Your child is not your child!

So, I came across a saying 'Your child is actually not your child'. Irony, isn't it? I gave birth to him, of course he is mine.

What this statement is trying to tell us is there is a separate identity between our child and us although he is born and bred by us. We should treat him like another individual and not put high expectation on him. Our duty is just to be there to guide and nurture him to be useful beings to the society with the good qualities and right attitudes.

So, there is a little balancing act to do. You do too little, you are not a good parent. You do too much, you are expecting too much and your kid will not like it. As a wise parent, we should try to let them learn as much as possible on their own though our presence is very important to guide them whenever it is needed. Sometimes, it is easier said than done. We learn to let go when we should and we learn to hold the reins when needed.

With this, I should be able to take my daughter's result more lightly. I cannot expect much more, since she has to realise it herself. Afterall, I was there to guide her, perhaps now I have to change the method a little more so that she gets more receptive.

Well, parenting never gets easier.

White fungus drink for lungs

I have a recipe which is good for lungs. I am trying it out for my kids who have occasional bouts of cough/ throat itchiness.

30 gm 'pao shen'
20 gm soaked white fungus (some say brownish colour is better as the white ones are bleached)
10 red dates (pitted)
a handful of 'ke chi'
1300 ml of water

Put all the items from 1. to 4. into the fllter barrel of the Cosmo Soylove. After that, add rock sugar to taste.

Happy trying! I hope this recipe can see my troubles for kids' cough out of the door, the natural way!

Challenge at work

Next few weeks will be a great challenge for me. Eversince I embarked on this half day arrangement with the company I am working with, this is the first time, I am swarmed with so many deadlines, work demands.

Last two weeks was school holidays, so arrangements were pretty flexible since on days that I was busy, I could let the kids go to my parents'place. And it was a good time for the folks to spend some quality time with the kids. And I meant really quality time, coz the grandparents really dote on them and would bring them for a run at the park, play board games, shopping, eat yummy foods etc.

I also resorted to leaving the kids home for half days twice, by themselves, after much contemplation. I left them with detailed instructions, and timetable of activities to do. I would say, they managed quite well, and was more independent than I thought they would be. So, it is true kids do behave and become more responsible when we are not around. Perhaps, we should make them feel that they are in charge once in a while.

Next week, I will have to see to some arrangement with the childcare on temporary basis. Hopefully things work out. At work, I need to make some planning and ensure that things go as smoothly as possible. Though deadlines seem impossible at the onset, I am sure I will be able to get by with some planning. Well, there is no use fretting since work is still have to be done.

Holidays!

We had a fun weekend, bringing the kids and my parents to Lost World, Tambun and then a detour to KL before coming back home yesterday. The kids enjoyed themselves thoroughly at the Petting Zoo and of course the water park. Seeing them so happy, I felt that this is how life should be. All else does not matter much, but the laughter and smile on eveyone's face and the time spent in each others' company was so priceless. Alas, we forgot out camera and only had some taken with our handphones but the memories etched deep inside me. Hope it is the same for mum, and dad, John and the kids.

Though there were slight bickerings between the kids and a tyre puncture too, all else was well and it was a perfect holiday. Hope the others (bros) can join us the next time!

It made me reflect and think, 'aren't we lucky to be able to enjoy this simplicity of life?'