Parents Articles
Myopia Control – The Atropine Eye Drops Therapy
Aug 20th
Myopia is getting more and common nowadays. The eyes of the Z generation are always “working” – reading, watching TV, playing games. The only time they rest, I suppose, would be when the kids are sleeping.
As such, it is not uncommon to see children (even toddlers) wearing spectacles today. My son, a typical Z generation, worn his first pair of spectacles when he was 5 and the power just won’t stop going up (like the stock market).
When he was 7, I started actively to look for ways to control his myopia. By chance, his pediatrician introduced me to an optometrist who specialist in myopia prevention and control management. After detailed examination of his eyes, the optometrist recommended that I tried the Atropine Eye Drops Therapy. This therapy is commonly used by optometrist safely to treat eye conditions such as lazy eyes and squints; but for use in myopia control, it is still something new in Singapore, I was told then.
With the optometrist’s advice and after due considerations, we decided to give it a try. Every night before he sleeps, a single drop of atropine eye drop is instilled in each of his eyes. His myopia has since stabilized for the past 2 years. He sees the optometrist half yearly for review and for replenishment of his eye drops.
So far, the only side effect I’ve observed is the glariness from the sun when he is having his outdoor activities. The solution? I have the optometrist wrote me a letter for the school to allow him wear transition lenses.
Of course, eye care is still the most important thing; and do consult an optometrist if you are concern with your child’s myopia.
For information:
http://www.eyecare.com.sg/atropine.htm
http://www.eyespecialist.com.sg/mypoia.htm
Is My Child Gifted?
Aug 20th
It is common for parents to wonder if their children are gifted.
There’s this little boy, aged 4, from my girl’s school. He can read books that are meant for Primary 4 student. Is that little boy gifted? I think so. However, does it mean that he is “gifted“ in everything? I don’t think so.
I believe that all kids are special in their own way. Even children with learning disabilities such as dyslexia could be “gifted” in their own way. I know of a little girl who is dyslexic. She is academically slow but extremely talented in photography. When she takes photographs, she took them in a very “special” way. For example, she would take a close snap of the checkers on the handbag instead of the hand bag itself. The snap was so sharp that you can see even the finest details of the checkers. Is she talented? Yes, I think so too.
Kids may have different talents. Some children are gifted in music, some in arts and some in sports. It is important for us, as parents, to encourage them and help them develop these talents. Parents must realize that not all gifted children have the ability to do well academically. One child may show his giftedness in his study while the other might show his in performing arts and music.
By the way, do you know that Einstein was four years old before he could speak and seven before he could read? So next time before you ponder if your child is gifted, remember not to limit yourself in the academic way, your child might have hidden talent you have yet discovered 
Reading on Dyslexia:
http://www.squidoo.com/davisdyslexia
Reading on Theory of Multiple Intelligences:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_multiple_intelligences,
Andrew Matthews – Wisdom of Words
Jun 9th
I enjoyed the talk by Andrew Matthews during the recent Singapore Education Summit 2010. In case you wondered who he is. He is the international cartoonist, speaker & best-selling author of motivational and personal development books such as “Happiness Now”, “Follow Your Heart”.
This is what I’ve shared with my Genz Kid:
You can choose to be happy or misery. Misery is a choice.
I took the opportunity to teach my Genz Kid that life is never fair. You can choice to happy with what you have or misery with what you don’t have. MISERY is a choice!
You are happier when you accomplished something.
I asked my Genz Kid whether he felt good after obtaining good results for his mid year results, knowing that he had tried his best and put in his best effort. He said yes!
Life is a circle of continuous challenges.
My Genz Kid was bothered that his friend was not finding time to do the project they were supposed to complete during the June school holiday. I told him that a person grows up when they faces challenges in life. It’s when you know how to overcome these challenges that you find yourself wiser. When you thought you have overcome one challenge, before you could rest your feet, you find yourself facing another challenge and this will go on and on …. AND again, you can choice to face these challenges positively with an open heart or miserably.
Ability + Attitude + Strategy = SUCCESS
I told my Genz Kid that a person could be very smart, but without the right attitude and strategy, he can never be successful. He may not be the smartest person in his class but if he learn from the mistakes and take failure positively, and with the right strategy, he will be successful.
Fun is when you are involved and participated, not watch
I asked my Genz Kid which is more fun, to watch your friend playing a scoccer game or you participate in the game. He told me “PARTICIPATE”. Yes, participate even if you are not the best in the game or even you have lost the game. The more important thing is you have fun and enjoyed the game!
That’s all I have to share today. If you have not read his book, I would urge you to read one. I believe you will feel as enlighten as I do!
And guess what, I’m going to get his “Being a Happy Tenn” for my Genz Kid. Although he is not a teenage yet, I believe he will benefit a lot from the book.
Official website : http://www.andrewmatthews.com/
Also on facebook http://en-gb.facebook.com/pages/Andrew-Matthews-Author/108867285809877
And this is from Andrew’s “Happiness Now”…. ENJOY!
Experience is making me a better parent
May 8th
Affirmation To Be A Better Parent
Although I read many books in preparation for becoming a parent, experience is making me a better parent every day. The book of reality is my greatest teacher. I embrace my life lessons with humility.
Every day, I am gaining knowledge from the mistakes I make. Sometimes, things turn out differently than I hoped. I learn from those moments and apply their lessons to my future behavior.
I am humble enough to apologize to my children when I react in a manner that is inappropriate. My children are discovering that, although I am not perfect, I am someone worth imitating.
As the kids get older, I look back with clarity and see areas that I can strengthen. I offer my advice to younger parents who seek it. Sharing my experiences with others saves them from making the same mistakes I made.
Over time, I am becoming slower to anger and quicker to forgive. I have such a powerful inner sense of peace that I am able to overlook offenses, exercising patience with others.
I am learning that time goes by so fast that I must hold on to every moment I can. I live in the moment and enjoy my children just the way they are.
With experience comes the clarity to distinguish those things that are worth dwelling over and those which are best forgotten. Experience increases my ability to take life in stride without allowing anything to steal my joy.
Today, I choose to embrace the lessons that life teaches me and apply them to my future behavior.
Self-Reflection Questions:
1. What lesson have I learned from my children lately?
2. Am I slow to anger and quick to forgive?
3. How can I turn mistakes into powerful lessons?
9 Ways to Forge Loving Ties That Last a Lifetime in Your Children
Feb 13th
Children have an amazing capacity to learn. They’re like sponges in the early years and they easily form memories that are cherished for a lifetime.
There are many things you can do in order to build loving ties that last. It’s a great way to teach your children trust and companionship. When you foster a positive relationship with your kids, it’ll be far more likely that they’ll continue to build happy and healthy relationships in the future.
Here are some ways to forge loving ties with your children:
1. Show your gratitude. You may feel gratitude for your children at every moment, but it’s what you project to them that matters. Make sure you verbally and physically show them gratitude. When you do, the message will come across clearly that you care.
2. Exemplify respect. Respect your children, just as you ask them to respect you. They’ll appreciate the saying, “treat people the way you’d like to be treated,” if it’s something that you practice as well.
3. Love them unconditionally. There will certainly be times when your children disappoint or anger you, but make it clear to them that you still love them even when you’re upset with their actions. It doesn’t mean you condone their behavior, but it does mean that you love them no matter what!
4. Make time for them. You’ll build stronger ties when you make time for your children and make an effort to participate in their interests. Ask them what they’d like to do and get involved in their life. This is a great way to enjoy some bonding time with your kids.
5. Encourage them. When your children face a challenge, it’s an opportunity for you to step up and help. Be there to nudge them in the right direction without being too pushy. Give them words of encouragement and let them know how much you believe in their abilities.
6. Help them build confidence and independence. Tell your kids that they can accomplish anything with a positive mindset. Encourage independence in your children so they can remain confident even in situations where you’re not around to help out.
7. Listen. Listen to your kids. They have many important lessons, ideas, and stories to share! When they know that you’re truly listening to them, they also know that you care and love them.
8. Make dinner together. Having meals together as a family is important because many times that’s the only time of day where everyone can be together. Instead of being silent or making small talk, use the opportunity to share love and support. Later in life, your children will remember these wonderful family dinners.
9. Schedule family time. Establish regular opportunities dedicated to building memories with your family. Let each family member choose an activity to enjoy together. Laughing and having fun together will help to build ties that last forever.
When you use these tips to show your family how much you care, the feelings are more likely to become mutual. Spend one on one time with each member of your family and get involved in each other’s lives to connect on a deeper level. It’s those moments of sharing that will last a lifetime!
The Career Mom – How to Balance Your Career and Home Life
Feb 2nd
In this day and age, it’s becoming more and more difficult to live off of one income. This means that oftentimes moms have few options when it comes to the decision of whether or not to work while raising children.
If you’ve decided to keep up with your career, whether through choice or necessity, you’ll be busy, but you can certainly make it work. You’ll be rewarded in the end because you won’t have to worry about re-entry into the workforce once the kids are older, and you may opt to continue building your own 401K for retirement purposes.
Scheduling and Planning
When you ask most working moms about how they do it, you’ll often hear about their particular scheduling and planning habits. It’s important to work out a set schedule that works for you personally.
Consider the following working mom tips:
1. Plan your mornings. If you’re not a morning person, try completing some of your morning tasks the evening before. Set aside enough time to get the kids up and dressed if they’re not old enough to do it themselves. If you can, enjoy a meal together as a family before the day’s commitments.
2. Schedule events. Schedule your after work activities in a planner. This will ensure that there’s room for everything and that nothing important is forgotten along the way. Play dates, grocery shopping, and other errands can be scheduled as well.
3. Be flexible. Remember that everything won’t always go perfectly. If something doesn’t work out and you need to rearrange your schedule, just plan to do something on a different day. Since you’re juggling many tasks at once, keeping your schedule flexible is a must for keeping your stress levels down.
Staying Involved
One of the top worries of working moms is the fact that they feel like they’re not as involved. However, if you concentrate on spending the time you do have with your little ones in a quality way, you’ll still be heavily involved in their lives. Just because you aren’t there every minute, it doesn’t mean that you aren’t making a big difference in their lives.
When you arrive home from work, do something with your children that you’ll all enjoy. Maybe they’ll want some alone time to play independently, but you can also stay involved by showing that you care. You’ll have quality time with them at meals, and you can always engage them in family games or other activities.
Taking Breaks
It’s vital that you remember to schedule some breaks. If you need a “spa day” every once in awhile, it’s certainly something that you deserve. Sometimes you’ll feel that you spend every waking moment either at work or worrying about the children, so take some time to unwind. Read a book after the kids have gone to bed, work on your relationship with your spouse, or engage in something you find relaxing.
Your Relationships
Spend individual time with each member of your family. Be sure to remember your partner during life’s crazy times and give that relationship some much-needed nourishment as well. Individual attention will help you get to know your kids better, and you’ll have time to truly build upon your lasting relationship.
A career mom is a truly special person. Sure, life can get really hectic at times, but if you follow these tips, you’ll be able to strike a happy balance between your career and your life at home.
Affirmation – I am who I want my children to become
Jan 31st
Every day, I live my life aware that I am who my children will become. My actions, reactions, and values are being imprinted on my children. It is my responsibility to conduct myself in such a way that will be worthy of their imitation.
I work hard to be the person I want my children to become because I am the most important influence in my children’s lives.
I share my life openly with my family so my children can learn from my experiences. Carrying myself with integrity enables my children to see that I am the same regardless of the situation.
My children will be generous with others because I model selfless giving. Each time I offer a helping hand or a listening ear to a person in need, the experience is etched into my children’s memories. I actively engage my children in acts of kindness.
The disciplined lifestyle that I implement in my life also benefits my children. The addictions that I have overcome, as well as the healthy habits I have begun, will produce a better future for my family.
My reward for my diligence in improving myself is the knowledge that my children will not have to struggle as hard as I have, because I am setting them up for success.
Today, I am proud of who I am. I work hard to become someone worthy of my children’s admiration. I am confident that my children will benefit from following my footsteps.
Self-Reflection Questions:
1. What is my vision for my children’s future?
2. What values are my children learning from my behavior?
3. How can I improve my actions so my children can follow my footsteps?
A Tribute to my Helper at Home
Dec 9th
I am a working mom and my husband’s job requires him to travel frequently. While we are away from home, we need someone to help care for our two young kids.
I am fortunate that I have a good helper who is (and still) with me for almost 5 years now. We have heard horrible stories about domestic helper abusing their employer’s children. Honestly, I’m afraid that the same thing would happen to my children too. As such, when I first engaged my helper, I got my parents to help “monitor” her performance. It was about a year later that my parents gave me the “green light” that we can leave our kids alone with her at home. Since then, I trust her to take care of my children while we are at work.
I do not allow my kids to call my helper “maid”. I told my children, especially the elder one that she is their auntie and she is there to help me take care of them while daddy and mommy are at work. They have to respect her like they respect us. When they need help from her, they need to say “please”, when she did something for them, they need to say “thank you”, and when they done something wrong, they need to say “sorry”.
My helper does not want off-day so I compensate her with money. When she wants to take time off during weekend, I allow her to without deducting her pay. When she was sick and unable to tend for my children, I took leave to care of them myself and allow her to take “MC”. I remembered when she came back from her home leave last December, she was down with dengue fever and I had to take almost a week leave to take care of my children and cook for her (on top of the 3 weeks leave I’ve taken while she was away). When I go for my recent holiday trip to Hong Kong, I brought her along as a reward for her hard work. She was so happy that she got to meet up with her sister-in-law and cousin who are working there.
I believe the rule of thumb of having harmony with domestic helpers at home is to treat them fairly and respect them. If they are happy and feel that you treat them well, they would be grateful and work hard for you. Isn’t it the same for us when we are working for our employer?
Without her, I don’ think I would be able to concentrate while at work so I’m thankful that I have a good helper at home and my kids are safe in her good hands.