February 29, 2012
February 28, 2012
Go outside
Today I decided to cycle further into Punggol Waterway and discovered that the park is actually way bigger than I thought. And to our pleasant surprise, we discovered a sand playground and a water park. Angel spent almost an hour in the sand, my mum-in-law wasn't too happy when we got home because Angel was covered in sand from head to toe.
People often give you many reasons not to bring your kids outdoors. It's too hot, it's raining, it's too late, the grass and leaves are causing skin itch, the sand and mud is dirty, they might stumble and fall, they might hurt themselves.
For me, this is what childhood is all about - to go outside and play.
Bring your kids out, and observe them. You'll see that they are exploring, discovering, and learning (often from their own mistakes). But most importantly, they are having fun. I will never deny Angel the chance to do this.
We had a blast at the sand playground today. Angel started by slowly and curiously poking the sand with sticks. Then she started to touch the sand with her finger, and move her finger around in the sand. Slowly, she started to grab the sand and pour onto her own feet, thighs, chest, even her head.
Angel got adventurous and started grabbing sand, chasing me, and pouring onto my feet, my pants, even my head when I was squatting taking a photo. Yes, some sand got onto my camera, but I just couldn't resist her laughter.
Angel refused to stop playing with sand, til a stage I had to carry her to the side and tell her it was time to go home. She was now covered in sand, but you can feel the immense joy when she said "bye bye sand".
I'm already thinking of going back there next weekend. We will venture outdoors again, in the sun, or rain.
People often give you many reasons not to bring your kids outdoors. It's too hot, it's raining, it's too late, the grass and leaves are causing skin itch, the sand and mud is dirty, they might stumble and fall, they might hurt themselves.
For me, this is what childhood is all about - to go outside and play.
Bring your kids out, and observe them. You'll see that they are exploring, discovering, and learning (often from their own mistakes). But most importantly, they are having fun. I will never deny Angel the chance to do this.
We had a blast at the sand playground today. Angel started by slowly and curiously poking the sand with sticks. Then she started to touch the sand with her finger, and move her finger around in the sand. Slowly, she started to grab the sand and pour onto her own feet, thighs, chest, even her head.
Angel got adventurous and started grabbing sand, chasing me, and pouring onto my feet, my pants, even my head when I was squatting taking a photo. Yes, some sand got onto my camera, but I just couldn't resist her laughter.
Angel refused to stop playing with sand, til a stage I had to carry her to the side and tell her it was time to go home. She was now covered in sand, but you can feel the immense joy when she said "bye bye sand".
I'm already thinking of going back there next weekend. We will venture outdoors again, in the sun, or rain.
February 26, 2012
February 24, 2012
Beautiful wedding video
This is one of the best wedding videos I've seen.
I like it not because it has lots of special effects, it has little. Not because it showcases the little details and decorations, hardly any. Not because it has dramatization, it has none. I like it because it captures what wedding is really about - two people who met and fell in love with each other. And on this day, with the blessing of their families and friends, they become husband and wife.
Simple. Beautiful.
I like it not because it has lots of special effects, it has little. Not because it showcases the little details and decorations, hardly any. Not because it has dramatization, it has none. I like it because it captures what wedding is really about - two people who met and fell in love with each other. And on this day, with the blessing of their families and friends, they become husband and wife.
Simple. Beautiful.
February 23, 2012
Precious moments
Yesterday when I reached home, instead of the usual bicycle ride, I decided to take a walk with Angel to the nearby park. This night, for some reason, Angel held on to my little finger the whole time and refused to let go.
She insisted that I do all the things with her while she held on to my finger. We walked, we hopped, we ran, we climbed up the slide, we went down the slide, we spun, we ran in circles, and we danced with the old folks.
This was more exhausting then usual, and my finger actually hurt from all the pulling and twisting. At some point I felt quite annoyed and frustrated, then I remembered this story.
When Angel was mere few months old, she needed a lot of rocking to calm down and fall asleep. We used to take turns to rock her and the whole episode could take an hour or more. Of course, there were times of frustration, plenty. Then my wife told me something that still sticks with me til this day.
"These moments won't last forever. Before you know it, Angel won't be able to fit in your arms, she won't want to sleep there even if you could. Soon, she won't want to sleep on your shoulder, and you won't be able to feel her breath next to your face."
Sure enough, I'm already missing those moments...
Angel can hold on to my little finger any time, I'll treasure these moments always.
She insisted that I do all the things with her while she held on to my finger. We walked, we hopped, we ran, we climbed up the slide, we went down the slide, we spun, we ran in circles, and we danced with the old folks.
This was more exhausting then usual, and my finger actually hurt from all the pulling and twisting. At some point I felt quite annoyed and frustrated, then I remembered this story.
When Angel was mere few months old, she needed a lot of rocking to calm down and fall asleep. We used to take turns to rock her and the whole episode could take an hour or more. Of course, there were times of frustration, plenty. Then my wife told me something that still sticks with me til this day.
"These moments won't last forever. Before you know it, Angel won't be able to fit in your arms, she won't want to sleep there even if you could. Soon, she won't want to sleep on your shoulder, and you won't be able to feel her breath next to your face."
Sure enough, I'm already missing those moments...
Angel can hold on to my little finger any time, I'll treasure these moments always.
February 21, 2012
February 20, 2012
February 18, 2012
February 17, 2012
Punggol Waterway
Here we are again, our current favorite place to explore, even though the park is still under construction.
February 10, 2012
A little story about Doggie
I was supposed to go to bed, but a chat with friends online reminded
me of a story about Doggie, a dog that I used to have in Australia.
Doggie was a black toy poodle. He used to sleep with us in the bedroom, as we have managed to train him not to pee until we let him out the house. But I remember one time, we woke up and found pee on the carpet. And when we looked at Doggie, he was hiding in the corner shivering, as though we were about to scold or even beat him.
We didn't, of course. We comforted him, telling him it's alright.
The thought of that still breaks my heart today. A little animal, being obedient, yet helpless. Doggie must have struggled to maintain his pee at night until he couldn't take it any more. Poor guy...
Doggie was a black toy poodle. He used to sleep with us in the bedroom, as we have managed to train him not to pee until we let him out the house. But I remember one time, we woke up and found pee on the carpet. And when we looked at Doggie, he was hiding in the corner shivering, as though we were about to scold or even beat him.
We didn't, of course. We comforted him, telling him it's alright.
The thought of that still breaks my heart today. A little animal, being obedient, yet helpless. Doggie must have struggled to maintain his pee at night until he couldn't take it any more. Poor guy...
February 9, 2012
True joy
An ordinary day for me goes something like this.
I knock off work at around 7pm, I take the MRT and get home tired at 8pm. I unpack and take a few minutes break before I bring Angel out for a stroll. I cycle her about 2km to the park where she's free to roam around, the route involves some up hills. She likes to be carried a lot and often I have to piggyback her all the way back to where the bike is parked.
By the time we get home it's normally around 9:30pm when I have to give her a quick shower. After a quick break, I finally have my dinner at 10pm. During this time Angel often comes into the room and just generally disturbs me, sometimes I just can't have a simple meal in peace. I wash the plates, play with her for a little while more, then I take my shower.
By now hopefully Angel would be asleep. I can now clear some work emails, yes there are always emails after working hours. Finally, at around 12pm, I can have some free time to spend on my interests.
But I'm so exhausted by now. It's either I go to bed and have some decent rest, or more often than not, I choose to just do what I enjoy doing - catching up on news, socializing online, reading humorous stuff, reading on photography, and working on my photos. Every morning I wake up tired all over again and wondering why I did what I did in the night (morning actually).
Parenthood sucks much?
Not so.
Think about it. When was the last time you were truly happy? When was the last time you felt a genuine smile in your heart and you can't help showing it on your face too? The fact is, I feel this every single day.
True joy for me is waking up in the morning seeing Angel already up sitting on her potty chair reading her books. She knows all the alphabets but she doesn't understand a single word, but you can sense her curiosity and her eagerness to try to make sense of her book.
True joy is hearing her say "bye bye.......... daddy", giving me flying kiss, and waving her hand when I leave for work.
True joy is finally coming home seeing Angel come running and literally jumping into my arms, clinging on to me as I unpack. True joy is seeing the crafts that she made in school, it's seeing genuine excitement on her face when she knows it's time to go for a stroll, and when she runs to fetch her favorite shoes.
True joy is hearing Angel on the backseat of the bike muttering everything that she sees - T for tree, C for car, T for truck, G for grass, M for moon, red means stop no no no, green go go go! True joy is seeing her curiosity as she explores and learns about the great outdoors, and hearing her mad laughter when I piggyback her while jumping.
True joy is hearing Angel say "bye bye park. bye bye bridge. bye bye McDonald's" when we head home, it's hearing her say "home home" when we get home, it's hearing her say "white soap, green shampoo", it's seeing her suddenly pushing the door open and climbing onto my lap as I eat my dinner, it's seeing her in pyjamas holding her little pillow and blanket.
True joy is seeing Angel sleeping, and probably dreaming about her little adventures.
Parenthood is exhausting. Yes.
But this is when I feel the happiest, and most alive.
I knock off work at around 7pm, I take the MRT and get home tired at 8pm. I unpack and take a few minutes break before I bring Angel out for a stroll. I cycle her about 2km to the park where she's free to roam around, the route involves some up hills. She likes to be carried a lot and often I have to piggyback her all the way back to where the bike is parked.
By the time we get home it's normally around 9:30pm when I have to give her a quick shower. After a quick break, I finally have my dinner at 10pm. During this time Angel often comes into the room and just generally disturbs me, sometimes I just can't have a simple meal in peace. I wash the plates, play with her for a little while more, then I take my shower.
By now hopefully Angel would be asleep. I can now clear some work emails, yes there are always emails after working hours. Finally, at around 12pm, I can have some free time to spend on my interests.
But I'm so exhausted by now. It's either I go to bed and have some decent rest, or more often than not, I choose to just do what I enjoy doing - catching up on news, socializing online, reading humorous stuff, reading on photography, and working on my photos. Every morning I wake up tired all over again and wondering why I did what I did in the night (morning actually).
Parenthood sucks much?
Not so.
Think about it. When was the last time you were truly happy? When was the last time you felt a genuine smile in your heart and you can't help showing it on your face too? The fact is, I feel this every single day.
True joy for me is waking up in the morning seeing Angel already up sitting on her potty chair reading her books. She knows all the alphabets but she doesn't understand a single word, but you can sense her curiosity and her eagerness to try to make sense of her book.
True joy is hearing her say "bye bye.......... daddy", giving me flying kiss, and waving her hand when I leave for work.
True joy is finally coming home seeing Angel come running and literally jumping into my arms, clinging on to me as I unpack. True joy is seeing the crafts that she made in school, it's seeing genuine excitement on her face when she knows it's time to go for a stroll, and when she runs to fetch her favorite shoes.
True joy is hearing Angel on the backseat of the bike muttering everything that she sees - T for tree, C for car, T for truck, G for grass, M for moon, red means stop no no no, green go go go! True joy is seeing her curiosity as she explores and learns about the great outdoors, and hearing her mad laughter when I piggyback her while jumping.
True joy is hearing Angel say "bye bye park. bye bye bridge. bye bye McDonald's" when we head home, it's hearing her say "home home" when we get home, it's hearing her say "white soap, green shampoo", it's seeing her suddenly pushing the door open and climbing onto my lap as I eat my dinner, it's seeing her in pyjamas holding her little pillow and blanket.
True joy is seeing Angel sleeping, and probably dreaming about her little adventures.
Parenthood is exhausting. Yes.
But this is when I feel the happiest, and most alive.
February 8, 2012
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)