How to give a Gift of Confidence to your children?

What is the best gift you can give to a child? Why Confidence and Self Esteem of course. It will certainly help them in later life. Sometimes even more than ABCs, education and academics will. I have seen many who are really good but because they are not confident, they have been passed on by those lesser ones who are not that good but look so good because they can really talk and are ever so confident.

I would really like to give this gift of confidence to my children but I don't know how. Yesterday I saw my girl's class teacher and again she commented that my girl has no confidence. She can't even stand straight up when talking, the teacher said but then she didn't offer any other suggestions on how we can work together to help her etc. When I tried to ask her more, she didn't have anything further to say.

I am just so not used to these kind of teachers. Previously in the kindergarten, the teachers were very approachable and it was easy to discuss about the kids and their progress with them but I guess in a kindergarten, this is business whereas in a public school, the teachers don't welcome these kinds of discussions. It merely means more work to them for the same pay. So less talk is better for them. Sigh.

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The biggest milestone as a parent so far...

Probably the biggest milestone I encountered in bringing up my "babies" so far is not when they first rolled over, sat up, took their first steps, sprouted their first teeth, first solids, toilet training etc. Those were exciting moments but the biggest moment for me as a mother or parent is when they take their first steps into school.

Not playschool, preschool or kindergarten but "big" school, primary school or whatever it is you choose to call it. This is the time my child grows away from me to experience new things. She has to adjust to an environment away from home, make new friends, deal with peer pressure, the way they do things at school etc.

This poses the biggest challenge to me as a parent so far... How to help my child... How to help my child grow into a warm, confident, kind adult.

Yesterday, my girl's teacher said that my girl is "very no confidence" Now, I am cracking my head on how to help her. How to help her improve her self confidence and self esteem.

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Jealousy and Unfair Treatment

Now that my kids are older, they have begun to voice out when they think they are being given unfair treatment.

As parents, we try to be as fair to them as we can. We love them equally and we also try to treat them equally. I believe that problems between siblings can arise from unfair treatment from parents whether perceived or real.

Here are some instances when the kids actually "voice" out when they think we are being unfair.

1. During a recent holiday, I was very tired when my girl came to wake me up. I yawned and went back to sleep. A moment later, her little brother jumped on me and gave me a cheeky smile. I smiled back at him and the girl said "Mummy, why do you act so excited when you see him but when you see me, you don't?"
2. I am very concerned about how my girl is adjusting in school so I make a lot of effort in talking to her about school. Last night, after I spent more than a few minutes chatting to her about school in bed, her little brother who was beside us suddenly said "Mummy, why you never ask me about my school?"
3. During the end of last year, I spent a lot of time preparing my girl to be mc for her school concert. I also spent a lot of time at the kindy watching her practise and giving her moral support. Her little brother who had just started kindy this year said "Mummy, can you stay and watch my concert? (He thinks that singing the school song in the mornings during assembly is a concert. lol) You always stay and watch cheh cheh."

In a way, it is good that they voice out their unhappiness, it helps me keep a check on our fairness meter at home. :)

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A new friend

I don't have many friends. Whenever the time for festival comes, I would pout and poke my husband on the ribs whenever his phone beeps with yet another sms message. "Its for you, Mr. Popular." I would say. lol. Thats just sour grapes talking because I don't have any sms. I guess if I were still working it would perhaps be different?

However, I do have a few special friends. I think thats better than having lots of acquaintances. Having one friend in a million is better than having a sea of friends who don't really care.

Anyway, I am very happy to have made a new friend. Have you ever met anyone whom you clicked with just like that. Someone whom you can chat with on just about anything for just about any period of time. Someone whom you feel like you have known for a very long time when in fact you have just met? Its wonderful to have a friend like that.

Well, this is my new friend and I hope that you will help to vote for her blog because by doing so, you will be voting for Epilepsy Awareness and helping many people in the process. Thank you.

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A healthy mom is a happy mom

My new year resolution (by default) is to improve my health further by eating well, sleeping well and exercising daily.

I say "by default" because my new routine of having to get up at 6.30am to get the girl ready for school, gives me a half hour free time spot from the time she goes off to school with daddy to the time I have to get the boy ready for kindy.

I will use that time to exercise daily. I will rotate my exercise to aerobic type (good for the heart), toning type (good for the shape which has gone out of shape. Haha.) and stretching type (good for relaxation which is just as important) so that I won't overwork myself. Sounds good? Yes, it sounds good to me and it will be even better if I can keep it up! lol. I've tried it out for a few days now and it feels great. It feels so good to have done my exercises, showered etc before I start off my day. Its wonderful. It takes a bit of discipline but it feels good to be able to do it.

Good exercise will lead to better sleep too. As for food, I will continue to eat less rice and more vegetables and fruits but I still can't seem to keep myself off those crunchy deep friend stuff. Hmm....

Hopefully, in addition to good health benefits, I will get good shape benefits too! Hahaha. At the end of last year, I was trying so hard to lose 5 pounds but instead I gained 5 pounds! Oh bother! Now, I have 10 pounds to lose! I don't eat very much during the weekdays but during weekends I tend to pig out! I have to stop my weekend bingeing. Ok. Now, I've got me another new resolution. Hehe.

Whats your new year resolution?

Other Posts I wrote today:
First Week of School
Countdown to Chinese New Year

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