Posts from — November 2009

A couple of weeks back, everyone in the family went for a visit to the dentist. Initially we planned on doing it overseas where it might be cheaper compared to here in Australia. Actually what’s expensive would be only for some procedures as routine checks are free and would not really require dental discounts. Anyway, first on the chair was my eldest daughter RD who had no issues with dental cleaning. Now when my youngest CN saw what was being done, she started crying. It was indeed a surprise, too, since this is not her first time to the dentist. Alas, when it was her turn, the dentist could not really perform any procedure. Then it was my turn. That is when she mustered enough courage to sit down and get things done. We had to go back to the dentist for some filling for both kids. When we returned the following week, guess what CN said: me first!

Over the years with two children, we have accumulated a good number of children’s DVD. I am not complaining that we got them as I believe that some of them have really taught or encouraged my kids in several ways. Anyway, now the number of these have surpassed the capacity the current organizer which mounts the cases. Some are now piled up in different places. I am conceding that the solution is really to get a bigger cabinet to tuck these things in.

This week, one of our neighbors invited us to just pop into their house for a chat. Actually, that could well be because they will be leaving the neighborhood soon. Striking differences with our place was not the stone sinks or fixtures but the other ‘contents’. I’m referring to all the clutter in our home because of the kid: toys from their room creeping to the family room and further on to the lounge. Anyway, before we go for dinner, I will call for a ‘time to pack away’. And that is when all these toys and crafts go to the cabinets to spend the night away.

The television is sometimes a friend and sometimes a foe to parents. The power of educational programs presented to children through this media is so good that many institutions have already embraced it a long time back. But watching ordinary television is different and this includes advertisements intended for more mature audiences such as beer, electronic cigarette, and other related items. And perhaps that is where the true meaning of PG of parental guidance really comes in.

I have not really talked about it in this blog but another round of Masterchef was aired in Australia. This time they called on ‘celebrities’ to take part, with the grand price going to their choice charity or foundation. It was interesting to find Michelle of the Biggest Loser as simple thinking may conclude that she’ll probably end up preparing salads and only healthy stuff as there is no room for fat burners afterwards. If my memory serves me right, her signature dish wasn’t a salad. Perhaps that is indicative that to be lean and mean doesn’t mean going for the greens exclusively.

With the Christmas season just about here, I noticed that the number of items I pickup from our mailbox seems to be on a rise. Christmas cards? No not just yet. So what’s filling them up? Well, it’s still in line with the Christmas season. So they include store catalogues, free insurance quotes, gift ideas, food delivery menu, discount coupons and so much more along those lines. With the advent of electronic media, the chances of the mailbox filling with Christmas greetings is less likely. Full email inbox? More likely!

Time flies so fast that another new year is just lurking around. So what’s happening in the new year? In a nutshell, it’s hard to tell. Though, I’ve mentioned in a recent blog about potential changes in schedule because of my kids schooling. But there are still a lot of unknowns as to what that may really mean. Who knows it may even give me the opportunity to squeeze in other activities like getting some part-time work or even put up a business complete with posmicro.com gadgets. It’s really hard to tell. One thing is for sure… and this was clear in a line of a Christian song a few years ago: “I don’t know what surrounds the corner Lord, but I’ll know that You’ll be there.”

My youngest daughter’s pre-school adventures are down to its last few weeks. By next year, she is set to go to what is dubbed the ‘big school’. For me, that easily translates to some significant change in scheduling activities around home. Whatever the case may be, I’m quite sure it is a lot better than the common juggling within a call center outsourcing firm. And besides, for a mom, one one hand it’s work. On the other hand, it isn’t!

What is school homework? Is it becoming a routine, or is it really meeting its purpose? As a parent watching over my daughter do her homework, I sometimes take a pause to try to understand what it is achieving. I am sure we all see ‘homework’ do great things particularly in a student’s younger years. But now I try to think what it would do to people doing university or perhaps just doing some GMAT prep. It may be sometimes difficult to explain to kids why they should be doing homework. But then, we all know it is there to do something.

A few weeks back, my husband saw a suit package that’s on a store offer and therefore decided to purchase. Once he got home to try it out it turned out to be be a bit of misfit. He said he did fit it in store and looked fine. This thing might have happened to other people as well. Whether it’s new tuxedo or the daily jeans, we all know it is often a good thing for having someone be there to have a look. They certainly can tell something more that a mirror can.

Our family doesn’t really travel a lot. But whenever we do, there are a few things we cherish other than the attraction we’re actually visiting. One of the things we enjoy is just cuddling up inside our hotel room. Whether we book a room with classy fixtures, Grohe faucets, huge flat screen television, or a simple or basic apartment with just a bed and bath, there is but one constant. That is us enjoying being out together, just having simple joys, simple fun.

Water in Australia is known to be generally good straight from the tap. Though of course there are some who would still take the extra step to ensure that what they are drinking is clean pure water. The alternatives are vast. You can go for the easy option of buying bottled water. Perhaps a wiser option for families is to get a water filter such as wf2cb. I’m sure it doesn’t hurt to take a more defensive stance. As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.

Nope. I’m not writing about Mr. Claus and his list which he checks twice. Instead, I’m here to share my thoughts other ‘lists’ which are popular in the Christmas season. First is probably the ‘wish list’, which to some children may or may not be one of the pre-season to-dos. Christmas is indeed just around the corner and the big shopping stores are helping out with this list by sending massive catalogue of toys and other things to add to the list including game consoles, laptops, music gadgets and mobile phones. But I guess a more important list is one of friends and family whom you want to reach out to. Yes, let’s make this list as long as it can be. Christmas is a season for giving. It need not be in a box or fancy wrapping. A warm hello and catching up should help in bringing out the cheer.

Parents would want perhaps not only the good but as much as possible, the best for their children. Indirectly, in order for us to do this, we would also have to know what’s good (or even best) for ourselves as individual. So how do we know what’s good? This may sound funny but I guess one answer is ‘research’. For example, as the ‘grown ups’ we can read on product reviews not just for natural weight loss pills but more especially on products in our regular grocery list. It probably is not enough to listen to what the media advertisements say as these may be skewed in the interest of making more sales.

I had a lot of physical exercise during our recent house move. So while lifting boxes and walking all over the house may seem to be tiring, I just thought of it as my temporary form of exercise. After a couple of weeks, we have now started to settle down. Our treadmill is now in place and perhaps it is a good time for Kettlebell or weights for a change. And while I am not really a beach going person, it can only be good to stay fit.