Exploring Our Children’s Potentials

I was preparing dinner when Anya sat on the kitchen top nearby and asked:

Anya : “Mommy, where did you buy that rice cooker?”

Me : “Errr, I can’t quite remember. I think your auntie gave it to me. Why?”

Anya : “Oh, because I don’t know where to buy such things for my own home later”

Me : “Your own home? Oh okay. And who are you going to stay with there?”

Anya : “With my husband and children, of course!”

*it was as if she’s giving such an obvious answer to a silly question*

Me : “Oh with your children too. And what do you do when you have children?”

Anya : “I will take care of the house, and I’ll work. From home. Just like you, Mommy”

There we’re again at East Coast Park.

Love the weather. Love the view. Love the family moments.

[Anya and Vai raced down the beach, captured by Daddy]

And here’s me doing ‘the Extended Arm Self Portrait‘ with my girl.

Hope you too had a great weekend.

Last year I once wrote about Lady Nic’s, an online store selling hand-made accessories, and interviewed the jewellery maker, Nichol, a stay-at-home mom of one who’s also a good friend of mine.

And now that she’s moved her e-store to a new site, she’s doing a nice giveaway as part of the site’s launch!

She’s made a pair of earrings and is inviting you to give them a name and perhaps, WIN them too!

You see, she gives a unique name to each of her hand-made piece. And when you browse her online shop, you’d come across names like : Mistletoe, Afternoon Delight, Foliage, and Fluttering Heart! Very cute.

Now.

To enter the contest giveaway, this is all you need to do :

– Take a look at the pair of earrings on the left

– Think of a suitable name for it

– Click HERE to visit her online shop

– Leave a comment over on Lady Nic’s blog post and state : your suggested name for the earrings, your name and your email address

–  Submit your entry latest by next Friday, 16 January 09

It’s that simple!

She’d then announce one lucky winner in the end and mail the prized earrings over!

And, don’t forget to browse around and check out her other creations. You never know, you may find some you’d like to own yourself.

All the best everyone!

Anya got her hands on our digital camera soon after she turned two years old. I remember how she was the one who took some of my ‘pregnant tummy’ photos and how she managed to capture some cool ‘dolphin-like’ light trail shots too!

And I guess, it is kind of contagious, because Vai asked to hold our (pocket) digital cameras and take photos with them when he turned two years old too.

Really, I’ve got today’s digital camera technology to thank for. Because if we were still in the ‘film era’, I don’t think our kids could explore and experiment with photography like they do today!

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[Photos}

Above : At a friend’s wedding and Vai was testing out photo-taking ‘without’ looking at camera’s LCD! (Thanks Jo for the pic!)

Below : The photo ‘result’

it’s the beginning of another school year for almost all preschoolers here in Singapore, and today Anya officially started her Kindergarten class!

It all went well today. Phew. Definitely nothing like last year, where her desperate cries for Mommy echoed throughout the school! Glad she’s enjoying her class too.

And Vai, he seemed happy to send her sister off, pick her after school and play at the school playground. Didn’t bring along our stroller today, and he walked throughout AND very rarely asked to be carried. I’m impressed.

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[Photo]
Happily left school together with their little friend, Elissa, who’s started her nursery there too.

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How was your kid’s first day at school?

Now here is one parenting book that I’d recommend to all parents out there!

‘Making Children Mind without Losing Yours‘ by Dr. Kevin Leman.

It was actually recommended by a good friend of mine sometime ago, but I only managed to buy a copy and start reading it recently.

And what do you know. A few days ago someone left a comment on my site and he actually worked with Dr Kevin Leman in producing his video series! He gave me a video link where you can watch a few minutes of Dr Leman’s seminar on ‘Making Children Mind without Losing Yours’ topic. Please do click and watch, it’s good! (Thanks Jack for the link!)

I personally recommend you get a copy and read the whole book yourself. It’s easy to read, practical and insightful.

For now, I’d like to share with you a particular part the book under the subtitle : Relationships come before rules.

Happy reading!

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If the discipline in your home is merely a matter of rules posted on the walls, it won’t work. They’re not likely to grow into loving, responsible adults. The rules find their ultimate value as expressions of the relationships within the family. These are the expectations of how family members will love one another. As children see that their parents are committed to the family, they will commit themselves, too.

My relationship with my daughters took precedence over my business schedule, and they knew it. And I’m telling you, that’s the most important bit of ‘discipline’ I could administer in my children’s life.

I see many families that get their children involved in every activity imaginable. Games, rehearsals, lessons, meetings, etc. As a result, the only time these parents see their kids is when they chauffeur them around town.

Your house needs to be a home, not a hotel. You need to have relationships with your children that take priority over the slate of activities available.

Josh McDowell says: “Rules without relationships lead to rebellion.”

You can’t have a hotel with a set of rules and call it a home. Life is too short not to take advantage of those formative years as your child is growing up in front of you. So don’t be afraid to curtail your kids’ extracurricular involvements. You need that time to build your family life.

I was browsing my old photos the other day when I came to realise how I have a habit of extending one arm and holding the camera towards myself when taking photos.

I have SO MANY of such shots.

As you can tell, I’m one who likes to treasure and keep memories of the time spent with friends and families. But when I shoot, I do like to be IN the picture too. At least in one or two.

Say for example, when my kids and I went on a Sentosa Luge ride, or when we visited a Nature Reserve Park, I could always take photos of just the kids while we’re there. BUT you see, I’d like my kids to remember – many years from that day – that I was WITH them too when they had fun! (and often, it’s either there’s no one else around at the time or it simply is more convenient and faster to just take the photos myself than ask someone else to take the photo FOR us)

[After trying out diving in Bali, and waterplay time at IMM shopping centre‘s outdoor playground]

I know a LOT of us actually have taken photos this way too, which I call ‘the Extending Arm Self Portrait’ way. Hehe.

And. Since it’s a whole new year, let’s start it with something that we can share together. Something fun.

And with that I’d like to announce to you a new Facebook Group called “The Extending Arm Self Portrait” which I just created, and everyone’s invited to join the group!

It’s a way of encouraging everyone to capture even more moments too – especially with their loved ones.

I’ve uploaded quite a few photos to get things started.

Can’t wait to see everyone’s different styles of ‘The Extending Arm Self Portrait’ shots!

Have fun everyone!