IZ: I talk to my inner self when my parents are not around
Teacher: you're very mature for your age
IZ: I know, many said that
Tuesday 16 July 2019
Inner self
Tuesday 22 January 2019
Random things IZ Says
Pronunciation
IZ: Mom, I won something from the teacher, a sticker!
IZ: Ya, I got it coz I read something
Me: That's nice, did you make sure you read all the s correctly?
IZ: Yup! There was no s!
@-@
Bookshelf
IZ simply refused to give away any of his books these days.
Desperate, I told him we will not buy any new book or magazine if the shelf has no space.. he went to tidy up the shelf, rearrange the books properly so that he has space to squeeze another one or two..
IZ: look mom, if the books are slanted, means it has space for more books!
Horrid Henry by Francesca Simon
The books never failed to make him laugh.
PS: Not that I approve the horrid things Henry does! Haha!
Currently at home |
Tuesday 15 January 2019
Into P3
First weeks have been interesting. Pretty hands-on instead of boring textbook lesson I must say. I'm so glad there is Science Lab period!
To promote interest and authentic use of the Chinese Language for all P3 students, the school organised an immersion programme to introduce the basics of Chinese Chess.
1st lesson |
While he knows how to swim, we've never taken any swim test. I would also like him to join his school friends in the programme, afterall hanging out together is a good bonding opportunity.
Tuesday 1 January 2019
Thursday 6 December 2018
Friday 2 November 2018
Saturday 8 September 2018
Camping in Singapore
I bought him a tent for his 7th birthday last Dec. We haven't got a chance for the "opening ceremony".
Since I'm too busy at work these few weeks, I can't spend enough time with him, we decided to go for camping for family bonding time!
Tents these days are easier to set compared to my school days it seems.
We got the permit for ECP Site G, it's away from civilisation unlike Site D but we like G better.
We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. :-)
Monday 13 August 2018
Dairy Farm Nature Park
After months of hiatus, we decided to resume our nature hike on Sundays, starting with Dairy Farm Nature Park.
Conquered the Bukit Timah Summit at 163.63m height.
No easy feat, we've not been hiking for a while, and we parked at the yellow trail, which is the most difficult trail to reach the summit.
Very proud of the kiddo!
Sunday 29 July 2018
NDP 2018 Preview 1: 28.07.2018
Very grateful to be given tickets to the Preview 1 yesterday.. can totally feel all the efforts put in to make the event.. it's a million dollar experience, hopefully not our one and only opportunity!
Happy 53rd Birthday, Singapore!
#wearesingapore
Sunday 22 July 2018
Bi*tch
The kids were talking about another kid was punished by teacher for calling her bi*ch.
Iz, oblivious of the term said "it doesn't make sense.. how can a person transform into a female dog?!"
Haha!
Sunday 15 July 2018
Perseverance & Courage
10-16 laps across 1.4 to 1.8m depth pool, various styles every week..
Perseverance and courage.. the little tiger has surpassed me..
Wednesday 11 July 2018
Saturday 30 June 2018
Silent H
Lately he learnt words pronounce with silent H.
"If honest, honour, hour are read with silent H, what's the use of spelling them with the H then?
Thursday 14 June 2018
N. Paganini
Tonight I decided to skip violin practice..
Not for long.. IZ asked to search for Paginini's on YouTube. And so we spent the whole night listening to some of the most difficult violin pieces and learning the life of Paganini.
One of the best "practice" days.
Thursday 7 June 2018
Lego can make anything
This is by far the most impressive piece he made.
There are steering wheel, driver seats.
The boots, doors can be opened, and the vehicle can even shoot!
Monday 14 May 2018
Positivity
Commented on her positive parenting towards her cancer stricken child, "All I have to do is make my child happy, the doctor will take care of the health".
Friday 27 April 2018
26.04.2018
"Today, N kicked T out of the soccer game (during recess). T was so sad he cried.
You know what I'm going to do tomorrow?
I'm going to invite T to join me for recess so that he will not be sad anymore.
And next month, I'll buy a ball so that I can invite him to play together."
Tuesday 16 May 2017
IZ's 1st Performance with Seed Orchestra
Not perfect, but I know how much effort he's put in.
Thanks to buddy's family and Biaoyi for coming to support him. A boost of confidence before the show started. :-)
Keep it up, IZ!
Tuesday 11 April 2017
I can handle
IZ: mom, I know nerf gun is for 8yo..
Me: ya
IZ: I played with my friend's Nerf gun..
Me: and?
IZ: I think I can handle Nerf gun when I turn 7yo
Me: u think so?
IZ: ya, so instead of saving for power rangers Morpher, I'll save for Nerf gun
Me: :-D
IZ: Mom, u remember the time we were in Japan?
Me: ya what about Japan?
IZ: remember the chewing gum?
Me: (don't remember actually)
IZ: I think I can handle chewing gum already
Me: you think so?
IZ: ya
Me: :-D
Saturday 18 March 2017
2016 In Review
Found this note in my phone written on the last day of 2016.
A year we learnt about life (and death).
Demise of MIL brought out many emotions in us.
Guilty for all the rolled eyes moments, disagreements and silent protests.
Regret of thinking she will live forever. In fact, thinking everyone lives forever and ever.
Painful of the missing footsteps and compliments of what's coming out from the kitchen or oven. Cooked or half cooked. Tasty or not.
The buzz around IZ of his being. She would be excited to watch him going to P1 next week.
Dearly missed, still tearing, but we seek solemn that she is in better place, free from physical pain and suffering. And she will continue to watch over us.
Always in our heart.
Tuesday 24 January 2017
Start of Primary school
Wow! Been so long since I posted!
Since then IZ turned 6 in Dec and started primary school too!
Life got so busy the first two weeks, I felt really overwhelmed (with new routine and information overloaded). Didn't help that I had to go for a short business trip on the 2nd week of school.
Before my memory fails me more, here's bits and pieces of the past 3 weeks.
Something to be thankful of, IZ enjoys the start of his primary school, and look forward to going to school everyday, including weekend. He would countdown to Monday on Saturday morning when he woke up. (While deep inside, I was like, Monday please don't come! - already Mon-bluish on Saturday)
4th week into P1, he's grown as a person.
Having helper since he was born, he (and I'm guilty as well) is completely reliant on others for EVERY LITTLE THING.
He's more independent now. We forced onto him to learn to clean up after himself after pooping. He carries his plate or cup when he's done with his meals. Brush teeth on his own.
I've also taught him to pack his school bag from Day 0. I wrote a list of things to pack, and since then he has never looked back. He took it upon himself to pack storybooks for his silent reading too (odd week Chinese, even week English). Well, he lost a Chinese storybook, and he felt upset about it. I felt heartache. :-( But this is the growing journey, I hope he would learn to take care of his belongings real soon.
There was one day he came home without any books nor his water bottle. He left everything underneath his desk. I am not sure what he was thinking about either. And that was the day he had the 1st school homework. I asked him to confess to his teacher the next day, and face the music himself. Surprisingly, the teacher was very nice about it, and told him she'd give him only one chance, the next time he forgets, he'll get marks deducted. Sigh.. I was hoping for something more severe. I wonder if he knows what's marks deduction means. :-D
Buying food has been fun for him. He enjoys spending money in the canteen. The fun of buying a bottled drink from vending machine, the power to purchase a sandwich in the canteen. He decided he eats too slowly (or maybe he's been chanted way too many a times that he's convinced he couldn't eat any faster), that he chose not to buy noodles nor rice. He opts for sandwiches, cakes or buns for lunch.
First day, he bought Yakult and a pandan sponge cake.
And subsequently alternate between pandan sponge cake and sandwiches.
Worried he wouldn't get enough nutrients, I decided to pack recess box for him. Of which, he gave me a schedule in return, to pack on Tuesdays and Fridays, and give him pocket money on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Now we fall into routine, which sometimes screwed, most of the times worked for us:
Morning:
Wake-up: This is difficult, it's not easy for the kiddo to wake up at 6am. So the first 3 weeks, we had to rush like mad. This week onwards, he wakes up at 5.45am. Makes everyone's life easier.
Breakfast: a cup of milk with sometimes biscuits or bread or pau.
Shower: Warmed up after breakfast, he takes a quick shower to freshen up. I believe morning shower makes a difference on how he looks (fresh or not). Haha!
School bus: pick-up from downstairs everyday.
Afternoon:
Depending on which day of the week, the school timing is not the same everyday:
Shower: first thing to do is shower after cooling down
Lunch: first proper meal for the day
School Homework / Spelling Practice* / Mom's Homework** / Violin Practice / iPad / Play: all these in no particular order as he prefers, but priority is for school homework, he has to finish them before I come home for the day.
Playground / Lessons: We are dropping all the weekday classes (drawing, violin X 2) so that he can play more. Starting Feb, he'll only have 1 lesson on weekday which is CHINESE! We cannot afford to give up Chinese!
Evening:
Violin practice: if there's no lesson for the day
Spelling / Revision: if there's time left
Packing of school bag
Reading
Bedtime by 9pm (sometimes he'll knock out straight.. sometimes exasperatingly, he'd roll till 9.30pm)
*I make him responsible for his own spelling. He'll plan for himself on how many and when he would learn to spell the words in the Spelling list given by the teacher. Then he'll ask helper to test him. When I get home, he'll get me to test him. I find this way works for him, I do not have to sit down to work on it in the evenings, and focus on revising what teacher has taught for the day / week instead.
**Mom's Homework means homework dictated by ME, the MOM (not Ministry of Manpower). I put aside some workbooks including Word Search, copying of Chinese sentences, Maths work for him to do on days he doesn't have any school homework. I have been doing this for the past few months, he's been doing the work diligently. I think this is really important to start from young age so they take it as part of their daily routine.
Weekend:
Cartoon
Orchestra practice
iPad
Revision
Play
Swimming lesson : on Sunday
Movie night
Sharpening colour pencils / pencils
Reading
Bedtime
Thursday 7 July 2016
"What do you want for your birthday, Mom?"
Me: I want a birthday hug, kiss from you..
IZ: somemore?
Me: a birthday card you make
IZ: somemore?
Me: I want you to be healthy and happy
IZ: is that all?
Me: ya, that's all
IZ: then I'll remind you to give me vitamins when Ah Nah is off
Me: what has my birthday to do with your vitamins?
IZ: so that you remember to give me vitamins then I can be healthy!
Monday 4 July 2016
IZ & us deal with loss of beloved Ah Ma..
From then, I was expecting him to cry. He didn't tear.. not at all.
My heart ache a lot. I'm not sure if it's "acceptable" for him not to cry at all. I don't know if he's being strong or he's being unemotional. He did say he's sad, he missed Ah Ma, but while both of us cried our hearts out, he seems unfazed.
For the 5 days of wake, he frequently walked up to Ah Ma altar and casket, talked to her and prayed.
There was no fear.. but there was no tear either..
*****************
On the day of funeral, when we placed rose on her casket and spoke our last words (in our hearts):
IZ: wo ai ni ah ma (translated as "I love you, Ah Ma")
And there I broke down.. once again.
Exactly 1 week from Ah Ma's passing:
IZ: I wish Ah Ma could live until 89yo (she was 86)
Me: you wish Ah Ma could live until 89?
IZ: yes, I wish she could see me go to primary school and celebrate birthday with me
Me: I wish she could live longer too, but you see, she was feeling very uncomfortable already, with the tube feed and all, so, it's a good thing she left, she's no longer suffering
IZ: what is suffering?
Me: no longer feeling uncomfortable
IZ: hello daddy, hello mommy (hugged daddy)
IZ: are you still feeling sad, daddy?
Dad: yes, I am still feeling sad
IZ: me too, I still remember Ah Ma
Me: yes, we should always remember Ah Ma, we shall not forget her
*****************
10 days after Ah Ma's passing, on a phone conversation:
*****************
Tuesday 28 June 2016
The lack of dreams..
Monday 30 May 2016
K2: 2nd PTM
Li Laoshi started telling us what they did in Chinese class. She said overall IZ is doing well, except that his pronunciation is not accurate. I can't remember this is the how many times she told me that. :-p But I'm already very proud of IZ, and I'm clueless of what's the problem with his already-so-perfect-to-my-ears Chinese. Hahahah! Anyway, he speaks good Chinese, much better than his dad's and mine.
She told us that she has higher expectations on kids who go for Chinese Immersion Class, so naturally expectation on him is higher too. She suggested to let him continue copying the reader book at home, continue from where the teacher stopped. Good suggestion!
She also told us that he has been more mischievous now, pushing the boundaries here and there. He also talk more during lesson. I've reminded IZ that talking in the class is the silliest thing ever, wasting time to go to school. At the end of the day, he would not know what teacher taught the class. IZ agreed. I told him if that's his attitude to learn, then might as well he leaves school now and start washing toilets in Mc'Donalds, there's no need to go to school. He said, he'll pay attention in the future.
Ms Huda says he's generally a good boy. His "collaboration" with his buddy Yuhan is a good one as they spur each other on. They will wait for each other and understand each other very well.
She says he asks very complex questions especially during the zoo trip (that happened the day before PTM). She says he is mature in his thinking. I told IZ that teacher said he asked good questions. He said "but then, people will feel tired answering all the questions". Haha!
Tuesday 10 May 2016
Tuesday 3 May 2016
Ah Mah in the hospital..
I wish Ah Mah can come home soon so that we can celebrate her birthday in August.
I wish Ah Mah is here to have this fresh dinner with us.
I wish Ah Mah can recover soon.
How can I make Ah Mah feel better?
Wednesday 13 April 2016
Past 16 days..
The past 2 weeks have been nightmare.
I contemplated a week-long SAHM but I failed, miserably.
IZ was sick the very day helper left. And didn't get much better along the week, days into my supposedly leaves. MIL gave me some headache here and there.
Long story cut short, I'm not cut to be a SAHM. I don't know which one I couldn't do.. the one who takes care of the elderly or the young one. I only know I'm not CUT OUT TO BE ONE.
Right at the point of depression, my gang of friends suggested a night out. It helped to be able to hold a proper conversation, laughed and ate heartily. I couldn't thank them enough, I'm grateful to death. A simple offer to have dinner out with me on impromptu. There's nothing more to ask for.
And then the second week started. YJ was going to help me. She did well, no qualms. I couldn't thank her enough too.
In times like this, I'm glad I was not shy to ask for help. To SOS, to cry it out loud.
I've cried. A LOT.
I didn't think it was anything but my own expectations. I stretched myself. I just snapped.
I'm also very grateful of the wooden husband.
I could have complained about him all the time. About his tactless mj arrangement etc. But he has been a great help the past 16 days.
He bathed IZ when I didn't feel like it, he swept, he mopped, he put laundry into the machine, he hung the laundry, he kept the laundry (just didn't fold them), he made IZ sleep at night, he went to work, came home washed all the dishes left in the basin, cleaned up, made coffee for me on weekends when I asked for coffee and once again the very same routine the next day.
He took on more (silently) while I was down with stomach flu or when my face was black.
Today, we finally can take a breather. We took a nice breakfast, just the two of us. And he sent me to the Gynae clinic for annual check-up.
I'm grateful for what and who I have, counting the blessing. And hope all around me is blessed too.
Till the next round.. I know my limits.. already..
Tuesday 8 March 2016
Compassionate
When I had really bad migraine middle of last year, that I cried and cried. He told me it was the first time he saw me crying. But he said that as a matter of fact. He was not concerned at all.
I'm really worried that he'll grow up a cold person.
Lately I've seen that he was concerned over the grandma, remembering to pass the walking stick to grandma when she forgot.
Last night, for the first time, I saw compassion in him.
We were practising violin when he suddenly stepped on my right leg. I screamed out of pain. And he started crying. Despite the pain, I had to comfort him. I thought he was crying in case I start scolding. Then he said "I'm so sorry, MAMA!" and continue sobbing. "I'm so sorry".
I told him it's ok, I was just in pain. And I asked him why he cried?
He said "coz I feel so sorry for you, I feel so sad for you"
Totally melts my heart, I guess the boy does have a warm heart. What a relief...
Monday 7 March 2016
K2: 1st PTM
She is definitely younger than I've imagined. Tall, slender, sweet with nice manicured nails.
She definitely do not look like one strict teacher, although I've heard about her strict methods. Facing the wall, stripping off leader tag if misbehave etc. I guess she has what it takes to manage the kids.
She told us he has good learning attitude, has been very constant with his diligent work. He is very strong in phonics, can read very well, and very delightful to have him in the class. She said she doesn't know how we teach him at home, which embarrassed us a little, didn't know what to say with such compliment.
Seems like she exchanged notes with Ms Fizah regarding IZ's pronunciation. Ms. Beverley says he has no problem with pronunciation at all, and that she sees improvement in him since January. So, she knows of IZ tongue release history and speech therapies. Plus point.
I asked if he eats well. She said he is fussy, but she made sure to knock on the CIP class to make sure IZ eats his lunch. Another plus point.
Li Laoshi, the same Chinese teacher as last year, complimented him that he is diligent in his work and also display interest in the language. Although he needs to correct his Chinese pronunciation a little. To be honest, I'm already quite happy with his development, as long as he likes the language, it doesn't matter if he speaks like a potato. (He recites Chinese poems at home.. although I can't understand what he was reciting about)..
Li Laoshi told us that IZ is very helpful to friends and teachers. Displayed concern when Ms Beverley didn't come to school and would ask if Ms Beverley is feeling ok when she turns up the next day.
Both teachers agreed that he enjoys learning and good in both languages.
He also did well for his show and tell (for both languages) and shared his trip to the fire station with passion and excitement.
We are very happy with his good learning attitude and respect to the teachers.
Well done, son.. do keep it up!
Wednesday 24 February 2016
Violin Grade 1
I really don't know what we got ourselves into! |
Monday 22 February 2016
Death
While we are at this topic. I saw someone shared this book and its contents on FB. I took a look and was really thankful. Couldn't be a better timing, really.
At a play date we held in our place 2 days ago, IZ was ultra sensitive and touchy.
He cried over how I compared him with his peers over eating fast / slow. Seems like he has been holding grievances over hubby harping over him eating slowly everyday and suddenly he just exploded.
Then he also cried over me saying he picked fight with everybody. He said "that's not EVERYBODY".
"I want to kill you!!!" in front of everybody. I guess everyone's jaw dropped to the floor.
My heart too.
But I only repeated after him. I reminded myself I had to do the talking after the play date.
So, after guests have left, I told him I felt really sad that he wanted to kill me. Immediately, he cuddled up to me, and hugged me, and kissed me apologizing again and again and that he'd never say that again. I know he didn't mean it, but it was still shocking nonetheless. I wonder from where he got the idea of killing ME. Haiz...
So, when I saw this book "Missing Mommy", I wasted no time in reading to him. He hugged me and said he doesn't want me to die.
But the second round, he wanted to read it himself. He started tearing.
I'm so glad he teared.
He hugged me and kept saying he doesn't want me to die, and that he'll never say he want to kill me again.
Then he stuck to me like glue. Following me everywhere I went, and wanted to sleep beside me and all angelic.
Thanks Cobb! |
Community Report: Central Fire Station
I really like how he drew a fire beside the fire word |
By this, he wrote all by himself, using his limited spelling knowledge |
IZ had no chance to present at all.