Exploring Our Children’s Potentials

Some food for thought I’d like to share. From today’s Women’s Fellowship.

When we know the ‘price we need to pay’ for doing something and yet we still are willing to do it, it’s called ‘sacrifice’.

On the other hand, when we know all the consequences that come from doing something, and we still do it while thinking of ourselves as pityful and helpless in the situation, then we in this case see ourself as a ‘victim’.

…

Some mothers feel that children ‘rob’ them off their ‘freedom’.

In reality, many Moms see themselves (and their role as a Wife and a Mom) as one of the two above.

Some mothers feel that children ‘rob’ them off their ‘freedom’.

And when this mindset develops further, the Mom then goes on complaining and feeling sorry for herself and the situation she’s in.

Often, she ends up feeling she’s the ‘victim’ who deserves other people’s full attention, understanding and sympathy.

…

… there are those who see their role as a Mom a once-in-a-lifetime privilege.

And there are those who see their role as a Mom a once-in-a-lifetime privilege.

They perform their ‘duties’ willingly, knowing and accepting the consequences, responsibilities and ‘burdens’ that automatically come with the role.

…

The role of a Wife and a Mom is not an easy one.

But I guess, the important question now is, what type of a Mom and a Wife are we?

It is only when we take some time to introspect and realise the type of mindset we now have that we can learn to work on ourselves and become an even better Mom and Wife.

May God help us all, to be better mothers and wives, … the kinds that HE wants us to be.

Seeing Vai and his crushed eggshells reminded me a friend who passed to me her box of eggshells – cleaned and washed! – before she moved to Sydney with her family (Thanks Henny!)

[Btw she’s also into using ‘junk’ to create and make fun stuff for and with her kids!]

And so anyway, today Anya and I – with a little bit of help from Vai at one point – made a Flower Mosaic!

What we used:

>> cleaned eggshells
>> watercolour, brush
>> glue, crayons
>> paper for the base

It’s quite simple to make, really. And it’s fun and engaging for the kid too.

How to create the eggshell mosaic:

>> Colour the eggshells (since we’re making a flower, we chose red and green)

>> Wait for them to dry and ‘break’ them up into smaller pieces (Vai helped in ‘crushing’ the shells)

>> Draw whatever shape you want on a piece of paper

>> Paste some glue on it

>> Spread the coloured crushed eggshells on the drawing

>> Set the mosaic aside and wait for it to dry

And that’s it!

You just got yourself a colourful mosaic!

And oh, click HERE for more craft ideas using eggs!

Have fun eggs-perimenting!

This is one of the things that Vai did earlier today.

He got his hands on eggshells and discovered the ’cause and effect’ of touching, pressing, crushing and tearing apart the shells.

Must’ve been an interesting eggs-perience for him. Hehe.

[okay I’ve got to stop this eggy words thing!]

For kids’ breakfast, I usually go with something that’s pretty fast to prepare.

Stuff like bread and jam, hard boiled eggs, omelette, french toast, cheese, rice cereals and fruits. Oh, and of course a glass of milk for Anya.

Now when it comes to hard boiled eggs for Vai, I usually put some medium-sized pieces in a plastic bowl for him to self-feed.

After trying to eat with his fork for sometime (still requires lots of concentration and efforts to get it stuck on the fork), he usually resorts to a faster method (read: using his hands). Which of course is completely fine by me (as long as the kid eats! Heh).

During breakfast, I’d usually let him learn the concept of ‘hot’ (read: sensory experience). I’d put the ‘still-very-warm-but-not-boiling-hot’ egg (still with its shell) on his baby chair table and let him observe.

I’d then tell him that it’s hot and he shouldn’t touch it. At first he’d (of course) go ahead and touch it. He’d then withdraw his hand and give me a puzzled look. I’d then explain to him how the egg is hot and that’s what he’d feel if he touches it.

The same goes with the ‘still hot’ egg pieces in his bowl.

And so nowadays, whenever I tell him his food is still hot, he’d get close to the bowl, make a ‘blowing’ gesture’ and wait. Hehe.

[By knowing the concept of hot, I just hope he’d slowly learn and understand when we say he should avoid touching something because it’s hot and dangerous. Hm. But then again, knowing and obeying are two completely different things!]

Oh well, anyway. It’s still always nice when we see our kids pick up and learn stuff. Even from the simplest everyday things.

PS: For him to learn the concept of ‘cold’, I usually let him touch and play with ice cubes, cold drink bottles, frozen packets of green peas and corns, etc.

And really, I’ve got to say this cold stuff – though need to be rotated every few minutes or so, for Vai’s case – does keep him ‘occupied’ during mealtimes (read: allowing me to feed him with lesser fuss). It’s great!

Our 13.5-month-old guy likes to:

>> play with his sister

And to see them giggle and laugh out loud from silly acts of play often makes us chuckle too.

>> switch on and off our TV, air-con, DVD players, video player and whatever things that come with tempting buttons

(and this really gets to Anya at times, especially when she’s in the middle of watching TV. I’d then hear her desperate cry for help, ‘Mommyyyy … the TV is off again! The TV is OFF AGAIN!)

>> throw things into the bin

He can now uses the pedal bin all by himself. He’d hold on to a nearby wall with his left hand, hold the ‘stuff to throw’ on his right, step onto the pedal with his right foot, throw the stuff – usually I ask him to throw his own diapers – then he’d let go off the pedal.

>> self-brush his teeth (read: put his sister’s toothbrush into his mouth and munch on it), yet he refuses to stay still and open his mouth when it’s time for ME to brush his teeth

>> stop, squat, sit, lean towards one side AND lie on the floor. ANY floor
(and if he happens to be on a food court’s or a shopping centre’s floor, you’d then see the Mommy rushing to get the giggling little guy back on his feet!)

East Coast.

More than 400 participants all in all (teams of four each)

Warm weather.

Adrenaline rush.

Wife and kids cheered, took photos and videos (err…for Vai’s case, slept!)

It was fun!

PS: Our team was on kart no. 3, and [in the pic] hubby’s the one on the far left

[added]
Our team passed the Qualifying Round and went to the finals held on the next day. BUT, the weather was really bad, and they cancelled the race. So they based it on whatever timing they got from the day before, and this unfortunately meant our team didn’t make it to the top three

*quite disappointed*

Oh well. There’s always next year! *batting eyelashes*

Nowadays when we bring down our recyclable stuff, Anya will ride her bicycle (still with training wheels), and Vai’d be on his tricycle (as I push it along).

It’s then followed by a trip to the nearby playground.

Personally, I enjoy such a routine because on top of spending our late afternoon together in the outdoors, the kids get to learn and practice simple acts of caring for the environment too.