A Vietnamese Tale

I read the report on Thien Nhan on today's papers with a heavy heart.

If you have a heart, please help Thien Nhan in any means you can at either here or here.

A Tribute to a Lost Son

On Tuesday, I read an article on The Straits Times with grief.

It was an article about a teen triathlete, Thaddeus Cheong who died last June after crossing the finishing line in a SEA Games triathlon selection race. He was only 17 and suppose to have a bright future ahead.

I cried while reading the interview with his parents and aunt. I could feel their heartache for losing their older son. I told hubby it's devastating for any parent to lose a child for no good reason. In his memory, his aunt wrote a book "Running The Full Distance: Thaddeus Cheong" where proceeds from its sales will go to a fund to build a church for the indigenous people in Sarawak.

Kind angels

After picking Kieran up from the childcare centre, we walked towards the bus-stop. As we were walking about 200 odd metres away, 2 cars already passed us by (from the centre), then one car stopped. The driver (a daddy who came to pick his son up) drew the window down and asked if we would like a lift.

Wasn't he kind and sweet? He asked where we were heading, I replied and he gestured to send us there (which I later realised was a little further from his home). We hopped in and thanked him and his son, who is a K2 boy.

If I were driving today, I would also do what he did. Such people make your day, don't they?

I'm Tired

Kieran's school work and Raeyen's cries are making me crazy. What am I to do to make them as angelic as possible? Or what have I not done right as a parent?

Kieran gets angry easily, Raeyen wants his way and screams all the time. Kieran is restless, Raeyen is full of energy.

They fight, Kieran doesn't give in, Raeyen throws toy at him. Kieran is possessive, Raeyen is persistent.

They whine, Kieran wants Mommy to do things for him while others can do just fine, even though Mommy may be occupied; Raeyen wants Mommy when Kieran goes near her.

Rushing home from work every day, despite more workload. Worrying about Kieran's academic development and character building, and Raeyen's well-being.

Kieran told me a horrific incident that Siti (helper) brought Raeyen when fetching him from childcare, and he saw Raeyen riding the swing car on the service road.

Siti is ultra-sensitive, little telling sends her tears down. She cried during 2 occasions in less than a month, for reason she refused to tell, only mentioned "I thought I did things wrong" upon probing. We miss Yani (ex-helper). Siti makes me worry more but she's already the third helper since Yani left.

Working day lunchtime is the only time I feel liberated - retail therapy becomes my quick-fix to daily home stress and the stress to achieve a work-life balance.

What's the best option?

Stay at home to mind the boys? I wish BUT impossible!

A baby and an old soul

On this last day of the Lunar New Year,
we celebrated Baby Jayden's 1st month here.

Though we arrived late due to Kieran's class,
our boys and Ethan still had a blast.

Baby Jayden has gorgeous eyes,
craddling him was sweet and nice.

On this 15th day of the Year of the Pig,
we were told my father-in-law is very sick.

We left the Yeo's in early evening,
to see my father-in-law frail and resting.

He was happy to see his grandsons,
who were clueless and beamed like a sun.

Life changes in split seconds

A few seconds seem really short and trivial. But these teeny weeny bits of time can change our lives because we cannot foresee all the time.

My friend's father-in-law was very sick once but miraculously recovered so well that he could get up and do his usual chore.

Just when he was out with his maid to do some CNY shopping on Thursday morning, mishap happened.

He asked his maid to wait for him while he crossed the road to get a taxi, but was knocked by a car just before he could reach the pavement! He died instantaneously while his maid witnessed in horror and shock.

TIME is precious, time will tell, time will heal. It's TIME, we treasure all around us and give our love generously. There is always TIME for anything and everything. Take TIME to smell the roses and tell those that matter to you "I LOVE YOU". Do not speed (nor hog) on the road, be gracious and you will be thankful.

"Maybe it was only a second of your time, but you need to treasure life, every second." Takayuki Ikkaku, Arisa Hosaka and Toshihiro Kawabata

"Treasure the love you receive above all. It will survive long after your gold and good health have vanished." Og Mandino

Making a choice - follow our heart

We had a talk with our helper, Yani one night when the kids were in their slumber. The talk was if she could stay with us for another 2 years as her contract expires mid next Feb.

After much discussion/persuasion, she sounded adamant that she would like to go home for good, after almost 4 years with us. It was a difficult moment for us as Raeyen is still very young and we will have to make new arrangements or even sacrifices come Jan/Feb. Options we have are:

1. No new helper, but Raeyen goes to a full-day childcare
2. Get a new helper before Yani leaves, hubby stays at home for at least 6 months while Kieran continues his Kindergarten but stops going to childcare

We discussed and may choose option 2 as we cannot bear for another child of ours going to childcare as I could vividly remember myself weeping when Kieran entered childcare at 3 years old (2 months after Raeyen was born). It was a painful decision to put him there, seeing him cry and wanting to go home.

Option 2 is not the best but we can't risk putting Raeyen alone with the new helper while we go to work. Hubby volunteered to quit his job and stay at home supervising her and to bond with the kids, especially Kieran. Personally, I like the idea of Kieran quitting childcare. However, that would mean one income less and I may most likely have to kiss goodbye to indulgences such as Biotherm skincare, facials, manicures, pedicures, L'oreal Kerastase haircare, etc. BUT one thing I will not scrimp is to let Kieran continue his classes at Yamaha or any other classes that will benefit him.

We have a choice to make, that is already a luxury. Like the old saying goes, when there's a will, there's a way. Together with my hubby, I'm sure we can make it work and to bring our kids up the way we want. Fingers crossed :*)

"If you limit your choices only to what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truly want, and all that is left is a compromise." Robert Fritz

Life is like a box of ...

... fortune cookies

I was shocked when hubby told me last week that 4 men were hit by a sudden wave somewhere in Perth and were/are employees of a Singapore aerospace company. My 3rd bro Joo works in the same company in Perth and I quickly SMS his wife.

While Joo was not fishing with them, he was deeply disturbed by the mishap as he knows all 4 men. Life is not exactly like a box of chocolates though they may be bitter or sweet; it is also like a box of fortune cookies, no one knows what's coming to you tomorrow or even the next minute.

Last Friday, my company had an annual flu vaccination exercise for all employees, I went for my shot as usual. One of my good friends at work didn't want to take the jab for fear of the needle pain. I know her predicament but it's only a one-second shot of pain. Life is so unpedictable, we should really cherish what we have and seize every second and opportunity we have got to do what we want. Take a break and smell the roses. Watch the kiddos grow and learn from them as much as what we can teach them.

Kieran came home this evening with a packet of Hello Kitty marshmallows from a friend who just returned from a holiday in Japan. I promised that he could eat it after dinner. After dinner, he quickly dashed to the fridge for his candy and his happy face delighted me. He made me happier when he offered one to his little brother Raeyen. But when Raeyen wanted more, Kieran couldn't bear to part with his last mashmallow. Nevertheless, it is my fortune to be able to watch them grow together and love each other.

My 2 starry angels, taken on 24 Jun 06: