Today is Teacher’s Day, so there are no lessons today. The kids are all ready for a fun-filled day with Allan and I. Finally, its play day again!!! *Grin* We have everything planned out the moment they wake from their dreamland….. but before that, let me share what a nerve-racking morning I had yesterday….

Yesterday morning, Binbin was hoping to get flowers for his Teachers. I remembered the provision shop near my house sells those pre-wrapped-one-stalk-flower during Teacher’s Day. But there was nothing this year.

Oh man!

Where in the world am I going to find 2 stalks of flowers for Binbin’s teacher as a Teacher’s Day present, at 8am in the morning??? Binbin was already running late for school. I suggested that he buys chocolate or a hair clip or something else which the provision shop sells. He said no. He insisted on flowers. So I told him, I will go get the flowers when he is in school and we will give them to his teachers when school ends. He agreed.

When we reached his school, the door was already closed. LATE. *eyes rolled* The moment the teacher opened the door to welcome the late-comer, my favourite girl in Binbin’s class came over and said, “Huh??!! No present for teacher?”

“Later!!! I will give later!” Binbin snapped. He was obviously upset when he saw so many presents on the teacher’s desk. Then he turned to me and said, “Mommy, remember ah!” moving his indexed-finger up and down as he told me in a lecturing tone. “Go now! Quick! Byebye… Go!” He instructed. *giggle*

So I went around the neighborhood, it was too early!!! All the flower shops were still closed! One hour has passed. I panicked. So I went to grab some chocolates for both Binbin and Keatkeat’s teachers, losing faith in finding flowers.

Just when all hope is gone, I spotted a bucket of flowers at the bus stop’s mini-shop. They were packed in 10 stalks per bunch. I asked for individual wrapping, they did not provide such service. To me, giving a naked, unwrapped stalk of rose is not presentable; might as well not give it. I walked away without buying them.

I was cracking my brain to find a way to wrap the flowers. Then ‘TING’!!! It was like those cartoons where there is a light bulb appearing above my head!!! I was almost 100m away from the shop already when it happened.

I scolded myself as I walked back to the mini-shop, “How silly of you!!! You used to wrap and sell bouquets of flowers during Valentines Day! And there are still so many nice flower wraps at home!! You can wrap them!” *slap slap*

And so I hurried home with the chocolates and the flowers. Climbed up to the highest shelf in my storeroom and took down the flower wrappers and ribbons…….

But wrapping flowers and selling them on Valentines Day was some years ago, my skills were rusty and actions were rough… but still, I managed to get them done for my boys’ teachers in that 1.5hours….. Oh man! Mad rush…

All thanks to Binbin, Keatkeat has really nice presents for his teachers too…. (Initially, my elder one wanted to give just a card.)

Keatkeat came home with a bouquet and a box of chocolate. His proclaimed prettiest Chinese teacher (after being taught by 4 Chinese teachers) was absent yesterday. I doubt the flowers can last till Thursday, since there is no school tomorrow. *fingers crossed*

Keatkeat also giggled a lot as he described how his classmates used my small bouquet of flowers to pretend to propose to the teachers and female classmates for hand in marriage. *huge laugh*

He also told me as his face beamed with pride when his English and Music Teachers said they loved his (or my) flowers very very much. *smile*

Hereby wishing all Teachers a

Happy Teacher’s Day!!!

Oh, and parents too! All parents are natural teachers the moment they hear their newborn’s first cries….

Parents, Happy Teacher’s Day to you too!!!

*smile*

When….
He allows me to play with his toys.
He giggles at my jokes.
He laughs at my weird expressions.
He shares tidbits with me when there’s only one packet left.
He puts his arm over my shoulder.
He plays nicely with me (and doesn’t hit me).
He doesn’t switch off the toilet lights when I’m shitting….
*giggle*

~ Angeline Foong, for her sons…

Homework , oh homework,
I wish I had more,
‘cause life without homework
would be a big bore.

Homework, oh homework,
I wish I had more,
‘cause school without homework
would be a big snore.

Homework, oh homework,
I wish I’d had more,
‘cause with my homework,
I cover the floor.

Homework, oh homework,
I wish I had more,
but when I sit down to do it,
my tushy gets sore.

Homework, oh homework,
I wish I had more,
‘cause if I don’t have it,
you will hear me snore.

Homework, oh homework,
I wish I had more.
My homework is missing,

I’m going to get sore.

Homework, oh homework,
I wish I had more.
Homework, oh homework,
it’s my favorite chore.

Homework, oh homework,
I wish I had more.
That’s why I scream as I
run out the class door.

~ 10 years old

Does your child like Ben 10? So far, I have yet to know of a girl who likes Ben 10. And was pleasantly surprised to see boys AND GIRLS appearing at the Ben 10 live show during the June 2010 school holidays.

Yes yes yes, this is a belated blog post. And if you can remember my few June blog post, I was hardly at home! *laugh* Always out of the house playing with my boys and having as much fun as we can as a family, which we cannot enjoy when the boys are schooling.

For those of you who likes Ben 10 would probably have gone to United Square during those 2 weeks to see Ben 10 and his cousin Gwen in action. When Ben first came out, Allan’s first comment was the same as my first thought “This is the Fat version of Ben.” *laugh*

It was pretty cool that the Ben 10 live show was a daily event and not just for the weekends. Thus as usual, we head down during the weekdays so that we need not fight with the crowd for a space on the ground.

The alien which Ben Tenison ‘changed’ into was Chromastone, which was the same Ben 10 character T-Shirt which Binbin was wearing that day. He was especially delighted. Its like seeing his favourite Ben 10 character came to life. *giggle*

Does your child like Ben 10 too?

For most of us in this comfortable safe environment in Singapore, we might not know or might not fully understand how children are being treated in other countries, like child trafficking.

Child Trafficking is something that is so common worldwide, but we are just unaware. For my young readers, child trafficking is an illegal trade in human beings for the purposes of prostitution, forced labor, child marriage and other slavery reasons.

Children who are trafficked for prostitution could end up serving as many as 30 men a day!!! Its horrible what child trafficking can do to the little minds which are suppose to be so pure and innocent.

Why am I talking about this today? I just read an email which said:

Stop Child Trafficking Now

Their Website is :  http://www.sctnow.com/

The name says it all but they are committed to stopping the illegal trade of children.. which is much more common than I would have ever thought.. and it is a worldwide problem.  The website has a lot of information on it .. but I warn you if you are like me it can be upsetting.. what some of these kids are put through is horrible…

Anyway SCTnow.com is working hard to help these kids that many times have no body to turn to for help.

SCTnow would appreciate any support but right now they are in a contest that could help them get some funding.. if you think this is a worth cause please Go and vote for them :

1. Click here to vote–
http://apps.facebook.com/apxgivesback/

2. Select Pacific Region

3. Scroll down to SCTNOW and vote for them.

Also Feel Free to follow them on  twitter  and you could retweet their tweets etc..

Thanks for any help you can provide to SCTnow.com

This was sent to me by a friend. I am not asking you to vote or anything. Just that this short email on Child Trafficking made my heart ached and reminded me that it is so important to be grateful and thankful every single day that we are in Singapore, a place where we can let our children roam around freely.

In places where child trafficking is present, children out of sight can means children out of the parent’s life. Worse, there have been cases where these child traffickers literally snatch the children away from the unwilling parent’s arms. Its unbelievable, but its true.

Child Trafficking’s bottom line is money isn’t it? When it comes to money, it is not surprising what people will do or will not do. Child Trafficking will continue if the need of money and the lost of sanity prevails.

How are we going to stop Child Trafficking, when the basis of the problem is so difficult to solve?

Don’t mush all your peas up.
Don’t dig in your taters.
Don’t bubble your milk.
Don’t throw your tomaters.’

Don’t fork your spaghetti
way up in the air,
‘cause it may slip off
and fall in your hair.

Don’t feed your dog spinach
‘cause he hates it too!
And when you eat liver,

make sure that you chew.

Don’t open your mouth
when you’re chewing your food.
It puts Mom and Dad
in a very bad mood.

~ 6 years old

This week, Keatkeat’s school is  celebrating Racial Harmony Day. It was also a week which Allan and I got a wake up call on how much we trusted our elder son…..

Monday 19th July….

Keatkeat: “Mommy this week my school is celebrating Racial Harmony Day. My teacher told me that I can wear traditional costumes for the whole week. From Monday to Friday.”

Me: “Racial Harmony Day is ONE DAY event. How is it possible that they allow you to wear traditional costume for the whole week?”

Keatkeat: “Yes yes yes! My Teacher said that this whole week is Racial Harmony Day. So everyday can don’t wear uniform and wear my dragon clothes.”

Me: “If the whole week is Racial Harmony day, then it should be called Racial Harmony Week! Keatkeat, if you remember it wrongly, then I’m afraid the security guard might not allow you to go into the school without wearing the school uniform you know that?”

Keatkeat: Still extremely confident that he did not hear wrongly. “But my teacher said can wear for the whole week because of Racial Harmony Day.”

Me: “Alright fine. You shall wear then.”

So on Tuesday he wore this (picture on left).

Guess what?

He was the ONLY ONE who was NOT in school uniform!!!

Then some parents mumbled: “Racial Harmony Day special dressing is Tomorrow.”

Oh man! What do you expect us to do?

Go back and change when we only have 5 mins left? Whereby going home already takes up 4 mins… So we just let him in and luckily the security guard did not stop him.

Can you imagine how OUTSTANDING he was, when everyone else was dressed in this way (picture on right), in blue??!!

When he came home we asked: “Did Mrs L. said anything to you about your special dressing on the wrong day?”

Keatkeat: “Nope. She did not say anything. And I asked her if I can wear this everyday for this week and she said yes.”

Our eyes widened. To us, we admit that wearing costumes for an entire week, just to celebrate ONE Racial Harmony Day sounded too ‘over’, and hence doubted our 6 year old. Furthermore, when we saw the scene on Tuesday, we doubted even more. *slap* How little faith we have in our child! Lesson learned. *embarassed*

Alright, so Keatkeat heard the correct instruction and did the correct thing. Just that his school mates did not do as per instructed, so it does not make him wrong; it just makes him more Outstanding. *wink*

Well done Keat! So proud of you. So after Tuesday, he continued to wear different Chinese traditional costumes to celebrate Racial Harmony Day, and his school mates did not. So he definitely stood out in the sea of blue and he loved the attention…. *giggle*

Lions roar.
Ducklings quack—

‘specially when they
want a snack.

Turkeys gobble.
Birdies tweet—

‘specially when they
want a treat.

Snakes go hiss.
Cats meow.
Lions roar
and dogs bow-wow.

~ Ashley, 7 years old