Category: Brat Stuff

Posted on

Stomach Flu In Kids

What is the most heartbreaking sight a parent to see? I think it has gotta be seeing your child sick and not only any kind of illness but the ones that you see them puking and in pain. But of course, that’s not to say that other kind of illnesses does not break our heart.

It was the Victoria Day’s long weekend here in Canada – and the weather was just gorgeous – we had planned for a BBQ at our backyard and enjoy our new outdoor fireplaces and shoot some fireworks this weekend. But alas, even the best laid plans weren’t the best laid plans because when you have a kid/s – you just never know when they will catch something.

It all started on Sunday morning at 2am – when Chloe woke up and started puking – she puked in her room because she didn’t get up quick enough to run to the toilet – and even when she did – she puked all over the toilet too. Poor kid – she was so apologectic – mannnn..!! it just broke my heart – here she was feeling so lousy – yet she kept saying ” I’m sorry mom! ” mannnn!!! i was almost in tears. She is still puking and having tummy cramps – slept the whole day on Sunday and Monday – she was a bit better for a few hours and after lunch everything went downhill again. But she is a real trooper and no milk and we try feeding her with gravol but she didn’t like it and would bargain with us even though the puking is bad. I wished they would give her something for her cramps but nope – the doctor said to wait it out. Damn! Even adults can’t take the cramp what about her being a 6 yrs old ! damn! damn! damn! At times like this – i wished i was back home in Asia.

Posted on

Long Flight With A Kid

As you all know – i’m long overdue home – and even if i don’t go home – i need to go renew my passport in Toronto or Vancouver at the latest next summer. So we all know how expensive flights are even for a kid – and they pay full price after they turn 2 or 3 yrs old. So when Chloe was playing with her boxes – we had this brilliant idea to pack her up in a fedex box and ship her home – now that would be really cheap – muahhahah!! nah .. we were joking. But yes, to travel such a long haul with a kid can be quite daunting – especially one that doesn’t wanna go on an airplane.

But if we could ship her this way back to Singapore – i’m pretty sure – her godma in Singapore would be pleased – hahaha!! So we are gonna try a short trip this summer either to Toronto or Portland, Maine – that way we can ease her into flying and then she will know that after her vacation – she can come back home because her protest was – she didn’t wanna leave home. She thinks that if we go back to Singapore – we won’t be coming back to Canada.

Posted on

Trip To The City

As many of you know we don’t get to go up the city often – that’s because we own our own business and don’t have the help that we want to entrust the business to – to go away for a week or two. So when we do get a chance – everything has to be properly planned and we have to make the fullest outta the trip as much as possible.

This trip to the city was a fruitful one – we only left on Sunday – but had planned to leave on Saturday – but the spouse – well – he didn’t say it in so much words but i don’t think he liked the store to be closed for too long – hahah! so we only left on Sunday – and arrived on Sunday afternoon. Even though we did a lot – i wished we had more time because the hotel we were at – was right smack in the middle of town – and i would have done more shopping. But it was a good trip – we found new places we would liked to go back to eat and new asian grocery store! yay!! And this trip – chloe was really awesome – and on the way home – she slept all the way home. She even got to eat a few decent meals in the city – so i’m pleased. More on my trip – on another posts – stay tune for them.

Posted on

Kids Playing Games

As much as i would love to say that we don’t rely on the tv and gaming consoles to keep the kid busy – we do. But having said that – does it make us bad parents? hell no!! mannnn!! when we were kids – we were left alone all the time – to get into trouble – but with Chloe we watched her like a hawk. Sure – we let her play some games but we actively bring her out and make sure she does have activities outside of the store and home to do. In fact, kids these days are so blessed they are given so much opportunities to do so many things – you can’t imagine them living the childhood we did. So if you did let you kids watch a movie or two or play a game or two – so that you can get some work done – don’t beat yourself up eh – because as much as we want to do a lot with our kids – you and I know that there are other things that we too need to do.

Posted on

Meaning Of Mother’s Day

Many years ago, when I was celebrating Mother’s Day – my mother wanted a bouquet of roses from us and many years ago – we all know that in Singapore a bouquet of roses can come up to a good $60. Of course, $60 isn’t a lot now – when you are working and have the money – but some 25 yrs ago – I couldn’t afford it – but I still did it – because I wanted to make my mother proud. I wanted her to be proud and to be able to tell her friends what she got for Mother’s day.

Now that I’ve become a mother – I know I would never ask for perfumes, going out for dinner nor a bouquet of roses from my spouse nor my kid – why? because you do not measure love this way. Mother’s Day to me is a celebration of the kid who have given me a purpose in my life. Chloe has made me a better person – had she not come along – my life would have been meaningless right now.

While for my mother – it was a kind of safety net for her to have children when she is old – but for me – its about giving life and giving the life that i brought into this world the best. I don’t know what her future holds but i certainly do not want to burden chloe with looking after me when i am old – well – this has yet to cross my mind. All i want for her on Mother’s Day – is for her to grow up healthy and become a good person. The meaning of Mother’s Day to me – is not about me – it’s about doing the best I can for my kid on Mother’s Day.

Posted on

Pencil Holding

And here we go again … ! *sigh* .. same old .. same old .. with chloe’s new but old school. I think they need help to weigh the more important things that they need to concentrate on. I know where they are coming from – and I know Chloe does have an odd way of holding her pencil – but why stress the kid out when she had already informed them that she was comfortable with the way she was writing. Encouragement is the key to good teaching not? But the school haven’t approached us personally – it was just Chloe coming home all stressed up during the weekend about how one of her teachers wanted her to hold the pencil the way they want and she didn’t get to write nicely. She was pretty upset about it because this kid of mine – aims for perfection. And yes, we are aware of it – it’s painful to look at the way she holds her pencil – we are not slacker parents – we just want her to learn at her own pace.

Posted on

Chloe’s Special Friend

So we went to school early today and we even managed to go on our treadmill before leaving for school. We saw one of Chloe’s classmate and I had asked Chloe to say “hi” but instead of doing so – she was very upset about it and told us defiantly that her friend would not understand her. We were shocked and tried to reason with Chloe but she would not take our explanation that even if her classmate understands differently from her – it’s ok to say “hi” to her. Chloe didn’t let it go and insisted that her special friend was being bad – because she ran outta class one day and made the teachers panic. We didn’t pursue it then because it was time to get into class – but we had to make it a point to explain to her about this special friend and that she needs to be more tolerant and that what she said can hurt her friend’s feelings and those of her parents who were right behind us. So when she came back from school today – we sat her down and explain that she had to be kind to her all her friends and even if she has a friend who is different – it makes no different and she needs to learn to be kind – because it’s not nice to call a fat person fat. How much did she understand it? we don’t know but we will keep monitoring and making sure she knows she needs to be kind.

Posted on

Speech Therapy

So we were at school early today and I chatted with Chloe’s home room teacher about how she was coping in school. She said Chloe was doing well – but there were some words that Chloe don’t seems to be able to pronounce and recommended that we let Chloe see a speech therapist in the school. It’s free – all we have to do is to sign the consent form. I agree that there are some words that Chloe don’t pronounce properly – but she is only 6 and technically – this is the first year she is in real school. When she was in pre-school – Miss Tish had said she understood Chloe perfectly and that we didn’t have to worry.

Frankly speaking, we really don’t mind – if Chloe do get extra help right? but it’s Chloe we are worried about – because remember her French teacher ? who put her in special class for everything? I’m afraid that it might evoke some unpleasant memories for Chloe thus making her fear going to school again – that’s our only concern. So as much as we wanna get that extra help – we are gonna sit it out this year and wait for next year – before we do anything. What are you thoughts?

Posted on

TV = Babysitter?

Guilty as charged! shame on us – i know – but yes – we do use the tv as the babysitter for Chloe and i’m sure all of you are not different too. Even though we try to argue that we put on only good shows or education shows for our kids – it’s time not to depend on the tv too much. Chloe is at the age – where she is bored when left alone – she can only watch a new show once – and then she won’t go back to it for a long time – well – except for Hannah Montana. So this year – we’ve enrolled her to lots of stuff – from hip hop dancing to reading classes at school and now that she is willing to go to her Grammie’s – it’s even better. So this summer – I don’t have to fret no more to send her to summer camp or look for a sitter for her. This summer – Chloe can be outdoors with Grammie & Grampie planting peas and strawberries and go to the beach with Aunt Helena. It is definitely a milestone for Chloe – I’m hoping to see more independence – thus the reason for all these extra classes – instead of a one to one sitter.

Posted on

Chores & Kids

Despite what you may think – kids needs to know she plays a very important role in her family and does great things for her perception of herself – when she helps with the chores. As for us, we started Chloe really young with her chores – we feel that it’s never too early to get her to pick up her own toys and pack up the study room before going to bed or bathing. We feel that when we hand responsibilities over to her – bit by bit, as she grows into them, she becomes independent, confident and kind. Whether she is at home, at a playdate’s house or even her grammie’s she never leaves without packing up her toys – and throwing her garbage away. Having said all the above, I wanna tell you, she has her moments too – where she would questioned why she needs to do this or that – so as parents – we calmly tell her that our home policy is – she can do anything with her toys – but when she is done with it – it’s her responsibility to clean them up.

Of course, cleaning up her own toys isn’t the only thing that Chloe does – we give her a little bit here and there and for example – when i am cooking – I asked her to help get my oyster sauce or ketchup or noodles or rice – you know stuff – little stuff that she can handle. So cleaning is not the ultimate chore – chores need to be fun too! And don’t forget to thank your kid when they’ve helped out – no matter how small they are.

Some parents might think – it’s way faster if our kids is outta our way – but slow down a minute parents – because doing chores together is a way for bonding – whether it is for the father and kid or mother and kid. Trust me – i’ve put PB and Chloe to task – and they work together so well and the bonding was priceless. Parents have to remember – chores for your kids is not only he/she cleaning up right – it’s about the act of doing it – it’s about teaching responsibilities. You try it ! and let me know.