Ambassador Duty

Mum and dad saw an ad in the paper that OshKosh B'gosh was holding a model ambassador search for the brand. We both looked at Jakjak and smiled (more of an evil grin actually). While we had to buy our entry to the contest (you had to purchase a certain amount worth of OshKosh products), we figured it was just fair. Jakjak needed new shoes anyway (or so we kept telling ourselves), and that alone was already more than half of the required purchase. So we got him the shoes and told him all about the contest. There was a little bit of hesitation between the 3 of us then, but we thought, what the hell, let's just do it anyway.

We have always believed that Jakjak was photogenic. But since we are his parents, we thought that was just natural. I mean, no parent would dare say that their child isn't cute or adorable, right? So we have always just kept that between ourselves. While on the topic of photography, it's also best that people know how shy Jakjak is in front of the camera. Or so he says. What he always tells people, is not always what he is. To be honest, he is far from being shy. Well, at least not too shy to be a charming little prince.

What followed next were a few photo-shoots  After all, we did have to prepare him for modelling duty if needed. A few good shots here, a few good shots there, and more hours of frustration than was required and we finally had something to send to the contest coordinators. It's not that he was difficult to shoot, in fact, most of the time he was in the mood to do the shoots. It was just, well, we never really had modelling experience. Both the model and the photographer. So sometimes it was awkward, and sometimes it was hopeless. Most of the time it was just full of fun and silly things. And that was how it went on most days. And all that labor of love brought us to the interview and screening day.

On hindsight, we did not really get Jakjak ready for any interview. We just told him that there would be one. That they would probably ask him about himself, and that if they did, he can tell them anything he wants to tell them. We knew that he would have to model his clothes and told him to just follow instructions from whoever was coordinating the shoot. We did not tell him what to say, we did not teach him how to pose (goodness, we probably should have). We just let him do whatever he feels like doing and have fun doing it. It looked like he did have fun while we were there. Too much fun probably as he was in a most cheerful mood all day. So we figured, he did good. He did very good, that he received a round of applause from the crowd. After that, was the excruciating wait for the results.

(Dad's) First Day In School

I had to take leave from work for "Meet The Parents" day in school so that I could meet Jakjak's form teacher. But since I had time to kill, mum thought it would be cool to do some volunteer work in school as well. So I did. It's not anything major, the volunteer thing. In fact, to me, it was not much more than looking over some kids (about a hundred or so kids). Being P1 kids though, you can expect them to be a rowdy bunch. They were loud, busy and all over the place. I was on canteen duty. The kids don't really need much in terms of outright help, I guess this is because kids are actually being trained to be independent in school. I helped to open a bag of chips. That was it. But the school teachers felt otherwise. Since I was new, the teachers who saw me smiled and said "thank you for helping out". It felt good to be appreciated for the little things. In fact, I have not felt more appreciated for helping out at school than in any other place.

During that short while, I was able to see Jakjak and his friends. I was able to see him interact, to play, to eat and to be a student. From what I have seen, he seems to be doing well. He has friends that knows him, and he introduced them to me (he is very proud of his parents). He acts like a normal kid would act with his friends. And because he is normal, he neglects his snacks and preferred to play. He was running around, sometimes playing tag, sometimes playing explorer, sometimes playing cops and robbers. No wonder he looks like a rag doll when he gets home. With all that done in the morning, we get a little break and prepare to meet his form teacher in the afternoon.

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On the way back to school, we were having our normal conversation. Which means talking about trees, cars and motorbikes. Those are the things we see on the walk to school. In that conversation, there is a mix of what was it like before this and what it would be after that. This is normal kid talk, and we probably could have covered a small section of an encyclopedia.

I already knew what to expect when we had the chance to talk to Mr. Vik. That Jakjak was doing well academically. It was the little things that he had trouble with. Things like writing neatly, or keeping his pencils within his work area, or just paying more attention in class (he brings a book for silent reading - to be used only during mother tongue class). He was also noted for his rather talkative behavior during class, which was distracting to his classmates. Other than that, his teacher was pretty happy with his performance in school. He was easy to get along with and he was never really difficult to teach. He was commended for his English and his neutral attitude in school too. All in all, we were also happy about his school performance. He did better than expected in some areas, and while he still may need improvement in others, we are looking at a very bright future.

Dad Does The Groceries

It is not uncommon for us to do the groceries together. Mum, me and Jakjak. We all have our aisles of specialty. And we have always enjoyed going to the grocery even when Jakjak was still only big enough to fit on the carrier (he's grown too big for that now and he needs to sit inside the cart itself). Mum brings a list that is never enough (it always magically grows to twice its length), Jakjak just grabs whatever catches his eye, and dad, well, dad puts anything that has dollar signs of more than a single digit for a price tag back on the shelf.

Every once in a while, dad is left to do the groceries (for whatever reason). And you can see the difference when the cart reaches the counter.

Recently, I bought a pack of sponges. Normal ones that cost less than 5 dollars. On a normal day, we would have bought 1 pc for 3 dollars. I bought soda that was less than 2 dollars for 1.5L. Normally, we would have gotten a 6-pack for roughly 4 dollars with only about 300 ml in excess of the 1.5L that we now have. Yes, I can be a cheapskate. Although not all the time. Yes, there are times that I splurge, or I overspend on something utterly useless. And it would bother me to no end when it happens. So much so, that I would not be buying anything until the thought is out of my head. And that takes a while to be honest.

Mum, is a believer that quality comes with a price. And while that is true most of the time, sometimes the price that it comes with is somewhat unreasonable. Yes, it does last longer, and yes it does look easier on the eye. But there have been a few times that I do a double take on something just because I am used to a different price range. Over time though, I have learned that between my being cheap and mum being quantifiably not as cheap as I am, we found balance and have lived decently and surprisingly light.

In general, there are things worth their price and some that are not. The difference between them is determined by how much you need it and how useful it is for you. For us, these are some of the things we found worth their penny.

Factory priced diapers. These are the same diapers sold in supermarkets, with the only difference is them not being packed in fancy colorful wrappers.

Avent bottles and nipples. Yes, these are pricey, but their reliability far outweighs their purchase price. While the sterilizer (Avent) is nice to have, a generic one will do just fine. The only problem being that the Avent bottles will not fit as snug.

A good high chair. High chairs may be a dime a dozen in some stores, but you need one that will be comfortable and will grow properly with your child. Don't go for those chair-to-table convertibles. They were designed to be both and are only fairly good as either one. If you need a chair, get a chair. Chances are, you will use it through it's life before you actually need a table.

A car seat. Sure, you want to snuggle up to your baby as much as possible. And they may not want to be sat in a car seat at all either. But once they are used to it, your life on the road will be smoother and safer.

Good shoes. It is guaranteed that your child will run through shoes (footwear in general) faster than you. Jakjak, on average, goes through about 4-5 pairs in a year. In comparison, my shoes can last me 1-2 years. Imagine if those 5 pairs were not that good, he may have needed more. On the plus side, they are generally more comfortable shoes.

There is more to this list that I want to add. Maybe the next time I do the groceries I will update this list.

Counting Dad Years

It's only been 6 years plus (give or take) since my son Matthew (Jakjak) was born. There are days that I feel that it's been a lot more than that. And there are days that I feel that I could use some more.

Being a dad is like any normal profession. You have good days and you have bad days. You really can't win them all, it's just the way you handle the situations that get thrown at you.

Personally, my life as a father began during pregnancy. Thankfully, my wife was the one pregnant and not me (fathers, our wives deserve much more credit in the building and assembly process of our children than we give them credit for). So, while moving along this stage, we (myself and the wife) learned as much as we could and have been preparing for our first child months before he decided to come out from mum's tummy. I say this because, for those who remember, Jakjak came out much too early than he was supposed to. From then on, it has been a roller coaster ride.

Sleepless nights and wacky mornings were the order if the first year of daddy-hood. Breastfeeding - err - bottlefeeding in the wee hours of the morning and never ending clean up days, not to mention washing and bathing and poo-cleaning (my all-time favorite). All throughout, it had still been a learning process with changes to Jakjak's formula and soon after changes to his baby food as well. Then there was the hunt for good and cheap disposable diapers (we had a lucky find in a nearby shop). And then there was that time that he fell off the bed ...

The sitting and walking stages followed with as much excitement as watching your puppy learn a new trick. In all honesty, it was even more exciting than that. Those were the days that Jakjak had been finding his grip on the walls and clinging to anyone walking beside him. Until he figured out how to use his baby walker as a car to zoom around the house (well, not without accidentally pinching his fingers on the table's edge) ...

And then there was the talking. "Pickipao" he says. And that's for just about everything he wants to say. But there's also the laughter, the most enjoyable, most relaxing, most contagious laughter that any parent could ever have come across. I mean, I love children's laughter, but there is simply nothing to compare your own child's laughter to ...

And then there's potty training. A milestone in a child's and a parent's lifetime. It's the time that you get to stop changing stinky diapers and start washing stinky buttocks (Jakjak doesn't like the word butt you see). It's true though. Because when the child already knows how to talk, he can actually already tell you what he needs to do. Poo and Pee aren't exactly difficult words. The wonders of nature are truly amazing ...

Suddenly, he's talking and walking like he's the king of the world. And you feel that he has grown up so fast, and yet you know that he still has a lot to learn. Every once in a while, he will do something that is not so childish and you'll think that he's ready for the world. But then, he does something so childish that you feel thankful that you are still young enough to be there to teach him about the world.

And then we find ourselves sitting in the living room together as a family. We just sit there, watch TV, have a bag of chips and chit chat our way through the night. Simple things. And then we remember the things we had gone through together, the tough times, the worrisome times and we shrug our shoulders and say, here we are now. We know there will be more of those times, maybe even tougher, maybe even more worrisome, but we just have to stick through it, as a family, and I figure we'll do just fine. Surely, fatherhood has eaten a chunk of years in my life (more than what the calendar actually says), probably more than dog years, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I love this job.

Sprint, Run, Dash

NOTE: The recent policy changes by Google has left me thinking about the proprietary rights of my work. This is the reason why there has been a pause in my blog. I am still not convinced if these changes have (or have not) actually made Google "evil", but I am currently taking precautions. Whethere it is called for or not. This is only temporary and I shall resume regular blogging in due time.

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A few months ago, while I was registering Jakjak for the Cold Storage Kid's Run, I asked him if he wanted me to run with him as in prevous runs. To my surprise, he told me he wanted to run on his own. It was good, really, I told myself. At the time, I felt proud that he was being independent and competitive. I knew that he was growing up (a bit faster than I was hoping for). And at the sale time, I felt a bit of a worry. The kind of worry that dad's have watching their children grow up. I was worried that he might not be as old as he thought he was to run on his own, I was worried that he might feel alone and scared during his run, I was worried about a lot of things. It's not because I don't think he could do it, it's just that I was afraid that he might not cope with not being the best in case he does not win.

The weeks poured on and we forgot all about training and practice. We would eventually end up running short sprints as we were playing tag, but never any real distance running. And before we knew it, it was race day.

The morning did not turn out as calm as we were hoping for. Being earlier than 9, it wasn't really our best "waking hour". So we all struggled to get ourselves straightened out and ready for the race. We got there, eventually, with a few minutes to spare (and thankfully, no more grumpy people with us). The pep talk only began as we were settling in. By that time, Jakjak had already been fully awake and aware of his surroundings. We reminded him that he may not be able see us during the race because parents are no longer allowed to run the track in the category that he was in. We told him that we would be at the finish line waiting for him. We also told him to do his best, and that no matter what, he should have fun.

It took a while for us to find him in the batch he was running with, but once we did, and we acknowledged him running, it was all out. He was smiling all the way. I could see him getting tired (we never really trained for running) but I could also see his determination in finishing the race. All the marshalls were cheering everybody on and I was running along the sides with a camera and bag in tow. I never realized how long 800m was until that day. We reached the finish line. Well, Jakjak did. I walked my way to the finish line in the last few meters, he managed to sprint ahead of a few more kids. It was like he had been saving his speed until the last minute. It was great, he made us real proud.

At the pick up point, this is what he said: "Dad, I did not win. But I did my best". All this with a smile on his face (although I could tell that he was a bit disappointed). I didn't know if it was tears or sweat that was making my eyes water at that moment. My little baby, is not so little anymore.

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All my fears of him falling down during the race was gone the moment he crossed that finish line. He could be careless at times, which is why I am always uneasy when he is alone. Of course, being Jakjak, he did get into a small accident after the race. We were simply resting and catching our breath when he got caught in a safety net and tripped. Well, you can't win it all. 

Remembering The Titanic | 2012

The Singapore ArtScience Museum is holding a Titanic Artifact Exhibit. This will run until the 29th of April 2012. More information here: http://titanic.sg/.

We took Jakjak to the exhibit while we were there at Marina Bay Sands. It was a spontaneous thing as we didn't actually have any plans at all that Saturday. It just so happened that the trip to MBS now has become more convenient for us thanks to the Circle Line. The reason we went to MBS was to give Jakjak a gondola ride at the river floor. A ride we missed the week we were there for the iLight Marina Bay light exhibits. It was just for us to let of some steam and Jakjak certainly enjoyed the short roundabout trip on the gondola. 

As we were roaming around the bay area, taking in the cool breeze, taking photo breaks while Jakjak was running around, we came to the ArtScience Museum. We saw the posters of the Titanic exhibition and the model ship displayed at The Shoppes, but we weren't really paying that much attention. We figured, if it's free, why not go in and explore? Well, it wasn't free. But my wife bought the three of us tickets to go in anyway. Unfortunately, photography is strictly prohibited inside the hall. Not that it would have been very easy to do it in the dark anyway, but it would have been nice to get some souvenirs.

We were given our boarding passes as we entered the RMS Titanic. There were rusty remnants of what was salvaged off the great ship. Some of them as big as furniture for your home (It was the darkness in the hall that was eerie though). You walk through the re-made halls and rooms, areas that were created to mimic the real ship. And those small areas of the exhibit did make you feel like you were on board the RMS Titanic. Even the grand staircase was replicated and you were allowed to have your picture taken there, officially with the exhibit's photographer of course, which we did not go for. As you sift through the artifacts recovered from first class, you are then whisked away into third class where the difference between bunks and rooms are like night and day. And again you get to see artifacts recovered from the ship. You get to see parts of the ship that were torn off, the passenger's belongings that were found in their suitcases and cabins, the cargo that the ship was carrying as it made it's way to New York and other bits and pieces. The eeriest part was the deck of the ship where there is nothing but dark starlit sky outside. It was a great display and it really gave me goosebumps. It was like the exhibit brought with it the spirit of the Titanic, and it was the sadness of the tragedy that you feel through.

At the end, there was an iceberg which explained how most people died from hypothermia rather than drowning. And the passenger list where you can try finding the person that was on the boarding pass that was given to you at the start of the exhibit. In the passenger manifesto, mum's boarding pass holder survived, and those that were with me and Jakjak died. Ironically, the one that survived was in first class. And this is what Jakjak wrote on the journal: "My dad and I died! But my mom survived". 

The aftermath of it all was intense. Ever since that day, Jakjak has been obsessed with information about the Titanic. He has been through dozens of YouTube videos from National Geographic and Discovery Channel and even the film and parodies of the movie Titanic (you know, the one with Leo Dicaprio and Kate Winselt?). He now even talks about the RMS Titanic's sister ship, the Britannic. Day in and day out, one (or more) of his conversations will include facts and questions about the Titanic. He has been asking us to bring him back to the exhibit, and we just might. To get him answers and maybe he would finally let the Titanic rest in peace. And maybe so that he would stop singing Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" (The Titanic movie's them song).

Dad's Rude Awakening | 2012

We go on and on about the nice things in our lives.
We go on and on about how hard we worked to get to where we are.
We go on and on about the challenges we overcame to accomplish something great.


Today, my son sent me a recording. 


He was telling his mum about how I broke his heart when I got angry cleaning up his mess. Now, Jakjak's mess is there everyday. It's all over the house, and that's normal for us. I tell him to clean up every chance I get, but I end up doing it anyway. While I don't exactly really get mad, I do get terribly emotional and tend to show that I am not pleased with what I have to do. Jakjak reacts to this differently on different occasions. Sometimes he just doesn't mind me, sometimes he just talks and talks, and sometimes he helps me clean up. (Of course, it isn't all about the mess)


What I didn't know was how this attitude of mine was affecting him. And while he admitted that he gets hurt, he hasn't told me about it. He only tells his mum about things like these. And it doesn't feel right. I have always wanted my son to be able to talk to me, to be able to tell me things. Not just now, but as he grows up. Because I was never like that with my dad. And I wanted to change that with Jakjak. I need to.


I write this because I know that most of us think that we are doing our best in raising our children. I write this because I thought I was doing a darn good job of being a good dad. But in all the effort of keeping things in perspective, in giving our families the best of what we can, we sometimes forget the little stuff that really matters. Listening to our little one's silent voices.

CAUTION: Child Falling | 2012

Well, it was bound to happen (again). Jakjak is just too much of a busy body to just keep himself in one place. And being the runabout that he is, coupled with his trademark carelessness, he was an accident waiting to happen. And he did.


On a fateful Saturday evening, after a long but happy day, he woke up from a nap. And seeing that we were at his favorite spot, decided that we should have a foot race. Three, two, one, go. It was a bit dark, but it was a place we were familiar with so we weren't really worried about ghosts. And then it happened. Wham, bam, wah! Jakjak trips, falls, grinds and bangs his face on a curb. As a dad, you really have to stay calm during moments like these (even while your thoughts are racing in your head). You know it hurts, and you can see blood, and you also know that he's scared. So what now, dad?


Well, for starters, the situation had to be checked. It was dark, but aside from the curb, there were no other things that may have hurt him. Physically, there was an obvious gaping wound around his nose, but I did check for other likely places where a boo-boo may have gotten into like his knees, hands and limbs. Thankfully, aside from the nose area, he only managed a few scrapes on his knee, his elbow and his hand. With a few words of assurance, I managed to calm Jakjak down. He never stopped crying until we got home (which was still a good 5 minutes away) and his bleeding only subsided a little bit. Once home, I got him in the shower for a good scrubbing, and once clean, we finally got to see how bad the boo-boo had been. 

After a few more minutes of calming him some more, we grabbed a cab and headed to the hospital to get him checked. If it was just the knees and limbs, we wouldn't be too worried, but we don't know if there was anything we weren't able to see on his face (or his entire head). Thankfully, the hospital treated it as an emergency and we were ushered in quite fast ahead of some of the other patients. A diagnosis and an x-ray later (we spent a little more than an hour in the hospital, mind you), we were sent home with a recommendation to see an ENT specialist should we feel the need to have one look at Jakjak again. It's been a nerve-wracking night, and I guess all parents go through these things, with some more than others. It is important to note that one has to be in a good state of mind to react to any given situation. Better, if one can prevent it.

posted from Bloggeroid

The Observer

I'm sitting here tonight on one corner of the "Oasis", a water playground for kids. And I'm just here observing, watching over Jakjak as he makes himself, well, wet.

It wasn't that long ago when Jakjak was first let off a water feature from a mall back home. That was at Market Market. He would be running around in his diapers until it got so wet and heavy that it falls off on it's own. That was some four years ago. All through the years after that, he still loves the water. Whether swimming, wading, splashing or even just misting.

His love for water aside, I am also observing how far he has grown. He is taller, albeit still not as plump as we would want him to be. It's not a bad thing though, in fact, it's good that his metabolism is better than expected. He burns energy as quickly as he stores it. He has the efficiency of a well oiled machine.

Being a well oiled machine though, he seems to be prone to accidents. Perhaps he has excess oils that contribute to his carelessness. We are not without giving him warning every time. He is just ... forgetful and un-mindful of the things going on around him. Carelessness aside though, he is  a very active little bugger. He runs, skips, jumps, climbs, crawls and contorts every which way. He is definitely no slouch and neither is he a sloth. He may be good enough to be in a circus to be honest.

The way he thinks is not what we expected. He is quite good at remembering things. Whether it is something he saw or something he heard, he would be able to recall it and even put up an argument if we were the ones who forgot. Speaking of arguments, he is one who uses logic and reason. Coupled with his memory, it's nearly impossible to bend the "rules", let alone change it completely. At least he knows right from wrong, and even with an argument, respect and understanding always manages to keep his world in order (and ours too). Thankfully, all this looks to be the making of a lawyer or a philospher. Hopefully. Maybe.

The most important thing for us however, is the way he expresses his emotions. He's not afraid to speak out and let us know what's happening inside him. There are reservations at times, and he don't always say it out loud, but he confides a lot of things with mum, which is good. And at the end of the day, a good conversation with Jakjak over a cup of milk is sure to be insightful at the least. Of course, conversations with Jakjak usually last for hours as he never seems to run out of things to say.

Not Our First Airshow | 2012

Last year, the RSAF held its open house and allowed the public to view the RSAF's aircraft, its weapons, its anti-aircraft weapons and some knowledge thrown in for good measure.


However, we came home from that show missing the aerial display. This year, the bi-ennial Airshow returns to Singapore. So we decided to give this airshow another go.

The 2012 Singapore Airshow is bigger than the RSAF open house, on account that this airshow includes commercial aircraft as well. Even so, the Air Force (and practically the entire armed forces) still had a strong presence.

This time around, the experience was a little different. Getting to the venue was a good 20 or so minutes from T3 (it would have been ok if we were sat on a chair, but we weren't). And before you could get in, there was a very long and frustrating queue to get through security (yes, the RSAF open house proved to be more efficient). But once you are through, it's pretty much smooth with only the crowd putting you down from time to time (some people just don't know how to queue). We took to the pavillion when it got too hot, which got us through most of the displays and demos from the manufacturers. You can see that the pavillion was more intended for trade visitors than the actual public, but it was a good place to be in than the scorching heat outside. Besides, the fun came when several costumed folks started mingling with the crowd.

And then of course, there's the aerial display. The rain was actually a god-send as it cooled off the grounds and the clouds covered the sun diffusing glare and intense light. And because my lens wasn't long enough to actually get "awesome" shots of the aerial display, I just watched. And watching was really more fun than trying to get a shot or two off my cam. Jakjak and his cousin Andrae were also having a pretty good time. It was exciting to say the least. And very, very loud. I kept waiting to hear a sonic boom, but we were probably too low. The sound of those jet engines, the smoke trails left by the aerial acrobats, and the precision flying was enough to wet your pants (not that we did, but Jakjak felt the excitement down there). It's a good idea to bring hats and polarized sunglasses. We were lucky that the weather cooled us off and the sky wasn't so bright. The clouds were also quite thick and added to the drama as the aeroplanes sliced in and out of them highlighting their paths with smoke and vapour trails. It was great thrills and a great experience. It was fun and the bonding time with Jakjak, is priceless.

Time Travel, 250 Million Years Past | 2012

The Singapore Science Centre is a place of wonder (and it's not just for kids). Today, we went there for a visit to the land before time. Well, not exactly. You see, I heard that dinosaurs were at the Centre and that they were about to leave soon (something about Singapore being too warm for them, I think).

 Jakjak received a book about dinosaurs from his friend last Christmas (thanks Raine!). And aside from that, he had been watching (and reading) Harry and his bucket of dinosaurs as well. So there was interest and curiosity in his mind even before we went to meet the dinosaurs. I had a relationship with dinosaurs when I was a kid too, and even as I grew up, my fascination for these giant lizards never left me. It was going to be a good trip for both of us.


It wasn't our first time at the Science Centre, and in fact, we wanted to come here more often. But our geographic location (being at the other end of the island) was a burden. The Dinosaurs - Live! exhibition was a good excuse to be back here. While we still enjoyed the rest of the centre with what little time we had, it was the dinosaurs after all that were the star of the show.

We got our tickets, and we got our passports (an extra 2 bucks). It was dark and a bit crowded, but that may just be because of the way the path was set up. This made it a bit difficult to identify which dinosaur was which (even with name tags, as it was so dim). Still, it does not remove you from the experience as the dinosaurs growl and snap and wag their tails at you. Of course, being a couple of million years old, their movements aren't as fluid as they used to be. For someone who grew up wanting to see dinosaurs, this dad was kind of disappointed. Jakjak, on the other hand was having a blast. Having that passport had us hunting for stamps in the display area. Apart from those stamps, there were also mini-activities for kids to immerse themselves into. Again, it could have done with a little more light, but it didn't seem to matter to the kids anyway. The dinosaurs were pretty darn good looking. They may not be the real thing, but if you think like a child, it doesn't really matter, they are alive, and they are inviting you to a journey of discovery. All this without the fear of being eaten by any one of these beasts. We ended our dinosaur story with Jakjak doing something he always wanted, looking for dinosaur fossils!

This is just one of the things I love about Singapore. It's a great place to be a kid (and a dad to a kid). There is so much to do across the island and they are pretty much affordably decent. To me, it was a bonding experience that is simply priceless. This, and other activities for kids (and their parents) are always a trip worth every sweat and cent.


*The Dinosaurs - Live! ends it's run on the 26th of Feb 2012.

posted from Bloggeroid

The Sand Park | 2012

We had some free time last Sunday (finally). I was free from being sick (albeit only slightly). Jakjak was free from school. And mum was free from Jakjak and me. We packed up a dorky looking recycling bag, filled it up with toys, a water bottle and snacks (goodness, we packed cookies and cake!). And then we hiked to the nearby park, just Jakjak and me.

The "sand park" is really just a big sand box. It's got an activity area with steps, stairs, hangers and slides. It's also got some other weird stuff like balance platforms, tilt rollers and friend shakers. I don't really know their actual names, but when you see them, that's how you would describe them.


Among other things, the area is also meant to cater to other activities. It has a basketball court, bike lanes, jogging lanes, and even a woodball court (I have no idea what that is at the moment, but I'm guessing it has something to do with a wooden ball).


We do try to go to the park every chance we get. It's just that sometimes, Jakjak changes his mind in the blink of an eye. His bike, unfortunately at this time is flat and I broke our air pump. So we had to resort to playing in the sand. We brought shovels, rakes and a dump truck. Aside from digging up "fossils", we also mindlessly wandered about in the playground. We climbed stairs and slid down the slide and we made mudballs. We had some snacks (well, I did, Jakjak simply drank his water) and had a good time.

You can't really tell how much fun you can have with simple toys and a big open space. You also realize that you have been thinking of doing these things with your child for a long time, but have not found the time to do it. As a secondment to my previous post, you can't always find the time, but you can make time. I have lost track of things like these, the simple things, because I wanted to do so many things in so little time. It's better, in fact, to sometimes just step back and slow down a bit. Thinking slowly has made me come to better decisions lately than a planned but rushed calendar entry. If you are feeling rushed and out of time, try it for yourself. You just might find the focus you are looking for.


(Dad 7/2/2012)

posted from Bloggeroid

Bah, Homework! | 2012

I still remember those days myself. I sit down with my mum, she flips through my workbooks and my notebooks and then taps her pencil on the table telling me to get ready for homework. Of course, my mum was teacher, so I've always thought that it was just a habit of hers. It only occurred to me that we had to do all that homework because school required us to when I heard my classmates complaining about it.


Fast forward to the current day and year, Jakjak is now in school. Homework in primary is quite different from those he had in pre-school (and not as much or as often). Along with the additional stress he feels while in school, it kind of gets messy when we sit down for homework.


I guess that kids see homework for what it is at their age level. Because a college student will treat homework differently than how a secondary school student would and definitely much more different than a primary school student. In terms of priority, in terms of impact and in terms of stress, a kid will treat homework simply as a nuisance to playing. As such, parents also see homework differently. It's that sense of responsibility that really kicks. We know that our kids need that homework done, but we also know our kids don't want it. And it becomes a chore to explain it to them which takes up time better spent actually doing the homework (and getting more playtime) in the first place.


After a few rumbles and tumbles with Jakjak, my wife hit me with a club. True enough, the point she wanted to let me know was quickly conveyed and understood. First, you shouldn't even attempt to teach about homework when you are unwell. Your personal frustration will just act as a catalyst to the additional frustration that is just about to mount. Second, do make sure that your son has had ample time to rest and be in a proper state of mind before you even mention that he has to do homework. Next, do tackle homework with extreme care. Especially when you both are on the edge of being irritable. Believe me, it's difficult to get back to the calmness of a windless afternoon (Never try to do homework when both of you have just woken up from an afternoon nap).

I do not have the same amount of patience that my wife has. And I don't have the same amount of cooling down period as well. It takes me twice the amoint of time it takes her to go from boiling mad to stoich. I may have anger management problems, but surely, it's not that bad. I just need some practice is all (maybe).

posted from Bloggeroid

Find It. Make It. | 2012

Find It, Make It.


It was going to be a long weekend. There were two public holidays making up the Lunar New Year. I was thinking, "that's a great opportunity to have time to spend with the little guy!". In this instance, the thought doesn't count as much as the action. While the prospect of having extra playtime was there, so was that prospect of having extra "me" time. For a lot of busy working people, that extra bit of time appears precious, so precious in fact that sometimes, we tend to cram so many things into it that we end up accomplishing less than what we sought out to do in the first place.


What I didn't expect was that I was going to be coming down with something. Not quite the flu, and not quite the sniffles, but it becomes this annoying little thing that stops you from appreciating that time off. And because I wasn't really feeling well, I barely had time at all to even get my thoughts together. I was just either unwell or nasty. In the end, I preferred just lying it off to ease the headaches that thinking brings about. And so, what was supposed to be a good excuse for spending extra time with Jakjak didn't really end up as time at all.


This brings me to another mental exercise. How many times did we actually exert effort to have that time to spend with our loved ones? I certainly had the time, but the effort to make use of it had been futile due to the circumstances. Had I felt better (and had Jakjak felt better as well), we could have easily gone to the park, bike, scooter, go to the library and play games all day long. We did manage to get some playtime, but not as much as we both hoped for.

At least now I have that piece of thought in my head. It's not just about finding the time, it's also about making that time work for you.

posted from Bloggeroid

When Kids Do Battle | 2012

I guess you could say that in my mind, it was a matter of "when" and not "if", Jakjak gets into a confrontation.


No, he isn't one to start "battles" out of the blue. In fact, he is a kind soul that looks out for kids that appear to be younger (or smaller) than him.


And then there are those times that he gets caught up in playing with other kids. That's the time that he forgets how strong he can be. I have not trained him in martial arts while he was young, so I guess you can blame me (partly, please) for his unconstrained fighting powers. This is because we decided not to introduce him to any kind of violence as he was growing up. We preferred Maisy Mouse to Tom & Jerry. But as hard as we tried, we knew that he would get exposed to other media sooner or later. And with a rather rowdy cousin who dreams of fighting in the army, well, that came sooner than we had hoped.

After some Ben 10s, Transformers, CSIs and Law & Order SVUs, he had been on the action oriented side of the fence. He is on defense though, rather than offense, but it doesn't change the fact that he is rather strong for his age. Especially with that flame foam sword he weilds occasionally. I thought that I could contain it within the confines of the "danger room" (a.k.a. our house), but as kids play to be social, it didn't stay confined. It is controlled mayhem most of the time. At least until Jakjak or one of the other kids take playing hero too seriously.


Jakjak had never been in a real fight. We do get some kids telling us that he had hurt them, but after a thorough investigation, evidence only leads to play related accidents. He (or the other kid) apolgizes and off they go again to play. This is what happened one day when he got dropped off from the school bus. Apparently, he managed to hurt one his bus-mates as they were playing.


We always tell Jakjak to apologize to others if he has not done so (he forgets, sometimes). And he is quick to apologize in real time as well if he is aware that he had done something wrong. We impart him with wisdom on what action to choose in difficult situations. But he is still just 6 years old, and he will act like a 6 year old. With guidance from mum and dad, he does look like he is growing up with more responsibility. That is of course, except when he is investigating a crime scene or chasing off chupacabras.

posted from Bloggeroid

A Moving Masterpiece | 2011

Qing Ming Shang He Tu. The Song Dynasty as living art.


A little background should be in order here. The Moving Masterpiece display at the Singapore Expo is a sort of modernization of a big piece of art from China's Song Dynasty. An artist named Zhang Zeduan created it to depict the dynasty's history and achievements.

What caught our eye (rather Jakjak's eyes) was the food. There is an "open to the public" food and beverage area that has been designed to mimic the exhibit's theme. Within the F&B hall is the souvenir shop and a small activity area for kids.

The first area of the exhibit didn't look promising, because there's a lot of empty space. But the audio guide was a good tool to help you understand it. The elements and their real life relationship was described and compared to how Singapore had been built. It was two sides of a coin, one of the Song dynasty and the other of Singapore.


It was from here, less than five minutes into the show that Jakjak once again surprised us with his keen sense of attentiveness (sometimes, the lack thereof) as he proved that he was listening to the audio guide. He started looking for people and things that were being described in the audio guide, and it kept him interested throughout the static displays all the way through to the (rather small) interactive area.

Then we come to the really good part. The actual "moving masterpiece". It's so massive that it covers an entire Expo hall wall. But it's not just that, the flowing water in the foreground immediately invites you to come closer. And then you see small figures coming to life from within the painting. Think of the living portraits from your Harry Potter memories, and imagine the people to be old Chinese villagers. Except that this one spans a hundred and twenty eight metres across. Don't forget about the audio guide, it tells the story of the painting portion by portion. And through the narrative, Jakjak once again becomes involved in the grander scheme of things. 

It has been a good journey for us through the painting, and the story it told was a fascinating look at the past through modern art and technology. We all enjoyed it, and we truly believe that most of you will to.

Has Dad Grown Up? | 2011

There was an anime festival today. And I'm an anime fan. Sort of. It could be that I "was" an anime fan. I still watch anime when I can, and I still sing along to the Voltes V opening theme song when I hear it. But I am no longer up to date with the newer anime types. Somehow, I'm not as interested with the lot of them, not as much as I used to anyway (I had my Gundam series complete before it even finished airing in the local cable channels).

I don't really think that I have outgrown that part of my life. I just shifted priorities, and anime is not on the top of my list anymore. Photography, for one, has taken over my list of hobbies. Cars have also taken a back seat since I lost my ride when we decided to settle in Singapore.


We have adapted to a new way of life in a short span of time. Sacrifices had to be made here and there, which is paving the way for a more grown up family. At least we try to be grown up. You see, children will not understand the things that we parents need to engage in at the back of the stage. We laugh, we live, we enjoy when we can. And when we must, we endure. These things don't matter to Jakjak. What matters to him is us being together and having fun. So all the pencil pushing, calculator bashing, blueprinting and planning happen while Jakjak is busy with something else.


Sometimes it does get a bit stressful. And when he's not careful, Jakjak sometimes gets a blunt of the chaos. Accidentally of course. But it's not something he does on a daily basis (nor is it something that I do everyday as well). It is a necessary something that you wish you didn't have to do. But it's there, a minor annoyance (like a lump of pork stuck between your teeth), buy it's there. All you can do really, is to kick it in the butt and take control. There's just no other way around it.