Awards Day

I won't go into details on what award is this or how she did it. The point is not about the award, not about standing on stage or showing off. It is about the spirit of learning and the joy, the self-motivation behind it, whether award or no award.

What do you believe in?

Dear daughters,

I give you the freedom to pursue what you enjoy doing. If you haven't know what is good for you and what you like doing, then explore and find out and then do it. Sometimes, as we do something in the beginning, we may think we do not like it. But if time and time again, it comes back to you though you didn't look for it, or when it just hit you, you will find meaning and joy in doing. Eventually, when you enjoy what you are doing, then it is purposeful and fulfilling. It won't be just another job. You won't be waiting for only the month-end paycheck.

And I wish for all of you - to find that peace and that passion in doing the things that you love. Because, in that, you will find pleasure and you will be grateful.

For everything that happened in life, you take control. You are the steering wheel of your life. Choices, decisions. Even not making any choices if a decision. On days, it will be stormy, other days, it may be blur. It won't be a clear blue sky all the time.

But mommy is always here for you. And I love you all.

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Do not complain. Do not be grumpy (for too long). Do not be angry. And I have told you before, stay away from such people because they are toxic. The bible says, don't even eat at the same table with them. Run for your life if you meet them.

HFMD

E has contracted HFMD from her childcare. For two days, she stayed with my mom. Then because my mom had to go overseas, she came back. My, she was super cranky, moody, throwing tantrums cos she was constantly in pain.

Nothing too prominent about the spots on her palms and feet. Just some red patches. I suppose the pain was mainly from her throat and mouth area.

She couldn't swallow her saliva and was drooling frequently. She also refused to open her mouth to show me her ulcers. Then, she did not drink or eat anything for 2 days and was running a temperature. We decided to ward her at KKH in order for her to be put on drip.

She was there for 5 days. 

The first thing she wanted to eat was Koko Krunch.

Then we went back home and it was a massive cleaning task. We changed the bedsheets, sofa sheet, sweep and mop the floor, sanitize the toys and furnitures, locked away most of her toys and only allowed some storybooks, dolls and drawing tools.

On top of that, I also brewed barley and chrysanthemum tea every other day, daily temperature and health check and two hourly sanitizing their hands.

Happy Birthday G

Happy Mother's Day 2018

Thank you children for the notes, drawings, purple rose and also all your love and attention and praises. I love you and I am very honoured to be your mommy.

Finding natural materials together

image from google

Very often, I get curious looks from strangers wondering why I am picking up "rubbish" and allowing my children to "mess around". Many times, even relatives are unable to understand the things that I do, the things I believe in.

Just how I love finding materials together and creating things out of it, enjoying the process (which is important, not the end result) and creating memories with the children with such intentional learning.

E took this photo

E took this photo and said she is the mama snail

E insisted we take a photo together

And just how I appreciate my children being aware of their surroundings and caring for the details along the way to school. Counting how many steps before we reach the school entrance and telling me that she spotted a mama snail, the baby snails sleeping and where they are heading to.

Once upon a time teacher

I believe I have more pictures. But I couldn't find them anymore, esp the events I did with Natasha at Seeds for Tomorrow and Maddy at Spurbox and my Kindermusik teaching at Bright Juniors Childcare at Corporation Drive.

Finding materials, making them, coming up with curriculum, photocopying the notes, binding them, delivering the lesson, registration, accepting payment through paypal, sending email confirmation to parents, email reminder to parents, setting up the venue, doing closing after the event, finding assistant teachers to cover me because I am on mc and from teaching preschoolers to teenagers (secondary 1 & 2) and adults. I know them cos I did it and I have learnt so much from these experiences.

I also attended Wardolf, Montessori workshops and learnt from the gurus, visited Reggio schools and got inspired until I implemented some learning at home with my children.

And I actually wrote a book too on Music and Art for preschoolers, which was published in 2015. Book is available for sale in Amazon :)

https://www.amazon.com/Raising-children-creatively-through-music/dp/1515337278/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1521219260&sr=8-1&keywords=seeds+for+tomorrow+music+and+art

And omg, I just love my journey. Thank you Jesus for making this happen for me. I don't know where else I can be , except the place that I am in right now.

Thank you Lord.

Zumba with the girls

I have started to do Zumba again this year with HPB and how I inspired them to dance along with me at home. We had just watched this from youtube for the very first time and dance along to the music together.

I enjoyed leading a group for Zumba too. Still considering whether to make it as my side line :)

My first CNY ang pow

G gave me her first chinese new year ang pow with a personal note and some coins inside. She even coloured the ang pow for me.

Thank you very much darling!

Happy 4th Birthday E!

And we started the day with some homemade french fries in the morning. They were so happy just eating nothing but potatoes and watching TV.

E knew that I was going to bake her birthday cake. She said to me the night before, "Mommy, can you please don't make cheesecake. I don't like it".

She wanted me to do the strawberry fruit tart I did for New Year's Day.

But I did cheesecake nevertheless. It's a baked cheesecake recipe that I wanted to try when Jac brought it to our gathering in December 2017. Eventually, she ate half of the entire cake within a day.

And they were excited to help me with the cake decoration.

Baked American Cheesecake with strawberries and hello panda biscuits

Lunch as per her request - Porridge with lots of chewy (according to her) scallops and meat

The next day, we celebrated in her new school as well.

Dear E, mommy loves you so much. This year, I only hope to spend quality time with you and to make up for all the lost times with you. I am sorry if I ever made you feel "unwanted" because you are often not by my side. Mommy will never desert you or choose G over you. Mommy hopes you will understand when you grow up that it was part of our transition to our new life.