Open House with Parents-Teacher Meeting

Evans was looking forward to this day where I could join him at the preschool's open house and parents-teacher meeting. It was a new concept. Typically the PTM is a scheduled session with the teachers to talk about the progress of our kids but this time round, they wanted to make it different by combining the open house with the meeting.

I was glad to see what was happening in the classroom and I got to see the kind of activities Evans did at the different corners with his friends. They did their singing, like how they normally would do in class. Teacher demonstrated how he encouraged the kids by giving them stars (stickers). He said he wanted to give Evans's mommy 2 stars for trying her best. LOL! I think because I did the song actions, despite my very pregnant state.

Teacher also shared how he encouraged the students to behave with the use of positive words and gestures, instead of labelling the child as "naughty". He strongly believed in encouragement than punishment. He shared that the word "punishment" carried a serious connotation so he would refrain from using it. Instead he would use "consequences". It was a refreshing thought and reminded us as parents to be wary of the words we used on our child. But habit is hard to kill and I realised I do use the word "naughty" often. Haha!

Caught sight of Evans's drawing of his friend.

His assignment to make the mandarin oranges

I had a good chat with Teacher on Evans's progress in class and noted that Evans still needs to build up on his confidence in speaking in a large group in class. But teacher did share that he has shown improvement in this aspect. The little boy is definitely more talkative at home than in class. Teacher did share at times Evans can get very active and chatty but there are also quiet time, just like us, adults when sometimes we feel like talking and sharing but at others, we just want to stay quiet. He said academically, Evans has no issues but need some practice in terms of motor skills. So let him try more cutting, just simple actions of cutting straight lines will help. Point taken. 

Evans enjoyed the open house activities, particularly the sand and the making of onigiri. Oh we also got to have a chat with MP Desmond Choo (again). Haha! We chatted as if we knew each other for some time but I doubted he remember speaking to me in the earlier open house last year.

Evans with his favourite teacher, Ms Hu who has known him since N1

Evans's favourite activity of all, proudly presenting his onigiri

My little boy seemed to have grown up a little, being able to mingle with his friends yet he is still attentive to me; not having to chase him around. I am thankful for his mannerism.

Chicken Rice at Kim Shin's Condo

Another dinner outing at someone's place. After the steamboat dinner at Giin Bo's, it seems that we like the idea to just drop by someone's house for a simple dinner. Kim Shin graciously offered his home for us. And his wife and girls were welcoming too. :) I had my rootbeer and rootbeer float. Thanks to Kim Shin who accommodated to my request and got the ice cream and softdrink for me. 

It was also very nice to see Tracy and her boy. Her boy was quiet and well behaved. So sweet, he kind of reminded me of Evans somehow. :) Time flies, he is already 2! When I saw him the last time, he was a newborn in the crib. And now my little number 2 is coming out to see the world soon! 

Thanks KS and family for the hospitality! Nice house!

Celebrating Bro's Birthday at Home

It was a relief that Evans finally let go of the thought to book a hotel staycation to celebrate bro's birthday. He has been wanting to do that since his last staycation. But yesterday though it was a simple celebration at home, I still found it nice and warm. And yes I literally felt warm, especially after having the steamboat dinner!!! And the hormones are not helping.

Anyway I was working from home yesterday, thus was able to reach my parents' home earlier than usual and the steamboat was already boiling and the spread looked amazing, as always. Too amazing that I was too eager to dig in so I did not snap any photos. I doubt my brother did too. Evans also had a longer than usual dinner, enjoying his food and our company. I always love to watch him eat because he is adorable to watch especially when he is focused at enjoying the food. 

Justine and hubby came a little later so they have to eat the dinner separately. By then it was already pouring heavily! Hopefully the steamboat brought them some warmth. But for me, I was perspiring, with rain or not. This could be quite frustrating!

The time for the birthday cake came when Evans requested to cut it. Papa bought the rainbow cake from Prima Deli! It was a big one 1.2kg and it looked really delicious! The chocolate cream looked enticing,

It was quite funny to see how me, my mama, papa and Justine took our mobile phones to keep snapping the photos of the cake and my bro. We looked like those paparazzi. 

look at those cheerful layers!!!

Though the cake was just cream and cake, there was no fruit filling (which I thought would taste a lot more refreshing), it was still a delicious cake!!! It wasn't too sweet and the chocolate cream had a rich and smooth texture. I enjoyed it but the colouring of the rainbow stayed a while on my finger and tongue. Don't think it will be a good thing to have rainbow flavoured stuff too often. 

Hope bro enjoyed the birthday! :)

Gu Ma Jia, Mothers' Day Dinner

Last night, I brought my family to Gu Ma House (45 Tai Thong Crescent) for a belated Mothers' Day dinner. This was their first time so I thought to recommend some of the dishes which I tried the last time... I think generally they like the food; at least another option for dinners, instead of sticking to the same old places.

They had different preferences. Papa, hubby and bro liked the oyster omelette; mama liked the beancurd soup and ubin lala bee hoon; bro liked the yam ring ribs; Evans liked..... everything. But I think most were not a fan of the fried bean-jal (long beans with fried brinjal). The lady boss, Gu Ma was there too and she thanked us for dining at her restaurant. Evans seemed very pleased with the food. 

Should have taken this at the start of the dinner, but too hungry

After dinner, we went to the D'zerts Cafe near our place. Had the waffle with (cookies and cream) ice cream, topped with salted caramel sauce. What a nice way to end the evening outing with the yummy dessert. The waffle was crispy and the ice cream was creamy too! 

Can't wait for the waffle to fall into his mouth

Dinner at The Palete, UE Square

Another random outing to somewhere we seldom venture on weekends. Lately I have been feeling lazy as well so many weekends, we merely went somewhere nearby. But this evening was a nice one, hubby brought us to UE Square for dinner and light tea.

Needless to say, Evans was the most excited one to seeing new places and going to new restaurant and cafe.

The Palette is a small little restaurant in the UE Square. Its concept is similar to The Lighthouse but I think the variety there was a little limited and the price was a bit steeper too. The manager and the waitress liked to talk to Evans and teased him by calling him "Boss" and "Young Sir". It was funny but we felt a wee bit uncomfortable because they came to our table pretty often. And Evans was a little shy. The manager gave him a wine cork as a token and then he also served him a complimentary scoop of vanilla ice cream!!! I was still joking to hubby that hopefully no free ice cream. Luckily Evans was the kiddo who would not dig into the ice cream without our approval. We just gave him a few spoons of it; then hubby and I just discreetly tried to finish the rest of it. Not that we are strict parents but Evans really has the tendency to cough after cold stuff at night. So I did not want to take the risk. I must say the ice cream was delicious as its vanilla flavour was really rich and with the chocolate fudge, it was really refreshing and cooling. Great stuff for the hot weather!!!

At the Palete

After dinner, it was time to take a walk around our old "playground" at Robertson Walk with the familiar surroundings but no longer the familiar clubs like Newsroom, Dbl O, Mdm Wong... Most has turned into eateries and pubs. We used to club here really often, especially Newsroom and Mdm Wong. Felt really nice to revisit the place. There were many people dining around. Happening still.

We ended up at Pies and Coffee for some drinks and apple tart, bringing back some nice memories as I have been there with the gang after our Korean BBQ dinner for Ah Bo's farewell. The cafe was nice and quiet, very suitable for small group gathering and families like ours; unlike the pubs and diners outside which were a little rowdy. 

And before we called it a night...

At the UE Square with Do-Re-Mi

Dialogue with Director

The dialogue with DCD was a little unusual from the usual one. He asked me to book a different room which should not be a meeting room but more like a interactive space. He wanted to conduct an exercise with us, the group above 35 years old.

As an OD practitioner, he facilitated this session for the 6 of us. We were supposed to be paired up first. Then the question came

"What was the one notable moment from the past which made you feel extremely proud about yourself?"

I found the question familiar, probably I had that during my LSC. Anyway, I paired up with Paul, someone whom I seldom really chatted with. But I must say after the session, I got to know him a little better and actually he is quite nice to chat with. So the exercise went 1 party had to tell their story to the other. The other could only listen and not interrupt or ask any questions. After the story was shared, the listener would repeat the story back to the teller; and then we swopped. He wanted us to practice active listening.

As a listener, I found it challenging to hold back my questions to clarify what Paul wanted to tell me. I thought it was be more spontaneous if I could just ask. My mind was clouded by many questions, so I kept bringing myself back to focus on what Paul was sharing. It came across to me I was not at peace in my mind. Though I could tell back what he shared, I felt the things I could tell was limited. It could be because this was exactly what he shared or I was really muffled by my own noise. As a storyteller, it was much easier for me as I love to share my personal experience.

At the end of the session, we were supposed to share how did we feel about listening intently to the other person; and how did we feel when the other person repeat my story back. Most of us sort of re-lived that moment when we told the story and have the other party repeated it. It felt good that the other party showed interest in our proud moments. So Director led us to think about our traits of that notable moment.

Knowing what my strengths are; what gives me energy when I am doing certain things and how is it benefitting the world, and by this; it means what will people pay me for doing this (so that I can sustain myself). He drew his favourite 3 circles:

You will be extremely happy with you life and feeling blissful if what you are doing now is the pink shaded portion where all the 3 traits come together. That's why some people love their job and can do it forever. I think that works for my Director. He always said people at our age should know what we want to do with our lives and that always makes me concerned because I am really not clear and probably have no guts to pursue what I really think I like and can do it.

Having said that, the key thing is not for us to keep dwelling what I like, etc but more of keeping ourselves quiet and reflect more. Reflection, is probably one thing which I seldom practise; with the distractions around me like deadlines, kiddo, work, wants and needs. Maybe that's why I do not have that level of clarity to understand myself deeper. Director said if we want to know our strengths, ask our parents. Hmmm, I wonder if that would work for me because it would sound really awkward to my parents and brother. Haha! But seriously I doubt myself at times, about my strengths when there is no confirmation/affirmation. Confidence is on the fence. I am not sure. Like what Giin Bo mentioned, if a kid is very confident of himself and is very clear of his own identity, bullies will not be able to hurt his esteem. True but it really takes a lot for a kid to know that, isn't it. So it suddenly reminded me to be sensitive on the words used on Evans. Discipline yet not let him lose his confidence; Educate yet not let him feel incompetent.

Taking it a bit at a time... r e f l e c t i o n

Steamboat at Bo's

Just a random suggestion during one lunch. When we were talking about the army stew served in the korean restaurant, Giin Bo mentioned it would be easy to prepare by just dumping the ingredients in. So we set a date to have this dinner at his place.

Was looking forward to this though it was just a simple affair. Still it felt cosy to have this dinner with the gang.... KS, Irene, Bo and Sio. Was glad Irene could join us at the last minute. I am sure Dana (Bo's dog) felt the same as could tell she liked Irene. Dana kept tailing and smelling Irene. Good gal she was.... she didn't bark a bit at us.

Oh in the end we did not have the army stew but steamboat instead. Healthier choice and I prefer that actually. Thanks to Bo for preparing the stuff and thanks to Sio for bringing the induction cooker and steamboat pot. Irene also brought the ladles and satay sauce!!! We were spoilt for choices on the sauces. Lol.

Ah Bo still prepared soft drinks, ice cream and chips for us but we were really too full after the steamboat. At least the rest of the gang still got to enjoy the Haagan Daas but I already surrendered with a big and satisfied tummy. It was a pity we did not take a group photo.

We should do this once a while!!!