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What Motherhood Means to Me

March 23, 2015, 5:00 pm
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This post is part of a blog train which was orchestrated months ago among 25 mum bloggers. The train started in mid-March and I am posting my portion so as not to disrupt its journey. For the next 6 days however, I will join the rest of my friends in Singapore in mourning our founding father, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, and will have no interaction via this blog, TheGingerbreadmumBlog Facebook page, nor on the @gingerbreadmum instagram account.

Photo taken on a regular bus ride, on a regular day of simply being mum.


Motherhood is waking early
But we also sleep real late
Two napping kids in the afternoon
Is reason to celebrate

Our days are filled with invisible tasks
That take up all our time
Like mopping floors and cooking meals
And cleaning toilet grime

It's about ignoring strangers' advice
It's about following our gut
And pretending to be energetic
When the day is anything but

We chase our kids at libraries
We shush them on the bus
We're afraid to see a viral video a stranger made
And gulp and say "That's us"

It makes us appreciate the tiniest of moments
That may go unnoticed by the untrained eye
But we never let the opportunity to say "Good job"
Or a chance to kiss a pudgy cheek slip by

Motherhood is about sharing meals
With little ones who may or may not eat
It's about hiding at the laundry area
With our own chocolate or some other treat

We're up to date with TV stars
Like Dora and her monkey
We can tell you everyone who's on
The cast of My Little Pony

Our bodies are aching like never before
From carrying and squating and lifting
Our minds are stretched beyond limits
From our preschooler's questioning

We take too many photos
Of every smile and frown
Just because we need to remember
The people who turned our lives upside down

Sometimes our days are full to the brim
But sometimes we're so lonely
For no one else can empathise
But a mother and a mother only

It's about losing touch with all your friends 
And getting irritated with your partner
And putting your own life on hold
While you nurse and nourish and nurture 

We ignore our better judgement
As we learn to let it go
While we observe playground politics
And watch the kids settle on their own

We relearn and revisit things from our past
Like Santa and Tooth Fairies
So we can fill our kids' childhoods
With our own precious memories

We may happy or we may angry
We may be brave or weak
But we love and hug unconditionally
And give kisses by the heap

We read the same book 30 times
Even if it bores us to the core
Simply because it's the favourite book
Of a little one we adore

It's about taking deep breaths
And saying "This stage will soon pass"
When we step on Lego blocks
Or Barbie dolls and cars

How many moons does Jupiter have?
What are the words to Yankee Doodle?
For all the questions we don't have answers to
Our new best friend is Google

Private toilet time is a luxury
We've learnt to appreciate
Sometimes we sneak away with phone in hand
And fake a tummy ache

"No", "Maybe", "Come on, let's go"
Are weaved into everything we say
Like plastered smiles and exasperated sighs
That's just how we roll day by day

We have to watch what we say
We never know who's around
Perhaps our little ones with sharp ears
Or busybodies around town

Unsolicited advice, like "That's not the way"
You know, that kind of thing
We get that a lot on a daily basis
Some we can laugh off, but some will sting

We may have been regular women
Who did regular things for fun
But once we had our babies
We became Public Enemy Number One

Suddenly we faced public scrunity
In the choices we made every day
Babywearing, breastfeeding, schooling, discipline
Everyone had something to say

Motherhood is like some strange time continium
Which no one can understand
The minutes drag like hours
But the years fly by like days on end

Our worlds may topsy-turvy
Our lives, whirled and twirled
But this never ending exhausting job?
We wouldn't trade it for the world

It's unbelievably fulfilling to receive hugs and kisses
Even if faces are dirty and sticky
Because our hearts just melt without us knowing
When they mutter "I love you, Mummy"

******


More about motherhood, and my other attempt to rhyme, when I wrote about being "That Kind of Mum"

Up next!
Jennifer or DinoMama as she is fondly known as to some, is a full time working mum who believes home cooked meals are the best and tries to cook healthy meals for her family as often as possible. When she's done coaching DinoBoy with his school work or is not playing & bonding with him, she will be sitting at a comfy corner in the house busy working on something on her crochet hook. One day she hopes she will be able to be a full time stay at home mum where she can fuss over her family 24/7.



This post was written as part of a "What motherhood means to me" blog train hosted by Dominique from Dominique's Desk. You can read all the posts here.

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Balance versus Perfection

April 6, 2015, 8:04 pm
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Some days you meet mums that seem to be doing everything right. Their kids are polite and smiling, they arrive everywhere on time, they know the answers to everything, they've got nice pedicures under clean shoes, nothing is spilling out of their bags. It's hard to not be affected by that, especially when I always feeling like I'm juggling and dropping way too many balls.








From time to time, I find myself wondering what kind of mother I'm growing to be, and if it's differing from the kind of mother I want to be.

I want to sooth my children when they cry. I want to cheer for them when they do well. I want to encourage them when they're down. I want to hug them when they've had a rough day.

I want to teach them to be responsible people, to pick up after themselves. I want to let them sort out their own disagreements, to learn how to play together. I want them to learn to entertain themselves, to pick up a book or to draw or to just be bored.







I want to bring them places to widen their horizons. I want to teach them that there's more to life than just good grades. I want them to try out new things. I want them to enjoy the simple joys of life. I want to shield them from all things bad.

There are so many things I want to do for my children, but it's just not possible to do everything. It's easy to lose ourselves in the things we want to do for our kids. But there is the danger of going overboard and neglecting oneself. Or ignoring one's husband. Or putting one's own parents on hold.



By not focusing all my efforts on my children, I hope to teach them the most important lesson of all - that the world does not revolve around them. That they are important to me, but it does not mean that I will cease to exist as an individual just because I strive to be a good mother to them.

I've learnt that being a 'good' mother doesn't necessarily equatemean I have to be a 'perfect' one. And so I strive for balance. And like every other mother-related decision I make, I pray that it's the right one. Because so far, it's far from perfect, but yet, it's so perfect.


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The Pre- Workout Workout

April 7, 2015, 5:55 pm
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Every mum knows the pre-workout workout. The workout itself is whatever we form of exercise we chose to indulge in while the kids are in school. "Me-time", if we may be so bold. But that time, despite it being time that we will spend sweatin away while pushing our tired bodies past their already tired limits, is not to be served on a silver platter. Thus, the need of a pre-workout workout.

Our kids understand that well. And they take their role in creating that workout for us very seriously. Which is totally acceptable, because every workout needs a good warm-up session anyway. 

This morning, mine presented itself thus:

At 3 in the morning - or maybe it was 5 or 6, I'm not sure. Anyway, the sun wasn't up, so it's all the same. So, early in the morning. I'm summonded to the throne. Where my 7 year old sits and bestows the dreaded words upon me. 

"I don't want to go to school". 

What follows is a very calm, albeit sleepy, debate of why one doesn't simply resign itself to its fears and should rise up to challenges, even if they should come in the form of little pencil-snatching kids. Each attempt to retreat from the throne is followed by a pull back with the age old command of "Mama!"

After a series of reminders to put pocket monies in pockets, and socks before shoes, the mad dash to the bus stop occurs. We don't even need to check the time, we simply dash. We make it in time for a quick kiss before the firstborn boards the bus. 

Adrenalin pumps through my veins as I do the morning marketing and with 5kg weights in the form of raw meats and vegetables, I climb 100 steps to my dwelling. 

Then, the scene is somewhat replicated with the baby. The constant reminders of "eat your breakfast!" and "drink your milk!" echo through the house as I race around, digging out her school uniform and appropriate exercise gear for myself.  

Water spills as I close up her water bottle. She tries to help by using the magic clean sweeper and leaves clumps of dust around. More instructions are barked. "Brush all your teeth! Gargle! Spit!" I leave no stone unturned. 

And then we get dressed. She prefers undressing her dolls instead. I think of an ingenious idea. "I'll race you! Let's both get dressed and see who wins!"

My plan gets gunned down. 

"I don't want to win, Mama. I'll let you win" 

Just as well. I wouldn't have won anyway, I thought, while struggling with the sports bra. Have you ever worn a sports bra? Did you know it was designed by contortionists? 

First you put your head through, then a hand, and somehow your elbow tries to get into the action. You practically huff and puff as you squeeze one hand through something so tight that clearly was made for something half your size.

Then before you can heave your sigh of relief, there's the other arm, which is even worse, because the damn contraption is already stretched beyond being stretched but yet you can't quite go out with one boob covered and the other showing. You're not Tarzan. 

So finally your arm goes through as you almost dislocate your shoulder. And then in your mammaries go, one by one, squeezed into the support device. 

The rest of the clothing, exercisey looking top and shorts, are a walk in the park compared to the sports bra. 

Fully dressed now, and already in a sweat, I see her. Still in her pajamas. Which incidently, looks nothing like her school uniform. So I help her. But she needs to do the buttons herself. Which takes an hour. 

The socks. They make her feet itch, or so she says. Actually it's that wretched line at the toe area of her socks. They need to be positioned just right or they'll cause her grief. It's one of those things. 

So I squat and help. Which isn't easy for me because I have my phone in my pocket so it jabs at my waist roll, the same one I'm trying to lose by going on this morning workout. Or wait, maybe it's the roll on top of THAT roll that I'm trying to lose. Well, one of them anyway. 

I help her fix her socks and shoes and realize that while doing so, she has helped to untie my shoelaces. 

We race down the stairs. Rather, I do, while she bobs in my arms and laughs. We do not walk to the bus stop, no. Walking is for sissies. We run. We fly like aeroplanes. We walk sideways like crabs. 

Then she needs a drink. So I put my bottle (my 6 year old's Lego water bottle - very sporty, very professional) between my knees and get her bottle out of her bag. She decides she needs to sit to drink. Away from me. So I have to walk after her in a half squat with a bottle squeezed between my knees, and another in my hands. 

We play Ring a Ring a Rosies, we fall down. She asks to be swung round and round (has she watched The Titanic?). We hug. We kiss. I put kisses in her pocket. Then her bus comes. Up she goes on it. I blow more kisses. And her bus turns out of sight. 

I look at my the bus time predictor thing on my phone. 0 minutes to the bus, 11 minutes to the next. Plenty of time to walk. So I do. But it zooms by me. Pushed my instinct, fueled by adrenalin, powered by Nike shoes, I sprint. And catch the bus. 

And here I sit, typing out about my morning's pre-workout workout. Yet to face the trail on the hill that is to be climbed, but I'm already tired. 

Happy healthy week to you!
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Crab Bee Hoon, Melben Style

April 10, 2015, 11:58 pm
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Are you a fan of crab? I so am. No, I did not mean "So am I". I really meant "I SO am a fan of crab!" But ordering crab dishes when eating out are saved for very special occasions because they cost too much. I'm just not prepared to shell out $50 and more for one dish.

I've made chilli crab before (and it was delicious but a lot of work), so I thought I'd try to recreate another favourite - crab bee hoon, made famous by Melben restaurant. And to be honest, I will never again order this dish when I'm out because it's really easy to recreate! - My mum loved it, my husband loved it and I practically licked the pot. My 6 year old didn't want to have anything to do with it but that was the only time I didn't insist she try and try again; I was even happy to eat her leftovers!


Crab Bee Hoon by Adora Tan/Gingerbreadmum, adapted from Rasa Malaysia
Serves 4 reasonably hungry adults

Ingredients
Thick white bee hoon - I prefer buying from the market because the pre packed ones don't feel as springy. Just tell the stallkeeper how many people you're serving
6-8 pieces ginger, sliced with skin on
3 cups fish stock*
1/2 cup evaporated milk
3 tablespoons butter
2 medium sized Sri Lankan crabs, cleaned and cut (this dish will not work with flower crabs)
1 handful bok choy or chye sim
2 tbsp hua tiao wine
1 tsp fish sauce

*How to make fish stock
1. Fry dried sole (tee poh), sliced ginger and ikan bilis in oil
2. Add fish bones. Fry till flesh is white
3. Add water and bring to boil then simmer for about half an hour

Method
1. Boil noodles till almost cooked then rinse with cold water and drain. Set aside
2. Melt butter and add ginger.
3. Once fragrant, add stock. Once water boils, add crab and evaporated milk
4. When crab shell turns red, add the vegetables, hua tiao wine, fish sauce and allow to simmer for a further 5 minutes or so
5. Dish up with noodles and serve.


Mmmmm. Enjoy!
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Being Fair to the Second Child

April 13, 2015, 7:44 am
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I manned the Sick Bay today; they were both home with a low grade fever. I held off TV for as long as I could, but they reminded me of their request every couple of minutes. Eventually, they got tired of me reading to them, and crumpling paper to toss into buckets got boring.

The thing about them being both under the weather at the same time, is that they weren't in the mood to fight. And when they couldn't agree on doing the same thing, they allowed me to spend time with each of them individually without fighting for my attention. It was a weirdish kind of day for me.

Some time during the day, Poppy got stuck in a good book so I tried to teach Calla the game of Pick Up Sticks. Remember? The black stick was worth 50 points? It didn't work out the way I'd intended. She was just happy to pick the sticks up and sort them by colour. And then we made this flower/sun thing together.

Actually I started making it, and invited her to help. She said, "I will help you by passing the sticks to you, and then you make the sun. OK, Mama?"

While that comment amused me a little - because at that age, Poppy wanted to be part of everything, which meant that many things got destroyed quickly - it also made me wonder.

Have I been unconsciouly planning activities around Poppy and neglecting Calla's well-being that she now thinks it's natural to not be part of the main action? Does she think that she should always be content with second place? Does she not feel confident enough to attempt to do things? And worst of all, is it all because I have not been a fair mother?

I know, not everyone wants to or needs to lead. Or perhaps, this just wasn't her kind of thing and she recognised that, and was just happy to play a supporting role today, but when the right opportunity presented itself, she would rise up to the challenge and lead the socks of us all.

But because I'm a mother, it is my job to worry, and to be riddled with guilt. So I wonder.

The thing about the first child is that when your second is born, you feel this horrible guilt toward your first because she's had to share you with the younger sibling. The second child on the other hand, has never known what it means to have mummy exclusive to her. So you in a way, try to 'make it up' to your elder one while the younger one just kind of tags along. I wonder if I am so dreadfully guilty of that.

Calla's recently turned 3 and while she'll always be my baby, she's technically also no longer a baby. Not even a toddler. A preschooler now, she is. Have I missed her precious first years by simply dragging her along to Poppy's playdates, school concerts, and parties? Have I made my second child's childhood simply a shadow of my first's?

In not so many years, they will be teenagers and their favourite phrase will be "It's not fair". And I fear that they may be right and I will have nothing to combat that.
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The Post Swim Shower

April 22, 2015, 9:31 pm
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Every mum has something that she dreads. Something that she knows she has to do just right or else everything will crumble and she will risk losing her head in public. For me, it's everything. But particularly, it is the post swim shower.

Bringing the kids out for a swim makes me feel awesome. Because they are so happy in the pool and seeing them happy makes me happy. I would call it happiness by osmosis but since we're in the pool then my Science lessons kick in and I ask, should it be called happiness by diffusion instead?

Whatever. They're happy. I'm happy. 

But then after the swim - wait, before the after swim, there is the "time to go now" part, which ranges from 5 minutes to an hour - there is the shower. Now, we don't live in a place with a pool so there's the question of whether or not to have a full shower at the pool's shower facilities. There are pros and cons to having a full shower versus just a wipe down. 

At times when we choose the full shower, I take a deep breath and remind myself that it means we can take our time to head home because the girls won't need to rush to wash and dry their hair before bed. Which is a good thing because they're likely to be cranky by the time we're home. 

But showering at a public toilet with two kids can be challenging. 

For purposes of illustration, we are clothed in the drawings. Naturally we are like any other normal human beings and do not wear clothes in the shower. So you'll just have to imagine that. Wait actually no, don't imagine us clothe-less. Just take it that we shower with clothes. That would make things easier. 

First up is question of the shower head. Is it a powerful spray? Is it a mere trickle? Is it even working. A trickle would be frustrating for adults because that would mean you'd have to almost press your body against the wall for an hour to get all your soap off. A powerful spray can sometimes present itself in the form of vapour almost and it could also take a while to get clean. 

But having two slippery squealing kids just adds on to the fun. We follow the law of gravity even in the shower so it's hair then body. But in order for shampoo to be rinsed off easily, head needs first to get wet. 

Water too cold? Water too hot? Water spray too strong! Water flow too weak? Whatever it is, the chances of screams are high. And in a small cubicle, be prepared for echoes. 

So I adopt the car wash approach. Shampoo for one, shampoo for the other. Soap one, followed by the other. Rise one off, then the other. Towel to big one, towel off small one. 

But sometimes I also feel a need to be clean and fresh. Somewhat like a sanitary napkin I guess. So I shower too. With the two of then in audience. 

So strict instructions follow, barked loud enough for the entire toilet to hear. "Stand right here! Don't move! Don't touch anything! Don't let your towel touch the floor! Don't get soapy again! Stop splashing!" 

My shower is usually done in 3 minutes flat. But there's plenty of time for plenty of this. 





Until one cries or yells or screams. But mostly it's "She pushed me"s and "She started it"s. 

And then it stops and they both find something in common - they're pointing and laughing at something. I realize it's me. 

"Mama's best!" My small one says. 

O.... Kay. A weird moment to declare her admiration for me but alright, I accept it anyway. 

The big one clarifies. 

"Breast! I can sell breast! B-R-E-A-S-T!"

Oh. Great. I'm now a real-time biological specimen. 

So there's a bit more pointing, a lot more laughing, followed by more "Mama what's that? NIP-PLE! Hahah Mama's nipple! Hahahaha"

Yes. Apparently it's hilarious. 

So we get dressed and try not to drop our clean clothes on the slippery public toilet floor. There's a lot of balancing and "hold my shoulders!""Don't pull my hair!""Ouch" and all. 

And then we're done and leave, ready to face the world again. 
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Make Room for Kids

April 28, 2015, 9:29 am
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We believe that a child's room should have space for a child to grow. To learn, to play, to dance, to rest, to pretend, to read, to laugh, and to just be.



We believe it's somewhere that they can just let go of all their cares and simply be themselves. It's a place they don't have to worry about what friends think about them, and pause to wonder if whatever they're doing is considered "cool". It's a place where they can be serious or silly, whenever the mood calls for it.


We believe that kids should be happy in their room. So we put up lots of pictures of their happy times and look at them together, pointing out, "Remember this? You laughed so much at the balloon bobbing on your head!".


We believe memories should be created in this room, so we give them lots of space to do what they like. Also, we're in charge of the big things (like the furniture piece and providing the tools to keep organised) but as much as possible, we let them have a say in personalising the room with little things. It is their room after all, and them who spend the most time in it, not us. Plus, the chances of them being able to find their own stuff when they keep it themselves, is higher!



We believe they should grow together and play together, so there are shared spaces. We also believe that they should have their own quiet moments. That's why their beds are separated, or there will never be a quiet moment.



 

We believe in losing oneself in play. So we constantly have little fairy princesses running around, and make-shift tents, and mini hospitals. Sometimes mini hospitals are in make-shift tents, run by fairy princesses.



We believe in quiet time and that they should find their own solutions to boredom. So we leave materials around for them to work with, and books and toys within reach.


We believe that a clear space helps a clear mind. So the big girl has a designated study area that gives her plenty of natural sunlight. Though it sometimes ends up as a magical garden for Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle. That's My Little Pony for you non pony fans.



We believe that bright colours make us happy. So there is lots of colour in this room. And no, we're not bothered that things don't match. Also, because we believe that a kids' room should look like there are kids living in it.


We believe in supporting our kids' interests. So even though this is a little girls' room, there are dinosaurs and tools. 


We believe in being part of our kids' lives. So we play along and pretend to be monster machines when the small girl tells us she's a mechanic and invites us into her garage.


We believe in imagination. So there's often lots of pretend phone calls either with old phones or Lego blocks. 


We believe that there is a place for everything. And we try to teach them that. But sometimes stuffed toys get thrown off beds instead of going to their designated homes. 




We believe in spontaneity. So we don't frown on bed jumping. In fact, we encourage it. Because it is not just a bed; it is their stage. 



We believe in rest. Even if they don't. And despite having their own beds, sometimes they prefer sleeping on the floor.


So this is their room, and we love it. Judging by the amount of time they spend in this room, it does seem like they like it quite a bit as well :) The only thing that would really make it perfect? A ceiling fan!



This post was sponsored by IKEA, who believes in play and the importance of quality rest as much as we do! Yay! But could your marriage survive a trip to IKEA? Find out here!



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Ten ways to show your kids you love them without spending a cent

May 13, 2015, 8:27 pm
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On one of her school assignments, my 6.5 year old described me as "happy, cute, gentle, beautiful, honest and nice". She also had to fill in the blanks for "My mum is sweet because...." to which she wrote "she kisses me every night".

That brought me to tears. She had written so many things about me that I didn't think I deserved. But the thing that touched me the most was that she had found our nightly routine of kisses significant enough to write about.

It made me think about all the things that we do and have done and I've realised that the best things in life are indeed, free. I don't know how or when this all started, but for as long as I remember, these have been part of our daily lives. We can't afford to buy expensive toys or bring them for holidays often, which sometimes pains me, but we can make up for it (hopefully) by spending time with them and show them that we care.

******
Here are ten things that you can do too with your children. And set your purse aside, you won't be needing it:

1. Write them letters
Our 6.5 year old gets a packed lunch on most days. And sometimes I add a little note in there for her. Like words of encouragement if she's got a spelling test, or a simple "I love you" or a joke or funny drawing. Sometimes when she gets home she says "You forgot to include a note for me today!". 

Sometimes it's a little more elaborate - I write letters and post them, addressed to my 6.5 year old. Other times, I draw little pictures of hearts and stick people for my 3 year old and leave them in our cereal box mailbox.

2. Put kisses in their pockets
Before putting them on the school bus, I load them with kisses, and then I give them more in their pockets so that they can 'take my kisses out any time they miss me'. It's cute because they both open their pockets for me to blow kisses in, and then ever so gingerly close up their pockets and pat them to keep my kisses safe. It reminds them that I am always around, even if I'm not physically there with them.

3. Wish them good night before bed
Every parent hopes for a peaceful process of putting the kids to bed, one that ends with everyone falling asleep with kind words and smiles. But that's not always the case. I won't deny it, some nights are harder than others, particulary if we've all had a long day and are cranky with each other. But no matter what, every day ends with us saying "Goodnight and sweet dreams" to each other, just like I did with my own parents up till the day I moved out. 

4. Plan treasure hunts for them
One of our traditions growing up was the birthday treasure hunt. For every child, my parents would plan a treasure hunt on the morning of the child's birthday, with the final clue leading to the birthday present. As we got older, the hunts became more elaborate, even bringing us to outdoor locations. In recent years, we did the same for my dad for his birthday, an island wide hunt with coordinates that he had to use his GPS for!

But, back to kids.

I put clues on little sticky notes around the house, leading from one clue to another. It doesn't have to be elaborate either. We've tried many variations over the years: riddles (I have 4 legs but no arms, what am I? - Table) and missing letters (W _ _ H I _ G    M A _ H _ _ E), in recent years, or just words or drawings in the beginning.

5. Hug and kiss them often
Just because. Besides, hugging and kissing make you feel good too.

6. Find out more about them
Sometimes we tend to forget that they're not just our children; they're little individuals too. The 4 of us play "I want to know" at the dining table, taking turns to ask each other questions. It goes like this: " (name of person), I want to know......." then ask your question. Also, we sing it to the tune of "What's on your mind" by Information Society. Hooray for the 90s!

So we ask all kinds of questions. About friends, about school, about their likes and dislikes, favourite food, what they are scared of... It also allows for them to find out more about us. "Tell me about a cheeky thing you did when you were a little girl, Mama!". I think it's good for them to know about their parents as little kids too :) We love this game and have had many laughs over it!

7. Talk about your day, and theirs
When Poppy first started school I would ask her to tell me 3 things about the day. Over time, she started asking me about mine too, which was nice.

8. Play games with them
Spending an hour playing Junior Monopoly may not be your ideal way of spending an evening and truth be told, sometimes after a long day at work, all I want to do is sink into the sofa and put my feet up. But there are many lessons to be learnt through games, and the kids enjoy it so what's another hour at the end of the day eh? So we play. Monopoly, card games, Jenga, Tumbling Monkeys, Uno, Pop to the Shops.

9. Make up stories for them
It started out as one story, but now, almost every night when I put them to bed, I have to tell them a Rainbow Sisters story. It's more like a continuation actually, and the same story has been going on for over a year. It just keeps going and going, and the heroes of the story (guess who) just keep going on different adventures.

The wonderful thing about made up stories is that you can add anything you like - your kids can be the heroes, you can add omit monsters, add in fairy magic, and the best part - you can fashion even each story into a message you want to convey. Like if your kids are facing problems with friends in school, use that as a base for your story and let your heroes work out the problem for you.

10. Fix a secret "I love you" code for each of them
We say "I love you" a lot. But the kids and I each have a secret "I love you" code for each other, where we "say" it without "saying it". It can be anything like a funny face or squinty eyes or a hand squeeze. It's fun to have a special thing that only you and them share. 

******

They are 6.5 and 3 now. I don't know if they will always want to do these things with me. I suppose that one day they may find it uncool to hang out with mum, and I have to prepare myself for that possibility. But for now, these are things that we enjoy together, and will continue to do them for as long as they let me :)
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Juice, Juice and More Juice!

May 14, 2015, 8:36 pm
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There are a few things that can give me an instant perk up: Happy songs like Taylor Swift's Shake it Off (try not bopping your head to this song!), hearing my kids laughing uncontrollably, and cold, freshly squeezed orange juice.

All mornings should start like this!

The problem with store-bought juice is that it's really hard to find a good one that doesn't come packed with sugars and preservatives. And squeezing oranges on your own is a really good bicep work out! So I stick with dancing to Taylor Swift with my kids a lot instead.

I think the good folks at Florida's Natural read my mind so they sent me lots of yummy juice to try and now I'm reaching for OJ more and more these days and my coffee cup is feeling a little neglected.

Lemonade may be my new favourite drink!

Natural juices are so yummy I could probably drink them straight from the carton. But Florida's Natural said no no no Adora, there are other things you can do with them. Ah. Ok.

So there were 3 challenges I had to complete, and I asked you to choose the sequence in which I did them. The challenges were:

A - Make popsicles
B - Cook with orange juice
C - Make something with the empty juice cartons

So, make popsicles (and enjoy) popsicles we sure did! If you've got a non juice loving kid, popsicles are the answer! Here, I tried making rainbow popsicles but the colour contrast wasn't very obvious. Not that the kids minded though! 

How to make popsicles:
Step 1: Pour desired juice into popsicle holder (ours are great because they catch drips which can then be sipped through the straw!). If you don't have one, you can use any cup and when it is half frozen, stick an ice cream stick in, and continue freezing

Step 2: Put in freezer for an hour

Step 3: Remove and enjoy!





Orange juice, I love, but I have to admit I never thought of cooking with it. And I had my doubts too when I saw the recipe.

Here's how I made it:
You'll need the following ingredients: Florida's Natural orange juice, chopped ginger, sliced carrots, snow peas, peanut butter, orange rind, prawns, sesame oil, light soya sauce, white pepper, uncooked noodles. Optional: black pepper and sesame seeds to garnish

Step 1: Cook noodles as per pack instructions and set aside.

Step 2: Fry garlic in a bit of oil.

Step 3: When you can smell fragrance or garlic, add carrots and peas and stir

Step 4: Add prawns and stir.

Step 5: Add orange juice and remaining ingredients except noodles. Bring to light simmer.

Step 6: Add noodles and toss. Garnish with black pepper and sesame seeds and serve.



Verdict: The adults loved it but the kids didn't want to have much to do with it. Oh well, more for us!

And finally, what to do with all the empty cartons? The great thing is that these cartons are bigger than regular juice packs. So I decided we would do what we've been saying we would do for a long time but never quite got round to doing it - plant our own indoor garden!

We've been composting our scraps for years, but I thought we might try planting some of them for a change. So we did.

Last week we put knobs of ginger, onion tops, bottom of spring onions (the white parts), chilli seeds and cherry tomato seeds in separate containers in soil. And today, we've got some progress!

The chillis are growing beautifully, the cherry tomatoes are encouraging and the ginger and onions are taking their time, but the spring onions didn't seem happy after a while so we're trying again.




And there you have it. Our juicy adventure with Florida's Natural.

I did the challenges in the sequence of B-A-C. And if you are @summerscenz on Instagram, congratulations, you have won for yourself a 1-month's supply of fresh Florida Natural's juice! I'll be contacting you through the email address you provided on my Instagram post soon.

Take care everyone, and have a healthy weekend!!








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10 Things Parenting Bloggers are Guilty of

May 27, 2015, 7:05 am
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The thing about being parent bloggers is that we've been categorised as such. Much of our content is centred on the very reason/s that have made us who we are, our children. Along the way, it is easy for us to lose focus, to which there are varying degrees of negative effects on our lives and offspring. However, recognising the problem is always half the battle won, and fellow parenting bloggers, don't take this as a direct insult, rather, read this as a sharing from a fellow parenting blogger who has been through it as well, and is trying to change.

1. We force our kids to smile and pose at various posters and store entrances
We do this a lot don't we? It is true that we get a fair bit of invitations to events and in exchange, we write a review on our experience, and reviews do look more aesthetically appealing when there are pictures. Of our kids. Being happy. How many of us have stopped our kids from running off into play with the words "Wait! Take a photo first!".

It's a struggle, I know. We want to post well-structured reviews in the hope of getting invited to more so that our children can enjoy more opportunities. Let us just remember that we want our kids to have fun, and that's the main aim of accepting these invitations (I hope). So let's not stand in the way of that.

2. We plaster our kids' faces everywhere
Yes we are parents and our fault lies in us being proud of our children. But let us not forget that they too are individuals who will ultimately want their privacy. Do we tell our kids about their social media pressence? For those of us who tell our kids about the dangers of social media, are we practicing what we preach or are we doing just the opposite?

3. We share too much information
In the physical world, we wouldn't tell strangers our secrets so why in the blogging sphere do we share information on our kids' whereabouts (do we really need to 'add location' to our Instagram photos?) or show them in their school uniforms with their name tags? Also, they may be kids but they also deserve our respect for their privacy - overly sensitive information about their personal lives shouldn't be shared. Like examples of them going through school problems for instance.

4. We blog about everything
I'm going to say this and it's going to shock some of you: You don't need to blog about EVERYTHING. Really. 

How many times have you caught yourself saying "oh dear it's been 4 months and I've not blogged about the kids' birthday parties yet" or "oh dear I haven't finished my holiday post yet". Guess what? You are not obligated to! Well unless you were paid for it. Why not just let holiday photos remain in the holiday album instead?

Recording milestones is a wonderful thing; consider keeping a personal diary for your kids instead. It's much more heartfelt and you can present it to them and only them when they're older

5. We accept every invitation
Advertising and PR folks will send out these amazing invitations and if you're a nice person, and you know you are, sometimes you feel bad saying no. Or maybe you're just starting out and it feels nice that someone's thought of you and your blog. But guys, if it's for a tuition centre and you are not for the idea of tuition centres, don't do it! There's nothing wrong in rejection. You don't - I repeat - you don't have to attend every single workshop, course, viewing, event, launch, trial there is. Which to accept and which to reject? I can't answer that - ask your kids!

6. We say yes because of money
Sometimes, we get paid for what we do. And it's wonderful. Because I like blogging and I like getting paid. So that's awesome. BUT if you were offered a job that had bad benefits or was situated too far from home or that required you to work all weekends and irregular hours, you might reject it because it just doesn't seem right for you. Similarly, there may be projects and assignments that may not seem right for your blog, nor your kids. Is it worth that amount of money to shift your blog's focus? Or to force your kids to like something? I'm guessing not.

7. We dictate our weekend schedules 
Got a new playground YOU want to blog about? Or a new kid friendly place YOU want to share on? How many times have we dragged our families to "fun places" when sharing on social media is the priority and kid enjoyment takes second place?

8. We dress our spouses 
Hands up those of you who have tsk-ed at your husbands because their hairy legs  and old flip-flops ruined an otherwise perfect picture of your kids playing at the fountain? And how many have said anything along the lines of "um could you wear something else?" Because what they were wearing wasn't Instagram-worthy

9. We spend too much time thinking about blogging
Kids watching tv? Kids not watching tv? Kids laughing? Kids fighting? Kids eating? Kids not eating? If you find yourself adjusting your life to your blog and thinking of hashtags and captions for every situation, dude, stop. Come now, #behonest

10. We spend too much time prepping for pictures
Because we feel a social obligation to depict a perfect life. Sipping coffee in trendy cafés. Visiting the latest child friendly places. Eating the most appetizing looking food. That's not for me. Because I'd rather enjoy my food while it's hot, thank you very much. 

Friends, I'm not judging. I'm just sharing. And I'm changing. Because living my real life is much more important and fulfilling than arranging items around for a perfect photo. 






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Problem Solving Skills for Kids

May 29, 2015, 9:06 am
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Disclaimer: I'm not a professional educator by any count, so this is not a professional opinion. It's just a sharing by a mum who thinks she's discovered how to teach her child a good skill that's applicable to daily life. 


The plan this morning was simply to draw. To bring our materials out, sit somewhere nice, and just draw. The idea was to let the 6.5 year old be aware of her surroundings and take in little details of the things around her. What I didn't expect was for it to turn into a lesson on problem solving.

She complained. "It's too difficult, Mama! I can't do it, Mama! I'm not good at drawing, Mama!".  It was at that very moment that the opportunity presented itself to me in a way that one would walk into a glass door - Why didn't I see it before?

I helped her out step by step while letting her complete her drawing on her own. Here's what I did:

1. First I asked her to define the area to draw - what shape is the border? Is it horizontal or vertical? By doing so, she would then know which angle to tilt her paper, and know how much she would need to draw.

I likened it to having a problem - it may seem big and intimidating at first, but once you set the boundaries and know what you're facing, it becomes less scary.

2. She'd chosen to draw a block of flats. So I asked her to divide the area further - how many floors are there? Do you see the pillars separating the units?

Similar to problem solving, breaking the problem up into more managable sizes helps us to cope better. Again, knowing that we can tackle smaller portions one by one takes away some stress and it also gives a sense of accomplishment each time a little portion is completed.

3. After she divided the block of flats, I asked her to look carefully at each unit. There were 8 in total and they were all quite different. Again, she felt a little overwhelmed. "The grilles are so complicated, Mama!". So I just asked her to look while I asked guiding questions, each time only focusing on one unit. "What do the grilles look like? Are they horizontal or vertical? Are the lines far apart or close to each other? How many windows are there?" The best moment for me was when she discovered that the most complicated grille design was not as hard as she'd feared once she'd studied it carefully.

In doing so, I think I've taught her to analyse the issue, and breaking it down even further to better understand it.

It's always difficult to understand and handle a problem when it's first shoved to us, because it's a big thing and we don't know head or tail of it. It becomes easier when we know we can break it down and tackle it bit by bit. I love how she stuck it through and patiently completed the drawing.

*****

Here are some things you might want to consider saying as well, to complete the learning experience:

Child: "Can you draw it for me?"
Parent: "I can't because it should be your own effort. What I can do is guide you"
This teaches resilience and perserverance! And I assure you that your child will feel so proud of herself when she finally does complete her drawing on her own

Child: "I'm tired, I want to stop"
Parent: "Let's finish this portion, then you can take a break and come back to it, ok?"
This teaches responsibility! It's ok to stop for a bit, but returning to a problem to solve it at a later time sometimes can offer a fresh perspective too. And the accomplishment that your child will feel after it's completed? Priceless.

Child: "This is boring"
Parent: "How can we make it more fun?"
This encourages creativity! Sometimes we have to do things that we don't enjoy, and she will definitely find herself in such situations in school or at work in future that she can't get out of.  When faced with such situations, sometimes it helps if we can think of ways to make it better. If anything, a positive mindset always helps!

*****


If you have the time to do this activity, I urge you to, in a non-threatening manner. Just take it as a fun outing. Ours evolved into a 2-hour session because it included time for play as well (because of the nearby playground!). Did she enjoy it? She needed a little persuasion to leave the playground to complete the drawing, but when she did finish, she gave me a hug and said "Thank you Mama" :) I think she realised too that it wasn't never impossible to begin with, unlike how she thought it would be.

And so, this is how a little drawing outing became a lesson on problem solving. Drawing outings, anyone? :)
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The Almost Complete List of Library Reviews (Singapore)!

June 4, 2015, 9:35 am
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Hi there! This is a consolidated post of all the public libraries in Singapore, written by mums. We hope that our experiences will be a good source of information for new library goers, as well as regulars who would like to visit other libraries. But first, some fun library facts!  

Did you know that:
- That there are 27 libraries in Singapore? (28, if you cound the one at Sports Hub)
- Not all book-drops are open round the clock?
- You can sign up for a reminder service (for free) as well as renew your books online?
- Library membership is free for Singaporeans and PRs?
- Until end July 2015, members with basic membership can borrow up to twice their loan quota? That's 16 books per card!
- NLB has an app that allows you to scan and check out your books via your mobile phone?
- All the libraries host activities like craft sessions, story telling sessions, movie screenings and talks, that you can attend for free or at a very low fee?

I don't know about you, but I'm pretty amazed! So here we are, all the libraries in Singapore! Ready? Set? Read!


Bedok Public Library
21 Bedok North St. 1
Singapore 469659
Mon - Sun: 10:00 AM - 09:00 PM
Closest MRT station: Bedok

What I love about this library is the Children's section on the entire third floor! You can just imagine the amount of space available. I find the environment so conducive for reading to the children and that fact that it is colourfully decorated helps too. There are sections devoted for baby books, preschoolers and the older children. Searching for books for the various age groups is made so much easier and enjoyable. Go during dinner time on a weekday and you can really enjoy a good read with your kid in a peaceful setting. 
This mum blogger contributed this review. 


Bishan Public Library
5 Bishan Place
#01-01
Singapore 579841
Mon - Sun: 10:00 AM - 09:00 PM
Closest MRT station: Bishan

The library has a really good children's section, which spans the entire basement floor. There's lots of child-sized tables and chairs for kids to browse books, and their selection is rich, varied, and is kept very up-to-date with recently published titles. The female toilet in the children's section has a cubicle for kids too, with a smaller toilet bowl, so you don't need to carry toddlers doing their business. There's also a cafe on Level One. The only drawback is that the staff is a little particular about noise.
This mum blogger contributed this review. 



Bukit Batok Public Library
1 Bukit Batok Central Link
#03-01 West Mall
Singapore 658713
Mon - Sun: 11:00 AM - 09:00 PM
Closest MRT station: Bukit Batok

I appreciate that there's a small function room within the children's section for younger and more active kids to make all the hullabaloo they want in the room. This makes the noise level in the children's section relatively contained. In addition, there is always a librarian roaming in the area to ensure the children (and parents) don't make too much of a din in the children's library. I cannot say it's the most baby/toddler friendly children's library in Singapore. But I personally appreciate the policing because I still very much prefer a quieter library.
This mum blogger contributed this review.




Bukit Merah Public Library
3779 Jalan Bukit Merah
Singapore 159462
Mon - Sun: 10:00 AM - 09:00 PM
Closest MRT station: Redhill
(but it’s a good 15-20 minute walk away)

The wonderful thing about Bukit Merah Library is that it’s just the right size, not too big and not too small. At the entrance, you’re always greeted with some exhibition or other, and there will be displays of related books around. The downside is that the Children’s section, while tucked at the far end of the library, is not enclosed. Despite the sign that says “Read Aloud Corner for Children and Parents only”, the already limited tables and chairs are often taken up by older students and adults. There aren’t many seats available on the ground floor; there probably are many more up on the second floor but that’s where people go to read quietly. It’s nice to see people sitting on the floor or in little nooks and crannies, being immersed in their books, but to be honest, there is sometimes a faint funky smell around which reminds me a lot of sweaty feet.
I contributed this review.
  



Bukit Panjang Public Library
1 Jelebu Road
#04-16/17 Bukit Panjang Plaza
Singapore 677743
Mon - Sun: 11:00 AM - 09:00 PM
Closest MRT station: Bukit Panjang LRT

Bukit Panjang Community Library, though small, is well organized and peppered with corners and useful information which make borrowing and browsing a breeze. :) There's even a children's section in this small community library; it is simply peppered with gems. At the entrance, there's a thematic display of books and this month (May 2015), the focus is on Caldecott titles. There are also a kids' magazine rack filled with interesting magazines such as Young Scientists, Story Box, along with Chinese magazines （喜羊羊）etc. There's even librarians' recommendations! And to cater to the busy parents / caregivers, there is also a section at the entrance featuring new arrivals and books in mother tongue languages! :) So there you have it, a little gem of a library tucked in a shopping mall!
This mum blogger contributed this review. 




Central Public Library / National Library
100 Victoria Street
Singapore 188064
Mon - Sun: 10:00 AM - 09:00 PM
Closest MRT station: City Hall or Bugis
I love to visit the Central Public Library at Bras Basah for its wide selection of non-fiction books, the playful and magical atmosphere made from recycled materials that educates about the importance of being environmentally friendly, and the many cosy corners to relax and read. Of course, even adults will not be able to resist reading under the canopy of the tree house.
This mum blogger contributed this review. For her detailed write up on Central Public Library, go here. 
  



Cheng San Public Library
90 Hougang Avenue 10
#03-11 Hougang Mall
Singapore 538766
Mon - Sun: 11:00 AM - 09:00 PM
Closest MRT station: Hougang

Cheng San Public Library, though small, has a children's section that appeals to both adults and children.  Because the children's section is located just after the entrance, there is no need to hurry the kids pass other parts of the library and hushing them up. What I like is the very nicely decorated activity room with story-telling sessions and workshops catered for children.  Plenty of seating area, bookshelves that is of the right height for children, categorization of the books (e.g. information books, fairy tales, stories for babies, preschoolers, age 6-9, 10-12) makes searching for books easy.
This mum blogger contributed this review.
  

Library@Chinatown
133 New Bridge Road
#04-12 Chinatown Point
Singapore 059413
Mon - Sun: 11:00 AM - 09:00 PM
Closest MRT station: Chinatown

I love that Library@Chinatownis located right in the heart of Chinatown, the largest historic district. Be immersed in the vast collection on the Chinese Arts, culture as well as the heritage of the area. For the old, tune in to former radio channel Reddifusion and enjoy the old dialect broadcast while giving your eyes some visual treat on the radio collection. For the younger generations, jump on the cosy cushions and enjoy the reads.
This mum blogger contributed this review. For her detailed write up on Library@Chinatown, go here





Choa Chu Kang Public Library
21 Choa Chu Kang Avenue 4
#04-01/02 Lot One Shoppers' Mall
Singapore 689812
Mon - Sun: 11:00 AM - 09:00 PM
Closest MRT station: Choa Chu Kang

Choa Chu Kang Library has a large collection of children’s books and my kids love reading at the steps of the beautifully decorated Expressions Corner even though chairs and tables are aplenty. I also like the fact that the library has taken the initiative to come up with this Popular Picks section for the 6-8 year-olds which makes looking out for series so much easier for mums of newly-transitioned-to-chapter-books-readers. The downside of this library - I’ve many encounters of books strewn in the wrong shelves during the school holidays due to the high volume of number of people who frequent the library and misplace the books after browsing.
This mum blogger contributed this review.
 



Clementi Public Library
3155 Commonwealth Avenue West
#05-13/14/15 The Clementi Mall
Singapore 129588
Mon - Sun: 11:00 AM - 09:00 PM
Closest MRT station: Clementi

The Clementi Library is a little gem. We enjoy visiting the Clementi Library as there are always thematic book recommendations beautifully done up and many cosy little nooks to withdraw into the world of books. Its accessibility is a huge plus - nestled in the Clementi Mall (right next to the Clementi MRT), it provides a cheery, peaceful and resource-rich haven for children to indulge in reading while parents run quick errands at the banks, post office and supermarket. We find the librarians here much friendlier and helpful than some other branches we've visited.  Besides children's books, the Clementi Library also has a small selection of DVDs and multimedia CDs for loan.
This mum blogger contributed this review.





Library@Esplanade
8 Raffles Avenue
#03-01
Singapore 039802
Mon - Sun: 11:00 AM - 09:00 PM
Closest MRT station : City Hall or Esplanade

The Library @ Esplanade is one place we often we go to borrow Music books for my son as it is the only public library that specialises in Music, Dance, Theatre and Film.  The Music section (called Music Village) is the only place we zoom to, we have not explored any other sections (Villages). The Open Stage holds events, and next to, there is a Cafe. Having a public library in the city is really nice.  It provides you with a quiet place where you can retreat to in the bustling city.
This mum blogger contributed this review.


Geylang East Public Library
50 Geylang East Ave 1
Singapore 389777
Mon - Sun: 10:00 AM - 09:00 PM
Closest MRT station: Aljunied

Geylang East Library is a 5-minute walk from Aljunied MRT station. The children section occupies the entire first floor with an artificial grass lawn which many sprawl on while reading. There are well-organised fiction and non-fiction sections for babies to pre-teens and a “new books” shelf which is my first target! Parenting and pregnancy books are placed nearby for convenience. Children-friendly videos aplenty and interesting exhibits are on display periodically too.
This mum blogger contributed this review. 



Jurong West Public Library
60 Jurong West Central 3
#01-03
Singapore 648346
Mon - Sun: 10:00 AM - 09:00 PM
Closest MRT station: Boon Lay

Jurong West library is located within The Frontier Community Centre and is just a short walk from the Boon Lay MRT station. It has 3 levels and the children's section takes up the whole of the second level. Within the Children's section, there is a read aloud corner where parents can do reading to their children without having to worry about keeping their voice volume to a minimum. There are lots of board books and early readers that cater to babies, toddlers and young children. On the other side of the children's section, there is a story telling corner. Regular English storytimes is conducted here and the turnout is usually very good. Sometimes there will be children or family workshops or programmes conducted here as well.
This mum bloggercontributed this review.



Marine Parade Public Library
278 Marine Parade Road
#01-02 Marine Parade Community Building
Singapore 449282
Mon - Sun: 10:00 AM - 09:00 PM
Closest MRT station: Nil

Very child-friendly library - an entire floor for the Children Section, with lots of seating and gorgeous floor to ceiling windows! The librarians are nice and ok with young kids making a fair bit of noise
This mum blogger contributed this review.




Library@Orchard
277 Orchard Road
#03-12 / #04-11 Orchard Gateway
Singapore 238858
Mon - Sun: 11:00 AM - 09:00 PM
Closest MRT station: Somerset

The two-storey library, on the 3rd and 4th floors of the Orchard Gateway Shopping Mall, screams chic. Its design-centric focus plays out in the decor as well, which boasts sleek, curvilinear white shelves, bamboo floors and black-walnut chairs with comfortable leather seats. 

The book and magazine collection also stands out from those of other public libraries, with a focus on fashion, graphic and interior design. I love hanging out here during lunch time because it's surprisingly peaceful. Apart from the fact that it doesn't have a children's section, this library is a quiet haven for parents on their "break".
This mum blogger contributed this review.


Queenstown Public Library
53 Margaret Drive
Singapore 149297
Mon - Sun: 10:00 AM - 09:00 PM
Closest MRT station: Queenstown

The Queenstown Public Library just celebrated their 45th birthday in April, and I can remember going to the Queenstown Public Library as a young girl. Although the interior looks completely different now, it feels so nostalgic and almost like part of our heritage to bring the kids here as my mother did with me. The library does not have a dedicated children's room, but the noise from all the excited children don't seem to bounce off the walls as compared to other branches, nor are the little ones constantly reminded to behave. It is less busy than many other libraries, has lovely high ceilings, and the children's reading area boasts lots of sunlight and a view of lush greenery.
This mum blogger contributed this review.
 



Sembawang Public Library
30 Sembawang Drive
#05-01 Sun Plaza
Singapore 757713
Mon - Sun: 11:00 AM - 09:00 PM
Closest MRT station: Sembawang 

Sembawang library is the second library (first was Jurong East) to provide Early Literacy Section of books for children of all ages (especially for 6 and under) and even some handy toys to play too. There is also some tablets for children to use the educational apps.

At the back of babies section, there is also modernised wooden steps and reading deck area which my kids love to venture and "play". The kids or yourself could even read or lie inside the crate boxes.
This mum blogger contributed this review. For her detailed write up on Sembawang Public Library, go here. 
 

Sengkang Public Library
1 Sengkang Square
#04-26/27 Compass Point
Singapore 545078
Mon - Sun: 11:00 AM - 09:00 PM

Closest MRT station: Sengkang 

The children's section at the Sengkang library is one that is an open concept. While it is not exactly embedded together with the rest of the adult section, it is also not a closed up area snug away from the adults section. This way, it allows children to freely explore the library beyond their section, and likewise allows adults to accept that noise and that the occasional cute little kid running around in the library is fine. Inclusion is somewhat required in today's society to remind us of tolerance and acceptance which is what I love about the Sengkang library. Also, shelves of books are at children's level, which allows them to go book-shopping without much help from an adult before settling into a cosy corner to read. This is pretty much tried and tested with my kids!
This mum bloggercontributed this review.


Serangoon Public Library
23 Serangoon Central
#04-82/83 NEX
Singapore 556083
Mon - Sun: 11:00 AM - 09:00 PM
Closest MRT station: Serangoon

Located at the heart of a major transportation node, this public library on the roof level 4R of NeX Shopping Mall in Serangoon, offers a wide selection of quick and easy reads such as comics, graphic novels and magazines which are prominently displayed to make it easy for users to pick up a book on the go.

We enjoy browsing through the wide selection of books; 70,000 volumes of fiction and non-fiction books for children to be exact. The children's corner is clearly demarcated in yellow on the map. Yasmin loves sitting at the comfortable tables and chairs provided, to read after browsing. However, we find that at times, many older children and teens like to occupy these seats to do their school homework. This branch also host a big enclosed area for reading programmes and activities for kids. It helps that the check-out counters are close-by to the children's section.
This mum blogger contributed this review. 



Sports Hub
4 Stadium Walk
Singapore Sports Hub
Singapore 397697
Mon-Fri: 10:00 AM - 08:00 PM
Sat-Sun: 10:00 AM - 08:00 PM
Closest MRT station: Kallang

The Sports Hub library offers many fun (and FREE) activities for children! You can play a game of giant chess or checkers, play some Xbox games, watch free screenings of sports-related events, and of course, borrow some books to read. The Kids Zone on Level 2 has beanbags lined along the wall, so that visitors can read comfortably there. Do note that books borrowed from the Sports Hub library can only be returned there, as they are not part of the National Library Board. 
This mum blogger contributed this review. For her detailed write up on Sports Hub Library, go here



Tampines Regional Library
31 Tampines Ave 7
Singapore 529620
Mon - Sun: 10:00 AM - 09:00 PM
Closest MRT station: Tampines



The first level is dedicated to the Children's Section. Whatever Non-fiction Juvenile books like facts on animals and the like can be found at a click. This is excluding the rich popular and unknown literatures and sections designated for our local authors. The staffs are informative and helpful, my kids love the 'train' seats and cosy corners.
This mum blogger contributed this review.

 

Woodlands Regional Library
900 South Woodlands Drive
#01-03
Singapore 730900
Mon - Sun: 10:00 AM - 09:00 PM
Closest MRT station: Woodlands 

The children’s section occupies the entire 4th floor of Woodlands Regional Library. We love the spacious yet cozy children’s section. Often, we come here after dinner on weekdays. While my 10-year old immerses herself in her story world at one end of the library, my 5 year-old would flip through books or have some imaginary fun at the “enchanted tree”.
This mum blogger contributed this review.  



Yishun Public Library
930 Yishun Ave 2
#04-01 Northpoint Shopping Centre
Singapore 769098
Mon - Sun: 11:00 AM - 09:00 PM
Closest MRT station: Yishun

Book collection for children is pretty good.  Arrangement of the books are logical and kids have no problem finding the books they want. It’s bright and neat and usually not crowded. The toilet is just near by. The only thing is there is no separate section for the children, and because of that, there is always a person keep patrolling and shhhh-ing the children, even if the child is reading just a little louder. There are no child-appropriate chairs and tables.
This mum bloggercontributed this review.


******
Not included in this post:
Jurong Regional Library (Children’s Section under renovation)
21 Jurong East Central 1
Singapore 609732
Mon - Sun: 10:00 AM - 09:00 PM
Closest MRT station: Jurong East

Pasir Ris Public Library (under renovation till end 2015)
1 Pasir Ris Central St 3
#04-01/06 White Sands
Singapore 518457
Mon - Sun: 11:00 AM - 09:00 PM
Closest MRT station: Pasir Ris


Toa Payoh Public Library (Children’s Section under renovation)
6 Toa Payoh Central
Singapore 319191
Mon - Sun: 10:00 AM - 09:00 PM
Closest MRT station: Toa Payoh


*** Images: Individual contributors, and National Library Board


 

 





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Gadget-Free Activities for Kids

June 15, 2015, 10:49 pm
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Set aside your phones and unplug that tv! Here are 8 gadget-free activities that you will enjoy as much as your kids. Let's play!



CREATE SOMETHING WITH STRAWS AND PIPE CLEANERS

Materials required
Scissors, straws, pipe cleaners

Method
Bend pipe cleaners into halves. Then insert them as far as they can go into the straws (1 pipe cleaner can go into 2 straws). Start building! (For older kids, you can even set challenges like "Can you build a really tall structure that can stand by itself?"). A wonderful quiet time activity.



MAKE YOUR OWN RAINBOW SCRATCHIES
Materials required
Crayons, black paint, sponge, card paper or drawing block, dishwashing liquid

Method
Colour on paper with crayons. Press hard to make sure there is a nice glossy finish, and that there are no white gaps. You can even overlap colours. Next, mix black paint with dishwashing liquid (just 1-2 squirts of the latter will do) and using a sponge, paint over your colouring. Leave to dry (about 1-2 hours, depending on how thick your layer of paint is), and then it's ready to be played with! Simply use a sharpish object (toothpicks and satay sticks work well) and scratch away to reveal rainbow markings.


GIANT PAINTING
Materials required
Big piece of cardboard (like the kind your bookcases come in!), paints, anything that can be used as brushes (we used dishwashing brushes, whisks, pastry brushes and bath sponges). Optional: palette (we used a paper plate)

Method
Lay cardboard on ground outside. Either squeeze paint directly on cardboard and paint away using "brushes", or squeeze paint on palette/paper plate and transfer with "brushes".


BUILD A READING FORT
Materials required
Blankets or quilt covers, cushions, books, pegs

Method
Find a cosy corner - it doesn't have to be very big because kids aren't very big and they love little spaces! We used the bottom of our dining table this time but the back of the sofa works as well! Fasten blankets around to create 'walls', and throw cushions and pillows on the floor to sit on. For additional comfort, place 'fort' against the wall so that kids can lean back for better support. Add books and read! Fairy lights optional but oh so pretty!



DINOSAUR SENSORY BIN
Materials required
Big container (we used the TROFAST shallow box), moon sand (or you can use regular sand if you like, or coffee grounds), dinosaur figurines (ours are from Toobs and Daiso) and "trees" (ours is from a fake plant from IKEA)

Method
Line bine with moon sand (or your chosen material), set up with fake trees, hide small dinosaurs in 'eggs' for the kids to discover, and plant bigger dinosaurs all around. They won't need any directions for this; they'll just dive right in!



PLAY WITH WATER
Materials required
Empty clear plastic containers, food colouring, funnels, droppers, syringes, measuring cup, measuring spoon

Method
Lay materials out on a tray for kids and let them play! They can be scientists at a lab, or chefs, or artists... it's all up to their own imagination!



COUNTING AND SORTING
Materials required
Ice cube tray, little tongs, small bowls or containers, small items like pastas, beads, pop-poms, sea shells, stones, seeds

Method
This activity is for younger children, particularly those learning to count or sort. Choose a number and ask them to put the correct number of items into the ice cube tray. Or get them to do some sequencing by following a pattern you've set. This is great for little ones training their fine motor skills.




CREATE WITH PUFFY PAINT
Materials required
Cornflour, salt, water, food colouring

Method
Mix 1 tbsp cornflour + 1 tsp salt + a bit of water until you get a runny consistency. Add food colouring. Repeat till you have as many colours as you like. Using cotton buds, draw on thick paper (we used drawing block but regular art paper will do too), once completed, pop into microwave for about 20 seconds. Note: This artwork will soften over time so if you'd like to keep it, you can put a layer of contact paper (it's like a huge piece of sticky tape, and you can get it from bookshops) over it.

For more gadget-free activities you can do at home, see here, here and here.

This post was brought to you by IKEA, where you'll find lots of knicks and knacks and bits and bobs for your gadget-free activities. Have fun!

For your easy reference, here are links to the items from IKEA we used:
Soda straws (200 straws for only $1.90!)
Trofast storage box ($3)
Part of the SANDIG 10-piece ice cream set ($3.90)
Kalas bowl ($3.90 for 6 pieces)
Plastis ice cube tray ($1.90)
STAM measuring cups ($1.50)
PLASTIS dishwashing brush ($1.90)
GRUBBORA pastry brush ($1.90)
MALA 12 piece paint set ($12.90)
SAMLA box and insert ($5)
FEJKA articificial potted plant ($3.90)
SARDAL light chain ($14.90)
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The Happiness Index

June 17, 2015, 9:06 am
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I turned a year wiser recently, and with every birthday, I mentally took stock of my life. 20 years ago, I thought I had it all worked out - get a good job, get promoted in a few years, be in a Managerial position by 30, live in a condo, travel yearly, earn lots and lots and lots of money. Because that's what every parent tells their child, right? Study hard, so you can get a good job and earn lots of money.

I have shimmied past my mid-30s and still, have yet to check any item off that list - I work part-time, live in a 3-room flat, hardly travel, do my own housework and take public transport everywhere.

The strange thing is, judging by the standards that I set for myself, I should be unhappy, but in actual fact, I'm not. Which is strange, really. Must be age.

I'm not quite sure how it came to be this way but over time, I started to stray away from the 'regular' benchmarks of happiness. I became less bothered about the things I did not have, and looked more toward making what I had count, and to make lemonade with the lemons that life gave. It's like everything was in bokeh until now, and now my focus has sharpened and I only want to concentrate on the things that are important to me.

It doesn't bother me that we don't drive when all of our peers do. It doesn't bother me that we live in the smallest home, don't have the cushiest job, travel the least. Don't get me wrong, it's not about sour grapes and I fully respect their choices. It's just that I don't yearn for those things anymore.

Because I'm happy the way things are for us. Being on a tight budget has forced us to find inexpensive places to explore, and forced us to eat home more. It's made me dig deep in my memory bank and remember all the activities I did as a child that didn't require any money, to share them with my kids. It's allowed us to take things slower and to appreciate what we have. Because what we have is immeasurable.




One afternoon, my 6.5 year old had one foot out of the front door to run errands with my husband when I stopped her to give her half an apple to chomp on as she walked to the supermarket. To my surprise, she said "Thank you, Mama; people will look at me and see what a lucky person I am because I have a Mama who cuts apples for me."

She's mistaken, of course. Because it is I who is the lucky one, to have a family to cut apples for. 

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The Bus Stop Seat Analogy

June 28, 2015, 8:38 pm
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I was cuddling my 3 year old yesterday. It was the last day of the school holidays and we'd just talked about all the things we'd done during the break. She'd just had her shower but somehow, despite a hair wash, her little sweaty smell had managed to creep into the curls of her hair. I inhaled deeply and enjoyed the lingering baby smells.

The funny thing about kids is that they're growing, right under our noses. As we sometimes go overboard with our planning for "real" activities, and ignoring their requests to read in the process, they're growing. 

As we shoo them out of the kitchen while we prepare their meals, they're growing. And they're changing. 

It just happens. 

We do all these wonderful things to create a memorable childhood for them. We take all these beautiful pictures for their albums. But sometimes in the process of doing so, despite our very best interests, we lose out on precious little moments. 

"Mama come read Peppa Pig to me"
"Sorry love, I'm checking the bus schedule and the fastest way to get to this really fun place I'd like to bring you to"

Not that it's wrong to do all these things for the little ones that we love. But sometimes we just forget. We forget that yes they may enjoy indoor playgrounds and running at the beach but sometimes all they want is us. 

For us to look at them when they say "Mama look what I'm doing!" For us to laugh and really guess when they say "Guess what the ocean said to the beach!" For us to clap at their dances, laugh at their funny faces, eat the pretend food they cook at their pretend kitchens. For us to join them when they say "Mama come play with us!"

Because, sneakily, they are growing, day by day. And one day, the kids that we know today, will be different. And we will never get these days again. 

Just like how, without us really noticing, our country now sports swanky metallic bus stop benches instead of the 3-paneled orange ones we know. 

So, childhood. Let's enjoy it. 
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Practical Tips for the National Day Parade 2015!

July 4, 2015, 9:14 am
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We were lucky enough to get a pair of tickets to watch the National Day Parade Combined Rehearsal and pardon the French but, this is probably set to be the best NDP ever! It was awesome. Truly awesome. My 7-year old enjoyed it, and I did too, every bit of it. I was utterly impressed at how everything was thoughtfully planned out and nothing went uncatered for.

And the main action was at the Padang! Those of you who have watched National Day Parades at the Padang, you know what that means! The drive past! With tanks and fire engines and all! It's called the Mobile Column and you can see more at the NDP 2015 site. Watch out for something special at the very end.  

It was spectacular (because, NATIONAL DAY PARADE?!), and we loved every bit of it. The vintage parade was one of my favourites - those of you who have seen parades from the 80s, you'll enjoy this part. The stickmen performance made us laugh out loud. The snipets involving everyday Singaporeans made everything seem more human and less mechanical, and all the typically Singaporean things that we miss? Awesome, just so awesome. The marching band and their fans! That was hilarious and totally unexpected!!! And were the fireworks awesomer than usual? Yes! Supposedly the largest ever! It is SG50 after all. I'm not giving too much away because it was so fun to be surprised and I hope you will enjoy it the same way we did!

We really enjoyed the NDP rehearsal, and we just know that you will too. Here are some tips that will help you and your family enjoy the NDP fully:

1. Go to the Padang / The Float @ Marina Bay via public transport
The Padang seats 25,000. The Float @ Marina Bay seats a further 25,000. That's A LOT of people! Leave the car at home and take the train instead to ease up the roads, won't you? Both venues are within walking distance from City Hall MRT station.





2. Bring snacks
Seating begins from about 3pm, and everyone is required to be seated by 5pm. The actual parade starts at about 6pm, but there are activities to keep you entertained till then. The parade will end at about 8.30pm so bring cereal bars, small buns or fruit. Closest eateries that you can get to after the parade would probably be at Raffles City or Funan Digilife Mall but they are likely to be packed with everyone having the same idea.



3. Enjoy the show
Don't just keep your cameras and phones in hand all the time; watch the performances! The NDP 2015 photo gallery will have downloadable pics if you want them!

4. Bring your trash with you
Trash  has always been a problem with big events. This year's goodie bag includes a plastic bag for you to stash your trash, and there are huge disposal areas at exit points for you to throw them when you leave the parade.  This is what's so wonderful about Singapore, we learn from our mistakes and improve upon them.

5. Don't bring a big bag
First of all, it's not allowed. Secondly, each spectator will be given a big goodie bag, and it's going to be tricky for you to squeeze between seats (especially when leaving) with all your bags. Within your goodie bags, there are 2 bottles of water, so you don't even need to bring water. Other useful things in the goodiebag include a poncho and fan. How thoughtful, right?

6. Go pee before
Really. Not joking. Especially if you have a kid with you. Unless climbing up and down stairs and going to portaloos is your kind of thing. Closest public toilet to Padang: Raffles City Shopping Mall/Funan Digilife Mall. Closest public toilet to The Float @ Marina Bay: Marina Square Shopping Mall.



7. Let loose and enjoy
Don't be shy to do the Padang Wave or sing your heart out to "Count on Me Singapore". Go ahead and Stand Up, Stand Up for Singapore! Come on, it's the NDP!!! And say the Pledge and sing the National Anthem. There is no other time you will feel this proud to be Singaporean.

8. Chope place somewhere else
If you did not get any tickets, not to worry, you can still watch the Parade via "LIVE" streaming, or at least catch the awesome fireworks at these venues.

9. Wear red
I know, I know. Not everybody has clothes that make them look like a walking Singapore flag. But hey, when in Rome! Cotton On Kids was recently having $5 red t-shirts on sale, and I'm pretty sure you can find plain adult tees in red almost anywhere. Also, when you're in any other colour, you are sure to stick out and those around you may or may not give you dirty looks!




10. Remember to show your appreciation
The motivators and ushers - they would probably have clocked in several more hours before you show up, and yet you will realise that they're all happy and smiley. They are volunteers, i.e. they are not paid to do it. Please say thank you and smile and wave back at them when they greet you ok?

I look forward to seeing all your NDP pictures!
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Art Projects for Kids

July 5, 2015, 7:39 pm
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Somehow, art had found our way into our activities during the June holidays, and I'm glad it did. I was never much of an Art student in school (I mean, I was a student who took Art as a subject, but I was never very good at it), so it was fun to create art pieces together with the kids. We did so much that each of them now have an art folder, which we take out to admire once in a while.

It can be messy, but if you happen to have a day off, I strongly urge you to try your hand at some art with your kids. They're fun, and the kids really enjoy them. And no, it's not all about paint, paintbrushes and paper! Here are some that we did recently.


Rubber Band Twang
This was possibly my kids' favourite. It also created really pretty works of art and everyone loved this.

How to do it: Place paper in tray (for younger kids, you may wish to tape paper to tray to reduce movement). Wrap rubber bands around tray at regular or irregular intervals. Put paint on rubber bands (we found that the easiest way for us was to squirt some paint onto cardboard (we used toilet rolls). Then pull rubber band upward and TWANG! There are sound effects too!



Confetti Bursts
Another crowd pleaser.  Possibly because it's really really messy. Cleaning up is easier than you think - just bring out the vacuum cleaner and you'll get clean floors in 2 minutes (the kids will even gladly help with cleaning up!). The 7-year old LOVED this but strangely, the 3-year old didn't want to have anything to do with it the popping. She was happy to gather up the fallen pieces though.

How to do it: Squirt out glue on paper (I let the kids squirt out whatever shapes they wanted on one sheet, and then I put their initials on another). Then put confetti (we used coloured tissues but coloured paper works just as well too) into brown paper bags or small plastic bags (the small transparent kind). Blow into bags to inflate them, then position yourself (standing!) over your paper, and pop the bags! Repeat as many times as necessary or until your mother freaks out.


Handy Sponging
I like ideas that involve hand tracing because it's nice to look back at these pieces to see how small their hands once were! The 7-year old was happy to do this but the 3-year old needed a little bit of coaxing to cover her hand cut out with paint (hers is on the left).

How to do it: Trace out child's hand and arm on scrap paper then cut out. Using sticky tape, stick cut out onto white paper. With a sponge, paint over the whole sheet of paper, including the cut out. Once completed, remove cut out and let dry.


Cotton Ball Tossing
This is a great stress reliever I think! I usually don't participate in my kids' art sessions but this was one when I was asking them "Can Mama have a go too?" I'm so glad that they said "Sure!!" Both the 3-year old and the 7-year old loved this.

How to do it: In separate containers (we used yoghurt cups - they're the perfect size), mix poster paints with water. Dip cotton balls into paints and throw! It's great aiming practice!

Note: We brought this activity out of the house and leaned our cardboard (where we taped our paper) onto a metal wall. Clean up was easy peasy.



Candle Resist Painting
For some reason, we have a load of candles at home and not enough romantic evenings to use them for. The 3-year old grew bored of this quickly because it was too unmessy for her. The 7-year old found it exciting to see secret messages.

How to do it: Write secret messages for your little ones in candle wax on paper and get them to paint over the paper with water colours. Watch their eyes light up when they see your secret message!


Puffy Paints
This was fun for both the kids. The 7-year old was more precise with her creation, and the 3-year old was well, more 3-year old-ish with hers. Which led me to assume that she didn't enjoy it. But she surprised me days later by asking to put another piece of art into the microwave to see it puff up!

How to do it: Prepare puffy paints by mixing food colouring (2-3 drops, the more drops, the more intense), with 1 tsp of corn flour with 1 tbsp of water. It should be a runny liquid. Dab with cotton buds and when done, microwave on high for about 15-20 seconds.

Note: This will crack up over time so if you intend to store this piece of art, I suggest putting a sheet of contact paper over it (contact paper is like a huge piece of sticky tape, and can be found at regular bookshops - it comes in a roll)


Rainbow Scratchies
Rainbow Scratchies are so much fun and so easy to make. They both loved making it (though not as much as getting their hands all black with paint), and it took a lot of distraction to keep them from touching the paper while the paint dried!

How to do it: Colour on white paper with crayons, pressing down hard and making sure there's no white space. It's ok to overlap. When that is done, use a sponge (because a paint bruch would take forever) to coat paper with a mixture of black poster paint + a bit of dishwashing liquid (like 1 pump). Set aside to dry. When dry, use a toothpick to scratch away paint to reveal a rainbow below!


Dinosaur Printing
We kind of stumbled upon this activity actually. We were reading about dinosaurs at dinner, and our dinosaurs were with us. And because we hadn't kept up our paints from an earlier session, we decided to put two and two together by mixing dinos and paints. Verdict: Both kids were excited to start but grew bored quick; they were however VERY happy to give their dinosaurs a full shower after though!

How to do it: Squirt paint on palette (ours is the lid from an ice cream container - works perfectly), put dinosaur feet into paint and print them on paper. Roaring optional.



Ice Painting
Truth be told, this one was over very quickly, and the kids enjoyed getting their fingers cold and then pressing them on their unsuspecting mother's stomach more.

How to do it: Freeze a sheet of ice (a baking tray is great for that). Using cotton buds, dab food colouring onto ice. You could possibly place a piece of paper over your completed art piece to save the work, but ours just ended up well, brown.



Squirty Art
This is a fun activity to teach young children about gravity as well. Both my kids enjoyed this but really wanted to squirt the pavement as well! Ultimately we did but washed it off right after - dilluted poster paints come over easily.

How to do it: Mix poster paints with water and add to squirt bottle. We only have two bottles so we only put a bit of colour each time, so that we could then change colours. Squirt away! Have fun playing with the different types of nozzles too! And good luck keeping your kids from spraying on their others' paper!

Note: As you can see, we have a big piece of cardboard behind our paper - this was an outdoor activity but we didn't want to get the walls all colourful either!

So there you are, 10 easy activities to try out with your kids! Have fun!

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About our art folders: Sometimes we create a few pieces of the same thing, so we usually just pick one to put in the folder (they are taped with washi tape). I recycle the rest when they're not looking! Sometimes the 'artwork' doesn't turn out well, but we keep it anyway, just as a reminder. Poppy or I label them with dates and activity names. Our art folder is simply made up of pages of vanguard sheets and tied together with ribbon.

About our paper: For our pieces, we mostly used drawing block, which is easily available at bookshops. You can also use card stock but that's slightly pricier. Drawing block comes in a size similar to A3, which I will then cut into half for all our activities. This cuts down on wastage, and fits into our art folder perfectly. 

About our paints: We use poster paints from IKEA and Crayola. We use Club House, Bake King and Star food colouring.

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Children are not an Inconvenience

July 8, 2015, 8:19 pm
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The other morning I held a banana in one hand while persuading my 3-year old to simply walk - and not jump or run - down the stairs. The banana was half eaten, so I had to hold it up, much like in the style of an Olympic torch. The 3-year old was bent on pulling my arm out of its socket by jumping the bottom 3 steps of each flight. "That's dangerous! If you fall, I could fall on you and flatten you!" She didn't stop jumping. When we got to the bottom of the stairs, she was laughing and saying "that was funny, Mama" and I was well, not smiling. 

This happens often for me and I bet many of you can identify with it as well. 

But when she got on the school bus and started to form little hearts with her fingers just for me, my heart melted and I was reminded by a phrase I chanced upon: 

Children are not an inconvenience.

It is easy to fall into the trap of categorizing them as such, and I believe that once we are able to recognize that they are learning and using us as examples, we would all be much happier.

For instance, every new mum makes comments about the heavy diaper bag. I willingly confess that I did the same too - the diapers, wipes, extra clothes, nursing wrap, toys, and the ever cumbersome baby carrier. And as they grew older, their water bottles, hats, bus cards, entertainment.

We tsk at them taking too long to eat. We grumble at them them to walk faster. We get frustrated when they don't listen and spray water all over the bathroom. We complain about always going to "child friendly" places and having to share our food. We get irritated when they ask questions as we're on our phones.

We do all this but if we stop to listen to our own words, what would we hear under them? Are we unknowingly telling our kids that they are inconveniencing our lives? 

That we would much prefer to have an evening sitting on the sofa with our feet up on the coffee table watching 80s re-runs? That we would enjoy meals so much more we didn't have to make childish conversations? That we would prefer to be walking and checking our phones than holding their hands? That a relaxing holiday for two in France would be so much more fun than a trip to Legoland? 

When we pick them up from the school bus, do we say "Hello! How did your day go? I missed you!" Or "come, hurry up, let's go!"? When will it stop, us racing around from one place to another? When will we take our time to enjoy just being with them?

Let us remember that they never asked to be our kids. They never asked for us to bring snacks or bottles out for them or to buy them new books or to bring them to places or on holidays. It is us who do these for them, out of love.

I am not saying that everything should be put on hold just for the kids, nor that they should always take first priority; we sure don't want them growing up with a false sense of entitlement and thinking that everyone should respect that the world revolves around them. It's about being with them and growing with them and just letting them be children.

They can't help finding sticks on the ground fascinating. They can't not like jumping in puddles even if they're wearing their new shoes. They can't help being children but we can make the choice in being supportive parents.

I'm making this step to change, to watch what I say and be mindful of my actions. Because I want my kids to know that they are loved and not to think that they are an inconvenience.

Lately I'm telling them things like "thank you for being my daughter". It surprised them both at first, especially the 7-year old. But now they're both saying "thank you for being my Mama" and it's just lovely to hear. Step by step, we're working toward enjoying our lives together and not simply just rushing from one place to another. 

 


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How to Make Tie and Dye T-shirts

July 15, 2015, 1:56 am
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We are loving our home-made tie and dye t-shirts! The best part of it is that the kids were part of the process from beginning to end and are so proud of their own creations. Contrary to common belief, tie and dye t-shirts are not difficult to create, and you don't need hard-to-get materials, nor follow complicated steps. 

Here's how you can make your own:

Materials
1 pack fabric dye (2 if you intend to have 2 colours on your items. Bear in mind that it will double your time required)
Water (depending on dye; it will be stated on packaging)
Gloves
Big container to contain water
Long sticks of old cooking utensils to mix dye and fabrics
Rubber bands
T-shirts

* We got our dye from Art Friend, Calla's t-shirt was from Cotton On and Poppy's and mine were from Art Friend

Time required: about 1 hour

Step 1: Using regular rubber bands, tie up white t-shirts. There are several ways to do this, and each will bring about a different result.

For (1), I chose a mid point and start swirling the t-shirt around it before finally wrapping rubber bands around it.

For (2), we simply bunched up little bits of the t-shirt and tied rubber bands around them about 1 inch from their ends.

For (3), we started off by pinching the centre of the t-shirt and putting a rubber band around it, 1 inch from the end, and then continued by wrapping bands around the t-shirt in intervals of about 1 to 2 inches. 



Step 2: Dye the t-shirts according to the instructions on the package. We used DYLON fabric dye in flamingo pink for ours. The pack allowed us to dye 2 kids t-shirts, 1 adult sized t-shirt and a bedsheet for a kid-sized bed. We added 1 cup of salt for a more intense colour.

Step 3: Rinse off the dye in first hot then cold water. Once the water runs clear, it is ready to be machine washed (to be safe, we washed all our newly dyed items together without mixing with other clothes).

Your new t-shirts are now ready for wear! Below on the left, is the result of method (3), and on the right, is the result of method (2). My t-shirt was done with method (1) but it didn't come out too well (it resembled a white t-shirt that had been stained unintentionally!) because I had wrapped it too tight, thus preventing the dye from seeping into the fabric.




Have fun!
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How to Go Out with Kids without Going Crazy

July 19, 2015, 7:25 pm
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Disclaimer: This post was written to motivate parents to bring their kids out more. It is in no way meant to offend anyone nor be overly preachy on the benefits of spending time with children. 

For more ideas on fun things to do and fun places to go with kids in Singapore, check this out.

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I often find myself completely exhausted at the end of every outing and all I want to do is flop on the sofa and fall asleep there. My kids however, are energetic throughout, from the time we set out, on all the modes of transport we take, at all the places we go, and finally, even when we're home, they've still got some energy reserved for their books and toys and perhaps even a little whining.

But that said, we do have fun when we're out, and even though it's getting easier, it can sometimes still get quite challenging, particularly because there are many occasions when we are out with the kids on our own, outnumbered 2 kids to 1 parent. I know of parents who have never brought their kids out on their own, and those who try to avoid it as much as possible because they think that it is too overwhelming for them.

So here are some pointers, tips if you may, that have helped us; I hope they will help you too:

MOVING AROUND
1. Bags for everyone
If we're out for a big day, I try to make the kids carry a backpack each. In each of their backpacks, there is a bottle of water (their own), a hat, and some small toys or books (they choose). I have my own backpack too which holds my own water bottle, their snacks, and a change of clothes. Backpacks are my new favourite because the last thing I need when I'm chasing two kids is to have a sling bag sliding off my shoulders.

2. Hold hands
We always hold hands when we're out. We've used one of those "cute backpacks with a long tail" (i.e. child leash) only once for each girl - Poppy at age 2 when we visited the zoo for the first time and Calla at age 2 at Disneyland when Max didn't come with us. If you see the value in those backpacks, they are useful especially if you have more than two children to care for. Don't bother about what others say or think; the safety of your children is more important.

3. Travel light
The reason I like backpacks is that our hands are kept free. Plus, it's easy to just get up and go with a backpack stuck on you. We don't go out with a stroller and very seldom bring our kick scooters out on long distances. It's just tricky having to manage two kids and two scooters on trains and buses!

4. Fill up
Our bottles are filled to the brim when we leave the house, and we refill each time there is an opportunity. Coolers are great, but this is Singapore, so tap water is ok too. Keeping hydrated in this very sunny country is so important!

5. Take time to appreciate things
Many times, we rush to reach places and then rush to play and rush to eat then rush home for bed time. After a while, I thought that was a bit ridiculous! So now we sometimes stretch our time to check out things that catch our attention and just to appreciate the things around us (within reason!). It could be watching a squirrel jumping from tree to tree, picking rocks or simply checking out a temporary toy fair!

6. Wear something with pockets
I kid you not. Because they are so useful. My pockets always have tissue because you never know if there's something you have to very quickly wipe. Like a snotty nose before mucus becomes a yummy snack. But seriously, pockets serve as temporary bins well, until you can find a real one for that snot-containing tissue.


TRAVELLING
7. Plan your route beforehand
We do not drive so we rely heavily on public transport. Websites like gothere.sg and phone apps like MyTransport.SG, Iris NextBus and Bus@SG are helpful too - they provide estimated bus arrival times so you know how long you have to wait. Sometimes that's important because then you know if you have enough time to make a quick toilet visit or if you have half an hour to spare to browse around in a shop.

8. Entertainment
For long train rides (especially routes that are mostly underground), books and small toys come in handy. We like our Toobs animals - they are cute and hardy and the kids make up stories with them. Puzzle books are a favourite too. We play I Spy (I spy green shoes, black bag, brown hair, orange shoelace etc) and hand games (scissors/paper/stone, oh pay som, cherry cherry lom jiam pas) and sometimes I create little scavenger hunts for them and put them onto small clip boards so they can tick the items off - that's only when I know we're going to be on empty trains.

9. Use what's available
Do you remember 'driving' the sky train at the airport as a child? I do. And my kids? They love the Circle Line because they get to 'drive' the trains. I play along with them and ask them to 'not go too fast' or 'Quick! Brake! We're almost at the station!'. They've even worked out a system - one of them is in charge of the actual driving and the other is in charge of the other things like turning on the lights and opening/closing the train doors. Most times, they entertain the other train passengers too.

They also like when I tell them where we're going and how many stops it would take so they help me to look out for our stations.



VISITING

10. Set boundaries
The first thing we do when we arrive at our destination is to set physical boundaries. If it's somewhere we've been before, I will start this conversation with the kids before we arrive, and remind them to "stay only on the soft ground (for playgrounds for instance)" or "no going out of this room (if we're at an event)". If it's a new place for us, I quickly survey the area and squat down and get their full attention before explaining the rule of the day. Then I ask them again "What's the rule for today?" and they are not allowed to go off to play until they can tell me the right answer.

11. We look out for each other
The kids are reminded often to look out for each other and to stick together. I tell them that there are two of them and one of me and I cannot possibly split myself into two different direction. I remind them to play together or at least close together, and they like to come say hi to me often if I'm not playing with them. If they run to me alone, I always ask "Where's your sister?" (even if I know the answer) which makes them look. I think that makes them mindful of their responsibility to keep an eye out for each other. Yes, they are only kids, but we feel they should always have each other's backs.

12. Put on your eagle eyes
I keep my eyes on them constantly. I'm not at the stage yet where they can play and I can sit on the bench and read a book. Perhaps one day!

13. Check opening hours
I like being spontaneous but when out with two young children, I have to limit that to a certain degree. So I always make sure I know what time the places we want to visit open to minimise disappointment. We learnt the hard way that the water play area at Children's Garden/Gardens by the Bay closes at 6pm, and that most stand-alone libraries open at 10am (those within shopping malls mostly open at 11am). I like spending time with my kids but walking around aimlessly with bored kids while waiting for something to open is not fun for any of us.

14. Find out more
Like I said, I like spontaneity but I also want to be prepared. So checking out a venue's website beforehands lets me know if I need to bring swim gear or jackets for the kids to fully enjoy the day. When there is the option for water play, our wet bag is absolutely necessary - it keeps all the wet stuff in and everything else dry. We have the Bummis wet bag and it's big enough for 3 towels and 3 sets of swim suits. While finding out about the venue, I also expand my search to include food options so that after play, I know I won't have to walk around searching for food (incidently, dragging two hungry and tired kids in search of food doesn't rank very high in my list of fun things to do).

15. Visit the toilet often
Everyone goes to the toilet just before leaving the house and it is also the first thing we do when we arrive at our destination, the last thing we do when we leave, and just before meal times. We also go whenever there is an opportunity at places where there are few restrooms (like Macritchie Reservoir for example).

16. Photo-taking
We like taking photos to remind ourselves of our trips - the photos get printed and go into our scrap books after a while - but I remind myself that it should not always be about photos. A few token pics are fine but the outing should be enjoyed through my eyes and not through my phone.

17. Being fair
Sometimes when we're out at certain places, there are things that each child wants to do that the other isn't interested in. In the case of Universal Studios Singapore or Kids Stop at Science Centre Singapore for instance. When that happens, I present the options to them - we can either take turns and do what each other likes, do something else together, or if we can't all play happily together, we'll have to leave. Usually they choose to take turns. Phew!

(By the way, I never say "If you can't behave yourself, we'll go home now!" Because I don't want them to associate home with being boring and negative! Instead I say "Shall we leave now since nobody is having fun?")


EATING
18. Bring food if necessary
I always make sure to check if the places we visit have food options and if not, either plan our trip such that it doesn't coincide with meal times, or bring our own munchies.

19. Choose food options wisely
Each food outlet has its pros and cons - at food courts, you get your food very quickly, which is good news for hungry children, plus prices are always reasonable. The down side is that everyone thinks the same way. So if you find yourself stuck in the lunch crowd, you might want to consider other options. We quite like Hans and Saizariya for reasonably priced food.

20. Choose your meal times wisely
We eat our meals early - lunch at 11.30am and dinner at 5.30pm. We also like to eat before play, just to get it out of the way. That also motivates the kids to eat quickly because I tell them that the faster they eat, the more they can play.

I hope these tips help to make it less overwhelming and scary to bring kids out on your own! Don't forget to have a good time yourself! Enjoy the venue and smile too! Because you deserve to have a good time too :)

If you have any more tips, feel free to leave them in comments below. I'm learning too!









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