooms useful. This weekend, we emptied one of our rooms and made it as our activity room. A library for all or us, a play area for Albert, a room space for our Tomy(our hamster) and a work place for me and Alvin.

We bought some furniture from Ikea to make the room more organised and neater. It was a fun weekend activity for us building the furniture like Lego puzzles. Alvin was so exhausted after all the carrying and assembling, especially the book case which took us more than an hour to complete. After everything was done, Albert became very enthusiastic playing even with his older toys in the room.

Sixty piece-puzzle

Just a while a go Albert completed his Thomas and Friends 60 piece puzzle. Albert had been trying to complete it since Sunday. Finally he made it!

Hamster

The night before Albert’s birthday, I showed him our plan to visit Escape Theme Park at Down Town East. I showed him the rides we planned to take.

The next day, on his birthday, just after he woke up, he told us that he didn’t want to visit Escape. Here was our conversation:

Mommy & Daddy: Happy birthday Albert!
Albert: I don’t want to go to Escape. I don’t want to ride car rides.
Daddy: Then what do you want?
Albert: I want a pet.
Mommy: What pet do you want?
Albert: I want to have a horse.
Mommy and Daddy: A HORSE?!
Albert: Yes a horse
Daddy: How about smaller one like a hamster?
Albert: Hamster is ok.

After having a birthday lunch at Swensen’s, we had a colouring activity at Kiddy Arts Paradise. Albert specifically chose a car to colour. Then, he went for a merry-go-round and rode a choo-choo train.

We went to Serangoon North Pet Center to fulfil our promise to Albert. We let Albert choose the hamster. After looking at different hamsters, he settled for a gray-coloured one.

click here photos

Paul and Mary(reading 4years Old)

Yesterday was the last day of Albert’s first school term and his teacher’s assessments were good. He also got a book from the school.

After reading with him for 3-4 times yesterday, this morning(his birthday) he tried to read by himself.

click here video

Making Faces(Reading@47months)

For the past few days, Alvin took over the night reading sessions with Albert while I was busy preparing for our trip. Alvin taught him how to read the short story entitled “Making Faces”. It took Albert two days to read the story on his own.

Click here video

My Mommy (Reading@47months)

Teaching a child to read is very challenging and needs PATIENCE but the result is very rewarding for me as a mom.

Click here video

47months "One Little Rabbit"

I’ve been busy planning our trip and forgotten to take videos of Albert’s reading lessons for sometime. Here’s a video of his latest reading lesson.

click here video