Yesterday afternoon while Iffah was in school, I went to Parkway Parade ( my favourite shopping haunt ) and was glad to say that I did not make any purchases from Fox or Esprit or Mothercare, Pumpkin Patch, Isetan, Kiddly Palace etc .. (only bought books at Borders). Those who know me know that I usually end up splurging at PP, but I was too lazy to browse the clothes on the racks and hangers and they just looked too messy and unappealing. After all, it has been much more fun looking at items neatly arranged in grids and squares and scrolling up and down and zooming in and out.
I first joined a spree four years back to get myself a pair of Birkenstock. While it does not seem justifiable to pay more than $100 for a pair of sandals, getting one that cost around $30 less than RP seemed like a pretty good deal.
Last month, I joined a couple of spree again because of the great discounts they seem to have online. ( WARNING - from this part on, this blog entry will get really really technical )
One spree was from BabyGAP. 25 % discount for the orders above 250USD. Keen to get Iffah out from her Strawberry Shortcake T shirt and skinny leggings which has been her uniform since she turned 3, I let her chose 3 outfits.
1 Smocked dress : http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=6436&vid=1&pid=707588&scid=
2. Heart tunic top : http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=49690&vid=1&pid=707608&scid=707608002
3.Puffed sleeved T-shirt : http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=49690&vid=1&pid=707535&scid=707535082
price was 25 , 15 and 12.50 USD
With the discounts and exchange rate, the price was :52.5 x 0.75 x1.45 = $57.09
With most sprees on VPOST , the shipping is somewhat a surprise so I will know only when I get the items.In the end i had to incur a shipping of $9.88 .
After doing the maths, the items cost me around Sing Dollars, $29, $19 and $16 respectively. Still quite a good deal as the prices were cheaper than what I would usually have to pay for similar items in Fox or mothercare. Iffah loved them ( yes they were all dark pink and did not wear any of her strawberry shortcake T shirts last weekend )
But since it was on a spree organised by others, there must be some mark-up somewhere , exchange rate, as well as the shipping so I have been toying with the idea of ordering myself directly from the websites. After all, it is not too difficult to set up a Vpost account. The opportunity came when Old Navy had a free domestic shipping offer for items above 50 USD. Now that wouldn't be too difficult to achieve right ? I do not have to spend hundreds of dollars and I could save on the exchange rate, shipping and the hassle of self collection or postage. I was on the verge of ordering until today afternoon when I did some mock-up calculations based on $56 worth of spending while Akif was taking his nap.
Scenario 1
Me ordering directly
$56 x 1.43 + $ 13 ( Vpost base charge ) + $25 ( international shipping by weight ) = $118
Scenario 2
Ordering from an organised spree ( with registered postage )
$56 x1.46 ( mark-up ) x 0.9 ( organiser's member discount ) + $3.84( shared Vpost charge ) + $25 +$2.24 (reg ) + $3.05 ( mail ) = $107.7
Scenario 3
Ordering from an organised spree ( self collection )
$56 x1.46+ $3.84( shared Vpost charge ) + $25 = $110.6
So despite the mark-ups and postage fees, a spree is still more cost efficient because of the shared Vpost base charge among all the spreeists and additional discounts. The only way I can save on my own purchases is by getting friends to join in as well, in other words, be a spree organiser myself . Which mathematically, is a very tempting idea but . But for now, I will go back to checking out more sprees. FitFlop spree where are you ???
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Monday, February 1, 2010
Aurora Iffah Aqila Minnie Mouse England Australia
Yestarday, Iffah threw a screaming fit for 20 minutes just as we were getting ready to go for a birthday celebration because somebody put her favourite clips in the star container instead of her favourite love boxes. Last week, just as she was getting ready to bathe and go to school, she discovered ( horrors of horrors ) that her Minnie Mouse hooded towel was hung on a purple hanger and NOT a pink hanger. And then, in the evening a few days later, I told her to bathe and left for the kitchen to heat the food. She did not check the time and undressed when she saw a watch and realised it is not 6.16 pm, ( the time that she wanted to bathe ) . Oh oh, another round of screaming and tears.
The daily meltdowns are no surprises, but what fascinates me are the source of meltdowns. Just when I thought I have covered all angles and pre-empted any possible tantrums, she will somehow manage to find something new that she is unhappy about.
The thing about her is that she is so into this favourite colour, favourite number thing and how things must go in some particular order. If I were to look at it positively, she could be described as very detailed, meticulous or systematic. On the other hand, she could also be seen as obsessively perfectionist and super fussy.
Like how her favourite number is number 6. So she would only bathe if it is 6.16 pm or 6.26 pm and so on. And how she insists that our car must be parked at a lot with the digit 6. ( If Atuk forgot on the other hand parks in a lot with number 6, she will throw a big fuss ) However, her
obsession with number 6 is so overbearing because she will be scrutinising even serial numbers ( on her ez link card, shoe boxes and packet of smoo milk ) .. If there is number 6, she will be exremely happy and if there is none ... well I have to end up weaving some story to convince her that it is ok ... or how there must be some mistake somewhere ... Sometimes I succeed, other times ... oh well ... like a few nites ago she asked me why her birthday was on 17th Feb and not 16th Feb ... Apparently my answer was not good enough ..cos she went to her room, sobbed sadly into her pillow and fell asleep.
Then there are her favourite days, Wednesday and Sundays. So on these days, she must wear her favourite colour - which is dark pink ( not light or medium but dark - close to fuschsia ) , or her favourite T-shirts, and her uniform must be size 26 . ( there is only one pair of that and 2 pairs of 24 cos really i think 24 fits her better ) . So yes, I have to ensure that these favourite clothes must be washed immediately and dried so that they are ready to be worn on her favourite days. For a few months, I was actually wearing dark pink on every Wednesdays and Sundays too but thankfully, she has finally stopped checking out and insisting that I change. Phew.
Sometimes I tell myself that her attention to details is perhaps what makes her able to read, count or draw and colour well. But I also worry that her fussiness makes her unlikeable, unfriendly and ... easily stressed. Like how she gets upset when she colour something out of the line and found that she could not erase it. Her teacher also commented that she does get panicky at times in school when she thinks she has done something wrongly. She is definitely someone who is not the happy go lucky type ... but the perfectionist with the roller coaster emotions. I worry that her tantrums will make her other family members think that she is rude and truly impossible to get along or that she might go through school without any friends and cry at every disappointments....
As of right now, I am at peace with her tantrums. And I will deal with any other problems as they come along. After all, I am the only mum she's got .. I can't get upset everytime or throw tantrums myself ... Even if she has decided that her name is Aurora Iffah Aqila Minnie Mouse England Australia .
The daily meltdowns are no surprises, but what fascinates me are the source of meltdowns. Just when I thought I have covered all angles and pre-empted any possible tantrums, she will somehow manage to find something new that she is unhappy about.
The thing about her is that she is so into this favourite colour, favourite number thing and how things must go in some particular order. If I were to look at it positively, she could be described as very detailed, meticulous or systematic. On the other hand, she could also be seen as obsessively perfectionist and super fussy.
Like how her favourite number is number 6. So she would only bathe if it is 6.16 pm or 6.26 pm and so on. And how she insists that our car must be parked at a lot with the digit 6. ( If Atuk forgot on the other hand parks in a lot with number 6, she will throw a big fuss ) However, her
obsession with number 6 is so overbearing because she will be scrutinising even serial numbers ( on her ez link card, shoe boxes and packet of smoo milk ) .. If there is number 6, she will be exremely happy and if there is none ... well I have to end up weaving some story to convince her that it is ok ... or how there must be some mistake somewhere ... Sometimes I succeed, other times ... oh well ... like a few nites ago she asked me why her birthday was on 17th Feb and not 16th Feb ... Apparently my answer was not good enough ..cos she went to her room, sobbed sadly into her pillow and fell asleep.
Then there are her favourite days, Wednesday and Sundays. So on these days, she must wear her favourite colour - which is dark pink ( not light or medium but dark - close to fuschsia ) , or her favourite T-shirts, and her uniform must be size 26 . ( there is only one pair of that and 2 pairs of 24 cos really i think 24 fits her better ) . So yes, I have to ensure that these favourite clothes must be washed immediately and dried so that they are ready to be worn on her favourite days. For a few months, I was actually wearing dark pink on every Wednesdays and Sundays too but thankfully, she has finally stopped checking out and insisting that I change. Phew.
Sometimes I tell myself that her attention to details is perhaps what makes her able to read, count or draw and colour well. But I also worry that her fussiness makes her unlikeable, unfriendly and ... easily stressed. Like how she gets upset when she colour something out of the line and found that she could not erase it. Her teacher also commented that she does get panicky at times in school when she thinks she has done something wrongly. She is definitely someone who is not the happy go lucky type ... but the perfectionist with the roller coaster emotions. I worry that her tantrums will make her other family members think that she is rude and truly impossible to get along or that she might go through school without any friends and cry at every disappointments....
As of right now, I am at peace with her tantrums. And I will deal with any other problems as they come along. After all, I am the only mum she's got .. I can't get upset everytime or throw tantrums myself ... Even if she has decided that her name is Aurora Iffah Aqila Minnie Mouse England Australia .
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Go Akif Go !
A couple of weeks back I nearly got a panic attack as I was surfing through my old blog and reading about Iffah at 11 months. There were a lot of things I wrote about her in terms of her developmental milestones ..words she understood, her likes and dislikes and all, gosh it was all so detailed... I looked at my adorable Akif and I realise I cannot do a similar "personal profile" because I haven't really observed much. I don't even know what his favourite activities are. It has been more of going through the motions and routines.
I have ingrained so much of the "boys usually speak later, boys are usually more active and not so focussed, boys are harder to toilet train, boys this boys that, " maybe I have set too low an expectation, so much so that I seem to be at peace even if Akif morphs into a laidback mat.
When Akif was 9 months, I was telling him to do many things ... Akif, clap !! Akif, arms up !! Arms up !! Smile Smile !! Wave your arms , Akif ! And to all he just responded with a bye bye. But because he was my cute and handsome boy, he was forgiven. ( Boys do get away with many things )
Anyway, he is turning one next Tuesday ! Yikes ! Everyday I keep telling myself I must do more for his intellectual development, and I would start off quite well in the morning singing during his bathtime and chatting with him and all but as the day goes by, I find myself just flipping magazines as he plays with his toys or merely hovering around him to ensure that he doesn't fall. Most of the time, I am thankful that his older sister is around to play and entertain him cos I would be running out of ideas of what to do.
Thankfully, he seems to be communicating more recently. Could do more gestures on instruction and beginning to sign more too . ( Iffah and I were deliriously happy when he signed milk about 2 weeks ago ) .. ( Iffah the perfectionist has been the one who is not too happy when Akif did not know his signs or mix up his signs and all so she was really very happy for his brother )
So, yes, I am really looking forward to celebrating his birthday next week ..and hopefully I can motivate myself to do more too ! Go Akif go !!
I have ingrained so much of the "boys usually speak later, boys are usually more active and not so focussed, boys are harder to toilet train, boys this boys that, " maybe I have set too low an expectation, so much so that I seem to be at peace even if Akif morphs into a laidback mat.
When Akif was 9 months, I was telling him to do many things ... Akif, clap !! Akif, arms up !! Arms up !! Smile Smile !! Wave your arms , Akif ! And to all he just responded with a bye bye. But because he was my cute and handsome boy, he was forgiven. ( Boys do get away with many things )
Anyway, he is turning one next Tuesday ! Yikes ! Everyday I keep telling myself I must do more for his intellectual development, and I would start off quite well in the morning singing during his bathtime and chatting with him and all but as the day goes by, I find myself just flipping magazines as he plays with his toys or merely hovering around him to ensure that he doesn't fall. Most of the time, I am thankful that his older sister is around to play and entertain him cos I would be running out of ideas of what to do.
Thankfully, he seems to be communicating more recently. Could do more gestures on instruction and beginning to sign more too . ( Iffah and I were deliriously happy when he signed milk about 2 weeks ago ) .. ( Iffah the perfectionist has been the one who is not too happy when Akif did not know his signs or mix up his signs and all so she was really very happy for his brother )
So, yes, I am really looking forward to celebrating his birthday next week ..and hopefully I can motivate myself to do more too ! Go Akif go !!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Inactive activism
I badly need to embark on a cause, or something to champion for. I was reading Urban a couple of weeks back and looking at the BAG page. ( I love Urban and I love the BAG page .. for the obvious reason of knowing what bags personalities use, but hmm I also love the quirky personalities featured ) And there was this Malay lady who was the head of Unifem Singapore and her job includes visiting countries such as Cambodia and Indonesia to implement a range of programmes such as imparting business know-hows and setting up crisis centres for abused women. I have always been fascinated by all these UN sounding organisations .. .. Unesco, Unifem , or by the things that personalities such as Angelina Jolie does, such as creating awareness of refugees or promoting humanitarian causes ( whether or not it is for mere publicity is a different issue altogether .. i shall not dwell into that. To be able to do such things is good enough for me )
And so suddenly what I do on a daily basis are so insignificant. I am not saying that I should start packing my bag to work for Greenpeace or raising awareness for landmine victims. It is just that I want to do a bit of social activism too, something small, yet significant.
When I was a SAHM with Iffah, and so into the whole mothering thing, I did dabble in perhaps what I could call breastfeeding advocacy. Became a la leche league and BMSG member, attended a couple of La Leche meetings, attended talks and events like setting the world record for simultaneous breastfeeding and even got the opportuntity to share my experience with new mothers at KKH ( thanks Su for that chance ) . Well, I did believe that all babies deserve the best, so I was just doing my part to share the benefits of breastfeeding. And yes, life seems to be more meaningful when you have something to champion for.
Alas, when I started teaching , my breastfeeding activism sort of died down. Time was a factor, plus I was also not very comfortable with the idea of my naive 15 year olds seeing me appearing in the papers, breastfeeding my kids . To them, breastfeeding merely equates baring boobs I suppose. Also, I felt a renewed interest in teaching ... teaching became my cause, I do not need another cause. Far more importantly, I also felt that breastfeeding was, a very much personal choice. There are so many factors at play as to why someone chose to breastfeed or not. I do not like being told what to do, so I shall not be telling others what to do.If you want to breastfeed then good for you. If not, then it is fine with me too. Since then, if anyone is interested to breastfeed, I will answer any questions or help in any way i can but even though I've breastfed for 4 years non-stop now, I am les gung ho about extolling the virtues of breastfeeding to those who feel that they can't.
So right now, I am without a cause again. Or maybe I do have many causes, just that there are no great sounding names to go with them. Oh well, till i discover what they are, I better get some sleep cos Iffah has been complaining that I am always so sleepy in the day.
And so suddenly what I do on a daily basis are so insignificant. I am not saying that I should start packing my bag to work for Greenpeace or raising awareness for landmine victims. It is just that I want to do a bit of social activism too, something small, yet significant.
When I was a SAHM with Iffah, and so into the whole mothering thing, I did dabble in perhaps what I could call breastfeeding advocacy. Became a la leche league and BMSG member, attended a couple of La Leche meetings, attended talks and events like setting the world record for simultaneous breastfeeding and even got the opportuntity to share my experience with new mothers at KKH ( thanks Su for that chance ) . Well, I did believe that all babies deserve the best, so I was just doing my part to share the benefits of breastfeeding. And yes, life seems to be more meaningful when you have something to champion for.
Alas, when I started teaching , my breastfeeding activism sort of died down. Time was a factor, plus I was also not very comfortable with the idea of my naive 15 year olds seeing me appearing in the papers, breastfeeding my kids . To them, breastfeeding merely equates baring boobs I suppose. Also, I felt a renewed interest in teaching ... teaching became my cause, I do not need another cause. Far more importantly, I also felt that breastfeeding was, a very much personal choice. There are so many factors at play as to why someone chose to breastfeed or not. I do not like being told what to do, so I shall not be telling others what to do.If you want to breastfeed then good for you. If not, then it is fine with me too. Since then, if anyone is interested to breastfeed, I will answer any questions or help in any way i can but even though I've breastfed for 4 years non-stop now, I am les gung ho about extolling the virtues of breastfeeding to those who feel that they can't.
So right now, I am without a cause again. Or maybe I do have many causes, just that there are no great sounding names to go with them. Oh well, till i discover what they are, I better get some sleep cos Iffah has been complaining that I am always so sleepy in the day.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
The irony of it all
A long time ago, I was 17 and was happily writing poems due to an unrequited crush. I was also enjoying the attention of my friends who loved the poems I wrote. After all, it expressed my innermost emotions and it ryhmed too. Until one friend commented it was quite plain. His reason ? There was no IRONY.
Since then I have resigned to the fact that I will never be a writer or a poet but it had led me to be fascinated with the idea of irony. It has become the frame in which I view or perceive the things around me, and is now my new best friend. I would just dismiss something as not good enough if there is no irony. Recently while watching the media campaign on organ donation at my parents house, my father commented that it did not evoke his emotions and it will never match those by the late Yasmin. To that , i added ..yes I agree totally and there is no irony too. Well, so the simple use of irony can make a clever discussion between a father and daughter .
Anyway, my main point is I do not fancy the idea that something or someone can be so good or so bad. But I often fall into the trap of believing that others are having it better than me, that other people's lives are so perfect. Fellow teachers whose students love them and pours out endless admiring messages in their facebook, loves every minute in the classroom and who speaks so convincingly and executes greatly too. Fellow mothers who are so proud of their children doing so well in school and getting along so well with their siblings, who can wake up early in the morning while the rest are asleep to cook and who are still immaculately dressed when they are out with three kids.
Faced with my insecurities, it is the idea of irony ( ironically ) that helps me cope. For I tell myself that irony is natural to us humans and life in this world. Describing contradictory statements or situations, irony shows that people are not perfect and develops from the realisation that life does not always measure up to promise. That makes me feel better. Especially when life ( and mothering ) are full of ironical moments.
Like how experts n books keep saying that walkers are potentially hazardous or detrimental and would delay development . So no walkers for me. Yet, everyone I know who use walkers for their kids are able to see their kids walk before their first birthday. And me, the by the book idiot waited many months after that and will probably have to wait again the second time round.
Or the love hate relationship i have with staying home. 7pm and I am so exhausted and could not take it anymore and wishing that I could just exit and my kids could take care of themselves or something. I feel like kicking myself for if i am not a SAHM then it would be easier for me to take little breaks between work and home. But at 9pm I would be singing happy songs again and feeling so thankful for being with them.
Then there was this time when my brother and his family informed all of us that they were intending to migrate to Australia ( they have since gotten their PR ) , I began to hit the panic button. Hey, didn't i plan to migrate too ..wasn't i the one who took foreign language n all ? shouldn't Tasha n I be doing something now to get out of the country. I started to franticall y look for my Nie cert in case i need to get a teaching job elsewhere. I didn't find it but coincidentally, came the holiday to Australia. Going to Europe 3 times and Australia 4 times in my younger days and loving them was not the same. Somehow the thrill and the fun was not there anymore. Reality check .. I am a mother to 2 kids and the difficulty of managing a family overseas is multiplied many times more. End of discussion. I am staying here.
And lastly, how despite wanting to stop doing the typically unsingaporean things and do more cultured things , I end up jostling with thousands of singaporean parents the previous weekend who ( possibly ) had the same aim as me- to expose their kids to arts and culture, to do as activities at the ACM's open house.
Yes, so I may be ambiguous or even contradictory. But that is ok. Life ain't perfect, but it is good. Ironic? Even better.
Since then I have resigned to the fact that I will never be a writer or a poet but it had led me to be fascinated with the idea of irony. It has become the frame in which I view or perceive the things around me, and is now my new best friend. I would just dismiss something as not good enough if there is no irony. Recently while watching the media campaign on organ donation at my parents house, my father commented that it did not evoke his emotions and it will never match those by the late Yasmin. To that , i added ..yes I agree totally and there is no irony too. Well, so the simple use of irony can make a clever discussion between a father and daughter .
Anyway, my main point is I do not fancy the idea that something or someone can be so good or so bad. But I often fall into the trap of believing that others are having it better than me, that other people's lives are so perfect. Fellow teachers whose students love them and pours out endless admiring messages in their facebook, loves every minute in the classroom and who speaks so convincingly and executes greatly too. Fellow mothers who are so proud of their children doing so well in school and getting along so well with their siblings, who can wake up early in the morning while the rest are asleep to cook and who are still immaculately dressed when they are out with three kids.
Faced with my insecurities, it is the idea of irony ( ironically ) that helps me cope. For I tell myself that irony is natural to us humans and life in this world. Describing contradictory statements or situations, irony shows that people are not perfect and develops from the realisation that life does not always measure up to promise. That makes me feel better. Especially when life ( and mothering ) are full of ironical moments.
Like how experts n books keep saying that walkers are potentially hazardous or detrimental and would delay development . So no walkers for me. Yet, everyone I know who use walkers for their kids are able to see their kids walk before their first birthday. And me, the by the book idiot waited many months after that and will probably have to wait again the second time round.
Or the love hate relationship i have with staying home. 7pm and I am so exhausted and could not take it anymore and wishing that I could just exit and my kids could take care of themselves or something. I feel like kicking myself for if i am not a SAHM then it would be easier for me to take little breaks between work and home. But at 9pm I would be singing happy songs again and feeling so thankful for being with them.
Then there was this time when my brother and his family informed all of us that they were intending to migrate to Australia ( they have since gotten their PR ) , I began to hit the panic button. Hey, didn't i plan to migrate too ..wasn't i the one who took foreign language n all ? shouldn't Tasha n I be doing something now to get out of the country. I started to franticall y look for my Nie cert in case i need to get a teaching job elsewhere. I didn't find it but coincidentally, came the holiday to Australia. Going to Europe 3 times and Australia 4 times in my younger days and loving them was not the same. Somehow the thrill and the fun was not there anymore. Reality check .. I am a mother to 2 kids and the difficulty of managing a family overseas is multiplied many times more. End of discussion. I am staying here.
And lastly, how despite wanting to stop doing the typically unsingaporean things and do more cultured things , I end up jostling with thousands of singaporean parents the previous weekend who ( possibly ) had the same aim as me- to expose their kids to arts and culture, to do as activities at the ACM's open house.
Yes, so I may be ambiguous or even contradictory. But that is ok. Life ain't perfect, but it is good. Ironic? Even better.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Enrichment madness
Last Sunday was my maiden attempt to bring Iffah to an enrichment class again. Actually, it was not really a full class. It was more of an open house cum trial session at Monte Kidz Elias Mall and I have been wanting to send Iffah to Kinderart since she was 2 but have never found the opportunity. So when I received an sms saying that there was a free trial art session, I immediately registered for it. After all, Iffah has been complaining that she hardly has art lessons in school and has been telling me that she wants to go for art classes so that she can to learn to draw more beautiful girls and princess.
Well, I have always been a big fan on enrichment classes. I always have this mindset that they are more fun and engaging ( due to the short duration ) and they are more specialised. Thus, I have been more than willing to send Iffah to Gymboree Play Tanglin Mall, Gymboree Art Parkway Parade and Kindermusik Tanglin Mall the past two years. As that was before we had a car, we would take the train to Orchard and if Tasha was working I would take the cab. Simple. But this year, with Akif in the picture, it is not so simple anymore.
Earlier in the year, Iffah was in Kindermusik. It was a parent participation class and as Iffah was still unstable we left then 1mth Akif in the care of my dad a couple of times but he soon said that he wants his Saturdays free. So whenever Tasha was working, I had to forego the class ( almost $30 burnt each time ) ..And even when Tasha was around to push Akif in the stroller while I was with Iffah inside, there was once when Akif screamed so he knocked on the door and I left the room to tend to Akif. Iffah did not want Tasha to accompany her n then screamed n created a big scene. She did not want to go back in until dear Akif was sound asleep and I could then accompany her again. So when the term ended, I decided to stop too.
Well, half a year has since passed and as she has adjusted well to both Akif and the idea of drop off classes, I have started enquiring on some enrichment classes. However, I would only go so far as Pasir Ris area.. so I had brought Iffah to Loyang Point to check out the Crestar Yamaha classes and I Can Read at White Sands. I thought I Can Read was atrociously expensive! About $500 for 11 weeks and that is not inclusive of other fees. Plus it looked too much like a typical classroom setting .The English teacher in me was thinking that she could do some grammar , composition or comprehension practices but I figured I would stay away from the enrichment classes that are too regimented for now. So, I am still not so sure if i should also enrol her for the Yamaha Junior Course as 1. I have to purchase an electone and practice with her and again, it looks too rigidly structured.
I am more inclined to enrol her in more fun classes. Interestingly, Monte Kidz at Elias Mall has Kinderart and Kindermusik enrichment. They even have Speech n Drama classes by Act 3. However, response has not been too good and even though I am hoping hard there are enough kids to form a Kinderart class, I figured that Arts is really something that not many parents would put their kids in. Sigh.
So back to the trial class last Sunday. Tasha was working the night shift on Saturday . So I was rushing to get ready my two kids. Iffah was eager so getting her ready was easy. Alas, it began to rain heavily just as we were leaving so I had to call a cab. So there I was braving the rain , with Akif in the ergo, Iffah on one hand and umbrella on the other. During the trial, Akif was not too happy waiting while his sister is drawing so it was quite difficult as he wriggled n struggled to get down . I brought him to McDonalds, tried to bfd him to sleep and all but he was still one whiny baby. Eventually I just went to one corner and carried him to sleep.
Iffah was soon done and she proudly showed me her drawing of a goldfish and rabbit. But by then, I was really exhausted. We hailed a taxi and went back ... and seriously for the next hour or so, I was too exhausted to entertain them.
Iffah was really happy .. but I wonder if I would be able to do it every week. And this is just 2 kids ... What if there is 3 ..or 4 ? Need to find a class or a location that would meet all their needs .. Anyway, I have not resolved Iffah's enrichment headache yet .. but I have just discovered that there is a MyGym in Tampines!!! Yay !! Hopefully I can find a weekday class between 2 to 4 next year so that I can accompany Akif to My Gym while Iffah is in school :):)
Well, I have always been a big fan on enrichment classes. I always have this mindset that they are more fun and engaging ( due to the short duration ) and they are more specialised. Thus, I have been more than willing to send Iffah to Gymboree Play Tanglin Mall, Gymboree Art Parkway Parade and Kindermusik Tanglin Mall the past two years. As that was before we had a car, we would take the train to Orchard and if Tasha was working I would take the cab. Simple. But this year, with Akif in the picture, it is not so simple anymore.
Earlier in the year, Iffah was in Kindermusik. It was a parent participation class and as Iffah was still unstable we left then 1mth Akif in the care of my dad a couple of times but he soon said that he wants his Saturdays free. So whenever Tasha was working, I had to forego the class ( almost $30 burnt each time ) ..And even when Tasha was around to push Akif in the stroller while I was with Iffah inside, there was once when Akif screamed so he knocked on the door and I left the room to tend to Akif. Iffah did not want Tasha to accompany her n then screamed n created a big scene. She did not want to go back in until dear Akif was sound asleep and I could then accompany her again. So when the term ended, I decided to stop too.
Well, half a year has since passed and as she has adjusted well to both Akif and the idea of drop off classes, I have started enquiring on some enrichment classes. However, I would only go so far as Pasir Ris area.. so I had brought Iffah to Loyang Point to check out the Crestar Yamaha classes and I Can Read at White Sands. I thought I Can Read was atrociously expensive! About $500 for 11 weeks and that is not inclusive of other fees. Plus it looked too much like a typical classroom setting .The English teacher in me was thinking that she could do some grammar , composition or comprehension practices but I figured I would stay away from the enrichment classes that are too regimented for now. So, I am still not so sure if i should also enrol her for the Yamaha Junior Course as 1. I have to purchase an electone and practice with her and again, it looks too rigidly structured.
I am more inclined to enrol her in more fun classes. Interestingly, Monte Kidz at Elias Mall has Kinderart and Kindermusik enrichment. They even have Speech n Drama classes by Act 3. However, response has not been too good and even though I am hoping hard there are enough kids to form a Kinderart class, I figured that Arts is really something that not many parents would put their kids in. Sigh.
So back to the trial class last Sunday. Tasha was working the night shift on Saturday . So I was rushing to get ready my two kids. Iffah was eager so getting her ready was easy. Alas, it began to rain heavily just as we were leaving so I had to call a cab. So there I was braving the rain , with Akif in the ergo, Iffah on one hand and umbrella on the other. During the trial, Akif was not too happy waiting while his sister is drawing so it was quite difficult as he wriggled n struggled to get down . I brought him to McDonalds, tried to bfd him to sleep and all but he was still one whiny baby. Eventually I just went to one corner and carried him to sleep.
Iffah was soon done and she proudly showed me her drawing of a goldfish and rabbit. But by then, I was really exhausted. We hailed a taxi and went back ... and seriously for the next hour or so, I was too exhausted to entertain them.
Iffah was really happy .. but I wonder if I would be able to do it every week. And this is just 2 kids ... What if there is 3 ..or 4 ? Need to find a class or a location that would meet all their needs .. Anyway, I have not resolved Iffah's enrichment headache yet .. but I have just discovered that there is a MyGym in Tampines!!! Yay !! Hopefully I can find a weekday class between 2 to 4 next year so that I can accompany Akif to My Gym while Iffah is in school :):)
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Changing perspectives
I am blogging right now cos I'm feeling a little bit smug about Iffah's achievement. As usual, I was lying on my bed with sleeping Akif and waiting for Iffah to fall asleep. Tasha was on his afternoon shift and usually gets back around midnight. However, after 20 min, I did not see any signs of Iffah's sleepiness. In fact she started humming the ewa ewa besok hari raya song. Not wanting to fall asleep while waiting for her to sleep (like i always do every other night ) , I decided I had enough and told her I will be outside in the living room "doing my own things" . Well, she did peep a bit and rolled on the floor a bit but eventually she did fall asleep on her own ! A major milestone for her. Alhamdulillah, she has gone through and matured a lot this year.
Well, that brings me to the main thing that I have been wanting to write about. About how my perspectives have changed since having 2 kids.
With no.1 , I was quite excited over developmental milestones. Every day was a new eye-opening experience. Mothering was an adventure.. from trying out new recipes .. to painstakingly making DIY Glenn Doman flashcard. Every little thing I did with Iffah must have an objective in mind, be it physically or emotionally . Right now, maybe my standards have slid a little, but accelerating Akif's developmental milestone is no longer on the agenda. In fact, I often wonder if I neglect him cos he seems to be merely co-existing with the rest of us in the family.
My main concerns are their health and my sanity. Feeding my kids well is on high priority. What's the point of being so intelligent, but so sickly and scrawny. Mummy shall not just be good in teaching them ... Mummy wants be a good cook for them too.
As for my sanity. The desire for me time has never been more pressing now that I have 2. With one, I can be sane even though I was with her 24/7 for a year. After all when she naps or sleeps, I can do other things right ? But with 2 ? and how about 3 or 4 ?? And while I used to brush off the idea of setting aside couple time without kids, I now see the logic of it. The four of us can be together the whole day ... but for the entire day, Tasha and I would not have had any decent conversation at all cos we are just centred on minding the kids. So I would no longer frown on others who are often seen without their kids.
Thus, my conscious effort to do the Supernanny thing. Tell a story. Kiss them good night , tuck the kids to sleep and get out of the room. Previously , while I liked watching Supernanny, I could never think that I could do such a thing. But now I am beginning to appreciate the rather organized and ordered scenario she could create. Iffah's dawdling n moving about during mealtimes were initially tolerated cos I wanted her to eat as much as possible, plus I had the time to entertain her. Now that there is Akif to watch over, I have gone to the extent of setting time limits and withholding snacks to ensure that she finishes her food quickly. And the results are amazing. :)
Well, that brings me to the main thing that I have been wanting to write about. About how my perspectives have changed since having 2 kids.
With no.1 , I was quite excited over developmental milestones. Every day was a new eye-opening experience. Mothering was an adventure.. from trying out new recipes .. to painstakingly making DIY Glenn Doman flashcard. Every little thing I did with Iffah must have an objective in mind, be it physically or emotionally . Right now, maybe my standards have slid a little, but accelerating Akif's developmental milestone is no longer on the agenda. In fact, I often wonder if I neglect him cos he seems to be merely co-existing with the rest of us in the family.
My main concerns are their health and my sanity. Feeding my kids well is on high priority. What's the point of being so intelligent, but so sickly and scrawny. Mummy shall not just be good in teaching them ... Mummy wants be a good cook for them too.
As for my sanity. The desire for me time has never been more pressing now that I have 2. With one, I can be sane even though I was with her 24/7 for a year. After all when she naps or sleeps, I can do other things right ? But with 2 ? and how about 3 or 4 ?? And while I used to brush off the idea of setting aside couple time without kids, I now see the logic of it. The four of us can be together the whole day ... but for the entire day, Tasha and I would not have had any decent conversation at all cos we are just centred on minding the kids. So I would no longer frown on others who are often seen without their kids.
Thus, my conscious effort to do the Supernanny thing. Tell a story. Kiss them good night , tuck the kids to sleep and get out of the room. Previously , while I liked watching Supernanny, I could never think that I could do such a thing. But now I am beginning to appreciate the rather organized and ordered scenario she could create. Iffah's dawdling n moving about during mealtimes were initially tolerated cos I wanted her to eat as much as possible, plus I had the time to entertain her. Now that there is Akif to watch over, I have gone to the extent of setting time limits and withholding snacks to ensure that she finishes her food quickly. And the results are amazing. :)
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