An ordinary mum

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The Simply Joy
2007-08-18 15:53:00
If you are, like me, a busy mother, you need to have some of these simply joys:To watch children wild, happy play,To hug your children, let their small arms circle your neck To kiss your children, and tell them ?I love you?To catch every minute extra sleepTo read a good book whenever you are free and replenish them oftenTo go window shopping but don?t bring your childrenTo tip toes to the kitchen, after your children are in bed, and share a cup of ice cream with your husbandTo drive on the road, with green, tall trees shadowing on both side, listen some classic and let your mind flyTo sip coffee at your favorite coffee shop, with one book on hand; or just make a cup of coffee, have a tea party with your childrenTo go for a spa and massageI am treasuring, thankful and enjoying each and every moment of these simply joys whenever I can.
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Happy Birthday, My baby
2007-08-16 04:12:00
My youngest son Stephen turns three today. Happy Birthday , Stephen. I consider it significant for the following reasons:All my children are now relatively independent for now onThe need of demanding "mother" is less, I mean here physically, while I am fully aware of other demands increasingI can therefore,bargain some extra time for my "own" interests and liking, (quite legitmate reason, right, after all, I have been a "full time mother" for ten years :=)So there, I have extra reason to celebrate my youngest son Three Year birthday. What amazing changes from a baby to a three years old. Stephen one day oldStephen 3 years old
More About: Baby , Happy Birthday

My daughter's fall
2007-08-14 03:12:00
Last Sunday, my husband and I ran to supermarket for some errands. Children went down to playground. My maid was with them.Half way we received the call from them "Prisca had a fall".We rushed home and came to know that they were pushing one another and Paul, being the strongest, pushed Prisca down from the slide. "What is Elf, (my maid) doing?""she was talking with other maids".I gave Paul several good canes. and scolded both Noah and Prisca.Later we brought Prisca to see doctors and found she had multiple fractures. She was put on cast and would not go to school for at least one week. She should not go to playground for at least two months.When this kind of thing happens, naturally our reactions is angry and fault finding. But we also realise that this is accident can happen to anyone under most unpredictable circumstance. To angry and blame others do not eliminate the suffering that Prisca is going through. We are just grateful that the worse could have happened and hope ...
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The Blogging World
2007-08-12 09:26:00
No one can deny that we are heading a blogging world.My first blog was born on May 2007. Within a short span of three months, half of my family have joined me in this blogging world.My son has his own blog "Little Robin Hood" where he writes about what happened in his school, his hero and any things he is interested in; His Chinese is not so good, therefore, he only writes in English;My daughter is more advanced in language, and more ambitious too, she signed up for two blogs, one in English "my world" and one in Chinese????????.My husband, though he has his own website www.truth.sg, but still cannot resist the blogging temptation, soon he opens up his blog called "Truth shall set you free"Not to mention about me, I have maintain two set of blogs in two languages with diverse interests and topics:My English personal one is this blogMy Chinese version Women Issue blog "Full Time Mothers"Online Knowledge and affiliate Marketing blogChildren stories and poems online collectionsSo I am...
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National Parade on Marina Bay
2007-08-10 16:24:00
This year National Parade was the first time on the gigantic floating platform on Mari na Bay. We were longing for watching it. At first, when we tried to get a hotel room at Ritz Carlton, but when were told the only the only available ones were the top level suites cost 2000 dollars, we were just about to forget about it. A few weeks before the National day, one of our relatives told us good news that he managed to books a few rooms, we were both grateful and overjoyed.The National Day finally came. Children could not wait to go to hotel. By the time we checked into the room, wow, we found the National Parade Platform was just right under our window. Not only had we the clear vision of parade itself, we also had a splendid bird eyed view of whole Marina Bay. In afternoon, there were several rehearsals, these soldiers really worked very hard. They had been having rehearsals many times over several weekends.We brought MacDonald?s back to our hotel. The whole parade was gorgeous and...

Mom as a teacher's helper
2007-08-09 04:06:00
Last week, my son teacher Miss Fan called me to help as parent volunteer in school outing to the Zoo. Though it was a last minute, I happened to be free on that day, so I agreed to go with them.The outing to zoo started from 2:00. I met Miss Fan and class at school canteen. The students were very excited. It took a quite while for Miss Fan to quiet down the children. Children were divided into a few rows lining up to go to a bus. As soon as the bus was moving, they were all like happy birds starting chipping. I can see it is not easy job for one teacher to control 38 active students. Miss Fan announced anyone who behavior well would receive five ?good behaviors? stickers, anyone who do not behave would receive a ?black sticker?. She had to ?shout? sometime to time. I said to her ? Teac her must have a good voice? ?Oh, yes, but I loss my voice almost every two days?.When we reached to the ZOO, children grew more excited. There are many interesting sites to see, monkey, eleph...

Stephen's Thinking
2007-08-02 07:49:00
Today, when I fetched Stephen from his playgroup, His teacher told me he wetted his pants. I asked him "Who has wetted his pants?". He said " Stephen". "Why? didn't he tell teacher?" Stephen replied "No, because he is bad."I was surprise for his answer, I presumed that he thought only bad boys wet pants, that was because my reactions towards him when he wet the bet at home, I had scolded him for wetting the bed. But I never intent to relate "wetting pants" to "bad boys".So we had a little talk. I told him, sometimes even good boys wet pants, sometimes even adults do too. He was quite surprise but definitely happy. "So I am not a bad boy, because I was too urgent". "That right, next time, when you want to susu, go straightaway tell teachers, Okay?""Okay, mummy." Stephen gave me a big kiss on the lips. Then he said, "I have a coffee kiss"
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A Wrong Trend among Teenagers
2007-07-30 04:00:00
This morning our local radio programmer 93.8 fm in its popular talk show broadcasted an irrational topic. The question was addressing to teenagers? parents, asking them ?at what age, the parents will think sex is acceptable?. That draws some indignant responses from listeners. One of responders David, the father of four teenagers, said the very topic is wrong for what signal will the radio programmer send to send to mass medium? to condone the premature sex? to promote the so call ?precaution? remedies for those who are ruining their soul?It is really worrying trend. According to last year statistics, 1.5 % teenagers had undergone abortion before the ago of 17. The number is increasing steadily. Many teenagers are accepting sex even before they finish secondary school, what are their parents and teachers doing about? The root of problem lies on core value and family upbringing. As our traditional value has gone downhill fast and social moral standards are no longer in high g...
More About: Wrong , Trend , Teenager , Teenagers , Teenage

Child Anger Managment
2007-07-29 04:58:00
"Angry outbursts, uncontrolled tempers that are physically acted out, and the inability to explain what caused the behavior/anger could possibly be signs that the child has or at one time had psycho motor seizures.If that is the case, while he may have outgrown the seizures, the behaviors initialized by them could and would become a behavior pattern if they went unchecked.The interesting thing about psycho motor seizures is that they often go undiagnosed, though in the last ten years or so they have grown to be more readily recognized within the medical community.First of all, let me say that if this child's parents are unwilling or unable to deal with the child's anger/behavior, the child is very lucky to have someone interested enough to look into how to work with him. Whether you feel you achieve any success or not, that child will know that someone saw the good in him... and someday, somehow, it will make a difference for him.Different things work for different kids. Watch the...
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Taliban Claims to have Killed One of the Korean Christian Hostages
2007-07-27 01:42:00
Despite accusations that the Korean s were on an evangelistic mission, [the] South Korean president...as well as the senior pastor of the hostages' home church...emphasized that the volunteers were there to provide free medical or educational services with no missionary intentions." ?Christian PostEric Young/AH(July 25th, 2007)EDITOR'S NOTE:This is an urgent situation for our Korean brothers and sisters held hostage by the Taliban , not to mention their families. Please continue to pray, saints! As the world is watching, may these captors experience the power and presence of God in a miraculous way that turns their hearts to the LORD! ?Aimee Herd, BCN.Afghanistan?Although information coming from spokesmen for the Taliban in Afghanistan, where 23 Korean Christian hostages are being held, may not be entirely accurate, the terrorist group has apparently lost some of their patience with negotiations, and has reportedly followed through on their threat to kill a hostage. Ph...
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National Library @ Orchard
2007-07-25 16:30:00
Singapore National library is one of the best in the world. Like Singapore Airline, it has become one of national features stood in the heart of all citizens as well as others who use it. It provides wonderful resources of all kinds of knowledge and information and cultivates the love of learning.The National library at Orchard is going to move. What sad news! After almost 8 years of wonderful service at the heart of commercial area.The National Libra ry Board decided to move.But why?Though the spokesman of NLB did not review the reason behind, it is quite obviously because of high rent in Nee Ann City. Nee Ann City is one of most prestigious commercial building and locates in the hottest street of Singapore. It is well known that Singapore property market hits all time high and the office rent at prime location is increased by 23%. The Government also announced the GDP of year of 2007 will be 7.3 per cent.Everything seems prosperous.Yet, our NLB, a government agency or statuary broa...
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Children sense and brain development
2007-07-23 09:14:00
The following passage is quoted from "Set Free Childhood", it is so important for our parents to understand how does child's sense and brain develop:-A child?s brain develops from the basic core, action, or reptilian brain, to the limbic, old mammalian or felling brain, to the thought brain or neocortex. There are sensitive windows in brain development when the stimulus, such as conversation with parents, must be present for the capacity of, say, language to develop. Young brains are also very plastic, with potential for making vast numbers of dendritic connections. This fades at 10-11 years of age. The action brain processes sense impressions, controls movement, monitors body functions, mangers reflexes, and helps our physical survival.The limbic, feeling brain responds with ?fight or flight? to threats, so humans react emotionally and physically before we have time to think in a crisis. The limbic brain enfolds the actions brain, processing emotional in formations such as li...
More About: Children , Sense , Development , Brain , Sens

Child Anger Managment
2007-07-22 08:47:00
Tips from Child Anger Management by Jamie Sullivan Author of Child Anger Revealed"Children can feel and express anger at a very young age. As they grow older, their understanding towards people and things around them starts to advance. Therefore, their way of expressing anger will also change, eventually.As they grow up, situations that will cause them to become angry will increase. By now, they tend to understand more about their surroundings and had been in a lot of situations that would probably make them angry. All these are part of their development process.The family plays a very important role in the emotional growth of the children, which has a direct influence on how they feel and the way they express their anger. Research shows that most children tend to imitate the behavior of their parents, whether directly or indirectly. So please, do not do things that you would not want your children to follow, in front of them. The surrounding at home is also ve...

The Right thing at right time
2007-07-20 12:24:00
?To every thing there is season, and at time to every purpose under the heaven? (Ecclesiastes 3:1)To raise a child is one of life?s toughest, most satisfying and rewarding challenges. However, many parents may lack the necessary skills and knowledge needed to support confident childcare. Somehow, we parents lost of our natural instinct when we are bombarded overwhelming information and advices. Young parents feel never assured and isolated. They ignore or choose to forget their own childhood experience and learning. They are all in the rush.Rush to teach child to talk, to walk, to read; rush child to 101 enrichment classes, music, painting, drama and speech, gyms, you can just name it; rush child to all kind of activities, concert, Bible action group, Girl scout and boy scouts?. No wonder out timetables are just too full.Prof David Elkind observed this trend ?Hurried children are forced to take on the physical, psychological and social trappings of adulthood before they are pr...
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TV and Child Development
2007-07-19 04:04:00
I am reading ?Set Free Child hood? by Martin Large. I think it is a wake up call to many parents who think TV is harmless, or some of them may think TV as an education tools or even worse for some use TV as a babysitter. Please read this book:Too much exposure to the electronic media may risk the following potential health hazards and developmental blocks in young children:Physical effects: Difficulty switching offBlunted senses, visual strain, and under-stimulation of the developing brainHealth and lightSide-effects of toxic emissions and electromagnetic radiation Repetitive strain injure (RSI) - muscular-skeletal injuriesChildhood obesity, lack of exercise, and movement disordersSocial and emotional effectsSocial isolation and withdrawal, the plug-on drug: electronic addiction; Undermining of play; commercial exploitation; anti-social behaviourCognitive effectsDisorganized brains, less creativity and imagination, undermining of language and literacy, attention deficit and inab...
More About: Development , Child Development , Develop

Where does honey come from?
2007-07-18 04:09:00
"What does the bee do?Making honeyWhat do the children do?Eating up honeyWhat does Dad do?Making moneyWhat does Mum doSpending up money...." My soon to be three years old came to me affectionately "Mum, when your birthday comes, I will buy you a blue camera, cost three dollars, a lot lot of money.""Thank you, where do your money come from?" I asked"From the wallet.""Where do you wallet come from?""From the cabinet""Oh, but how does money go into the wallet?""My dad buys for me."So, that is where money comes from. I gave him a kiss. He ran away to play
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MP Baey all for repealing anti-gay law
2007-07-16 09:13:00
Quoted from today's Straits Times"A PEOPLE'S Action Party MP yesterday spoke out against the non-review of the law banning homosexual sex.Tanjong Pagar GRC MP Baey Yam Keng said if it comes to a vote in Parliament, he would say 'yes' to doing away with the law which makes it illegal for men to have sex with other men.He was joined by Nominated MP Siew Kum Hong who had previously made public his opposition to Section 377A of the Penal Code which bans homosexual sex.Both were members of a forum panel yesterday that included gay activist Alex Au, founder of gay media company Fridae Stuart Koe, and Methodist church leader Reverend Yap Kim Hao.They were discussing the legislation with about 100 participants. When the Home Affairs Ministry proposed changes to the Penal Code last year, it said it would retain the ban on acts of 'gross indecency' between men.One participant, academic Russell Heng, 56, asked Mr Baey for his position if Parliament took a vote on this issue. He said he ...
More About: Anti , Ealing , Repeal

Business Fables, Fairy Tales, Stories and Management Lessons
2007-07-14 14:27:00
Business Fables, Fairy Tales , Stories and Management LessonsA young Man had been caught in a daring act of theft and had been condemned to be executed for it. He expressed his desireto see his Mother, and to speak with her before he was led toexecution, and of course this was granted. When his Mother came to him he said: "I want to whisper to you," and when she brought her ear near him, he nearly bit it off.All the bystanderswere horrified, and asked him what he could mean by such brutal and inhuman conduct. "It is to punish her," he said."When I was young I began with stealing little things, and brought them home to Mother. Instead of rebuking andpunishing me, she laughed and said: "It will not be noticed."It is because of her that I am here to-day.""He is right, woman," said the Priest; "the Lord hath said:"Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart therefrom."Moral:Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is oldhe will not depart...
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To Give A Way
2007-07-13 11:10:00
Every morning and afternoon certain hours there will be a lot of people to come to Leonie Road where India High Commission locates to do business there. Very often on one side of road there are many illegally parked cars. That often cause traffic jam at this area. But nothing seems to be done by traffic police. This afternoon, as I drove along Grange Road, turning into Leonie Hill, the two line road was only left one line. As I drove into Leonie Hill cautiously on half way, a BMW was out from side road drove down without hesitation, I was surprised by his action, for there was no way for me to give way except backing up to the main road. The driver, pressed on,Then I remembered a story I heard long time ago. A famous man ( can't remember who he was) met his opposition at a narrow road, where only one person can pass by. The opposition said to him "I never give way to a fool." He smile, and stood aside, said " I am just opposite."So, I backed up my car all the way to the ma...
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Think Family, Talk Family
2007-07-12 09:08:00
I attended a very interesting and informative forum as one of panelists last night at Media Cop. The forum "Think family, Talk family" was organized by MCYS and National Family Counsel. It aims to discuss the recent family trend in Singapore and promote family value nationwide.We had a very colourful, and mixed background panel. Ms Jacqueline Wong, the moderator, she is a wonder woman, who runs her own business and a mother of two.Ms Joni Ong, another wonder woman, a full time mother of five at the same time a full time worker for NFC (I wonder how did she make it?)Dr Lim Wee Kiak, MP and an eye surgeon, most important a father of three, we need more MPs like him to build pro family society in Singapore.Mdm Hamidah, a social councilor, her knowledge and experience on family matters makes her the perfect councilor.Ms Anur, a mother of two, working part time, try to achieve both best of two world.Mr Andrew Koh, a CEO of a very family oriented company , he is grandfather too.Ms Andre...

I am ?superman? s mum
2007-07-09 10:59:00
How would you like to be a ?Superman ? s mum?Last Friday, my husband and I had to go for a meeting. Since it was Friday, I told my children that they could watch a video after dinner. ?Superman Return? was one they picked up. By the time we came back, the movie had not finished yet, we joined them to see the last part of movie that how Superman fell from the sky and was hospitalized. When it seemed no medical helps could revival Superman, the kiss from Lois Lane worked wonder. My son commended, ?Superman is like sleeping beauty.?After movie, I prepared children for bed. The boys were still discussing the movie excitingly, next moment, our youngest son appeared, carried by his big brother, he called out ?I am Superman Return?With great exciting again, Stephen flied around in and out. Finally, I had to call for peace, ?All head to bed?. My ?Superman? fell from ?sky? landed on my bed, with eyes closed. Oh Oh, ?He is waiting Lois Lane to kiss him? My husband laughed. ?Good night ? I told...

Breastfeeding
2007-07-06 08:07:00
I don?t need to reemphasize the importance of breastfeeding. (There is a lot of information available). What I want to share with you is we need to do all things with balance.Paul, our first baby certainly benefited from being a first child, he had all the attentions to his own, at the same time he also suffered our unintended ignorance of being first time parents. Brea stfeeding was one of these kinds.After reading all the benefits of breastfeeding, I was determined to breastfeed my baby for as long as he wants. It was not a smooth path, through my perseverance; I managed to success in sole breastfeed Paul. He was chubby and striving well. After six month, I introduced solid food to him, he took it reasonable well. When he started to walk, his chubbiness disappeared. I was still breastfeeding him, did not supplement any other milk formula.About 1 and half year old, he actually became quite skinny. My paediatrician observed this change on one of visits, she asked me what kind of milk...

Role Play
2007-07-05 08:02:00
One of our favourite games is ?Role change?. In this game, my children will be mother, and I will be anyone of them. We can play one to one, or one to many.One day, Noah ?was? mother, and I became ?Noah?. He was supposed to behave like a real mother, me a real Noah. I mimicked all Noah?s way of talking and behaving which made him really amused. He, like mummy, ordered me to do many things. ?wash your hands?, ?sit properly? ? bring your plates to kitchen? so on. It was amazing he remembered all these words I spoke to them and marvelled ?Did I really speak like that?? I was wondering. Next moment, oh, dear, I did something wrong, I accidentally broke Mum?s boat ( in fact was a paper boat). ?Mum? said fiercely: ?You naughty boy, bring my cane.? ?Noah? obeyed immediately, (unlike the real Noah). ?Mum? ordered ?Noah? to bend down to receive three canes.To my surprise, the cane was so soft that I hardly feel.?Mum, your canes are very soft.? I said gratefully.?Yes, I am teaching you how to...
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Everyone's Baby
2007-07-04 09:17:00
It is really an advantage to be the youngest child in a big family (relatively). Our baby Stephen is everyone?s baby. Having so many people around him withall ?hee ,hoo, Haa?s, he certainly has the most stimulating environment of all.That results in his advanced speech, at age of 10 months, he can name quite number of nouns, at age of two, he speaks perfect Singa-nglish, with some big words like ?actually?, ?wonderful?, ?delicious? or ?exhausted?. All credits due to his bigger brothers and sister.This is the life demonstration of Dr Suzuki?s Talent Development Theory, children from the same parents, in different environment, may show different talents as nature develops. I was not involved so much in Stephen?s early education, but his siblings were. Paul taught him to somersaule, Prisca read stories to him, and Noah taught him ?A, B, C? and number? He is rather to follow brothers and sister most of time.However, one problem he has is that he claims ownership of anything he likes. Th...
More About: Baby , Everyone

Books On Child Training
2007-07-03 07:48:00
One of my good friends has requested me to recommend some books on parenting and child training. I must admit that knowledge puffs, while wisdom subdues. On the walk of motherhood, it is so important a mother shall seek divine guidance and pray for wisdom for each child, not just blindly following books. However, the wonderful knowledge and experience of others are certainly valuable, if we keep our hearts open, it may save us a lot of trials and errors. I would like to recommend the following especially on child training:Number 1, whatever you may like, read the master?s book first, which is containing all knowledge and wisdom concerning our past, present and future life. May you not take lightly for this wonderful book? ?The Holy Bible?H Clay Trumbull ?Hints on Child Training ?This book was first published in 1890. Time has proven this book to be a rare gem. Each short chapter gives practical training tips with child perspective in view and based on Christian values. What we ...
More About: Books , TRAI , Raining

Noah's Birthday
2007-07-02 18:17:00
We have four children and Noah is our third one. His big brother Paul had our full attention, his sister though is number two, being a girl attracted us some unique attentions, not to mention baby has All of our attentions, while, Noah a middle boy, seems all the time strive to gain our attentions.He is quiet child by nature, however, he demonstrated clear ?middle child? syndrome, in order to gain our attention, and he would not hesitate to use his crying power. I was dreary of his traumatic crying for seemly no particular reasons. It did work little by discipline him for I knew sometimes he wanted attentions especially when I or his father was physically not able to give him, such as breastfeeding time, or schooling time. Lately, we decided to spend an individual time with each child as much as we can, especially for him. That proved to be working for Noah. The day before Noah?s birthday, we had family celebration for him, lighting candles, singing birthday songs and blow cand...
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Good Husband
2007-07-02 04:47:00
Good husband keeps his cool, when you are screaming hot; he may have his turn when you are cool;Good husband takes children out to give you some time of your own;Good husband plays with children, he likes what children like and and becomes one of them;Good husband knows how to do things you don?t know, like repairing dashwashing, changing tyres, removing bugs from your computer, even through he doesn?t know how to change a diaper or make baby?s milk;Good husband is kind to your friends and allows you to have a chat with them, alone and not jealous;Good husband may not remember your birthday, or children?s birthday, but he doesn?t mind to be called ?Fool?;Good husband does not flatter your appearance, any more, but he praises for your hardworking;Good husband maybe no longer romantic, but he is as stable as a rock.Good husband is not born, he is because he loves you so.husband and wife
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Baby's first word
2007-07-01 04:18:00
My eldest son?s first word was ?DaDa?. My husband was absolutely thrilled. ?He calls me, he calls me.? I was told for many babies? first word is ?mum?, but I was not a bit jealous. The next moment, he saw a dog coming to his way, as excited as it can be, my son called ? Da Da?. Soon we discovered he called everything ?DaDa?. My husband was much humbled.After my daughter was born, I tried to teach my son to pronounce his sister?s name ?Prisca?.?Pi..ca? he said, ? No, Prisca? I corrected him?Pi..ca? he said, ?Prisca, Prisca? I corrected him?Oh, I see, Police car? He said excitingly. Since then, his sister was called ?Police car? by him.
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When baby cries
2007-06-29 03:55:00
When I first became a mother, I was quite ambitious, not to say wanting to be a ?super mum?, but at least ?above average?. So I read all the books on parenting, childcare I could find and felt very confident. I had plans of breastfeeding, sleeping training, toilet training, speech training and early childhood education all lines up.The reality however, shaked up my self-confidence. Though I had all the book knowledge, I found my baby somewhat ?special?. So I had tough time to deal with my first baby. My days often ran haywire; I normally could not have my lunch until 2:00 pm, after my baby napped. Very often, the moment I sat down for my meals, my baby waked up. I ended up so tired and drained, left little energy for other house keeping.My husband was however, not as sympatric as I expected. After he observed me rushing to pick up my baby a few times in the meal times, he commented ?This guy is spoiled; he knows he can control you by crying.? So he ?ordered? me not to pick him...
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The Unpredictable life
2007-06-26 09:52:00
A 17-year-old triathlete Thaddeus Cheong, The Raffles Junior College teenager had collapsed and died on Sunday, Jun 25, 2007 after crossing the finishing line in a SEA Games selection race. A promising youth with strong body and mind is vanished just like that. No one has expected that tragedy, but this is just how unpredictable life can be. My heart goes to Thaddeus?s family, especially his mother. May God comfort them, give them hope, for one day, they shall meet again in a better place.The same can happen to you and me, my dear friend, a life is unpredictable. Let us learn to treasure each day and with every one. When you are down, tell yourself, if you can, do make a positive change to make your life easier, and do not be cranky over something we cannot change; If you are angry with someone, take time to make it up before it is too late; If you wish to do something that you always want to do, don?t wait, make it happen and do it now. For we don?t know what will happen tomor...
More About: Life , The U , Predict