Tuesday, 24 February 2009

2nd day of the week

24th day of the second month

In Cantonese, the number 24 is not a good number - it sounds like the phrase "easy to die". Indeed, this is a date that is not easily forgotten. Moreover, the sad incident happened on the second month of the year - the number 2 sounds like the word "easy" in Cantonese. Combining the two phrases, we get something like "very easy to die." It's an awfully sad day!

Well, I'm not being superstitious, and I'm not even a Cantonese. What I'm trying to share is that the date is very significant to what has happened one year ago.

It was not an easy journey - we made it but not without anger, grief, bitterness, fear, uncertainties.

Quoting from a friend - "It is a heartbreak that will stay with you to some extent forever, and my own heart breaks for you."

Family, relatives and friends (including colleagues and students), thank you for standing alongside me. The journey has not ended.

Chinese New Year 2010 in KK

Saturday, 13 Feb 2010

2:30 pm - Arrived at Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA)

- Fetched by Papa and Felix

Had fried mee hoon cooked by Felix

Enjoyed Mama's 'tong yuen' (glutinous rice ball)

Rested at home

8:30 pm - Reunion Dinner at New Wong Kok Restaurant

Family - Pa, Ma, Me, Seng Chor, Eva, Felix, Alex and Jordan

Relatives - Aunty Mary, Uncle Jan Fah and cousin Flora (aka Kaubo)

Sunday, 14 Feb 2010

1st Day of Chinese New Year

Breakfast at home

Seng Chor drove to town for a short sight-seeing.

- Passed by Suria Sabah and One Borneo shopping complex.

Lunch and Dinner - cooked by Mama.

After dinner, took family photo.

Monday, 15 Feb 2010

Breakfast at home

Felix fried mee hoon for lunch.

Dinner at the Chungs - Uncle David, Aunty Doris, Michele and Elaine.

- All home cooked dishes. Mama cooked meat balls in pickled sauce.

Tuesday, 16 Feb 2010

Breakfast at home

Mama cooked lunch and dinner.

Sent Felix to KKIA.

Then, to Wawasan Plaza and Asia City to buy handicrafts.

Wednesday, 17 Feb 2010

Breakfast at home

Visited Seng Chor's aunty (Sa Ko), cousin Susan and family at Kingfisher III

5 pm - To Tanjung Aru Beach - Seng Chor, Jordan and I.

First time for Jordan to walk and 'play' on the beach - kicking sand and sand castle.

Dinner at home - Steamed Fish

Thursday, 18 Feb 2010

8:30 pm - To Dentist Yong

Me - filling

Seng Chor - scaling

Take-away dim sum from Foo Phin.

Take-away Mee Hoon soup for lunch.

Dinner with Jenny at Upperstar, Damai.

- Bumped onto cousin Susan and family with Sa Ko

- Raymond (Susan's hubby) paid for dinner.

Dessert at Qing Bou Leong - Pumpkin sago drink and Qing Bou Leong.

Friday, 19 Feb 2010

Breakfast at home.

Take-away Mee Hoon soup for lunch.

2:00 pm - Get-together with Phine-phine

Had cakes and coffee at Secret Recipe, Suria Sabah.

Good time of catching up.

Family dinner at Supertanker.

Dessert at Qing Bou Leong - Seng Chor, Jordan, Eva, Alex and I.

- Had Mango and Honey Dew Sago

Saturday, 20 February 2010

Breakfast at home.

Mama cooked lunch.

4:30 pm - Flight back to PJ

- upgraded to Business Class because Economy Class was full.

- Seats more comfortable, and more food.

- More space for Cheeky Boy to run!

8:30 pm - Arrived home

9:00 pm - To Patrick's house for CNY dinner.

It's lights out 'til morning

IT IS IMPORTANT FOR PARENTS TO IMPOSE A BEDTIME FOR CHILDREN AND ENFORCE IT

by Rachel Goodchild

BEFORE we become parents, we just know that those sleepless nights other parents have would not happen to us. Oh no, our children would know who is boss right from the word go.

When they are put to bed, they would go to sleep and around a decent time in the morning, they would wake up and say: "Thank you for putting me to bed. I am so well rested now. May I have some breakfast?"

And then, of course, the dream is shattered by actually having children.

If you're struggling to win the war on bedtimes, there are some solutions at hand. However, it is going to take a concerted effort to fix it.

If you are a two-parent family, or live in an extended family situation, your biggest problem often isn't the children, but the other adults in the house undermining your rules and authority.

The very first thing you need to do is work out with all the adults what the rules are. If everyone is providing an united front, then half the battle is already won.

Bedtimes battles are generally far more about control than anything else. If a child sees you and the other adults are not agreeing, they'll use that to dodge the bedtime bullet.

Once you have the adults on your side, you can create an environment that's going to get your children sleeping like, well, babies.

All through this process, it is very important to remember that you're the grown-up here. Stay calm and loving, keep positive and follow through with the new rules.

* Sticking to bedtime

Things happen from time to time that can throw this out the window but children thrive on routine. With younger children, especially, you have to make the rule and stick to it.

You can give your child the power to choose his/her own bedtime, making the second option only 15 minutes or so later than the first.

If you have older children, you may decide to let them stay up longer on weekends as a treat.

Teenagers would not like having lights out early, but you can tell them they are expected to be in their own rooms by a certain time.

* Make it consistent

Develop a bedtime routine that leads up to going to bed every night and stick to it. It helps everyone to wind down and get ready and gives you a routine that becomes familiar with time.

* Time's up

Give them a warning around an hour or so before bedtime, so they have plenty of time to start winding down. If they have chores to do before bed or homework, they may need a bit more notice. This isn't about creating tension but about making things easier for everyone.

* Staying in bed

Sometimes your children are just not going to be tired. It can be referred to as adult time, but even so, children need to remain in bed during this period.

Older children may want to read, younger children may want to play. Everything is okay, as long as they are in bed, playing or reading quietly. It's their wind-down time.

* Set down the rules

If they are coming out for drinks, give them a bottle water to take into their bedroom. If they are popping to the toilet, then say it is permissible only if they do not talk to anybody.

Keep all post bedtime interactions to a bare minimum when they are up.

* Plan your evening

If you set it up, this could be the beginning of some lovely quiet time for you too. Take back your evenings, and enjoy both the benefits of a well-rested child, and a well-rested you.

the art of parenting

theSun

Tuesday March 24 2009