Fixing me & my hubby's "production defects"

I've been delaying my 2 elder kids' request on dental braces for quite some time. Last week, I finally decided to take them to a dentist to fix the so-called "me & my hubby's production defects".

After having the x-ray & mould done, I had a discussion with the dentist on the treatment plans.

The dentist also listed down the risks below:

• Discomfort after the appliance adjust
• Decalcification related to poor oral hygiene
• Pulp degeneration in previously traumatized teeth
• Root resorption especially on anterior maxilla teeth
• Return of the teeth toward initial position
• TMJ problem
• Variation in estimated time

Being a mother, I'm very concerned about the risks, such as the discomfort and ulcers especially during the initial stage, and tooth decay if my kids fail to brush their teeth properly etc. Hence, I had a long discussion with the dentist on that matter. After I'm done, I turned to my son and asked whether he had anything to add on, just in case I've overlooked on something important that he could foresee.

The only question he had for the dentist was ...

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.

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" Can I have coloured braces?"

hmmmp....

Only sissy plays piano!

My son used to HATE playing piano. It’s especially intense when he was in standard 6 & during the first few months of form 1. He would say, “Most of my friends (boy) have stopped learning piano. Those who’re still learning are forced by their mothers…only sissy plays piano…” Once he even used his epee to poke the piano as if it was a big black monster!

A piano teacher told me a boy came to her piano lesson with a “pouting mouth”. She later found out that poor boy’s classmate was calling him “sissy…sissy…” after knowing he was going to attend piano lesson after school.

My new Yamaha piano to replace the 30 year old Kawai piano.

Even so, I know my son loves music and he’s a fast learner. But due to peer pressure and being a young boy at that time, he’s lazy & impatient to sit still and practice.

Fortunately I didn’t give up on him (I nearly did)& he didn't quit. Since the middle of last year, he started to change & fell in love with this wonderful musical instrument. Today, he’s motivated to play, just like his 2 younger sisters. Apart from the ABRSM lessons, they're very eager to download & play pop songs piano sheets from the internet. In fact, I think my son is the one who has positively influenced his sisters.

He requested a keyboard in his room. It's a good way to relax after doing some school work. Sometimes his friends will come over with electric guitars for their band practice. I told him keyboard is like a mini pool with jacuzzi, but piano is the olympic size swimming pool.

When I was young, I loved playing Richard Clayderman song. Now my kids adore Bruno Mars...

Instead of reading piano scores, sometimes they'll use this non-conventional way.

My son used to play like chasing a bullet train, but now he plays with expression. And best of all, he has finally realized that playing piano is not sissy but cool.

Toilet Paper Roll Halloween Beauties etc...

My 2 girls had a great time last weekend creating halloween related characters with toilet paper rolls.

TH's toilet paper roll beauties with a 36-36-36 (unit??) figure

TZ was a hawaiian girl last halloween

I rented a Wonder Woman costume for TH on halloween last year.

No one has dressed as the red indian girl...yet.

The sisters' creations.

TZ's creation. She named it "the Recycle Monster".

TH's scary nurse.

TH's peace loving hippie.

I love this pirate! Hey, I dressed up as one last year!

Time flies. These 6 monsters were created 2 years ago. They deserve to be out of the box on halloween season every year.

Hmm... what should I be this year?? Still cracking my head...

Maybe I just dress up as a toilet paper roll...

Well done, son!

I've never heard of UNSW Global before my son told me he wanted to take part in an assessment offered by Education Assessment Australia (EAA), a wholly owned enterprise of the University of New South Wales.

In view that he's in a public school, I encouraged him to take the assessment in order to compare his standards with students from various types of school.

I am indeed happy with his result. He scored a distinction which stated that his English writing is "better than 96 per cent of Form 2 students in Malaysia". The areas which he didn't do well were highlighted behind the result slip. Oh ya, a certificate is given too!

Since young my son was an avid reader. He has a flair for language & good in Bahasa Malaysia too. Now I wish he can put in more effort in his Chinese subject which I "force" him to continue studying. Son, I'm very sure you can do it if you put in more effort!

Her way to avoid punishment

According to my 9 yr old daughter, her Chinese subject teacher is extremely strict. He's very particular about getting things right. Those who do not write nicely, or wrongly count the strokes of the Chinese characters will be punished. Initially she was very worried about it.

So far, my little girl was only punished once & that was many months ago. I wonder how she can get away with it because I'm sure it's hard for kids not to make mistakes from time to time.

She told me, "Because I distract him with what I wrote."

Being curious, I checked her exercise book. I was truly very impressed with what I saw & wonder where she got the idea from.

(click to enlarge)

Her note to the teacher:

"Note: I think you said 承is 7 畫 when we're discussing 生字，but 筆順says it's 8畫。It's different! I don't know which is right! If my 生字wrong then I'll get punished, and if my 筆順wrong I will get punished too!"

** "生字" is another exercise book for students to write new words

**"筆順" is the exercise book shown above

WOW! What a brave and clever girl who dares to speak up!

And guess what's her very serious and strict teacher's response...

He gave her an "A", plus a remarks - "I'll find out. Don't worry!". Oh ya, it comes with a cute smiley face too! *wink*

Since than, she will "distract" her teacher with questions such as the followings:

My daughter : "Is it good?"

Her teacher : "not bad" + "A"

My daughter : "Is it OK? Best Writing Critic?"

OMG! "Best Writing Critic"??!! I'm afraid she has got carried away. Her teacher may find her impolite even though she was just trying to be funny.

Her teacher gave her an "A" but without any additional remarks.

I told her not to overdo it. However, I do praise her for having the courage to ask and fight for her right. Luckily she has a strict but understanding teacher :-)

Why is dad the only one who can read the newspaper??!!

My youngest daughter showed me her essay paper. She wrote 4 paragraphs based on picture sequence and keywords given.

(click to enlarge)

Based on Picture 2 and keywords : 人山人海 crowded/jam-packed with people ，迫不及待 can't wait，換泳衣 change to swimwear，拾貝殼 pick seashell

She wrote : "That place was very crowded. We're very excited. My brother and I couldn't wait to change into our swimwear. We plunged into the water and played happily. My sister picked various type of seashells. My mother was listening to music and reading newspaper under a big tree."

I'm happy that my daughter was creative and added in her own thoughts and sentences, especially about ME listening to music and reading paper.

Unfortunately, the word "Mother" was circled by her male teacher, and he wrote "father?"

Why??!!!!! Don't mothers have the right to read newspaper and listen to music too??!!!

What a discrimination!!!!

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My friend holds a high post in the corporate world but at home he's a dedicated father and husband. He loves to cook for his family on weekends. So, it's not surprising that his daughter wrote "爸爸在煮飯，媽媽在看報紙。” (Daddy is cooking, and mommy is reading the newspaper.) His wife is a corporate lady.

Oh ya, even my friend's mom praised him (in front of me & his wife ) ,"他入得廚房，出得廳堂。" Usually this is used to praise a WOMAN who's very good in running the household and also very presentable & capable.

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Hello teacher, the world has changed :-)

The not so fun part of childhood...

Tomorrow is the last day of UPSR. I know my daughter can't wait for it to end (and so do I).

She loves to draw & read story books but sometimes spends too much time on those activities instead of preparing for this "important" exam. I know at times she's frustrated when I nag her to study.

The following are extracted from her drawing book (with her permission).