All About Your Child

How often do we complain about our children?

How often do we focus on their flaws instead of their awes?

How often do we remember their little mistakes and forget their moments of serendipity?

This mother tackled all the above with one simple message on a video.

She touched my heart so deeply, I see no reason why I should not share on my blog to keep me inspired in my parenting journey.

A mother of a blind baby boy inspiring millions, I hope she inspires you too….

Mother’s Inspiring Video About Her Blind Baby Boy :~

Here’s a recap of her simple message that is so POWERFUL to all Mothers…… and Fathers too.

“When I was 15 I met Chris and we fell in love.
Chris + I got married when I was 21.
When I was 23, we found out that we were going to have a baby.
We were SO excited!!!
At my 18 week ultrasound, we found out we were having a BOY!!
We were even MORE excited!!
We named him Christian :)

A week later, we got a phone call. Something was wrong with Christian.
We were crushed.
As Christian grew, doctors became more and more unsure.
What was wrong?
Would he live?
Would he be mentally impaired?

On February 18th, 2011
Chris and I went to Vanderbilt to deliver Christian.
We didn’t know if we would come home with Christian or not.

At 9:32am
Christian came into the world…
Screaming!

He was ALIVE!!!

But it wasn’t that simple…
Christian’s condition was MUCH worse than we originally thought.

He was born with a Tessier cleft lip + palate.
He couldn’t even close his mouth.
His condition is only 1 of 50 in the entire world.

But it got worse…
Christian’s eyes were also clefted.
They just didn’t form.
They just weren’t there.

Our baby boy was blind.
We were heartbroken.

We didn’t know what to do,
or how to raise a child who couldn’t see.

Christian had surgery at 4 days old,
and stayed in the NICU for 4 weeks.

When we brought him home from the hospital,
things were hard.
Anytime we took Christian out in public…
People would stare…
and whisper behind my back “Look at that baby”
Kids would ask their mom what was wrong with “that baby.”

I couldn’t go anywhere without someone doing something to point out Christian.

Some people would even ask me “What’s wrong with your kid?”
One girl even told me I was a horrible person for not aborting Christian in utero.

I was miserable :(

But as Christian got older,
he started laughing and playing.
And when people would stare,
Christian would start giggling…
And they would giggle too.

People started finding me on Facebook…
or recognizing Christian from hearing about him.
And so we made a TON of new friends.

People started telling me how Christian inspired them.
And how beautiful he is.
And things got a little easier.

And Christian is growing and Healthy!!
And anyone who meets Christian falls in love with him pretty quickly.
Those judgmental glances + whispers don’t really bother me anymore.
Because I know Christian is beautiful…
Inside + Out

I also know that I did the right thing by not aborting Christian.
He is the love of my life!
And he is a Miracle!”

A Mother of a Blind Baby Boy Inspiring Millions

Everyday there is something to teach our kids. And every year, I used Ben & Jerry’s Free Cone Day to teach them ‘Nothing on Earth is Truly Free’.

Though Ben & Jerry is giving cones of ice-cream for free today, Keatkeat learned (once again) that its paid with time, energy and patience.

4.13pm : We joined the queue. Was directly opposite our destination:

Keatkeat had a go at the sure win Q & A. Received a notepad from the sweet Ben & Jerry’s Staff

4.48pm : Just 8 more people before us.

4:51pm : Too busy Licking away. No time for photo-taking. Allan had Strawberry Cheesecake, while Keatkeat and I had Chocolate Fudge Brownie.

Just before we left, 3 drops into the lucky draw box. *fingers crossed*

So what did you teach your child today?

Nothing on Earth is Truly Free

Have you seen kids on leash in Singapore before?

I asked on Facebook yesterday, “Because of this (the Ang Mo Kio Attempted Kidnap Case), parents are thinking of putting their kids on leash, just like what they will do to their dogs.
Will you consider buying a leash for your child too?”

And I Liked every comment, regardless of which side of the fence they stood.

To me, people who dare to speak up are ones to be respected.

Many refused to comment for fear of being judged. That’s perfectly fine too, because everyone has different value system. No right, no wrong.

Though only 7 comments were collected till this point, I would love to get more feedback.

Stay true to yourself, that is very important in order to live as a happy person.

In order to gather votes from people who do not use Facebook, not my friends (yet) on Facebook and my blog readers; AND with the thought of making you feel perfectly fine with your “Yes” or “No” to my question, I decided to put up this poll.

Thus, go ahead and shout your “Yes” or “No” on the poll. No one will know it was from you, thus no one will say you are a good or bad parent. Good enough? *wink*

I am seriously interested to know how many truly would and how many would not.

Tell your friends about this vote too, I would love to have their votes cast here as well.

****Updated on 28th March 2012 at 1.58pm
New comments came in from Facebook:

This article was featured in www.MummySG.com/forums

Kids On Leash

There is always something to learn every single day as a parent. We make mistakes like any and every other human being. Are we courageous enough to admit our mistake and apologise to our children?

Its sad, but its true that many parents still feel that their ego overrules their relationship with their children. When they make a mistake, they do not apologise, in fact, they try to find excuses for their mistake.

If you cannot even say “Sorry“, for the wrongs you have done to your child. What right do you have to ask your child to say “Sorry” when he or she has made a mistake.

Even from a simple task of choosing a birthday cake, there are lessons to be learned.

I wanted to buy this cake from Aunty Yochana. I think its cuter and will make more people go “Wow!”, thinking that it would make the birthday boy, Binbin, happier.

Yes, every of those thoughts were all mine. None were from the birthday boy.

Me: “Binbin, shall I get this cake for you on your birthday?”

BinBin: “No. So cartoon. I am not a baby or a 3 year-old anymore. I am a big boy already.”

He continued to say, “I want to buy chocolate cake. The whole thing is chocolate. I want the crunchy thing inside the cake too.” He remembered his birthday cake on his 3rd birthday.

The only cake shop I found out, that could add in the crunchy crispy chocolate chips inside the cake was Bengawan Solo.

And so we went.

However, only the BIG cakes have this option. Though 17 people are coming for Binbin’s Birthday Chalet, but none are truly cake lovers. They are always asking, “Smaller piece for me please?”

And we do not intend to bring home the unfinished cake or end up eating it for breakfast for the following few days. From our experience, a good cake size would be 0.5kg.

Since the crunchy crispy chocolate chips idea is gone, I was trying my best to psycho Binbin NOT to buy from Bengawan Solo, because I prefer cakes from other cake shops.

Binbin: “Mommy I want to buy from here.”

Me: “Remember Four Leaves Cake Shop? You like the chocolate cake there right? Shall we go there?”

Binbin: “I don’t want. I like the cake here. I don’t want chocolate cake already.”

Me: “Huh? So what cake do you want?”

His answer was no surprise to me. Being a FRUIT KING, he chose fruit cake. *faint*

Me: “But Binbin, all the children (coming for the chalet) like chocolate cake. Go buy chocolate cake ok?”

Binbin: “No. I want THIS (pointing at the cake in the chiller) Mango Cake.”

Me: “If you want to eat mango, I can buy mango for you during the Chalet. We buy chocolate cake ok?”

Binbin (looking really frustrated): “Mommy! Its my Birthday!!! You always say Birthday Boy can choose his cake. I want this Mango Cake.”

*Slapping Myself inside*

Me: “I’m so sorry. Ok, ok. We shall get the Mango Cake for your birthday.”

Its NOT what I think my son would like that matters, its WHAT DOES HE REALLY WANT that is crucial.

Parents often think they know what is best for their children. Not true.

So often, parents bring their kids for overseas trip, thinking that their kids would appreciate and enjoy it. When you open your heart and think deep, is it REALLY the kids’ wish to go overseas? NO. Its the adults who want to go overseas.

The saddest part is, after the trip, parents start to say things like “Hey, I brought you to Japan/Disneyland/Universal Studios/Taiwan/etc, and now you give me this type of attitude. I really regret bringing you for the trip.”

In the first place, if the child did NOT ask for the trip, such statement is truly uncalled for.

So often, its the parents who are excited about the overseas trip, yearning to have a short holiday, suggested their idea to their children and try to make them feel the same excitement.

But in actual fact, it was NOT the kids’ idea.

How often do we try to instill our own ideas and thoughts into our children and indirectly ‘force‘ them to think and behave what WE WANT them to behave.

Are you sure you are doing what is best for your child?

What Parents Think is Best,
Sometimes May Do More Harm Than Good To Their Child.
~ Angeline Foong

One week school holiday has officially started. Its “Yeah” for some and “Boo” for others.

Kids nowadays do not seem to have the same amount of time to play like what we used to have when we were kids.

Yes times have changed indeed. In the past, policemen wore shorts and now they wear long pants. Right, many things have evolved. However, one thing stays the same, that is CHILDREN NEEDS TIME TO PLAY!!!

Play IS important! I do not know how much more do I need to stress this point on my blog. It is during play time that the child is happy and when he or she is in that emotional peak, its when he or she absorbs like a sponge.

Regardless of what games or toys they play, they are learning something, improving on something and even mastering something subconsciously.

I believe in playing games of all sorts to develop all senses.  Computer games, iPad games, Legos, GoGos, HotWheels, BeyBlades, Kite flying, Chasing one another, Hide and Seek, etc.

The type of toys I really dislike are toys that directly or indirectly ‘promote‘ violence, a detailed explanation on this is over at this post “How My Child Uses His Income”

In everything, there is good and bad. Too much of something is usually unhealthy. So for any electronic games, my time limit for them is 30 mins. After which, they will need to get their eyes off the iPad or the Computer Screen.

Therefore, the moment the electronic game begins, the timer starts its countdown.

Love those Eyes full of Concentration!

Water and Timer set to 30mins is a must!

One Good Thing about Computer Games is Motor Coordination

When 30mins on the electronic game is over, does that mean its end of playtime?

No!

Well, unless he has unfinished school work. Otherwise, get him to play other games that YOU (parent) like. *laugh* His playtime can be your playtime too! *wink*

I love to stack things up. Remember how I stacked up almost 9 hot wheels cars? Read post done in 2008 “Come Mommy…Surprise!” So I got him to play this:~

Do you limit the amount of time your child spends playing your iPhone, iPad and/or Computer?