SAHM back in action

I want to thank my mom especially because she sacrificed her work schedule to fit into taking care of G. I also want to thank Hubby for arranging to work in the afternoon shifts when my mom couldn't help out. Thanks to my dad who takes G out for walks in the afternoon occassionallly when I needed to rush for assignments and waiting until G's bedtime just doesn't work.

Anyway, I am back now a full time SAHM with G. I am glad to say that her nap and her bedtimes are now close to perfection. She resisted naps for 3 days in a row, started to get all cranky in the afternoons and crashed at 6 pm only to wake up at 4 or 5 am refusing to go back to sleep. I have fixed those problems and now she is a champion sleeper.

She has twice, bidded me goodnight and proceeded to close the door herself and went to bed on her own (Oh yes she is on mattress now, no more cot). On other days, I will lay down beside her, pat her for 2-3 minutes and tell her that "mommy needs to go and shower and sleep too." and then leave her room. It has been so for close to 3 weeks and she didn't cry a single bit. I feel so good about it. One hard lesson that I've learnt is NEVER attempt to sneak out when she is sleeping. Always do the bedtime routine and then cuddle, hug, kiss whatever and then bid goodbye, letting her know / see you walk out her door.

We have begun praying together too. She is my prayer partner. We prayed for her friends who were sick, for family outings to be fun, for daddy to be with us, for the haze to go away, for her cousin who fell down and had a bruise etc.

Although most moms have mentioned about the terrible two syndrome, I find her such a gem at this age.

Delamere Goats Milk

G has been drinking Karihome Goats formula milk ($48 per tin from ntuc) since I stopped breastfeeding and then recently, from Hay Dairies Lim Chu Kang Road 800 ml for $8.

I just found out Cold Storage has Delamere's Fresh Goats milk. 1 litre for $10.95.

Just look at my cheeky girl :)

Choosing a childcare or playgroup

I will look at several factors when choosing a childcare for my toddler (in no particular order):

1. The meals (and/or snacks) offered

Brown rice served with spinach and steam fish v Crabstick fried rice
It's pretty obvious which one is better for your child.

2. Naptime

What time is the nap and whether it's compatible to my child's current naptime. And also asking questions like what happens when some children wake up early/do not want to nap? What would the teachers do and how would  they handle the children.

3. Location

Of course, the more convenient it is, the better. If not, whether there is a school bus.

4. Communication channel

What is the mode of communication between teacher and parent? Mostly have a communication booklet or email address of the teacher.

5. Progress report 

Whether they will have a report of my child on a termly basis and if not, how else can they monitor / measure the progress of the child whether in terms of intellectual or social or physical skills.

6. Are there any outdoor play?

In my opinion, waterplay, sandplay, playground, field trips etc are as important if not more important than classroom teaching.

7. Will TV or computer be accessible at all?

I am a strong advocate of no TV and no computer at their tender age.

8. School fees

Price of fees, whether affordable and within budget.

9. Cleanliness level

Whether the school is reasonably clean. Is it a conducive environment for children? Do they wash their hands often?

10. Happiness level

Whether the existing children look happy and lively. How does the teachers handle misbehaved children? Are they gentle and patient? What is the language pattern used and how do they teach manners if teachers themselves are rough/ill-mannered?

11. Others

Other small stuff on my mind would be:
a) Feedback of other parents (online or offline)
b) Teaching curriculum
c) Preferbly a Christian school
d) Timely response of email and phone queries
e) Am I on a long wait list?

And so, I have already decided on the childcare for my girl next year 2014 :)

Have made an appointment to pay next week (1 month deposit + registration fees + uniform etc)

Oh, anyway I have to praise my girl here. (She is going 20 months old now)

She just started the Montessori school last Friday. It was her first day at school after close to 2 months of staying at home with me.

She didn't cry at all. Not when we were on the way to school. Not when I picked her up from school. And the teacher told me that she is very good. She didn't cry in class at all either.

I used 3 methods mentioned in this book (they have lots more methods) and it worked for us. So so so glad. I hope I read this much earlier. 

The no-cry separation anxiety solution by Elizabeth Pantley.

Another book for the mummy is Keeping Your Child In Mind. In summary it talks NOT about what to do but how to be with your child. How to maintain your state and to be calm in difficult times with your child. Holding them in thoughts and be mindful of your being because children absorbs certain energy from you.

Well, before starting school, we read lots of toddler books on the SCHOOL topic. I made it sound like it's so fun to go to school. Papa even called it a PLAYSCHOOL instead of just SCHOOL.

Everytime we see another child goes to school, I will point that out to say that it's such a nice and grown-up thing to do and that school is really fun and a place to learn new things.

The night before school, I prepared her school bag together with her. Telling her the things inside her bag. Water bottle, diaper, a family photo, her favourite bunny and wet wipes.

I told her that Mummy and Daddy are in the bag with her. If she misses us or she wants to look at us, she can look at the photo. I told her that Bunny will be scared but wants to accompany her to school. Reminded her that she is a big girl, so she can protect Bunny.

Then on the way to school, there were 2 cats and she stopped to look at them. I told G that the cats were welcoming her to school and to cheer her on.

Standing at the door of the school, she was hesitant to enter for one minute. Thankfully, the teacher is patient. G was paid more attention to because it was her first day. I stood inside for 5 minutes to watch her. She already started to work with the Montessori materials. Then I saw she was okay, I bid her goodbye, gave her a hug and told her that I will be back to fetch her.

I was 5 minutes early and I peeped through the window. She was all good and when she saw me, gave me a big smile and waved.

Mad school chase

So G attended kiddyabc for like 2 months. First week, she was crying very badly. Teacher told me she cried for one hour (it's a 2 hour playgroup) and then fell asleep. Anyway, to cut the long story short, we decided to change school because I observed quite a lot of unpleasant / unsatisfactory stuff amidst the Teacher scolding G and was not gentle and patient towards her.

And I visited:

1. Raffles House Preschool
2. NurtureStars
3. Liz Montessori
4. Startots Playgroup
5. Jessin Kindergarten
6. Creativo Learners
7. Wesley Child Development Center
8. Ykidz Montessori
9. Mindchamps Toa Payoh
10. Young Talents Preschool

And even checked out information on some preschools in Novena and Bishan.

And I also called and checked on Toa Payoh Methodist Kindergarten and Marymount Kindergarten for 2014 intake. Both registration are in May. And some of my mommy friends already secured a place for 2014! Incredible.

I was desperately searching, comparing and researching online reviews as well. All so because I could go and complete my certification. It was long overdue. I postponed it since G was 6 months old. And I thought she is ready for school. Apparently not so.

My mom was blaming me all the time for putting her to school this early and causing so much trauma to her. Yes, she had lots of nightmares, waking up in the middle of the night for milk, mommy and daddy and even became less sociable, more wary. (I said she used to sleep through right? Well, now she sometimes wakes up once around 4 or 5 am)

It has been tough on her. I decided to stop school for another 2 months before we put her in the new school again.

These 2 months, we spent lots of bonding time together. I always assure her that I love her even though she may not get to see me for a short while (like when grandma brings her out to the playground to play and I do housework at home). And that separation is only for a short while.

Reading time: she is now able to take books out herself and just flip to look at the pictures.

Sometimes she does roleplay and read the story to her students/children.

I made a nice and neat corner for her to do her Montessori play. 

Teaching her to take one tray at a time to work on and to return before taking the next tray.

Finally we managed to make the backlight work :)

Science experiment: Volcano Eruption 

Oh yes, the new school. I've paid deposit. $500 per month for every Mon, Wed and Fri 2.5 hour playschool. She's going to start next week. *pray hard all will be well* 

Teacher said once she settles well, we'll change to Mon to Fri daily 2.5 hours. Fees will then be $600. It's really quite high with no subsidy. Her 'enrichment classes' in the afternoon at Blue House, Shichida and Kindermusik will have to ceased because we really cannot afford them anymore. 

There are like 10 things on my mind at the same time (business, Perth trip, G's birthday plans, am I ready for #2, my certification course, my short term goals etc) last night and I couldn't sleep till 1 am. Then with her waking for milk at 4 am (I finally slept at 5 am) and then it's her wake up time at 7 am. I barely sleep much lately whether weekdays or weekends.

Anyway let's hope that this new school is for good. At least from now till the end of the year.

17 months old preschool

She will be going for a 2.5 hours playgroup everyday next month. 

She will be just 17 months old but the teacher said that she seemed more mature and can be independent, so she accepted G even though they have to be a minimum age of 18 months. G will be the youngest in class. 

School fees is about $200 per month.