First Magazine Feature

About two months ago, I received an email asking if I would be interested to do an email interview that will be featured in the June issue of Motherhood Magazine. I took it up! The tough part wasn't actually answering the questions but to find a high resolution photograph of me and Miley! Photos taken with our mobile phones wouldn't be good enough for print and the only time we use a proper camera is usually during travel but then I'm usually the one behind the camera. And all parents would know how difficult it is to get a good shot with children, plus it had to be a recent picture, so that was really tough. Fortunately, there was that ONE SHOT taken at the breakfast table in Maldives!

Very excited when I got my hands on the magazine although it was only a small feature (on page 113). They had shorten my answers for print and here's the original version.

How would you describe your parenting approach/philosophy?

Not trying to be more then just parents. As parents, our duty is to protect and provide for them but not to live their lifes for them. Let them choose what they want to do by exposing them to as many options and guiding them in the positive direction with an open mind. When they grow older, let them experience life and the difficulties they may face will only allow them to learn better about themselves and eventually live the life they want to live.

Before and after fatherhood: how has being a dad changed you?

I'm still the same me except that most of my free time is now spent with my daughter. Before becoming a dad, my wife and I wouldn't mind spending our weekends doing nothing at home.  Now with a kid, we go out more often either to the outdoor for fresh air or just anywhere that we could engage in family activities together.

What is the biggest challenge you face as a dad, and how do you overcome it?

The biggest challenge is to overcome the guilt in me when I occasionally choose to go out with friends for dinner and catchup instead of rushing home to company my daughter after work. I just have to tell myself that it’s ok and everyone deserves a break. I don’t want to grow old with a happy family to only find out that I have lost all my friends.

What is the most rewarding thing about being a dad?

To have someone point her little finger at you and call you “Daddy” with a wide smile every time she sees you.

Please share an oft-overlooked/underrated tip/advice for other dads.

Daddy does matters and plays an important part in a child’s development, especially if you have a daughter. Studies have shown that girls would tend seek daddies for comfort and assurance from toddler up to their teenage years. Those who receive would grow up to become more confident with higher self-esteem. Do not think that comforting girls is a mummy’s job.

Since then I kept reminding myself to pass over the camera and here's another nice picture to end this post, taken during our China trip. Tag #prouddad #jealousmum

Dear Dad ~ Our Holiday to China

For Father's Day, the Daddy Matters Group posted a writing challenge for us to imagine what our kids might really say to us if they were to write a letter to their father. This is what I imagine Miley might say to me about our recent holiday to China.

~~~

Dear Dar-di

Ghnn-Ah! Ghnn-Ah! Ghnn-Ah! (the sound I make when I am Happy!) I really enjoyed the nine days China holiday to Shanghai, Hangzhou and Beijing with you, Mama, Ah-Ma and Tai-Ma! If it wasn't the last minute decision to bring me, the 四代同堂 (four generation) travel wouldn't have happened! I know bringing an 18th month old along meant less freedom but more concerns, less chances for shopping but more things to carry, less photos of you and Mama but more photos of me and us! But hey, I know I brought everyone lots of joy! And for you, the priority boarding on flights and trains which you appreciate most!

四代同堂 (Dar-di, Mama,  Me, Ah-Ma and Tai-Ma) at 万里长城 

Thank you for waking up earlier everyday to cook for me. I love the food especially the macaroni! I also like the porridge you prepared on alternate days but macaroni is still my favorite cos they are chewy like gummies! They taste as good as those that Nai-Nai would cook for me at home in Singapore. Nai-Nai is so smart to had prepared the Ikan Bilis broth and froze them into daily portions it so that you could bring them to cook in the apartments. Yumz....

My favorite macaroni cooked in ikan bilis broth

So yummy..... :P

Speaking of the apartments, I love how spacious they are! You made a great choice for booking us in two-bedroom apartment so that I can play high-and-seek with Ah-Ma and Tai-Mah everyday! Especially love the bath tubs! I miss pom-pom (bath) there!

Squeaky clean me wrapped in an oversized hotel bathrobe

Mama carrying me! 老背少

And Dar-di carries the bag pack!

While Mama carries me most of the time, you were responsible for packing and carrying the huge bag pack everyday that contains all the goodies to pacify me! Among all, what I care most is the iPad! iPad! iPad! I know this is your last resort only if all else fails and you know I would stop crying immediately at the sight of it no matter how cranky I was. Oh and please remember to charge it next time when you bring it out and stop telling me that there is no battery every time I ask for it! I know you can't be that forgetful!

Things in the bag pack:
Container for my lunch, Warmer bag with two bottles of milk, Sun hat, Sunscreen, Fan, Carrier cloth
Water bottles, Diapers, Change of clothes, Diaper changing mat, Sweaters of Dar-di, Mama and me
Maps and itineraries, Tissue paper, Wet tissue, Plastic bag, Hand sanitizer, Mint sweets, Snack container, Recycle bag, Snack bag, iPad!

My Snack Bag: Juice! Raisins! Stickers! Biscuits! Paper and pen for draw draw....

Stickers keeps le me occupied!

I like how you and Mama put in extra effort to dress me up everyday and here are some of my favorites....

le me in a pink samfu with embroidery at the Forbidden City

le me in a red dress with little pink parasol at the Great Wall of China

le me looking stylish at the Peace Hotel in Shanghai

Sorry that I had to take my naps twice a day. So you and mummy had to carry me in your arms while sight seeing. Subconsciously I could hear you begging Mama to take over cos I was too heavy (12kg). LOL! Mama is stronger then you cos she has been training with carrying her own handbags and shopping bags while I know you go to work empty handled. :P

le me Zzzz at the Bund

le me Zzzz at the Forbidden City

le me Zzzz on the cable car to the Great Wall of China

le me Zzzz at the Oriental Pearl Tower

When I'm awake and fully charged, these were my most memorable moments.....

le me saying Hi to the cats in a cafe at 田子坊 in Shanghai

le me trying local food such as 面茶 in Beijing

le me strolling at the quaint 南锣鼓巷 in Beijing

le me touching the cooling spring water at 灵隐寺 in Hangzhou

le me being photographed by strangers at 万里长城 in Beijing

le me meeting Doraemon at 新天地 in Shanghai

le me enjoying the breeze and captivated by the lights at 外滩 in Shanghai

le me being uncooperative when it comes to phototaking

le me the Queen in da house!

le me bidding goodbye to a fish at a restaurant along the food street at 河坊街 in Hangzhou

le me knowing 嘉南哥哥 (Mama's friend who drove us around Beijing for two days

And of cos, le me playing with the iPad!

Ahhhhh.... it was so much fun! So Dar-di, where are we going next?

Love, 

Your dotter Miley

Miley goes to School

Miley's uniform with her name and initial hand sewn by Mummy

Today marks the beginning of an exciting chapter..... Miley goes to school! We actually signed up for this Playgroup meant for 18th months old when she was only 6 months old. Not because we were kiasu parents but because we heard many horrid stories of long queue numbers where one had to queue for years! We ended up being the first to sign up for her batch, nonetheless, one item off the checklist.

Daddy and Mummy deliberately took leave to witness her big day! We woke up at 730am to get ourselves ready and to pack her barang barang. Daddy laid everything out on the floor for inspection!  ALL CHECKED!

From top left to bottom right: Spare home clothes / Towel and hanky / Water bottle, milk bottles and milk powder / Extra set of uniform / Toothbrush, cup and comb / Pouch with hair clips and hair rubber bands / Plastic bags for dirty clothes / Diapers.

We have been preping her for this day from the last couple of days. Been telling her that she's going to school and that she will be making lots of new friends and will be having so much fun. Mummy also asked her to be a good girl but if any kid bullies her she must tell the teacher.... Hahha. All in the hope that she will adapt well.

Miley woke up at 815am. Had a quick wash up, change of clothes and a bottle of milk for breakfast. And of cos photo taking session in her uniform before leaving the house! She looks like a big girl now!

Looking bright and cheery!

Not forgetting the back of her uniform!

We picked Cherie Hearts @ NorthStar simply because it is only 5 minutes drive from home. 奶奶 drove us there this morning and will be fetching her to school every morning from now on. Curriculum starts at 7am but we wanted to take it easy and let her start only at 9am when learning "officially" starts.  We didn't want to rush anyone in the family either.

Arrived just before 9am and we were soon introduced to her Form teacher and her Chinese teacher. The teacher student ration seems to be 1:5. There are only two Playgroups in the center and each group consists of 10 students. The teachers were very friendly and we settled in very quickly. 

The center occupied 3 units on the ground floor

Immediately felt so welcomed when we saw Miley's name in the shoe rack!

The interior with a rather large playground with lots of natural light

Miley's clean and neat classroom

The center made an exception on the first day for both parents to accompany. Usually only one parent is allowed on the first three days. Nevertheless, I let Mummy accompany her most of the time while I stayed behind the scene to take photos. Miley acted a little shy at first but quickly warmed up to the new environment, especially the play ground!

Curious kids from the kindergarden class came over to "see" the new student

What better way to warm up then BUBBLES!

Cho-cho train back to the class!

Drink water time!

Notice Mummy is missing from the scene? We try to move away whenever she's occupied. She tend to forget when she's enjoying herself.

Hiding and observing her from behind the low wall

We sneaked out at about 1030am for food and returned at about 12noon to check on her. Teacher says that she did well and only cried for a while during bath time. She also had some porridge and snacks. Happy to see us, she pulled Mummy to play with her.

Saying 'Hi' to Daddy from her favorite playhouse with Mummy

Fun with hats!

Reading time before nap

That's when she started fighting sleep. All the kids fell asleep after milk at about 1pm but she didn't. She just wanted to play, probably cos we were around. With soothing music playing in the air and the unoccupied comfy mattress, how we wished that we could take her place to catch some sleep! She finally fell asleep at about 220pm. That's when we left for home to rest.

Went to picked her up at about 5pm with 爷爷 and saw her crying when we entered. She must have really missed us. Teacher says that she did well in the afternoon too. Woke up at 315pm, had a bun for snack and played "Parashute". Cried a little but was fine after a while. We are so proud of her!! :D

Rewarded her with raisins for a good first day in school!

Now that her first day is out of the way, I feel relieved that everything went well. Fingers crossed that the next few days will be as smooth and Mummy will be accompanying her. Seeing her in uniform makes me realize that she has grown up so much. Now that she has moved on to the next chapter, we will soon miss her toddler days. She will soon start to speak and talk back at us! Oh no... am I thinking too much?

Bilingual packing list on our fridge. It's a big family affair!