The Year 2012

Year 2012 is definitely a year to remember. We went through so much ups and downs this year, good stuff...the little one that we have been so looking forward to...bad stuff...learned lesson and of course, being a much wiser person now. But most of all, we have SURVIVED! v(^_^)V

December is always a busy yet a happy month for us. It is always the month of some important functions and events to attend, the month of spring cleaning, the month as a full-time mother as the kids are having their long holidays, and not forgetting it is also the month to sum up company account. Pheewww...so much things to be done...yet, enjoying every moment of it though sometimes felt exhausted!

As I'm now in the second trimester, we have been cutting down on outdoor activity. This month I focus more on NingNing's pronunciation, letting the girls helping me with some household chores and their social behaviour in public. As we are celebrating Winter Solstice and Christmas this month, I decided to let the girls  have some fun. I made the dough from the glutinous rice flour, adding colouring (red, pink and green) to separated dough then, letting the girls to finish the job. The girls got creative, SyuenSyuen made the "tang yuan" with Christmas term. She made a Snowman instead of traditional round tang yuan while NingNing made 'snake'!! (O.o) They even mixed the colour and knead it round and now, we had RAINBOW tang yuan! So much fun with the girls, it was a MESS but we are happy! Ooppss...so enjoyed that I have forgotten the existing of the camera! (=.=)" Anyway, this is the only photo of the tang yuan making.

Last year, we decorated a Candy Christmas Tree. This year, we decorated the Christmas tree with handmade gifts and snowman. They were all made from unwanted material, another recycle project :) Hopefully, we have more and more blessed years to come!

Speech Therapy

Since NingNing had been facing problems with the pronunciation with certain words, we decided to take her to the specialist to have a proper check-up. First, we went to the Emergency Department as we are not too sure who should we refer to, to the ENT Department or the Paediatrics. Then, NingNing was transferred to the Paediatrics to do some speech evaluation.

We are glad that there were nothing wrong with her hearing and tongue. After checking the ear and tongue, she was asked to read alphabet A to Z, sounds okay. And then, she was asked to sing! Then, the paediatrician asked me some history about her. I explained that she started to talk (single, double wording) when she was about 10 months old and complete sentence when she was about 1 and 1/2 year old so, there was no sign of her to be a slow learner or speech disorder.

Then, there was a little conversation between the paediatrician and her to test her understanding of certain question. A simple test on her speech in different language turned up to be fine. In the end, she was diagnosed of slurred speech with certain words.

I heard of the slurred speech years ago and understood the meaning of it. It was nothing serious but what we are afraid of is that she might get so used to the slurred speech that it become her habit one day. I requested the paediatrician to write us a letter so that we can went straight to the speech therapy, which was only available at the General Hospital Ipoh. The paediatrician refused as he thinks that all NingNing needs now is practising the certain pronunciation at home. After much discussion with the paediatrician, we came to a conclusion that we will teach NingNing to practise her speech at home everyday and if there is no improvement after 6 months then only we bring her to the speech therapy.

Back at home, I called my mum and hubby to discuss this matter with them and like what I'm thinking, they also think that 6 months is way too long. In the end, we decided to give ourselves 3 months of deadline. If there is no improvement, we will personally bring NingNing to the GH with or without the letter from the paediatrician.

As for now, I'm doing some research on the speech therapy, hopefully I can find some helpful information. And of course, hope for the best.

盲点

身为父母的我们都期望孩子以后能过舒适的生活；住洋房，驾名贵车，最好能够成为专业人士，赚很多的钱。看来，在现今的社会下财富，名利及职业视乎断定了一个人成功以否。在孩子上小学时，成绩便成为了老师及家长最关注的事件也断定了成绩较差的孩子将来不会成功而成绩较杰出的孩子将来一定很成功！

我本身是位老师也是一位妈妈，我教过许多孩子也了解父母的苦心，但是我本人不认为成绩能衡量孩子的前途。对我来说，前途是无法衡量的，如果能衡量的话，有谁能够告诉我是用什么计算法，可不要告诉我是用加和减，那是很肤浅的想法啊！

我深信父母们都有同样的盲点，
（一）害怕孩子输在起跑点。
（二）只要读好书，获得辉煌的成绩便有美好的未来。
（三）安排孩子上零零种种的才艺班但又怕累坏孩子。

记得有一次，大女儿四岁那年老师向我投诉女儿ABC还不会认而那些同样和女儿一起三岁入学的已经会了。那时我是这样回答老师的，“今天她不会，明天她就会了”，过后，我便和老师谈一谈我们对孩子的期望及把孩子提早入学的原因。其实，我们并不怕孩子输在起跑点，让女儿提早入学的原因纯粹是为了让她学习一些人际关系，让她跟小朋友互动，学习沟通及礼貌。我们也向老师说明我们比较注重品行，成绩不太重要，重要的是别让我们害怕孩子输在起跑点的举动而催产了孩子那好学之心！虽然输在起跑点，但人生还有多么遥远的路要跑啊！女儿，我们希望你不管输赢，用“坚持”跑完全场！

身为老师的我，学生的成绩固然肯定了我的成就以实力。虽然如此，我并没有因为成绩而施压学生们，反而我注重他们的身心。我深信拥有良好的身心及品行，学生的成绩也逐渐进步！最让我记忆深刻的是一位三年级的学生，一向来名列前茅的他在一次的国文考试只得了48分，忍住泪，向我道歉并承诺下次会考取好成绩。我便回应说“没关系，我们一起努力，我希望你下次能进步10分。。”说到这里，他还是忍不住落泪了。。此事，让我体会到考试不只是评估孩子的知识也同时评估了孩子对人处事的能力。这就是父母们的盲点，很多家长都忽略了考试过程的重要性，考试只不过评估孩子的知识，但是孩子从准备应付考试直到获得成绩的过程面对了零零种种的情形及情感（包括正面以负面的情商），这才是家长应该关注的。在此，借这个机会，想感谢所有的学生们，谢谢你们和我一起努力！

提到女儿的成绩，虽然不错，但是就是碰到一些“闹事鬼”说到，“你是老师喔，你女儿怎么只考到第三名啊？”有点吓到的我，只好笑笑而已。原来有些人认为老师的孩子一定要名列前茅，真的是个蛮有趣（怪）的想法。虽然，我一向来不认同填鸭式的教育，我还是把女儿送到学校就读，原因只有一个；让她学习人际关系。在家，除了复习学校课业，我们都会进行许多活动，做一些手工，学一些孩子们喜爱的课题，进行户外活动等等。我热爱家庭教育(homeschooling)但是在怡保几乎是没有人懂得这门特好的教育。幸好身边还有一位看事情比较通透的丈夫，很支持我的理念，他也是我们的得力助手噢，是我们户外的德士司机爸爸！

许多父母都会送孩子到各种各样的才艺班，这很好啊！但是盲点是在于到底孩子上的才艺班是否适合他们，是否真正能发挥他们的潜能呢？？把孩子的时间表填得满满的，看到孩子累坏了，家长开始心疼了便把一些“比较不重要”的才艺班删除。大部分家长都会把绘画班，乐器班，音乐班，美术班删除；被保留的都是心算班，英文会话班，智商班等等。其实，我们应该事先了解孩子的潜能，然后选择理想的教育者，再慢慢地栽培孩子。这样的话孩子不会累坏而能发挥孩子的潜能，这不是两全其美吗！此外，有了多余的时间在家，孩子和父母也多了一些互动便促进了亲子关系。可惜的是，往往家长都排斥艺术这方面的教育便埋没了孩子真正的才华。也许，父母们应该不断地提升自己在于教育孩子这方面吧！我本人也不断地学习教育这门复杂的学问，也不断地挑战自己的极限，也不断地在trial and error中吸取经验。

有心一定行

大女儿刚满月就交给保姆看护。每天一早就载她到保姆家至到旁晚才接她回家。孩子都是在保姆家梳洗和用餐后才载回家所以，我和老公都不用担心她的衣食住行。当大女儿三岁半的时候，不知怎么了，她开始不吃饭。保姆也因为此事很烦恼便向我们投诉。当时，大女儿最爱喝牛奶和吃饼干类的食品。对我来说，饼干或面包都是没有营养的食物，再加上它含有防腐剂，会逐渐影响我们的健康！

我下定决心要给以孩子正确的饮食习惯，我便决定由自己来看护孩子！最让我觉得可惜的是孩子从此就少了许多玩乐的机会因为每天旁晚保姆都会带女儿到操场玩乐而今后，女儿必须在店待到旁晚才能回家。一回到家，我便忙着下厨，想煮一些营养的食物，好让大家感受家的温馨，所以并没有时间带孩子到操场玩乐。我们只好把操场玩乐时间保留在每逢周末进行。

每天旁晚在家下厨的日子已过了两年。这两年来真的是“有血有汗”。从学习煮饭开始一直到学会煮一些高难度的菜肴真的是经历了许多，包括切掉手指的一小块肉，流血不止 ，烫伤脸部等等。但是也就是为了让大家有一餐营养丰富的晚餐，我真的是下了不少的功夫啊！

最让我头痛的是改善大女儿的饮食习惯！有时，辛辛苦苦煮了一餐，她却不肯吃，就算我喂她，她也不肯开口！有时，逼她吃饭，看她一边含着饭一边哭，唉。。也很可怜。当时我心想，也许我煮的食物不舍和她的胃口也有可能我的厨艺的功夫还不到家吧！好，明天煮一些小孩都喜欢吃的食物。隔天，我煮了hotdog 和 nugget，这些都是小孩喜欢吃的！但是，我错了！我的大女儿竟然不喜欢吃！！！唉！！怎么办？！？！

我和老公商量了好久才决定利用这个办法。首先，了解女儿喜欢及讨厌的食物。接着，利用“试验及错误”的方法改善女儿的饮食习惯（把每一天煮的材料及下厨的方法记录下来，同时也记录女儿爱与不爱的标号）。最后，让女儿亲身体验下厨准备自己的食物的乐趣。以下是大女儿的饮食记录表。

大女儿今年5岁了，这两年来的努力没有白费！！大女儿从一天五口饭提升到半碗饭了！大女儿也不笨，她用计算法控制我对她的要求！唉，原来一山还有一山高！！

最让我开心的是，大女儿现在还会自愿试试一些新菜肴！肉类，海鲜类，蔬菜和水果，样样她都吃！不过，要注意的是烹调方式比如；大女儿吃煎鱼不吃蒸鱼，吃菜汤不吃炒菜等等。虽然如此，我还是会继续努力让她不挑食。

任何困难，只要有心克服再加上用心聆听及坚持到底，不管时间有多长，一定有所收获！我下一个目标，不只是大女儿，一向来爱吃肉食的小女儿也是时候该改善了！

备注：进食时，应限制在饭厅以免影响孩子的食欲及注意力。

Precious Number 3

With so much await, finally it is here! My hubby and I are overjoyed to receive the good news from the doctor that I'm officially pregnant with our third baby!

As it is hard for me to conceive, we kept everything really low profile as Chinese believe that if we make it a big fuss, we will harm the baby in some ways. Well, just to make sure that everything goes well, believe the myth or not, we decided to keep it low profile.

Now, I'm into the 12 weeks! Having regular basis check-up with both the private doctor and the government doctor just to make sure that the baby is in good condition.

From the day that I missed my period until now, I'm having bad vomiting. This time, the first trimester period seems a little bit hard to go by. Not only the vomiting makes me  feel uneasy but also the headache, backache, tiredness and dizziness which forced me to stay at home for the moment. Unable to work and to do any household chores make both the office and house totally in an upside down condition!

Everything slows down because of me, including the activities and the teaching, even our holidays plans were cancelled! Poor girls! They had to cut down not only their outdoor activity but also their indoor activity due to my up and down condition. But, they are being sensible and they are doing just fine with their bedtime stories and some cuddling time watching cartoons!

A million thanks to my hubby for the care and handling all the big and small matters, from cooking to bathing both girls, from sweeping to mopping and from home to office. All the big and small tasks, seems easy yet tedious! With your help, I'm able to have plenty of rest. You did a great job!

Hopefully, when I'm into the second trimester, I'm in a better condition so that I could spare some energy to do some light household chores and having great fun with both girls!

Dare to Dream

I always wonder and of course, looking forward for this day when my kids finally graduate and having a good career. It might not be any profession or the best of all career but something that they LOVE to involve and something that they PASSION!

I asked them before what would they like to be when they grow up. Due to their tender age, this was how they answered me. SyuenSyuen answered "Mummy, I wanted to do something to deal with Mathematics." In my mind, I was thinking "Ahaa..she wanted to be an Accountant!" NingNing turned to answered "Mummy, I wanted to wear the white clothing, with a white helmet and fly to the moon." Oh my! She wanted to be an Astronaut! So, here they are, the Double "A"!

No matter what field they involved, my hubby and I will give them our full support. We believe and trust them that they can make it as long as they DARE TO DREAM! This is more important than anything else! To be success, the key is PERSISTANCE!

I'm the kinda parents who do research alot, from mental and physical development to education and to many many issues. Come to think that, perhaps I'm too "careful" in bringing them up. Am I paving a smooth pathway or perhaps too smooth?? I wouldn't want to pave a pathway for my children as they have the right to choose and to make decision. I would prefer to guide them, showing them the many pathways, the decision is still in their hands.

If one day, my children told me "Mum, I wanted to become an Artist." (which many many Asian parents' worst nightmare as they have this perception that their children couldn't make a living for being an artist because they don't earn much!) There are massive argument between career and earning issue. Well, just cut it simple. Life is simple and happiness is simple! My answer to my children is "Good! Go ahead, child and be the BEST!"

Vegetable Printing

To be fast I always cut the vegetable rather than pluck it leaf by leaf. I always admire the root part of the vegetable that I had cut as it looks like a flower to me. Perhaps we can try to print it! And yes, the girls love printing it and they are amazed too!

This is the root parts of the vegetables, looks like a rose, isn't it?? :)

Love the serious look of NingNing :)

As usual, SyuenSyuen was a little clumsy with it :)

The rose!

SyuenSyuen's Masterpiece!

NingNing's Masterpiece!

I joined in the fun too! This is my masterpiece! :)