June Parenting

This is what Andy Rooney thinks about women over 40: “As I grow in age, I value women over 40 most of all. Here are just a few reasons why”:

A woman over 40 will never wake you in the middle of the night and ask, ‘What are you thinking?’ She doesn’t care what you think.  If a woman over 40 doesn’t want to watch the game, she doesn’t sit around whining about it.  She does something she wants to do, and it’s usually more interesting.  

Women over 40 are dignified.  They seldom have a screaming match with you at the opera or in the middle of an expensive restaurant.  Of course, if you deserve it, they won’t hesitate to shoot you if they think they can get away with it.  

Older women are generous with praise, often undeserved.  They know what it’s like to be unappreciated.  Women get psychic as they age.  You never have to confess your sins to a woman over 40.  Once you get past a wrinkle or two, a woman over 40 is far sexier than her younger counterpart.

Older women are forthright and honest.  They’ll tell you right off if you are a jerk if you are acting like one.  You don’t ever have to wonder where you stand with her.  Yes, we praise women over 40 for a multitude of reasons.  Unfortunately, it’s not reciprocal.  For every stunning, smart, well-coiffed, hot woman over 40, there is a bald, paunchy relic in yellow pants making a fool of himself with some 22-year old waitress.  Ladies, I apologize.

For all those men who say, ‘Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?’, here’s an update for you.  Nowadays 80% of women are against marriage.  Why?  Because women realize it’s not worth buying an entire bull just to get a little sausage!

To all the women above 40, treasure yourself as you advance each year!

Posted on April 8th, 2009 by June
Filed under: Reflections and Resolutions, Poems and Quotable Quotes, Delights and Woes | 4 Comments »

The following poem is dedicated to all woman folks.

 Time passes. Life happens. Distance separates. Children grow up.
Jobs come and go. Love waxes and wanes. Men don’t do what they’re supposed to do.

Hearts break. Parents die. Colleagues forget favours. Careers end.
BUT……… Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how many miles are between you,
A girl friend is never farther away than needing her can reach.

When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you have to walk it by yourself, the women in your life will be on the valley’s rim, cheering you on, praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the valley’s end.

Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk beside you . . . or come in and carry you out.  Girlfriends, daughters, granddaughters, daughters-in-law, sisters, sisters-in-law, Mothers, grandmothers, aunties, nieces, cousins, and extended family, all bless our life!

The world wouldn’t be the same without women, and neither would I. When we began this adventure called womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or sorrows that lay ahead.  Nor did we know how much we would need each other. Every day, we need each other still.

So ladies of all ages, enjoy your womenhood.

Posted on April 4th, 2009 by June
Filed under: Poems and Quotable Quotes, Parenting Tips | No Comments »

Hi Singapore Parents

With your busy schedules, ever ponder for a while the successes you have so far???

Well, after attending the Neuro-Linguistic Programming workshop, I manage to list out the 100 successes in my life thus far.  It was a good feeling.

1. Age 6 - successfully stopped sucking my thumb
2. Apple of my father’s eye for the 1st 8 yrs of my life (only girl)
3. Pri 4 - 1st in class
4. Age 12 - passed PSLE
5. Sec 2 - 1st in class
6. Tried girls’ soccer when in Sec 3 or 4
7. O’ level - got distinction in Chinese
8. Besides coping with sch work, also help in family biz (underwear wholesale)
9. Age 17 - completed and obtained PSC (secretary certificate)
10. Age 17 - started my 1st job. When I got my 1st pay of $200, the feeling was superb.
11. Age 18 - completed sewing course
12. Sew clothes for myself and family
13. Started table-tennis journey (still playing occasionally)
14. Also played netball (position of Goal Keeper)
15. Represented Maybank in netball during May games in KL
16. Represented Maybank in table tennis tournaments in Singapore
17. Age 19 - promoted from clerk to secretary
18. Attended my 1st dinner and dance. Shocked my boss with my new look.
19. Celebrated my 21st birthday in the office (egg agar-agar)
20. Joined beauty pageant during D&D of Maybank
21. Can remember appointments without taking notes (before childbirth)
22. Passed my driving test on the 2nd attempt (high way code 1st attempt)
23. Age 22 - made my 1st trip overseas to Taiwan
24. Lost 10 lbs through diet
25. Age 23 - got married. Felt on top of my world in my new chapter of life.
26. Age 26 - gave birth to my 1st child
27. Age 28 - gave birth to my 2nd child
28. Age 29 - moved into a private apartment in my name.
29. Bought and wrapped 25 gifts all in different designs for X’mas party at work
30. Wrote to ST Forum on bus stop at Raffles Pl (no seats). Within a wk, they were up.
31. Age 32 - gave birth to my 3rd child (breech baby naturally borne)
32. Age 32 - bought study policy for each of my 3 children
33. Identified & went for courses to upgrade myself and in line with mkt sentiments
34. Age 34 - gave birth to my 4th child
35. Participated in migration of old system to AS400
36. Participated in 2000 Millenia exercise
37. Age 34 - promoted to officer level
38. Age 34 - bought study policy for 4th child
39. Learnt computer softwares on my own - WordPerfect, Lotus123 and Database
40. Able to wear back my old clothes after 3 months of childbirth (no slimming diet/pills)
41. Breastfed all my children for at least 1 month
42. Recycled baby clothes/pram/diner chair to friends and relatives
43. Recycled maternity clothes to friends and relatives
44. Coached my 4 children during their primary sch days (no external tuition)
45. 1994 - whole family went for trip to Australia Gold Coast
46. Age 38 - obtained IBF certificate
47. Age 41 - completed Advanced Diploma with PSB
48. Tried canoeing for the 1st time
49. Age 44 - completed degree in Bachelor of Sci in Biz Admin
50. 2001 - made trip to Oklahoma for finish last 2 modules of degree
51. 2002 - rented out apartment and bought HDB flat
52. Settled debts for my spouse
53. Paid for insurance premium of spouse
54. Worked in the same company for more than 30 years
55. Raised 4 independent and confident teenagers/adults
56. Nursed my spouse back to health
57. Helped him reduce 7 kg within 3 months
58. Maintained household expenses
59. Visit my mum once a week
60. 2004 - completed Reiki I course
61. Dec 04 - whole family went to Perth, Australia
62. 2005 - conducted 3 sessions of gift wrapping courses for Maybank staff
63. 2005 - completed Reiki II course
64. Reiki myself and others when the opportunities call for it
65. May 07 - make a trip to Beijing with my spouse & climbed the Great Wall of China
66. 2006 - paid of o/s loan for HDB flat
67. Wrote to ST Forum on mosquito breeding (within the day, the press came)
68. Participated in Bull Run in the city for 2 years
69. 2006 - retired from Maybank without a job
70. 2006 - obtained CPT certification (IPMA)
71. Aug 06 - joined SEO Web Design wkshop & started my 1st blog parent-joy.blogspot.com
72. Wrote 1st article published in ST on 20 Mar 07 - Give it your best shot
73. Sat in committee for CPT 2007 graduation ceremony
74. 2007 - accredited PSW for teenagers (13 - 19)
75. 2007 - volunteered as Parent Guardian for a China scholar (Li Jing fm CGSS)
76. Mar 07 - participated in rdshow at Bras Basah complex (got 7 leads - 9 enrolments)
77. Apr 07 - completed 3 Artistry Beauty workshops on proper facial handling
78. Apr 07 - participated in Parent/staff event in Cedar Girls Sec Sch sports day
79. Apr 07 - taught Perseverance for Success to P5 & P6 students at Huamin Pri Sch
80. May 07 - at Temasek JC to give talk on Family Bonding to Sec 3 & 4 students
81. Jun 07 - had my 1st public talk on Family Bonding
82. Jun 07 - assisted a friend on Creative Writing workshop in NUSS Guild Hse (P1-P3)
83. Jun 07 - completed 6 session of GAB with WINGS
84. Jun 07 - faciitator at GSK Quality outlet for talk “Keep Your Relationship Going Hot
85. Jul 07 - gave talks to Pri 6 students on Time Mgt and Motivation Study/skill
86. Jul 07 - gave talk on “How to talk so tt yr child listens” at Blossom Monte Creative Ctr
87. Jul 07 - gave assembly talks on “Internet Safefy” to Ngee Ann Pri Sch students
88. Started a blog - juneparenting.com with more than 160 posts
89. 2007 - joined Art OutReach as a volunteer
90. Had gone to many schools to share with children on the various art profiles
91. 2008 - obtained ESC certification from Mindchamps (2nd attempt)
92. 2009 - completed and obtained NLP accreditation
93. Can still remember 75% of primary school classmate names
94. Ongoing - make it a point to go for massage once a month
95. Ongoing - make it a point to go for facial once a month
96. Able to cook up meals within half an hour (a soup and 3 other dishes)
97. Able to cook 9-course Reunion dinner for 20 people
98. Organized gatherings for OCU classmates
99. Organized gatherings for ex-Maybankers
100. Meet up with friends regularly to catchup and de-stress

So parents, do take a moment to go through what you have done and reflect the happy moments . . .

Posted on March 28th, 2009 by June
Filed under: Reflections and Resolutions, Delights and Woes | 1 Comment »

Hi parents

Most of us know that bananas are a good source of vitamin C, potassium and fiber. They also contain no fat cholesterol and sodium.

Well, research has found that they also contain a rich supply of vitamin B6. Vitamin B6 helps in protein metabolism, red blood cell formation and the functioning of the central nervous system.

Bananas also contain more digestible carbohydrates than any other fruit. When consumed, it helps the body to burn off calories from carbohydrates more easily and quickly than calories from fat or protein.

Do you know that bananas also contain 3 natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose. Hence, when eaten, it gives one the instant energy boost. This explains why bananas make good a before or after-workout snack, as it helps replenish the necessary carbohydrates, glycogen and body fluids depleted during exercise. And how many bananas do you need after a strenuous 90-minute workout? Just 2 will do. For diabetics and weight watchers, this is one fruit you want to avoid though.

Do you know that bananas do not grow on trees although we use the term banana “tree”. The fact is it is a perennial herb. Its trunk is not a true one but many leaves wrapped tightly around a single stem. This emerges at the top as the fruit-bearing flower stalk. So, the next time you see a banana “tree”, take a closer look again.

Each banana tree can continue producing fruit up to 100 years. Isn’t this amazing? However, most banana plantations renew their stock every 10 to 20 years. Botanically, banana is classified as a berry. It is from the same family as ginger, tumeric and cardamom.

And how many varieties of bananas are there??? 400 - could you believe that??? And how many have you tried??? And it is the world’s best-selling fruit, after apple and orange.

For other aspects of bananas, refer to http://www.juneparenting.com/2007/03/13/going-bananas/

So parents, if you or your children are involved in strenuous activities, try eating bananas and see the results for yourselves.

Happy trying . . .

Posted on April 28th, 2008 by June
Filed under: Food and Juices | 2 Comments »

Hi parents

Today, I would like to share with you an extract from the book “Something Wonderful is about to happen . . .” by Robin L Silverman.  In it, the author shared many true stories of people who found happiness in unexpected places.

In one of the articles, a group of people were asked to trace out the outline of their hands and write something about them.  One particular candidate wrote:

“I hate my hands.  The knuckles are too big and they hurt (she had arthritis).   The veins are ugly and my hands won’t always do what I want them to do.”  Up to this point, there was complete silence in the class as they felt her pain.

Then she continued: “But these are the hands that can still splash cool water on my face on a hot summer’s day.  These are the hands that clean my body and make my bed.  These are the hands that caress my loved ones and help me hold them.”

In conclusion, she looked up, made eye contact with one of the women near her and said confidently: “I love my beautiful hands!”

Do you love your beautiful hands?  I do.

So parents, you may want to do this exercise with your kids and see what they have to say about their BEAUTIFUL hands.  Have fun . . .

Posted on April 18th, 2008 by June
Filed under: Poems and Quotable Quotes | No Comments »