[Good Brands] Klutz

We fell in love with Klutz 9 years ago when I discovered a Klutz book below:

It's not expensive at all, considering the hours of fun derived from it. Most of Klutz book... Well... Kit, more appropriately. Most of Klutz kits are reusable over and over again. Using the materials provided handily in the sturdy pouch or container, the child can do and redo many sets of instruction provided in the book. Afterwards, children can make their own creation. The idea behind each kit is simple, but very stimulating.

After that, we got about 5 other Klutz kits, none disappointing.

So, imagine the joy when we spot this:

Two of our favorite brands combined! Lego and Klutz. If Lego is cool, Klutz brought it to a new level by introducing the dynamic engineering theory into it. Super!

This post is not sponsored. It's purely an info sharing.

When Mommy is Sick...

I'm not well. Hasn't been feeling tip top in the past few weeks. With 1000mg vitamin C boost every day, managed to keep it going. However, last night decided to surrender and have a day rest today. 

Unfortunately, dear daughter's teacher had a less than pleasant feedback in the parent teacher meeting this morning. So I'm upset. Yes, I do. While my gal completely has no issue in her studies, she does have her moments of stressed out outburst. And frequent outburst in public is simply not right.

So in and out I drifted between paracetamols induced sleeps. In each awakening, my big problem zooming in cruelly. 

Why, one may ask, is it such a big problem?

My friend, it's big because I have no clue on how to solve it. And attitude is so very important to me. I've always emphasizing to both kids that I'd rather they fail their test, compared to being a person with a bad attitude.

Part of me is feeling guilty for not being there for her because I spent the time in the office, busy catching deadlines which I'm not sure whether it matters.

Another part is screaming... Nooo... It's doesn't sound like my little sweet girl... She must've been provoked! How can the teacher judged so while she herself was more often away in training or other personal matter. But I was humbled by my other more-rational-part into acceptance that indeed darling princess has been very rude and moody at home. Welcome teenage hormonal zing zang!

So here I was, alone, sipping my hot cocoa, waiting for the kids to finish their lessons. And suddenly it strikes me, to thank God. Thank you for the hot chocolate to calm me and my runny nose down. Thank you that my girl is acting up now. This means she's growing up. I hope by this episode, she'll learn a very valuable lesson. Rather than not knowing until she's old and wrinkled. Thank you for less than perfect form teacher. Because otherwise she may think everyone is like Mary Poppins. All objective and patient and naiiish...

Thank you for this problem... Because it means I'm alive...

If you have tips on how to parent a teenager, please do leave some comments below. Thank you. 

Is it necessary to take piano exam?

When I grew up, we didn't know that it is possible to learn piano without taking exam. This knowledge is important.

Why? Because, to some, preparing for exam may rip away the joy from learning piano.

So when I was looking for a piano tutor for my offspring, I told her that I don't really insist on taking exam. Gullible me didn't realized that piano tutor do need to increase tuition fee which is normally based on grade. Paiseh.

My colleague came out with an alternative solution to it. He allowed the tutor to judge. So based on the book, without taking exam, the tutor may increase the fee accordingly.

Now, I'm the midst of preparing dear son for grade one exam. I know now that he is not made for exam. He enjoys learning piano. But preparing for exam with endless repetitive exam piece is not his cup of tea.

BUT, I'm glad that we did it. Because, no matter what, exam is designed to test the capability properly. In those ghastly practice hours, the kid learns all the necessities to be a FINE piano player. Piano vs forte, speed, phrasing, expression, ... No doubt those with real talent does not need to go through this painful process. But my children are just mere mortal whose mom likes piano

So exam or not, at least once, let them take it. The experience worthed for both parents and child. :)

Best Method to Stop Unwanted Habbit

Ok, short and sweet.

There were times kiddoes start an annoying habbit. BOTH consciously or unconsciously (yes, can you believe it... One of them seriously made an effort to create one).

So far, I found the best method is to sit them down, tell the offender why it is not a good habbit, and... Ignore it.

If there is, condition the environment. For example, if we need to stop nail biting, keep the nails short so there's nothing to bite.

Don't remind, don't scold. Literally boiling inside, bite your tongue.

Eventually he/she will forget about it.

Hope it works for you... Wish you luck. :)

[Good game] Quoridor

For Christmas, we got this great game: Quoridor.

It's great! Simple, fast, and brain-excercise-y enough :)

They come in various level of difficulty. So be sure to get one suitable for your needs. The cutest pictured above is for 5+!

Castle

Recently, I'm hooked on Castle.

Not a game, not a toy, not a book.

It's a TV series. Murder mystery thriller, with a cool beautiful female detective. Although quality of the story varies from episode to episode (some scenes could be totally not realistic), it has some neat twist that even my beloved hubby couldn't guess the killer right.

But, the best feature I like is the father-daughter relationship pictured there. It's how ideal parenting is to me. With respect, honesty, love, and lots of fun. Daughter in question here is a late teenager, with all the rebellious hormonal stage, newly acquaintance to first love, searching for life footing, ... All the things I'm most anxious to face in our children future.

God helps, hope we will be good enough to have that breed of relationships with our children. Hey, He sent a model answer! Though it's very questionable whether one would be wise to learn from a TV series. 

Hankuk Taekwondo

1. At 1.5 years old, dear son requested to join big sis for... Ballet. Ha! Or course hubby flipped both with laughter and curiosity. Along with in laws' objection, I gently pulled him away from it.
   
   
   After prying and prodding, seems like he saw the ballet class as something fun. Body movement with friends, what's not to like.
   
   
   After understanding what he wants, dear son turned the request into 'any class that will teach him to fight'. Of course, this bring in another parental challenge to emphasize to him that even if we sign him on any martial art class, it's only and must be only for self defense.
   
   
   After much shopping around, we found one that is suitable for our expectation, budget, and location. It's...
   
   
   Hankuk Taekwondo School
2. 246 Upper Thomson Rd, 574370
3. 6456 1355

   http://hankuk.com.sg

   
   

   The masters are nice. Polite and good with kids. Son enjoyed the class and has no objection to practice for grading. He started almost 2 years ago at 5 years old, and the interest is still going strong.

   
   

   Great for parents who wait, the location is on top of Udders Ice Cream (yummy alcohol tinted ice cream!).

   
   

   Grading is held quarterly at one of their branch. Great, because at least it's on a location familiar to us. However, I do see a possible point of improvement. Not sure on how they schedule it, but if we come at the appointed time, we have to be prepared for a 2-3 hours wait. So far their reason is that because each examiner has his/her own way. Some may do it fast, some slower. Well, four times a year, I whipped out a good book or an iPad, sat cross-legged on the floor, and wait. Bearable.