Clarinet
My daughter joined a clarinet class two weeks ago when I was reading Angela Duckworth's Grit . There are two powerful lessons I take from this book.
First, we need grit but we can quit, as long as we don't quit on a bad day. I still remember signing up my daughter for a music class when she was about three years old. Like a lot of parents (and not necessarily Tiger Mother), I had a secret wish that my girl will commit to music and piano.
First, we need grit but we can quit, as long as we don't quit on a bad day. I still remember signing up my daughter for a music class when she was about three years old. Like a lot of parents (and not necessarily Tiger Mother), I had a secret wish that my girl will commit to music and piano.
Hygge
Today I learned about a recommended book on Goodreads Newsletter titled " The Little Book of Hygge ."
I haven't read the book from Danish author, and had no idea of the foreign word "hygge" before. After a few tabs on search machine, I realized that this mysterious term hygge originated from a Norwegian word, referring to the feeling that comes from seeing a rich variety of colours where other people would just see blue or grey.
Oh, that's something worth exploring, I thought. After
I haven't read the book from Danish author, and had no idea of the foreign word "hygge" before. After a few tabs on search machine, I realized that this mysterious term hygge originated from a Norwegian word, referring to the feeling that comes from seeing a rich variety of colours where other people would just see blue or grey.
Oh, that's something worth exploring, I thought. After
Readers
At a glance, baby's first or child's first is amazing memory to keep.
Changing the first diaper is one example. Ditto for walking the first step, the first day at kindergarten, or the first talent show performance (and probably glitch on stage). I used to think that they're important milestones but I've come to the conclusion that it's the child's last that needs bigger chunk of memory space.
Think about it this way. We've been reading
Changing the first diaper is one example. Ditto for walking the first step, the first day at kindergarten, or the first talent show performance (and probably glitch on stage). I used to think that they're important milestones but I've come to the conclusion that it's the child's last that needs bigger chunk of memory space.
Think about it this way. We've been reading
Year-End Read
Truly Madly Guilty is a good read - not because it's the winning novel of the 2016 Goodreads Choice Awards - but because it's truly good.
The author Liane Moriarty unfolds her page-turning story about three families joining an embarrassing barbecue, creating tension by what one says and what one doesn't say.
After reading a few novels lately I got to thinking about writers as psychoanalysts (Liane Moriarty certainly is one of them) and the knack they need to show us what's
The author Liane Moriarty unfolds her page-turning story about three families joining an embarrassing barbecue, creating tension by what one says and what one doesn't say.
After reading a few novels lately I got to thinking about writers as psychoanalysts (Liane Moriarty certainly is one of them) and the knack they need to show us what's
Time Off
Three kids having break from school. Two adults, from work. Another one taking a half day leave sandwiched between morning and evening duty. (You knew it was me, didn't you?) How did we make the best out of this normal weekday? The children suggested bike ride.
And they did. It's a beautiful ride, beside and under endless trees, along the coastline of Tolo Harbour with mountain view.
By the time I'd finished work at noon, my daughter and her
And they did. It's a beautiful ride, beside and under endless trees, along the coastline of Tolo Harbour with mountain view.
By the time I'd finished work at noon, my daughter and her
Guilt
Watching my daughter grow up is always an enthralling experience, and her getting seven means another big step down the road.
Sevens are delightful to be around, I've been told. That's good news. To give but one example: my seven-year-old girl has a growing interest in homonyms. Making up sentences like "The rock music rocks" is fun and that gives us a sense of what growing up means.
Seven-year-old is mature enough to not just ask about semantics
Sevens are delightful to be around, I've been told. That's good news. To give but one example: my seven-year-old girl has a growing interest in homonyms. Making up sentences like "The rock music rocks" is fun and that gives us a sense of what growing up means.
Seven-year-old is mature enough to not just ask about semantics
Pig
"A children's story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children's story in the slightest."
As trite as the quote by C.S. Lewis has become, it is still true. I enjoy reading children's books with my daughter during breakfast. What did we read this morning? The story Piggybook by Hans Christian Andersen Awards laureate Anthony Browne.
The Piggot family's messy situation in this picture story somewhat reflects my state of mind and, as such, makes
As trite as the quote by C.S. Lewis has become, it is still true. I enjoy reading children's books with my daughter during breakfast. What did we read this morning? The story Piggybook by Hans Christian Andersen Awards laureate Anthony Browne.
The Piggot family's messy situation in this picture story somewhat reflects my state of mind and, as such, makes
Daring
Daring Greatly is another book I've read this month. An inspiring book about difficult emotions like fear and vulnerability.
I found the same formula playing out in my family this week. Fear about surgery. Vulnerable to insecurity. And, oh, question about self-worthiness: me never good enough to have warm pillow talk with my daughter (as what my wife has always been doing perfectly). Me not as eloquent or poised as my six-year-old daughter in expressing love to my wife.
It
I found the same formula playing out in my family this week. Fear about surgery. Vulnerable to insecurity. And, oh, question about self-worthiness: me never good enough to have warm pillow talk with my daughter (as what my wife has always been doing perfectly). Me not as eloquent or poised as my six-year-old daughter in expressing love to my wife.
It
Fear
"Mommy, what if you die?"
That's the opening sentence of the second last chapter of Some Nerve , a book about everyday courage. The subtitle to Patty Chang Anker's book is Lessons Learned While Becoming Brave .
I heard the same question this week, asked by my six-year-old daughter, on the brink of 7.
To Jasmine, who spent the last six months in fear of some large creature eating her mum's leg on the operation table, the surgery meant a
Separation
Nothing grips my heart more than hearing my daughter's muffled sobs this morning, when my wife had to leave for hospital because of a major operation. That's her own operation, not her patient's. My daughter has been praying for mum since we told her the bad news six months ago.
The separation seized her in a difficult moment, the longest since she were born.
To be honest, we're afraid too.
We decided to bring up this issue during the teacher-parent conference
The separation seized her in a difficult moment, the longest since she were born.
To be honest, we're afraid too.
We decided to bring up this issue during the teacher-parent conference