PSLE–I’m Glad It’s Over!

It dawned upon me yesterday when one of my readers DM on Instagram that she has been following my blog since Joey was in Primary One, that this was a milestone totally worth documenting on the blog. After all, this blog first began because of Joey and now that she has completed her first major academic milestone, we have every reason to rejoice & celebrate with her. :)

This year, I was most frequently asked by friends, “Are you nervous for PSLE?”, “How are the preparations for PSLE?”, “Which Secondary School does Joey want to go?”. My answers have always been, “I’m okay.. not nervous or ganchiong at all.” which was the truth. I’ve never been a tiger-mum and I mostly leave it to my kids to do their own studying. After all, it’s really their own future and they ought to take ownership and responsibility. Of course, once in a while I would still do my due negligence and give gentle reminders here and there, but thankfully, my kids are mostly conscientious on their own, so I don’t really need to worry much. Still, being the chill and calm mum that I am did not stop me from getting nervous when I saw the results being given out yesterday.

Everyone – Principal, teachers, students and parents – were gathered in the School Hall yesterday at 11am, all nervous and excited to see the results. The Principal gave her prep talk about how results don’t define all of us and reminded the parents at least five times that we should all celebrate our kids’ achievements regardless of whether they did well or not, and that won the applause of all the parents present. Even though I was very sure all the parents had their fingers crossed at that point. =X

After what seemed like an eternity of the Principal speaking, it was finally the time for the students to go to their respective classes where they would receive their result slips from their Form Teachers. The parents were told to follow the classes as they were called out. The kids settled down in their classrooms and the parents gathered outside peering in through the windows. I thought the kids all looked pale and almost none of them had a smile on their faces. Many of them sat with their backs to the excited parents standing outside. Poor kids – How nerve-wrecking was this for 12-year-olds?

I surprised myself by how nervous I felt. My heart was pounding so quickly and it had to be that Joey was among one of the last few to receive her results. She went back to her desk and looked intently at her results. I tried to decipher her facial expressions – Was it good? Was it bad?  I guessed it was not exactly fantastic because otherwise, she would have ran out and screamed. =P Instead, she was calm and collected as she walked out towards us and I heard her mutter, “It was not good…”

I looked at her results slip and heave a sigh of relief. It was GOOD. Good because it was within my expectations and she had accomplished this completely on her own hard work with zero tuition! I thought that was quite a big feat for a 12-year-old and she should totally be proud of herself! Plus, with this result, she would likely be able to get into a school of her choice. But she was on the verge of tears because it was slightly below her own expectations, and we had to comfort her and affirm her that it was a super good result and she should celebrate! Some of her classmates were crying in the classroom and others just looked very dazed. Of course, there were some who had big smiles as well – Hard work paid off!

As a parent watching all these drama going on around me, how did I feel? More than the actual results, I was more concerned about how these 12-year-olds will manage their emotions. Those who did well and above their expectations would of course have much to celebrate and rejoice, but how about those who did not meet their own expectations? Many people think that the kids nowadays suffer from the stress given by their parents or peer pressure, but to be honest, from my personal experience, these 12-year-olds put more stress on themselves with their own expectations than anybody else. Joey didn’t even know how the rest of her classmates did, until much later - Her initial disappointment came solely from her own expectations.

Back to a month ago when Joey finished her PSLE exams, she felt really confident that she would do well. I was glad that she had good positive vibes about it, of course. But on the other hand, I wanted to prepare her heart in case it did not turn out the way she thought it would be. There are just too many factors that can affect the final aggregate score you would receive – the bell-curve determined by how the entire P6 cohort performed, your condition during exam, whether you went out-of-point or made careless mistakes. Even a student who has performed consistently well is not guaranteed to get good results in PSLE. On the morning of receiving the results, I did my prep talk with Joey again and I reminded her that no matter the results, let’s give thanks to God for everything and trust that God will lead her to the right Secondary School where she will make many new friends who love her, and she would enjoy her Secondary School life.

When we got home, Papa Isaiah got Joey to sit down and he reiterated that we ought to thank God for bringing her through the PSLE and for the good results that she got because of her hard work. Then he got Joey to pray a prayer of thanksgiving to God – I was frankly touched by her prayers. She thanked God for the good results, for taking care of her and she also prayed that she will do even better when she goes to Secondary School. Then Papa Isaiah ended with a prayer of blessing for her. :) Joey looked evidently happier after that, possibly also because she got to know all her other friends’ results and she seemed to be the one with the best results so far. =P She even tried to comfort her classmate by messaging her that she ought to be proud of her own results because they were not bad at all, and how there are many others who won’t even have the chance to go to the Secondary School of their choice. Haha!

At this point, I’m just glad the episode is over and we are going to believe and trust God for the posting results. Whichever school Joey gets posted to, my prayer is that she will enjoy the friendships and school life, and make a difference wherever she goes. Papa & Mama are so proud of you, Joey! And we will always have your back, no matter what happens. =)

She asked for udon for celebration dinner last night. =D

14 Days To PSLE–Are You Stressed? =P

So, it’s finally my turn to experience the PSLE fever this year, and funny why I would refer it as “my turn” when I am not even the one taking the exams. =P

The most common question I’ve been asked this year has been, “Are you stressed?” and frankly speaking, I have not really been feeling the heat so far. We are rather chill parents and it probably helps that Joey has always been a conscientious and self-motivated kid when it comes to studying, so I can trust her to revise on her own. I still fulfil the usual mom duty by printing practice papers for her to do, encouraging her and praying for her, but let’s face it – Ultimately, she’s the one who will be walking into the exam hall and taking those papers. Her results will determine which Secondary School she will get into and that would probably play a big part in her future career choices as well. But the truth remains - It’s her life. It may sound a little too heck-care and nonchalant, but we cannot deny it, can we?

OK I got to admit – There were moments in the past year when I had sudden panic attacks – “Are we too relaxed?? Did I let Joey practise enough?? Every kid is in some form of tuition, enrichment or PSLE-prep class but not Joey – HOW??! Is it too late to send her for some classes now??”

I guess we would never know whether our decision of not sending her to any tuition classes is right, but it was something we believed in and chose to stick by it, even when her grades dipped a little when she was in Primary 5. Still, there were many other great achievements we could celebrate her for, and that was good enough for us.

Recently, Joey received her results for Prelims exams. Of course, the results wouldn’t affect the PSLE scores at all, but there was an unspoken message that it would be a rough gauge of where the kid stands. Typically, the schools would set really tough papers so as to challenge the high achievers and also to wake up those who are falling below the bar to study harder for the upcoming PSLE. I had expected Joey to do average because we didn’t exactly revise before the papers, but to my pleasant surprise, she came back with really good results. While I was really happy when I saw her marks and I told her so, deep in my heart there was a nagging thought – “What if she becomes complacent and stops studying for PSLE? Would that be worse-off? It might have been better if she did badly and start studying really hard!”  Very typical mom, right?

But immediately, I felt the Holy Spirit remind me – “Why would you think that fear is a better motivator than faith? Why wouldn’t you think that it’s better for Joey to step into the exam hall with confidence that she can do well than to go trembling and worrying that she would do badly?” Suddenly, it all made sense to me – My thinking had been so warped and twisted!

Doing well in an examination right before the PSLE would have given her the confidence and assurance that she knows her stuff and she can walk into that exam hall with faith in her heart and a smile on her face, knowing that she is well-prepared! Why would I think otherwise??!

So I am changing the things I say to Joey now – Instead of reminding her not to let her guard down and revise again and again, I have been telling her that she is good enough and well prepared, and she just needs to keep that momentum and she will be fine. Whether or not the results turn out the way we hope it will be, we leave everything in the hands of God. The last thing I want is for my child to feel that I equate her worth to a mere PSLE score. That may be what the school or society is telling her, but at least in my house, she must be assured of her worth and value, which goes way beyond all these.

It’s 14 days to the first PSLE paper, and I wish every mom in the same situation as me this year, a calm heart and peace of mind. Let’s be moms who believe in our kids and who they can become in life! :)

Oktho-K Lenses Gave Joey A New Vision!

Product Review

To be frank, I’ve never heard of Ortho-K lenses until it was introduced to me. You would think that as a mum to a little girl who suffered from serious myopia since the age of four should know better, right? Thankfully, I do now. In fact, it is not exaggerated to say that Ortho-K lenses have given Joey a new lease of life and a new vision everyday, literally.

The Beginning of Joey’s Myopia

Joey was diagnosed with myopia at the age of four, and it was a very serious case from the get-go. Her myopia was 300 in her right eye and 600 on her left. Naturally, we were all in a state of shock! None of us could imagine how she went about everyday with such poor eyesight! She was too young to know anything of course, so it was only when her teacher noticed her screening her eyes in class that she told us to get her eyes checked. We went for countless appointments at the National Eye Centre and many different types of eye drops were used on Joey. In the end, all the doctors could advise us was to do regular eye exercises with her to strengthen her eye muscles and limit reading or TV watching time to prevent the myopia from deteriorating. Both the husband and I have shortsightedness since young, and the husband’s myopia is as serious as 800-900 degrees on each eye. The doctors told us to expect Joey to reach that kind of shortsightedness as well due to her genes, but we should try our very best to slow down that progression because she was still so young. That started Joey’s spectacle-wearing journey.

What Are Oktho-K Lenses?

In January this year, we were introduced to Brian from AeroV and he specializes in customized Oktho-K lenses. Brian explained the benefits of Oktho-K lenses to us and it sounded like something Joey would really benefit from!

What exactly are Oktho-K lenses and what do they do, you may ask? Simply put, Ortho-K lenses are specialty hard contact lenses that are worn to sleep to reshape the eye overnight, resulting in clear vision without spectacles or contact lenses on waking. That means that even though Joey’s myopia was as high as 700 degrees (at the point when she started on Oktho-K), she would wake up to perfect eyesight after consistently wearing them for two weeks. Sounded too good to be true, but it happened! Of course, this is not a permanent healing – The myopia slowly returns after about 10-12 hours and that’s when you need to wear the Oktho-K lenses again (at night!). That is to say, if you stop wearing the Oktho-K lenses for about 2 days, the full myopia returns. The Oktho-K lenses have to be replaced every two years.

In fact, Brian tells us that there are standard and mass-produced Ortho-K lenses available on the market, but because every one’s cornea are shaped differently, a person may have to try on many different pairs of standard lenses before they find a pair with a good fit. Customized Oktho-K lenses, on the other hand, are customized according to the shape and fit of your eyes and would definitely fit perfectly and comfortable for wearing, resulting in much better results. That is the reason why he only sells customized Ortho-K lenses.

Joey’s Oktho-K Journey

And so, Joey’s Oktho-K journey began. We went for numerous consultations with Brian and many reviews after Joey started wearing the lenses at night. To be frank, it was not easy for a little girl who has had no prior experience with contact lenses to get used to this nightly routine. At the beginning, I had to help her with the wearing and removing of lenses everyday, but as the days went by, she gradually learnt how to clean her lenses meticulously, put them on and remove them easily. After 3 months, she’s an expert at it!

 


While it may feel tedious having to go for numerous check-ups and consultations, it was all for the good really. Brian must be the most patient optometrist I’ve ever met. It is not the easiest to coax and explain to kids about lenses, especially when they may be whining and asking why they must wear them. But Brian never once lost his cool. In fact, he was always smiling and joking with the kids to make them feel comfortable. I’m convinced that it’s so very important to find a good and reliable optometrist – It makes life so much easier. =P



Joey was also given a Travel Box to keep all the necessary solutions and cases for her Ortho-K lenses, with many cute stickers thrown in for her to customize her box. That made her day totally! It removed her fear and apprehension, and gave her motivation for wearing the lenses every night. Smart move by Brian, I must say! A little extra cost for him, perhaps, but he won the kids over.



This is everything Joey needs on her Oktho-K journey – Saline for cleaning, Oxysept for storing the lenses and lubricating solution for wetting the lenses before putting them on. Brian also included a LED mirror and a white cloth that makes the wearing and removing of lenses easier. He emphasized on the importance of hygiene and gave us tips on how to set up the ‘station’ at home so that the entire process is seamless and hassle-free. The travel box will also be useful when we go travelling overseas – Everything is in one box!



Joey was also given two pairs of new spectacles to tide her over during the initial period when she started on Oktho-K lenses. The effect was the most obvious after just one night of wearing the lenses. Her myopia power decreased significantly by half! I was really amazed. It continued to improve until her vision became perfect at 6/6 in both eyes after wearing the lenses for about 2-3 weeks. The two pairs of spectacles are at half and quarter power of her original myopia to tide her over during this period of correction.

 

For a mum who witnessed her daughter experience serious myopia at the young age of four, wearing spectacles and grumbling about how they fogged up and even losing them while swimming on several occasions and now seeing my daughter without spectacles and having perfectly clear vision, is pretty amazing. Joey used to be a little resistant to this idea, but now she cannot be happier. Her life has changed so much all thanks to Oktho-K lenses - She goes to school without having to wear spectacles and she does not need to worry about breaking or losing her spectacles. She can wear hairbands and earrings without worrying that she looks too accessorized. She goes swimming, wears normal googles and sees perfectly underwater. She doesn’t struggle with myopia anymore!

Are There Risks of Eye Infection?

That was the first question I asked! Which mummy would expose her kids to such dangers, if any, right? As with all lenses, Oktho-K lenses are not 100% risk-free of course. However, you can rest assured because Oktho-K lenses received United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in 2002. When the lenses are fitted well, used and care for according to instructions, the risk of eye infection is low.

Why Customized Oktho-K Lenses?

With many vision-correction options available in the market, you may be asking “Why Oktho-K”? It’s a legit question that even I asked myself at the beginning. Here are some reasons why people chose Oktho-K lenses and perhaps one of the scenarios is familiar to you too:

1. You Are Not Suitable for LASIK procedures

Some people have corneas that are too thin for LASIK (LASIK is basically a procedure where cornea tissues are removed to correct the myopia, and those born with thin corneas cannot go through this procedure), or perhaps they had gone through their first LASIK but their power regressed and they cannot do a second LASIK due to thin cornea or other issues. Some people have prescription that are too high for LASIK as well. Those with existing dry-eye conditions also do not have the option to do LASIK as the procedure will worsen the condition.

2. You Have An Active Lifestyle

People with a very active and outdoor lifestyle will benefit from Oktho-K lenses because they basically have perfect vision during the day, and no other lenses or spectacles to obstruct them while doing sports, etc. Soft lenses can be dangerous or too dry while doing water sports.  For kids, this is one reason why they should wear Oktho-K lenses as well. The husband and I both lost count of the number of pairs of spectacles we broke while growing up. It’s worse when we get hit by flying balls while playing sports – Bruises and cuts on our nose bridges were common. Thankfully, Oktho-K lenses would prevent Joey from having to go through that!

3. You Want To Control Myopia Progression

This must be the most enticing reason for parents to let their kids go on Oktho-K lenses. Typically, a kid will experience a progression of myopia by 1.00D (100degrees) per year. Wearing Oktho-K lenses will control that! This was especially applicable to Joey because she is currently at 700 degrees and she has every potential to reach 900 degrees very soon if we do not do something about it! (Because genes play a part and Daddy has 900 degrees myopia in one eye!).

4. You Have Serious Astigmatism

Soft lenses can correct astigmatism to only –2.75DC (275 degrees) while fully customized Ortho-K lenses can correct up to 6.00D (600degrees). There is hope for you if your astigmatism has gone so high!

Wait No More!

Now, if you are thinking of knowing more about fully customized Oktho-K lenses or any kind of eye aids, I strongly recommend booking your appointment with Brian at Aero V, not because this is a sponsored review but because both Joey and I really, really, really like him! He’s the best optometrist we have ever met, honestly. Meticulous, friendly, professional, always contactable and very funny! He can be contacted at brian@aerov.com.sg or +6598581308 or find out more on his website: http://aerov.com.sg/ Free trials are available too. Let him know Klessis recommended you! Haha. :)

Onward for a brighter vision!

Don't forget to check out our Crizal Prevencia Lenses as well!

Disclosure: The J Babies was sponsored a pair of fully customized Oktho-K lenses for Joey for review purposes. All photographs and opinions expressed in this post are based on personal experiences and the experience may differ from person to person. No other financial compensation was received. Prices of product depend on prescription.

Technorati Tags: Oktho-K lenses,Orthokeratology Lenses,Optometrist,Aero V,review of Oktho-K lenses

Tonight, The Husband Taught Me Something

I've always thought that I was the wiser one when it comes to parenting. I mean, mums generally spend more time with the kids as compared to the dads and are usually the ones who disciplines more regularly. But tonight, I was proven wrong and my heart is filled with thankfulness to God for giving me a husband like that.

We booked a family vacation to Penang in May/June way in advance, sometime last year. We would be taking a flight out on the first Saturday once school holidays start. But Joey's school recently sent us a memorandum to inform us of an outing to Johor Bahru for the whole cohort of Primary Four students and it would be happening on the day that we are scheduled to depart. Joey was naturally very disappointed because she wanted so badly to travel overseas with her friends and she would miss out a rare opportunity to bond with her friends.

My heart softened and I told her to make a decision whether she wanted to go for the one-day JB trip with her classmates or go to Penang with us. Sounds like a super democratic & understanding mum, right?

Joey thought about it and decided that she'd rather go JB with her friends and miss the 5-day Penang trip with us. I was fine with it because I wanted to respect her decision.

The husband, however, was dead against it.

That meant the girl would not be able to go JB in the end and we stick to our original plans. She sulked the whole evening.

I didn't want Joey to go to bed feeling upset. So I prayed to God for wisdom to explain the Daddy's seemingly tyrannical decision. Immediately, God spoke to me. God simply said that what I did was giving Joey the signal that it is okay and acceptable to choose friends over family! Oh gosh, why didn't I see it that way?

I quickly asked Joey into the room and explained, "Joey, I need you to understand why Daddy made that decision. I didn't understand it a while ago but now I do, and I think Daddy is very wise to decide this way. In life, our friends come and go but our family will always be with us. No matter what, our priority should always be family and friends should never become more important than family. The Penang trip was planned long ago for our family of 4 to spend time together. Without you, the 3 of us will be incomplete. We don't want to leave you out. You understand?"

Joey nodded and tears welled up her eyes. I knew she understood and it will be something that she'd remember for a long time.

I'd say the same myself. :)

“Ma, I Wanna Go NUS”

It was a conversation I had with Joey a few days ago.

Out of the blue, Joey asked me which University I went to, and I went on to tell her that I studied at the National University of Singapore (NUS) and that I graduated with a Bachelor in Business Administration. I also shared with her how living in the Hall was like. I was staying at Sheares Hall during the first year of my Uni life, and that was the most fun part of my Uni life, getting to know many people from all faculties in NUS, studying really late into the night and having suppers every single night. We did so many crazy and fun things that I don’t think I will ever forget that experience. So, I told Joey that if she gets into NUS next time, she should really stay in the Hall for the experience of it. It would be one of the best memories of her Uni life. After hearing me share, Joey got really excited and told me that she has decided that she would be going to NUS (bless her!), and so I asked her what she would like to study. Gave her some examples of the different faculties in NUS such as Medicine, Computer Science, Arts…. and this was how our conversation went:

“I want to go to Computer Science!!!! I love to play computer games!!!”

“Errr but babe, computer science is not about playing computer games. It’s about doing programming and learning all about computers and how they work.”

“Oh….. then I don’t want. Oh I know! I want to go Arts!! You know how much I love drawing, right?” and she raised her two eyebrows at me with a big grin.

“Err…. but this Arts is not about drawing.” I was feeling very amused by now.

“Huh… then what can I study???! Everything (is) so boring!”

“Let’s not worry about that now, babe. University is still a long way away!”

We ended the conversation with some silly laughter and no conclusion, with Joey realizing that University might not be as fun as she thought it would be, but it got me smiling every time I recall this conversation I had with her. Kids grow up really fast, and no matter how much we hope to keep them at this stage when they are still all innocent and stress-free, life’s pressures are catching up on them every minute as we speak. But that’s what life is all about – Meeting challenges and overcoming them, growing stronger in the process of it. It’s a joy to watch my kids grow up and experience life, just as how I did. =)

Our Learning Lab Journey: The 1st Impression

Sponsored Review

I don’t consider myself to be a parent who is overly concerned about my kids’ academic achievements. Perhaps, it’s because Joey has never really needed me to be concerned in any way. She is in Primary 3 this year, and she did very well in Primary 1 and 2, where she came in second position in class for both years. Because of that, she got into the best Primary 3 class in her cohort this year. I’m extremely proud of her because I gave her minimal help, so she did well purely because of her own diligence and attentive listening in class.

For the first time this year, however, I noticed that Joey was starting to struggle in her Math subject. Even though she continued to do relatively well in her other subjects, it was obvious that Math was her weakest link. She would spend hours trying to complete her Math homework, often breaking down in tears because she did not know how to solve the problems, or could not understand the new concepts taught in class. She would come home with surprise Math tests that had borderline results. The husband and I tried to help her by revising and explaining the concepts to her, but it was an arduous journey for both sides. We were frustrated, and Joey was even more so. She started to lose confidence in the subject and we often heard her say things like, ‘I’m just not good in Math.’, or ‘This is SO TOUGH. There is no way I know how to solve it.’

That was when this self-acclaimed cool and collected mummy started to panic. Surely some form of help or coaching must be given to Joey before she loses all interest in Math!

Perhaps I would be the best person who could understand the emotional and mental stress that Joey was going through. I myself struggled with Math as a kid. Languages have always been my strength, but when it comes to Math, I needed double and triple the amount of time to grasp concepts and apply them correctly. It didn’t help that I was extremely careless as well, so growing up, my Math results had always been the reason for my despair. I eventually did obtain a distinction for Math in my O and A’ Levels, but that was after months and months of very hard work and daily overcoming of feelings of low self-esteem. Having gone through the journey myself, I understood that there is a way to improve results, especially when it comes to subjects like Math. I just needed to find the best way to help my girl.

At the very point when I was wondering about the options I had for Joey, I was approached by The Learning Lab, to do a review of their program. I jumped right at it, of course. Even before that, I’ve heard raving comments from friends who have been sending their kids to The Learning Lab for enrichment classes. I even have a few friends who are currently teaching there and they tell me that they are confident and proud of their curriculum and that I should seriously consider sending my kids to them.

My First Impression

Before Joey started her classes, I attended a briefing session conducted by The Learning Lab, and I went away feeling assured and confident that it was just the right place for Joey. And these are my reasons why:

1. Encourages and Builds Interest In Subjects, And Not Just Imparting Knowledge

Although my main objective was for Joey to improve in her Math, I was really more concerned about cultivating her interest in the subject. I knew that she was starting to feel fearful towards the subject, and that fear would be the greatest stumbling block in her learning journey. I wanted her to conquer that fear and better still, fall in love with Math! From the sharing of one of the senior teachers, I could tell that The Learning Lab aims to help students discover how to learn better and eventually do well for the subjects. Most of the time, kids don’t learn well because they could not relate to the way the teaching was delivered, thus very little learning is retained. The Learning Lab uses modern methods and interesting lessons to pique the interest of the kids, thus helping them to develop an interest in the subjects they didn’t enjoy previously. That’s being inspiring.

2. Dedicated Team of 30 Curriculum-Developers

The curriculum used at The Learning Lab is copyrighted, and developed by an internal team of 30 people. These people work hard at developing worksheets and materials for every subject and level, and they are committed to making every lesson a valuable and insightful one. I particularly liked how they would incorporate current affairs into their curriculum, making it really up-to-date and relevant. Kids nowadays are exposed to all kinds of information and trends, so it is definitely good to engage them in that manner. This is one way to make the kids look forward to their classes as well, because they never know what to expect at the next class. Because the entire curriculum is developed in-house, what the kids learn at The Learning Lab cannot be learnt elsewhere. That’s being unique.

3. Modern, Contemporary & State-Of-The-Art Classrooms & Facilities

Who does not like to study in a conducive environment that aids learning? When we were shown around the classrooms at The Learning Lab United Square, I was blown away by how well-designed the whole place was. The classrooms resemble professional board rooms in large corporations (and not classroom style like we would usually expect to see) and sophisticated equipment are used to aid the teachers in their classes. I was told that the design and layout of the rooms was meant to help the students think and behave like they are managers engaged in a meeting or discussion where everyone can bounce off ideas, interact and ask questions. It helps in the learning process and builds their confidence as well. That’s being cutting-edge.

    

Her First Lesson

So, finally the day arrived for Joey to attend her first lesson. She was a little nervous, she told me, before the lesson. It was her first academically-related enrichment class, and it was for Math! I reassured her that she would enjoy herself. I saw throngs of students walk out after the earlier classes ended, and there was an air about these students that stood out – They looked like they could conquer the world! Joey, on the other hand, looked apprehensive and uptight. I wondered if she would look different after the class.

As it was Joey’s first lesson, we were brought on a quick tour just to familiarize ourselves with the place. Joey received her student card and was shown where she would scan her card for attendance-taking every week before her class.

Then we were shown various classrooms located on different levels in United Square. I could tell that Joey was a little taken aback by what she saw – The classrooms didn’t look like the classrooms in her school, and those with on-going classes had students who all seemed very engaged in their lessons, with some having class discussions with their teachers, etc. This particular space located on Level 4 of United Square amazed Joey because there were music stations (one of it playing Taylor Swift’s songs – her favorite singer!), more classrooms and sofa area for students to hang out before and after classes. All of a sudden, there was a spark in her eye that wasn’t there before the tour. Perhaps, she was starting to anticipate for her class to start too, after seeing how amazing the whole place was.

Joey class lasted for 1 hour & 45 minutes and as I saw her walk out of the class, I was happy she looked just as I expected – Smiling, confident and chatting with a friend! It was nice to know that she not only survived her first Math enrichment class, she seemed to have enjoyed herself. I had a chat with her, and even though her first comment was, ‘There’s homework to be done! We learnt fractions today and it’s very hard!’, she quickly moved on to tell me about how funny her classmates were, and how one of her new friends (the one who walked out with her) explained to her some of the things that she didn’t understand very well in class. I say, that sounds like a good sign to me!

When we reached home, Joey commented out of the blue, “Mummy, can we continue going for the classes at The Learning Lab? I think I like it.”

Now, that’s a very good sign. :)

Follow us on our journey with The Learning Lab as Joey conquers this giant called Math. I look forward to giving you a good report at the end of the term! For more information on what The Learning Lab has to offer, check out their website at http://www.thelearninglab.com.sg/.

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Media Invite: BASF Kids’ Lab 2015

Among all the subjects that Joey is studying in school now, her favorite is Science. Since young, she’s always shown keen interest in the subject, and so when Playeum contacted me on the BASF Kids’ Lab 2015 event that they are organizing, I brought Joey along for the workshop during the June school holidays. It was our first Science-related workshop and we were looking forward to see how it would turn out.

BASF is a chemical company that focuses on science education realizing that today’s students will be the thinkers, innovators and leaders of the future. BASF developed its global Kids’ Lab program to encourage children ages 6-12 to gain a better appreciation of and interest in the dynamic world of chemistry. The program is designed to provide a fun and hands-on learning experience. Participants explore chemistry through safe and engaging experiments, coupled with interactive Q&A and demonstrations. Playeum is a non-profit organization that aims to put play back into the lives of kids. That certainly resonates with me - I think that while it’s important to study hard, our kids should play hard as well to balance it off!

BASC Kids’ Lab 2015 was held at Ang Mo Kio Community Library, and our facilitators led us through two simple experiments. Clear step-by-step instruction manuals are available on our table to guide us, with the facilitators helping us along the way. The experiments were very simple and can be managed by the kids easily.

All dressed up and ready to start the experiments!

The experiments that day were about density and acidity.

To help Joey remember some of the salient points, she took down notes of observation. :)

I personally felt that the experiments were too simple for Joey’s age, and they would interest younger kids between 6 to 7 years old more. Nevertheless, Joey had a fun time (mixing and pouring liquids here and there!) and left the place with a greater understanding about density.

For upcoming programs organized by Playeum, check out their FB page.

Disclosure: We were invited for a closed door session for bloggers to experience BASF Kids’ Lab 2015, and all photos and opinions in this post are solely mine. No other financial compensation was received.

The Invisible Man

I think most parents would agree with me – The most important characteristic we look for in our kids’ teacher is genuine concern for our kids’ well-being, academically as well as emotionally.

Joey came home a few weeks back and related an incident in class to me, that totally startled me. During their music class, the teacher suddenly turned to a group of rowdy students and said, “I can hear someone talking. There is an invisible man here in the room.”

According to Joey, 3 students broke down in tears because they were so traumatized and the teacher had to bring them out of the room to pacify them. My Joey almost cried too, apparently. I may be a bit of a scaredy cat, but this sure sounds spooky to me. For a teacher to say something like that to a group of 9-year-olds, I am quite sure they believed her and were freaked out.

It so happened that the Meet-the-Parents session was just a week later, so I made sure I told the Form Teacher about this incident after most of the other parents left. I wasn’t willing to let it go just like that – My kid was sent to school to learn and be inspired, and not to be frightened in that manner. And so I told the Form Teacher about it, and though she appeared a little amused at the beginning, explaining that the music teacher was probably trying to ‘scare’ the noisy students to make them stop making noise in class, she said she will investigate and get back to me.

A week later, the Form Teacher gave me a call and explained that she had already spoken to the music teacher, and the scenario was indeed what she envisioned it to be – The group of students were making a lot of noise and not paying attention in class, so the teacher tried to get their attention by making up about the ‘Invisible Man’. The Form Teacher agreed with me that it was not an appropriate thing for a teacher to do, and that she has spoken to her about it. The music teacher will clarify about the incident at the next class, and tell the whole class that there was no such thing as an ‘Invisible Man’.

The incident was resolved and at the end of it, I was happy with the way the Form Teacher handled it. Even though she did not think that the matter was so serious, she did not sweep my concerns aside. She looked into it, found out all the details and got back to me about how it was resolved. I appreciate her genuine concern for her students and good accountability to the parents. Looks like my Joey is in good hands this year. =)

Speaking of which, we finally bought Joey’s scout uniform! I thought she would look to boyish, but turned out, she looked adorable to the max! =D This coming Saturday, she’ll be officially inaugurated into the company of Scouts – So looking forward to more fun activities!

The One Thing She Hates About School

I know it’s unbelievable. Especially when it’s Joey I’m talking about here. Hyperactive, cannot-sit-still and love-to-jump-around Joey.

She hates PE lessons.

I LOVE PE lessons as a kid. I love being out in the open, running and playing ball games. It’s a good break from the monotonous lessons in  the classroom and a time to have some fun with my classmates. Apparently, Joey doesn’t think so and almost dreads every PE lesson she has. Some mornings, she would ask me, “Mummy, can you write a letter to my PE teacher that I cannot go for PE today because my arm hurts?”

Since when did your arm start hurting, babe? No, I will not. Go sweat it out in the sun, run a few rounds and feel healthier I say!

And another day, she told me that she skipped PE lesson – Told the teacher that she had a tummy ache. And the teacher just let her sit by the side to read her own storybook (Duh???) Even though it might be true, it still felt weird because I was the kind who would have carried on with my favorite PE lesson even IF I had stomachache. So, the crux of the problem seems to be that she dislikes running. Like seriously?! Every time I bring the girls out, I had to shout, ‘Stop running!’ a million times, and now she tells me that she dislikes running??!

Of course, after a prep talk with Joey, she now no longer skips PE lessons at her own whim and fancy. It’s a subject, just like another other subjects in school and should not be skipped!

School has uncovered interesting facts about my girl. Isn’t that lovely?

Babe, Life Does Not Always Go Our Way

Last week, something happened to Joey at school that could well be her first major saga in Primary School life.

I got a text message from her Form Teacher in the afternoon, informing me that Joey had caused hurt to a boy from the next class by refusing to let go of his wrist. His wrist got bruised, and both classes’ Teachers gave Joey a stern warning. I thanked the teacher for letting me know and that I would have a good talk with my daughter. Deep in my heart, I know that Joey would never purposely cause hurt to anybody. Yes, she can be a little too rough at times and while playing, she might have exerted too much force. Nevertheless, I didn’t think too much of it – I would find out the whole story from her that night.

After I picked Joey up from the school bus, I asked my usual question everyday, “How was school today?” to which she gave her standard answer like always, “Good.”

“Anything you would like to tell me?”
Nothing.
”Are you sure? I’m sure you know I know about it, right?”
Hmmmm…
”Your teacher texted me, babe. I know what happened, but I want to hear from you.”

She kept silent. But I know she must be struggling with finding the right words to say. I imagine when I was a Primary Two kid, I was so scared of my teachers and if they chided me, even gently, I would go home and bawl my eyes out. She must have been scared stiff when she got scolded by not one, but two teachers!

When we got home, I sat her down at the sofa and coaxed her to tell me what happened.

“I know you must be really scared, babe. Tell Mummy what happened.”

And then she started sobbing. And it became a huge ball of emotions with large tears, mucus and cries. In between her sobs, she told me what happened. And my heart ached. It really did.

She has a friend in school whom she often hangs around with. Apparently, this girl likes a guy from the next class and has been sending Joey on several errands to bring him love letters etc. Scary, I know. These are merely Primary Two kids. The boy is scared of Joey’s friend and has been trying to avoid her. During recess that fateful day, Joey’s friend sent Joey to ‘ambush’ him outside the boy’s toilet and grab his hand and not let him leave until she arrives. Joey obeyed everything her friend said and held on to the boy’s hand as hard as she could. That of course bruised his hand and he complained to the teacher and so both Joey and her friend got a big scolding.

I was bewildered. If you know my kids personally, you know that Joey’s personality is very strong – she likes to be the leader and would definitely prefer to lead than to follow. But there she was, following every instruction her friend gave her, even ‘stupid’ ones that could land her in trouble. I asked her why she was so silly to do everything her friend told her to, and she could only manage a feeble, “Because she is my only friend.”

It totally broke my heart. I was so sad to hear that.

Perhaps because of her strong personality, it seems that Joey doesn’t really have friends whom she hangs out with except for this particular friend. She listens to this friend because she doesn’t want to lose her as a friend. And I questioned myself then if I was the one who caused her to be like that. I tell her frequently that she has to cut down on her bossy-ness if she wants to have any friends. I told her that instead of always telling people what to do, she should listen to her friends and do what they want to do as well. Perhaps she took that well-meaning advice to the extreme.

That evening, I explained to her that a true and real friend would never do anything to hurt us. By asking her to stalk the boy and hold him without letting him go, her friend was telling her to do something that would land her in trouble. If she was a true friend, she wouldn’t do that to her. I also told her that she needs to learn how to differentiate what are the things we can or cannot do. Even if our best friend asks her to do something but it causes hurt to herself or other people, she should never agree to do. Following and obeying blindly is foolishness. Joey understood what I was telling her and told me that she would never purposely cause hurt to anybody. I felt like I was teaching her about Life 101.

In my heart, I felt a lot of sadness. I wish I can help her win more friends, but I know that is one thing in life she would have to learn and grow on her own. Disappointments and loneliness are scary things, but she would be able to battle those things and hopefully, learn to overcome them on her own.

Mummy’s rooting for you, Joey!

A Junior Prefect & A Kindy Kid

I love entering into a new year. I like the sense of liberation and hope because everything starts afresh.

Both the girls embark on a new journey this year – Joey begins Primary Two as a senior & junior prefect, while Jayne starts Kindergarten 1 in a new childcare centre. It’s a new transition for them both, but exciting nonetheless.

On the last day of 2013, Joey went for a three-hour prefect workshop, where she was briefed on the duties and responsibilities of a prefect. Not only must their conduct be good all the time, they must excel in their studies and be a good role model for their fellow classmates. Pretty tall order for kids so young, but I am glad she didn’t seem too concerned at all. The most exciting part for her was probably being chosen as part of the team to do flag-lowering everyday. The Primary Two junior prefects are divided into two groups – 1 group will watch over the Primary One students during Assembly time, and make sure they are well-behaved while the teachers are not around. She was glad to be in the other group who handles flag-lowering instead, because according to her, ‘It’s more fun!’

Due to the new arrangement in her school this year, the Primary Three students have moved to morning session, thus leaving only the P1 and P2 students in the afternoon session. That meant that the P2 students have to be the buddies for the P1 students this year, a role that used to be taken on by the Primary Three students only. I love it when kids are given opportunities to hone their leadership skills and build up their sense of responsibility and accountability. Joey was even given two P1 buddies because some of her classmates missed school for the first few days. She very proudly came home and told me how cute her P1 buddies were. Can’t believe it was merely a year ago when she went through that herself! Such experiences make school fun and meaningful, don’t you agree? :)

When I think about Jayne, I am often reminded of how God shows His love for me through this girl. I’ve experienced many prayers answered in this girl’s life, and remembering those blessings always bring a smile to my face. Years ago when she was born, I used to bring her to the nursery in my office. But for some reason, she kept falling sick and I was taking leave every other week to look after her at home because I could not bring her to the office nursery where there were many other babies too. Even though my boss was very kind and understanding, I got fed up with the frequent sick episodes. There was once I got so exasperated I told God that if He provided this baby, He must make a way for me! God answered my prayers, and He touched the heart of my mother-in-law, who came to me and volunteered to look after Jayne for me at home (much to my delight!) even though she really didn’t want to look after kids anymore after being a babysitter for many years herself. It had to be God who moved her heart. That began her 2 years of staying at home and best of all, she stopped falling sick altogether!

Then we started her for Nursery 2 last year at the nearest childcare centre we could get. Even that meant we had to speed-walk 20 minutes to and fro everyday, pushing her in her stroller because it would be too much for her to walk that distance. It was physically tiring and draining especially after a long day of work. When it rains, I would have to take taxi to and from the school because it’s unsheltered all the way. There were days I felt really frustrated. Again, God heard my cries and this childcare centre nearer to my house suddenly called me late last year and asked me if I was still interested to send my kid there. You see, that childcare centre was about 10 minutes’ walk from my home but so popular that I was Number 70 on the waiting list. The reason why they contacted me was because they built two more extensions of the centre JUST NEXT BLOCK TO MINE! The school fees were similar but the distance cut short by 80%, and all the way sheltered! When I put down that phone call, I really felt the love of God.

Her first day in the new school was yet another miracle on its own. I was expecting her to cling on to me and refuse to let go, but that didn’t happen. In fact, when I spoke to her Teacher at the end of that day, she told me that she has never seen a child with as strong an adaptability as Jayne. She went to the Teacher and introduced herself as, ‘I’m the new girl.’, which I thought was pretty hilarious. Then, she participated actively in all the discussions and even told her classmates (who refused to answer questions that the Teacher asked) that, “Come on everybody, don’t be shy. Answer Teacher!” When she paired up with another girl to do some sharing, she also encouraged the girl not to be shy and share what she thinks. The Teacher ended off by telling me, ‘I’m very impressed.’ I felt like a really proud mummy.

I think Year 2014 has gone off on an amazing start for me. How has yours been? :)

P/S: I have a giveaway coming up TOMORROW. Stay tuned.

Linking up with:

Mum’s Diary: 3 Achievements Unlocked!

Transiting to Primary One is a big deal for kids. It's the beginning of formal education in Singapore and for many of the kids, it's their first encounter with serious and intensive studying. Apart from the kid feeling the stress and heat, the parents usually get stressed up and nervous as well, especially if it's the first time for them. I started this series to document the chronological order of events, my intimate thoughts and emotions on this journey, and it will continue until Joey settles down in Primary One. Hopefully, as we go along, the posts would become more and more positive and encouraging. I do believe in that. :)

Tuesday
12 Nov 2013
11.58pm

Today, I’ve obtained bragging rights.

Joey came home from school last night and while we were having dinner, she casually mentioned that she got back her Report Book that day. Very casually, she took out her report book to show me and I was stumped when I saw her results. Everything was Band 1, oh my gosh!

Wipe that smirk off your faces. I know as a mom, I ought to be the one who has the most confidence in my girl. But remember this Mum’s Diary post where I lamented on how I ‘forgot’ to revise with her before all her tests? I frankly wasn’t expecting a lot. The good results was a wonderful surprise! Joey was a little amused at how excited hubby and I looked. She had the , ‘What’s the big deal?” look on her face.

The comments written by the Form Teacher in the Report Book were all so positive and encouraging. She said that Joey is a polite student who participates actively in class discussions. She is also a good leader who is very driven. As an avid reader, she had also been nominated several times to be the Top Reader of the month in this year. So proud of Joey! :)

That was Achievement #1.

Then Joey passed us a piece of paper, which was an invitation to the Awards Presentation Ceremony on Friday this week. I was bewildered because Friday is supposed to be a school holiday and only students receiving awards need to be in school, and told Joey so. In her usual nonchalant tone, she went, “Ya, I’m receiving an award!”

“You WHAT???!!!”

“Ya, Teacher said that I am one of those receiving an award so we all have to attend.”

“Oh my goshhhhhhhh Joey!!!! What award is that???”

“Dunno. Teacher says it’s a surprise.”

The Primary One students don’t get awards for results or academic performance, so hubby and I are guessing that it might be Top Reader of the Year award or something. Nevertheless, it’s a great achievement! Achievement #2!

Achievement #3 was really a big surprise! Joey then passed me another letter which was a consent form for her to attend a training for Trainee Prefects, so Joey will be a Trainee Prefect in Primary Two and then officially a prefect in Primary Three! Wooohooooooo! I was really happy because I knew how much Joey wanted to be the Class Monitor, but didn’t get selected. In fact, her Teacher told me before that she was hesitant to choose her to be the Class Monitor because she tends to be bossy some times. She was worried that her bossy-ness would manifest even greater if she becomes a Monitor. So, this time round, it came as a complete surprise that she got nominated to be a Prefect!

In fact, the prep talk started that very evening about how, with greater power comes greater responsibilities, and how a Prefect is to take care of younger students and those who need help. My gut feel tells me that Joey will be such an awesome Prefect and Senior in school! :)

Her Primary One life will be ending in a few days’ time, and it looks like it’s going to end on such a perfect note. I am immensely proud of my girl. :)

She's Got My Creative Genes

The husband may be smarter than me in terms of mathematics, politics and general knowledge, but when it comes to 'creative things', I win hands-down. And I am very relieved that Joey seemed to have gotten this part of the good genes from me! *phew*

Joey was at home on two days' MC the last two days, and while we were wondering what to do in the afternoon yesterday, she gleefully brought out this box which she received on her birthday from one of my friends. Jayne was in school, so it seemed like the perfect time to finally get started on it because there would be no little imp who would disturb the creative sister. =X

I totally underestimated the power of this box of scrapbooking kit for kids. It was awesome with so many pieces of pretty paper, cardboard press-outs, stickers and came complete with glue, hard covers, strings and foam stickers! It's got everything made easy for kids to attempt scrapbooking! I was very tempted to steal some of the pretty papers for myself - not joking.

Yes, polka dots always get to me without fail.

There was even an instruction manual, teaching the kid how to put the scrapbook together, with suggestions and ideas thrown in as well. Certain items such as photo corners are pre-cut, making it simpler for the kid to assemble the book together. Really good!

After merely an hour, this was what Joey managed to put together. Is my kid awesome or what???

And check out what she wrote in the journal (published with her permission) - Ignore the grammatical and spelling errors - she's after all only a Primary One kid - The effort and ideas behind it all were fantastic. And in some of them, she was just being brutally honest and while I may not agree with all that she's written, it's her journal after all (Just like how she disagrees with some of the things I write in my blog, but it's my blog after all!). =P In any case, I'm very proud of her. =D

This is so going to be one of the books she would read and laugh over when she's grown up! =)

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