Many children have habits which comforts them. Zhirui has one too, which originates from nursing to sleep. As many breastfeeding mums would fully agree, the easiest and most effective way of comforting a baby is to nurse him. Very often, we would nurse our children to sleep too.
After weaning off breastmilk, Zhirui adopted a new habit of suckling her bolster to sleep- resembling the action of nursing. We did not stop her since it comforts her and brings her to slumber quickly. She's still doing it one and half years down the road.
However, recently she 'mutated' the habit into stroking her upper lip. What's worrying us is that she is not just doing it before her sleep, but even during her waking hours, in her class, in car journeys..
We started reminding her to stop doing the action, but it would usually make her upset and she'd kick up a fuss. Her Daddy would use playful ways to tell her the habit is undesirable, like joking that it is a 'baby habit' or trapping her hands. I would usually use a serious tone to express my displeasure.
Two months into rattling, yesterday Zhirui made an astonishing move.. While putting her to bed, Daddy saw Zhirui trying to resist putting her finger on her lips. It was the first time we saw such conscious effort from Zhirui to change her habit. Amazing!!
This morning, we praised her immensely and gave her lots of encouragement for her effort. She smiled and i could sense that she felt proud of herself too. :)
Jia you girl, we (including baby) are all very very proud of your outstanding determination!
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Golden Jie jie(sister)-to-be
My second pregnancy came as a surprise. The symptoms, mainly morning sickness, was masked by bad coughs resulted from a flu bug spreading rampantly in Singapore during last Dec/Jan.
But somehow suspicion arises when the period was unusually late. Tested with a kit and given the positive line. Sb then told me, "I have known it because Zhirui told me a few days ago."
"Huh?? How?"
"One evening, she told me that baby is playing. And i guessed it."
It sounds unbelievable.. But according to old wives' tales, young children can indeed 'sense' their younger sibling and when their mother are pregnant.
Zhirui has been extremely cooperative during this period. She is not just caring towards me, but also her unborn sibling. To me, she would be mindful not to ask me to carry her or oblige to my request not to carry her as that will hurt Mummy and baby. She's also my private nurse who feeds me supplement pills. You can't imagine how thoughtful she is when she says, "Mummy don't run because baby is inside your tummy." Ooh..
To baby, she would 'sayang' (my bump), talk and sing and 'share' her food (through me) with baby.
Given such track record, I reckon she'll become no less than a perfect sister! haha.. :) Then again, Zhirui is famous for being a whistle-blower in school, i wonder if she would become more naggy than me in future. Baby, watch out! :P
But somehow suspicion arises when the period was unusually late. Tested with a kit and given the positive line. Sb then told me, "I have known it because Zhirui told me a few days ago."
"Huh?? How?"
"One evening, she told me that baby is playing. And i guessed it."
It sounds unbelievable.. But according to old wives' tales, young children can indeed 'sense' their younger sibling and when their mother are pregnant.
Zhirui has been extremely cooperative during this period. She is not just caring towards me, but also her unborn sibling. To me, she would be mindful not to ask me to carry her or oblige to my request not to carry her as that will hurt Mummy and baby. She's also my private nurse who feeds me supplement pills. You can't imagine how thoughtful she is when she says, "Mummy don't run because baby is inside your tummy." Ooh..
To baby, she would 'sayang' (my bump), talk and sing and 'share' her food (through me) with baby.
Given such track record, I reckon she'll become no less than a perfect sister! haha.. :) Then again, Zhirui is famous for being a whistle-blower in school, i wonder if she would become more naggy than me in future. Baby, watch out! :P
Monday, April 11, 2011
Understanding death
Zhirui could easily relate to death, under the context of food where animals were killed for food. This was probably because we are a vegetarian family. We took from the viewpoint that killing is not kind and let Zhirui feel compassionate about animals. From there, we explain why we do not eat meat.
She could accept her status very well. At times when she was offered a marshmellow or gummy that contains gelatine, we would explain that it contains animal bones and so we do not eat it. She readily says 'ok' and returned the sweet. I'm indeed proud of her for her determination against temptations.
Zhirui has a preloved book titled 'Granny'. The story is about the relationship between a little girl and her Granny, and how one day Granny pass away. I remember reading this book to her when she was barely two years old. During our first read, could somehow tell that she's trying to understand what it means by 'passing on' and why Granny is never coming back. During subsequent reads, she began to feel sad with teary eyes.
Recently, Zhirui's great grandmother (太婆婆) passed away. I did not tell her clearly what's going on when we attended the wake. I bet she only remembers her new-found friend Ariel jie jie. On the last couple of days eventually, we spoke to her at more length of the matter. As usual, she has many questions to ask about the new topic. "Why is Tai Po Po sleeping inside?", "Why did she die?"... She seems to understand the solemnity of the event when she displayed more appropriate/reserved behavior on the last day. Perhaps, this was so because she saw me weep.
Last Saturday, we went tomb-sweeping (扫墓) at Mandai Columbarium. It was for my mother. It was also the first time Zhirui went. (By Chinese custom, it is not good/auspicious for young children to visit such 'yin' places.) There had always been a sense of guilt lingering in me during the past two Qing Ming Festivals for not being able to bring Zhirui to pay respect to my late mother..
I've never mentioned to Zhirui about her maternal grandmother (婆婆) and that she had left this world long before she was born. Therefore when we asked her to call "婆婆" when praying, she did not do so. She must have felt very strange to acknowledge a person seen on a photo as her granny. On the second time when both sb and i knelt down with Zhirui to pray, she finally called "婆婆". My eyes felt wet at that instance. Zhirui, you are such a sensible girl..
She could accept her status very well. At times when she was offered a marshmellow or gummy that contains gelatine, we would explain that it contains animal bones and so we do not eat it. She readily says 'ok' and returned the sweet. I'm indeed proud of her for her determination against temptations.
Zhirui has a preloved book titled 'Granny'. The story is about the relationship between a little girl and her Granny, and how one day Granny pass away. I remember reading this book to her when she was barely two years old. During our first read, could somehow tell that she's trying to understand what it means by 'passing on' and why Granny is never coming back. During subsequent reads, she began to feel sad with teary eyes.
Recently, Zhirui's great grandmother (太婆婆) passed away. I did not tell her clearly what's going on when we attended the wake. I bet she only remembers her new-found friend Ariel jie jie. On the last couple of days eventually, we spoke to her at more length of the matter. As usual, she has many questions to ask about the new topic. "Why is Tai Po Po sleeping inside?", "Why did she die?"... She seems to understand the solemnity of the event when she displayed more appropriate/reserved behavior on the last day. Perhaps, this was so because she saw me weep.
Last Saturday, we went tomb-sweeping (扫墓) at Mandai Columbarium. It was for my mother. It was also the first time Zhirui went. (By Chinese custom, it is not good/auspicious for young children to visit such 'yin' places.) There had always been a sense of guilt lingering in me during the past two Qing Ming Festivals for not being able to bring Zhirui to pay respect to my late mother..
I've never mentioned to Zhirui about her maternal grandmother (婆婆) and that she had left this world long before she was born. Therefore when we asked her to call "婆婆" when praying, she did not do so. She must have felt very strange to acknowledge a person seen on a photo as her granny. On the second time when both sb and i knelt down with Zhirui to pray, she finally called "婆婆". My eyes felt wet at that instance. Zhirui, you are such a sensible girl..
Back on blogging- Updates on new flashcard titles
Four months had swiftly past since my last entry. Had been busy making flashcards for ya tou's school- Spring Brainy Kidz and finding relieves for morning sickness.
Quite amazingly, i managed to create and deliver 13 new titles within 2 months for the school. These are actually new themes that the school was embarking on and the flashcards were needed to complement their teaching. I'm quite impressed by school's spirit to improve and renew their teaching resources and content.
Haven't had time to upload snapshots of these creations but they are available.
1) All about fairy tales
2) Popular princesses
3) Chinese legends (in Chinese)
4) Famous musical composers
5) Musical notes
6) Famous paintings
7) Elements of art
8) Performance arts
9) Visual arts
10) Art expression
11) Subject matter in art
12) Body parts
13) Bones
14) Internal organs
Closing this job and moving on, I realize i'm entering a new chapter of parenthood.. :)
Quite amazingly, i managed to create and deliver 13 new titles within 2 months for the school. These are actually new themes that the school was embarking on and the flashcards were needed to complement their teaching. I'm quite impressed by school's spirit to improve and renew their teaching resources and content.
Haven't had time to upload snapshots of these creations but they are available.
1) All about fairy tales
2) Popular princesses
3) Chinese legends (in Chinese)
4) Famous musical composers
5) Musical notes
6) Famous paintings
7) Elements of art
8) Performance arts
9) Visual arts
10) Art expression
11) Subject matter in art
12) Body parts
13) Bones
14) Internal organs
Closing this job and moving on, I realize i'm entering a new chapter of parenthood.. :)
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