Parenting

Everything you want to know about raising happy, confident, healthy children.

A case of premature teenager syndrome

July 17, 2014 By Abel Cheng

If you think you have to wait until 14 or 15 to experience teenager syndrome, think again.

I don’t know about you but for me I don’t need to wait that long to experience cranky behavior from my child. Maybe it’s a case of adolescence comes knocking early.

In recent weeks, my wife and I notice that J (who is now 11) is very short-tempered and sometimes she can get highly emotional. Especially when she hears something that she doesn’t like.

But the problem is the definition of “like” is very subjective and vague. What we think is fine is not fine to her. Whenever she hears something not to her liking (a comment, for example) or against her will, she will start shouting or even crying uncontrollably. [Read more…]

Consumerism penetrates school

July 2, 2014 By Abel Cheng

You see it everywhere. And now schools are not spared.

(I remember we didn’t have such a thing when I was in primary school)

In the name of creating awareness in recycling, a popular home product company dropped by J’s school recently. And of course, they wouldn’t leave without taking some back from the students.

A day before the event, J received a brochure which promoted the company’s products and it’s aptly called Student Set. Again the company promoted the product in the name of creating a better environment.

Don’t get me wrong. I am all in as far as protecting the environment is concerned. But what boggles my mind is an awareness campaign (which is a noble act) is actually a disguised marketing event that helped the company rake in more sales than anything else at the end of the day. [Read more…]

That’s one small step for her, one giant leap for my health

June 26, 2014 By Abel Cheng

I have a confession to make. Up until recently, I was the one who woke J up every morning so that she could prepare herself for school.

In other words, I was her alarm clock. I had to wake up before her and when you get older, it’s no joke to wake up early and it can take a toll on your health. You can’t really get back what you lose from sleep deprivation.

On April 28th this year, I handed over the job back to J and it’s now entirely her own responsibility to wake up in the morning. At the same time, I resigned being a human alarm clock. I free myself from the duty and only act as a backup should J fail to wake up after an intolerable number of snoozes. [Read more…]

What we can learn from a simple lunch box

May 27, 2014 By Abel Cheng

Two hours after J went to school today, only then did I realize she forgot her lunch box. It was packed nicely and the only thing she forgot to do was to put it in her school bag.

Later, K realized her sister’s snack when I was biting into it for breakfast.

He asked, “Hey, that’s sisters’s snack! Why are you eating it?”

“So what should I do instead?” I tested him.

“Send it over to sis.”

I replied, “No. I am not going to do that.” [Read more…]