For Sale : Books and More

 (Updated 6th January 2010)

Brand New Cuisenaire Rods

To mark the end of the year, I decided to finally list all the things that have been sitting in a box in my living room for who-knows-how-long!

Do take a look. There are used and new stuff there. Board games like Upwords & Rummikub, homeschool items like Cuisenaire rods, assessment books, homeschool and Answers in Genesis magazine, as well as a brand new 1.8 litre Aerogaz Rice Cooker.

Please go to this link : http://www.flickr.com/photos/mamalim98/

Contact me here if you are interested in any of the items.

Do note that I will not be reserving anything for anyone unless payment has been made. Also, if I email you and I do not receive any response from you within 2 days, I will assume that you are not interested. Payment is via internet transfer to my POSB Savings account.

Please, only serious buyers as I do not have the time to keep answering queries only to have you disappear on me Thanks for your understanding.

Happy browsing!

Babies are cumbersome

And yet another conversation from our West Coast Park outing

Mother while looking at our 7th blessing : How old is she?
Me : 9mths
Mother : Oh! I have my baby at home and I was just wondering how old must my baby be to bring her to the playground.
Me : Anytime
Mother : But if I bring her to the playground then I would have to carry her all the time. It is so cumbersome!
Me : Well, that is parenting, isn’t it? Babies need to be carried.

Mother’s face fell and she kept quiet.

Hmmm….are babies cumbersome? Let me share with you what *I* think

Yes, babies are cumbersome. And that’s why God gives them to us – to train the selfishness out of us. Dying to self is so much easier when it’s you and you alone. Throw in a baby and suddenly you realise how selfish you have been. Throw in a few more babies (oh say, 7? ) and you realise how much you have not died to self. Well, I certainly have discovered that! I have mentioned to dh more than a few times that the more children I have, the more I realise that I am a very selfish person

It is easy to be tolerant of a child’s tantrums, demands and even constant nightwakings if you have only one child. Teaching and training them is also manageable. Afterall, you only have to live through it once. But if you have more children, you will have to keep re-living the teaching and training. And yes, the constant interrupted sleep.  And don’t let me go on about the number of times you would have to potty train the children!

Babies are a lot of work. So are toddlers and so are pre-teens and teenagers. They tire us out physically. They tire us out emotionally. And that’s why I take issue with pet lovers who equate their pets with babies! I have no problems with people who have pets but please do not equate them with having babies It’s just not the same.

Anyway, I digress.

I think this attitude that children are cumbersome, that take up a lot of our time and space and money is very sad. We have become such an inward, self-centred society that we are unable to view children as the blessings God wants them to be viewed as. No wonder birth rates in developed countries are falling rapidly.

Government incentives can only work so much. As long as we view children as a liability no one will be looking forward to their arrival. And much will be done to prevent them from entering the home.

Would you?

Today, the entire family trooped down to West Coast Park for an outing since daddy is available. This is the first time I have been to this park and wow! It is huge! But I think I prefer Pasir Ris Park

Whenever I am out like this, I like to observe the children and their caregivers. How some caregivers never give their charges any slack to do what they want but are always tailing them around, forbiding them to run too fast or climb too high. Then of course there’s the other extreme. The child is alone and there is no caregiver in sight.

And sometimes I would strike up a conversation with the kids or with their caregivers.

Today was such a day. A little boy came to join my kids who were huddled around a mound of sand which they had piled up. The boy was chatty and we spoke for a while. I found out he was 6 and would be entering P1 next year. So I asked him where his parents were. He told me that his dad had dropped him off and had left to go somewhere.

I was aghast! A 6yr old boy alone in a huge park like this? So I asked again, “Do you have a brother or sister with you?” He answered that he has a sister but she was at home. Big gasp of shock from me. “You mean you are alone here in the park?” Yes, came the reply.

Oh wow!

This is the 2nd time I have encountered a scenario like this. The 1st time was at Safra Club, Yishun. That time, a little girl about 5 or 6 (I can’t remember now) was also left alone in the pool. Sure it was a kiddie pool and she could swim. But still………what if she got bored and wandered off into the deeper pools?! And she was left alone for a good 30minutes before her uncle came to pick her up!

Would you do something like that?

It would take a big, big emergency for me to leave a 6 year old child alone at a huge park or pool. Don’t these parents know the dangers of leaving such a young child alone??? Or are they so confident about the safety of Singapore?

Please don’t be so complacent. My friend just told me that her 9 yr old son was molested at a public toilet in Jurong Point. There are mad and bad people out there. While we do not want to be paranoid, we also mustn’t be too laid back.

2010 and only ONE Resolution

Whatever happens in 2010, I know for sure that God will take care of us and He will provide for us. I just need to keep my focus and priorities right.

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:33-34

The big thing academically in 2010 will be the national Primary School Leaving Examinations (PSLE). The first of our homeschooled children sit for the exam sometime in October. Meanwhile, we will have also a P4, P2, P1, K1, N1 and the baby in our home.

Other than that, everything will be status quo.

I am not making any big resolutions since I know I won’t keep them. Actually, I won’t even be able to remember what they are by the time February comes around! So the only resolution I am making and plannng to make it work is for us to eat more healthily. And even this is rather specific Not a complete overhaul but just baby steps.

Going Green (no, not the environmental kind )

I have been reading about green smoothies at Green Smoothie Girl but I haven’t had the guts to actually do it. Plus all those vegetables she and other green smoothie fans recommend are so hard to find in NTUC!

So my aim is just to introduce another portion of vegetables and/or fruits into our meals. I would also like to cut down our consumption of meats but then we are such a carnivorous family (me included!) it is going to be tough!

But we really need to be taking better care of our bodies. We can’t get home grown, organic, fresh produce as easily or as easy on our pockets as our sisters in the States but we can at least try to eat food as close to its original form as possible (yes, that means cut out the processed nutitionally zero stuff!) And I believe that as I need to do what I need to do, He will always, always fill in the gap for us! His grace is indeed sufficient!

I am also trying to source for safer cookware. Unfortunately there’s lots of conflicting information out there So I haven’t yet come to any conclusion except to avoid aluminium (has been found to contribute to the development of Alzheimer’s disease) and teflon.

So this is my resolution for 2010. Here’s to a healthier year ahead!

Looking Back at 2009

2009 will come to an end in a day’s time.

What have I done in 2009? Not much in terms of quantity and yet a lot in terms of intensity

Usually I can only remember things that happened towards the year end but for 20909 I tried to made it a point to blog certain memorable events throughout the year so that I do not forget God’s faithfulness. I do not want to take Him for granted and I do not wish to forget lessons that He has taught me.

Looking back, these are our “main” events this year.

(A) Baptism

The 2 older children decided to get themselves baptised – by daddy, no less! – in February this year. It was a privilege for me to lead them to Christ in 2004 and for dh to baptise them in 2009. May they grow like Jesus did – in stature and in favour with God and with men. (Luke 2:52). And may they develop a real and lasting faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

(B) Our 7th Blessing

We had Anna Joy, our 7th living child, in March 2009. It was an unplanned, planned homebirth. That event alone was major in terms of intensity. No, not the homebirth but adding one more to the family. And I used to think moving from 4 to 5 children was overwhelming! Let me tell you moving from 6 to 7 children is waaaay waaaay exciting! Life practically came to a standstill while everyone adjusted to a change in family dynamics.

Actually, we are still adjusting! And many things are still at a standstill.

(C) We have a Reverend in the house

In November 2009, dh was formally ordained as the Reverend Henson Lim and promoted to Deputy Senior Pastor An acknowledgement that is much appreciated. We remember though – “For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required”. (Luke 12:48b)

(D) Turning 40

And to think I almost forgot this. I had my memory jolted only when I looked though my past posts! 2009 is the year I turned 40!

(E) Performances

Our 9yr old had her first taste of the performing life at Victoria Theatre this December under the Sylvia McCully School of Dancing (where I received my ballet training). She now knows what are techical rehearsals, full dress rehearsals and what happens backstage. Brings back memories of my performance days!

She and her 11yr old brother also had a taste of being on TV and how behind the scenes TV recording was done when they got themselves invited to the auditions and recording of Spell Cast (our local version of the Spelling Bee). They learnt how it felt to win and lose – important life lessons Watch out for them on January 3, 11:30am on Okto.

(F) Eczema

2009 is also the year dd’s and my eczema attacks got worse. So much so that I had to bring both of us down to the National Skin Centre to get new medication. Heal us O Lord!

(G) Death

2009 is also the year that I lost a friend to cancer. Previously, death was a something that happens to other people. But now, death has been brought closer. It has made me remember – again – that life on earth is temporal. How we live is more important than how long we live. She was always full of His praises even as the cancer spread and she struggled physically. I am grateful that we will meet again. As the pastor said, it is not goodbye by au revoir! Till we meet again, my friend!

And that just about wraps up 2009. I don’t know what God has in store for us in 2010 but I do know that He is faithful and I am truly grateful that as I walk into the next year, whether my plans and goals come to a fruition or not, I don’t walk alone.

God is always with me. No matter how hard the walk is, He is there. He is a good God who always wants the best for me and my family – that we be changed into the likeness of His Son, Jesus Christ.

I need to do what I need to do and He will always, always fill in the gap. He does not require perfection but obedience.

Dear God, thank you for seeing our family through 2009. We most certainly look forward to 2010 to see what You have in store for us. Let us not lose sight of You in the midst of the noise and cares of this life. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen!

Such persistence!

As I watch my little baby practice her walking skills, I am constantly amazed at her persistence. She started taking baby steps when she turned 8mths. She is now 9mths and is walking a lot more steadily now.

And I have noticed that she actually prefers to walk than to crawl. In the beginning, she would look for props to help her “walk”, be it the walls, chairs, laundry basket, etc But now that she is much steadier on her own, she would just walk by herself.

If she should lose her balance and fall, she immediately picks herself up and tries again. She doesn’t give up. She doesn’t just crawl like most of our babies do when learning to walk.

Her persistence in getting it right is admirable. She doesn’t take the easy way out and just crawl since it is easier and faster.

Oh if only I have some of that persistence – and energy too! I think I would go places

How Strange

Why is learning to wait for one’s turn considered suffering?

Why is going to bed alone considered a sad and pitiful act?

I found these 2 comments very strange. It came from someone who had just had new addition to the family. And the person considered to be suffering, sad and pitiful is the older child.

What led to these comments?

The 1st comment.
The older child had to wait her turn while the baby was being fed. And on another occasion, the child had to play alone while the baby was tended to. Don’t we all have to learn to wait our turn in life? Why is it such a sad thing to learn this? Why is it considered suffering?

The earlier a child learns this, the less selfish the child grows up to be. Interestingly, the child did not whine or complain about having to wait but it was the guilt of the caregiver that was projected onto the child.

The 2nd comment.
The child previously would not go to sleep unless someone lay with her. But on that day, everyone was pre-occupied. So she helped herself to her milk bottle (already prepared) and went to bed by herself. Instead of being glad that the child showed maturity and sensibility (going to sleep instead of having a meltdown), again, the guilt of the caregiver was projected onto the child.

When I tried to share that the child is sensible and matured, my comments were brushed off and the caregiver just harped on the fact that the poor girl has suffered!

How strange that we insist to project our own feelings onto the child who does not feel the same way at all.

 

You may wish to read Preparing Sibling for Baby’s Arrival.

What kind of driver are you?

I am the first to tell you that I have a bad sense of direction. I think the only place I wouldn’t get lost is in Orchard Road and that’s coz it is a straight road. Lol!

And because I have a poor sense of direction, driving to anywhere unfamiliar is always very stressful. If I were driving alone, I would always make dh draw me a map. If we were going together, I would have to play follow-the-leader with dh in front. Thank God we bought a bright yellow car! Imagine trying to follow a ubiquitous black car on the PIE!

When I did not have to drive regularly, car rides were pleasant. I just get into the car and space out. But now that I have to drive all the time, I like to plan car routes in my head, even if I am following dh. I do not like surprises.

But I have realised that dh’s driving “style” and mine are so not the same! Let me give you an example – if I know I am going to have to take a left turn, I would keep left unless someone is road hogging. But not dh! He would inevitably take the middle or even right lane till the last possible moment and then filter to the left! Now if he were driving by himself, that would be fine. But it is extremely stressful for me who is following him!

However, as I drive more often now, I have observed that many male drivers drive like dh! I guess that’s why women drivers are often stereotyped as cautious drivers and men, reckless ones?

Separately, does one have a cure for a poor sense of direction? I think dh would be very grateful if you do!

Scratch, Scratch, Scratch Part 2

So I succumbed and brought dd and myself to the National Skin Centre on Wednesday.

Dd has been having a bad outbreak ever since we came back from our week long Bintan trip. And since I was bringing her, I thought I might as well book an appointment for myself as well. We have run out of our usual medication and I needed to stock up

In my mind, I just knew what they (“the experts”) were going to say and going to prescribed. And even tho’ I really didn’t want to be, I was right

The dr which came highly recommended by a friend was very nice and pleasant. Did not talk down to me like one who did years ago when I was a patient here. That dr told me that allergies and how it works “was too difficult for me to understand” when I asked her some questions

So what did the good dr say?

Like all conventional skin doctors, he didn’t believe in food allergies Said that only 1% of older children and adults suffer from food allergies. I don’t know where he got his numbers from but I certainly don’t agree on that! He did not want to test us and prescribed antibiotics for dd (her skin is infected after all that non-stop scratching) and different strength steriod creams/ointments to control the itch. I got a similar batch of medicine and we were told to keep on moisturising.

Hmmm…….

I guess I was hoping for too much to find a doctor who knows how our diets can and do affect our skin. So here we are. Back to treating the symptoms and not the cause. I truly believe our eczema stems from a lack of something internally. Hence my previous post on taking EPO, coconut oils, etc internally. And I still believe it. I guess who I need to see is a naturopath. But the problem is most , if not all are new age practitioners. :(

So this is my plan of attack. Use the antibiotics and steriod cream to calm the skin first. Then eliminate all the usual suspects of wheat, dairy*, eggs and shellfish*. And continue with our supplements.

In the end, I guess what we all really need is to eat healthier – lots more green veggies and less processed stuff. But I confess I am overwhelmed by eating this way, not to mention preparing it! It would be so hard to eliminate eggs and wheat. They are used in so many recipes! And all wheat-free alternatives do taste erm…different But for the sake of our health, I guess I’ll be having to push some things through.

Meanwhile, I’ll keep surfing the net for more information and recipes. I’ve been told that Pamela’s Mix is a good altenative to the usual wheat flour for baking. And here’s a free eBook that I found which may help someone who’s suffering like us at Eczema.Net.

* we take very little dairy and no shellfish.