Chinese New Year - Traditions

We wish our Chinese friends a very Happy & Prosperous

Chinese New Year !

Traditions are important and we, as parents, should teach them to our kids though it is getting more challenging as even ourselves have lost some of the practices in this modern society.

I told Jason that reunion dinner or lunch and the visiting of the elders in the family on the 1st day of Chinese New Year are mandatory.

So he is told not to make any appointments with his friends on such occassions; eg he would typically has some school activities on Saturdays but we were having our reunion lunch a week earlier at my mum-in-law home, so I gave him ample notice to be present and it is not negotiable.

I am glad that he appreciates the tradition and even learned to greet his grandparents in Cantonese.

I was disappointed that one of his cousins did not attend the reunion lunch and I was given to understand that he went out with his friends instead.

Well, I do not blame the tennage boy but hold his parents responsible instead. It is sad indeed as the boys can to see each other like once a year only!

Similarly, I have make it a habit to take a family photo on the first day of Chinese New Year at home before we go visiting. After all, we are all dressed in new clothing and looking at our very best so it is a perfect occassion to ahve a family photo taken indeed.

Sad to say, many of my adult relatives are camera shy and do not want their photo taken during reunion dinner and when we meet on the 1st day of Chinese New Year.

What a pity!

If the adults do not co-operate how do we expect their children to do so.

Fortunately, Jason managed to catch up with 2 of his cousins and they consented to have a photo taken together, as shown below.

Merry Christmas 2010

Hi,

We wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in 2011.

As our last maid is a Catholic, we were caught into celebrating Christmas more for her all these years. But since she has left us after serving us for 12 years, the celebration has toned down a bit.

But I am glad that we still find the time to put up a smaller trees and take this occasion to buy ourselves some presents too...ha...ha...

Irrespective of religion ( we are Buddhists ), this is a good time for the family to spend time together.

We also still continue to take a family photo with our presents in front of our Christmas tree.

So if you are not participating in this Christmas festivity, you should consider doing so next year and surprise your family members. Importantly, an excuse to spend time together over a meal and exchange of presents.

Merry Christmas..!

Memories of Jason as a Baby

Hi,

I have been converting my old VHS tapes into digital format into my PC.

My wife and I really cherish those days when Jason was just a baby and still growing up.

Every day bring surprises and we always look forward to going home to see him.

We strongly advise you to video your growing children and take as many photos of them especially now that it is so much cheaper with digital cameras.

You can see a short video clip of Jason when he was just 1year+, playing in the living hall.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0eR_a50jdw

We also have a habit of taking family photos during our birthdays and Chinese New Year celebrations.

You can really see the changes in us from these yearly photos so do not be camera shy......

David

Proud of Jason

Hi,

Early this year, when we visited our family dentist, the dentist asked me if the teenage boy that she just treated is my son. ( I normally go into the dentist treatment room with Jas but thought that he is old enough to be on his own since it was a simple cleaning job. )

I confirmed that I am his father and she told me that Jas is a very pleasant and polite teenager. She commented that it is difficult to find such well mannered teenagers these days.

I felt proud, of course, but then thought that the dentist was just being too polite.

Some time later, I met Jas's teacher-in-charge in the Parent-Teacher session in his Poly. Again, she started by saying that Jas is a very nice student and shows respect to the teachers. She is very happy with him.

Of course, I am very proud of him indeed.....2nd time round with such good feedback about him!

Later, when I sent him off on his Poly Study Trip to Vietnam at the Changi Airport, his subject Lecturer also commented that Jas is a very pleasant boy in her class.

Wow! 3 times that I received such favourable feedback on Jason.....really made me proud of him.

Do not get me wrong..... I am not claiming that my wife & I are the best parents...!

BUT we must have done something right and giving Jas the right guidance all these years.

Well, so far, he is getting along fine in Poly which has a very different system from secondary school or Junior College.

David

Jason Going To Polytechnic

Hi,

Time flies ......

It was like yesterday that we were playing together in bed.....tumbling around....

Jason has enrolled into Singapore Polytechnic to do a Diploma in HRM with Psychology and will be starting school next month.

Not too long ago......

I was coaching him soccer in a nearby field.......

Jason in his Primary School uniform, going to school early in the morning.

Jason running and playing soccer for his secondary school, St. Patrick School.

Our typical teenage boy, spending most of his awake time in front of the PC and/or TV....

I miss the little boy that I could easily cuddle and kiss on the bed .....

BUT I am also proud of my teenage son today too......

Memories......sigh

David