Category Archives: Just Sharing

Anything, just anything under the sky

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Parents, I guess you are just like me, facing  more and more challenging issues everyday while watching our genzkids grow up.  They are so different from us when we were young, weren’t they?

Genzkids, wondering why your parents don’t understand you? Why do they always say “NO” instead of “YES”? Why do they have to keep stressing that you need to study hard now? 

Well, how about sharing your thoughts, concerns, views or just anything you would like to tell your kids / parents out there in this blog.  This can be an avenue for all of us to air our view, share our thoughts & interest, exchange tips, etc… 

Let’s keep the communication open …

The Singapore Kid by Jessica Alejandro

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The story started off with an “uninvited guest” trying to steal from The Tay’s Home – a HDB flat in Sengkang.  Thereafter, the story suddenly changed …. with no connection to the first chapter, moved to introduce the characters of the story. Inn Kiat, the main character of the story, is a 11-year-old boy growing up in affluent Singapore.

Like most primary school children, he faces the pressure from school, Tution, expectation from parents to do well. The story gives an insight story of how a kid “grows” from a child to a pre-teenager.  The story also touches on the “jealousy” of child from an average income family when he is with his rich friend, sibling rivalry, friendship and honesty.  

It talks about the disappointment of his parents when they learnt about what Inn Kiat has done, the wise wisdom of the old grandma, the bravery of admitting ones mistake and taking responsibility and the act of “forgive and forget” of a good friend.

I was nearly in tears when I read how disappointed his parents were when they learnt what Inn Kiat has done (I can relate this well because I have a 11-year-old boy myself). I was moved when I read how the old grandma tried to use that incident to teach her grandson the value of honesty. I was amused when I read how Inn Kiat drew out his damage control list and lastly with all smiles when his best friend forgave what he had done.

Personally, I think this book is a good read though there is a bit of Singlish.  My genz kid gives it a 4 out of 5.  For children, this book instils the importance of honesty.  For parents, it allows you to understand your preteens better.    

The Diary of Amos Lee – I’m Twelve, I’m Tough, I Tweet!

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Have you read the newly launched “The Diary of Amos Lee – I’m Twelve, I’m Tough, I Tweet!” If you have not, grabbed a copy quick.

Knowing that my son is the die-hard fan of The Diary of Amos Lee, I bought the book for him as his Christmas gift. And you guess it right, he thanked me profusely !

Well, he finished reading the book in a day, so have I ;-) I can see why my son likes the book so much. It’s easy to read and the diary relates very well to what’s happening around him. In the book, Amos Lee is in his last year of primary school (though my son will only be in P5 next year). The internet reality surfaced in this book (Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, blogging, etc). It also touches on what friendship, relationship between siblings, and the big word – BULLY! I must give Adeline Foo a thumb-up.

As a mother of a primary school kid, it helps me to understand the “in” things and issues what primary school students are facing.  I’m encouraging you, all mothers, read The Diary of Amos Lee if you have not. It’s awesome !

Now, I’m wondering if Amos will be writing his diary now he will be in secondary school ????

http://www.amoslee.com.sg/home.asp

PS: I read from my blog that some of you do not really like The Diary of Amos Lee. Well, personally, I think the book is a good read for young children and as an adult, I do enjoy reading it.  Individual preference, I guess ;-)

Moral Education

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What had happened to the world today? The recent stabbing case, causing the death of a 19 year old Polytechnic student, by 4 youngsters (students & NS men) between the age of 19 and 21 at Downtown East, shocked me. Why are the youngsters so violent these days? Have they thought of the consequences when they did the act?

Two years later, my Z generation son would be officially be “classified” as a teenager and it naturally worried me as a mom, wondering whether he would be leading the right path.

He is following the news on this matter closely and we talked about it. I told him that the whole incident saddened me. For the boy who had died, their parents would be devastated. He was their only son! For the 4 suspects, they are at their prime age and I believe their parents are heartbroken and worried for their children. Which parents wouldn’t?

I wondered what would happen to the 4 suspects? Even if they are not facing the death penalty, they would be in jail. What would become of them after they are released from jail? Who should be responsible for this unfortunate incident? The society, the parents, the teachers or the kids themselves ?????

This incident keeps me pondering. Indeed, academic education is important; however moral education is important too. How we teach our children affect how they behave when they grow up. It would be too difficult to impart them with the right moral education when they reach their “teenage hood”, hence, it’s important for us, as a society, parents and teachers, to cultivate them with the right moral education when they are young.

The Z generation’s future are in our hand and let’s work together to ensure they grow up in the righteous way.

Article : Three men charged for Downtown East murder http://sg.yfittopostblog.com/2010/11/03/three-men-charged-for-downtown-east-murder/

Kid’s Talk

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My son’s friend called when he was doing his school work last night. My 3 year old answered the call and told the caller that her gor gor was studying and would return call later.

She hung up the phone and proudly told her brother that his friend called, and this is their conversation.

Her gor gor asked, “Who was that on the line just now?”

“Your friend.” she answered.

“What is his name?” my son questioned. 

“You don’t know your friend’s name?” she looked surprise.  Pause for a while and she continued as a matter of fact, “You ask him tomorrow when you are in school, okay?” 

We have a good laugh.

Teaching Family Values

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The best way to show your children about family value is not by saying but by walking the talk. This is exactly what I’m doing – by action and showing my children how I take care of my aged parents.

My 10 years old genz kid is very much aware that I am very close to my parents and I am proud to say that my brother (his jiu jiu) and I take good care of them . He knew that during my younger days, my dad (his gong gong) was the sole breadwinner and had to work very hard to earn a living while my mom (his por por) took care of us. Life was not easy and we hardly have new toys (least to mention the expensive ones). I remembered my neighbour used to play with barbie dolls and I wished I had one too but I never dare to ask for one because I knew that if I do, my dad would find some way to get one for me.

Time flies and now, we are working adults and have our own family. My genz kids know that we love and care for their grandparents. My dad had a heart attack and stroke two years ago and since then they had stopped travelling because my dad is not fit to take a plane. My mother loves to travel and recently, after making all the necessary arrangement of getting someone to care for my dad and looking after my nieces, my sister in law (his jiu ma) and I decided to bring my mother for a short shopping trip in mid September. My mother, though, didn’t say a word, is very excited and looking forward to the trip.

By us doing so, I believe we have showed a good example to our kids (including my nieces) how much we have valued family values. We are walking the talk and we hope by setting good examples for the kids, they would take good care of us when we grow old.

A mother’s feeling – My Son has Grown Up

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Do you have this sudden feeling that your child has grown up …

Well, I do.  Recently my child went for a school trip to Malaysia and he was all so excited.  He packed his own bag on items he needed to bring, did a checklist of things he needed to do during the trip and went to bed early the night before and set his alarm clock to ring at 5.15 am so that he won’t oversleep and be late for the “big” day.   All so impromptu without any tinker from the parents.

I recalled a week before the “big” day, I jokingly asked if I could go with him, promised that I would stay a distance away from him, just to make sure he’s okay and not mantle into “business” he needs to do.  It’s a firm “No, no parents are allowed!”.  When I teased him that I would be tagging along after all as a parent volunteer, he gave me that “oh no, you are not!” look.  It’s kinda of funny but suddenly, I felt that my little boy who used to like to do everything with mummy has grown up. 

Well, we still do things together – sports, WII, watch TV, read but soon (and I mean real soon), he would start to prefer to do all these with his friends and very soon, I would start missing my little boy, the Mommy’s Boy.