Finna's PINK Blog

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blue: loud
red: soft

A lovely day

Once upon a time, there lived a boy who lived in a house. His named is bryian. He lived with his Grandparents. He is very rich. He boght a house and a farm. One day a girl came to bryian's house! "Who are you?" asked bryian. Hi! I am from africa and my name is Rosie spakel. "what a lovely and fantastic


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name!" said bibbly bryian's little brother. "I Have to go" says Rosie. wait Rosie! dont go yet Rosie! says bryian. Rosie says again. No. bryian. my Mother is waiting for me at home. May I go to your house? asked Bryian. Hmm? ok! said Rosie agreed. yeah! yes! says bryian. do not be too happy says Rosie. oopsie said bryian. Hee Hee says Rosie.

The End

Video - Click here

During our last Wild Idea session on Earth Presentation; Phebe took the initiative to ask me how many children were coming and then proceeded to prepare the materials for drawing lots! It totally slipped my mind and I was thankful. Then she called upon the children to gather and drew lots.

I was busy preparing and when I returned to the group, I saw Phebe putting back her initial lot and picked another. The new lot she picked showed the number "1" (meaning first to present) which was what she wanted and she was satisfied.

Without embarrassing her, I pulled her aside and whispered that I saw what she did, it was considered cheating and what she did was wrong!!! She apologised and since the group was waiting to start, I didn’t pursue this matter with her at that moment.

Later, I brought this up with another mum, she suggested that I could have ask for her to swap her lot with the kid who suppose to present first. (Since most children in this group are less willing to present, chances are high that the child will be willing to make the swap).

I thought that was a brilliant suggestion. But I have to remember to talk to Phebe again on this .....

For months, I believe since Jan 2009, I started requesting for Phebe to start her morning teeth brushing (she already began her night teeth brushing), but she refused.

Some time last week, one of her teachers requested for her to do so (not sure if the teacher told the entire class or just her but either way I am so glad), and since she began to do so

Correction - she forgot to do so the very next day, and that same teacher happened to be doing the morning health check and when Phebe saw it was her, she froze and refused to step anyway further than the school's gate.

The teacher realised and requested her to come in first, saying she will let her in but she will have to remember to brush her teeth the next morning.

The power of Teachers' words!!!!!! ("Teacher said ........")

In the car, on our way to Phebe's swimming lesson, she requested me to buy a new water bottle. I asked if hers was broken, she explained that she accidentally dropped her classmate's and need to replace him with a new one. I agreed.

I also asked if she apologised to him, in which she replied, "No."

I was curious cos I thought she usually do so, and asked her why. She explained, "Cos it is useless to apologies. The water bottle will not be fixed, just need to buy him a new one!!!"

I was amused by her explanation. I can’t denied her explanation but it would definitely make him feel better if she were to apologise and ask how she can repay him. She agreed and promised to do so the next day.

Sigh .... kids can be so creative with their excuses!!!!!

Some time back, I was yakking with a mummy about parenting.

Scenario:
Child practised keyboard at home and could play the entire song pretty well. But when asked to play during lesson time, didn’t manage to play as well. Should the child be given a second chance?

That mummy felt that during exam time, the child has only one chance, so either the child perform well or don’t. There isn’t a second chance.

To some extent, this is true. But I felt, it has to depend on the objective of giving the child this second chance.

- is it given to build the child's confidence?
- is it given to enforce that the learning process is more important than reaching the goal?
- even if the teacher doesn’t think the child played well enough, as the child's parent, we would have seen how hard the child practised, how much effort the child had put in, and so long as the child tried and was has improved, I think that's an achievement.
- even if the teacher didn't give the child a second chance, as the child's parents, I would. I would encourage the child to play the song again (in school after class or at home) and acknowledge the child's effort.

I would feel so sad for the child if the child is denied of this opportunity.

Having said that, I would not force the child if the child has no interest in it.

But quitting whenever the child meets an obstacle is also a no-no.

Tough gauge - individual judgement call while observing and understanding our children.

Last Sunday, we had lunch at Tampines One. After our stomachs were filled, Phebe requested to go over to the shop next door to play, we agreed.

We had a small argument over the name of the shop. I said it was 'Time Zone' but she insisted it was not. She said, "We shall walk over to check who's right and who's wrong". I told her, "Fine!"

I verified by pointing to the label on the glass panel and she cheekily grinned and said, "Oh ya, it is Time Zone."

Then she said, "Give me your hand mummy." I stretched out my hand.

She took my hand, gave a little bow and said with a smile, "Congratulations Mummy, you are right!!!"

We laughed and I gave her a BIG hug and kiss

Question to ponder .....

Some parents let their kids run 'wild' while there are some other parents tend to be slightly too protective over their kids. So how much of protection is too much? Does gender of the child matters, ie boys need to be toughen up while girls can’t afford to have any scratches nor scars?

Does not protecting as much means letting the child build up his confidence and independence? Does not protecting as much means I am a care less parent? I suppose this is very subjective.

This is one game that Phebe enjoys.

I must say, she is pretty nimble, thus wins frequently. This then further builds up her confidence level. But she dislikes putting the blocks back, therefore, her rules include loser to pack up and keep after the game!

Phebe presented the 5 Oceans and 7 Continents in the World.
She also sang the 'Continents Song' so that it is easier to remember their names.




Xingyi presented the Solar System and the 9 Planets in Mandarin.
And she recited a para that described the characteristics of earth.





Jaycin helped to hold the board while Jaykai presented on using Frogs as an indicator to guage pollution level on earth.
It was an interesting approach, where species of frogs are getting extinct, baby frogs are born deformed and birth rates reduced - all due to bad living condition as a result of earth pollution.




Zheng Ting presented on the 3 R's - Reduce, Reuse & Recycle.
He brought several items and indicated which item can be reduced, reused or recycled.





A BIG round of applause to all kiddos & mummies for all your courage, time and effort.

Using the same recipe as Raisin Cake, I substituted raisins with mixed fruits and added sliced almonds. Nice.

This recipe called for 4 eggs, slightly dryer than the Walnut Cake recipe (original recipe called for 8 eggs, but I reduced to 6 eggs). Thus less moist, more crumbs and difficult to cut it neatly.

Perhaps the type of knife used, and allowing the cake to completely cool down before cutting makes a difference.

Pictures speak louder than words! Pretty obvious that these two young PINK ladies were having a ball of time in the pool, enjoying each other’s company.

Initially Daddy Collin had wanted to re-visit Marina Barrage, so that Phebe can had fun at the Water Play but cousin Eileen called and they were on the phone, discussing, negotiating and persuading each other ..... in the end Phebe gave in. Well, looking at these pics, don’t think she has any regrets with her decision.

P.S. Look at her silly face!!! With the recent Cadbury advertisement (Click here to view), she is vigorously learning to raise her eye brows singularly!!!

Term review where parents were allowed in the class to observe what had been taught. The usual reciting of some nurseries, chinese flash cards, sentence formation etc. in groups and individual.

Afterwhich each child will be given their individual written review as well as test papers marked and returned.

We were the last pair to leave the room and had a short face-to-face feedback session with the teacher. She said that Phebe is smart and she learns fast but too playful in class. Need to get her to improve her handwriting. She was amazed that despite Phebe missing quite a few lessons this term; she was able to score full marks for her test. Search me, I am surprised too. And I was reminded to revise her work with her Guilty


P.S. This term, there were about 12 children in the class, pretty crowded.

After a session on the internet with Phebe, I shut down my laptop ready for bed.

Suddenly, Phebe pointed out to me, "Mummy this is wrong!!! It should be 'Windows ARE shutting down', right?"

I can only laughed then, and tried my best to explain to her

Slightly after dinner, my tummy felt unwell so I rubbed some oilment and laid on the bed. Phebe came and asked me what happened. I told her I needed some rest and asked her to run off to play by herself, and she did and I joined her shortly after.

At bedtime, shortly after the lights were off, she remembered and asked me if I was feeling better. I was but I felt much better because she showed me her concerns, compassion and empathy - a quality I wish she would carry on in life.