Things Should Teach Young Schooling Children

2 days ago, when I picked up my child from school, I saw a 7-year-old girl alone waiting for her school bus. She was the last person waiting.. and I was quite sure that she missed her bus.

I asked her
'Are you waiting for school bus?' She shook her head.
'Are you waiting for your parent?' She nodded.
'Are your parent normally come late?' She shook her head.
'Do you have your house address?' She shook her head.
'Do you have your house phone number?' She shook her head.
'Do you know your house direction?' She nodded.

She wouldn't talk. The conversation was between shaking and nodding heads. She was sent home by the school canteen boss, fully relying on her finger-pointing direction.

The canteen boss later told me, they reached her grandpa house that day, which was not very far, but was not where she stays. The grandpa mentioned that she was not waiting for her parent, but school bus. However this girl likes to play and run around school while waiting for her school bus, that's why she missed her bus.

What was missing here? A list of simple things parents should teach their young children going to school.

1. Give them a tag with house phone number and address to keep in school bag.
2. Give them some money to keep in school bag (for emergency use, call home/buy food).
3. Teach them to use the public phone.
4. Teach them to differentiate reliable adults (school canteen workers, teachers, schoolmate's parents) vs. stranger on the street.
5. Teach them to speak up if -- someone bully them, stranger getting friendly, alone in school, etc.
6. Spend some time with them at home to talk about strangers, robbers, kidnappers, bullies, rapist. Not too deep, but at the level they can understand.

Teach our children things that cannot learn in the text book, tell them how to handle things that no one will explain to them if you don't (and they will one day face it).

They will be better children when they are 'informed'.

'Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.' ~ Deuteronomy 11:19

Victory in Life by Faith

Is life too difficult for us? Let's get inspire!



'For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.' ~ Jeremiah 29:11

Fairness in God's Eyes

Leviticus 12："...woman who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son will be ceremonially unclean for 7 days... but if she gives birth to a daughter, for 2 weeks the woman will be unclean..."

Me: 'God, I read about what you told Moses in Leviticus 12. That's unfair! Isn't that sexist?'

God: 'My gal, why do you think it that way? Don't you understand? ...a factory producing Mercedes Benz is different from the one producing BMW. There are different tools used in the factory, and the cleaning process is different..'

Me: 'Ooh.. I see, I see... got it now.'


'For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.' ~ Proverbs 2:6

1,2,3,4 - by Plain white T's

Love this song! It's been a long while I have not like a love song ;-)
Enjoy...

1,2,3,4 - by Plain whilte T's

1, 2, (1, 2, 3, 4)

give me more loving than i ever had
make it all better when i'm feeling sad
tell me that i'm special even when i know i'm not

make me feel good when i hurt so bad
barely getting mad, i'm so glad i found you
i love being around you

**you make it easy, as easy as..
1 2, (1 2 3 4.)

there's only one thing two do three words
four you.. (i love you) i love you

there's only one way two say those three words
and that's what i'll do... (i love you) i love you **

give me more loving from the very start
piece me together when i fall apart
tell me things you never even tell your closest friends

make me feel good when i hurt so bad
best that i've had, i'm so glad i found you
i love being around you

repeat **

(i love you) i love you..

repeat **

(i love you) i love you
1... 2... 3... 4... (i love you) i love you...
(i love you) i love you.

_________
'Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.' ~ Proverbs 3:3

Get a Paradigm Shift

I have a paradigm shift after listen to this talk, I hope you too. Life sometimes put us in a box and we really need a little help like this to think out of the box, to learn new things.




'If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.' ~ Matthew 21:22

Do Schools Kill Creativity?

Sir Ken Robinson makes an entertaining and profoundly moving case for creating an education system that nurtures (rather than undermines) creativity.



'This is the written account of Adam's line. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God.' ~ Genesis 5:1

Upgrade Your Marriage

When my thinking towards marriage was in 'teething' stage, I used to think or say certain things about my husband. I was surprised that many women I met did the same thing, saying things unknowingly... I wonder are they going through what I went through? Some having trouble to 'get-out' of that stage, and some even thought it is normal to be that way!

Find out whether you are in the 'teething' stage. Do you think or say something similar like these?

• 'When I say something, he always keep quiet...'


• 'He always do that silly thing, like a big kid...'


• 'Why can't he help out doing...'


• 'I cannot leave the kids with him, it will be a mess...'


• 'Why can't he change job, or get a raise?'


• 'He prefer watching TV than talking to me...'


• 'Before marry he will do that for me, after married I wonder if he would ...'


• 'Why can't he change?'


• 'I don't understand why he cannot do it this way, aren't this way much better?'


• 'Marriage is like a grave...'


• 'Why I married this guy? I think I marry the wrong person...'

I am now at a different level of thinking, that 'teething' time had passed. I am more happy now, feeling more loved.. and I admire my man. It is only now I foreseen a possibility of a so called 'happily-ever-after', and only now I understand why there are couples whom can be so in love with each other till the end.

Are you a wife like how I used to be? Are you a wife who think her husband is not loving enough, not caring enough, not thoughtful enough, or not smart enough? .. and you cannot 'change' him? My turning point started after I searched and found few books, and this is one of it.

I first saw the title of this book 'The Proper Care & Feeding of Husbands' by Dr.Laura Schlessinger, I find it funny; but later I really learned something precious from it -- how to appreciate my other-half.

As a prerequisite, I recommend friends (especially choleric friends) to first read the book 'The Surrendered Wife' by Laura Doyle, to understand more about our 'controlling' desire. Then you will understand more on what the women in this book are talking about.

This book mainly are conversation between women and Dr.Laura, about their challenges with husbands. Dr.Laura is helping those women to understand that certain things can be improved by simply having a right thinking and a right attitude towards their husbands.

I saw many things those women mentioned in the book were things I had been doing, and it was really an eye-opener for me to learn something that no one has taught me before -- about how relationship between husband and wife should be, or should I say how God intended it to be.

The result after my changed (of thinking and attitude) was encouraging. As if husband is a lock, and wife have to make sure that she is not a lock, but a key. Be the correct key for that lock. When the key is right, walaaa... the lock opens!!


'In the same way, their wives are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.' ~ 1 Timothy 3:11

Somebody...

Somebody said it takes about 6 weeks to get back to normal after you've had a baby. Somebody doesn't know that once you're a mother, normal is history.

Somebody said you learn how to be a mother by instinct. Somebody never took a 3-year-old shopping.

Somebody said being a mother is boring. Somebody never rode in a car driven by a teenager with a driver's permit.

Somebody said if you're a "good" mother, your child will "turn out good". Somebody thinks a child comes with directions and a guarantee.

Somebody said "good" mothers never raise their voices. Somebody never came out the back door just in time to see her child hit a ball through the neighbour's kitchen window.

Somebody said you don't need an education to be a mother. Somebody never helped a 4th grader with his maths.

Somebody said you can't love the 5th child as much as you love the 1st. Somebody doesn't have 5 children.

Somebody said a mother can find all the answers to her child-rearing questions in the books. Somebody never had a child stuff beans up his nose.

Somebody said the hardest part of being a mother is labour and delivery. Somebody never had a child get on the bus for the 1st day of kindergarten.

Somebody said a mother can do her job with her eyes closed and one hand tied behind her back. Somebody never organized 7 giggling Brownies to sell cookies.

Somebody said a mother can stop worrying after her child gets married. Somebody doesn't know that marriage adds a new son or daughter in-law to a mother's heartstrings.

Somebody said a mother's job is done when her last child leaves home. Somebody never had grandchildren.

Somebody said your mother knows you love her, so you don't need to tell her. Somebody isn't a mother.

- author unknown


'May your father and mother be glad; may she who gave you birth rejoice!' ~ Proverbs 23:25

What to do when Children got Fever?

Recently many kids got fever due to the hot weather, not enough fluid, etc. Some of my mommy friends ask me whether there is a way to take away the fever.. why it keeps coming back??

First of all, parents should learned that fever is not a sickness, but our body's response to a disease. It is considered one of our body's immune response to 'kill' the bacterial or virus. When we found the root cause and treat it, fever will subside.

If a child got fever, it actually shows that the child's immune system respond well to body condition. Then, what's next? It is now the parent responsibility to find out the root cause of the fever, and help the child's immune system to 'fight together'.

At the same time, things that can be done are:

(1) Sponge the kids forehead with wet tower continuously, or stick those KoolFever cooling pad on the kids forehead.

(2) Give the kids plenty of water, juice, and vitamin C. Water helps to 'flush out' the unclean things, and juice and vitamin C helps to 'fight' the disease.

(3) Bath the child with warmer water or traditional herbs (like my grandma's recipe).

Then parents will need to be patience to monitor the child's condition. If the child is still actively playing, then not to worry. Normally the body can heal by itself within a day or two. Else, is time to consult a doctor of the root cause.

Basically doctor will try to find the root cause, then prescribed the medicine to treat the problem (infection of throat, etc.). Then he may also prescribed a type of antipyrin to suppress the fever for the comfort of the child.

Do not use antipyrin solely for fever. It only suppress the fever without helping it to fight intruding bacterial or virus. That's why the fever came back after the medicine subsided.


'Worship the LORD your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you' ~ Exodus 23:25

MnO2 Mommy

Recently reading a local Chinese book named MnO2 Mama (二氧化錳媽媽) by 晨硯, which I really like. She said:

'MnO2 (Manganese dioxide) is a type of catalyst. Let me tell you, my daughter.. when MnO2 is mixed to your life, besides it keeps rushing 'quick, quick', it strengthen you for challenges, it colored your life too. It let you shine with different colors at different places. It let you have your true worth at any situation. My dear daughter, this is mama.'

This book has many short stories about the author's life as a mother and a writer. I immediately fall in love with this book when I read the first article.

'... if you used to do housework, you will know that the toughest part are the small stuff, the little things.. what more when it keeps repeating! When my daughter was around 2-3 years old, I chased her in order to feed her, I chased her in order to bath her, ... I chased until I felt sad and like a failure. There was a time I asked her in an adult way: 'Do you want to give mommy happiness or sadness?' She answered: 'Mommy, chase me lah, that is happiness!' That reply was like a big nail nailed on my feet.. I took a big breath, make like a tiger.. Roar! Roar! Roar! Pounce on... happiness have to be chased.'

The author is able to transfer what she felt as a mom in writing to the reader, especially when the reader is a mom too. Besides, it makes me understand that every moms do go through what other moms are going through. It is not just me. This, in deed make me feel very happy.

This book was bought for me by my dad.. I am amazed of his wisdom.

'Children's children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.' ~ Proverbs 17:6

Get Rid of Baby Rashes

Many newborn babies and toddlers in this humid country develop rashes on their face, neck, and body; some even had it with fever. I saw babies with rashes crying, and what mothers normally do were to bath the baby or put baby powder all over the baby's body. I heard some kids have the problem of rashes even they are 12 years old.

Every time my 3 kids get fever, itchy, grumpy, crying at night.. I know that is the time the rashes going to develop. Thanks to my grandma 'recipe', my kids never have rashes more than a day.. but most of the time the rashes do not get to develop. The 'recipe' is actually a traditional method to bring down body heat and fever, I will share that method with you here.

Find these 'Garbage-Grass' (as shown in the picture below). They have unique flower like a lamp which fill with seeds. Most of the time you can find them near the drain or at the garden of an empty house.















The grass is used as bath water. (1)Pull out the whole plant with root.. many of them, enough to fill a big pot. (2)Put the grass in a big metal pot, add water to boil it, like the picture below.















(3)Cover the lid of the pot, let it boils for some time. Make sure the water do not spill out the pot. The water will slowly turn to light brown color.

(4)Pour the water to bath tub and add enough cold water to make it warm (slight warmer than the kid's body temperature). Then bath the kid.

(5)Rub the kid's back with plain flour. If the kid is 'heaty', his body hair will 'stand', with the flour stick at the tip of the hair (picture below was my son with the flour during his fever).















(6)Rinse the kid with clean warm water.

(7) Wipe the kid clean, use a shaver to shave away those body hairs that are with flour.

For those mothers whom do not want to shave their kids so much, use a moisture soap to clean away the flour during step 6.

Go away rashes.
Go away fever.
No crying at night.

Better sleep my baby.
Better skin my baby.
Happier baby.


'Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.' ~ Deuteronomy 4:9

How Big are You?

I recently received an email from a friend about planets, find it really really useful.. beyond academically for kids.

'Have you ever wondered where we come from and how we came into being?

Have you wondered how awesome is the universe and what is eternity?

Do you ever think how we fit into the big picture or think how great we are (sometimes)?

THIS is fascinating - it's rather dazzling to see it presented this way.







I certainly thought this was enlightening. Beyond our sun, it's a big universe.





ANTARES is the 15th brightest stars in the sky.

It is more than 1000 Light Years away.

How big are we?

... ...

Try to wrap your mind around this...


This is a Hubble Telescope ultra deep field infrared view of countless 'Entire' galaxies BILLIONS of Light Years away.



Below is a close-up of one of the darkest region of the photo above.



Humbling, isn't it?

And yet, God said He knows how many hairs are on our heads, and not even a single sparrow dies apart from His will!

So,
How big am I?
How big are the things that upset me today?'

I am so amazed. Imagine HOW BIG GOD IS then!

Keep life in perspective, my friend.



'By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.' ~ Hebrews 11:3

'Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.' ~ Matthew 10:29-30

Bacteria and Virus

I know infection cause by bacteria or virus, but what's the difference? Today I got a chance to understand them.. finally :P

Bacteria is a living cell. It reproduces by dividing itself. Most bacteria can grow on non-living surfaces, like coins, hands, tables, dustbin, etc. When a bacteria enters our body, the toxins it produces can damage our cells it has invaded.

Mmm.. Bacteria sound to me like Star War invader.. they come, they destroy. I believe if we take note about personal hygiene, we will cut down the chances of getting bacteria infection.

Virus is not a living organisms. It requires a living host (people, animal, plant) to survive and multiply. When a virus enters our body, it invades our cells and takes over the cell machinery, redirecting the cell to produce the virus. The virus may eventually kill the host cells.

Virus sound to me like Alien.. they come to parasitize at a living thing, mutate the cells, and eventually take over!

By understanding the differences, we will know that certain medications that are effective against bacteria are not effective against virus, and vise-versa.



















'A man's spirit sustains him in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?' ~ Proverbs 18:14

How to end Work Day at Home

There was a time I pray that God can enlighten me on how to live as a work-from-home person, especially how to end my work day since I am already at home?

He did! The answer came 2 months ago... happened to read few articles online that I can pick up some point to adjust myself. Here are my notes to share:

• List out the work and housework that I need to do 1 day in advance. So that I won't spend too much time on certain things.


• End work at least 30 minutes before hubby arrives home. This also gives me a few moments to reflect my day, distress, and gradually ease out of work mode.


• Make sure that by the time hubby arrives home, I am not dressed in my pajamas.


• When work day is done, do not give in to the temptations of checking emails, etc.


• Spend some time alone with hubby every single day, even if it's just a few
  minutes after the kids are in bed. Spend some time talking, snuggling on
  the couch, or even eating a late-night snack together.


• Try to get out of the house when there is opportunity. Go for a drive, walk around the neighborhood, or just sit outside of the house.


• Do something special for your the kids or hubby everyday. This can be as
  elaborate as planning a fancy candlelight dinner, or as simple as replacing
  all of the pencils with freshly sharpened ones.


• Use physical gestures regularly, like hugs, kisses, back rubs.

Hope you find it useful as well :D

'Finish your outdoor work and get your fields ready; after that, build your house.' ~ Proverbs 24:27

I salute 沈慕羽

So many years I heard of the name 沈慕羽, but never really find out who this great person is, or what he has done in detail. Sadly to say, I now know him better after his death last week.. by looking at many videos of history, his work, how he lived his life and treat people.





I regretted not meeting him in person when I have the chance. He is now on my 'Incredible Person List' together with Thomas Edison, Abraham Lincoln, Benjamin Franklin, Andrew Carnegie... a local, a Malaysian, another incredible person.

I salute 沈慕羽.


'Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.' ~ James 3:13

Everyday is a Special Occasion

When I go to my mom's house, I see year-by-year those beautiful plates and bowls, and nice tea pot sets that she keeps at the cupboards; many perfumes unopened in her drawers... Then one day, I got an opportunity of having family dinner, and took out her plates and bowls for everyone to use. I told mom every time we meet should be considered as special time to use them, and I mean frequently.

If you want to understand what I mean, read this story..

A friend of mine opened his wife's underwear drawer and picked up a silk paper wrapped package:

'This' - he said - 'isn't any ordinary package.'

He unwrapped the box and stared at both the silk paper and the box.

'She got this the first time we went to New York , 8 or 9 years ago. She has never put it on, was saving it for a special occasion.

'Well, I guess this is it.' He got near the bed and placed the gift box next to the other clothing he was taking to the funeral house, his wife had just died..

He turned to me and said: 'Never save something for a special occasion. Every day in your life is a special occasion'.

I still think those words changed my life.

Now I read more and clean less.

I sit on the porch without worrying about anything.

I spend more time with my family, and less at work.

I understood that life should be a source of experience to be lived up to, not survived through. I no longer keep anything.

I use crystal glasses every day... I'll wear new clothes to go to the supermarket, if I feel like it.

I don't save my special perfume for special occasions, I use it whenever I want to.

The words 'Someday...' and ' One Day...' are fading away from my dictionary. If it's worth seeing, listening or doing, I want to see, listen or do it now..

I don't know what my friend's wife would have done if she knew she wouldn't be there the next morning, this nobody can tell.. I think she might have called her relatives and closest friends. She might call old friends to make peace over past quarrels. I'd like to think she would go out for Chinese food, her favorite. It's these small things that I would regret not doing, if I knew my time had come.

Each day, each hour, each minute, is special. Live for today, for tomorrow is promised to no-one.


'He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.' ~ Romans 14:6

DIY Cleaner for House Cleaning

I was amazed when my mother-in-law brought back a bottle of 'garbage sauce' to use as dish washing liquid. She told me it was made by some fermented vege and fruits. Although it looks yukky, but the effect is as good if not better than those chemical dish washing liquid.

In the economy like this, many do not use high grade or organic cleaners due to their prices. Why not use what God has provided to make your own?

Below are some information I collected. Please share your experience if you have used them:

To clean the smelly drain, toilet, floor, dishes
- stir water and brown sugar in a clay container, or plastic bottle (the one with lid)
- add in fresh garbage (fruit skin, vege, cooked rice, leaf, plant)
- close lid (leave 3/10 of the space empty in the bottle for fermentation)
- open lid everyday to release air, until no air one day

To clean your sink
- after brush your teeth, use sponge with some toothpaste to clean the sink
- rinse with water

To take away sweat smell on shirt
- add in 2-3 slide of lemon during soaking time

To take away stubborn oil dirt on shirt
- use chalk to draw on the dirt before washing the shirt

To prevent cupboard or drawer from ants or worms
- put in 10 garlic

There are also other interesting method I heard, like..
- use expired milk to clean the floor, it will take away dirt and prevent dust effectively.
- use banana skin to clean leather shoes.


Wish everyone a Happy Chinese New Year, and happy house cleaning!!