Sending Your Kid To School

Hi,

When Jason started his Primary school nearby, my Filipino housekeeper accompanied Jason to & fro school as it was just a 10 minutes walking distance from home.

However, my wife and I tried our best to knock off from our office on time to reach his school to collect him home, at least once a week.

Thinking back, I can still feel the excitement of rushing to his school to surprise him, I can still remember how happy he was to see us and walk out to us.

These are moments that we, as parents, will always remember but do not blame your kid if he does not remember it as he could be too young but this sort of bonding will eventually pay or show positive impact on the child's development; eg. he knows he is being loved and care for.



I made an effort to wake up early to see Jason to the door though the Filipino housekeeper walked him to the school every morninig.

Here we have Jas back from school and playing with his 2 dogs; Jack & John.

We taught him to take the feeder bus when he was at Primary 4, after noticing that his classmates were able to travel on their own. His school has also shifted to its new premise but still reasonably nearby ( ie still walkable but maybe 20-30 minutes away ).

So find that time to send your child to school and/or collect your child from school even if it is once in a while.

Happy Parenting...... !

David Poh

Traditions Bond The Family

Hi,

Today is the eve of the Lunar New Year.

We instilled some traditions to Jason and I believe it helps to bond the family as some of these activities involved all the members of the family.

Needless to say, the most important one for this occasion is our Reunion Dinner.

We have our Reunion Dinner a week ago at my mum-in-law home to suit everyone working schedule and have our own family reunion dinner this evening, steamboat dinner.

Jason is now helping Mummy to wrap the 'ang pow' or red packets and he has been doing so for the past years as I am writing this blog.

We also went to Chinatown to soak in the festivities and to do some last minute shopping.

Mummy choosing some of the candies from Japan while Jason was amazed by the variety and colourful packing.

We are also staying up till past mid-night on the eve to ensure long life for our respective parents......

I hope Jason will continue some of these traditions with his own family as I believe it helps in bonding us together.

So wishing you a Healthy and Prosperous Lunar New Year in 2009....!

David



P.S. Latest update : I also take the opportunity to have a family photo taken during this occassion. Initially, the family did not co-operate very well but it has now been taken as my own tradition to do it...ha..ha... and everyone is ready for that family photo these days.

I even frame it for display in the house. You can see Jason slowly growing up as the years go by. So you should consider doing it before you lost all those years of memories.

This photo was taken yesterday, 1st day of Lunar New Year, at the garden below my Mum-in-law apartment. Outdoor shots are much better than using a flash indoor.

David - Tue 27Jan 2009

When Was The Last Time You Hug Your Kids ?

Hi,

When Jason was 10 years old and below, we hugged each other a lot and even kissed each other on the lips.

I hugged him when I put him to bed.

I hugged him when I left for work.

I hugged him when I returned from work.

I hugged him as and when we feel like it; as a means of showing affection and we did it often.

Now that he is a teenager, we do not hug so often as it is not so 'cool'......

But I do ask for a hug from him sometimes and I also ask him for permission to hug him but this is done at home , of course.

Recently, my dear wife told me that he asked her to hug him to sleep when she went into his room.

A few weekend ago, we invited him to sleep with us..... we can have a mattress in our room for him. He accepted the invitation and somehow in the middle of the night, he was up on our queen size bed too. He took turns hugging my wife and I during his sleep.

If you have not have such an experience before, I tell you it is priceless and a wonderful feeling to have his arms and legs over us. Especially, at his teenage days now!

So parents, do not be inhibited by your show of affection.

Hug and kiss your kids a lot when they are young and they will learn to love and express their love too, in return.

Happy Parenting...!

David

P.S. Wishing you a Healthy and Prosperous Lunar New Year too!

Registration For Your Child Primary School

Hi,

Here in Singapore, parents are paranoid when it comes to registering their child for his primary school.

What do I mean?

I am referring to those of us that do not have an affiliation to any school and have to go for ballotting for the limited remaining places for P1.

I will not go into the specifics of this whole registration process but we have to ballot for a place in Temasek Primary School eventhough we are within the 1km distance from the school.

So both my wife & I too leave and went to the school for that 'BIG' day.....!

Jason's was the first name called out and we were so happy that we felt like we have struck 1st prize in the lottery..!

This was very stressful indeed.

I really feel very sorry for those parents whose child did not make it and have to seek alternate school.

Especially for those parents who volunteered their time and yet did not manage to get any priority for their child.

BTW, after feeling much pressure from our concerned friends, we actually made an appointment to see the principal a few months earlier. The objective was to find out how we can get Jason into the school one way or another; eg by volunteering our time though it was a bit too late or whatever options available.

Unfortunately, we just could not bring ourselves to ask the principal or 'beg' for Jason's admission into his school. We have our own work ethics or professionalism and we just could not do it.....!

A few weeks later, I heard from a friend that his friend also met the same principal and was successful in 'begging' or negotiating for his child admission but I did not ask for the details.

Anway, we are glad that we were successful in the balloting exercise eventually.......

So parents, I wish you lots of luck and do what is best or required for your child if you are in the same or similar position.

David

No Perfect Parents Or Perfect Kids !

Hi,

I always read the column, Focus On The Family by Dr James Dobson, in the TODAY papers which is delivered to my home daily, FOC.

I like to share this article with all of you.

Here is an extract of the concluding paragraph:

"Remember, there's no such thing as a perfect parent or perfect kids. But your love, care and committment will make you the best parent your children will ever have."

I also remember a GP's advice to my son when we saw him for some illness when Jason was young. He advised Jason to listen to his parents as parents always love their children very much and will only want good things to happen for their kids.

How true..!

So wishing you a Healthy and Properous New Year in 2009 and hang in there, PARENTS!

David

How Do You Spend Your Time With Your Kids ?

Hi,

I was reflecting on the past year 2008 but also went beyond that when I found some old photos of Jason taken when he was less than 6 years old.

I remember that we were visitng the Singapore Zoo about 4 times a year as this was an ideal place to spend the day with Jason. Different types of animals to see and the zoo was user frinedly, and they have a children playground too, though it was a bit far from home. We were members of the Friends of the Zoo; concession on entrance fees, newsletter, etc....

Here, we have Jason sitting on a miniature horse at the zoo.

Gosh,,, Jason was so small and the Mummy & Daddy so young too.....ha..ha.....

We always have to think of where to take Jason during the weekends to let him explore or expose to the outside world, and have fun with us.

Family at Jurong Bird Park, wearing similar design T-shirts too....

Honestly, eventually, we ran out of such interesting place to go and each trip is not cheap either; eg. taxi fare, food, entrance fees, etc.....

This photo was taken at the Underwater World in Sentosa Island.

It was fun and costly. I hope you remember to take lots of photos though.....!

Why?

Because your kid is too young to remember all these trips so the photos would serve as good memories when they are older.

Therefore, thinking back, I think we could have just focus on the Zoo as this is the most enlightening and educational place to visit for young kids.

I also realise that spending time with your kids does not necessary means taking them to such places or even travelling with them overseas as they are just too young to appreciate or enjoy it. It can even be most stressful on the parents especially if you are travelling to foreign countries; eg changes in weather and food.

I remember taking Jason to Gold Coast twice on the way to visit my siblings and his cousins living in Melbourne, Australia. There were a few moments that he enjoyed like visiting Batman manor otherwise he could not remember a thing and I have to carried him when he slept every afternoon. He vomitted everytime we landed at Brisbane airport, not sure why!

Also, I think the young kids would just be happy to stay at home and we play with them the whole day, as oppose to dragging them to shopping malls to window shop.

Even today, Jason would ask us when we are going home when we are window shopping after a family meal outside. He says he is bored! So unless you are buying something for him....ha..ha..... but after buying his items, he would still ask can we go home soon.....!

I suppose there is nothing wrong with it. For example, would you not be bored if your spouse is shopping for her stuff that have no relevance to you?

So my point is to think about how you would want to spend time together and it is not necessary having to go out in order to enjoy each other company.

We have a rule. Weekend is family time so Jason is not allow to go out with his friends except for special occassions like birthday gathering, attending school activities, etc.... We typically have either breakfast or dinner outside, for example.

We could even be watching DVD movies the whole afternoon together. Many a times, we could be in the study room and each of us is doing his or her own thing but we are all physically together and feel each other presence. I find this a great way for bonding and since we have been doing this for a long time, Jason does not feel that he has no privacy.

Jason can still go to his own room to take a call. We are open and we do not spy on what he does on his PC. In fact, we share a lot while in this study room; eg discussing some issues on TV or newspaper or watching TV like Channel 8 9pm series - Little Nyonya.

So think about it, the next time you want to drag your kids to the shopping mall if your intention is to shop for yoursleves or just window shopping.

It is important to establish a family room or den where everyone can spend their time together doing their own thing and enjoying each other presence.

BTW, it is not wise to have a PC and TV in each of your child room.

So have a fantastic New Year in 2009 and happy parenting ......

David