I am a Kiasu Parent!

Today I had my first taste of parent-anxiety, as I (sort of) faced my first rejection by a school which I'm trying to register Chloe for.  I begin to understand how many parents feel as they try to get their kids into their desired schools. Of course the kids may not be aware what's going on, but to the parents, it could be like the end of the world. I've seen, through news reports, pictures of parents breaking down hysterically and calling foul when they were not successful in the balloting for a place in the school of choice for their child.  Now I totally understand.

I don't know if I'm late in finding a pre-nursery for Chloe. She'll only be turning two-and-a-half in Jan 2011. This afternoon, I took leave and made a school visit to a childcare centre nearby, which I really like for the availability of open spaces, but was told by the principle my chances are slim because i) priority is given to the siblings of current students; ii) priority is given to the children enrolled in their weekend enrichment class and iii) the wait-list is 32 students long for the intake in 2011 [despite the exhorbitant school fees]! I didn't realise childcare centres, like primary schools, are so hard to get in these days! OMG.

Upon coming home, I started to panic. My criteria for a school for Chloe are that the teachers must be caring, there must be outdoor spaces for kids to their activities, and the school must have a good brandname. My next option is a school quite far away, not ideal because there'll be logistical issues to work out. I will keep praying for a miracle.

Anyway I didn't go hysterical this afternoon. I learnt that many parents have no qualms paying S$1000 per month for a 2.5 year old just to learn ABC, 123 and doh-re-mi. I graduated from the PAP kindergarten at the void-deck. Maybe if I had studied at Modern Montesorri during my kiddo years, I will not be the small-time government-worker I am today? Anyway, whether or not there's any connection between childhood education and your adult achievements, I still want to give Chloe the best I can afford. I am a kiasu parent!!!

Nothing Much... just complaining...

I've been feeling pretty stressed up since November 2009 - the start of an inspection project at a bank. Somehow due to excellent work-planning, a lot of work pour in at the same time, and again the "I-wanna-quit-tomorrow" idea set in. Yes I know, I'm always thinking about quitting when I get too much stress from work, no?

But somehow, this time round, I manage stress a little differently (although the complaining to my boss and bitching to my friends and hubby remain constant). While I try my best to fulfil the job expectations, when I know that I can't deliver more, I just don't deliver! Say, when I could have used my lunchtime, like now, to do more work, I prefer to blog about how I feel instead. LOL!!! One can never finish his work, so if a piece of proposal is overdue for 1 month, it doesn't matter if it waits a week more. I don't think it's worth it to compromise my rest and more importantly, health, all for work. The tried-and tested-truth : there was a year when I thought I worked extra hard and delivered a few pieces of major work - my performance bonus was just half a month more than usual!??

I really crave for a long break. Well, maybe I haven't had a good sleep for a year, since we began sleeping with Chloe in the same room. Just these 2 nights, she wakes up in the middle of the night wailing, and it takes some time to calm her down. Poor girl. Is her molar erupting now? Tummy got wind? Is she hungry? Want milk-milk? My panda-eyes must be showing....

Anyway, nothing much.... just complaining..... (again)....

The Shichida Method

Last Saturday afternoon, I had the chance to leisurely sip my afternoon coffee at Delifrance at HDB Hub, while Chloe attends her session at The Shichida Method upstairs. I'm quite pleased that I'll have the chance to do this regularly, well, at least on alternate Saturdays.

I've heard much about the Shichida Method (through TV documentary programs and websites) which is centred on right-brain training, and am amazed at how little children can be transformed into little geniuses. Honestly, as a kiasu parent, I want my kid to have an opportunity for some sort of brain training, because I'm obviously not doing enough to stimulate her brain at home. There might be some hidden gifts which await to be discovered?? But at the same time, I am mindful not to put pressure on her and myself. She's just 17 months old!

A parent is required to attend the lesson with the child so the week before last I attended her first lesson with her.  Last Satuday my hubby sat in. This was the first time Chloe was put in a classroom environment with other kids, and a teacher. Thankfully, she did not cry and appeared to be at ease. For the first half of the hour, she was pretty attentive to the teacher, who sang with them, did little physical exercises, played videos, flashed multiple flashcards.... However, into the later part of the class, Chloe started to get restless, and wanted to get off her chair to wander around the classroom. I had to coax her back to her seat. I think that's perfectly normal - in fact I'm so surprised she had the patience to sit in her chair for more than half and hour, because she doesn't stay still in one spot for more than a minute at home! Teacher Lisa was quite "spell-binding" I say, to speak in a pitch and pace that catch the children's attention. Tough job!

I'm not very sure if this is the right thing to do. Some other parents in the class are obviously very enthusiastic about it, while I'm a bit lukewarm. When Chloe refuses to do some activities (probably because she doesn't know what's going on!) I will just let her be although I try to encourage her to follow the activities. The Shichida Method does believe that even though the kids may appear to be gong-gong, the right brain is actually absorbing.  But the sessions are really intensive - flashcards after flashcards, memory game after memory game, activities after activities, there must be hundreds of different visuals that bombarded our brains within that 1.25 hour session. I was so drained coming out of the class. My hubby managed to weather through better than me, though.

Anyway, I'm glad Chloe is engaged in some form of learning. Will just try this out for a few months and see how. At the minimum, I will get a peaceful hour of coffee and reading every other Saturday, so it's a good thing! : )

Collagen this, Collagen That....

I’m such a sucker for products that can (or rather, claim to) make my skin look better. Earlier this week, I finally caved in a bought the Collagen face serum from Skin Inc., to add to the 4 bottles of serums that I already own. I read much about how after 25 years old the collagen level in our bodies depletes, at like 1.5% every year. Doesn’t sound an awful lot for a year, but certainly, my skin has started to show defined lines already. [It doesn’t help that the games in my hubby’s new iPhone get me so addicted I play games until at least mid-night everyday!]

I don’t know much scientific facts about collagen, but in layman terms – collagen can plump up your skin and smooth out fine lines. I’m so into collagen these days, and again, broke the bank and splurged close to S$200 on the Taut Gold Standard Collagen Infusion Therapy supplement and face masks from GNC at lunch yesterday. All thanks for the advertisement that comes on every weekday night as I watch the handsome Dai Yang Tian in ‘Together’ on Channel 8. I’m an easy target for such advertisements, see.

Next week, my department will be having a retreat at Sentosa, and we’ll be having games on the beach in the 2pm afternoon sun. I AM PRAYING HARD IT WILL STORM!! Just 10 minutes in the open sun like that would bring tones of damage to my skin, which I’ve so carefully protected, and on which I’ve spent thousands of dollars to upkeep. Anyway, that justifies why I need to buy the serum and collagen supplement lah. I have to work double hard to repair the damage to my already weakening ‘canvas’.

Jewelyn's 2nd Birthday!

My cute niece Jojo's birthday fell on the last day of the year. She's grown into quite a chubby little girl, so nice to squeeze.  Happy Birthday Princess!

Jojo has turned 2!

Jojo making her birthday wish and praying vey hard.....so cute!