I am sure most of you are familiar with the name of "Geylang Street", knowing wat is famous on that street. Normally I would just pass by the main road, lookin left and right, then left, on the lookout for the interesting sight of the china hookers and the crowds of the Ah Peks (Qi Ghor Peks in fact) hee..
Yesterday Dear suggested to bring me to the inside of the streets, and to take a closer look at the infamous Geylang hookers... I was thrilled yet scared.. Duno wat i will be in for upon turning in...
Just at the start of the turn, there were a few blangahs comin up with few pkts of cigarettes, and Dear explained that they are illegal ones.. Ah.. Something new to me, along the mysterious Geylang streets.
Then as we continued further in, I got to see more and more - Pretty ones, young ones, old ones, slim ones, aunty ones, disgusting ones, chinese ones, non-chinese ones lining side-by-side on the pathway, while the customers get to walk along and take their pick.. I was quite amazed by the sight, and was already gasping when I saw how young some of them are.. Tink circumstances forced them into it bah.. who would like to be a prostitute at such young age when they could be enjoying their teenage years with their friends.. I even saw an aunty eatin a big sweetcorn disgustingly while waiting for customers.. Who wan to pick her? aiyo.. The eating look is so ugly lor.
Anyway, it was indeed an eye-opening experience for me - The inside streets of Geylang...
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Friday, March 28, 2008
A (Wonderful) Friday Afternoon with Dawn
Dawn could be an angel (most of the times) or a devil (when she throw tantrums for no reasons)...
She was such a little angel to me yesterday...
Fetched her from school, together with my in-laws, and then brought her to the National Library before meeting hubby for dim-sum lunch. In the car, and in the library, she has been such a sweet darling, and staying close to me... Her, being an avid book reader, was elated seeing so many books! At her eye-level where she can reach, she pulled out books from the racks for me to read with her. Told her that she has to speak softly in the library and she has not once fringed the rule! *Pat Pat!*
During the dim-sum lunch, she obediently finished her bowl of porridge whereby I heard that she was not that "obedient" on the day before when they brought her out for lunch... Also when the egg tarts came, she took 1 egg tart for herself, and when she reached out her hands to take the 2nd one, I was telling her "No, you already have 1 egg tart on your plate." and that was when I realised that she was actually taking the egg tart for ME! Gosh... Isn't she a darling?
We were asking her to give the 3rd one to hubby who is her er-shu, but instead she bashfully passed it to my MIL... think she favours female kin to male kin bah.. Anyway, we were all so impressed by her, and were so happy to know that she always liked to share her food with people...
Talking about sharing of food. After we reached home, she took a book out and was reading aloud, she noticed that her grand-dad is cutting apples. She stopped reading halfway, and called out to her grand-dad to also prepare a share for ME!!! Oh oh... I was so touched.... I jus kept grinning from ear to ear, without saying anything cuz I was at then videoing her "reading book aloud" actions... When I replayed the video, or when I showed to hubby, I was still very very touched by her small and innocent gesture.. She has me in her heart...
We spent a wonderful afternoon together, and she has been obedient and sweet since lunch till dinner... We shall always hold this special aunt-and-niece relationship in our heart...
She was such a little angel to me yesterday...
Fetched her from school, together with my in-laws, and then brought her to the National Library before meeting hubby for dim-sum lunch. In the car, and in the library, she has been such a sweet darling, and staying close to me... Her, being an avid book reader, was elated seeing so many books! At her eye-level where she can reach, she pulled out books from the racks for me to read with her. Told her that she has to speak softly in the library and she has not once fringed the rule! *Pat Pat!*
During the dim-sum lunch, she obediently finished her bowl of porridge whereby I heard that she was not that "obedient" on the day before when they brought her out for lunch... Also when the egg tarts came, she took 1 egg tart for herself, and when she reached out her hands to take the 2nd one, I was telling her "No, you already have 1 egg tart on your plate." and that was when I realised that she was actually taking the egg tart for ME! Gosh... Isn't she a darling?
We were asking her to give the 3rd one to hubby who is her er-shu, but instead she bashfully passed it to my MIL... think she favours female kin to male kin bah.. Anyway, we were all so impressed by her, and were so happy to know that she always liked to share her food with people... Talking about sharing of food. After we reached home, she took a book out and was reading aloud, she noticed that her grand-dad is cutting apples. She stopped reading halfway, and called out to her grand-dad to also prepare a share for ME!!! Oh oh... I was so touched.... I jus kept grinning from ear to ear, without saying anything cuz I was at then videoing her "reading book aloud" actions... When I replayed the video, or when I showed to hubby, I was still very very touched by her small and innocent gesture.. She has me in her heart...
We spent a wonderful afternoon together, and she has been obedient and sweet since lunch till dinner... We shall always hold this special aunt-and-niece relationship in our heart...
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Refreshing Day Off
~ Sweat it out at my gym work-out this morning. Burn Burn Burn Calories!!
~ Had a catch-up lunch session with DB's colleague. Eat Eat Eat! Gossip Gossip Gossip! HA!
~ Bought my favourite Muffins from Choc' & Spice @ Tanjong Pagar Plaza. Mmmm
Tea Break!!!
~ Had a refreshing hair cut before I start work next week! Cool! Love my short hair nowadays... Still havn't decide if I wan to highlight my hair or not... Stickin to my black locks for now...
~ Had a relaxing rest on my lounge chair (aka "retiring chair") while I read my notes.. Shall jump to my rented book later - Marley & Me (a book about the labrador retriever.. )
Wat a nice tai-tai life...
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Preschoolers' Temper Tantrums
Dawn suddenly got into her "Preschooler Temper Tantrum" during lunch today. Heard from her mum that she has been getting naughtier and kept throwing such kind of tantrums. Seeing how she handled the tough situation and seeing Dawn kept crying and pounding for almost 15-20 mins(!), I was very curious on knowing how to handle that when its my turn in future (I know its abit too fast..haha.. juz learning from practical experience mah 
)
Googled my question and got this useful information:
1) Don't lose your cool - A tantrum isn't a pretty sight. In addition to kicking, screaming, or pounding the floor, your preschooler's repertoire may include throwing things, hitting, and even holding his breath until he turns blue (don't worry; he'll eventually come up for air). When your child is swept up in a tantrum, he's unable to listen to reason, though he will respond — negatively — to your yelling or threatening. "The more I shouted at Brandon to stop, the wilder he would get," says one mother. What worked instead, she discovered, was to just sit down and be with him while he raged.
Stomping out of the room — tempting as that may be — can make your preschooler feel abandoned. The storm of emotion he's feeling can be frightening to him, and he needs to know you're nearby. Rather than leave him thrashing on the floor, go to him. If he's not flailing too much, pick up your child and hold him. Chances are he'll find your embrace comforting, and will calm down more quickly.
2) Remember that you're the adult. - No matter how long the tantrum continues, don't give in to unreasonable demands or negotiate with your screaming preschooler. It's especially tempting in public to cave in as a way of ending the episode. Try not to worry about what others think — anyone who's a parent has been there before. By conceding, you'll only be teaching your child that pitching a fit is the way to get what he wants, and setting the stage for future behavior problems. What's more, a tantrum is frightening enough for your child without him feeling that you're not in control, either.
If your preschooler's outburst escalates to the point where he's hitting people or pets, throwing things, or screaming nonstop, pick him up and carry him to a safe place, such as his bedroom, where he can't harm himself. Tell him why he's there ("because you hit your sister"), and let him know that you'll stay with him until he calms down. If you're in a public place — a common breeding ground for tantrums — be prepared to leave with your child until he gets a grip.
"My daughter had an absolute fit at a restaurant because the plain spaghetti she ordered arrived with chopped parsley on it," another mother recalls. "Although I realized why she was upset, I wasn't about to let her disrupt everyone's dinner. I took her outside until she calmed down."
3) Talk it over afterward. - When the storm subsides, hold your child close and talk about what happened. Acknowledge his frustration, and encourage him put his feelings into words by asking, "Is there something you want to tell me about what upset you?" Kopp suggests. Shy away from punishments — at this age, a tantrum is a sign that something is troubling him, so take time to talk about what that might be. If your preschooler has a tantrum before bed, hold off on your heart-to-heart until the next day. For the time being, simply calm him in your arms, tell him you love him, and help him to sleep.
4) Try to head off tantrum-triggering situations. -Pay attention to what pushes your preschooler's buttons and plan accordingly. If he falls apart when he's hungry, carry snacks with you. If he has trouble making a transition from one activity to the next, give him a gentle heads-up before a change. Alerting him to the fact that you're about to leave the playground or sit down to dinner ("We're going to eat when you and Daddy are done with your story") gives him a chance to adjust instead of react.
Your preschooler is grappling with new kinds of demands from you, his peers, and his teachers, so offer him choices when you can. No one likes being told what to do all the time. Saying, "Would you like corn or carrots?" rather than "Eat your corn!" will give him a sense of control. Monitor how often you're saying no, too. If you find you're rattling it off routinely, you're probably putting unnecessary stress on both of you. Ease up and choose your battles — after all, would it really wreck your schedule to spend an extra five minutes at the playground?
5) Watch for signs of overstress. - Though occasional tantrums and out-of-control behavior are a perfectly normal part of the preschool years, you do need to keep an eye out for possible problems brewing, Kopp points out. Has there been upheaval in the family? An extremely busy or harried period? Tension between you and your partner? All of these can provoke tantrums. If your preschooler is having tantrums every day, talk to his pediatrician, who can make sure that a physical or psychological condition isn't contributing to the problem, and suggest ways to deal with the outbursts.
)Googled my question and got this useful information:
Tantrums: Why they happen and what to do about them
Why preschoolers throw tantrums
A temper tantrum is the emotional equivalent of a summer storm — sudden and sometimes fierce, but often over as quickly as it starts. One minute you and your preschooler are enjoying your dinner in a restaurant, the next he's whimpering, whining, and then screaming to go home. Thankfully, tantrums may be less common during the preschool years than they were during the terrible twos, with children usually having them only once every couple of weeks (though some parents get no such respite). But when tantrums do hit, they're as challenging as ever. And, as many veteran parents will attest, tantrums may continue to make appearances from time to time well into the grade-school years.
Though you may worry that you're raising a tyrant, take heart — at this age, it's unlikely that your preschooler is throwing a fit to be manipulative. More likely, he's having a meltdown in response to frustration. Often, your preschooler's overwhelming emotions are to blame. Fearfulness, rejection by his peers, and sudden interruptions are frequent tantrum triggers for him. While he won't lose control as easily as he used to, he can slip into a tantrum when his emotions get the best of him.
Say your preschooler spies a picture of a scary monster in the afternoon. This can put him emotionally on edge, though he may not express it immediately. "When you put him to bed hours later, though, he might be more easily agitated than usual, and throw a tantrum that's linked to his heightened anxiety earlier in the day," explains Claire B. Kopp, professor of applied developmental psychology at California's Claremont Graduate University.
What to do when your preschooler pitches a fit A temper tantrum is the emotional equivalent of a summer storm — sudden and sometimes fierce, but often over as quickly as it starts. One minute you and your preschooler are enjoying your dinner in a restaurant, the next he's whimpering, whining, and then screaming to go home. Thankfully, tantrums may be less common during the preschool years than they were during the terrible twos, with children usually having them only once every couple of weeks (though some parents get no such respite). But when tantrums do hit, they're as challenging as ever. And, as many veteran parents will attest, tantrums may continue to make appearances from time to time well into the grade-school years.
Though you may worry that you're raising a tyrant, take heart — at this age, it's unlikely that your preschooler is throwing a fit to be manipulative. More likely, he's having a meltdown in response to frustration. Often, your preschooler's overwhelming emotions are to blame. Fearfulness, rejection by his peers, and sudden interruptions are frequent tantrum triggers for him. While he won't lose control as easily as he used to, he can slip into a tantrum when his emotions get the best of him.
Say your preschooler spies a picture of a scary monster in the afternoon. This can put him emotionally on edge, though he may not express it immediately. "When you put him to bed hours later, though, he might be more easily agitated than usual, and throw a tantrum that's linked to his heightened anxiety earlier in the day," explains Claire B. Kopp, professor of applied developmental psychology at California's Claremont Graduate University.
1) Don't lose your cool - A tantrum isn't a pretty sight. In addition to kicking, screaming, or pounding the floor, your preschooler's repertoire may include throwing things, hitting, and even holding his breath until he turns blue (don't worry; he'll eventually come up for air). When your child is swept up in a tantrum, he's unable to listen to reason, though he will respond — negatively — to your yelling or threatening. "The more I shouted at Brandon to stop, the wilder he would get," says one mother. What worked instead, she discovered, was to just sit down and be with him while he raged.
Stomping out of the room — tempting as that may be — can make your preschooler feel abandoned. The storm of emotion he's feeling can be frightening to him, and he needs to know you're nearby. Rather than leave him thrashing on the floor, go to him. If he's not flailing too much, pick up your child and hold him. Chances are he'll find your embrace comforting, and will calm down more quickly.
2) Remember that you're the adult. - No matter how long the tantrum continues, don't give in to unreasonable demands or negotiate with your screaming preschooler. It's especially tempting in public to cave in as a way of ending the episode. Try not to worry about what others think — anyone who's a parent has been there before. By conceding, you'll only be teaching your child that pitching a fit is the way to get what he wants, and setting the stage for future behavior problems. What's more, a tantrum is frightening enough for your child without him feeling that you're not in control, either.
If your preschooler's outburst escalates to the point where he's hitting people or pets, throwing things, or screaming nonstop, pick him up and carry him to a safe place, such as his bedroom, where he can't harm himself. Tell him why he's there ("because you hit your sister"), and let him know that you'll stay with him until he calms down. If you're in a public place — a common breeding ground for tantrums — be prepared to leave with your child until he gets a grip.
"My daughter had an absolute fit at a restaurant because the plain spaghetti she ordered arrived with chopped parsley on it," another mother recalls. "Although I realized why she was upset, I wasn't about to let her disrupt everyone's dinner. I took her outside until she calmed down."
3) Talk it over afterward. - When the storm subsides, hold your child close and talk about what happened. Acknowledge his frustration, and encourage him put his feelings into words by asking, "Is there something you want to tell me about what upset you?" Kopp suggests. Shy away from punishments — at this age, a tantrum is a sign that something is troubling him, so take time to talk about what that might be. If your preschooler has a tantrum before bed, hold off on your heart-to-heart until the next day. For the time being, simply calm him in your arms, tell him you love him, and help him to sleep.
4) Try to head off tantrum-triggering situations. -Pay attention to what pushes your preschooler's buttons and plan accordingly. If he falls apart when he's hungry, carry snacks with you. If he has trouble making a transition from one activity to the next, give him a gentle heads-up before a change. Alerting him to the fact that you're about to leave the playground or sit down to dinner ("We're going to eat when you and Daddy are done with your story") gives him a chance to adjust instead of react.
Your preschooler is grappling with new kinds of demands from you, his peers, and his teachers, so offer him choices when you can. No one likes being told what to do all the time. Saying, "Would you like corn or carrots?" rather than "Eat your corn!" will give him a sense of control. Monitor how often you're saying no, too. If you find you're rattling it off routinely, you're probably putting unnecessary stress on both of you. Ease up and choose your battles — after all, would it really wreck your schedule to spend an extra five minutes at the playground?
5) Watch for signs of overstress. - Though occasional tantrums and out-of-control behavior are a perfectly normal part of the preschool years, you do need to keep an eye out for possible problems brewing, Kopp points out. Has there been upheaval in the family? An extremely busy or harried period? Tension between you and your partner? All of these can provoke tantrums. If your preschooler is having tantrums every day, talk to his pediatrician, who can make sure that a physical or psychological condition isn't contributing to the problem, and suggest ways to deal with the outbursts.
Personal Time with Dawn
Today's my 1st rest day at home.. Kena asked by MIL to help out in lunch preparation.. :P Luckily I wasn't feelin that lazy to sleep in... Well it was still quite a good and interactive session with my in-laws.. Then I got the chance to tag along to fetch Dawn Dawn from school. She's now in nursery and the school is very near my place..
She looks so cute in her small little school uniform and Winnie the Pooh school bag! Will definitely get one for my daughter next time! She even showed me that she has a junior packet of milo in her bag's side pocket..haha... Took a few pics of her while we had our own personal time with each other...
Lookin' forward to the next session of personal time with her.. : )
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Mixture of Emotions
Today marks my last day of work with DB. A mixture of emotions was surging inside me...
~ Unwillingness
After knowing so many nice people around me for the past 1 year, and having to leave this familiar environment and the nice people, I am simply feeling unwillingness to part with them...It is just so hard to say goodbye to all the people whom I have forged friendships with...
~ Sad
Of cuz' I am sad. But luckily I wasn't betrayed by my tears.. I kept an emotional distance from the closer ones so that I wun cry...
~ Swarmed!
I was absolutely swarmed with endless work on my very last day of work, with all those hiccups happening out of nowhere! Oh my goodness! Can't the problems stop surfacing and let me have some more time to handover my stuffs to the replacement?
~ Relieved..
After all the war-fighting for the whole day, I was like.. "Ahhhhh" - Relieved as I managed to settle the unsettling stuffs before I leave.. Now I can leave with a peaceful heart and mind.. Hate it when things get boggling in my mind.
~ Satisfactory
Managed to be so "productive" even on the very last day... Felt satisfied when able to solve the teething problems..Cool siah!
~ Gratefulness
Am so so so grateful for the well-wishes and the positive compliments that I have received all around.. Very touched too....
~ Happy
Happy to know that people like me for the person I am, for the work I have done, and for the good working relationships that we have maintained all these while
~ Unwillingness
After knowing so many nice people around me for the past 1 year, and having to leave this familiar environment and the nice people, I am simply feeling unwillingness to part with them...It is just so hard to say goodbye to all the people whom I have forged friendships with...
~ Sad
Of cuz' I am sad. But luckily I wasn't betrayed by my tears.. I kept an emotional distance from the closer ones so that I wun cry...
~ Swarmed!
I was absolutely swarmed with endless work on my very last day of work, with all those hiccups happening out of nowhere! Oh my goodness! Can't the problems stop surfacing and let me have some more time to handover my stuffs to the replacement?
~ Relieved..
After all the war-fighting for the whole day, I was like.. "Ahhhhh" - Relieved as I managed to settle the unsettling stuffs before I leave.. Now I can leave with a peaceful heart and mind.. Hate it when things get boggling in my mind.
~ Satisfactory
Managed to be so "productive" even on the very last day... Felt satisfied when able to solve the teething problems..Cool siah!
~ Gratefulness
Am so so so grateful for the well-wishes and the positive compliments that I have received all around.. Very touched too....
~ Happy
Happy to know that people like me for the person I am, for the work I have done, and for the good working relationships that we have maintained all these while
Friday, March 21, 2008
The Mok's Family Outing @ Sentosa
As previously mentioned in my earlier blog entry, it was a LONG-AWAITED and much missed family outing - Just the 4 of us before I was married (My dad, mum, bro & me) Not that I am purposely excluding my hubby from this outing. Its because he gota work on public holiday yesterday, and so I took this chance to reminisce the old times... It was also coincidental that my bro is having a few days off from camp, and my dad is taking a break from cab-driving. So I sort of "persuaded" my mum not to work OT on that day! haha...
I suggested going to Sentosa as it was ages since they have last went... A bit regretful of my choice when I saw the longggggggggggg queue at the ticketing counters, and also everywhere I see in Sentosa is Indians, Indians and more Indians!!! Why are there so many Indians tourists? I have enough seeing them in my residential area, and yet I have to see so many more of them there! Argh! I realise the Japanese tourists have become much lesser as compared to Indian tourists.. Times have changed huh?
Look at the long queue of people! I was also part of another long queue at the ticketing machine!
I suggested going to Sentosa as it was ages since they have last went... A bit regretful of my choice when I saw the longggggggggggg queue at the ticketing counters, and also everywhere I see in Sentosa is Indians, Indians and more Indians!!! Why are there so many Indians tourists? I have enough seeing them in my residential area, and yet I have to see so many more of them there! Argh! I realise the Japanese tourists have become much lesser as compared to Indian tourists.. Times have changed huh?
Look at the long queue of people! I was also part of another long queue at the ticketing machine!I thought that, after so many years later, we could have a better family outing without feeling anguish or unhappy. But it seems not so. Cuz' of my dad's character and temper, and also the miscommunication we had initially, things seem to be same as before. I thought I have better patience in dealing with him now, but it isn't so. Sigh... Thankfully that things got better eventually...
Decided to go to the Underwater World, then followed by the Dolphin Lagoon since the Underwater World tickets allow admission to these 2 places.
It was my first time touching the starfish! I thought it might be slimy but in fact it is hard! Luckily it doesnt move at all.. Fun!!!
Also my first time to move the stingray! I even "Hi-5" with the stingray as it swipes by! haha.. It was fun! The texture of the body is soft for the smooth gray ones, whereas its more rough for the patterned ones.
Picture of my bro touching the stingray
That's all folks! We had an enjoyable family outing @ the Sentosa and it was great bringing them back to Sentosa after so many years... It really brought back many fond memories when we were young...
Decided to go to the Underwater World, then followed by the Dolphin Lagoon since the Underwater World tickets allow admission to these 2 places.It was my first time touching the starfish! I thought it might be slimy but in fact it is hard! Luckily it doesnt move at all.. Fun!!! Also my first time to move the stingray! I even "Hi-5" with the stingray as it swipes by! haha.. It was fun! The texture of the body is soft for the smooth gray ones, whereas its more rough for the patterned ones.Picture of my bro touching the stingrayPhotos taken inside the Underwater World:
Photos taken at Dolphin Lagoon:
- Pink Dolphins get more pinkish when they grow older... that's why this juvenile dolphin still shows greyish patches on its body.. Simply love the dolphins, especially when they interact with humans.. I even tear when I saw the part whereby the selected person was interacting with the dolphin.. Silly me rite?
@ The Southernmost Point of Continental Asia:
Photos taken at Dolphin Lagoon:- Pink Dolphins get more pinkish when they grow older... that's why this juvenile dolphin still shows greyish patches on its body.. Simply love the dolphins, especially when they interact with humans.. I even tear when I saw the part whereby the selected person was interacting with the dolphin.. Silly me rite?
@ The Southernmost Point of Continental Asia:That's all folks! We had an enjoyable family outing @ the Sentosa and it was great bringing them back to Sentosa after so many years... It really brought back many fond memories when we were young...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)