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Johor Road Trip: Legoland Malaysia, Food and More…

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Legoland Hotel Malaysia

It’s been months since we made the trip. Coming to 9 months to be exact. My bad. I know I have been sitting on it until now before I took the effort to post the story about our Johor trip here. Anyway, better late than never, right?

Since my wife was busy with work, we couldn’t go overseas but decided to take a local road trip to Johor for the year end holiday in 2013. Johor is chosen because it’s the most unexplored state for us.

Needless to say, among other attractions, Legoland Malaysia is the highlight of the trip. [Read more…]

Key to overcoming shyness in children

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Shyness
Photo Credit: Umberto Salvagnin

I didn’t expect this to happen so soon. Especially judging from the introvert nature of J.

When she was much younger, J needed much time to get along and socialize with someone she had not seen before. Betting her to go crazy playing with someone she hardly knew would have left you shirtless.

All these and more have changed. I am not saying that she is highly sociable now but she’s at least much better than before. [Read more…]

A case of premature teenager syndrome

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Teenagers
Photo Credit: Alex Proimos

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

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Tupperware
Photo Credit: RageZ

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

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Alarm Clock
Photo Credit: VOFAN

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…]