I was old Enfagrow Milk Powder will increase price again

My little girl takes Enfagrow milk powder from Mead Johnson. Just the other day, I went to my regular chinese medicine shop to replenish my stock. I usually get the twin packs, better value. Just when I was about to pay, I noticed the price tag showed RM94.90! I had a shock and then I was pointed out that it was a triple pack. Worked out to be RM31.63 a pack. Still ok. The shop keeper told me to keep stocks. The triple packs were about to run out and they have news that the price for Enfagrow is gonna 'grow' again. Sigh! Gosh, the price of milk is growing as fast as, if not faster than gold! I think if fund houses decide to invest in baby milk, we would probably be getting great return, haha! Yep, I'm talking nonsense but I'm still venting. Many years ago, good milk costing RM 20+ was considered super expensive. Now??!

Actually I suspected that an increase is round the corner. Couple of weeks back, I couldn't get the milk powder for my girl. I always go for the original flavor. I think the honey and vanilla flavor ones could be a bit too heaty. Anyway, I was looking for the original ones, and went to a few chinese medicine shops. They ran out. One of them told me that the suppliers hadn't been replenishing their stocks and they had been calling them. I suspected then that I would be seeing another round of price hike.

Having a baby nowadays is not easy. Especially when you would like to give them the best.

My Boys Now..

My 2 boys...I've just been downloading some of the latest photos from my camera. I noticed that they have grown so much. No doubt considering how much they eat! They love food!

Here are some latest. Actually there are more. Just that my camera battery konked out. Can't download :(

Indonesian Maids & Their Sanitary Towels

I don't know if you know but I just found out! It's gross.. grotesque!

My husband came home yesterday and pulled me aside. He heard from a friend about how Indonesian ladies clean their soiled sanitary pads. I have always thought that like us, they will just wrapped it up and throw it away. Yes, they do that but they had to wash the blood away from the pad and then only wrapped and throw it away. Can you imagine?!! Toilet will be reeking with the smell and if it's not washed properly...urghh! Then they will be caring and feeding our kids, they cook... eeekkk urghh! I was shocked!

After he told me, I spoke to my maids. Is it true! I asked what for?! They have to throw it away anyway after that?? They were surprised that we asked. In fact, it is so normal for them. They were taught to do so in Indonesia. One says that she heard that if she doesn't do this, rumor says she will go crazy... so she had better believe it in case. Another story is something along the lines of Pontianak feeding on it .. urgh! And my maid told me she was just taught to do so... don't know why. Immediately, I told them not to do that. They are in Malaysia. We have proper rubbish bins and garbage trucks disposing rubbish, unlike like the close quarters in Indonesian 'kampung' lifestyle. Under no circumstances that they practice this.. purely for hygiene reasons. It is no wonder sometimes my common bathroom stinks and I didn't even know why then. No matter how you hose it down, it will still reek with the stench unless you do a complete scrub and wash... but each time...no way! Thinking of it now gives me the shivers!

So I told them NOT to. If by not doing so drives a lady mad.. I'd have been mad long ago!

We didn't scold the maids. It wasn't intentional. But it took us only now to know... all these while when we have Indonesian maids... shivers! Urghh! Gross!

Register 4Year Olds to Primary Schools NOW??!

I have been hearing that 4 years olds today will enter into primary schools one year earlier - when they are in Year 6. AND I have also recently heard that 4 year old kids have to register in primary schools NOW! Is it true???

I've tried searching the net and Star online for more information on this but can't find any info. Raymund is in Year 4 kindy. If he needs to register, then I have to figure out which school Ryan is going to. Till now, there is no news about whether Ryan's registration to the chinese school that we have chosen for him is successful or not. I was told that we will know only in August this year. Talk about coordination!! By the way, Ryan is in Year 6 kindy now.

A friend told us that he has already registered his 4 year old in primary a couple of weeks back. Told us that the registration is now! Where and when was this announcement made? I've yet to call the primary schools to check out. Meanwhile, if anyone knows anything, I'd really appreciate more info.

Again...here is another example of getting the young children stressed up even earlier. Sigh!

Wall Decal/Stickers for my Kids' Rooms

Do you know what I mean by wall decals? They are those stickers... can be cartoon or pattern or whatever designs .. that you use to stick on the walls to brighten up the room. Are they wall paper? Not really. I'll explain what I got later.

I have always wanted to decorate my kids' room but never got to. Always going for practical arrangement.. which is kinda boring for kids. One day, when I was walking in Sogo (children's department), I caught sight of wall decals - those with bright colorful pictures meant for children. I have been looking for them for the longest time but couldn't find what I want. They are hardly sold in Malaysia ... unless they are hidden somewhere that I don't regularly go. I even searched the internet then. I was looking for sticker.. big ones to stick on walls ... even Disney or cartoon character ones. Couldn't find. Those I've found are not in Malaysia and hideously expensive.

Anyway, I bought those that I saw in Sogo. The brand is called Momoyo. I got 2, one for Raymund's room and one for Rachel. I got both of these (see below) for my daughter's room. For Raymund, I've got space ships with little cute aliens and one on ocean and fishes, his favorite. Sorry, can't find the pictures and I've yet to take photos of their rooms :p) All came in pretty, bright colors meant for kids. Each costs about RM32.90 plus minus. Quite ok considering. The only disappointment is that the designs are very limited. But those that they already have are quite nice too. These stickers are not papers ... looks something like PVC. Self adhesive and the best part, removable! You can take it down again and paste it back on the paper provided to be reuse again. Exactly what I have been looking for.

My kids were so excited. They helped me put up the stickers on the wall. My little girl was 'wah'-ing away. Nice bonding activity. In fact, I got some more today from Sunway Pyramid - there is a Momoyo stall opposite Laksa Shak at LG level. Had more fun at bedtime :) What's more, I felt that it gives my kids incentive to go to bed at night :) And it definitely brightens up the room.

Homework for Kindy Kids - For or Against?

Do you believe 4 year old kindy goers should be given homework? Is it too young? And that they should enjoy their kindy first before the real school? 4 year old kindy kids are actually 3+ year olds... not that older than the babies and still at the edge of toddlerhood. And now, they have to go to kindies and get homeworks. Sigh!

In my search for kindies, I have come across 2 types of kindy. One that says no homework because a kindy should be fun for the 4 year olds and the other that advices that we have to start preparing them for school right at the beginning. I have the 'benefit' of both extremes. Ryan had his 4 year old class in Eduland back then. Eduland/Beaconhouse sells no homework... they also sell balanced program, not fully academic... err...in my opinion, there was a bit too much focus on activities. And now, Raymund , just only turned 3 in Nov, is attending a fully academic (of course, still have some activities la) one at SuperFun Learners. Raymund has homework. Not too heavy. Just writing numbers. Some coloring. But it's homework alright. So, which is good? Is there any hard and fast rule? If there is, all kindies would have already adopted it.

During Ryan's time, I chose Eduland because I wanted a more complete program for him. The activities to build his non-academic knowledge and development. That was my condition. Did it work? Not for him. If you have read my earlier post, you'd know how mortified I was when I realized how simple the syllabus was in Eduland when compared with SuperFun Learners. Ryan is playing catchup now at SuperFun Learners' 6-Year-Old class (fully academic kindy) - and all those extra $ and classes that I have to arrange for him to get him ready for primary school. Of course, if your child is brilliant and his grandma coaches and advances him day in day out, then that's fine - but that's still reinforcement. It is so much harder for Ryan now. I have even asked myself, had Ryan gained from Eduland? It's not a complete lost but it could have been a lot better given his background ... Ryan was a late speaker (see my earlier posts).

With Raymund, he is with his brother in Superfun Learners. The kindy is good. His teacher has already called me twice to give me feedback. She said that Raymund is afraid to write in class and that he was given his 1st homework to write number that day. She asked us to coach him and give him more confidence. I was very grateful.

I'm a firm believer of practice makes perfect. I have seen it work in my two boys. Ryan comes back with averaging 4 homeworks. Enopi follows the same theory. And that's additional for him. I have seen good improvement. Of course, getting him to do them requires a lot of patience and encouragement. Enticing him with rewards, eg. Wii games, if he completes his homework fast and correctly works. With Raymund, it is more difficult since he is so young. My maid helped a lot.

Sometimes, I feel sad when I see them already 'stressed' up so young. Is there a choice? Maybe. I don't know. But in the current education environment, the expectation level is not like it used to be during my time. I was really treating kindy like a playground back then. Now? Different story. That's why enrichment classes make money. With all these, there is no choice but to join them else our kids get left behind. I'm not asking my kids to produce Number 1 position in their report cards. I'm happy with a good average. I just don't want them to fall behind, and then lose confidence and be miserable.

My Princess at 16+ Months

My little princess at 16+ months. Time passes too quickly. My little girl is not a baby anymore. My hubby and I really miss those baby days. Yesterday came and went. Before long, my little princess will be little lady. Sigh! All the more... it is so very important to spend time with our kids. Work is not everything. Realistically, it is a means to an end.. enjoying the job is just one of the perks.

Here are some of the pictures that I took today.

I Must Find Time to Read with Ryan

Another batch of Scholastic books that I have ordered through my kids' new kindy arrived a few days ago. To be honest with you, I have not even finished half of what I bought in the earlier rounds. No time to read to them. But books are books ... there is nothing wasted about buying books. I have got 3 kids... they get passed down.

I received a call from Ryan's class teacher not too long ago. She called to check on Ryan's progress and more so, if I'm happy with his progress since he is the new to the school. This is what I like about SuperFun Learners. She told me about his progress and participation in class. While not as advanced as the kids who came to the kindy from day 1 at 4 years old, Ryan has shown good progress. I noticed that too. I even noticed Raymund's syllabus. When compared with Ryan's when he was at Raymund's age at Eduland (now, Beaconhouse), what a difference!! And it is the good difference. In the same conversation, I told his teacher that I'm worried about my son's reading ability. She advised that at this stage, having frequent reading with Ryan at home will help alot. Let him learn to recognize words from frequent reading.

I told myself that I have to make time to read with Ryan. I have bought so many story books for them. I will let Ryan choose one to read every night. Raymund is still young but Ryan has to go to Primary next year. I have to make time for him first (Correct or wrong?? Gut feel tells me I have to start coaching Raymund too - Sigh!) Saying is easy. My mad schedule was just mad! I was too tired. I finally got down to it tonight. I must say that Ryan hadn't slipped. Must be the kindy and his home tuition. I praised him when he read well! He was very happy and that got him to read more. We agreed that we will do again tomorrow before our Wii game session. I just thought if I can't read with him everyday, at least I should try during the weekend. I have certainly slipped up with my coaching. I depended wholly and too much on the enrichment classes that I have arranged for him. Ultimately, it still needs parents involvement.

My Sons Are Hooked on iPhone and Wii Games!

Are computer games bad for kids? Especially kids so young like my sons (they are 5+ and 3+ years old)? Some would think so.. especially when the games show bloody and violent killings. But then again, us parents can always choose not to buy these games for them, right? I just got my brand new iPhone a couple of months ago. Love it! It just spoiled my choices for other phone brands. It's like having a mini computer in your hand, all the time. And I discovered the wonders of games and applications. Haha! I put my iPhone out my sons' reach. Do you how fragile is that thing? Eventually I still let my sons play with it - provided they sit down and hold it carefully. Once tried, they are hooked. Even my 3 year old son knows how to play the games. I'm amazed how they can figure it out just like that. I don't even know how to play with some of them. My eldest has already figured where to buy the games on the iPhone and has been bugging me to download! Of course, I choose only the free ones and the RM0.99 ones :)

The good thing about it? Well at least they sit still, AND quietly, in restaurants and in the car. And that's saying something :) Two weekends ago, we got us the Nintendo Wii. The initial intention was to get both of them a handheld game set each. Gameboy is lousy. To buy 2 handheld Nintendo DS is nuts. For about the same, we got Nintendo Wii instead. We had some fun. Mummy and Ryan played together. Daddy also joined in. Raymund is not too keen.. he still prefers the iPhone as it is easier for him. So, while we are on the Wii, Raymund sits quietly with the iPhone. Parents-kids bonding! What more can you ask?! I love it.

I also used it as motivation for my sons to do their homework and study. Works also. Something like a reward after they have been good. The game itself? Nintendo Wii games are quite ok. Not violent ... at least not the ones I have. Actually, I encourage my kids to play computer games, whether on PC, TV or even on the iPhone. I believe that it helps my kids with hand eye coordination. Even reflex. Not to mention, working up some young brain juices to figure out the games. No harm there. Having said that, excessive is not good. So I control the time. Like I said. As a reward. When it is not easy to get, it becomes a treasure :) A weekend fun time .. only if they have completed their homework. Am I mean or what :) No Wii on weekdays. They have to be in bed early. And I do not want to spoil their eye sight! So, tomorrow is Wii time. Ryan had already mentioned it tonight.... reminding us. Smart boy! I just used this to negotiate reading time with him :) I got him to read 4 Clifford Phonics Fun Books with me at bedtime tonight :) The fact that I got new games today helped. Ha,ha!

It's been a while but I have not forgotten to write..

It's been a while but I have not forgotten about my blog. If you have been following my blog, I just started on my brand new job in Dec09. I had a bit of time to rest before I started .. and that was a mighty good decision. A good rest before a new job helped a lot - to rejuvenate and to refresh. At least it was good for me, good for the new job. Since on board, I have been 'flying' .. haha! If my boss is reading this, he'll probably say not flying high and fast enough :). But it certainly was at high speed. I just launched a big campaign and I'm so lucky to have a good supportive team. But sleep was little, stress was high. I just had no time for my blog. I'm back again. And I thank my readers for your patience. I'm still writing but will pretty much be a weekend writer. Please bear with me :) I'm going to cover a few posts today. Lots to say ... mostly about kids, my family.