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The untold benefits of tidying up a home… on a big scale

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tidy home
Photo Credit: Marc Dufour

In the past one month or so, our family was busy doing a major tidying up (it’s not planned that way but coincidentally the timing was just right for the annual Lunar New Year spring cleaning) ever since we moved into this house.

It’s tiring but meaningful and worthwhile.

Even though there are still minor areas we need to clean up, it’s not too early for me to reap the benefits of a clutter-free home.

The principles outlined in the book “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing” fit nicely in the concept of what a minimalist home should be. [Read more…]

ParentWonder has a new look!

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Screen Shot 2015-02-12 at 2.27.34 PM

In the previous post, I shared with you about a huge project of tidying up my home that I am still embarking on.

The result?

A clutter-free, spacious home that I really like. So do my wife, J and K.

This is not the end. I continue with the cleaning spree and it has now spread to my blog: ParentWonder.

Yep, you guessed it right. I “tidy up” the website by removing the unnecessary designs, buttons, links, graphics, and everything else I deem would create distraction on the website.

Once again, the result? [Read more…]

Learning this simple concept could make your home tidy

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Tidying Up
Photo Credit: Nathaniel Rosa

All this while I have been dreaming having a minimalist house. That is, as simple as possible, for everything.

I want the house to be clutter-free with clean, simple look. To have the home stuffed with furniture and lamps and decorative items (and toys!) is the least that I want.

Funnily, having a simple house is not simple. And I have been putting off this dream until now.

Not that I am lazy to go after it but I don’t know how to begin.

As luck would have it, I think I have found the formula to having a tidy home. I have tested it with some of the items and I am very glad with the results. [Read more…]

How to handle unfairness between siblings fairly

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unfairness in children
Photo Credit: Sharon Mollerus

It’s too long. I can’t remember when was the first time J and K started to argue over what’s fair and what’s not. It’s as old as history.

I only know that lately their quarrels, sometimes even over tiny things, intensify to a level that I can’t stand anymore. They happen too often and over things that are getting smaller.

They try to uphold fairness in almost everything. If one party has not done something equally, the other party will start complaining. Oftentimes, this leads to unhappiness in all.

“It’s time for me to use the bathroom downstairs.”

“I do dishes more than you do. It’s your time.”

“This time you put away the toys. I did it the last time.”

“It’s your turn to wipe the table.” [Read more…]

How I reward my children with a twist

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Reward children
Photo credit: bricolage 108

I don’t do what most parents do. In fact, I do it the other way around. Sometimes, I don’t do it at all.

I am talking about giving rewards to children. Especially when it comes to motivating your child to achieve academic excellence.

(There are reasons why I don’t do it. To know more, read this past article:
http://www.parentwonder.com/how-not-to-motivate-your-child-during-exams/ )

I don’t motivate J and K with rewards to bribe for good results. I tell them to do the best they can. And to do it out their own motivation and willingness – at least not for some new, shiny toys.

This time is different. Even though I didn’t promise them rewards before the exams, we decided to reward them for their good results. [Read more…]