I’m A Mom : His Natural Defenses, My Peace of Mind

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I’m a typical mother, one who puts my children’s overall well being as a top priority. From their diet, to the shampoo they use and every single other detail of their lives, I always keep a watchful eye.

There were times when the kids fell ill and the pain that I experienced as I witnessed the pain they have to go through fighting those viruses and diseases – it was unbearable for me to see them suffer. I had secretly wished to be the one who was sick instead.

In order to have a peace of mind that Tim & Little Missy are happy and healthy everyday, I work hard to keep those natural defenses up. It has since been built into my system as a habit to ensure that they are properly taken care of from top to toe J

I’m a very busy mom, and to be sure that I am confident in my children’s well being, I keep a check list of what are they to eat, drink, use, wear, play in my mind all the time. I am blessed to have a great helper who understands my concerns and have been working alongside closely to ensure that all of the kids needs are taken care of.

A Child's Prayer

One day after our daily reading of a bible story, Tim was praying...

Me : Ok lets pray and give thanks to our Lord.
Tim: Dear God, thank you for this day, please bless Timothy & Joyce with a new baby, in Jesus' name Amen.
Me : -_- *shudder*

Clothes, Shoes & Handbags... they start young...

I wonder if it's a girl's thing... I know I love to hoard bags, shoes and clothes... I have a full cabinet of shoes to myself, whilst hubby shares his shoe cabinet with the 2 kids *grin* I have clothes overflowing into hubby's wardrobe...and not to mention the many handbags of different shapes, sizes and colours I have...

Recently, I've noticed Little Missy, really love the new clothes that I sew her. Even on days that we aren't going anywhere, she'll pull out dresses and insist on putting them on *faint*... I'll very often see her drag some of my handbags (obviously oversized for her) and walk around the house with them... when we asked her where she was going with the big handbag, she'll respond spontaneously, "I'm going shopping".... now you might think I taught her that but I didn't :P I suppose she might have picked this up whenever she was observing me... *scary*

Here's a video clip of Little Missy twirling happily with her dress at home even to the point of being dizzy...

I've also sewn her a new dress that she wants to put it on every time she sees it *faint* we have to resort to hiding the dress in the Daddy's wardrobe so that it's out of sight out of mind...

Here's Little Missy checking out her "new shoes" that were handed down to us by a dear friend whose daughter has outgrown all of them. The shoes were pretty new, some were obviously not worn before.
Little Missy trying on the shoes and parading in the house...
She loves shoes, clothes and bags just like her mommy...much of it must have been my influence on her... whoops!

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At 26 months she's already displaying a lot of independence and one of which is she wants to feed herself! Spare me a lot of trouble to be honest! *smile* While there is still lots of mess during her self-feeding, it's a good start at least she's enthusiastic about feeding herself...My Little Missy is growing so fast... *sigh of contentment*

Messy Fun - Newspaper Fun!

Haven't shared much about the messy stuff we've been doing at home... reason being, we've been rotating all the past messy fun activities hence I thought there's nothing to share about... :)

But this time, we've done something totally spontaneous and un-planned... the kids decided that they'd like to be rubbish collector... hah... I know some of you might be put off then again... if the kids had fun, it didn't really matter much to me *smile*

We Are Progressing...

Here are some updates on our learning at home... the beauty of schooling your kids at home is you can decide when you want to teach, what you want them to learn and how you want to execute the lessons to suit your needs, schedule and interest...

At the nursery level, things are kept really simple and easy for us... I remember starting Tim with the learning of colours when he just turned 2. It wasn't an exception for Little Missy either. However, the approach and method adopted has a slight difference.

Little Missy, is more tactile and she needs things that are more concrete where she could touch, feel and see all at the same time. So we started learning about colours with real things, followed by identifying the colours of colouring material such as crayons. Since she's so hung up about working on a workbook like her brother, I got her a colouring book to teach her colours. Though she doesn't get 100% of the colours correct when we ask her, she's getting there... *smile*

Sometime ago (when Little Missy was 20mths old), I sat down with Little Missy to go through Martin Jr's Brown Bear story book and somehow the video was buried under many many other videos I had in my folder... it was by chance I found this video... the idea is to get the child interested in reading through methods that the child enjoy most. For Little Missy, it's through songs... and of course the focused attention I have with her (read: bonding)...

I have no intentions to do anything very structured or academically driven with Little Missy at this point in time... just pacing out according to her learning interest and following her lead. Most times, we are still adopting the learn through play method.

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We've embarked on the journey in learning math using the Right Start materials. It was fun and definitely a novelty to Tim. As it is we have to first of all "unlearn" the counting method and get into the habit of using visualization to recognize the quantity.
On this day, we were covering lesson 3 - Quantities 1 to 5 and Matching. The popsicle sticks used were tally sticks where Tim is to tally the number of object against the tally sticks.

We also learn that 5 is a very interesting number... because it has a "middle".

As the lesson progresses, there are more manipulatives to use and the lesson gets more complex but definitely more interesting. As Level A was designed for children 4-5yrs old, we are taking it really slowly. We cover only about 2 lessons per week at this point in time.

We continued with the learning of phonics and reading.
Tim loves the Starfall phonics games. He could easily sit in front of the computer for hours but we had to give him a time limit to that lest he becomes a 'puter addict like mommy ;P Learning phonics through Starfall is one sure way to captivate the kids as the games are very interactive and fun.
We finally put the moveable letters into good use... we recently borrowed a book "I know an Old Lady who swallowed a pie". Here's a glimpse of what we did...

On days, when I just don't feel like preparing any materials, we'll do workbooks that I bought from the Popular Bookstore. That's the easiest for me *wink*

Beyond learning the academics, I am now working on building good habits into the two kids. One of which is for Tim to pack his own bed now that he's old enough to do a neater job.

"The mother who takes pains to endow her children with good habits secures for herself smooth and easy days; while she who lets their habits take care of themselves has a weary life of endless friction with the children." ~ Charlotte Mason

Worst Night Ever...There's Hope!

I've been having migraine headaches since a long time ago that I can't even remember when it started. What I did remember was I consumed Panadols for headaches since I was in my upper primary school days... once pain hits the head it was Panadols that I reached out for first! I popped Panadols more than I popped candies! Over the years, it has became a habit which I didn't think it was too serious then.

But recent years, the migraine headaches just increased in frequency and intensity. The pain just got worst and Panadols didn't quite work on me anymore. The painkillers that were prescribed to me were much stronger. I knew I can't go on popping painkillers like candies anymore as over the years I've realized I need to seek alternative help that are more natural and not rely on painkillers as these are only symptomatic remedy and I'm not having the root of the problem eradicated.

This evening, I felt a nagging pain in my head, I knew a migraine headache was brewing... (the doctor's advice to me previously was to stem out the full blown of migraine by quickly taking painkillers)... I tried to be gung-ho this time and decided to refrain from the painkillers.

Instead, I took a cup of Camomile tea to try to calm my nerves and hoping that this might help me doze off sooner than the full blown migraine hits me.
I chose external remedies by rubbing medicated oil to try to stop the pain... within a span of an hour, I rubbed the medicated oil more than 5 times on my forehead, temple, back neck and behind my ears...places where the pain was coming forth...

Two hours later, the pain just got more intense and I was battling with the pain in my head... I could feel the throbbing, stabbing and pounding pain and I must admit I was losing the battle. I pleaded with God to have mercy on me at this point and was at the verge of wanting to have my head removed immediately because the pain was unbearable.

While my body was exhausted, I could feel my eye lids were totally heavy and unable to open but I was kept awake by the pain.
I finally succumbed to reach out for the Extra Strong Panadol because I simply can't take the piercing pain of the headache anymore... an hour later, the pain DIDN'T GO AWAY... while I've already stomach the drug into my body!
Before I drifted off to sleep, I made hubby paste 3 Salon Pas on my shoulders and at the back of my neck, that helped to relief some of the strain that was causing the headache...

Many people were very concerned about my headaches as it happens almost once every few weeks... there were times I was hit by migraine once every other day...sometimes even with severe vomitting (though rare). I knew something has to be done and it has to be done fast!

I've toyed with the idea of TCM but such treatment has to be consistent and frequent to truly see the effects...also it doesn't come cheap these days too. Being a SAHM, time & money are rare commodities to me...

By the blessing of God, I've found a remedy recently, that works naturally on my body and given the frequency and consistent usage I believe I'll have my migraine problem plugged. It's hydrotherapy combined with aromatherapy. It's backed with scientific and medical research. It's at my own convenience & privacy as it's installed in my home (it's like having a personal masseuse or even a chinese physician at home). It helps to improve the blood circulation in my body (所谓通者不痛,痛者不通), and massages my body that helps to stimulate all the 320 acupoints simultaneously. In addition, with the natural remedy through aroma therapy oils... I've finally found an alternative way to solve my health problems.

Will share more about it next time... :)

Simply Homecooked - Table for One

Tuesday is the day that I always look forward to...simply because it's my "off-day" of the week. Off-day from all mommy duties! *smile* It's also a day when I get totally lazy too... so on such off-days I'd either have brunch or just settle for something simple during lunch.

However, today, I felt a little more energetic and was into making something special for myself. Pasta Aglio Olio has been my all time favourite... and I made myself a plate of it this morning...

I've all the ingredients ready... the beauty of preparing homecooked food is you add anything at any amount you like *grin*... I love portabello mushrooms and prawns...so these are the must have's in my pasta :) added chopped garlic, tomatoes, chicken ham and red cut chilli.
Being a diabetic, I try to consume staple food that are whole wheat (as the body takes a longer time to digest such complex carbohydrates ie. it doesn't turn into sugar in our body immediately)... so the pasta I used today is whole wheat... this takes a slightly longer time to boil but it is just as tasty!

Stir-fry the garlic and red chilli in olive oil for a while, then add in mushrooms and prawns followed by the rest of the ingredients (including pasta). A pinch of salt to taste and stir-fry for a while more before serving.

The verdict was simply YUMZ~

I'm A Mom: Being a Protective Mom & Tips to Boost Our Kids' Natural Defences

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Being a protective mom, I’ve always been fussing around my children a lot… ensuring that their meals are taken care of on time, having my eyes peeled on them to make sure they are safe while playing at the playground. Keeping the environment at home clean and neat. Always cautioning them about crossing the roads, climbing up the furnitures at home etc… it seemed like an endless long list of worries, that’s just me having my “protective mom” mode on all the time during the time that I am awake.

Hubby said I’m being over protective towards the children which might stifle their growth. I need to learn to let go and not be too over anxious however, there’s one thing that I’ll not compromise on that is their health and building up on those natural defences.

Ensuring that the environment is clean is of utmost importance to me. Building up the good habits, in the children, of washing and cleaning up after themselves was something I’ve started early. Opportunities of running and playing about in the playground to work on those large motor skills and exercising is another big thing for us. Afterall, exercise and keeping a healthy body is the fundamental of building up those natural defences.

Being a mom, it’s not a 24/7 job, but it’s a very fulfilling career J nothing beats watching and growing with my children… I will certainly not give up being a mother to my two children for the world.

Home Learning Updates

Sometime ago I shared about my plans in helping Tim learn how to read... I've finally seen some fruits of my labour... both the Reading Made Easy program and Explode the Code have worked very well for us...

Tim is now able to read by blending the sounds of the letters and forming the words on his own without our prompting. Of course, being able to read independently is still a long way down the road... but I am truly very pleased with his achievement thus far.

Here's a short clip I managed to capture last night as it was too impromptu that I didn't expect Tim to be so engrossed in reading...

Following last night's reading game, I pulled out this phonics/reading resource that has been sitting on the shelf for a while. "Now I Am Reading" is made up of 10 small booklets of readers - it's a progressive reader that can be easily executed at the comfort and pace of your child's learning abilities.

I Sat down with Tim to read the very first book and he was ok with most of the words except he tends to get stuck in between the picture and words ie. he would read based on what he saw on the picture and not the words... I guess, we'll have to go slow instead of pouring him and overwhelming him with all the beginner readers... I am just an anxious parent you see *smile*

This was the booklet we read this morning... about a Fat Cat...
This is the objectives of this particular booklet.
Here are some other resource I've prepared to supplement his learning to read... these are Montessori's pink series - phonics cards that I plan to help Tim learn how to read and spell through the use of moveable letters.
Made these moveable letters and was very thrilled that I was able to find the appropriate box with sufficient compartments to put all 26 letters individually *pleased*

We finally received our package for the math program last week. It's none other than Right Start Math. Both hubby and I love this program. It's the right way to learn math ie. not through counting, rote, flash cards nor huge amounts of workbooks but through manipulatives, visualization and math games that help the child understand the math concepts.

The package came in a huge box and it weighs 6.4kg in total. Go figure the shipping charges but it's all well worth it!!! I am so excited about this program hope Tim will be as excited about it *smile*

Love Her Smile

Little Missy has the sweetest smile that never fails to melt my heart... though she doesn't smile much in front of the camera, she is usually a happy little girl.

She'll often amuse us with her dances (just twirling round and round till she gets dizzy) and her singing (usually sung out of tune or with the lyrics all mixed up) I am just thankful that she's able to keep herself entertained and at the same time being the life of the party...
She's now 26 months old, and she's picking lots of stuff from her brother... I am not about to start anything academic with her as she's got a totally different style of learning... would have to put on my thinking cap to make some plans in helping her learn... since she's not going to school next year...