June Parenting

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 | 1 Comment »

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 | 164 Comments »

Hi Singapore parents

Below  is something light-hearted to share for those who have crossed the half-century marks. 

Perks of reaching 50 or being over 60 and heading towards 70!
1.             Kidnappers are not very interested in you.

2.             In a hostage situation you are likely to be released first.

3.             No one expects you to run–anywhere.

4.             People call at 9 pm and ask: “did I wake you?”

5.             People no longer view you as a hypochondriac.

6.             There is nothing left to learn the hard way.

7.             Things you buy now will not wear out.

8.             You can eat supper at 4 pm.

9.             You can live without sex but not your glasses.

10.         You get into heated arguments about pension plans.

11.         You no longer think of speed limits as a challenge.

12.         You quit trying to hold your stomach in no matter who walks into the room.

13.         You sing along with elevator music.

14.         Your eyes will not get much worse.

15.         Your investment in health insurance is finally beginning to pay off.

16.         Your joints are more accurate meteorologists than the national weather service.

17.         Your secrets are safe with your friends because they cannot remember them either.

18.         Your supply of brain cells is finally down to manageable size.

19.         You cannot remember who sent you this list.

20.         And you notice these are all in Big Print for your convenience. 

So parents who are in their 50s and beyond, enjoy the above perks!

Posted on January 10th, 2009 by June
Filed under: Reflections and Resolutions, Delights and Woes | No Comments »

Hi Singapore parents 

Today, would like to share the story below: When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous “yes.”

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

“Now,” said the professor as the laughter subsided, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things—your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favourite passions -and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car.

The sand is everything else - the small stuff. “If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued, “there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

“Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.  Spend time with your children. Spend time with your parents.  Visit with grandparents. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18.  There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.

Take care of the golf balls first - the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled and said, “I’m glad you asked.”

The coffee just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there is always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.” 

So parents, recognise which are your golf balls and allocate time for coffee.

Posted on June 8th, 2008 by June
Filed under: Reflections and Resolutions, Poems and Quotable Quotes, Parenting Tips | 5 Comments »

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 | 17 Comments »