Talkative Thursday: The Three Little Pigs - No, not Nicole, Nathan & Nadine

Are you familiar with the story The Three Little Pigs? Well, in 2010, I guest blogged here and shared my doubts. Two days ago, I was in a clinic with Nathan, and we got the chance to read the Ladybird version. (now, that should be quite close to the real thing right? It’s Ladybird, for goodness sake!)

Well, I was s.h.o.c.k.e.d and majorly questioning my memory, cos I learnt new things about the story!

#1 – What Mummy Pig said! “You are too big to live here any longer…”

Look at the picture! The little pigs are still little boys… And as expected, Nathan had to say, “I’m also very big”.

#2 – The wolf lured the 3rd Little Pig to the Turnip Farm, Apple Farm and Carnival

I’ve no problems with that, but I really really don’t remember this!

#3: The 3rd Little Pig was the sole survivor

Well, Nathan asked immediately, “What happened to the other two pigs?”

Sigh… someone out there should put together Real Fairy Tales from our Childhood. These adapted versions are confusing the kids and the parents!

*Postscript*

Nicole saw me typing and gave her version! It was:

• Three Little Pigs went to build one house each nearby each other so they can still play together (nothing about being too big & mummy chasing them out!)
• When the wolf came along, he blew the first two houses down, but each of the little pigs could run very very fast to the next house. Wolf can’t run at all, cos no more breath to run! (hahaha!)
• Then wolf came to 3rd house, he tried and he tried, and finally he came down the roof into that same boiling water.
• And the most important line, “And they lived happily every after!”

Now that story sounds more familiar ya? Either we were told the wrong version all these years, or Ladybird went for extended version when they published that book!

   

Technorati Tags: fairy tales,three little pigs,3 little pigs,ladybird books,ladybird fairy tales,huff puff,big bad wolf

   

Let’s talk about sex - Anatomy 101

Some of you have been asking where’s Part 2 after you read my explicit account here. I’ve a good quote that I got from the book I was reading:

Keep in mind that these little ones really couldn’t care less about sex, giving them a little insight into it is not going to cause any harm. What it will do is open the door to you becoming an approachable parent for your child.

With that in mind, I taught Nicole and Nathan Anatomy 101. I must say that Nathan has got way better aptitude for this than his sister!  

Me: Ok. Let me ask you, do you know what is that?

Nathan: I know! PENIS!

Me: Very good. Now, what’s that under the penis?

Nathan: JELLY!

He went on to explain: Just like Popo’s arms! Soft like Jelly!

Me: No, Nathan. That’s not Jelly. That’s TESTICLES.

So I went on to Nicole, which was actually a little more difficult. I mean, at least the male anatomy can be pointed to! But she wasn’t interested to hear, so we shelved Nicole’s lesson to a later date.

I thought that was it for Nathan. But no! My boy decided to tell me not once, but TWICE in public at the top of his voice what he learnt! Immediately the following day, we visited the museum. While we were walking through the gallery, he must have been really bored, he suddenly spoke at the TOP OF HIS VOICE:

Mummy, I remember what is under the penis! It is TESTICLES

oh man.. my MOE post-grad diploma never prepared me for such fantastic memory!

Then on Sunday, when we went to the toilet after church. I had to handle Nadine in one cubicle, while he went to one cubicle next to ours.

MUMMY! My penis is hurting! I think it’s the pants! (& before I could respond) And my testicles is also hurting!

Don’t worry, it was just one of those accidental slight bump injury. But you can imagine how thankful I was, hiding in the cubicle! Although, I was also secretly really proud of him for remembering, cos I only said it once! Can you imagine if he went, “and my jelly is also hurting!”???

That’s Anatomy Lesson 101. I’m not really looking forward to Nicole’s lesson. But one blogging mummy—Evelyn recommended this book! It is hilarious but I honestly don’t think I can show my kids this book without my eyes wide open and stifling a giggle! Check it out! The True Story of How Babies are Made! 

Another was by Pamela – Where did I come from?, which looks like quite a cool book!  

 

 

Technorati Tags: children sex talk,teaching children sex,children anatomy

iFly Singapore - An Interview with a 7 year old Flyer

Nicole had the awesome privilege to try out iFly in Sentosa recently. The only way to find out how it went was to ask her casually some questions on her experience. She’s the youngest possible flyer, since 7 year old is the minimum age requirement.

How did you feel when you first saw the entire iFly area?

I was so excited! I am going to fly! They have many pictures there of people flying, it looks so fun!

Can you just go in like that and start flying?

No, you have to attending a training session. The trainer there is very nice, he taught us how to stand, how to relax. And it was so funny, he reminded us HOW TO BREATHE!! He said children sometimes forget to breathe when we go inside, so he said I must remember to open my mouth and breathe!

What do you need to bring or wear for the iFly session?

You must wear shoes, so that your sandals or slippers won’t fall off. And we must all wear the special suit… There’s red or blue for the adults, but for me, the trainer said I get to choose the colour. So I chose a very very nice pink one. And everyone has to wear a helmet and glasses.

When you started flying, what was the feeling like?

It was a bit scary at first. I kept holding on to the trainer. I kept telling him NO NO NO, DON’T LET GO! but I think he can’t hear me (Mummy’s note: yes he couldn’t have heard her cos the fan that gets them flying was booming loud)

In the end, I didn’t even know he let go! The feeling was very light! And I remembered to breathe!

Were your eyes open? What did you see?

Yes, I have to keep them open so that I can see the trainer. He will give me hand signals like chin up, legs together…When we lift up our hands, we have to ‘open’ our fingers. No one closes the fists to fly except Superman!

Do you think your friends would like iFly?

Maybe the boys? For the girls, they may get a bit scared. But once you tell them there’s nothing to be scared about, they would like it! Did you see Daddy? He went up very high!

 

 

Describe iFly in THREE words

A Bit Scary (hahahahahahahahaahaha)

 

That’s what a 7 year old feel about iFly. You can go to daddy’s blog here to read about the MAN’s perspective!  

 

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The ‘anymore’ syndrome – Children & their chosen diet

Nadine has been a good eater for as long as I remember. She feeds herself, asks for helpings in school and has favourite foods.

She turned 4 in April and she started a ‘Anymore’ syndrome just about then.

One of her ultimate FAV foods is plain bread. Yes, plain. No jam, no nutella, not toasted, just plain. She would eat it like a snack! Sometimes formally over the dining table, sometimes like an apple, in front of the TV. She takes up to 3 slices in a day, so you can imagine the going rate of bread in the house!

Recently, I realised that we are culminating loaves of bread…someone’s not eating it! Naturally I went to the biggest shareholder, Nadine, and asked her, “Did you eat the bread mummy bought last night?”

And she went, “I don’t like bread ANYMORE” and guess what? She really stopped eating bread, and I mean stopped.

This happened again with Yoghurt, and again with Fishballs, and again with Rice, and again with Kiwi… It was strange! I never had that with the other two!

Just when I was figuring this out, she started devouring grapes for breakfast yesterday. Yes, that was part of the ANYMORE list of foods. I couldn’t resist so I asked, “do you like grapes?”

And the answer we got?

 

It looks like a growing up phase? Anyone knows how to get stuff like potato chips/chocolate/bak kwa into that ANYMORE list? That would be great!!

 

Linking up with www.sanses.com

Technorati Tags: fussy eater,preschool diet,food children,kids diet,children diet,children selective food

Let’s talk about sex – the beginning

Warning: This post consists of explicit words & graphics which may offend.

A few nights ago, the big question popped up!

Actually, we do get that question sometimes. And the answer was somewhat along when husband and wife sleep together.

This time round, N2 pushed it a little: “What happens when they sleep together? Was it an angel or a fairy that comes and help them?”

Me: (close to bursting out laughing) No, Nathan, no angels and definitely no fairies!

N2: So what happens?

Me: Ask Daddy! (I’m so sorry! I couldn’t help it! I really wasn’t ready to answer!)

Daddy: erm.. they have sex!

N2 & N1: WHAT IS SEX?

Me: Well, sex is when the husband and wife comes together. This is something between husbands and wives only. It is …

N2: Mummy, I wanna drink milk.

N1: Ya, I’ll go check and see if the milk is ready.

~~phew! topic ended… we took too long to answer!~~

Looking back now, I think that was also for the better. N2 wouldn’t be able to understand an answer that’s suited for N1. And N3 was in the room too, she’d be quite quite blown away.

That night, I started reading this book from the library:

Wow! I’ve lots of work to do! Up to Chapter 4, this is what I’ve to do thus far: (in my own words)

By 3 year old, your child should know their body parts. Along with shoulder, knees, elbow, they should know penis, vagina, vulva, testicles, clitoris.

The author says this would make it easy for us parents when we talk about sex at a later age. Rather than saying “the cuckoo goes near the pet-pet”

It becomes factual, and no nonsense. And no one will feel squirmish about it.

So I’ll do this bit first. Anatomy 101. I hope I pronounce some of the words right!

Post-blog: I taught N1 & N2! It was hilarious! I’ll post it up soon!!!

Have you started sex education with your kids? Or did you have that with your parents? We’re gonna talk about sex!  

 

 

 

Technorati Tags: sex talk with children,sex education,birds and bees

Weekend Blogging

It’s a long weekend! No work Saturday, Sunday and Monday!

The best part? No enrichment classes on Saturday! No school on Monday! yeah yeah yeah!!

A short intro to how my typical week is like, so you fully understand this joy I have!

• Mon-Fri, 6 a.m.: Arise & Shine
• Mon-Fri, 6.45 a.m.: Send Nicole to school
• Mon-Fri, 7.45 a.m.: Send Nathan & Nadine to school
• Mon-Fri: 8.30 a.m.: Start work

 

• Sat, 9 a.m.: Nicole in at school team Gymnastics training
• Sat, 12 noon: Pick Nicole from school
• Sat, 1.30 p.m.: Nicole at Mindchamps, Toa Payoh
• Sat 3.30 p.m.: Pick Nicole from Mindchamps
• Remaining Saturday: Free finally

 

• Sun, 10 a.m.: Church service
• Sun, 12 noon: Lunch with church friends
• Sun, 3 p.m.: Free time to hang out as a family
• Sun, 8 p.m.: Back home, getting ready for school
• Sun, 9 p.m.: zzzzZZZZZzzzz

So there’s NO CHANCE to sleep in at all! 6 a.m. on weekdays, at least 8 a.m. on weekends. So imagine how loudly I shouted out when I realise I can sleep in on Saturday AND on Monday! Woohooooowoohoo!!!!

Well, I woke up at 7 a.m. on Saturday. This silly biological clock just couldn’t sleep further. I’m praying tomorrow… I can really truly snooze in all the way! Is it a “age” thing? Cos the kids can sleep in! (at least a further hour than usual!) but I can’t. I just want to sleep uninterrupted till 9 a.m. p.l.e.a.s.e.

What time do you want to wake up on Monday?  

 

Technorati Tags: long weekend,sleeping in,weekend blogging

Can you Squat & Pee?

When my kids were weaned off diapers, a new problem emerged. I had to follow them to the toilet each time, and most times, it was a mad sprint to the nearest one (we’ll discuss that another time!)

Besides safety, one other reason for following bringing them to the toilet is ensuring cleanliness. I’m not referring to the child’s cleanliness…it is the toilet’s I’m concerned about! Blessed are you with boys only, and more blessed are you with boys who don’t poo in public!

Have you seen the filthy seats in some toilets? It helps me hone my bladder control! I just rather hold it all in and go home or another building! But kids can’t. My solution?

But guess what? ALL my kids do not know how to squat!!

Sorry correction. They know how to squat, but they do not know how to squat/pee or squat/poo! Look at the picture carefully (from left):

• Nadine is trying hard to balance that’s why she’s a little blurred.
• Nathan is enduring the pain in his calves that’s why the angst look.
• Nicole…you can’t see her bum, it’s close to touching the floor!

And when I try to get the girls to pee squatting, everything gets wet: Shoes, skirt hem, panties, ankles … Mind you, I’ve not told you about me trying to keep them from falling into the bowl!

I spoke to a friend, we concluded that we could cos many of us grew up with squat toilets at home. This generation got it easy. And she told me it is NECESSARY to teach them how to use a squat toilet. When we go traveling, not every country has the usual toilet seat. When all the ‘seat’ cubicles are occupied. When you are out in the jungle (?!??)

I’ve decided. I’m going to train the girls when they bathe. “Darling, can you squat and try to pee into the gully trap?” As for Nathan, can I just leave it to daddy to teach the man thing—whatever it may be?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Technorati Tags: squat toilet,children squat,children toilet,toilet training,diaper training

Pre-School expenses going UP!

Nathan is in K1 and Nadine in Nursery. Both of them attend a full-day childcare centre. We drop them off at 8 a.m. and pick them before 5.30 p.m. The arrangement is perfect for now, as the full day programme occupies them and gives them a very complete curriculum for the academic, aesthetics and social life.

 

BUT the prices are going up again! We just received a circular that school fees for next year are up by another $134 each per month!!!!!

 

Look, I understand the need for increase because of inflation, cost of living, etc. But at $134 each in a year?

 

Ohhhh I wish the government regulation of pre-school education would quickly quickly start! Right now, it’s either grit my teeth and go with it, or change school! There’s no bursary & no negotiation.

 

I came up with my own ideas to get the best out of this ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY FOUR dollars.

 

EAT more in school… My kids do that quite well!

 

 

Use more school supplies? Cut extra paper, colour with more vigour!

Shower many many times?

 

 

You can see I’m getting desperate. Any ideas?

 

I’m whining quite a bit here. Not willing to change school, and not willing to pay the price. Help.

 

 

Technorati Tags: rising school fees,preschool fees,regulate preschool,increase school fees,preschool cost

Gotta Start Somewhere

So I decided to start a blog.

I must say that Google’s Blogger made it really easy! A few clicks here and there, a test of my aesthetic abilities and ta-da … a blog!

What am I going to blog about since there is a proliferation of mummy blogs out there?

I’ve decided. It will be about my life as a mummy to three beautiful children. This blog would journal their experiences and showcase how different each of them are… and along the way, show how different I can be with each of them!

I’ve no big ambitions to blog daily, I’ll do it regularly though! I have a dream, to give everyone an insight to what children can possibly do, think or say. I’ve three kids, so that should tip the scales just a wee bit to my favour!

Please leave a comment, let me know what you think of this brand new blog!  

 

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