Exploring Our Children’s Potentials

[In today’s digital era, flipping through a book, slowly observing the images and talking about it with little ones still offers a different kind of experience]

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Here’s one reality I’m sure we all agree.

Little kids are often loud.

They can be noisy.

They can be whiny.

And when we want some peace and quiet, well … with kids being kids, it is highly likely that they’ll make it a little tough for us to even … enjoy our meals.

[Keeping little children entertained, nice and quiet, in plane trips can also be a challenging task]

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… totally living in their own little world, away from everyone else. Including whoever happens to be sitting around them, on the same dining table.

Now that we are in Jakarta, it is common to see children (as young as toddlers) sitting in restaurants, next to their nannies (who are patiently spoonfeeding them), with a gadget right in front of them.

They could be watching cartoons, or a music video.

They could be playing games.

And sometimes, they’d be wearing earphones, totally living in their own little world, away from everyone else. Including whoever happens to be sitting around them, on the same dining table.

They’re most likely very much engaged in their own devices.

So much so that they ‘leave’ their parents alone to enjoy their meals, and some peace and quiet.

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Because, while gadgets can surely be great pacifiers, … children do need social interactions. They need real playtime with real people.

While I have nothing against gadgets themselves, somehow I do feel there’s this serious danger when little children are increasingly ‘allowed’ to be attached to their gadgets, ie. When it has become a HABIT to always have gadgets around little ones to keep them company.

(If it’s SO easy for adults to be ‘addicted’ to these smart, little machines, … what more little children.)

I mean, I feel it is totally okay (perhaps even necessary) to delay exposure to gadgets in young children.

Because, while gadgets can surely be great pacifiers, … children do need social interactions.

They need real playtime with real people.

As often as they can.

Especially in today’s digital world.

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Little children are at a phase when they’re learning all about

… communicating with others

… knowing when to talk and when to not interrupt others

… respecting others, including their parents who need time to talk to each other and others too

… manners, forgiveness, and taking turns

… playing chase, laughing and accepting others who are different from them

Well, this is just to name a few.

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You know … I often wonder, when children are often ‘pacified’ with gadgets (be it at home, during car rides, or outings), aren’t they robbed off their privilege to learn all those life skills and much more?

[At 25 months, we encourage Brie to read books, either on her own, with her siblings or with us]

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Yes, children can be loud and demanding of our time and attention.

(I have three little kiddos. I know how draining such moments can be)

And yes, the younger they are, the more difficult it is for us to have some peace and quiet.

But I guess, … it’s part and parcel of being parents of young children?

I remind myself how our kids will be all grown up VERY soon, and they will choose to be noisy with their friends instead, and not long for our time and attention anymore.

When things get very loud around me, and mentally exhausting, I often tell myself that all this will soon be over.

I remind myself how our kids will be all grown up VERY soon, and they will choose to be noisy with their friends instead, and not long for our time and attention anymore.

So, while I’m at it, I need to learn to enjoy the moments and bear the tough bits =)

Well, not an easy task.

May God help me and you, and give us all the strength, wisdom and patience we need everyday.

Happy parenting, everyone!

[Love the reunion shirts we made. Ordered them at drawyourshirt.com!]

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My maternal grandparents have 5 children.

My parents have 4 daughters.

And, we just had our family reunion!

This is something we’ve been organising every 2 years now, because we live in different continents!

All in all, if everyone really can make it to Jakarta, there are close to 50 of us!

[With my sisters, my aunts and my 88-yo grandma]

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I guess, this is one of the many nice things we get to enjoy when there are more than 2 kids in the family?

Yes, I’m sure it’s really tough in the beginning when the kids are all growing up.

But, to have a big family, and to be surrounded with many grandchildren and great grandchildren decades later?

One of the many things money can’t buy, if you ask me =)

My cousins are in Jakarta for our big family reunion, and they gave our kids quite a few goodies.

One of them is this Magic Book and Magic Marker.

*Love it!*

Because it’s mess-free, and the toddler can really do this activity … anywhere.

Yes, without the mess =)

Plus, when the different colours start to appear, it sure is … magical to them.

Great fun! =D

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Note:

– So the marker itself is ‘colourless’, but when the child uses it to colour in the pictures on the ‘magic colouring book’, different colours will start to appear
– If not used on the ‘magic book’, it’ll just be a colourless marker.

One of the things I truly appreciate is when I see my older children help out in caring for Brie, the littlest one in the family.

Like, when I need to rush and get ready for work, the older ones help out and get Brie ready.

This can include, showering and toweling her dry.

I’d then simply need to prepare her clothes, and Brie would put them on herself.

Or.

When I have production shoots in the afternoon, the older ones would help babysit Brie.

Often, this means getting her to nap.

What they usually do : Push Brie in her pram. Sing songs to her. Brie then would fall asleep.

Or.

They’d read a book to her and let her fall asleep on their laps or shoulders.

I guess, what most people don’t quite see is the long and constant training process needed to nurture their brother-sister relationship.

Because  it doesn’t happen overnight.

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We’ve started instilling family values before a sibling is born in the family.

We’d share with the older ones how family is a gift from God, how we are to look after and help each other, etc.

But, having said that, even after the tens and thousands of words uttered by us, the reality is, it does NOT mean the kids are always nice, caring and loving towards each other.

Well, and I’m not surprised.

Because, they are naturally self-centred.

They too are sinners like us.

They have a natural tendency to put themselves, their interest, and their personal convenience as number one.

And to me, this is where we need to come in.

As their teacher, and their guide, their parents.

Totally NOT because we are holy and oh-so-perfect parents.

But because we are called and given this responsibility by God to be their guide and teacher.

To be a living example.

While we too keep on learning to be better persons ourselves every day.

Yes, I am learning so much from being a parent.

I learn what it means to have better self-control, even when I feel my head is about to ‘explode’.

I learn about patience and not giving up, even when the children’s behaviour is very far from what I’ve been teaching them.

I learn about putting others first, even at the expense of my own comfort and preference at times.

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It’s not easy at all.

But it’s not impossible.

And I think, when we whole-heartedly carry out our calling, with God’s help, we all are gradually shaped to be better people, every day.

Not just the children, but also us parents.

I’d like to share with you a little bit about what I do these days in Jakarta.

One of them is, I host the program ‘In Conversation With’, on Reformed 21 Channel.

Reformed 21 Channel is a christian channel and it broadcasts sermons, seminars, interviews and concerts, for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

It’s non-profit, and thus, there are no commercials.

It aims to share the Word of God to Indonesia.

And beyond.

[This interview airs this week! It’s with Ev. Inawaty Teddy who studies the Old Testament for many years. She shares the beauty of it, and why it is important for us Christians to read and study the Old Testament]

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The program ‘In Conversation With’  is one where I interview theologians as well as evangelists and pastors on various topics that are related to our christian life and faith in Jesus Christ.

It’s been a great honour, and I am at the same time grateful to God that I can do this while my kids are with me.

It’s a privilege to be able to work, and be involved in this ministry, with the support of my family and friends.

[Most recent interviews were with Dr Diane Poythress and Prof. Vern Poythress. What an honour.]

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Here’s more info :

1) Schedule of ‘In Conversation With’ programme :

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday
03.30, 15.30, 23.00*

Tuesday, Friday, Sunday
21.30*

*Jakarta Time

2) To watch Reformed 21 programs online wherever you are, go to www.reformed21.tv/tvstreaming

3) To check our daily programme schedules, click www.reformed21.tv/scheduleTV

4) One episode is aired each week, and so viewers can watch the programme at the time that’s convenient to them.

5) Children programme is aired too, everyday at 18.30, Jakarta time (for other timings, please check the TV schedule)

6) The programmes are mainly in Indonesian language, but everyday there are programmes in Mandarin and English too. Check out the Schedule for their schedule timings yeah!

7) LIKE their Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/reformed21TV), and follow them on Twitter (www.twitter.com/reformed21TV)

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Please do SHARE this info with as many as you can, so that the programmes can be a blessing to them too.

Thank you, everyone!

This is the beautiful Tondano Lake, North Sulawesi.

It’s about an hour drive from the city of Manado.

We went to a wooden-floored restaurant by the lake for an early dinner.

It has just rained hard earlier on, and the thick dark clouds were slowly clearing away.

The weather was nice, cool and fresh, and the view was just … breath-taking.

It’s SO beautiful.

So simple, yet so magnificent.

And it makes me, a simple Mom from the city of Jakarta, feel so much in awe of God’s wonderful creation.

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“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
Psalm 19:1

All five of us are in Manado right now. And I am typing this post from my iPhone, in my hotel room, in the wee hours =)

We are in North Sulawesi for a Mission Trip.

For a week!

It is our first as a family.

And we are so grateful and excited to have had the chance to go together and experience it all.

I’ll share more photos when I am back.

For now, you are most welcome to add me on Facebook or follow me on Twitter and Instagram. I share photo updates everyday there =)

Have a wonderful week, everyone!

Anya is now nine years old.

And her younger brother, Vai, is turning seven, in less than two months.

As their Mom, I must say they don’t always get along with each other. Just like most other siblings whose age gap is not that big.

(Read: The sister actually feels the brother annoys her a lot =)

But then again, I guess THAT is the beauty of having siblings?

I mean, when there’s another child (or two, or three) at your home, you are automatically trained to :

… share and care, whether you like it or not.
‘If you can’t care for your own brother and sister, how can you even start to care about others outside the family?‘ is what I often say to the kiddos.

… look after each other, even when you don’t feel like to.
‘Go and accompany your brother/sister, to make sure he/she is safe. Two is better than one, and he/she’d do the same to you.‘, is another phrase I often say to the kids, if any of them is reluctant to step away from their comfort zone to help a sibling.

… apply what your parents teach you, on a daily basis.
‘Control your tone of voice, please‘, I’d remind them. And, having siblings around does make such a ‘training of the heart’ very real.

Well anyway.

I can’t think of anything ‘negative’ about having a sibling or two at home.

And to end the post, I’d like to share this quote with you :

‘You don’t choose your family. They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them.’
– Desmond Tutu

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Indeed, family is God’s gift to us.