The Other Half – Page 25 – My Life in Canada

November 15, 2009

Protecting Your Kids

I’ve often wonder how some parents would allow their young kids to roam the streets on their own. I’ve often wonder .. what these kids are gonna grow up to be. I’ve also often wonder if putting chloe in this school is the right decision but having said that.. we really had no choice.. because it’s zone accordingly, there are no free directories, like in other parts of Canada.. where you can send your kids to a private school if you can afford it.

As a parent, I sometimes wonder – how does these kids survive ..?? how do these parents do it..?? Very often, i hear of parents going out for the nite.. and having a party.. with just about anyone coming to their homes. Yes, I’ll have to admit .. i’m not that popular .. neither is PB. We have very little friends.. and we like it this way. Why..?? mostly, it’s because we are very busy.. and secondly, the investing on the time can be very stressful at times.

As parents, we want our kids to be in the “good crowd” .. but is there a “good” crowd..?? Even the doctor’s kids can bully another doctor’s kid in high school – according to reliable sources. So how do one protect your kids..?? you can’t be with them 24hrs a day.. they have to go to school right..?? Something came to our attention last week about Chloe and one of her school mate – lets just said.. kids can be evil too. As parents, creating awareness is very important. As parents, it’s utmost important to listen to your kids and spend time daily to chat with him or her. It is very important to be there for him or her.. when they need you.

I’m glad that i’m spending more time with Chloe these days.. else i may not have found out what happened of late at school. Of course, as a parent, i do not wish this upon anyone.. therefore, I’m telling all parents out there.. that there are some kids who comes from “different” type of family, therefore, it’s important for you to be vigilant, it’s important that as parents.. we have to open our eyes and ears.. and gently bring across awareness. Working and gaming is important.. but nothing is more important then your kids, should anything happened to your kids.. and you could have prevented it.. by spending less time at work.. and gaming, you would lived to regret it. So dads .. who are into gaming.. spend more time with your kids.. and less them on the computer or console systems.. and moms.. less facebook.. and more time with your kids too. Don’t lived to regret it.. because they are only this age once.

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 ..??

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 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..!

September 25, 2009

Only Auntie Kai Mah Can Buy Dresses Now?

So i saw a dress on sale on Facebook and it was so cheap.. you wouldn’t even believe how cheap it was. So when Chloe came home.. i showed her the dress – she asked why we bought her a dress and PB replied if there must be a reason .. to buy her a dress. And she replied.. “Is this from Auntie Kai Mah..?? ” In which, PB replied.. ” so now only your auntie kai mah can buy dresses for you?” … muahahhahahaa!!! I guess you can’t blame her for thinking such .. afterall, Auntie Kai Mah bought a a full wardrobe of dresses. Even today.. a mother of her classmate commented that Chloe have the nicest dresses and outfit in the entire school. Yes ..! chloe is loved by so many people – not only Auntie Kai Mah.

September 22, 2009

Bowling

So we went bowling on Sunday .. but that’s only because we had a birthday party to attend at the bowling alley. I missed the bowling alley near the Miami beach hotels. where the bowling balls are of normal sizes. The bowling balls here are mini sizes. I had wanted to get Chloe her own pink bowling balls.. but they are like $200+ dollars.. so nah.. not gonna happen.. hahahah!! PB was sore from bowling .. because he hasn’t bowled in such a long time.. hahha!!! See that torn up jeans..?? yes..! torn.. and guess what he said.. when i asked him.. “you going out with your town up jeans..??” In which he replied.. “yes..! it’s sunday.. and i’m gonna wear what i wanna wear”. *slap forehead*.

Of course, chloe loves bowling too.. as you can see. Even though the rest of the kids were eating chips.. and running around.. she was bowling earnestly.

August 28, 2009

Getting Ready For School

Summer is almost over for the kids.. and in less than a week, luckily, i’ve gotten the life insurance quote for myself, as Chloe goes to her new school .. and begin school in this school that she will be for the next 6 years, i’m gonna be busy, busy. Of course, I have my worries.. because this time.. the kids in her new school are a different set of children. Of course, i would like to think that all kids are like mine.. innocent, a bit whiny but kind.. and wouldn’t beat up other kids.. or upset other kids. But as you and I know .. it’s not gonna happen .. some kids .. as I’ve seen in the last few months.. can be really mean.. and nasty.

The other issue is lunch – as we all know that Chloe is a fussy eater.. and with the school not allowing us to even donate a microwave oven.. it’s gonna be tough .. to keep her rice and noodles warm. But for the last few days.. we have been testing out the thermos flask.. and also training Chloe to do her own lunch like school, I can say that it is gonna be a wee bit tough.. since she needs to fix her own lunch at the canteen.. and then gobble up all her food in 20mins.

I know that Chloe ain’t looking forward to her new school.. because she still has fears and reservations from her old school. One can only keep our fingers crossed eh and we all know we’ll survive .. we all do.

August 22, 2009

Princess Needs To Clean Up Too

Yes..! as much as we love our brat, she has to clean up too and we never say no if she wanted to sweep, dust or wash up after she is done messing up. What about you ..?? are you the do it all for them mom..?? or are you the try to cultivate good habits in your child. My mom was the type of mom who does everything for the boys – afterall, they are the ones carrying the family name to their grave right..?? hahahhaha!!! and what did my brothers become..?? well, lets just say .. one had a hard time getting a g/f – he learned it the hard way that his g/f ain’t his mom. So while we are using our own ellipticals, the princess of mind needed to clean after herself .. for drawing on the glass cabinets. Like a wise old woman used to tell me, teach them young and they will grow up right.

August 21, 2009

Special Bonding

The special bonding we had with Chloe this week because we were without a babysitter was a wonderful experience. We also celebrated our 10 anniversary in business with a big sale in the store for a week, obviously the store was busy. But we also made sure.. that we had time for Chloe – we went to the park, we took walks.. we did her numbers.. we drew.. and we had play dates. It was a good week – and in fact, i’m enjoying it so much.. i even bathed her for the entire two weeks, it was a very good feeling.

In some ways, we miss having a babysitter.. but i also realised that i didn’t wanna miss doing certain things with my daughter.. and watching her grow, play and saying all sorts of things… funny stuff. We also read a lot .. and we ate a lot of home cooked meals even on the weekends. Gary our friend played with her almost everyday .. till lunch.. so that was a great help to me.. since i needed to finish my work online. Overall, I know we did good .. even when our babysitter was on vacation for 2 weeks – i think Chloe loves having both of us with her – oh.. and she also created a special bond with our neighbour’s son.. that is so cool.

August 4, 2009

Wedding 2

So we had another wedding after the first – but you see the brides were twins.. and wanted each other to be their bride’s maid.. so having one after another was the best way to go about it. There were many guests invited and as expected it was a lovely wedding ceremony. Amongst the guests were friends, family and business associate and one was a Seattle personal injury lawyer, a friend of a friend i think. The parents were happy .. and i’m sure very proud of the girls. They are lovely girls and the day Chloe walk down the aisle like these girls.. i would definitely tell PB .. “we did a good job” … but till then.. we still have a long way to go. Congrats .. Ally..!!! I’m so proud of you too..!!