Weekend dreams — mamawearpapashirt

5 things for your weekend

February 22, 2013 2 Comments

Ahhh…the weekend.

I’m looking forward to rest, play, and bask in the warm sun. Hopefully there is ample and yet cool enough weather. (I am wishful, I know.)

It’s the last few days of Chinese New Year, so here’s hoping that everyone gets to finish off your favourite new year goodies.

This week ahead, me and the man will be celebrating our 5th anniversary. (Gosh. Has it been 5 years already?)

If you find yourself with some minutes on your hands this weekend, you may want to explore some of these ideas / places.

1. Learn how to make a pinwheel (by Lisa Leonard Designs Blog). I tried it and it was fairly simple to do. Now the challenge is to fill up the rest of this rather empty wall with photos and other pretty things.

2. Design your own special lovey-dovey or crazy-funny ziploc bags (by ScissorsPaperStoneBlog)

3. Hoping for a simpler, more fruitful life? Read this post I wrote for World Moms Blog: 7 Ways to a Simpler, More Fruitful Life

4. Check out the new library @ Chinatown. (Heard it stocks a wide selection of Chinese books!)

5. Mull over this quote – Treat people as if they were what they ought to be, and you help them to become what they are capable of being. (Johann von Goethe)

I thought the quote is exceptionally applicable for parents. When we believe in our children and treat them as unique individuals, help them articulate their dreams and give wind to their sails, we help them to become what they are capable of being.

What an awesome thought…

May this weekend be filled with new inspiration for you, new discoveries, and lots of soaking in nature. May there be surprise pockets of time for you to tune in to your heart’s desires. Have a joyful weekend!

Filed Under: Weekend dreams Tagged With: fun, ideas

5 essentials for a perfect weekend

November 16, 2012 18 Comments

Weekends are important to us. We usually try to get it off to a good start by heading out for a nice big brunch on Saturday. Complete with coffee for daddy and mummy. And sometimes a muffin treat for Vera.

Done right, there are lots of laughing, shrieks, and babbling on weekends. But when things go awry, there can be unsightly tears and red noses too.

Here are our top 5 essentials for a perfect weekend.

1. Playground time. Even better if there are swings!

{The above picture was taken on a playdate to the classic choo-choo train playground at Tiong Bahru Park. We had such a lovely time, even I can’t wait to go back!}

2. Cheap home entertainment – such as these coloured ice sticks

{These are easy to make; just mix a few drops of food colouring into water and freeze. Don’t you think they resemble mini light sabres from a certain angle?}

3. Green, open spaces for kids to run wild

{plus friends who are willing to run wild alongside them}

4. Coffee + journal break (for mummy)

{Ahh…I must say that a coffee break and some journalling time, even if it’s just for 10 minutes, never fails to make the day immediately perfect for me.}

5. Water moments

{My babies are water babies. They are game for a splash any time, any day.}

To be honest, if we had any 3 of these on a weekend, it would already make it a very very good one for us.

May your weekend be all-smiles and very-little-tears. May you discover something new about yourselves and your little ones. And may you gets lots of sunshine, greenery and fresh air in your blood, and be rejuvenated for the tasks that lie ahead of you.

What are your essentials for a perfect weekend?

Filed Under: Family, Weekend dreams Tagged With: essentials, perfect weekend

Look!

October 19, 2012 4 Comments

The curiosity of children never fails to put a smile on my lips. Well sometimes they also bring frowns especially when the curiosity brings them to places dirty or dangerous.

Javier is at a particularly curious and touchy-feely stage – everything is explored through touch and taste and grubby fingers. He loves to show off his new finds by stuffing them in your face, eagerly waiting for your eyes to light up and match his own.

The kids’ curiosity is contagious. It affects us all as a family, and nowadays we often find ourselves stooping by water ponds or under big sturdy trees just to check out the creepy-crawlies or big black ants going about their everyday busy business.

They have opened my eyes to a beautiful and different world. My world is bigger now, and I daresay it’s because of them.

Vera and Javier, I pray that your curiosity will grow with the years, and be accompanied by wisdom so that you don’t go poking your noses into places where you shouldn’t go. May you always keep your eyes open, keep asking questions, keep exploring new ideas and insights. May you always ask “why” and never accept an answer that does not satisfy.

Have a curious weekend exploring your neighbourhood, friends!

Filed Under: Learning is fun, Weekend dreams Tagged With: curiosity, explore, kids, outdoor

Loving ideas for your weekend

September 14, 2012 Leave a Comment

It’s the weekend, and I hope you’re in the mood for love. If he’s been busy or stressed out at work, offer to give him a shoulder-rub, brew a pot of your favourite tea and relax over a movie.

If both of you haven’t had the time to sit down and chat, schedule time to do so. Ask him questions: “How are you feeling?” or “How I can love you better?” Or try writing a love letter for him, especially if his love language is words of encouragement. (Even if it’s not, it’s okay. Write him a love letter anyway.)

If things have gotten a little tense in the home, head outdoors for a quiet walk and some fresh air. Let go of the negativity held inside you and fill the void with thoughts of love and hope.

Find a bench or sit by a tree, lean on each other and soak in nature and its peaceful offerings.

Listen to his dreams. Let him in on yours.

Re-discover what first attracted you to him, and him to you. Share these nuggets with each other and giggle if you need to.

Be silly. Do silly things. Be like fools in love.

I hope you make each other your priority this weekend. For once…the kids can wait. For you guys, it’s worth it.

Filed Under: Love & marriage, Weekend dreams Tagged With: ideas, love, love language, weekend

We’re going on a bear hunt this weekend

August 30, 2012 12 Comments

We recently fell in love with We’re Going on a Bear-hunt. The Chinese version. We picked it up from the library one morning and it was Vera’s favourite bedtime book request for many nights after.

A couple of reads later, she could recite most parts of the book, mainly because the text reads with a lovely lyrical rhythm. The sounds of slushing through the river. The scary bear moment. And reversing the entire journey because they had to run away from the bear. It is one magnetic book; all the better that it’s in Chinese because we hardly have any favourite Chinese books.

It’s also fun because during one of our walks at the park, we started to pretend that we were going on a bear-hunt. Vera had delight dancing in her eyes while we were play-acting. What added to the moment was that dear daddy had baby Javier on his shoulders, exactly like the picture on the book cover.

The funny thing is though, we haven’t read the original English version. I’m not sure if our experience with the Chinese one would have been any different if we had, but I’m quite sure the writer who translated it did a good job. Here is an excerpt:

我们要去抓狗熊。

我们要抓一只大大的。

天气这么好，

没什么好怕的！

It’s really simple, yet there’s room for imagination. Or perhaps it’s the simplest books that allow space for imagination to bloom?

What is your favourite Chinese book for children? Please leave a comment to share as I would love to expand on our Chinese bookshelf.

Have a lovely weekend with your loved ones. Run where your imagination takes you. A trip to the library perhaps?

Filed Under: Learning is fun, Weekend dreams Tagged With: Chinese book, fun, imagination, toddler books, We're going on a bear hunt

The gift of time

August 8, 2012 8 Comments

Do you ever feel the need to slow down?

I popped by the Hermes “The Gift of Time” exhibition at the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station last week. It was a small exhibition but meaningful nonetheless. The first room has dozens of squarish frames with words and sayings in English, Chinese and French.

One particular frame caught my eye. It said, “When the Big Wheel stops and you’re in the top cabin.” I could very much relate to this as I went on the Singapore Flyer the day before. The higher our cabin soared, the more jelly-like my legs were, and at the peak, I was totally glued to my seat.

Sand in an hourglass keep falling. The caged bird keeps waiting. The wheels of time continue to turn.

It’s apt that the exhibition was housed at the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station, a place where time seems to have come to a halt. (Though plans for this place are yet to be unveiled, I’m secretly hoping that they will turn it into a rail museum.)

Stepping out from the exhibition and wandering out onto the shrub-overgrown train platforms, I felt like I was in a time warp.

Since becoming a parent, I’ve been feeling like time no longer stands on my side. It rushes by me like a roaring hurricane. Still, I try to guard my time like a hawk. Still, I make time to roll about with the kids. Still, I feel the guilt that weighs whenever I steal some time away to write.

Still, I am content. Thankful for each minute that I have to watch our kids grow. Each hour to invest in close relationships and productive, meaningful work. Thankful for time to be play and explore new places. Time to dream dreams and to take small steps each day towards them. Time to be still and to know the One who holds our days.

Each day that we have is indeed a precious gift.

Tomorrow, the entire nation celebrates its 47th birthday. Some of us might be partying along with thousands of others at the bay and watching fireworks kiss and ruffle the sky. For us, we’ll probably enjoy a quiet dinner with some friends. (Maybe it’s age, but we find it more comfortable to watch the celebrations from a distance.)

For most of us, I believe the long weekend has arrived. May the time be filled with happiness, relaxation and new discoveries of joy for you and yours.

Who will you give the gift of time to this weekend?

“The Gift of Time” exhibition is open until Aug 12, 11am to 9pm, Tanjong Pagar Railway Station, 30 Keppel Road. Free admission.

Filed Under: Weekend dreams Tagged With: gift of time, precious, Tanjong Pagar Railway Station, weekends

Faith, hope and love

July 20, 2012 3 Comments

Here are my favourite photos from last weekend. I call them Faith. Hope. Love.

Last weekend, I felt like I needed a gadget that could freeze time. I watched the kids play, throw caution to the wind, let their hair down, and just lose themselves in play. I watched the hubby play alongside, chasing them, being chased by them, piggy-backing them…We played make-believe, re-enacting the scenes of our current favourite storybook, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt (chinese version).

We watched as the kids romped about at the playground, lost in their own world of exploration and wonder. I looked at the man and he looked at me, and I said “Wow. So this is what life with kids is like.” “Yeah” he replied,”until they grow up that is.”

Trust him to inject a dose of realism into my reverie.

Still, I tried to focus on the present. The simple, carefree present. I tried not to fast-forward into the ever-important school days and its related stresses. I wanted to freeze time, as it is, right here and now.

It’s funny because not too long ago, I remember feeling rather overwhelmed by my weekends. But recently and rather unexpectedly, our weekends have created pockets of relaxation for us.

It might be because of Javier’s newfound freedom of legs and the resultant loss of clinginess. It might be that the brother and sister have found some formula to entertain themselves, without getting into too much trouble. Whatever the cause, I think we’re having a lot more fun now as a family than I can remember in a long while. The baby has also been sleeping better too, which is a big plus and a cause for celebration with some oomphatic chocolate cake.

So the pictures were named Faith. Hope. Love.

Partly to remind myself not to sweat the small things. Partly to remind myself that God gives grace to parents, to cope with the concerns of the here and now, and that we need not worry unduly about the future.

It’s a blessing for parents to find pockets of respite amidst our parenting duties. Pockets of joy and wonder. Pockets of delight.

When that happens, I can’t help but feel like I want to freeze time.

It’s the weekend. I’m looking forward to some swimming, and some dancing with the kids. Here’s to more Faith. Hope. Love.

For you too.

What do you enjoy most about weekends?

*This post is linked up to Photo Heart Fridays at Catch Forty Winks.

Filed Under: Faith, Weekend dreams Tagged With: faith, hope, love, rest

A wonderful weekend awaits

July 7, 2012 Leave a Comment

I was looking forward to a wonderful weekend, so it’s a pity I’m kinda stuck indoors because of an imminent flu. But don’t let me stop you. Go, fly with the wind, bring the kids out and have a ball. It’s the weekend!

As I type, the kids are out at the corridor, chasing bubbles and each other. I should join them soon. Meanwhile, here’s a recap of June. June has been a joyful month, a birthday month (for me), and a funny month. Javier turned 13 months in June, and his cheeky playful self has started to manifest more fully.

He loves the playgrounds, or actually wait, anywhere where he can let loose and run and tumble about. His sister loves to jump on one of these trampoline things, while the poor fella wonders what’s going on.

Here they are, our lovey dovey duo. I love to watch them grow, and admire how the big sister adores and cares for baby bro!

Vera loves to play too, by dancing to music. I like these pics of her, they remind me of Lady Gaga.

We’ve also been painting the house red.

I decided to strip baby boy down to his diapers, so it’s easier to just dump him into the bath when he’s done. Here’s our topless painter.

Isn’t it easier when we simplify things? Strip things to the bare bottom? Until what’s left has got to be the most essential thing? I think staying home puts me in a philosophical mood. I better get out to join them now.

Enjoy the weekend!

Filed Under: Weekend dreams Tagged With: Family, fun, weekend