[It works] Mind Stretcher Writer's Toolbox

In our family, as much as possible, we try to cope without enrichment.

However... In teaching composition, hubby and I met our dead-end. After spending time with our daughter doing a couple of English composition practice papers (more than three BOOKS) we admitted that we need a professional help. White flag.

Searching around, we found Mind Stretcher Writer's Toolbox program. So now, these are the pro and cons:

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1. Basically, every week a student need to compose, teacher will check, student depart with homework of copying her/his work with correction. This method, painful but effective, the idea, vocabulary, structure, and the corrections are committed into memory. Progress is visible. 

2. They also learn idioms, simile, poems, riddles, tongue twister, ... A good variety. Our daughter loves the jokes part. 

3. Reasonable fee, for that quality. 

4. They told me that class will still goes on even though with one student. That's a commitment I like!

5. Organized parent teacher meeting, so we get to discuss kiddo progress... Or lack of..

6. This is not related to Mind Stretcher but I think is important. To be able to express one's idea, written and verbal, is critical, no matter what profession you are in. Or, no matter what subject you are doing in school.

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I believe, nothing is perfect. Thing I hope to be changed is their system to notify no-lesson day. Parents are supposed to rely on letter or SMS. It's not exactly fail proof. I'd prefer a lesson calendar.

As with other post, I receive no compensation for my opinion. Still paying the course fee in full, GST and all...

14 August '16 update:

Regretfully, this year, I observed a decline in the teachers retention and quality. This is a real issue for any enrichment center. Material is still good. But of course, delivery is equally important.

A tribute to all kindergarten teachers

We were walking to the swimming pool this morning. Then this conversation happened between my five year old and me:

Son: Mommy, I just rested my eyes

Mommy: You mean you walk while closing your eyes?

S: Nooo... I was looking at green green

M: Wow. Who taught you?

S: Mrs. Kwang

Lovely Mrs. Kwang is my son's kindergarten teacher. And previously, dear daughter spent three years under her loving care. 

Salut to all kindergarten teacher, who do not only teach the ABCs and 123s. Who has been most courageous, taking charge of many little kids in one room (I have one little and one not-so-little at home, and I've been loosing hair. So it's indeed a knightly act to me). Thank you for designing such wonderful activities and excursions in their formative years.

Fall and run

I enjoyed watching babies. Little gutsy bundle of joy.

Stand. Fall. Step. Fall. Walk. Fall. Run. Fall. 

After every fall, little darling will get up and try again. 

Recently, I observed that quality in successful people. They have little fear of falling, of making mistake. And, most importantly, after every fall, they righted themselves up, and try again. 

With this revelation, I set my heart in nurturing the gutsy baby quality in my kids. It's ok to make mistake. Forget about it, carry on.

After all, that's how human learn to run. 

P.S. Two little rules though, careless and repeated mistakes aren't ok. Striking a balance is difficult, but we shall try. 

How Mommy Uses iPhone

I have been constantly amazed by iPhone. It really has a little brain of its own. A tribute to late Steve Jobs.

Especially in Singapore, almost everyone I know owned, is owning, or plans to own an iPhone. Quite phenomenal.

I've plan to write this post ever since I got my own. Approximately a year ago. Initially, I thought, it was the thrill of new gadgets. Now, a year on, I'm still very attached to the little tool.

1. I used it to track library due dates. Singapore NLB has its own apps, and being able to go online anytime anywhere has helped me a lot in avoiding overdue fines (imagine, being able to bring the list and finding the items at the same time :D)

2. I actually took photos of everything that I need instead of taking notes. My photo album consists of -on top of myriads of children photos- recipes, dictation list, important school announcement, enrichment courses calendars, answers to workbooks (so that I don't have to flip to and fro), ...

3. Entertainment on the go. Practically anywhere, the kids can play games and watch movies. Grrreat for waiting time.

4. Teaching tools. Some great apps teaches phonics, maths, Chinese, ... One of most often apps that I used as reference is the Pleco Chinese-English dictionary and Hanyu Pinyin chart.

5. 'Info-desk' at our fingertips. Combo with Lord Google, I can search anything under the sky. Example question from my 6 years old: why is there so much water on earth?

So, thank you, Mr. Jobs. You have touched so many lives.

Encouragement for All Mothers

My own beloved mother is a working mom. She still is :)
So I gather that I know what it takes, what it will be like, to raise kids while working full time. Now, with two little fellas, I can see from both point of views, mother's and child's.


Long ago, an idealist me would have probably answered with full-head-on determination that I want to be a stay at home Mom.


Upon Kid no 1, all my beloveds (husband, mother, father, ...) convinced me that I should still keep working. At that time, anyway, I still had my tuition fee loan to pay, house to find, ..., all those things that scream money.


And now, six years on, am still in the same office, and amazingly I cannot say that I didn't have a blast there. I do enjoy the brain stimulation, adrenaline rush in meeting deadline, and the teamwork.


One opinion that I am still holding tight is that working mother spends quality time with her kids. By holding tight, yours truly means trying-to-shoo-away-my-guilt-by-providing-quality-time-with-my-kids.


However, I do still think that parents are still the best caregiver and best coach. So whenever my kids misbehave, a little voice within me is still whispering, will this happen if I stay at home?


Above two are one plus and one not-so-plus aspects of many more dilemma of a working mother, I believe.


And then... *gets exciting* one day, I stumbled upon this (when I was searching for working mother's beneficial office arrangement for my boss, bless him):


http://motheringtimes.blogspot.com/2011/03/how-long-have-i-been-sahm.html


It is nicely, aptly, and kindly put. A really recommended reading for all mothers.


I have made peace with our 'condition'. And with acceptance comes amicable arrangement. I am still working. But whenever my kids need me, I will be there for them. Can't say it's easy, but hey, all mothers are superheroes, right? You guys too, Daddies...


So today, I am taking a day off to PLAY with them (one of our family tradition, we'll take a day off every school holiday :)). We'll probably catch a movie, go to view all the good works they've done to Bishan park, visit the library... so much goodies to do in a day! Yay!

[Through the Eyes of A Child] Can I get the roses without the thorns?

Teachable moments came everywhere, anywhere...

I wished I seized it.

But no... I've missed it.

However... it was indeed still an enlightenment, for me.

We were choosing flowers, and my daughter was desperate. She wanted to choose the roses, but was pricked by the thorns. Hence the question, "Can I get the roses without the thorns?"

I did explain to her that roses and thorns come as a package. It's so beautiful until it needs the thorns to protect it. That's it. I didn't go deep.

Instead, it left me pondering.

Life recently was not so well... Problem at work... stress at home in catching up with all the lessons.
So this is sort of a nice reminder... when we expect rosy moments, we should also embrace the thorny ones. Since roses and thorns are a package deal.

How Can I Tell Her About It???

A few days ago, I received a phone call while working. It's from our kindergarten teacher.

I held my breath as she announced the audition result through phone. Our daughter was not selected. :(

At the same moment, images of her eyes shining while practicing flashed through. You see... our little girl loves to perform. She wanted this part. She knew the text by heart, has been practicing even without me.

Afterwards, I dialed my hubby. Wailing over the phone, I lamented to him... Oh no... how can I tell her? I told him that part of me was upset too... How can they not wanting my baby??? My ultra-reasonable other half reminded me that we're dealing with other parents' 'babies' too, here.

In the evening, upon reaching home, hubby quickly asked me, "How? Have you told her?". With a shrug I shook my head.

I waited for THE perfect moment, and soon it was bedtime. Inside my heart... there's a tiny but brilliant idea, a wish that perhaps, she'll even forget about it. In that way, perhaps, I won't need to let her down.

However, again, my great voice of reason throw another scenario... How if she heard it from her friends... That'll be even more fatal.

So I put her in my lap, and told her that her teacher called me. Immediately she stiffened. Not dilly-dallying, I told her that they've selected the other kid. As expected, tears welled up. As I hugged her and rubbed her back, I mouthed to hubby, "You see... you see...?"

We sooth her that it's not because she's bad... Simply because the other kid is better than her. It's okay to fail, because at least she has tried, gave it her best shot. And finally, she brightened up a tad hearing that there'll be plenty opportunity in primary school.

Drifting off to sleep, I smiled at the thought. Today, my daughter has learned to fail. Quite gracefully, I'd like to think. A vital life lesson well learned.

As for me, I learned that there will be no perfect moment to deliver upsetting news. It simply has to be done.