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5 things to do if your child is coming home from overseas

#1 is back home from the UK. Safe.


The figures of Covid-19 cases of returning Singaporeans, including overseas students are climbing as large numbers are returning home daily.

 MOE and IHLs (Institutes of higher learning) made the decision to recall overseas students and for us parents, we are thankful that our government is doing all they can to bring them home quickly. The grandparents, grandaunts and elderly relatives are having sleepless nights worrying about them.

 It seems like a wise decision to bring our families back as soon as possible because as the numbers escalate worldwide, the percentage of those exposed will keep multiplying.

Medical Clearance
In such an unprecedented, tumultuous time, while many things are beyond our control, we DO have a choice how we want to experience this chapter of our lives as history is being written.

 Are we a people standing united? Gracious? Resilient? Or are we a complaining herd, only caring about our own needs and comfort?

 We CAN make this BETTER for ourselves, our children, the people around us if we do these 5 things:

 1. Be prepared for the unexpected

 After stepping off the plane yesterday, all passengers on that SQ flight were subjected to a medical check. Besides having their temperature taken, they had to undergo a swab test where a long cotton bud looking stick was stuck up their nose to take a sample from their throat.

 Yes, it was an uncomfortable procedure. But I’m relieved all passengers on her flight from London were tested for the virus.

 With a full flight and only 1 doctor and an assisting nurse, it took almost 5 hours before she left the airport. The hubs was already at the airport waiting to pick her up, but she was the last in the queue as she was seated at the back of the plane.

 There were adults complaining loudly at the inefficiency, of having to walk a long way to another medical station (perhaps the young people were venting via their phones) and I told #1 there was no point in getting frustrated but to make the most of the situation. She took out her laptop and worked on her assignments.

 We can complain and get frustrated, or we can take it in our stride and deal with it in a calm and dignified manner.

Doctors, nurses and front line people have been working the hardest over the past months, and when directions come from the top, there will surely be logistics problems as systems are trying to cope with the fluidity of the changes.

 Things are literally changing every moment as decisions have to be made as new information comes in.

 Her friends who were not able to secure an SQ seat were put on a Swiss Air flight, and despite landing just hours after her, they did not get the swab test upon arrival.

We heard from students who had arrived today from London via SQ that the swab tests were not done on every single passenger, but on a random basis. 

 Although the most prudent solution is to test EVERY SINGLE person returning from high risk countries, our resources are finite – test kits, labs, manpower, everything is stretched at the moment.

 #1 was told that if she is tested positive, she will be called up within 4-6 hours.

 It’s been more than 24 hours so no news is GREAT NEWS!!

Confined to her room

2. Better be safe than sorry

 #1 is on Stay-Home Notice, which is one notch down from Quarantine order as she has not been in direct contact with a confirmed case. This means that she can’t leave the house for 14 days and should have limited contact with family members. However, with so many people in our household, and grandpa, we have decided to be extra cautious and to confine her in her own room which has an attached bathroom, even though her test result is negative.

 We have heard that other students who were on SHN were moved to Quarantine status when a passenger on the same flight was tested positive.

 Yes, it is more inconvenient for everyone, but in times like these, it is a small sacrifice to make and everyone has to step up to do their part to prevent community spread, which would be a devastating scenario with a spike in cases, inevitable deaths, streets emptying out, companies having to lay off employees and local businesses going bankrupt.

WE CANNOT LET OUR GUARD DOWN. If you are supposed to stay home, just stay home so that life can get on as normally as possible for the rest of the population.

Heathrow airport on 20 March

3. Now is the time to be SUPER KS

 If there is one time our national DNA of being kiasu and kiasi should kick in, it is now. Knowing that young adults have a laissez-faire or bo chap attitude, I had to keep reminding #1 about personal hygiene.

I gave her 1 piece of advice.

 PRETEND THAT EVERYONE AROUND YOU, AND EVERY SURFACE IS INFECTED.

 Don’t touch anything you don’t need to, wash your hands constantly and before eating, tie up your hair so you don’t need to brush it off your face. Put extra pieces of kitchen towel in your pockets and use them for doorknobs of toilets and high touch surfaces.

 Go to the airport extra early, about 1-2 hours before the usual 2 hour guideline as you have no idea what the queue would be like to check in. At this point in time, YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS YOUR FLIGHT.

#1 had an early morning flight and the airport was already crowded. It took her almost 2 hours to queue for check in, and it was time to walk straight through the packed airport to the departing gate.

4. Support your child and try to find the bright side

Kate was disappointed that she couldn’t go to the airport to pick her sister up as big jie jie had to sit in the back seat by herself.

 She brightened up and said, “I’m going to make the best welcome home card I’ve ever made in my life!”

 She wrote:

“I have been looking forward to see you! And now I can finally see you again! But the sad thing is, you will have to stay home for 14 days! But look at the bright side! You still will be home.”

 It’s not easy for the students returning, as they have had their plans thwarted, dreams dashed, new friendships separated and opportunities vanished, all in an instant.

 Provide a listening ear, be empathetic, give them leeway with things we parents may find hard to put up with, like their sleeping patterns, not packing up their luggage, having assignments due yet not getting on with it. They need some time to get over their jetlag, to adjust and process everything that has happened. Some of them are still feeling angry at their studies being cut short and having the “worse internships or exchange experience” they could have, as compared to their peers. Some are disappointed that this opportunity they have saved so long for, planned so thoroughly for has suddenly been taken away and their future plans look uncertain.

5. Monitor your child’s whereabouts

Our young adults have tasted full independence living abroad, and may not welcome their parents nosing around their lives. However, while the authorities are doing what they can by checking in on them via video call a few times a day, we should be vigilant as well. 

 As parents, we need to do our part to ensure they do not leave the house, friends do not come over as no visitors are allowed, or worse, they should definitely not be out partying at night.

 We are only as good as our weakest link.

Now is the time to be socially responsible. If everyone plays their part, we can get through this as best as possible.

 Let’s stand united in solidarity, looking out for one another, being gracious and patient, lending a hand to those who are in need, showing kindness, uplifting one another. In past eras, during tough times, communities banded together.

 What are we writing on the blank pages of our history books?

 We can get through this. Together.

About MummyWee


Michelle is an Occupational Therapist by day and mum of 6 by night. Besides the already very demanding job of managing 5 teenagers and one 6-turning-16 tween, she is also Founder of The Little Executive, a nurturing centre to develop children in their 4Qs to survive today’s volatile world. She also makes time to volunteer with children and the elderly in her community.
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Does your child need help with Handwriting?

Handwriting is a crucial skill that is often overlooked. We are seeing poor handwriting in quite a lot of children. It doesn’t mean they are lazy or cannot be bothered. Like any other skill, it can be taught.

Why is handwriting important?

  1. It makes their work legible for their teachers, parents and friends.
  2. Children with poor handwriting may avoid writing and this sets up a negative cycle, which hinders learning.
  3. Some kids are not using the right grip to hold the pencil properly, which results in muscle fatigue.
  4. Teachers say that neat handwriting is usually a good predictor of a diligent student and it has a positive impact on grades.
  5. Practicing handwriting activates the brain more than using the keyboard.
Kate’s work

Once they enter P1, they are expected to write neatly and legibly. They have penmanship booklets at P1, but usually the writing habits which have been formed in preschool are harder to change compared to starting them off well.

If they don’t have an adequate foundation with proper spacing, keeping the words on the line, consistent letter size, it gets harder when they have to write without lines, or do work for long periods of time. Kate tells me that they have a lot of group work in school, and some classmates with untidy handwriting will ask others to do the writing. This sets up a negative cycle and may affect their self-esteem.

 What is contributing to their poor handwriting?

 1. Handwriting is not given much attention in a lot of preschools today as there are other things competing for time. Many children do not use the correct strokes for the formation of letters. In the absence of instruction, they simply look at the letters and try to copy it by making up their own strokes. A small “a” may be a circle with a line connected to the side.

Letter formation

2. Weak fine motor and gross motor skills
Handwriting requires the use of both fine motor and gross motor skills. As children are spending less time in physical activities, as well as being put in restraining chairs and strollers at a younger age, their overall muscles have less opportunities to be developed. Playground time is great for strengthening these muscles, by climbing, swinging from bars, and pushing their friends on the swing.

 3. Gadgets are more prevalent in their lives
Before gadgets, children spent time colouring, doodling or writing. Now, much of their free hours are spent swiping screens. Practice makes perfect, given the right instructions on forming their letters properly.

Among my kids, there are great differences in their handwriting. I was too busy focusing on survival that I completely overlooked their handwriting. I left it to their preschools to teach them how to read and write.

My son has very untidy handwriting, and I received a text from his teacher recently. She informed me that his handwriting is getting worse because now they are expected to write long essays in Sec 2. Sometimes, his scrawls are hard to decipher and she’s concerned about his exam papers.

 I had a talk with him, and he said he will try his best. Handwriting is much easier to correct when they are younger as the wrong letter patterns may become a strongly ingrained motor habit.

In our education system, having fast and legible handwriting is crucial as many tests and exams are based on written work.

My daughter has tiny slanted handwriting which was not corrected, and it gets tedious to read when she produces pages and pages of an essay argument. Despite being a straight A student, she always fails written interview essays.

 In JC, she sat for the admission test for Linguistics which is via a written assessment. She failed that, but subsequently, topped her class in GP and Literature and her teacher said that if she had known of her calibre back then, she would have admitted her.

Truth is, the first impressions of your written work counts. Examiners have to pore through hundreds of exam papers, and although the content may be good, they have to decipher what is written.

Handwriting is something we should not neglect in our children. Some kids tell us “I don’t like to write” or “I don’t want to write”. Many parents lament that their kids have messy handwriting, but don’t know where to get help. Our children should not have to feel bad about their handwriting. All they need is proper instruction and lots of practice.

 Let your preschool child join us this March holidays for a 2-day Handwriting Camp at The Little Executive where our educators will guide them patiently to improve their handwriting skills, in a fun and enjoyable setting.

 Here’s the link for more information and to sign up. Don’t worry parents, help is at hand 🙂

About MummyWee

Michelle is an Occupational Therapist by day and mum of 6 by night. Besides the already very demanding job of managing 5 teenagers and one 6-turning-16 tween, she is also Founder of The Little Executive, a nurturing centre to develop children in their 4Qs to survive today’s volatile world. She also makes time to volunteer with children and the elderly in her community.
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A SURPRISE note from my 7 year old

What a brilliant start to my day!

 I woke up to find a note which Kate wrote at 6am before going up the school bus.

 Dear Mum,

 I know for at least 20 years you have been stressed.

 But now that I’m alive, I’m here to help you.

 So if you excuse me.

 I have to leave.

 Love Katie

WOW wow WOW.

 So much in this tiny square of a message!

 At the young age of 7, she has such great empathy. To be able to understand that it is tough to raise so many kids, and to want to do something about it to make things easier for me.

 Well, I’m not sure how exactly she is planning to help, but that is besides the point.

 Her willingness to want to help in whatever way she can, warms my heart.

Such brimming confidence, and feeling empowered that she CAN do something about it. You go girl!

 Now that I’m alive, I’m here to help you.

 That cracked me up.

 Yes, indeed. I AM SO GLAD TO HAVE YOU IN MY LIFE.

 This girl would certainly be living life with a purpose.

 And she ended with 

 So if you excuse me. I have to leave.

 I was just imagining my tiny little girl, throwing her heavy backpack over her shoulders, boarding the bus with her mates, getting through her school day, and coming home to work on saving the day.

 More than anything a mum could ask for.

 I am indeed blessed.

About MummyWee

Michelle is an Occupational Therapist by day and mum of 6 by night. Besides the already very demanding job of managing 5 teenagers and one 6-turning-16 tween, she is also Founder of The Little Executive, a nurturing centre to develop children in their 4Qs to survive today’s volatile world. She also makes time to volunteer with children and the elderly in her community.


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Paul Immigrations Reviews: Singapore PR Experts

There is no doubt that I am proud to be a Singaporean, and having lived abroad for several years, I have come to appreciate my home country even more. The Little Red Dot is a world-class city to work, live and play in, and becoming a Permanent Resident (PR) is a clear choice for those looking to make Singapore their long-term home. More importantly, most families I have spoken to say that the biggest push for them to come to Singapore is the assurance of a safe environment to raise their family in.
Kate went to an international preschool for a year as I wanted to expose her to the diversity of different cultures from a young age. She mixed with friends from more than 40 different nationalities and both the kids and parents tell me how much they love it here!
 
There are so many family-friendly options for entertainment, from beautiful parks and playgrounds to a myriad of exciting events and a wide variety of cuisines from unbelievably cheap prices at our hawker centres to top-notch celebrity chefs to keep the entire family happy (and well-fed). They are appreciative of how safe Singapore is to raise their young ones, as compared to many other parts of the world.

 After living in Singapore for a while, they start to consider the option of applying to be PRs as there are many benefits:

  • hospital subsidies
  • higher chances to gain access into our well-sought after local schools
  • higher priority to borrow various loans such as housing loans
  • eligibility to buy second-hand units of government HDB flats
  • freedom to travel to most countries in the world without the need for a visa
  • eligibility to apply for full Singapore Citizenship, with which you enjoy the same rights as locally-born citizens
Unfortunately, the process is rather complicated and applying for your PR status involves completing and preparing various forms and documents to be submitted online to be approved by the ICA authorities.
 
To begin with, the e-Service can be difficult to navigate, especially as a first-time applicant unfamiliar with the process. You may miss out submitting documents vital to your application. Such a mistake can potentially be costly to your prospect of gaining approval.
 
The ICA receives thousands of applications per year and approves less than half of them. It can be difficult to make yourself stand out from everyone else trying to make Singapore their permanent home. Besides the time and effort spent crafting your application, there is also a S$100 non-refundable processing fee payable at the point of submission. Further fees are also required upon new applications.
 
It is indeed a tedious process with an ever-decreasing rate of success to gain the coveted Permanent Residency status in Singapore. The number of documents required and the explanatory notes to be sieved through can be daunting especially if English is not your first language, and you may be unsure if you even fulfill the criteria to be a PR.

 Paul Immigrations Reviews: Your One-Stop Immigrations Consultancy Firm
 
Thankfully, there are consultants such as Paul Immigrations who you can turn to for professional advice.

Paul Immigrations
Paul Immigrations is a one-stop immigrations consultancy firm that guides you, step-by-step, through your entire PR application process. With a strong record of helping over 15000+ customers, the firm has comprehensive knowledge and expertise of the entire application process.
 
The team is on hand to address all your uncertainties and concerns, helping you to condolidate the necessary decuments and forms which improves your profile and chances of a successful application towards becoming a PR. They make what is a tedious and complicated process more straightforward and stress-free with these 6 steps:
 
STEP1 To start off the process, a consultant will help you to assess your chances of approval. As a foreigner, you may be eligible to apply for permanent residency if you are a/an:

  • Spouse of a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident (PR)
  • Unmarried child aged below 21, either legally adopted by or born within the context of a legal marriage to a Singapore PR or Citizen
  • Aged parent of a Singapore Citizen
  • Holder of an Employment Pass or S Pass
  • Student studying in Singapore
  • Foreign investor in Singapore
Your consultant will offer a meticulous eligibility assessment to ensure you meet the requirements meted out by the ICA. This is done via a telephone call.

 STEP 2 If all sounds good, this will be followed by an in-person appointment. They are conveniently located at Suntec Tower 2. A sales representative will review your profile to assess the likelihood of your application to be approved. At this juncture, you can decide if you would like the team’s help to improve your chances of a successful application.
STEP 3 Thereafter, your consultant will guide you through the process of submitting your documents. This is the difficult part. The various types of documents that are required to be presented can make the whole process tiresome and frustrating, and just one mistake can invalidate your entire submission. The experienced team takes this off your hands and ensures you do not miss any important documents or other pertinent information.

 STEP 4 A crucial aspect of their service is the actual completion of the PR application form. This is a long document that takes hours to fill. The team helps to ease this burden by completing the form based on the information extracted from your documents. Paperwork aside, it can be difficult to craft an application that stands out. The team works with you to draw out the best, garnered through years of expertise and insight into the stringent process. Furthermore, they make the effort to go the extra mile by including personalised cover letters that highlight your strengths to help you stand out in the best way, all written and prepared by their team of professional writers.

STEP 5  Finally, the application form and your documents are ready for submission. You may opt to submit them on your own remotely, with guidance over the phone, or choose to schedule an in-person appointment with them after ensuring that everything is done properly. The entire process takes about one to two months.
STEP 6 The waiting time for ICA to assess each PR application is about four to six months. Some submissions take even longer, depending on the strength and validity of the submitted documents. To expedite this, the team ensures you submit only the necessary documents. Depending on whether the application is approved or not, your consultant will guide you on the next best course of action to take.
All in all, they offer a comprehensive service to simplify the arduous process of attaining the coveted PR status in Singapore. The team undertakes the brunt of the work to ensure your stress-free experience in building the strongest possible case for approval. They provide expert advice for all your doubts and they go above and beyond to ensure you stand out from the rest of the candidates.
These testimonies attest to their professionalism and success rate:
“So glad that I finally got my approval in 5 months! Thanks to the consultant and team of Paul Immigrations, the troublesome applying process is so much less stressful for me! Kudos to the team!” – Yap Khai Wei, 32
 
“The consultants at Paul Immigrations were very patient. They provided detailed explanations to my queries too. I’m so happy to have them handle my submission & even more so now that it is approved!” – Priya Darshini, 27
 
“Booked a consultation with Paul Immigrations after knowing about them from a friend who engaged their professional service. The process was so much easier than trying to do it on my own!” – Sandra Liu Hua, 35
It can be nothing short of a challenge to start a new life in a new country. However, you need not do this alone. Enjoy an effortless experience with Paul Immigrations and tap on their expertise to increase your prospects of approval.
Take the first step by assessing your eligibility now!
Paul Immigrations
Suntec Tower Two
9 Temasek Boulevard#13-01/02/03
Singapore 038989
Mondays-Fridays
9am-6pm
Tel: +65 62066390
Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.
www.mummyweeblog: A blog on parenting 6 kids in Singapore
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My best and worst Valentine’s presents

Surviving over 20 years of marriage is quite a feat, especially in this day and age.

 We’ve definitely moved past the stage of wrecking our brains for that perfect gift and now it’s usually just a dinner date or a sort-of celebrated early meal for practicality, with the entire family.

 We’ve been through so many ups and downs, and many years, when we were mired in difficulties and fighting for survival, this day passed just like any other ordinary day.

 Somehow, we pulled through the worse, the poorer and the sickness and there were some lovely better, richer and healthy times we shared.

The best present from the hubs?

 This wasn’t during Valentine’s but it was the sweetest gift ever.

About a decade ago, the hubs booked a trip to Milan and he thought why not visit Venice as well. I’ve been to Italy a couple of times and wasn’t particularly excited to go back to Milan and Venice. I was a huge Angelina Jolie fan then (no judgement please) and loved The tourist. I saw a confirmation slip on my table and couldn’t believe he had booked Hotel Danieli, the hotel where Angelina Jolie stayed in the show!


 That was surely my highlight of the entire trip, not only walking the same carpets and stairs but discovering that the hotel was once home to a wealthy noble family. The 14th century palace has been beautifully preserved, and roaming around the halls, I could imagine the lavish parties and the little princesses running along the corridors. (one tiny disappointing reality was, that BOAT ENTRANCE in the movie was not real!)

 The hubs is no Angelina Jolie fan, and he would much prefer a newer, modern hotel which would cost way less, so that was really sweet of him.

And the worst present? Or should I say, the present with the most mis-matched expectations?

 This was many years back, long before we had apps on our phones. The hubs was all excited and he said, “Come! Come outside! See what present I got for you!”

 Wah, from his earnestness, I thought it must be something really nice.

 He led me to the car, opened the door and tada!

 I was baffled. “Er, where’s the present?”

 “There. The navigator! Isn’t it great?”

 The navigator??! Why would I want the navigator for a present? I mean, c’mon! How could a GPS even count as a present!!

 He saw my OH expression, and went on. “It’s not just any old GPS. It’s the authentic navigation system that I got fitted. You are always getting lost. Isn’t this most useful for you?

 At that point in time, I wished he had spent his money on something else. Anything else. A good book would have been greatly appreciated.

 Anyway, it was months later that it dawned on me that indeed, the GPS turned out to be indispensable and those frustrating days of going round and round in circles getting lost were over!

Beyond these thoughtful surprises, it is the everyday things he does that show his love for us.

Do I get annoyed at him?

Of course. And vice versa. But isn’t it better to focus on the good instead of the irks? Because what you focus on grows.

It is in the ordinary, the mundane, the struggles, the victories, that a contented life is built. The extras, the gifts, the vacations, they are but high bleeps in the big scheme of things. For me, it’s not the extraordinary that dazzle. But the everyday moments that matter.

About MummyWee

Michelle is an Occupational Therapist by day and mum of 6 by night. Besides the already very demanding job of managing 5 teenagers and one 6-turning-16 tween, she is also Founder of The Little Executive, a nurturing centre to develop children in their 4Qs to survive today’s volatile world. She also makes time to volunteer with children and the elderly in her community.
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The Stuff I Don’t do

I am constantly asked, how do you find time to do so much for your kids? 

 With 6 kids and a business to run, I have to consciously decide what to prioritise and where to focus my time and energy.

 I used to try to accomplish too much and ended up running myself to the ground, always high strung and frustrated with everyone and myself.

 Now, I aim to keep myself in a zen-like state, where the world can spin around me but I still hold firm and not get sucked into doing what everyone else is doing.


Honestly, I don’t do a whole lot!

I don’t drive them to school.

I don’t even wake up at 6am to wave them up the school bus. Kate comes to me every morning and gives me a goodbye kiss before leaving. Yup, she’s ready to be the mum around here!

I don’t help them with homework in the evenings.

I don’t nag them or test them their weekly spelling.

I don’t send them for tuition.

I don’t coach them for their exams. In fact, I don’t even know exactly when their exam dates are!

I don’t drive them around for enrichment classes. I find it incredibly stressful to be on the road, frantically watching the clock to get everyone on time for classes.

I don’t expect them to win medals or awards. Anything they come home with are always a big surprise and greeted with great claps on the backs and a celebration!

I don’t compare them with other children. Heck, I don’t even bother to know what other kids are up to in their spare time. I’m more interested in how others are bringing up their kids well, not what they are doing or achieving.

I don’t fret if there isn’t a proper dinner on the table some days. Porridge with ikan billis and spring onion makes a complete meal, no?

I don’t pretty up pictures for social media. Too time consuming. I know, my pictures are probably the worst out there!

I don’t worry very much.

I don’t feel guilty about being a lousy mum or not doing “enough” for them.
So, what DO I do?

I take time off to attend all their parent-teacher meetings, performances and important school events.

I guide them well, then expect them to be on top of things in school and to be completely in charge of school-related matters, including their weekly spelling and revision for exams.

 I teach them to be independent from a young age.

I encourage them constantly. I am their biggest cheerleader.

I tell them they are good enough.

 I guide them to find their strengths and interests.

I support their dreams and passions.

I open their eyes to what is possible.

I love them a whole lot. Unconditionally.

I let them take responsibility for a lot of things.

I allow them to make their own decisions.

I provide a listening ear.

I guide them from afar.

I close one eye when there is a need to.

I let them figure things out for themselves.

I let them fail.

I’m always ready with a hug, and never with an I-told-you-so response.

I don’t talk down to them. I talk with them.

I don’t do things for them. I do things with them.

I teach them to be grateful.

I believe in them.

 So, if you are feeling guilty, don’t. We know that all mamas are trying their very best, and wouldn’t our families prefer to have us sane, happy and energized instead of being overworked, tired and snappy?

 We ARE ENOUGH.

We are stars in our children’s eyes. Sometimes, all they want is to have us there, sitting beside them, listening to their stories of the day and feeling like they are the most important people in the world to us and we are not looking at our phones or rushing off to the next errand.

 And that isn’t too hard to do, is it 🙂

About MummyWee
Michelle is an Occupational Therapist by day and mum of 6 by night. Besides the already very demanding job of managing 5 teenagers and one 6-turning-16 tween, she is also Founder of The Little Executive, a nurturing centre to develop children in their 4Qs to survive today’s volatile world. She also makes time to volunteer with children and the elderly in her community.

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To all teachers out there, YOU ARE AMAZING

Every year, my kids plan and make their own teachers’ day gifts. I was delighted to see that despite it being her first teachers day in a big school, Kate had already prepared her own handmade cards and simple gifts and they were all packed and ready to go. She only needed help to write out the greetings for her chinese teacher in chinese characters.

The teens made super yummy chocolate cookies and brownies for their teachers, but what really took me by surprise was how one of them spoke about her teachers.

“I’m going to give to Ms xxx, Mrs xxx, etc…

As for Mr xx, we don’t really like him. He scolds us a lot, can’t teach well and we don’t understand his explanations.”

I was expecting her not to pack any for him.

“But… I know he has good intentions, so I’m also going to make him some.”

WOW.

Teenagers (and sometimes even us adults) tend to think about how WE have been treated and we react and respond the same way.

To be able to look beyond that, to see the INTENTION of another person and be grateful, that takes maturity and wisdom.

I am so proud of how this child has blossomed in her character.

Now that I am running my own enrichment centre and have gone through thick and thin with my teachers, words cannot describe how appreciative I am for all the teachers out there who are giving so much of themselves day in and day out, to guide, nurture and inspire a whole generation of children.

Being a teacher entails more than just a straightforward task of teaching. It’s not the abcs that children are lacking in. Teachers today have to teach children how to respect others, how to cooperate and work together amicably, how to persevere and not give up when things don’t go their way, how to manage their emotions and even basic manners.

Many a times, parents are asking teachers to step in when they find it hard to understand or get through to their own children (I’ve been there). And we are not talking about 12 year old teens, but children as young as 5 or 6.

It is extremely tough to raise children in this day and age, and teachers are a crucial pillar of the village.

A mum shared with us how she has new-found respect for teachers after sitting in for a period in her P1 child’s class.

She was sitting at the back of the class and a student came up to her to strike a conversation with this new ‘auntie’. She asked the child to go back to her seat and pay attention to the teacher in front. In the span of 30 minutes, she witnessed how children were either chatting with their friends, looking out the window or distracted and in their own world, digging through their school bag or fiddling with stationery on the table.

It is not an easy task for a teacher to command the attention of all the students and to get them to focus on the topic at hand, as well as dealing with all the other issues that crop up with managing a class. Imagine doing that for 10 periods in a day, week after week, month after month. And we are not even talking about the extra responsibilities outside of class and liaison with parents.

When I attended my son’s PTM last week, his teachers and I were discussing how 1 very naughty student was affecting many of the students in class. At the end of the meeting, they lamented that they are really worn out from the year, not only with teaching, but having to deal with disciplinary issues.

Teaching is indeed a calling. To soldier on and give of your best for the good of those entrusted to your care. For the little ones, to do what is right even though there is no one watching and the children are too young to relate what happens in the classroom. For the older students, to never give up on them even though they have a bad attitude and may have given up on themselves. To keep on doing your best for the child even though at times the parents may be giving you a hard time.

The influence of a teacher has the potential to reach far and wide, and to impact a child for life. When I see how my teachers light up when parents tell them how much their child has changed, how motivated and self-intiated they have become, it is clear that this simply is the reward that drives them.

For all the dedicated teachers our children have the privilege to encounter, Happy Teacher’s Day! Please know that many of us appreciate all that you do!

~ www.mummyweeblog.com – A blog on parenting 6 kids in Singapore ~


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BenQ Eye Care Monitor GW2480T – A Review

As an occupational therapist, I used to go out to offices to help adults readjust their workspaces, desktop monitor heights and problem solve their ergonomics concerns.

 These days, children are not spared and are facing screens for stretches of time. They are using educational apps, playing games or watching Youtube on Ipads or laptops.

 Even though she has just entered primary 1 this year, Kate already has online homework on her SLS portal. Besides the homework, which is not much, I like the additional Chinese resources where she can play character recognition games and have the stories read to her.

 She uses the Ipad to do her work or borrows one of her sister’s laptops, depending on who is at home. However, the problem with using Ipads or laptops is that because of the small screen size, the viewing distance is too short and is one of the causes of short-sightedness. Also with an Ipad, she tends to lounge on the sofa in an array of not so ideal postures. I have heard of 5-year olds needing chiropractic help because they spend hours hunched over the Ipad!

 BenQ, the world’s first brand of eye-care monitors, has launched their new Eye Care Monitor GW2480T specifically for students.

A new monitor!

Here are 5 reasons to invest in the NEW BenQ Eye Care Monitor – GW2480T: 

 1. PROPER ERGONOMIC POSTURE

 With a 24-inch monitor, your child is able to sit at the proper distance. The recommended viewing distance between the eyes and monitor is 60-70cm. This monitor can be adjusted for height, tilt, pivot and swivel which allows it to grow with your child as well as being suitable for other members of the family.

BenQ Eye Care Monitor GW2480T

2. BRIGHTNESS INTELLIGENCE TECHNOLOGY

Most people overlook the brightness of their screens and don’t usually adjust the display brightness according to the ambient light every day. This may result in eye fatigue, vision problems and headaches. With the Brightness Intelligence Technology, it provides more comfort for the eyes, which is important as both children and adults are spending more hours looking at screens.

 BenQ’s unique technology automatically adjusts the monitor’s brightness according to the ambient light. This is also good for me as I work on my powerpoint presentations in the bedroom at night.

3. LOW BLUE LIGHT TECHNOLOGY

We know that blue light emitted from digital devices affects our sleep cycle as they lower the production of melatonin. This monitor filters out blue light which helps the kids with the quality of sleep when they finally turn off the computer and go to bed. Beneficial for #2 as she studies into the wee hours of the night and has to wake up early for classes the next day.

 4. FLICKER-FREE TECHNOLOGY

Laptop screens can result in eye fatigue because of the flickering screen which causes excessive blinking and frequent rubbing of the eyes. This monitor makes viewing more comfortable.

 This is especially helpful for my 2 girls as one spends a lot of time designing logos and brochures for her marketing assignments and one does a lot of eye-straining photoshop edits for her work!

 5. WIDE VIEWING ANGLE

 With a wide viewing angle, parents can sit with their child to guide them with their work comfortably. I’ve been needing to do that with Kate for some of her Chinese homework!

 As parents, with this monitor, we can be reassured that our children’s physical aspects like posture and eye health are not compromised while they are spending time on the computer.

How to connect:

 The GW2480 can be used with laptops or Ipads. It has 3 connection ports, including HDMI, DisplayPort, and D-sub. For our Ipads and the newer models of laptops, all we had to do was attach it to an adaptor and it instantly syncs onto the monitor.

BenQ Eye-Care Monitors are certified by TUV Rheinland, a global leader in technical and safety certification, for Flicker-Free and Low Blue Light performance that truly benefits human vision.

 BenQ Eye Care Monitor GW2480T retails at S$269. Currently they are running a National Day Promotion with 7% off (no GST) until 31 August 2019.

For more information about GW2480T, click here.

For other GW Series Eye Care Monitor, click here.

BenQ Website

 Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

~ www.mummyweeblog.com – A blog on parenting 6 kids in Singapore ~