Family/From the Heart – Page 35

November 11, 2009

Indulging

Owning a business.. and having a kid.. doesn’t really make much room for indulging on yourself. I, for one.. cannot bear to buy imitation stuff.. nor inferior quality stuff – don’t get me wrong, not that .. i’m so “atas” .. it’s just me.. if it’s not quality stuff.. i rather.. not get it. But when i saw this recently at Mark’s Warehouse, I just knew i had to get it.. because it was made of real leather .. and so soft. A lot more pricier than most of my gloves.. but i bought it anyways.

So why am i indulging now..?? For the last few weeks, I had been kept busy taking care of Chloe and working out a routine.. so that I can be at the store.. and come home with her .. when she is done school. Now that we are pretty comfy with our new routine, i can now relax a little and pamper myself too. With our new routine.. I don’t have to spend so much time online .. so it works out for Chloe, since she needs more help with her school work now. So from now on.. i can indulge myself .. a little every month .. muahahahha!!! i’m eyeing on something from Etsy .. for Christmas.. but i can’t decide yet.. because whenever i am buying something for myself.. i need to keep checking that it’s the one i really one .. before buying them – what about you ..??

November 10, 2009

Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day is tomorrow.. did you all noticed a poppy on my header..?? check it out.. and let me know.. if you see it. Happy Remembrance Day .. everyone..! Lest we forget..! be grateful.. ppl..!

November 9, 2009

Bruises

Like any good parents, we noticed things as soon as it happens – just like when Chloe comes back from school with not one .. not two.. but several bruises every week. It almost seems like she gets new one.. even before she had time to fully recover from the last few bruises. Of course, many parents are gonna say.. kids do that… and i most certainly agree with you 100% but that does not mean.. that you let it go.. or ignore it. I never take things like that lightly .. because as a mom. .you have to stay on top of things all the time.

A check with Chloe.. she exclaimed she didn’t know when or where she bruised herself.. but she knew they were from school – i had no doubt about it. So i am taking a picture of the bruises.. and bringing them to the school.. to show her principal or teachers .. that way maybe, they will look out for Chloe more. What would you do..?? if you were I…?? donch forget i’m the helicopter mom… hahahhaa!!

November 5, 2009

Raising Kids Who Makes Mistakes

I look at my Chloe everyday .. and hope that I’m doing the right thing with her .. and by her. What do i mean..?? when i see some of the kids around us .. i sometimes wonder what went wrong..?? One day, you see this sweet lil’ kid walk into your store.. and years later.. this kid comes in and sell you some stuff you are quite sure was stolen. His parent is a good woman.. hardworking .. and good. I don’t really know them well, but I know she had been a real trooper.. and gave him everything he needs. So what went wrong..??

Everybody makes mistakes.. and as a parent.. you can also expect your child NOT to be perfect.. but one can only hope not to raise a child to make STUPID mistakes. My heart becomes extremely heavy .. each time i come across a kid .. who smokes.. do weed.. or steal from their parents.. and try and sell them at our store. Worst are those parents who calls you up . . years later.. about their kid who stole from your store.. with no apology and demand that you take her kid’s picture off your website .. because he was caught on video stealing from you.

Chloe asked me the other day.. “mama, it’s not easy raising a kid eh?” i was shocked.. ! where did that come from..?? but yes.. i told her raising a kid is not difficult .. but raising a kid with good morals, honest, integrity .. and not make STUPID mistakes.. that’s the hard part. I watched my daughter everyday.. and enjoy all her funny faces.. quotes.. and many awesome moments.. and i tell myself.. “please God.. help me raise my kid right! help me raise a kid.. who doesn’t lie like there was no tomorrow. help me raise a kid who doesn’t get knock up at 16 or even 18. help me raise a kid .. who takes pride in every action she takes and most importantly help me become a friend to my kid and help me to listen .. when my kid has something to say .. every time and anytime.” Do you know what your kids are up to..?? Are you spending enough time with your kid.. so that he or she doesn’t act up and do things.. that you, yourself cannot believe it .. when seen with your own eyes. I don’t hope this day to come for anyone.. so i caution myself everyday and hope that i have the wisdom when the time comes, i’m gonna have to take some lessons from Aunt Sandra and Chloe’s kai mah eh..?

November 3, 2009

Halloween 2009

Halloween 2009 was certainly different.. and *slap forehead* .. why i didn’t think of doing Halloween with my daughter.. i don’t even understand it. Every year since Chloe had been doing Halloween, it was her daddy who would drive them around.. and her babysitter would bring her trick a’ treating. But you see .. when we brought her for her rounds this year.. i wouldn’t wanna missed it ever again. The glee.. the smile.. and the joy in her face was priceless. Making money is important.. but spending special moments like these are more important.. because she isn’t gonna be 5.5 for very long.. it only comes once. So even though we were trying to buy a walk in bath by making a few extra bucks online – this is a lot more important.

She now runs up the door .. while PB and I stand back .. and watch her go .. “trick a treat!! ” and then she would say.. ” thank you !” “Happy Halloween!” Too cute to watch.. and so proud of her.

Another door and another house – i don’t think she was really interested in the candies.. i think she had so much fun .. just knocking on doors.. and saying .. “trick a treat!” .. hahahha!!

We went by to Uncle Jerry’s .. and then to Tubby’s .. and Dominic’s but he wasn’t home.. so we went across to Sarah’s .. and had fun there for a bit.

Some of the houses were decorated really good.. and the people were friendly .. and welcome the kids with open arms. You can see that not all that went trick a treating.. were kids.. some were adults as well.

House with huge eyeballs were the one that was the best dressed. And the nice lady – the owner of the house was very nice and welcoming.

Oh.. and we had to go out and buy another halloween costume for her.. because the one grammie sent back .. still smelled of smoke.. the day before Halloween. Poor Chloe.. was devastated and inconsolable till we went out to buy her a new costume.

And what did PB do.. during Halloween..?? stealing someone’s kid.. muahahhahah!!! Pinky is her nickname and she is tubby’s kid.

October 29, 2009

Precious Times

I’ve been spending a lot of time with Chloe of late and it’s really quite fun to see her doing stuff that are not only creative.. but each day, i see changes in her .. and it seems that everyday, she comes home learning something new. She told us about the new stone sink that they had in school.. and also many new steps she learned in her dancing school. But most importantly.. i am able to drop everything .. and be with her .. after school.. and during the weekends.

Ppl said we are very blessed to be able to bring our kid to work… and before i used to lament.. that my online work.. takes up some of my time.. therefore, i needed help. But truth be told, the kid loves spending time with us. I remember the many nites when she had to go home with her babysitter.. and we had to bribe her sometimes. Or she would say.. “mummy .. i’m gonna miss you!”. We are of course, thankful for the babysitter’s help.. but i guess .. Chloe is getting a lot older now.. and i need to help her with her reading too.. every nite. Not just reading to her.. but teach her how to read. Nowadays.. she recite her numbers.. from 1 – 100 with no problem.. and read 3 books on her own – as of today. I have the luxury to be with my daughter.. everyday.. and i have to be thankful. Thankful for help when i needed.. thankful.. to PB for being so hands on. Thankful that PB is willing to share 50/50 of all my responsibility.

PS: One of the main reason i feel a need to be with Chloe is because there were too many things going on around us in this town. And like any responsible parent.. you and I know.. that we have put your child’s interest on first priority, to protect our kid, nurture them ourselves and make sure that she grows up the right way, so what better but to teach her yourself right? As a mother, you cannot fault me for wanting to spend more time with my kid.. and less time online right? I also noticed that i’m able to write once again – meaningful and thoughtful scripts about my life.. and those of chloe’s. A fair trade..?? very.

October 25, 2009

Thoughtfulness & Truthfulness

Chloe’s grandparents used to say that the apple donch fall far from the tree and i’m sometimes taken aback when Chloe shows so much understanding and compassion towards certain things. And I take no credit for that.. because I don’t have much compassion nor understanding.. hahhaha!!! Of course, the kid can be really naughty at times.. but when she is with us.. she can be whiny but never evil nor do we encourage that she does stuff like spitting or hitting. We make a big deal outta it .. when she does hit her babysitter.. or pretend to wanna hit her (by not letting the babysitter come).

We also encouraged that she tells the truth.. and no fibbing – my mother used to say, that you have to teach them young.. that way .. they will know from right and wrong. Plus, I’ve always believed that reprimanding is not the way to go.. but listen .. and explaining to them .. the right from wrong is the only way to go. There are also battles that are worth picking and some that, we as parents have to learn to skip. But first, as parents.. we have to learn to be honest and even though you think they won’t understand it – you will be surprised.. what they can actually comprehend.

Take for example, a week ago, someone came into our store.. and asked my Chloe .. how she was feeling..?? she replied.. “what did you say..?” and the customer repeated himself.. and Chloe looked at him strange and replied that … she was fine. And the customer said.. “oh i thought you were sick..? and you got someone sick as well.” In which – my chloe was devastated … and said.. “nooooo..! i was never sick..” and looked very sad after which. So as a helicopter mom.. i quickly tried to protect her.. and said.. ” oh.. he was only joking!” .. in which she replied.. “that wasn’t being very nice, mama! how could i have gotten someone sick when I haven’t been sick at all” *slap forehead*. And then she said.. “is he fibbing me?”

It’s easy for an adult to forget and ignore stuff like that.. but for a kid.. it means a lot to her. If i were to teach my daughter.. thoughtfulness and truthfulness, do i have to address every lie that comes my way?? or when i choose to ignore a lie.. or something bad, am i teaching my daughter.. it is alright.. to move along and it’s just not worth our time..?? Telling a white lie is fine.. but when you use my daughter’s name.. and tell a lie.. that’s not alright. Honesty begins with us as parents – it begins with the people she is around with most times, good habits starts from us – so if your kid is lying to you .. i’m sure you don’t want that right? You also don’t want them to be anywheres near ppl who lies and are evil right..?? so as parents.. i have to make sure.. that I am not lying nor being evil. What about you ..?? what is your thoughts about bringing up your kid to be a thoughtful and useful person..?? I think .. if Chloe starts lying or telling stories to me.. that would be the saddest thing in my life, that would only mean that i haven’t given her enough attention for her to lie and want the attention. What do you think..??

October 20, 2009

Flu Shots & HN1N Shots

So the flu shots are supposedly to be here soon .. and with the HN1N thing going around, we too wonder if we should take the needle, for those in the US, i think they are covered by short term health insurance NC. But of course, there are so many speculation and theory .. and so much to read online, you’ve gotta wonder right ..?? to take or not to take. With the babysitter having mono and stuff going around, it’s a good thing – the brat didn’t catch mono from her. Luckily, I had also curb and forbid Chloe to kiss the babysitter for the longest time.. actually since she started school. But she knows better not to kiss anyone on the lips.. yes – she sometimes does try with the babysitter.. moreso, to defy us.. and to irritate her. So we thank our lucky star – that she didn’t catch mono from the babysitter – when we heard 3 weeks ago, she caught it.

Which brings us back to – should we take the flu needle or the HN1N needle..?? so a call to the public nurse told us that she didn’t have as much info as she wants to yet – since the vaccine has not arrived. She feels that even if we did get HN1N .. she didn’t think that it would render life – threatening to be admitted to the hospital. But since PB has asthma, he will be eligible for it.. and so will the entire family. She wants us to check back in a week about the vaccine. As for the babysitter having mono, we don’t know where she might have caught it .. and even though she is out of the contagious stage, a check with our family doctor – he had said that she was gonna be quite tired for now, therefore, we had told the babysitter not to come in .. till later, in order not to stress her out or to strain her immune system – because chloe can be quite handful too at times. For those who have taken the flu shots or the HN1N vaccine, please let me know how it went.

October 15, 2009

One Month’s Celebration

We were invited by the Zhu’s for their son’s one month celebration tonite. We left at 7.30pm from the store.. and already there were a few ppl there. The Zhu’s are very popular ppl eh.. 🙂 and we are indeed blessed to have them as friends. Jasmine on the far left.. is another friend’s daughter – she is definitely getting prettier each time i see her. It’s too bad we don’t see her as often. And Jessica – of course is so sweet.

I was so excited .. i forgot all about taking pictures of the food and my diet pill reviews .. hahahha!! to engross talking with everyone.. and watching the 3 gals play.

There is Mrs Zhu – Yen – and a friend/customer.. and Mrs Zhu looking very radiant. I salute this woman.. because she worked in the restaurant till the day .. she had her baby .. and all thru’ her labour.. she didn’t make a noise. Very tough lady!

Regular customer – Mike and his wife turned friends were also in the party of course. This couple is very sporting.. and very, very kind.

We had a feast..! got lobsters too..!!!! and roasted pork ribs.. and vegies with mushrooms.. noodles.. rice.. chicken, duck .. and other things too. It was pretty good.. but i already had dinner.. so i took a lil’ of everything. The dinner ended at 10pm.. but chloe was very happy .. running around with the other children.. and thankful for good friends, good food .. and good company.

October 12, 2009

Migrating To Canada

For those who are not aware of this, I get a lot of questions about migrating to Canada – because of my expat blogger status. And truth be told, I wished they had this .. or i had found this forum.. before migrating to Canada – because I had a lot of questions too. Plus migrating and uprooting is not like doing your garage flooring, it’s a huge decision .. and you want to make this life altering plan right?

For those who are planning to migrate to Canada, please note that Canada’s winter is wicked. Love may conquer a lot of things but the weather is really, really something you have to think about. Your health issues and which part of Canada will you be residing. If you think that Canada has a job just waiting for you – then you are in for a shock because for Asians like myself, you are fighting with the rest of Canada to get the job they want to. Now if you speak french – that is a different thing altogether of course.

And for those planning on visiting your girlfriend or boyfriend this holiday season and you are traveling alone, make sure you have prove that you have enough money for your trip.. and also your name cards from your office. Why..?? because if custom deemed that you might overstay or cannot afford your stay in Canada.. they might turn you away and send you home on the next plane. Good luck..!