Spending Some Quality Time

I took 2 days off work on Thursday and Friday last week. And time flies. My intention was to revise Ryan's school work as next week he will have his 1st exam. Don't think he fully comprehends the real meaning of exam yet. But he does know that if he studies hard and get good results, he will be rewarded and he is very hopeful that he will get his Nerf Gun.

My work has been rather stressful. My boss has high expectation. Good in a way but my body can only take so much. I had a not-so-serious-case of anxiety attack just before CNY. Started with palpitations and a bad case of shortness of breath. I actually thought I was about to have some heart problem. Done the ECG and even thyroid test. Finally, concluded - too stressed - it was really anxiety attack. I made sure I rested during CNY and I recovered somewhat. More stressed came later what with piling work. I feel a short break in between is good for me to recuperate. At the same time, my son needs me. Ryan has been a good boy. He listened to me even when I was a bit harsh with him when he couldn't follow. I feel bad but sometimes, he needs some jostle. I always end the session with a hug so that he knows that Mummy loves him and means well. Raymund wanted to join but after a while, he lost his patience. He can't sit still. Actually, I'm not worried about Raymund. He is a fast learner.

I really enjoyed my 2 days + weekend. There is no rush or race against time. No adrenaline surges. Peace! My kids are my lifeline.... or in Chinese 'mang kan'. Seeing them together makes me very happy.. even though sometimes they drive me nuts. My husband feels the same. In fact, he joined me and took his Friday off too. My kids love it when we are at home with them. It means that they get to go out and have a little fun.

Monday is coming too fast. Definitely Monday Blues or even Manic Monday for me. I'd get very exhausted when I come back from work. But that does not stop me from enjoying my family. After all, working is a means to an end. While I'd like to excel, I consider having a balanced life critically important. Else there is really no meaning. My husband shares the same view as well.

I Bought a Globe for My Sons

Ryan is super enthusiastic about 'Science' - a word that he uses to encompass science, geography, biology and the works. He has his favorite collection of children encyclopedias that we got from Popular Bookstore. These of some of his favourites.

I am hoping that Raymund is gradually influenced by his brother. Still not yet but my little boy here loves school and studying. That is good enough for now. Ryan on the other hand is not too happy with his new school but luckily his passion for 'science' and knowledge is still strong. Lately, because of the catastrophe in Japan, he is even more interested in earthquakes and tsunamis. How does it happen and the whys. He was also talking about the location of Malaysia, Japan and the oceans around it. Being an opportunist, we decided to buy the boys a globe. Why a globe - just making sure that they know that the earth is like a ball and not square :P. And of course the fun of spinning it around.

The boys were really excited particularly Ryan. Raymund just likes to spin it round and round. I guess he is too young for it. But I involved him anyway so that at the every least. he knows where Malaysia is. I got funny questions from him asking me where Giant Hypermart is and so on. Quite entertaining.

Actually, the intent is not to show them that they can spin the globe. I'm thinking that when I read the books with them about the sun and earth, about animals and origins, and so on, I can point it out to them. Just the other day, Ryan was asking where can we find piranhas. I didn't know but luckily for his books, we found out together and got to show him where on earth... literally speaking.

How to Register Your Child for Standard 1 - for Selangor areas

Answering Alice who posted this question on my blog. Here's a set of instructions to help you. Actually I have friends asking me the same thing too. It is actually not easy for first timers as you have to find your way around. I was bumping around for Ryan's registration last year and I know what to do for Raymund now. Even so, I couldn't find the MOE site initially. For Selangor schools, you must apply online first before you go to the schools. They were less strict, I think, last year coz I went direct to Ryan's school and the school registered online for us. For Raymund, Ryan came back with a set of instructions from the school asking us to register online first before bringing in the documents to them. So, for you who are interested, here goes.

Registration for Standard 1 entry in the year 2012 an 2013 has started since 1 Mar. Registration past 30 April is considered late. This is applicable for BOTH 2012 and 2013 admission. See this little note from MOE below.

What you need to do is this:

1. Go to http://apps.moe.gov.my/esppsel/. It may take a very long time to load. Don't worry your computer is not hanging. Just have to wait very long. I had to wait a good 10-15 minutes when I was doing mine.
   
   
2. Once in, you will see an online form that looks like this. Start filling in. Get your child's IC or birth cert handy.
   
   
3. Follow the online form till the end. You will be asked to fill in your child's info and yours too. Pick the school from the drop down list that you want your child to be enrolled in. There is only 1 choice! Also do know which 'Daerah' the school is located. Pick from Klang, Kuala Langat, Kuala Selangor, Hulu Langat, Hulu Selangor, Sabak Bernam, Gombak, Sepang, Petaling Perdana or Petaling Utama. If you don't know, please google up the school for their contact number and ask first before your register.
4. Once you have successfully registered, you will be given a PIN. This is for you to login again to your registration to amend or check for status.
5. Remember to print out the form after registration. Just click on 'Cetak' at the bottom. You will need this for your registration at the school.

Yes. Registering online is only the 1st step. You have to bring this online registration form together with the following documents to the school that you picked for your child. Go during week days. Again, this registration is opened from 1-30 Mar.

• Birth certificate/Sijil Anak Angkat (original & photocopy)
• Parents'/Guardians' MyKad (original & photocopy)
• Marriage/Divorce certificate of parents (original & photocopy)
• Surat Hak Penjagaan/Perintah Mahkamah, where applicable (original & copy)
• Utility bill with your address (TNB/water/telephone) (original & copy)
• Self-addressed envelop of 4"x9" with 60 sen postage stamp
• Doctor's report & Kad Oku, where applicable (for special children) (original & copy)
• Printed online registration that you have just done

For 2013 admission, the results of registration will only be out around August 2012. For 2012, this year. Successful registration does not mean successful admission to the school that you want. My son Ryan didn't get the 1st or 2nd choice. We had to go through appeal to place him where he is.

When the time comes, go back online. Select the 4th option (See above). Key in your child's IC and the PIN number. Wait and wait and wait. You will be able to see updates where they are ready. IF you need to appeal, go to the school which your child has been allocated and you will be told another painful process.

Good luck to you.

Cheers

Joanne

Chinese Enrichment Class

Considering what I had to do to bring Ryan up to speed on Chinese, I was deciding to get Raymund ready. At Raymund's kindy, they offer Chinese enrichment class for preschoolers starting Year 5. I'm such a bad mom. I totally forgot about it until I spoke to my neighbour who sends her kids to the same kindy.

I called the kindy enquiring whether it was too late for him to join midway. And if it too difficult for him to catch up. Also checking what kind of syllabus do they cover in the half hour enrichment every day. Guess what??

Of course, they have the usual thematics blended in but one of the key piece is reading and story telling from the Red Dragonfly series. Obviously I didn't know what that was. I checked with my kids' tuition teacher and realised that it was actually the Odonata series that I talked about. Raymund is already on it with his tuition teacher. That's not the only thing I'm happy about. I'm just happy that I'm on the right track in putting my sons through the series :) ... doesn't matter that it was a somewhat random shot!

红 蜻 蜓

:)

Standard 1 Admission for 2012 & 2013

Yep yep ... I'm on blogging spree. Making up for lost time :) Been madly busy and I decided to take break this weekend.

This post is just a prompter to any parent out there who does not already know that you must register your child now for Standard 1 in 2012 and 2013. The registration was opened on 1 Mar and for people to register within the month. I read in the MOE website that registration on 30 Apr is considered a late submission!

Check up the site. Figure out what you need to do. Most importantly which school you'd like your child to attend. Hopefully you are not too late for popular schools. I know that for some very popular Chinese schools, especially when there is only 1 or 2 in that area, parents queue in those schools as early as 6am in the morning on the 1st day.

Make sure that you identify the 1st choice properly as that is the one that is going down. Choice 2 is not in the consideration even if you have stated it. That was my experience.

Basically, prepare the following. If you are lost, just go to the school that you want to enrol your child in and ask. Bring these:

1. Your child's birth certificate - original and copy
2. The parents' IC - original and copy
3. Marriage Certificate / Divorce Certificate - original and copy
4. Proof of address that you reside in - latest original and copy of electric bil/water bill/cukai pintu/S&P with your name and residing address on it.
5. A white envelope size 4" x 9" with 60sen stamp affixed.

Double check first with the school on these docs before you go.

Good Luck!

Cheers

Joanne

Raymund's Cough - I've Got the Remedy!!!

I have blogged a lot about Flu and Cough.

And always, when anyone gets it in my household, there is always a domino effect. And I'm particularly worried about Raymund. Raymund has a sensitive pair of lungs. When he was 1 month old, he was admitted in the hospital for a week for bronchopneumonia. At 1 month old, it was serious. He was on oxygen support as the doc said that babies may just give up breathing if he couldn't breath. My little baby at that time had his wind pipes all jammed up, full of mucus. It was so painful to see him go on IV, the needle poking into his tiny hands and then the painful suction of mucus every so often. He was screaming hell.

Anyway, since then and I believe it was because of that illness at such at young age, Raymund has very sensitive lungs. On days when he didn't have flu, he'd still cough when he over exerted - like running and playing. He'd cough and cough, and then vomit. He'd wheeze as well. And no, he does not have a real case of asthma. The pediatricians said that he has what they call exercise induced asthma. So, he had been treated with similar medications like Combivent, Steritide, Ventolin and the likes. When he suffered from cough and flu, many a time, he was given nebulizer and even Singular. I have this aversion for Singular and if possible, I try not to put him on it. I covered my belief separately in my topic on Singular.

I got really worried that Raymund's situation will worsen as he grows up. On normal days, and almost every other night, he would wake up in the middle of the night coughing till he vomit out mucus. He would be crying as I can see that it was painful to him. I tried many things. The medications from pediatrician but I don't like administering too much med on a little boy. I seeked Chinese sin seh's advice and giving him things like snow jelly/suet kap, cordyceps, hou jou san (bear gall) etc. Nothing seemed to work. His cough is easily triggered, If he takes anything cold or junky, that's it. He would definitely wake up that night coughing badly and vomiting.

Checking around, I realized that some of my friends' kids have similar problem. Raymund is not alone. Well, knowing that we are not alone, ain't helping either. I still have to figure out a way to help him.

A friend once told me to try out bird nest. His son was suffering from cough a while back but not as bad a Raymund. He bought the Lo Hon Ka bird nests and fed his son a spoon every day. He told me that his son's cough ended there. I didn't quite believe as I thought that it was an isolated incident.... until recently.

Failing all measures, I finally got Raymund on Lo Hon Ka Bird nest. Feeding him twice a day, each time a teaspoon of those concentrated bird nest. He didn't quite like it and we have to do much 'manja-ing'. He wasn't too consistent as he sometimes just refused it. About 2 bottles later - roughly a month passed - I noticed that I didn't hear him coughing much. In fact, he hardly woke up and cough, much less vomit. And then we ran out of the bird nest. For about 2 weeks, he went without it. His cough came back and the nightly ritual started again. That's enough for test and control. I believe. I quickly bought the Lo Hon Ka again and put him back on. He is better now. Still not completely cure but I'm hopeful.

There... that's my story.

Why not buy the uncooked ones and cook ourselves. Done that. Didn't work. Simple reason. The difference is that with Lo Hon Ka, he gets it everyday. Will you double boil every day?

Lo Hon Ka bird nest is definitely expensive. About RM350+ a bottle if you are member.

But ... and this is a big BUT...start calculating. When the kid is sick, how much do you have to pay for pediatrician and put him on medicine which is just preventive and for symptomatic treatment. It does not stop totally. It does not cut it from root as the Chinese says. You keep paying and if he goes on Singular, that's easily another min RM100 depending on how serious and that is just on medicine each time. Don't forget Singular has a side effect! Worse still, he gets hospitalized! Calculating this, you will find that it is about the same if not cheaper. The other upside is that bird nest helps general health as well. Good for the skin. Etc. Definitely a good option. And it works!

I'm already asking my friends with similar problem with themselves or their kids to try it.

Hope it helps them.

Hope it helps you :)

Cheers

Joanne

Montages of Ages Overtime

A friend and colleague of mine, Farah inspired me. She gave me a great idea when she did a montage of photos of a friend of her from past till present, printed and frame. Thought it is a fantastic idea for my kids. They grow so fast and change so much. Until you look back, you wonder what has changed. As I was doing these montages, I was reminiscing. The earlier days when I first got pregnant. The stages of growth. The memory was very sweet.

Here are what I have done for each of my darlings.

Ryan

Raymund

Rachel

Feels good .... You should try it.

I just did them on Powerpoint, then copy all and save as picture.

If you want to make it more fancy, you can use Photoshop.

Cheers

Joanne

I Love This Photo

Take a look of my little girl peeping cheekily between her cousin Enson and brother Raymund.

Such a nice shot!

Thanks to my brother :)

Standard 1 Examination just Round the Corner!

Coming week is school holidays. Right after, Ryan has 2 weeks of examination.

Trying to get him to understand the seriousness of examination is not simple. This is the first real exam. In kindy, they were merely assessments. Half the time, the kindy was telling us parents not to pressure the kids and let it be stress free. Just easy revisions and let them go through them easy.

Now the real thing. How do I even explain the seriousness. That he has to study. That exam is important. You might say that it is only Standard 1. Then it will be 'only Standard 1'. It will have to start somewhere.

A few weeks back, I just tried telling him the examination is important. He has to study with his tuition teacher. I don't have much time as my work is very demanding, what with a new boss. I tried to explain that if he wants to be a doctor, he has to study and get all correct. My boy told me that he wants to become a doctor to take care of his Daddy and Mummy. So sweet :)

Actually, I'm not asking for top of class or really all correct. I just don't want him to fall behind and having stress picking up. That's all I ask. A good average and I'm satisfied.

With the exam, I gave him an incentive. I told him that if he gets all correct (figuratively), I will by him his much desired Nerf Gun - one of those in things for young kids today. Earlier I refused to get him because it just don't like him playing with guns and shooting at people. But he just so loved the toy. So I just told him, if you do well and all correct, that is his reward. Work for it! He said 'But Mummy I thought you say cannot?'. I just said 'I promise that I will give you Nerf Gun if you get all correct. I promise. And you promise you cannot shoot at people. But if you get 1 wrong, you get a smaller present. 2 wrongs even smaller present.' Actually my intend is to reward a present anyway. Just for studying and trying. I don't think he will get the Nerf Gun anyway ie all correct but a good incentive. So bad of me :)

I have taken some days off next week to coach him on English and BM. I have not been a good Mummy. I used to be so closed in coaching. Now I just don't have the time and I'm usually too tired. I rely on the tuition teacher a lot. I felt that the exam require my attention and so I make some time. Not enough but better than none.

The reward piece actually works. Before, Ryan used to get all wrong or few correct in his Spelling, Ejaan and 'ting seah'. Since the time I told him that if he gets all Spelling, Ejaan and ting seah correct, all 3 everytime, I will get him a present. Now he has shown me 100% for Spelling and Ejaan. He told me he has 100% for Chinese and ask me for the reward. I told him to show me. Along the way, when he showed me each, my husband and I 'drama' a bit on our praises. Works and he was very proud.

Standard 1 Blues! And worse, Chinese Primary school!

Yep! Primary Standard One blues! My son's or mine?! Both!!

If you have been following me, you will know that my children are pretty much bananas. Yellow on the outside and white on the inside. They speak English as their mother tongue. And guess what! I have enrolled my eldest Ryan into a Chinese school. I mentioned this before but the reality and the result of that reality hits now.

While I was deciding back then whether choosing a Chinese school for Ryan was a good decision.

Many advised me 'Aiya! Children are flexible and they pick up fast. Don't worry la!'

Taking a closer look, the ones who said that are often the older aunties or have no children or have children in Kebangsaan schools or that they speak Chinese at home.

Then I asked the moms who did just that. Those moms like me who can't read and write Chinese and whose kids are plain bananas. A different stories. Quite a few told me that after a year, they just pulled their kids out and put them in private schools. It was absolute misery for their children. They just couldn't follow. Others who took it through just said bite the bullet, it was tough but just continue. Very few did that.

Weighing and deciding was tough. We decided to put him to Chinese schools for 2 main reasons:

1. An additional language - Chinese - of course. And we speak English at home. I'm not gonna be worried that my son would one day say 'jilo' instead of 'zero'. I'll make sure of that!
2. The main reason. The system. The discipline. At least till Standard 6. I have simply no faith in the kebangsaan schools!

My mom was warning me. Watch out for signs. Signs of being bullied. Signs of depression. Anything. Manage it. And be really prepared that if it doesn't work, to pull him out later. We decided to rough it out with him for now.

The signs came. It was subtle. The signs of misery! Ryan started worrying. Telling things like he was worried that when his little brother Raymund joins him, he might get lost. The school is very big. I told to just ask the teachers if he gets lost. And when its Raymund's turn, he can take care of him. He told me he can't. He gets lost too. Ask the teachers, I said. 'The teachers speak a lot of Chinese. I speak a bit Chinese only'. Initially I thought he was just fooling around. When Monday came, he was crying very hard, sobbing in fact. He refused to get down the bus. Crying so hard that the driver had to call me and we had to get him back home. He kept saying that the school is very big and that he is scared of getting lost.

Boy, how could I concentrate on my work. The next day, I took my lunch hour and when to meet my son at the school's drop off area. He was happier. My purpose really was to speak to his teacher. Reading between the lines. I understand that he felt like he didn't belong in a big school and people are not speaking in his lingo. He told me he had no friends and no one to speak to. And he only understood little what his teachers were saying. Imagine! No friends. Can't speak! Big alien area! I felt very sad for my son! My husband was upset as well. But what choice do we have. Pull him out now? I decided to speak to his teacher.

I got his teacher to understand his fear. I asked his teacher's help to place him and sit with someone who can speak both English and Chinese so they can converse and he can also pick up Chinese. His teacher was good! Phew! Thought that settled. Ryan came back happier and better.

You see, if you know my son, he always tries to make me happy and always tries to please me. Has the matter settled? No. A week later, he kept asking me every day how many more days he needed to attend school before holidays or weekend breaks. He was doing a count down. I noticed that. I started using encouragement and praises that his Chinese was getting better. Clever boy, la di da! Then the blues again! Just this Monday. He started saying that he had no friends. Only 1 friend. And his teacher scolds him. Asked further. It was because he was not listening to instructions. Asked even further, 'Did you understand your teacher's instructions?' No!'. All these over the phone on Monday morning. I was working and freaking busy. Can't get away. But worried for my son. Told my mom about it and she decided to go to his school. Again!

This time, my mom spoke to the headmistress and the teacher. She got them to understand Ryan's fears. Got Ryan to speak to them as well in front of the teacher and headmistress. We then realized that his so called partner is not his friend, for whatever the reason. Kids!! They decided to help and told Ryan to choose his own partner. Then the teacher 'helped' him to make some friends. He came back happy saying that he has ten friends. My guess is that he has more than 1 and not really 10.

Gosh! Trauma! Mine!

It was hard to take your kid's suffering. My husband and I felt helpless.

My husband was asking me what to do. I just said what else. We still have to rough it through this first year and decide after that. He has to learn independence sooner or later. It is just that the language is not helping and there is this culture shock of being in a big school.

We just have to be cruel to be kind! Very Hard!

The headmistress mentioned that she had calls from many parents as well that their kids are 'scared' of the big school. Normal, since this kids just came from small kindies. The demand for Chinese school is so great nowadays. It is from all races... not just Chinese. Bottom line, the same reasons I have mentioned. There are over 100 Standard 1 students in my son's school. Imagine the sheer number. No wonder they get scared.

I keep a very close watch on Ryan still. He is still counting down to weekends. He still tells me that the school is big and that he is scared of getting lost. I told him that he is brave and a good boy. I know that it is tough but you can do it. Make a new friend everyday. Make a new friend today and tell me tonight. He tried. Lotsa praises and encouragement. Good boy!

Don't think the situation ends here. But hopefully, it gets better faster.

Next topic - exams! Coming right up ...

Cheers

Joanne