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Went to the Zoo today with a few other moms and their kids, and had a GREAT time!

Considering how wet the weather’s been these past few days, I’m just so glad that it only drizzled a teeny bit. The rest of day was mostly cloudy and very humid.

Can’t believe that it’s been more than a year since I last took Anya to the Zoo. Went with a friend and her son, Hans, Anya’s dearest friend who’s now far far away in Sydney. I was 3 months pregnant with Vai at the time and I remembered how I brought along hubby’s ‘big’ camera too (in the name of ‘capturing moments more nicely though it was so bulky and heavy’. Ha!)

Anyway. Now that I’ve two kids, I’ve got to say it’s more physically challenging for me. Getting the kids ready to go by 9.15am. Packing their meals and other (endless) stuff. Taking the bus, train and another bus to reach the Zoo.

[I got the most exercise when towards the end of the trip - 4pm! - I carried Vai in the sling, napping, while pushing the pram uphill with Anya half-sleeping in it]

I was asked whether I do feel tired. Haha. Of course I do, especially since I’m made of blood and muscles, not chips and machines.

But then it IS part and parcel of bringing the kids out and about. Introducing them to nature and the beauty of God’s creation. Socialising with friends and just having fun.

And for all that, yes I do feel tired (my arm, shoulder and back ached).

But then again, I don’t mind.

I myself did have fun too!

Treasuring every moment and thanking God for every little blessing we have.

Click on the links below for more stuff on our kids’ pearly whites.

>> Milestone: Teething

>> When should I start cleaning my baby’s teeth

>> How to care for my baby’s gums and emerging teeth

>> How to encourage your child’s self-care skills

>> Discover how to get your child to brush

>> Babyparenting.about.com: Brushing Teeth

>> Kidshealth.org: The truth about Teeth

Happy reading!

When we obey something simply because we’re ‘afraid’ of the punishment we may get from not obeying, that’s known (in psychology) as the ‘lowest’ level of obedience.

Basically it’s because our ”fear of punishment’ means there’s NO inner transformation.

When we think there’s no one watching, we often end up doing what we know is wrong. Because we think we won’t ‘get caught’ anyway.

When we obey and do what’s right, it should be because we know why we should be doing it.

And I find this principle so applicable. To me personally and the kids.

I try my best to always explain to Anya the reasons behind our decisions for her. You know, WHY she can or cannot do something. Of course most of the time she still throws her tantrums after knowing the reasons. But at least she knows.

[I find the best timing - when she'll be so much more receptive of what I say - is when she's over the tantrum or when we're cuddling up, sharing how our day has been, just before bedtime]

I also tell her during our daily conversations that when Daddy and Mommy are not with her, God is always there, watching over and taking care of her. Which means she needs not be afraid, and she needs to learn to be responsible for everything that she does (although we parents are not there to ‘discipline’ her).

And as for me, … I’m again reminded of how I should live my life.

Even when “no one” is watching.

Ever since Vai learns how to be more mobile (read: easily rolls over to his sides), he hardly keeps still.

Which is why I’m on my way of completing my ‘masters’ in changing baby diapers while the kid is standing-walking-sitting-rolling-you-name-it.

Wilson’s away overseas and is back tomorrow, and so everyone had pasta for dinner tonight. It’s easier for me to prepare too.

Anya and I had our spiral pasta with the sauce and everything.

And I put some (cooked) pasta pieces on Vai’s babychair table and let him enjoy some self-feeding while I quickly finished my dinner. I then put some of the pasta in the blender and have it finely chopped (still with textures) and mix it with the salmon and brocolli I’ve prepared earlier.

Yum.

Just like any other mommies, I try my best in teaching and encouraging my kids to grow and develop. Naturally.

And one of the things that I’d like them to slowly grow and love doing, is reading.

When one loves to read, I genuinely believe that he’s most likely into learning too. And when one has the heart to learn, there’s a chance for him to change, grow and develop the potentials God has given to him.

Now that Anya is 3 years old, I can see that she likes to read. When I have to breastfeed Vai and get him to nap for example, she can quietly grab a book and read it. She’d want us to read her a book first before she goes to bed. She LOVES going to the library too.

Right now, Vai being an 11-month-old baby, it’s rather too early to say if he’ll grow and have that same kind of passion.

Actually to be frank, I used to have a thought that even though I expose my two kids to books since very young, perhaps Vai won’t get to like reading that much.

You see, when he sees a children’s board book, he’d look at the picture for three seconds, grab it, shake it, put it in his mouth and bite its sides until bits of it literally end up in his mouth. Or, he’d grab and bang it against the wall. Or the floor, the chair, the toys, the table.

Since some two weeks ago however, there’s been a BIG change in him. He’d point at stuff and make noises. More like grunts, I think. It’s like he tries to speak the words but he just still can’t get it out of his throat.

And and, now he looks at books!

I mean, he’d flip it open, observe the pictures for a long time and make throaty sounds while pointing at the objects on the pages. And he can do this for quiet a long time.

I guess it’s because he’s now bigger and doesn’t put EVERYTHING into his mouth? Well, whatever it is (and even if later on he’s not into books as much as Anya - which is completely fine with us), I’m still very happy to see this development.

Ah. Frankly though, I have no idea how my two kids will turn out to be many years from now.

It’s not about whether they’ll be making lots of money when they start work though. Or whether they’ll marry, be rich and live in a mansion.

I’m more interested to see whether they’ll live responsibly. Whether they continue to learn, explore and maximise their God-given potentials. Whether their lives will glorify God their Creator and continue to be a blessing to many others.

[The true richness of one's life is not - and should not be - measured by how much money and material security one has. A person is 'rich' when he gives and shares his life with others, even when it means he has to deny his own wants and live a simpler life]

All I know is that my time is limited and I can no longer be their ‘full-time teacher’ once they start school.

And one thing is for sure. As their Mommy, I will love, guide and teach them as best as I can, and I will learn to trust and leave the rest to God. The LORD in our family.

… my sister’s Tigger headband for a liiiittle while.

Not sure if you’ve heard about this but studies show how women in general talk a lot more than men. I mean, like, three times more or something.

And from what I can share, I personally find that after having my first kid, I do talk more.

AND, after my second one, I do talk even MORE.

*gasp*

But really. It’s like, ‘Anya … can you please finish your food now’, followed by, ‘Vai … don’t touch the rubbish bin please. It’s dirty.’

There. In just 10 seconds, I’ve uttered SEVENTEEN words.

The problem is kids being kids, they often don’t immediately do what we parents ask them to do. And we (usually) end up repeating our requests.

It’d be like: kid jumps on the bed. Mom waits in the bathroom and asks her to come over for her shower. Kid keeps jumping on the bed. Mom repeats. Kid still plays and laughs. Mom repeats her instruction.

Frankly I often remind myself that when I ask Anya to do something, I should avoid repeating my requests for too many times (like, … for more than than three times?)

[I'd usually give an early warning, 'This is the last time I'm going to ask you', and if she still doesn't listen, I'd carry out the consequence I've told her earlier, for example, I'd leave the room or take her unfinished plate and put it in the fridge]

Personally, I want my kids to develop a habit of doing something from the very first time they hear it (well, realistically it’s not always possible right now, of course, but it’s a habit that I’d like to build on my kids as they grow)

You see, when our kids grow up being used to NOT doing what’s been asked of them immediately, it’ll somehow become a habit that they’ll carry with them throughout their adult lives.

Unconsciously (or consciously!) delaying things. Not being an alert, proactive and quick-to-act person.

When I was little, I used to delay stuff. Like when we’re getting ready to go out and it’s my turn to use the shower, I’d toss and turn on my bed and say, ‘In five minutes…’. Or when there’s a chore, I’d choose to do it later than having it done now. My ears somehow were just used to hearing repeated instructions, and I’d end up completing them at a later time.

[And I wasn't rebuked much by my parents at the time]

Really, as I reflect on it, all that is not doing any good on me as person today. I know I’ve changed over time, but a trace of that habit still lingers.

And so as I’m teaching my kids on this principle on a daily basis, I too am constantly teaching myself.

After all, kids do what WE do.