I finally know why I feel so melancholic in the days leading up to New Year. For me, New Year's Eve is less about the future than it is about the past year. And 2018 has been tumultuous. The year jolted to a rude start with my cancer diagnosis. I remember how the news plunged my family into a state of despair yet friends, colleagues and even readers rallied around us (#LoveisaVerb), and gave us strength to face each doc visit. In early Feb, I went through a life-saving 6 hours surgery at … [Read more...]
Guest Post at Yahoo Parenting: Why I play Lego with my Daughter
We were honoured to be invited by Yahoo Parenting to contribute an article last month. Let me reproduce the piece which Dana's Daddy wrote on the benefits of staying indoors sometimes and a few important lessons he glean from a Sunday afternoon spent playing (Lego) with his daughter... First published on Yahoo Parenting on 18 Aug 2014. Read the original article here. I've always enjoyed reading the hubby's … [Read more...]
Because they were not a dream…
Today, April 22nd, marks the death anniversary of our second son, Joash Sim, who was born straight into Heaven 7 years ago...This is the first time I am honouring him (and his siblings) on this blog...I reckon if I want to keep it real, I have to share this because this IS a big part of my motherhood journey... Background: We had fertility issues, the husband is fine but I had PCOs (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome). In the 5th year of our marriage, with the help of assisted fertility and IVF, … [Read more...]
Playing our part in Parenthood Journeys…
This is another moment which will be a beautiful capstone for our family.In August this year, we received an email inviting us to audition for a Parenthood TV Commerical. All we knew then was it is commissioned by PMO (Prime Minister's Office), and it would be aired in conjunction with Children's Day to promote families. We auditioned using the persona of 'Singlet Daddy' and 'Scientist Dana', little do we know it would be one of the most memorable projects we'll undertake. On … [Read more...]
Biking and Self-Esteem…
Night bike training... We have an ambitious goal to teach Dana to ride a two wheeler by the end of the year but the first few training sessions didn't go as well as we had hoped. Daddy had simply removed the extra training wheel from her existing bicycle and hope she can master the art of balancing on a two wheeler through repeated trial and errors. Standing on the sideline cheering her on, I could sense her frustrations and disappointments...Her self-confidence took a good … [Read more...]
Tuesday’s Thoughts – Stories that Bind…
There was an article published in the New York Times entitled 'The Stories that Bind Us'. I read it last night and found myself nodding to many points mentioned in the insightful piece. Image Source Living in this information overload age where one is constantly attuned to media updates (think news-feed from Fb, Twitter, Instagram etc); where addiction to information technology erodes the quality of family interactions (picture Daddy working on laptops, Kids playing … [Read more...]
Tuesday’s Thoughts: Shadow of a Tiger Mom?
Growing up, I never had the chance to learn Music...the financial situation at home simply did not allow this luxury. My sister and I could only secretly envy those peers who had the better fortune of being sent for piano lessons. They were the blessed ones. Fast forward 30 years later, my preschooler is enrolled in a well-reputed music programme which requires weekly parental accompaniment and sctive involvement. The hubs was delighted, '2 for the price of 1', why not? And so we … [Read more...]
Six Ways Parents Destroy Their Children Without Trying
I first saw this article yesterday via a friend's FB feed. Like a rude awakening, the article hits me like a brick...I spent the night ruminating over these thoughts in my head. The hubs and I have been questioning the effectiveness of our parenting methods on our fiercely independent, soon to be 5 year-old pre-schooler, with a stubborn and slightly self-centered streak (the perils of being an only child) and who sometimes lies to avoid punishments. For a quick tempered person like me, I find it … [Read more...]
How do I love thee, let me count the ways…
Every year, on Valentine's, the hubs would do something to surprise me - sometimes it's a bouquet of flowers to the office, sometimes a nice handwritten card, other years just some couple time out to a movie we both enjoy. This year, there was none of those. Instead, he posted an unexpected tribute to me on Facebook. It's not an extravagant gesture but it warmed my heart to know he devoted some time to think about the sacrifices I've made for him (and for the family); and that for once, he was … [Read more...]
Tuesday’s Thoughts: The REAL Baby Bonus…
Picture Credit We applaud the government's latest move to roll out the enhanced Marriage and Parenthood Package 2013 in a bid to reverse Singapore's declining birth rate. After all, by 2030, there's a possibility that less than half the population would be made up of native Singaporeans (I don't know about you, but I shudder at that thought). Among the new benefits, I'm heartened that fathers will be given one week of paid paternity leave to welcome the newborn home and get … [Read more...]