All About Your Child

Psssst…..did you know Keatkeat is not my first child?

She came by way before I was married, way before I worked in the Child Care Centre, way before I started giving tuition and way before my menstruation came the very first time. Did I hear you say “Huh?”

I started taking care of her when I was only 7 years old. I changed her diapers, bathed her, prepared milk-milk for her, played with her…..she is my one and only sis, I call her Meimei. This picture was taken when I was 8 and Meimei was 1.

My Mom took care of her most of the time, but when it comes to school holidays or weekends, she would disappear to the mahjong table and leave little baby Meimei to me and lo-and-behold, she would be back in time before Papa comes home from work.

Papa had 3 jobs at that time, to support my Mom’s medical bills, my education and the family expenses. My Mom had her 2nd relapse (Cancer) when she was pregnant with my little sis. Her doctor persuaded her to abort my sis, but she insisted on having her. Luckily, my sis was born healthy, much healthier than me, that’s what all the adults said.

You can say my Mom trusted me alot, or you can say she is ONE IRRESPONSIBLE MOMMY, two-sides to a coin. I accept both thoughts whole-heartedly.

While my friends were playing at the playground, I was wiping the bum of my sis. That was my very first job (unpaid) - Nanny.

As little Meimei grows, usual siblings fight came along, jealousy grew in my heart as my Papa (unmistakably) shower more love towards my sis. It was an obvious fact that even the neighbors could tell.

Our relationship took a big step forward when our parents start fighting (go read My Story for the reason). Since then it has only been my sis and I, the only 2 sane people in the four-walls, till I got married.

Oh dear, this is suppose to be a happy post, now it seems like a sad one.

This was the durian cake (as she requested) we bought for her birthday from Angie The Choice. This cake has a pretty name called Charlotte, too bad, that’s not my sis’s name….

Her name is very close to mine. I’m Angeline and she is Angela. *wink*

Bottom-line, I love my sis in a very unusual way, its a mixture of siblings love, motherly love, teacher love and friendship love. Probably that’s why when she was younger, all her friends say we don’t behave like what other siblings do….right Meimei?

Happy Birthday Girl!

How time flies! It’s been one month since the birth of my Secondary School friend, Xiuyan’s 2nd daughter, Phedre.

Buying presents for girls are always so much easier than buying for boys! Remember just 2 weeks ago, my Primary School Friend Lianmeng celebrated his son’s full month? It was so tough for me to decide what to buy for his son, even though I have 2 of my own.

This time, I decided to prevent such headaches by calling Xiuyan up and ask what she wants for her girl. “Pretty Clothes!” she shouted. That was so super easy and so I went and got lots for Phedre. Clothes that she can wear from now till she is 1+. 

On top of that, I added one toy and one voucher so that the gift won’t look so clothy. Then get them all into the nice Winnie the Pooh carrier. I am actually quite satisfied with this pack. *wink*

With my own small pocket I wouldn’t be able to get this much, so all the above were shared between 2 other friends, Baolian and Juliana, and me! I’m glad I was the one assigned to buy all of this girly stuff, so fun!

Can you believe it - the limited stuff which I bought for Lianmeng’s son actually cost more than ALLLLLLL THIS! *eyes rolled*

By now, I guess all Singaporean Mommies, or rather, Singaporean Babies who are eligible for the Baby Bonus Programme would have received the notice on the Change of Managing Agent for Baby Bonus .

From 1 August 2008, Mommies will have more choices, enjoy better returns and receive better services when the Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited (OCBC Bank) and the Standard Chartered Bank take over from DBS as new managing agents for the Baby Bonus Scheme.

The Option to Choose Managing Agent (for existing POSB CDA holders)
Each trustee of an existing POSB Children Development Account (CDA) will receive an option form from MCYS to choose the bank (OCBC Bank or Standard Chartered) to transfer the CDA. Mommy (trustee) need to indicate your choice and submit the form to MCYS by 30 June 2008.

I chose OCBC simply because it’s easily locatable….and because of the lunch box. Ooops! Typical Singaporean. Easily attracted to things that are free….*grin*

The divider on the top compartment is removable. Pretty nice. But I was a little disappointed. On the pamphlet given to all households, the picture looks wider but in actual fact its really quite longish. Ah ya, what can I expect from free stuff. But seriously, it’s a good-enough size for my dear Keatkeat to bring his morning tea snacks to school.

Now that there are 3 compartments (if the divider is in), my boy can have more variety for his little meal in school.

Which bank did you choose?

You guys sure know what to give for baby shower. When I had my first boy, I called up all my friends and TOLD each of them what to buy for me my baby. Aren’t I ‘thick-skinned’? There are valid reasons….

Firstly, I am the first among ALL my friends to have a baby. So they have no idea what to buy.
Secondly, I don’t want any duplicate presents. E.g. can you imagine having 2 baby bath tubs?
Thirdly, I didn’t want to receive a heartfelt gift from a person and yet the item doesn’t come in handy.

Honestly speaking, giving ang pao is the best. I can use the money to buy anything the baby needs…but again, when it comes to money, how much is considered as a presentable amount for people whom you have known for a long time and for people who are just office colleagues?

To the giver, S$20 may be good enough, yet to the receiver, it may seem too little…That’s why I usually don’t give ang paos. Yet, I hope to receive them….ahhhh….aren’t I contradicting? That’s woman right, can that be my excuse?

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Been busy lately…haven’t been going by the MYOB (mind your own business) rule.

As most of you know, more than a week ago, my dear friend, Xiuyan, gave birth to a lovely girl. Xiuyan did not breastfeed her 1st daughter, but she would want to try breastfeeding her 2nd girl. She needed answers to her many concerns. I was glad to be her answering machine for this period.

I have no idea why did she come to me. Maybe because she feels comfortable asking me; after all we have been friends for 17 years. Or maybe because I have the most dramatic breastfeeding experience, all thanks to my MIL. Or maybe because I was the only one she knew who purely breastfed for 6 months without any formula. Whatever it is, I’m glad she gave me a chance to pay it forward.

The only person who supported my decision to breastfeed 4 years ago was my cousin, Navy. She breastfed her boy, Matin for 1 full year without any formula. Whenever I had problems, I would call her, but I realized some of the difficulties I encounter, she did not face them. So her support, in a way was limited.

I called up all the breastfeeding support groups’ telephone numbers I could find. Be it they were private support groups or hospital breastfeeding support groups, I called them all. I called them everyday or as and when new problems arise and when new concerns come to mind.

I needed answers; I needed lots of support because I was fighting this battle alone. Everyone around me told me to give up the idea of breastfeeding…but I shut my ears from them and choose to listen to strangers whom I have not even met. Their voice were encouraging, their answers were assuring, their tone was consoling. These groups of people were the one who pulled me through.

Many of them were volunteers giving up their precious time to help people like me, totally lost, yet still determined to find a way through the maze of confusion in breastfeeding. I remembered most of their names. After 6 months were through, I called them back and said “thank you” from the bottom of my heart. They actually recognized my voice and remembered me….I guess, I really bugged them too much….*wink*

Xiuyan’s situation is very different from mine. Everyone around her did not mind if she breastfeed or not. She has a maid to do all the housework. A confinement lady who doesn’t talk much, except on her hand phone (this was what I noticed when I was in Xiuyan’s house last Saturday), and takes care of the cooking and cleaning for the baby and Xiuyan. All Xiuyan needed to do was rest and breastfeed. Really envy her.

The funny part is, with so much support, Xiuyan had wanted to give up breastfeeding a couple of times, yet myself with so many objections, I choose to be rebellious and continue to breastfeed under all the pressure.

Something really touched my heart, that is, Xiuyan trusted me a lot. Whatever I share with her, she listens and she tries to do what I suggested. Every time she wants to give up, she will call me and I’ll try to encourage her and provide her with as much answers as possible. Then she will be up on her feet again ready to give breastfeeding another go.

Thank you Xiuyan! Breastfeeding is a personal choice, yet you choose to let me be part of that choice you make. I am glad to be of help and even more willing to be an on-call girl. Just let me know and I’ll be there.

To me, the joy of giving is often so much greater than the joy in receiving! Good Luck Girl!

Surrounded by babies lately. Just earlier this week, my Seconday School Friend, Xiuyan, gave birth to a lovely daughter. Today, I will be going to my Primary School Friend, Lianmeng’s son’s full month celebration party.

So the usual-must-have: 1st-month-cake, Red Eggs and the Ang Ku Kueh will be expected. For those of you who are curious to know what does each of these symbolises, can read this which I posted last December.

All parents know that the price of baby stuff are usually on the high side. My dear friend, Peishan and I bought these for Lianmeng’s baby. Simple stuff like these actually add up to $60. Phew!

I prefer to buy useful things for baby shower celebration, but I know some of my friends prefer to buy other pretty stuff which are mainly for decoration purposes, what do you like to give for such events?

This happened on Sunday, German police have taken a 7 month baby away from a German couple in Bavaria who are under investigation after putting their child for sale on Internet auction site Ebay!

The baby boy was put on sale on last Tuesday at a starting price of one euro (2.14 Singapore Dollars) and was withdrawn from the site around two and a half hours later. There had been no offers. (Seriously, who would dare to offer?)

You can find out how much is one euro in your Country’s Currency.
Currency Converter

(The explaination was ridiculous) The mother said it was meant as a joke but police failed to see the funny side (neither do I).

The baby boy is in temporary good hands now while his parents are detained for ‘attempted child trafficking’.

Oh boy! What a joke that I couldn’t laugh about!

As you know from my previous post, my friend just gave birth yesterday. She had arranged for a post-natal masseuse but this masseuse backed-out last minute.

She needs to find a replacement now. Any of you know of any post-natal masseuses? Doesn’t matter if its a Malay or Chinese. My friend is a Chinese.

Could you please email the post-natal masseuse’s name and contact number to angeline@allaboutyourchild.com ?

Thank you so much! That’s the Singaporean spirit right? Always ready to help? *wink*

My dear friend from secondary school, Xiuyan gave birth to her second daughter yesterday. It was a smooth delivery. Awww…what could be better than that ya?!

It was her hubby, Allan (same name as my hubby but very different in character), who broke the news to me.

Me: So what’s the baby’s name?

A: Haven’t choose the Chinese name yet, but I’ve got a meaningful English name for her….I don’t know how to pronounce. It’s spelled as P-H-E-D-R-E.

Me: Why choose a name that even the father can’t pronounce?

A: Not that I can’t pronounce, it sound something like PRE-DER or PRE-DAY.

Me: Hmmm….(doubting)…so what does it mean?

A: I forgot.

Me: HUH?!

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So I did a search on Google and Yahoo for the name and found the answer from here .

Phedre is a girl’s name, originated from Greek. It means ‘the bright one’. Other names carrying the same meanings include Phedra and Phaidra.

From this other site, I found the pronunciation to be FEH-druh.

Those Greek names can be a real challenge sometimes, especially when it comes to pronouncing them.