Exploring Our Children’s Potentials

We attended a seminar sometime ago (delivered by Rev. Stephen Tong), and we learned so much from the discussion.

One of the topics that was covered was about ‘knowledge of self’, and how important it is for us to know and ‘discover’ who we are, as this knowledge will determine how we live our lives every day and how we’ll relate with others.

I don’t think I will ever get to sharing ‘everything’ that I learned that day. But, I do like to share some of the points with you today.

Here they are.

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A man who starts to discover himself, starts to live.

“Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” – Genesis 1:26

People across many centuries have had these questions: ‘who am I’, ‘where are we from’, ‘why are we here’ and ‘where are we going’.

In essence, there’ll be a moment in our life where we long to know the answer to the big question ‘who are we?’.

The answers to all those are actually laid out in the Bible.

[Socrates, the Greek philosopher, once said, ‘Knowledge of self is the beginning of all things’]

When we know more about ourselves through better ‘knowledge of self’ (ie. that we’re created in the image of God, that we’re God’s ‘representatives’ in the world), we surely will NOT live our lives recklessly.

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We will find the purpose of life only when we return to God, our original Creator, who also loves us very much.

[Es Doger @ Soto Betawi Restaurant, Jakarta]

Each time I visit Jakarta, I must say I’d ALWAYS order fruit juices or sweet desserts whenever we go out and eat (where they’re available, of course)

And it could be anything. From orange juice, avocado juice, es campur to es teler.

You see, they’re just some of my ‘not-to-be-missed’ list of things to eat and drink whenever I’m back in my hometown.

[Yummy ‘Ox Tail soup‘ at Soto Betawi Restaurant, Jakarta]

Now.

Last month, I asked people on my Facebook to share THEIR list of food, drinks or snacks that they’d never miss when THEY visit their hometown.

And we got LOTS of yummy references!

So. I thought I should share the list here with everyone!

Well, you never know. The list may later be very useful to you the next time you plan on visiting these cities! Heh.

Here goes:

JAKARTA
> Kue Rangi @ Cafe Betawi
> Bakmi Bintang Gading @ Kelapa Gading
> Sop Kaki Kambing Dudung @ food court [SMS], Pondok Kemangi @ Serpong
> Nasi Liwet @ Ikan Bakar Cianjur
> Nasi Tim @ Pasar Petojo (Jl. Sadar 3)
> Mie Wewe di Jl. Ketapang (next to GPDI Ketapang)
> Soto Betawi Pak Kumis @ Jalan Kartini Raya (it’s opened only at night time)
> Mie Jago @ Jl. Kartini 4
> Buah Lontar @ Pasar Baru (in front of Gramedia bookstore)
> Sayur asem
> Steamed Prawns @ Njun Njan Seafood Restaurant
> Es Solo @ Singapore Restaurant MK
> Senayan Satay House
> Chicken Satays with Crackers
> Es Kopyor
> Pempek (read: fish cakes)
> Soto Babat

BANDUNG
> Baso Malang Enggal @ Jalan Pasteur
> Nasi timbel & Tempe Goreng @ Kedai Teteh (Lembang)
> Nasi goreng Bahureksa @ Jalan Trunojoyo (near Riau Junction)
> Noodle @ Jalan Naripan

[Padang food near Pacific Palace Hotel, Batam. Can’t remember the restaurant’s name though]

BATAM
> Fried Chicken
– Ayam Penyet Ria @ Nagoya Hill
– Ayam bakar Taliwang (near Telkom Pelita)
– Ayam goreng “Langganan” (near Batam Centre Ferry Terminal)
– Ayam Goreng Semarang (opposite Windsor Temple)

> Rujak Buah (read: ‘Fruit salad’)
– Simpang Rujak
– Rujak 3 saudara

> Martabak
– Opposite Duta Maitreya Temple
– Martabak Bangka Jaya @ Ruko Kintamani

> Padang Food
– Bundo Kanduang
– Puti Bungsu (next to Puri Garden Hotel)

– Pempek Pak Raden
– Soto Betawi Pak Kumis (opposite Windsor Temple)
– Kuetiaw Asim (next to Pizza Hut Pelita)
– Es Teler @ Es Tiara (near Budi Kemuliaan Hospital)
– Sup Ikan Asam Pedas: Pa Khong (behind Vitka Farma Pharmacy, Windsor)
– Live Seafood @ Golden Prawn

MEDAN
> Satay Padang

SOUTH TEXAS
> Mexican food, specifically Chipotle.

SINGAPORE
> Chicken Rice
> Sushi
> Kuah Chap
> Chin Chow Dessert and ChngTeng

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Now, please do add MORE to the list!

What’s YOUR not-to-be-missed food and drinks?

I must say that out of all the beaches in Singapore, we visit Sentosa’s Palawan Beach most often.

My reasons?

Well, it’s because:

– the beach is easily accessible

We can take the orange bus from HarbourFront Bus Interchange ($2 per person), or take the Monorail from Vivo City ($3 per person).

– it has water-play area for kids (so they can have fun with sand AND water)

– the shower area is near, relatively clean and spacious

– it has a food court (‘Koufu’) by the beach, which makes finding food, drinks and snacks for all of us not a problem at all

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The thing is, whenever we visit Palawan Beach, we hardly ever check out the ‘Animal Encounters’ across the road.

Recently we did though.

Together with a few other friends, we had a close encounter with a ‘pig tailed macaques’, and we watched the ‘Bird Encounters’ at its Amphitheatre (where I volunteered to have an eagle landing on my hat!)

Really. I thought it was so good of Sentosa Island to have such arrangements for free to the public!

Anyway.

Do check it out the next time you’re there!

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Here’s their daily schedule:

12.00pm – 12.15pm : Close encounters with Reptiles

12.30pm – 12.50pm : Primate encounters at Amphitheatre

2.00m – 2.15pm : Lories feeding at Bird Aviary

3.00pm – 3.15pm : Close encounters with Pig Tailed Macaques

3.30pm – 4.00pm : Bird encounters at Amphitheatre

5.00pm – 5.30pm : Multi-animal encounters at Amphitheatre

[Note: The encounters are subject to weather condition]

So here’s one latest update from me:
I’ve just created a Facebook Page for Our Everyday Things!

You see, lately I’ve been thinking about how I can reach out to families directly every day, with parenting tips and thoughts, and other parenting-related articles.

I mean, I can’t write a blog post every day (though I would very much love to!), and my personal Facebook account has my other updates too.

And that’s when the idea crossed my mind!

I thought, why not create a Facebook Page where my readers, and their friends, and their friends’ friends can easily join – and I’ll then post all sorts of parenting related stuff regularly THERE!

So there you go.

Do join me on Facebook, and invite all your friends (especially families!) to come and join the Our Everyday Things Page!

I’d like to make Our Everyday Things Facebook Page be THE place where you’ll get to discuss and receive regular parenting tips, thoughts and other insightful posts!

Please help me spread the news, everyone!

Click HERE to go the Page and click ‘LIKE’!

Thanks heaps!

Just recently, I had a chat with a friend about her history of breastfeeding and how it all started out badly for her.

After the baby was born, she was ready to exclusively breastfeed, but upon reaching home from the hospital, the confinement lady (whom her mother in law engaged as a ‘gift’ for her) kept giving the baby formula.

My friend shared with me how she’d wake up from her nap with painful and engorged breasts, ready to breastfeed her baby, only to see her baby sleeping soundly because the confinement lady chose to not wake the Mommy (though she’s been asked to do so), and simply gave the bottle.

It was a frustrating experience for her. She knew about the benefits of breastfeeding, tried to breastfeed her baby, but she didn’t have the support at home.

[Top right photo: Less than 10-minute-old Anya being weighed next to the delivery room at TMC. She was 3.970 kg]

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How was YOUR breastfeeding experience, btw?

As for me, when I look back and think about my own experience, I must say it was all relatively smooth sailing (with minor hiccups here and there along the way).

Both Anya and Vai were born at Thomson Medical Centre (TMC), and the nurses were supportive when I asked for total breastfeeding.

[Photo: Less than a day old Vai and Mommy at TMC]

Wilson and I attended TMC’s in-house Parentcraft session, conducted by Mrs Wong Boh Boi (its Senior Lactation Consultant), and found the tips and live-demo REALLY helpful!

I exclusively breastfed Anya and Vai till they both started their solids at the age of 5.5 months.

Anya was breastfed for 13.5 months, and Vai for 22.5months.

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[This was when we appeared in Baby Plus magazine back in 2007. That’s 3yo Anya on the right. Vai was 5.5 months old, and was sleeping AND breastfeeding in that shot!]

I know there are many mommies out there who’re struggling with breastfeeding, or are in a lookout for more insights and help from experts.

I sure am not an expert, but I’d like to share with you tips and other insights which I learned and picked up from different sources.

Here they are.

WHY BREAST MILK IS THE BEST SOURCE OF NUTRITION

– Human breast milk is designed to be THE perfect baby food because it has all the nutrients needed to support the optimal growth of a baby (ie. Though it may not be possible for everyone, … if you could, you should try and breastfeed your child)

– Health experts all over the world recommend that babies should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life because of the overwhelming benefits for both mother and child

– A mother’s nutritional demands are greatest during breastfeeding and she needs MORE calories in her diet than when she was pregnant. Good nutrition is therefore extra important.

[Anya and Vai: Breastfed babies at 11 months old]

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MORE BREASTFEEDING TIPS :

– Try to place baby at the breast as soon as possible after birth. Ideally, this will happen right in the delivery room.

– Try to get some professional help, such as a lactation specialist or a nurse who is knowledgeable about breastfeeding to help and observe your technique.

– It would be better to have mothers and babies in the same hospital room, as this allows mothers to rest while the baby nurses. Breastfeeding can be relaxing, not tiring.

– Try to nurse on demand (may be up to twelve feedings a day).

– Don’t let your baby sleep through a feeding. If it’s been three hours since your newborn last fed, then it’s time to wake him or her up.

– Nurse for as long as the baby wants. Most newborns require ten to forty-five minutes to complete a feeding.

– The key to successful breastfeeding is a proper latch. Before you leave the hospital you should be shown how to get your baby latched on properly. You should also know that he is actually getting milk from the breast.

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More useful links on breastfeeding from:
– Health Promotion Board
– Familydoctor.org
– Breastfeeding.com

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When I was breastfeeding Anya and Vai, I remember how I drank lots of water, soya milk and fresh milk every day.

I knew I had to eat well too as breast milk’s quality does depend on the mother’s dietary intake too.

[Btw, I ate a lot AND frequently as I was hungry all the time!  I tried to go for more nutritious meals over junk food too. Tough at times, I must say]

I didn’t know (until recently) that there’s apparently milk that’s specially formulated for breastfeeding moms, called Anmum^TM Lacta (the only one in the market!)

It contains all sorts of nutrients that breastfeeding moms need in order to give nutritious goodness to the breastfed child.

[If only I had known about this some few years ago!]

Anyway, while we’re on the topic of breastfeeding, I’d like to share with you THREE more things.

If you go to this link: http://www.anmum-mum.com.sg, you’ll find out how you can:

– request for a sample from Anmum^TM

– register for FREE to attend their Breastfeeding Forum, scheduled for July 31st!

The speakers include: Mrs Wong Boh Boi (an excellent lactation specialist!) and Dr Ang Poon Liat (who happened to be my two kids’ pediatrician at the time they’re born).

– enter a Breastfeeding Pledge Contest and WIN prizes!

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And here’s one extra good news:

If you’re one of the selected contest winners, you’ll be receiving an EXTRA HAMPER from Our Everyday Things!

Yup, MORE goodies for you!

NOTE:

When you’re submitting your pledge online, there’ll be a drop down menu and remember to choose ‘BLOG’ and write ‘Our Everyday Things’ there to get that extra hamper from me, if you won the contest!

SO exciting!

Can’t wait to give that hamper away to you, readers! All the best!

Wilson and I went to the Singapore Blog Awards 2010 Ceremony today, organised by omy.sg, and held at Movida, St James Power Station!

[Errr, if you’re new to my blog, fyi, Our Everyday Things is one of the finalists under ‘Best Photography Blog’ category this year *smile*]

And the result?

No I didn’t win.

Another guy who’s truly a passionate photographer won the Award, and I thought he deserved it! Congrats Hendra!

[I’m hoping the organiser will include a ‘Parenting’ category next year though, especially since Singapore promotes the idea of ‘Family’ a lot in recent years. I’m sure lots of mommy and daddy bloggers out there would love the idea too! Heh.]

Anyway.

It was a nice date for both of us, and I had fun meeting people too!

Here are some photos I managed to put together today!

Enjoy!

[Btw, we chose to do away with a big camera bag, and brought only my Canon Powershot S90 to the event!]

[With Gordonator and thebanzaieffect]

[Left: With Raine and Elise from Nuffnang; Right: With Karen. Love her blog!]

[Daddy bloggers: Andy and Edmund]

[Left: With Silver Ang; Right: With Gin, the winner of Best E-Commerce Blog! Congrats!]

[Left: With Hendra, the winner of Best Photography blog!; Right: With Ellena from Cuisine Paradise]

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And here’s one of two cute Fabrix pouches we ‘won’ today!

Whoopee. So happy!

We left the event shortly after 6pm, went over to Vivo City and caught up with our little ones (who’ve been looked after by our friends while we’re away! Thanks Phen Family!!]

[Anya and Vai with the ‘I Like’ stickers we got from the event!]

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Before I end, I’d like to say THANK YOU.

Thank you for the support you’ve given to me all this while.

I sincerely thank those who’ve voted for Our Everyday Things too!

And, I know I’ve said this before and it may sound ‘cliché’, but I will say it anyway:
The reason why I blog, I shoot and I share is not to win awards nor recognitions. It’s to inspire others. To make a positive impact, however subtle, in more and more families, and in the lives of those who come and read my blog.

So I hope you too can help me achieve this by sharing my blog URL with others. I’d really appreciate that.

Thanks again, everyone!

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PS: Oh btw, I know it’s a bit ‘late’ now, but I don’t think I’ve shared it here. During the voting period, the organiser did a video interview of me. Click HERE to watch the clip!

It’s one of the places my family would very most likely visit whenever the four of us go to Jakarta.

The cool air on the mountains is just SO refreshing.

A complete contrast to Jakarta.

We were so grateful for the really nice weather on our first day there.

Nice blue sky with bits of fluffy white clouds here and there.

This, btw, we hardly ever see because it’s usually a little cloudy up there.

Anyway. The kids insisted on going for a swim soon after breakfast.

Yes, in icy cold water!

And so they went and had fun with their cousins, while Mommy chose to just stay by the poolside and take photos. Heh.

[Info]

– ‘Puncak Highlands’ is about 60km away from Jakarta.

– Driving there could be a nightmare though if you plan to visit Puncak during the school holidays or the weekends. The traffic could be very bad and it could take 3-4 hours (sometimes longer!), which is why some people choose to leave really early in the morning or late at night.

– There’re many factory outlets there for those who’re into shopping. The better one (in my opinion) is called Kampung Brasco.

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If you could add more info about Puncak, it’d be great! Please do share them with us! Thanks!

It’s amazing to see how Facebook has become a regular part of millions of people’s daily lives around the world.

And to those who’re not so much into Facebook, they may be active on Twitter and other social media platforms these days.

As for me, I’m much more active on Facebook than on Twitter.

How about you?

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Btw, I’ve uploaded quite a bit of photos and stories of our recent trip to Jakarta on Facebook!

If you haven’t already, you’re most welcome to add me on Facebook, and follow me on Twitter!

(Leave me a message to let me know if you’re a blog reader yeah … )