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SCHOOL STARTS!

Omigosh!  It’s just dawned on me that I had to begin packing Vanessa’s school things for tomorrow’s commencement of school.  There is a massive list to go by that the school has given me and in my head I haven’t planned the traveling arrangements.  There won’t be a school bus available until October, which means until then, we’ll either have to cab it or walk (30 min walk from my house). 

That’s also not my primary concern.  The first day happens to start on a Friday and is only 1.5 hours in length.  It’s designed as such so that the parent (or child giver) can attend school with the child for the first 3 days in gradually extended hours.  I think I’m more nervous than she is.  I am overly protective of my children and I know she will cry when I leave her on day 4 (we’ll see how things fall out as that day approaches). 

I’ve already began mentally prepping her about school.  She has 2 friends who will be attending with her - Kokoro (with whom Vanessa is already familiar with) and Marcus (whom she’s only played with once and probably doesn’t remember).  How much can you prepare your child for school?  I think she is now traumatized about school from art class (I did virtually leave her for an hour which resulted in her crying for the whole hour and we ended up dropping art class).  How do you begin to teach her values of sharing? lining up? play time? ignoring the bully (or standing up for yourself)?  All these various scenarios are running through my head.  Watch, I won’t be able to sleep tonight.
Do you remember when you went to school as a kid?  Quite honestly, I was a shy, introverted and confidence-lacking kid.  I remember many of my classmates in grade 8 would laugh at me because I was Chinese, smart and didn’t wear a bra.  It was only until high school that I finally found a crowd that suited me (ironically all made up of asians) and we brazed through high school causing havok to my parents, but still managing to sustain decent grades to elevate into University.  I don’t think I truly gained confidence until University (damn, that’s a long time) and I think now maybe I have too much!!

I think in the end, I will have to arm her with skills to survive.  Teach her the importance of fair play, teach her empathy and then expose to her a variety of activities that she enjoys and excels at to increase her confidence.  She is a relatively shy child who has a warm-up time of 30 minutes.   In the end, you do your best to provide her with the best and hope that her teachers (whom you are paying) will do the same.   I just hope that this anxiety (on my part) will fade and be replaced with relief and joy when she comes home to show me her drawings or demonstrate how to do a hand stand because I can’t referee all the time.

EWWWW - when you think pollution, I’d imagine a hazy day in Hong Kong where smog is thick and you can’t see across the harbour to Kowloon. But this is NOTHING compared to what’s going on in China.

Click “Pollution in China” to view some crazy photographs of pollution in action.  It’s sad to think that a country as mighty as China is able to eat its own resources and destroy its own land. I’d hate to think what the future generations will have to go through in order to obtain clean drinking water (or breathe clean air for that matter). I have an acquaintance who says that they are opening a new factory to clean steel (or something like that) and when asked if they are expanding, they said “No, we have to close our old factory because the residue of the cleansing process is dumped into the ground and we’ve run out of ground.” These folks grew up in Canada. I am ashamed that they have the right to use a Canadian passport and think that it is OK to pollute the earth because their neighbours in China are also doing it.

I am the average “green” supporter to date.  I will recycle (though it’s not easy in Hong Kong to do so - and I wish they were into composting more) and I will use nylon shopping bags to replace plastic bags when grocery shopping.  I try to promote these values to my children, mainly Vanessa now, to save energy by turning off the air conditioner and the lights when we don’t need to use them (also trying to train my helper in the process).  I don’t donate money to “green” needs because my donation priority is elsewhere.  I don’t agree with building a pollution factory in China so I can get rich and wish some people had half a brain and heart to agree as well. 

You may attribute ignorance and lack of education to not being “green”.  Afterall, maslow’s hierarchy of needs never fails in human survival, but I think many Chinese (and western companies who invest in these Chinese factories) simply ignore education and see the “green” in money instead of the environment.  Pathetic.

In the mornings, I will put Victoria down in her stroller for some play time. I’m sitting across the table, looking and talking to her and she ignores me because she’s so fascinated by the toys around her! Her usual game is to grab either the octopus or turtle and eat them. It’s interesting to watch her play because her personality really begins to stand out through observation. She’s stubborn for sure (much more than her older sister) and definitely more aggressive and vocal. If you take anything away from her, you’re sure to given screams and grunts that won’t end until you give it back or distract her. *SiGH* Another sign that my children are growing up way too fast.

We love meal time, don’t we?  I’ve just started Victoria on solids when she hit 6 months.   We’re currently eating Heinz’s rice cereal (iron fortified), did green beans (hates it) and then bananas (pictured above).  So far, the experience has been received with mixed reactions.  At times, she will open her mouth to eat more and other occasions, her refusal is obvious.  I will just have to keep trying to see what she likes and doesn’t like, you can’t really force or trick her into eating (not yet - lol).

Many of my friends are pretty impressed that I’ve managed to get my 6-month old baby to sleep independently (meaning, no mommy around most of the time - no helper either OK?).  She will be bathed, fed, burped and put down in her cot ALONE and AWAKE and will eventually drift off to sleep.

I am writing this post as a continuation of a previous post “Kids Need Sleep“.  So if you’re new to this post, I’d suggest reading that first to get a better understanding of my very strong position on sleep and children - although the title itself already states it. 

Let me begin by talking about how Vanessa gained independence into sleeping.  She established it completely at the age of 2 years and 3 months.  Some may think that it’s too long, but in all fairness, every child is unique and every parenting method of that child is unique, so because I was the main caregiver and she’s a normally developing child, I will say NO, it wasn’t too long FOR HER.  Because she was the first child and the first grand child (on both sides), I must admit that my inexperience and her grandparents spoilage that we apted to not let her cry too much.  This meant that she had to be rocked to sleep with a pacifier until she was in such a deep sleep that whence putting her down, she wouldn’t stir.  I think many parents go through the problem of putting their child down, only to have them jolt awake and the cycle begins anew.  It got to the point where it would take a good half hour of pacing up and down my hallway until she slept deep enough to be put down.  Then when put down, she would only sleep for 20 minutes and then wake up crying.  My goodness!  I did try cry-it-out, lasting a solid 8 minutes before I broke down and then called my husband home.  Eventually, we migrated to a co-sleeping arrangement that worked much better, but this arrangement won’t last long because of baby #2.  Finally, we got Vanessa into her own room (via accompaniment) and then convinced her we needed to leave the room for various reasons, only to find that she’s fallen asleep.  Perfect.

Victoria, I vowed not to coddle like Vanessa.  For starters, managing two children under the same roof (with different needs) can be very stressful.  So as early as 4 months, I tried a quasi-cry-it-out.  With a steel back and thinning patience, it is a very successful combination.  My cry-it-out isn’t exactly leaving her to cry and checking on her periodically.  My quasi CIO is actually a pacifier version.  Placing her in her cot awake with a pacifier in her mouth.  She would squirm and cry, but eventually take to the pacifier (very quickly too).  The first few instances probably took about 20 minutes of on and off crying and sucking of the pacifier, but it worked.  Consistency is key and at every nap and bed time, we would go through the same routine.  She still isn’t the great pacifier sucker like Vanessa is, but we’ve encouraged her to use it as a sleep aid.  She is now put down on her tummy, pacifier in mouth, baby monitor on and I will leave the room.  As pictured above, I guess she was playing by herself and managed to flip over with pacifier in hand and fell asleep.  Another perfect ending.  The great thing about this method is that anyone can check up on her if the pacifier falls out.  My husband or helper can both lend a hand (and this becomes very useful because sometimes you have Vanessa screaming in the background).  Imagine, trying to console your two year old while trying to put your baby to sleep via rocking - it’s doable I suppose, but at the cost of my sanity.  I’m very happy with the progress of her sleep (and sleeping method) and wish I could have done the same with Vanessa, but you learn as a parent and do what is comfortable for you.  I am not an advocate of CIO simply because my heart isn’t there.  I’m also not an advocate of coddling your children to sleep because it’s not entirely necessary (unless you have the time and patience).  I really fall somewhere in the middle (but lean towards the softer side).  As long as the sleeping methodology works for you and your family and very key, your kids are getting SUFFICIENT sleep (as are you), then all is well.

What is going on with the US economy these days?  Coming across some very interest reads “How To Conceal Massive Economic Collapse” and “Lehman, Treasury, Fed Have Lost Control Of The Game“, you begin to wonder why the US Federal Reserve and the US Government insist that they aren’t in a recession and that the economy will continue to get better?

I, myself am not an economist.  Nor do I have a degree in Economics, much less have taken any economic courses in University, but even with my limited knowledge of economics and the world around me, I am able to conclude that something is very seriously wrong with the US economy.

With the US regulators seizing its 9th bank this year , it is by no surprise that bank failures, a crapped out housing market, debt through the roof, soaring inflation, and increased unemployment (to name a few) have investors on edge.  All the meanwhile the Federal Reserve is tooting their own horn that the economy is recovering, they are not in a recession and trust in the good faith of the goverment to help Fannie and Freddie (who by no means is in any trouble - no sir). 

Boy am I glad that I am not a US taxpayer - or else I’d be eating my own shoes to save my own economy.  Am I a pessimist?  Far from it, I strive to believe in half full glass situations (in which I can demonstrate to my children that situations are always two-sided), but maybe it’s time for US politicians to nib this in the bud and start with a clean slate (for every one’s grand children’s sake).  The snowball has gotten so enormous that it makes Antarctica look minuscule from space. 

The one thing that my parents taught me and surprisingly enough, many Asians in Hong Kong echo the same sentiment is to stay away from debt.  Read this “The Great Consumer Crash of 2009” for a good view on how much debt the US people are in (highly informative, detailed diagrams that scared the bejeebers out of me).  I never carry a credit card debt and you always spend within your means.  Yes, you can get a mortgage and a car loan, but that is the first priority of paying off.  Maybe we are fortunate enough that we have job stability and financial security, but even if we didn’t, I think we would still be OK because you have to budget your survival. 

What’s going now in the US will no doubt have an effect on the rest of the world.  I just hope it doesn’t get to a point where I will need to start counting pennies, cutting coupons, count the pieces of toilet paper I am using and start using Dennis’ t-shirts as reusable diapers.

An interesting find at “Stryde Hax’s Blog“, he’s an internet security specialist who finds things on the internet that isn’t meant to be found!

This newest find is about the Chinese 2-time gold Olympic champion, He Kexin.  In order to qualify for the Olympics, you must turn at least 16 during the year of the Olympics.  He Kexin’s official passports states that she is born in 1992, but based on various documents on the web (that are slowly becoming document that don’t exist), there is a He Kexin born in 1994.  

This controversy is now stirring up an investigation to be launched by the IOC into the validity of their birth dates.  In all truths, I don’t think there should be an age limit at all to qualifying for Olympics.  The Olympics is a celebration of one’s skill in sport and if you’re 14 and managed to kick everyone else’s butt on the uneven bars, you deserve it.  Is the 1992 He Kexin the same as the 1994 He Kexin?  How many He Kexin’s can there be in a country of 1330044605 people (as of mid 2008), and He is a common Chinese last name, there are bound to be duplicate names!

Regardless, if there are official qualifying rules, then athletes (and countries) should abide by them.  Let’s hope for China’s sake that He Kexin really is 16 because she does deserve the medals.

References:

• EpochTimes also ran an article on it
• The Toronto Star 
• TimesOnline

We often visit my sister (Natalie’s mom) and with that comes good times.  Vanessa will see saw between emotions, mainly, crying (because Natalie has touched her) and laughing (playing with toys and throwing things) and more crying (because she’s pushed Natalie and I need to referee her - or give her a time out).  But there comes moments, especially when you’ve got more kids than you can handle that either me or my sister will turn into our alter egos and become “THE SUPER MOM”.  

Definition of THE SUPER MOM is where you’re so entrenched in handling children that you can handle them ALL (at the same time).  The little one is crying (she’s somewhat colic and will begin to rage at 6:00 pm onwards if she isn’t down for bed) so she needs to be slung.  The older two need have to dinner (or else they will morph into goblins) so what better method than to economize and feed them at the same time.  It’s great that they are both on solids so they will share their meals (thus reducing the amount of work SUPER MOMs do).   In addition, you’ve got to monitor Natalie flinging vegetables around the table, Vanessa is playing with her cup of water and mixing it in her soup all the while both are fighting over the new 8 ball that we bought from Toys R Us.

Pee breaks become a race and refereeing the amount of force the kids play together has become an all-time feat.   One eye is ensuring that markers and crayers aren’t meticulously scribbled around the house, while the other eye is ensuring that the children aren’t doing bodily harm to each other.  Although tiring it may be, you begin to enjoy the pleasurable company of the little people around you and can actually have a laugh or two because you’ve (along with your sister) have dotted one of the kids with stickers all over her face.    HAHAHAHAHAHA!

I love giving baths to my children.  Both Victoria and Vanessa are enjoyable to bathe and both love baths!  Vanessa is now into bubbles, so every time we bathe, she needs bubbles (and lots of them too!).  Victoria is still sitting in her little rest net (see pictures above) and we still have a blast bathing.  She will splash and kick her feet and grab on to the net and grin at me with her toothless grin and then we both laugh.  I can’t wait until they are old enough to sit in the bathtub together (probably throw Natalie in for good measure) and then they can all have a good time with their toys and bubbles.  Gosh, it’s great to be kid!

Here’s an interesting blog on Marketwatch.com, “One world, two Internets?” talks about how there is one world, but because of the censorship in China, you get two different Internets.  Meaning, the world sees one version and China sees another (different version).

The part that I find halarious are the comments and I am almost leaning towards those who bash the author.  You talk about censorship, but forget that in broadcasting there is censorship as well.  My mom is asking for me to find some pirated (or legal) copies of the opening ceremony of the Olympics 2008 in Beijing.  “CBC only zoomed in on a girl whose face was full of acne, I never got to see the whole picture.  How come they don’t broadcast the ceremony as a whole?”  She asks.  Hmm, interesting coming from Canada - I thought we were more politically neutral on items such as China - unlike our brothers to the south.  Not only that, but she commented on how they will never play the Chinese national anthem for Chinese olympic medalists.  Interesting…

If you have time, browse through the comments.  Some of these guys are very eloquent writers and are very opinionated about the stance they have.  Yes, maybe China does have very stringent censorship guidelines of their web - hey, even weather is a national secret, but western media themselves have preset guidelines for broadcasting (and publishing) as well. 

The new title for the article should be:  “One world, two Internets and an infinity amount of television”.