Monday, December 10, 2007
Knowing What She Wants
Friday, November 30, 2007
My Empathetic Little Girl
For example, she is now very easily affected by how we feel. When Kierra cries, she comforts her, talks to her and wipes her tears. When watching something simple on television or even the "Tong Hua" MTV where the lady in the short video "dies", she will start crying quietly. Just yesterday while Mommy was busy working at the laptop late at night, Mommy saw her sobbing and asked her why. She just started to burst out crying but refused to tell me why. When I realised that she had been watching the "Tong Hua" MTV on the home pc, I asked if it's because of the story in the MTV where the lady died. She nodded her head and cried even louder and told me she is sad. Oh, my heart really went out to her.
The experts say that being empathatic is a good trait and I'm happy that she is sensitive to the needs of the people around her. However at this juncture, we will just have to brace ourselves to deal with this on a frequent basis and explain to her that sometimes there will be things in life that are beyond our control. While we cannot change these events, we can definitely change the way we react to them. Instead of moaning our losses or licking our wounds, we can find ways to improve those situations that we can, or leave those we can't behind and pick ourselves up again.
Concert: Little Tree and Little Dwarf
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Decisions: Right or Wrong
While we are all aware that life is full of tough decisions that need to be made, we may not realize that hasty decisions may not always be the right one.
A group of children were playing near two railway tracks, one still in use while the other disused. Only one child played on the disused track, the rest on the operational track. The train is coming, and you are just beside the track interchange. You can make the train change its course to the disused track and save most of the kids. However, that would also mean the lone child playing by the disused track would be sacrificed. Or would you rather let the train go its way?
Let's take a pause to think what kind of decision we could make................
Most people might choose to divert the course of the train, and sacrifice only one child. You might think the same way, I guess. Exactly, I thought the same way initially because to save most of the children at the expense of only one child was rational decision most people would make, morally and emotionally. But, have you ever thought that the child choosing to play on the disused track had in fact made the right decision to play at a safe place?
Nevertheless, he had to be sacrificed because of his ignorant friends who chose to play where the danger was. This kind of dilemma happens around us everyday. In the office, community, in politics and especially in a democratic society, the minority is often sacrificed for the interest of the majority, no matter how foolish or ignorant the majority are, and how farsighted and knowledgeable the minority are. The child who chose not to play with the rest on the operational track was sidelined. And in the case he was sacrificed, no one would shed a tear for him.
The great critic Leo Velski Julian who told the story said he would not try to change the course of the train because he believed that the kids playing on the operational track should have known very well that track was still in use, and that they should have run away if they heard the train's sirens. If the train was diverted, that lone child would definitely die because he never thought the train could come over to that track! Moreover, that track was not in use probably because it was not safe. If the train was diverted to the track, we could put the lives of all passengers on board at stake! And in your attempt to save a few kids by sacrificing one child, you might end up sacrificing hundreds of people to save these few kids.
Morale of the story? What's right isn't always popular... and what's popular isn't always right.
Mommy is sharing this story in the hope that someday you will read it and be enlightened, and have the courage to follow what you believe, even if it's not a popular choice and even if many people don't stand with you. Afterall, many successful people are not those who follow the conventional path. Whatever you do, please remember that Mommy will always stand beside you, to give you strength to carry on when your legs get tired, to lend you a listening ear when you need to talk, to lend you a shoulder to cry on when you feel sad, and to help you pick yourself up when you fall down.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Kieona's First Visit to the Dentist
This Tuesday, Daddy spotted a cavity (he called it a hole) in her front tooth and told Mommy about it. On the same morning in school, Ms Irene told us she just spotted that Kieona had a cavity. Ok, this time the scare prompted Mommy to call a dentist at Thomson Plaza to fix an appointment the minute she thought the clinic may be open.
So as it happened, Kieona went for her first dental check-up today after school. Daddy was kind enough to stay home and sent us there. Kierra came along too since we had picked them up from school and gone direct. And so it went - the dentist said that she has cavities! Not one, but four! Huh? Mommy thought there was only one huge one behind her front tooth? Or maybe at the most two - the other at the corner of the other front tooth.
Mommy must admit, I was pretty sunken with the thought of her having fillings done on her first visit. Will Kieona be afraid of the dentist from now or even cry when the cavities are being treated? Mommy just tried hard to keep the look of fear away. How can Kieona face what she needs to face if Mommy cringes at the thought of it?
The dentist explained to her that she needs to catch the worms in her teeth, and to fix it up and remove them all. All she needed to do was to put on sunglasses (the light is glaring), open her mouth and don't move. She obliged - didn't smile or didn't look frightened. Daddy, Mommy and Kierra were there watching her and giving her moral support. "She must need all the courage in the world now," Mommy thinks.
The dentist started "spraying water" in her mouth and drilling the cavities. We saw the large hole in the middle. It must hurt but Kieona was very brave. She just opened her mouth and seemed relaxed. Then Mommy saw blood. This must really hurt. But Kieona still looks like she is handling very well. Then while doing the filling halfway, Kieona fell asleep! :)) This is funny! In the dentist chair!!!
There were four cavities, but we only managed to get two filled. Not because Kieona wasn't able to manage it, but because she was tired and falling asleep. We're so proud of Kieona. Good job, Kieona!
Oh yes, Mommy forgot to mention - Kierra seem more fearful than Kieona was when Kieona was the one in the chair. While watching Jie jie, Kierra actually fell asleep. Ahh.... little Kierra, sweet baby.....
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
We entered a Best Caption contest!
Well, joining the contest wasn't really an issue as the photo-taking was free and done on the spot. The hard part was thinking of the caption. Since Kierra was running around and Mommy was a little flustered calling after the kiddos, we just decided on the caption as it just popped into Mommy's head. We never expected it to be so well-taken since those we've seen on the wall wasn't very good. :) Daddy later said because we had the right combinations of looks.... haha, ok, maybe we will win the contest?
Sunday, October 07, 2007
Kierra's 2nd Birthday
Kierra on Modelling
Kieona: What's the point?
Kieona's Third Portflio Shots
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Last Days of Little Skool House
Trust me, this is good :)
Kierra: I'm keeping the last drips for Mommy!
Don't I look like Picasso in the making?
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Potty Learning Second Time Over
The past few weeks were sometimes fun, but sometimes heart-wrenching. It seems that Kierra's refusal to sit at the potty were very much determined by who sits down beside her. Recently her appreciation for Mommy's time has become more pronounced with the fact that she is more aware of what she wants, and not. Often when Mommy is either busy with work or Kieona, Kierra refuses to sit on the potty when the maid asks her to. In fact, she screams a lot and insists that "Mommy help me!".
It's been tough especially when Mommy is exhausted with all the cooking and housekeeping as well as the auctions part of the business in the day and having to sacrifice sleep at night to start on the ecommerce business. Having to sit with her patiently at the potty when she asks for Mommy to is no joke, as she can take a while with it. Afterall, she's learning and Mommy cannot really ask for more.
Just a few moments ago, Mommy was trying to get Kierra to pee into the potty but she refused and actually kept away the potty each time. However a little while later, Kierra did the most amazing thing since we started her on panties - she actually brought the potty to Mommy and sat down to pee within seconds when Mommy asked. Oh my! She does understand and could control her pee to bring the potty and get her panties pulled down. What a pleasant surprise. A little later, she could not control and let go a little urine in the kitchen, and started crying. Mommy said it's ok, we'll continue to pee in the potty. Brought her there and she could continue with passing her urine.
Hmm, now Mommy is convinced that she can quickly get over the diapers phase - at least at home. That made Mommy's day! :)
Monday, June 04, 2007
Kieona's Second Portfolio Shots
Kieona Draws Faces
Given a few days of practising after that, she became better and better. Sometimes she still scribbles as she tries to write the number 1 (or so I think), but generally her favourite drawings center around funny faces - be it long, round, squarish or leaning towards triangle. Overall, her style is mainly a round face with 2 dots for eyes, with the corner of the lips moving upwards. She must be a happy girl. :)
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Day Out at Sentosa
Eugene Di Di slept through the morning we were there. Both Belle and Jingle were probably scared stiff when their parents made them go into the sea. Hmm, Mommy thought it was pretty scary for them.....
Both Kieona and Kierra had lots of fun playing at the beach, building sandcastles with the new beach toys and jumping the waves at sea. Although Kierra was a little hesitant when we just got there, she gradually got used to it and started playing. It was a good hour when we packed up and had lunch at the foodcourt and missed the storm that came while we were having lunch.
Overall, everyone seem to have had their fair share of fun at the beach. It was just a little unfortunate that our car got into it's first accident being sandwiched while we were on the way home, and Mommy suffered a whiplash injury.
Building sandcastles...
Kierra having fun by herself
The whole gang....
Eugene Dee Dee sleeping through...
Giant Strawberries
The girls enjoying the first bites of the large strawberries
Kieona's Big Nose Bleed
Kieona nursing her bleeding nose
Mommy's 31st Birthday
Birthday Card for Mommy
Kierra's First Baking Day
Kierra's First Day At School
Kierra looking on as Kieona had her hair done
The first day was pretty fuss-free. Kierra looked a little shocked when she realised she had to be in school and away from Mommy for a little while. Separation anxiety was expected and we dealt with it as it came. Although Kierra was really happy with putting on the uniform like her big jie-jie, she screamed a litte when she was torn from Mommy. We can't expect otherwise, since this is the first time she is somewhere unfamiliar and the first time away from Mommy. Although the first day in school was only for an hour or two, everything went well and we were told she stopped crying once we left. Brave girl, Kierra!
Kierra peeping at Daddy before she went in to school
More than Two Months!
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
It was a heartbreaking day
Just this evening, Daddy was home early and after dinner we decided to bring her and Kierra down to let her practise cycling with her new bicycle. She somehow rode down a gentle slope and because she only uses her right foot to paddle forward, Daddy told her to that she has to learn how to paddle properly so that she doesn't roll backward when she tries to rider back uphill. She screamed and told Daddy she doesn't want him and don't want to paddle that way. So she ended up rolling backwards her way of riding just wasn't going to work. After several failed attempts and rejecting Daddy's help for a few times, she wanted to give up and said that she doesn't want the bicycle anymore.
Daddy was furious, so took away the bicycle and said he'll give to someone else. She said ok. After that she told Mommy that she wanted the bicycle back, so I taught her to say sorry to Daddy and asked for it back. She did, but when we were on our way back home, she got on the bicycle and rode using her old technique again, so both Daddy and Mommy tried to teach her by guding her. She gave up and refused to co-operate, so we were both very disappointed and told her that she will sleep on her own tonight. She said ok and after a while started screaming and throwing tantrums after we went in with Mei Mei into our bedroom.
We decided to let her cry it out and taste for herself what it felt like to be rejected like that, so Mommy told Daddy to let her be until at least Mei Mei slept. Daddy fell asleep, so in the end Mommy had a talk with her in the maid's room, and later again in the hall. (She had gone to the maid's room, but in the end told the maid she wanted to sleep outside after I left the maid's room.) There she waited for me at the door to the study, and Mommy tried to ignore her until she made the first move. After a long talk with her did I let her back into the room.
Mommy sure hope that it has been a lesson to Kieona to respect and be grateful for other people's help. What at the end of the day we parents hope to achieve is that Kieona can change her attitude and try out (or learn) about things she does not know, instead of saying don't know and throwing in the towel without even trying. And worse still, tell us that she doesn't want us.
Friday, March 02, 2007
Kieona is 3 years old!
Apart from having to get busy with business and shopping for the Chinese New Year, visiting relatives and so on, Mommy really was also rather stressed out with answering Kieona's constant questions about preparation of her goodies bags for her birthday. Now that she is bigger and having been through so many of her friends' parties in school, she definitely knows what she wants for her birthday - from the kind of cake (she wants chocolate with "Friends of the Zoo" cake) to the bags we use to put the goodies for her friends in school. The list is just endless and Mommy ran around town, the market and also searched the web before getting ready all her goodies.
All the hard work was worth it, as we could see how happy she was yesterday when she woke up to see her birthday present from daddy and mommy (a bright pink bicycle), and the mini celebration in school she had with her friends where our family attended as well. Below are some pictures of Kieona's third birthday (mostly taken courtesy of daddy).