I am not a maid

Sometimes I feel I am a maid. Exhausted. Unappreciated. 

Me: I feel like I am a maid.

Son: No, you're not. You're my Mama. 

Me: I cook, I wash, I clean, I look after you all...and teach you. 

I think I can be replaced. A maid can do the same.

Son: No...you're my mama.

Me: What does a Mama do?

Son: You cook...you clean...

Me: That's what a maid do...

Son: But you're my Mama. 

😭😪😢😳

The conversation continued and...

Son: What present do you want?

Me: I don't know want present I want. I never thought of what I really want.

Son: hmmm...How much does a daisy cost?

Me: (knowing he will get me a daisy) No, don't waste money. Flower wilts too soon. 

Son: then what do you like? Maybe bracelet? How much is it?

Me: Maybe 30 or 40 ringgits.

Son: I think I can buy that. 

😁😀

I thank God for giving me two beautiful angels to brighten up my day when it seems so hard to pass...

When you work, you get to have bonuses. 

When I work, I get two soul-touching kids that heal me when I'm feeling sick.

Setting an example

He was playing with his younger brother in the playroom. 

Me: Kor kor, how old are you?

Boy: I'm am 8.

Me: Oh...this playroom is for kids aged 6 and below. But you can go to the library section to read some books. 

Boy: 😊 (ran away to get his bag. Then, sat beside his parents and took out a book from his bag to read.) 

I was amazed at his obedience. I found complete obedience in him without any struggles. He didn't doubt on what I had said. He also didn't return to the play area which he was forbid to enter. He simply OBEYED. 

His parents? They were the one that cleaned the table after each meal. Quiet, elegant yet shines like the lamp that mentioned in the Bible. I believe this is the type of Christians that God wants us to be: 

"Let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven."

Matthew 5:16

The parents need not be loud. They just need to shine and be examples for the children to follow. They're my cell group member and today, before we went out for Sunday service, I'd received his whatsapp on today's Daily Bread that he had pondered upon. No wonder the parents are always on guard. They start the day with God's words! I hope that I'm able to talk to them and know them personally one day for they've inspired me to be a better parent. 

Setting an example is not the main means of influencing another, it is the ONLY means.

Albert Einstein

My son's first week in school

Last time, it was Thangachini and this time, it was Atilah. My son never fails to surprise me!

Last week was the first week of school for my son who has been registered for Year One. Like all mothers, I was excited as well as nervous. But the school was rather strict. Parents were only allowed to come into the school during the first three days. We have to learn to let go though in our minds, there are still too many things which we think our kids couldn't handle. 

So, with my mom's encouragement, I didn't go to visit my son during recess at all on the third day. He had told me very confidently he knows how to buy food for himself. 

On the fourth day of school, I got the chance to meet with his class teacher after school to say good bye. And his teacher took the opportunity to tell me something which I have expected yet have been praying for it not to happen. 

"He likes to talk. He talks too much. All his classmates have been complaining about him," his teacher said. 

😰😰

I smiled. "Yes. He likes to talk." I warned him in front of his teacher and his teacher said, "Yes. You cannot talk so much. Otherwise, I'll put you in a 'special seating'." 

I smiled and said goodbye to the teacher.

That's my son. It was just the first week and his teacher has changed his seating for three times. Teachers thought that he won't be able to communicate with students from other races but they didn't know that my son is truly 1 Malaysia boy! He can speak to whoever sitting beside him be it an Indian or Malay. 

And today, teacher changed his seating again because he has been talking too much with Atilah. 

Yet he is very happy.

"I've two new friends today!" 

"Oh, that's great! How did you make friends with them? ...??? Teacher changed your place again?" 

"Yes!"

😬😰😰

Belligerent, proud and ignorant young drivers

I live in Setapak and it is very close to TAR COLLEGE. Needless to say, this place has been turned into a city with condos by developers to meet the demands of property investors. Most of the condos here are rented out to students thus, our neighbours are mostly students from other states. I have had very friendly students as my neighbours but that was many years ago. Nowadays, many have grown tired of greeting people and become expressionless. What's worse is - they drive dangerously. Some are simply belligerent and ignorant, ignoring one-way or no entry signs as well as coming out from junctions and expecting you to avoid them. 

I remembered having my first car when I was 25. That was my dad's 20 years old Toyota Corolla. Later on, I bought a second hand Kancil with all my savings and a loan from my dad. A car was something so precious to us, we drive with utmost care. But nowadays, parents give cars, especially new ones to college children. How puffed up these kids are! They speed even in the condo itself! What are they trying to prove? You don't understand. I do hope the parents will examine their kids driving skill before letting them drive out to harm the lives of others.

My son starts his primary one!

My son has started primary one. 󾌥

I was more nervous than he did. Well, I am always the nervous type. Afraid of being late to school, afraid of getting stuck in the jam, afraid of this and that...

Isaac on the other hand, is a happy go lucky person. After the first day, he came back telling me, "Teacher said, tomorrow all parents cannot sit in the canteen. You all should go far far away to see us eat only."

Me: So, I don't need to go to school to see you? Are you sure you know how to buy food?

Isaac: Yes la.

Yet, today my mom and I went to school and waited till his recess time. When he saw us, he asked us to go far far away. Then he lined up to buy food. When we reappeared, he quickly hid the junk food he had bought under the table. My mom assured him that I won't scold him for buying junk food. Then only he took it out to eat. What a boy! 

I was mad when I saw him buying junk food. What a waste of money! But my mom said that I have been too strict with him and that makes him wanting to hide whatever "secrets" from me and that's dangerous. 󾍂 

My mom said she never controlled what my brother and I bought to eat when we were kids. Why do that to my son? He needs to have his childhood memory of "junk food" before accepting that they are just junk. Haiii...quite true. I don't eat junk food now. I've had my share when I was a kid and now, I hate junk food. They just make you look horrible with lots of colouring! 󾌿

Maybe I should let go a bit...a bit only. 󾌵

Bringing up boys

No men are born gay. And even if one insist on being a gay, it can be reversed. Yes, it's this book again by Dr. James Dobson who host Focus on Family. Why are there kids who killed their own parents or ran amok killing his friends in college? For parents who are too busy to read this book, below are some highlighted issues which you may consider when raising your son, a loan from God. Hence, we are very much accountable in raising them in accordance to the truth. 

1) boys need structure, boys need supervision and they need to be civilized. 

2) boys need fatherly figure to emulate especially after the age of 3. 

3) NO ONE IS BORN GAY OR LESBIAN. Dr James dedicated a chapter to explain on the origin of Homosexuality with the support of researches and statistics. Fathers have to do their part to "mirror and affirm his son's maleness". 

4) schools for boys - they just can't sit down unlike girls. Hence, greater patience is needed. 

5) postmodernism - everything in the media is telling our kids what is "good" when it is not. Limit kids access to internet, TV, etc.

6) set the rules and discipline them when they misbehave. Also giving him a measure of self-control and the ability to postpone gratification 

7) Rules without Relationship lead to Rebellion 

8) words can build or break - 5 mins of our communication will determine the rest of it. 

9) Parents have the authority given by God to direct and shape their kids's behavior.

10) Train boys to be respectful and responsible 

It's my fault

I am not a good mom, I thought. This has been in my mind since the birth of my son. 

I tried to be a good mom by using cloth nappies for my son because I was afraid he would get rashes from wearing diapers for long hours and to avoid any possibilities of getting testicle cancer. That's how paranoid I was. 

I mopped the floor everyday so that he won't have to crawl on dusty floor. 

I boiled soup everyday so that he would drink more and reduce his body heat, if there's any. 

I read to him daily so that he would have vast vocabulary once he speaks. 

But when he got sick, I blamed myself. I didn't have a healthy body and that was why he didn't have a strong body as well. 

When he fell from the bed, I blamed myself for not ensuring a mattress was put beside the edge of the bed.

When it comes to my daughter now, I let her wear diapers daily because I just have no time to wash soiled nappies. Yes, I am afraid of her health but I've more to take care of now. 

And she fell down, TWICE, today. Once, in the morning when she stepped on a book on the floor and slipped. It hurt me to see her in pain. I should have picked up the book when I saw it earlier. It's my fault. 

She fell down again in the afternoon while I was mopping the floor. I thought my mom was looking after her or at least keeping her occupy while I was mopping the floor but she wasn't. So this little girl was left walking around on wet floor and fell. 

I am not a good mother because I let her fell twice today. I feel sad. I cried. But I can't stop here, because I need to keep going and going....till my last breath. I hope till then, I can say, I've done my best. Now, not yet...

A Teary Mom

"I am sorry, Isaac, I'm sorry. I'm an angry mom and a sad mom. I'm sick but I don't want to take medicine because medication will only make me go to sleep and be tired all the time. I want to depend on God alone to recover." 

That's what I told Isaac before he fell asleep just now. I couldn't stop myself from sobbing as I lay beside his sleepy head. He moved closer to me and threw his arm over my shoulder, giving assurance that he understood me. He was exhausted and within minutes, he fell into a deep sleep. 

I stopped crying then until I came to my blog to write this. I don't understand why I am always teary. I am teary since a girl. My mom couldn't understand why too and often scolded me for being a cry baby and being superstitious, always said I brought her bad luck for crying too much. I wish I know why I am so teary. I wish I can be a happy girl like my friends. 

I didn't have a happy childhood. I don't want to blame my mom for being too teary and affected me subconsciously but where do I seek help? I cried so much that during my childhood that I was afraid I would be blind one day due to crying. 

I even asked my science stream friend, "Do you think I would become blind by crying too much?" 

He answered, "I don't know. Tears are salt. Probably you can take more salt to prevent blindness." And we laughed. 

Overcoming the fear

When I saw my son cried in his school, I cried with him. I understood the fear he was facing. When I left him, he screamed and kicked with all his might. He didn't want to stay in the school. All he wanted was to stay in the house, his comfort zone, without any disturbance and play with his toys all day long. But life has different phases. As he grows older and older, he needs to face different things and the first challenge he needs to face is SCHOOL. 

I don't remember myself crying when I was sent to the school. I wasn't afraid. I liked school. Probably because I have an older brother who showed me how much he enjoyed going to school and having plenty of friends, it made me feel it would be an enjoyable experience for me too. 

Again, when I pondered at my son's wet face, I remembered myself struggling on the floor, trying to snatch my dad's medication from my mom. I was down and under and was hoping to take my life away due to fear. Of what? The people around me. 

My first job was a nightmare. I joined a local bank and was pushed around by the seniors into doing different tasks and was called names and bullied verbally every day in front of waiting customers. Tears ran down my face yet they did not stop the act of bullying. In fact, the tears proved that they were right, I was a loser and they had won the battle of torturing a new staff. The turnover in the bank was high. No new employee can withstand the bully more than 6 months. The manager wasn't doing anything. He couldn't because he was being boycotted as well. 

Dad had been encouraging. He said nothing should stop me from working in the bank because it pays well with many benefits. But I was adamant. I couldn't sleep. I was like a waking vampire, wandering in the bank during office hours and at night, couldn't sleep but kept thinking what was going to happen the next day and what their tricks would be. Life was meaningless. 

When I decided to take my life away, Dad allowed me to hand in my resignation. I was glad that I could finally withdraw myself from the torture. 

Now thinking back, I wondered whether things would be different if I were a Christian then...Would I survive the torture and bullying? I really wanted to know for I do not want to be a loser for life. I don't want to bring this fear, the same fear of facing challenges/ torture to the next generation. Because I gave up, I have nothing to share with my son. I could not share the triumph I didn't experience. I was a dodger, but I don't want my son to be like me. 

School Phobia

First day: he ate 3/4 of the bread
Second day: he ate 1/2 of the bread
Third day: he ate 3 bites and refused to eat anymore

My son, Isaac has just changed to a new school and he feared the new teacher, especially a man teacher that reprimanded him for crying. Isaac's eating habit changed. He used to finish a piece of bread for breakfast but not anymore. The fear of going to school has caused him to lose his appetite and what's more, he has turned from a happy child to a worried one. 

Yesterday, I confronted the male teacher that Isaac mentioned. Trying to be friendly, I said, "Teacher, Isaac is scared of you." The teacher looked at Isaac and smiled. Another teacher who looked on said, "There's no need to be scared. We all love you, Isaac." 

I continued, "Isaac said you scolded him." The teacher looked away, embarrassed. Then, I smiled and took Isaac away. When I went to take Isaac home from school, he told me, "Today the man teacher didn't scold me." I was happy that it worked. Isaac also told me he likes his new teacher, "the thin thin one". I was happy for him that he finally found someone he could count on and I hope things would improve. 

Nevertheless, this child of mine always "brings past to the future, and the future to the present." He couldn't enjoy playing with his toys anymore. Whenever he thinks of his school, he would run to me and says, "I don't want to go to school. I am scared," and pats his chests to show me his fear. When I looked into his eyes, I saw myself. He is so much like me, a worrier. He knew that today everything went fine, but tomorrow might be the repeat of what happened yesterday. Then he worries today what will happen tomorrow. 

Today, I gave him some sweets and told him, "I have to go back and cook for lunch. Otherwise, you have to stay longer in school to have lunch in the school since I don't manage to cook." He understood and let me go. 

God, please take away Isaac's fear and give him peace and joy. Let him befriend his friends and let him learn from his teachers. God provides peace. I trust in You, my Saviour. 

Here I am, 7 months pregnant!

Hello everyone there. I am back - with a bigger stomach to get my tiny Gabriel in it. 

Back in December 2012, I had wanted a baby very much. After all, Isaac was very lonely and kept telling me that his school mates have siblings while he didn't. So, we prayed every night, asking God to give us a baby which we can name her "Gabriel". When I read the book of Matthew in the Bible, I liked the name "Gabriel" instantly. In Chinese, Gabriel is named as "the angel that brings good news." We wanted another angel in the family, especially one who brings good news to us. 

Isaac was serious. He prayed for me and kept asking impatiently when would God grant us our wish. I said, we have to wait.

On  my side, I did UNUSUAL thing. I don't usually go to the dentist but I did to check on my teeth and made sure I don't have any cavities. I went to the gynae to do my pap smear and breasts check. I went to our family doctor to have my blood tested. And when everything was done and the results were out, I was pregnant with Gabriel. 

Everyone in the family was elated. I was at the moment when I saw double lines on my pregnancy strip. But things were not always smooth sailing. The coming week, I started to have serious morning sickness. Isaac had to stop schooling because I couldn't get up from bed and drive him to school. The house was turned into a rubbish dump, with everything here and there. Floor and things were dusty. I was extremely down. I didn't take bath, didn't comb my hair and hoped that I don't have to eat either. 

Fast forward six months later, here I am! Thank God, big and healthy I am. Moms have to go through morning sickness and labour pain to have "the little bundle of joy" later on. 

Bravo Mommies out there! Let us brave ourselves to face the challenge. 

How to learn while having fun?

What makes you laugh? What makes you wanted to jump from the chair and rush to it? Those are the things that interest you and will motivate you to learn more about it. One of my friends is a great hobbyist. Once he falls in love with a hobby, he'll go an extra mile to learn about his hobby. For example, when he likes watches. He will learn about how to dismantle a watch and put all the parts together again. He will get contacts of professional watch repairers and get classes or advices from them. He will search through the internet and read all about watches. He will strive till there is nothing new for him to learn and yes, he is so good in watches that he knows whether one is genuine or a fake one by just one look. That is how one learns while having fun. 

What about children? Children like to imitate adults. They want to be adults. They want to do what adults are doing and get the feel of being adults. Therefore, "fun" for them is doing what adults are doing. If a constant "no" is being said to them, they will have low self-esteem and eventually lost interest in learning altogether. 

When I am cutting lady's fingers, my son came to the kitchen. He stood beside me and watched me carefully. I turned to ask, "Do you want to try?" He was elated. He must be thinking, "Can I?" I smiled at him and said, "Come on. Mama will teach you how to cut off the ends of lady's fingers." I taught him how to hold a knife and cut off the ends of lady's fingers and he did it. No accidents. I think my son enjoyed cutting the lady's fingers and he had fun cutting them. Through this activity, he not only learns how to cut a lady's finger but also enhances his hand-eye coordination, self-confidence and concentration. Isn't it great to have learnt so many things at one time?

Children learn throughout the day. They are like dry sponges ready to absorb whatever "water" we are giving them. So, it all depends on us as parents whether to give them a positive input or a negative one. We need to give confidence to the children on what they can do according to their ages. For example, children age two can be allowed to cut scrap papers using plastic scissors. 

My son likes to pay money at the counter. He feels like an adult. We are still in the midst of teaching him  how to recognise the different notes and coins. By being able to pay at the counter trigger him to learn what those notes and coins mean and as he learn, he has fun. 

What is hand-eye coordination?

The term ‘hand-eye coordination’ to me was like an alien until my son was two years old. It was then that I put him in a Montessori and the principal explained to me the importance of hand-eye coordination. It saddened me how much I have missed before this. If I were to know it earlier, probably my son would have been better developed. From then on, I try to read more on childhood development and how different motor skills and coordination help in the children’s future learning ability.

Hand-eye coordination is the ability to guide the movement of the hands with the eyes. It is vital for the children to have hand-eye coordination because by the time children start to learn to write, their writing will stay within the lines. I have seen children who struggle writing within the lines although they have tried their best. To avoid such frustration, parents can try to stimulate their children’s hand-eye coordination right after they are born.

Although it is popular among parents, many people do not realise that cloth mat with objects hanging on it is a useful tool for training children’s hand-eye coordination. Infants who are allowed to lie down on the cloth mat will be attracted to the objects hanging above them. Being attracted by the colourful objects, they will stretch up their hands to grab them. Many times the babies will not be able to grab the objects but just manage to touch or push them. That is the start of how they train their hands to go to where their eyes are looking at.

For toddlers who already know how to sit up, they should be allowed to play lacing cards, stringing beads, nesting boxes, stacking cones, completing puzzles, kneading playdough or even cutting some recycled papers with the assistance of adults. One of my friends likes to let her daughters play pouring water or dry sand from one container to the other. The activities above not only stimulate the children’s hand-eye coordination but training the children to have patience and staying focused.

Older children are encouraged to be involved in outdoor playground activities such as climbing steel bars, monkey bars, slide, mock rock-climbing wall or balancing on a plank of wood. Besides the abovementioned activities, parents also can let children handle house chores such as washing the dishes (make sure the dishes are unbreakable), sweeping the floor or picking up toys.

It is vital for parents to understand the importance of hand-eye coordination and using the appropriate materials to develop their children’s coordination. Parents have to understand that well-developed hand-eye coordination and motor skills will provide a speedy learning ability when the children enter primary school. If the foundation is not strong, children will face difficulties in the future learning process, thus, pressure and frustrations will arise. 

The above article is published in The Star online newspaper:

http://parenthots.com/parents_corner/soapbox/Realising-the-importance-of-hand-eye-coordination.aspx

Huggies Dry Pants

Frankly, I am not a fan of diapers because they are expensive. I used to use cloth nappies for my baby's comfort and to save cost. However, changing cloth nappies after each urination and cleaning the soiled nappies exhausted  me and it has taken a toil on my health. Therefore, I have chosen Huggies Dry Pants and they are worth the money spent! In just three steps: tear, change and throw, Huggies Dry Pants save time and I can have my evening naps with ease. 

For mothers like me who want to have headache-free experience from soiled nappies and frustration from changing taped diapers, why not try Huggies Dry Pants. There is a road show going on from 25 February to 3 March in Mydin USJ titled Huggies Dry Pants Change for Better Convenience.

There are live performances, special promotions, giveaways, games, magic tricks and other activities to keep the babies and yourselves occupied and amazed. There is also a competition for those who wanted to try their hands on Huggies Dry Pants. They can join the Huggies 30 seconds Diaper Change Challenge at the road show.

Kids who are comfortable will be confident!

Whose responsibility?

After my morning shopping for a whole week of food, I went to the newspaper stall to get the latest news. What a shock when I saw all the major local newspaper are reporting on the death of the six-year-old, William Yau Zhen Zhong. 

William had been reported missing for more than a week and police were on their patrol and every media highlighted the issue wherever and whenever they can. Even people on Facebook shared William's photo and wished that this boy can be found safely and return home. Nevertheless, the nightmare we all feared has come alive - William was found dead!

Now the question is "How did he die?" Public is keen to find out the answer and the police just have to look out for the murderer or cause of William's death. It was another life. It was tragic. 

The aunty at the newspaper stall concluded that William's parents should not have left him in the car and went to shop themselves. They shouldn't and it would not have happened. But it was too late. 

We have had enough of parents leaving their children in the house for hours or asking their little children to run the errand or even forgetting that their children were asleep in the back seat of the car! These children died due to a "slight mistake" made by their parents and there were no turning back. Parents begged for forgiveness and I believe that the news of their children's death will haunt them for life. 

I've a son and I know how it feels it he were hurt. If only William's parents did not leave him in the car...If only William did not go down the car and went looking for his parents. If only William would be obedient to stay in the car, waiting patiently for his parents to return...If only this world will get better, the next generation would only be worse with less care and more negligence of what we should be doing.

Hand Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD)

First it was a blister on his lower lip and next, he refused to eat anything at all. A look by his teacher at the playschool and I was asked to take my son to the doctor. The doctor confirmed my son to have Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) and said there would be more cases from the same playschool as parents lack knowledge on this issue.

When I just got married, I was ignorant about HFMD and brushed it off each time I came across it as it had nothing to do with me. All I knew was that it would be a painful ride for the child who contracted it. Besides that, I knew nothing about Coxsakie, another name used in Western countries for the same disease.

This time, however, I beg to differ. I need more information. There really were many contracted with this disease due to ignorance and - selfishness from parents who know it is contagious yet left their children at the playschool.

A surf in the world wide web gives me a lot of information about HFMD. So, what is HFMD? It is an illness characterised by fever, sores in the mouth, and a rash with blisters. The rash does not itch, so don’t expect your child to scratch it to tell you he/she has HFMD. Constant notices of baby’s palms and feet, as well as their appetite and body temperature help to have an early detection. The most common cause of HFMD is coxsakievirus A16.

As HFMD is caused by viruses, it is contagious through direct contact with the saliva, stool and blister fluid of the infected persons. The most contagious period is during the first week of the illness. Although the most common people who get infected with this disease are children aged 10 or below, adults may get infected too. Pregnant mothers may pass on the disease to the newborns and cause complications such as developmental and other defects in the foetus.

There is no special treatment for the disease. A visit to the locum confirmed that doctor only gives paracetamol and painkiller to reduce fever and discomfort for the patients. At the time of illness, patients’ fluid intake is vital as one may not be able to take in any food. Constant sponging the head of the infected helps to reduce his temperature too. The disease will resolve around 10 to 12 days but may still spread infectious virus for weeks.

A major preventive measure parents can take is to stop sending their children to school for the time being until the children fully recover. Secondly, the items used by the infected person should be disinfected constantly to avoid leaving any infectious fluid on them. Thirdly, a strict hygienic routine should be followed such as washing the hands after each change of diaper or touching on the skin of the infected persons.

 

References

http://www.babycenter.com.my/a1614/hand-foot-and-mouth-disease-hfmd

http://jknns.moh.gov.my

http://www.medicinenet.com/coxsackie_virus/article.htm#what_is_coxsackie_virus

http://www.parents.com/baby/health/other-issues/coxsackie-virus-facts/

http://www.sarawak.health.gov.my/hfmd.htm

 

 

Viral infection can be prevented with a little consideration towards others

Recently my son contracted hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD). There was no point starting the blame game but it all started with one child, whose parents knew about their child’s condition, yet left him in the playschool and let the virus spread among his friends. It was plain selfish. My son and my friend’s daughter were infected too. And I advised my friend not to bring her daughter to an event because her daughter needs to be quarantined for at least one week to ensure she is fine before going to public places, especially getting in contact with other kids. She replied me with, “My husband said she is fine.” I was overwhelmed by her answer. How could parents be so selfish? They think that there is little chance of passing on the sickness to someone else and when it really does, they do not feel guilty at all? What have become of our society and mentality? Aren’t other people’s children, children too? Don’t we feel pain when our children are hurt, going foodless for days and yet we want other children to feel that pain too? Here I would like to plead to parents out there to not let your children join any function when they are sick. Hand, foot and mouth disease is infectious, just like chicken pox and tuberculosis. It can be prevented with a little consideration towards others, with a little time spent at home with the children and not to expose them to the public. When I visited the doctor, he said our country has more such cases compared to Westerners. This is because Westerners take other people into consideration and do not wish the virus spread to others. As a well-informed society, let us go to the next level, the level of not only thinking for ourselves but others too. Children around the world are the same – they feel pain the same way your children do. 

Hand foot and mouth disease (Kosaki)

My son is down with Kosaki or better known locally as hand, foot and mouth disease AGAIN! He had it last year end and it was a full year after that that he has it again now...

Last year, when I was told by my son's teacher that she suspected something, I was alarmed. I didn't know much about Kosaki and all I knew was that it would be a tough ride for both my son and I. The doctor prescribed my son antibiotics, paracetamol and painkiller. Thank God, it was easy last year. My son was easily duped into believing the white antibiotics was vanilla icecream and took them punctually. He did not go through pain or foodless days. 

This year, however, we went to another doctor. Well, frankly, I don't like antibiotics and I was saying, "Yipee! This doc didn't prescribe antibiotics." Doc said Kosaki is a viral infection and has nothing to do with bacteria. So, antibiotics is not needed. On the third day after contracting Kosaki, my son lost his appetite TOTALLY! He was not eating anything and kept throwing tantrum because the ulcers in his mouth hurt him so much. I could feel the pain too. I bought him coconut juice everyday and gave him watermelon. Those did not cool him down. On the fourth day, he started to have fever, reaching 39.1 degree  Celcius and started to feel dizzy most of time, wanting to sleep. My mom urged us to bring my son to another doctor and get a second opinion. 

We rushed our son to Hospital Selayang and was posted to the Fever Centre. Within half an hour, we had seen the doctor and my son's blood was requested to check whether antibiotics is needed. Thank God, it was fast and the doctor said that my son's blood showed there was higher white blood cells and that indicated bacteria infection. So, my son needed antibiotics. That very evening we gave him the first dose of antibiotics and the next day, he was jumping up and down and taking his three meals like usual! 

I wonder whether it was my tenacity of rejecting antibiotics that has caused much pain to my son or was it just the timing problem? 

What is a child?

Children are born not knowing anything. They came to the world and we teach and coach them to do things. Hence, as adults, we tend to think that we are much cleverer than children. However, children are our conscience teachers! They are pure at heart and motiveless unlike adults who have hidden agenda.

Besides, children's characters are tender.
They can be moulded and shaped according to our teachings. There is a Chinese saying which sounds like: How a child is at the age of 3 will determine what he will be at the age of 80. This means that the moulding period starts at the age of 0 up to the age of 3. Some statistics show that it ends at the age of 2 instead. This shows how crucial it is for parents to be aware of the importance of the impartation of knowledge and example for their children. So, do we give up moulding them after the age of 2? It should not be. There's nothing too difficult for the Lord to do. We should always believe bad characters can be changed if we have faith in our loving Jesus Christ for He is love. He loves us and our children and wants us to be like Him. He will teach us. 

Education should not stop at any moment of our lives nor our children's. 

Did you give birth to a child or a person?

Here, I would like to continue to share the book I am reading, Wei Ren Fu Mu, Wei Ren Shi Biao by Rev. Dr. Stephen Tong.

Did you give birth to a child or a person? You might say, "What? A child is a person and that person is my child. So, what's the difference?"

If parents always treat their children as children, then they are denying the children the opportunity to grow. We should treat the children as individuals, each has his/her own choices, preferences, uniqueness just like an adult. Let them the space to grow. Have we forgotten that we were once children?

Great people like John Wesley, Martin Luther or even Adolf Hitler were once children. It was how they were treat when they were children that shaped them to be what we knew them to be!

My story: The other day in my friend's sister wedding dinner, Isaac ran around the hall and disappeared behind some pillars. Daddy was anxious and went looking for him. When Isaac saw Daddy, he knew he had done something wrong. He had not kept his promise to stay close to us. Instead, he ran out of the boundary. Daddy asked, "What have you done?" Isaac started to cry loudly. It was embarrassing for both the adult and child.

Reminder: If we treat our children as individuals, we'll respect them. In the situation above, the father should have brought Isaac to a quieter place, just the two of them, to have a talk (car, toilet, meeting room, etc).

Stay tune!