Reflection time: Double Standards???

When a child demands, she's called bossy.
When a parent demands, she's called firm.

When a child yells and screams, she's 'out of control'.
When a parent yells and screams, she's exasperated and tired.

When a child doesn't answer, he's called rude.
When a parent doesn't answer, she's called busy.

When a child isn't satisfied, she's called spoiled.
When a parent isn't satisfied, she's called discerning.

When a child is angry, she's 'out of line'.
When a parent is angry, she's justified.

When a child hits, society calls her violent and aggressive.
When a parent hits, society calls it 'discipline'.

--Lu

When we can acknowledge and address our double standards, we might stop seeing our kids as so different from us, and realize we are all made of the same tissue, the same needs, the same longings, the same wounds, and the same neurobiological need for attention, empathy and connection. When we take down our walls, we see each other's hearts... ♥♥♥

Day out with Daddy at the Games Arcade

And only to the arcade, would Prince Christian be willing to go with Daddy, without Mummy’s presence.

Boys will forever be boys.

~ A great smile ~

2D/1N Bintan Agro Resort Short Getaway

On hindsight, this looks like an overly ambitious experience.

Thankfully, all ended up well despite the initial jitters.

Our latest trip brought us to Bintan Agro Resort, and keen for something new, we signed up for snorkelling, snorkelling with 2 young ones, who had just very recently mastered swimming.

~ Princess with her snorkel set ~

~ Her being dumped into the waters ~

~ Daddy giving her a hand ~

White Sands Island; where time stood still

After about 1.5 hours of snorkelling, we were brought to an island, White Sands Island, no my memory is failing me, the fact is, we snorkelled to the island at our own pace.

We felt as if we owned the island, there was no one there except us, and the kids can self-entertain for a good 2 hours there. Over there, time stood still. No rush, no rush.

~ A mini jetty ~

~ Upon reaching the island ~

~ Just sand and water for child’s play ~

Gathering at Fiona’s at Sunrise Gardens

It’s been a while, almost 1 year 3 months since we met up with Princess Chelsea’s old playgroup friends; they had known each other through an online Catholic Playgroup when they were slightly old a year old.

Mummy Eliz enjoyed their company, every single one of them, and the kids, they just get along so well.

Courtesy of Auntie June, here’s some nice shots, Prince Christian is the one in blue, constantly after a balloon, Princess is the one in pink top. Of coz, the shots mainly feature Tong Wei, Auntie June’s lovely daughter.

~ Nice Montage; Chelsea 1st picture 2nd row ~

~ Happy Mood; Christian in the middle after a balloon ~

Worst news to bring ref the dreaded P1 registration

Yi Xuan’s mummy will not be reading this blog; she’s not an internet addict.

But gradually unnoticeably, over the last 3 years, despite the differences in educational background, career proficiency etc, our families had gotten to know each other pretty well, as we shared similar parenting beliefs and styles.

Yi Xuan had also been a true friend to Chelsea, and by that, Mummy Eliz meant respect, no intentional hurtful words etc.

In the current hectic city life, many kids, especially those who did not enjoy a secure attached relationship to a pivotal parenting figure, probably due to their undeniable feeling of insecurity, tend to like hurting others verbally in order to gain some sense of supremacy.

If the above paragraph makes no sense to you, it’s some weird kind of logic that is in force and in most instances, the kid might not be even aware of it.

So, when Mummy Eliz had to help Yi Xuan’s Mummy attend the Phase 2B balloting, and to bring the dreaded news to her, it’s with a heavy heart.

Come next year, despite best efforts, Yi Xuan would not be attending the same Primary School as Chelsea, that’s really bad news. Probably it’s for some reasons that we cannot comprehend yet, but it’s a bitter pill to swallow.