Back To Housewife Role
Well, since I started work, haven't really been doing major housekeeping.
This morning, started with my first task, ie. clear my desk. So many school things just pile and pile (guess nurul knows what I mean).
Anyway, I am glad I still can work through the organised mess. Easy for me to locate my teaching stuff still. So now, as the year comes to an end, I am suppose to clear this and keep away. Till I teach Nursery again, or when my colleagues ask to use them for their 2006 Nursery students.
Yet, my nose is feeling the itch already. sigh sigh ....
Laundry waiting, and other things waiting.
It is so funny. When I was single and childless, the only thing I did was eat and sleep during my school hols, if not, it will be out with friends, tuition or back to school. Now, strangely, will do all these chores, no wonder they are called chores, hahahaha ..... :)
Ok, well one at a time, I guess.
Brb, kids, againnnnnnn ............. "Mummy, see............"
Love,
Jesselyn
Disney Theme Songs - Down Memory Lanes
I remember growing up with Beauty and The Beast, Aladdin, Pocahontas, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderalla, The Little Mermaid, etc.
I remember staging musicals with these theme songs with my K2 Graduands. I remember all these fondly. And because of these songs, my K2 children were always in party dresses and three piece suits. :) I cannot express adequately in words how much all these memories mean to me. The sad thing is that all the Concert items were then in Video Recording Technology and all the Video Tapes I have are now mouldy. Getting them demould and transfer to VCD form will cost a bomb.
Anyway, just to share a little pleasant treat I gave myself this morning.
I went to the market to get breakfast and lunch for my family. Well, it is raining in the morning, gotta stock up food in case we are stuck at home. :)
I passed by the Provision Shop (such a rare sight nowadays), esp in the new estates. And I saw a Disney Princess CD collection. What caught my eye is that it is priced at $5 !!!!!!!! Original, no kidding. There is the original CD sticker!!
Ok grab and ... now "savouring" every song. :). Plus all lyrics in, in a booklet, all for $5. Worth it, right?
As each song is played on my PC media player, it really brings lots of great memories back and I try to count on the years. I realise that the batch of students who danced "Beauty and The Beast" are already in JC/ Poly! The Aladdin's group will be sitting for "O" Levels, and oh mine, I am so old ....... :(
Just sharing.
Thanks for reading.
Guess today, will be just hearing these songs.
And oh yes, btw, I think Zoe has an ear for music. She seems to be able to sing any song from CD / VCD even she only heard the songs twice. She has been singing "Sound of Music".... hmmmm .... my genes ? hahaha , just kidding. I am not that fast in catching music, tunes and lyrics. Her Principal said to me during her concert night that it is a talent. She actually picked Zoe to sing a solo part for her item, but during rehearsal week, they decided to cut off this part, as Zoe seemed overwhelmed by the task and she preferred to sing with her classmates. :)). What a compliment. :) And blessing.
Love,
Jesselyn
2nd Day Of The School Holiday
School Holiday finally started. Today is day 2. So happy to feel so relaxed.Yesterday was a sah day. Had a good time resting.Today, met up with Julie and Rosalind. They are good company to have. Zoe likes them too. Zoe had been most patient. She lasted through the 2+ hr brunch. :)Zoe had a great time at Garage. She met her best friend, Ethan. Both of them really clicks very well. Even Adeline said that they play best together. Zoe said to Ethan on her own accord, "See you again, Ethan." Yap, yap, mummy will make effort for you to play with Ethan, even if it means travelling 1+ hr to get to his house or a $10+ taxi trip. :) Ethan is great company to have. Ethan's mummy too ! :)Somehow, I know, I miss Delci a lot. We'll make time, I'm sure. Her homeschooling for this year is coming to an end. If only we stay nearer to each other. :)Tomorrow is Day 3. What shall I do with the children? Take them out, maybe? It has been a long while since I brought both out. Praying the weather will be lovely. Amen. :)Love,Jesselyn
Finally, The End !
Today is the first day I felt so relaxed in school.
Tonight is the first night I am feeling so relaxed.
No more school work to do.
No more planning to do.
No more anything to do.
It is time for a rest.
I am glad I have had a great year with my Nursery Two children.
I am so happy to see them mature and all ready to go on to Kindergarten One.
They are even talking about it among themselves.
They have came a long way. Each one of them, I must say.
It is my first year teaching Nursery after a long stretch of a decade with the K2s.
It is indeed a very different experience.
A lot of expectations have to scale down.
I am glad I am first a mummy to two little Zs, before I teach the Nursery children.
Motherhood gives me added advantage.
Well, at the very least, I can attend to their messy needs more efficiently and patiently. :)
I am happy to say that I have enjoyed this year of teaching.
Thank You, Lord, for Galilee Kindergarten.
Thank You, for good bosses.
Thank You, for wonderful colleagues.
Thank You, for everything.
Amen.
Love,
Jesselyn Ng
"In everything, give thanks."
Training with eyes
"Train up a child in the way he should go,and when he is old,he will not depart from it."- Proverbs 22:6"Provoke not children to wrath:but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."- Ephesians 6:4"I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way thou shalt go:I will guide thee with Mine eye."- Psalm 32:8A mother shared a very beautiful thought about this verse in Psalm 32.She shared how a husband and wife can look across the room to each other and give a message to each other by the way they look with their eyes.In the same way, we should teach our children such obedience that we can look at them with our eyes and they will know what we want them to do by certain eye contact we have with them. We should not have to shout at them to get their attention, but we should be able to direct them with our eye. This is how God seeks to guide us....................................................This is a very blessed portion of notes I read for my online Motherhood Bible Study.How true it is. This paragraph and verses bring me back to the early teaching days when the eyes did all the speaking. I must go back this path and do the same again, esp. with my very own children. :)Thank You, Lord, for this reminder.And help me to look up into Your eyes, rather than keeping my eyes on other things or downcast, such that I cannot see what You are trying to guide me through Your eyes.This I pray in Your Son, Jesus Christ's most precious Name.Amen.Jesselyn Ng
Be Ye Kind
I really feel that this thought on being kind, even to little children, comes straight from the heartbeat of God. God wants us to treat the little children with respect and kindness. Of course we must teach them, correct them, train them and discipline them, but we must be kind.But Jesus called unto them and said, "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.Verily, I say unto you,Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little childshall in no wise enter there in."- Luke 18:16 & 17 (KJV)How many times do we push our children away for various reasons? Because we want some "spiritual" time? Yet Jesus himself, interrupted his sermon to take time to cuddle small children!How many times do we snap at our children and the tone of our voice is so ugly. We would never dream of speaking that way to another adult or even a stranger, so why is it ok to treat children in such a manner? It's not. They are not our property that we can treat any way we please. They have feelings. They need to feel valued and important. We must take care that we do not lose our children's hearts. Unkind words and actions will drive their hearts far from us. "And be ye kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. "- Ephesians 4:32 (KJV)We may be the only Jesus some kids will ever see. What kind of portrait of God are we painting? What will they grow up and remember about your Jesus? Will they remember that we didn't have time for them, to listen to their stories, to answer their questions? That they weren't important? Will they remember that we were always hasty and sharp. Or will they feel the love of God in your tender voice and your gentle touch?"Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence."- 1 John 3:18-19 (NIV)We not only need to talk the talk, but we must walk the walk, lest we be a stumbling block to these precious little souls. Let us walk in truth, sowing seeds of truth in our children's hearts. There is nothing more important than that ourchildren walk in truth.I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. - 3 John 1:4(KJV)Thank You, Lord, for the precious little ones You have blessed me with.My two little lambs and for the students under my care. Thank You, Lord, that You see that I can be a good gift to them all. I am truly humbled by this revelation and task. Let me be a useful vessel and a faithful proclaimer of Your Word. Amen.Love,Jesselyn Ng
It is Tough when you are different
Shared this some time ago in another group.
Just "pulled" out this thread of discussion, to remind myself where I came from and why I am going where I am going in this area.
It is Sunday Morning again.
Time for Church.
Both senior and junior church.
If St John's Chapel is a good fit, we will stay.
If the culture there is no different from where I grew up in or the people are the same kind of species? The search continues.
Like what I have shared with a colleague who grew up spiritually with A/G too, I hope to relate with Christians who are kinder in words and acts (including body languages), not just deeds.
......................................................................................
Subject : What if our children are lovingly special?
I do follow the thread of discussion on "Problems with Churches" faithfully.
I can understand the anguish and frustration we all feel when other people do not understand, and even throw our children and us disgusting looks.
In the context of church, I myself have my fair share. My first reaction to any rude look or comment to my child's behaviour is usually to "give it to that person", whether it is from a child or an adult (pastors included).
However, I have learnt this lesson in a very hard way.
Somehow, as Christians, we ourselves do have higher and hidden expectations of and from fellow Christians. And if we are carried away, we question God why HIS people behave like that also?
I have learnt to drop this expectation into the toilet bowl and flushed it down the pipes. Having this expectation will make me a more bitter person through time. I've learnt and still learning, to cope with it.
Our children are as special as any other normal children.
Our children are also sensitive to acceptance and rejection.
Our children will react big time over rejection and meanness.
I've learnt to always look at my daughter and teach her to learn and to cope with all kinds of scenarios. I must be diligent in teaching her these kind of life skills.
My dd doesn't like Sunday School since the very beginning. She resists big time. Through a lot of prayer and "practise" (meaning put her in many different settings whereby she is with other children, wearing home clothes, with one teacher and mummy wun't be in the class), I tried again in July 2005. Thankfully, she accepted it well.
The first friend the sunday school teacher tried introducing to my dd said a "NO" in front of me and my dd, when the teacher asked her, "Can you be Zoe's friend and take care of her today?" Ha !
And when the teacher is not looking, that girl walked far away from my dd. My heart broke, I held back my tears. Nevermind, I told myself, my girl can survive this. I held my girl's hand, brought her into the class, ushered her to sit at a big space and assured her God loves her just as she is and mummy loves her too. I standby outside the class, just in case, I can hear her scream.
I've learnt ....... a painful lesson ........ but together with my little, precious one.
Nevermind how others will react. That is their problem. They are accountable. At the end of the day, they will be ashamed of their attitudes towards our children and us. They may even be asked "why" by our Lord.
At the end of the day, I believe God receives our children into His arms with utmost gladness and joy. God gives good gifts to all of us. We may always think God gives us our children. I believe wholeheartedly too that God give us (the good gifts) to our children. I am glad and blessed that I am my dd's mummy. Through her life and learning together with her, I am a much better person than I was before I had her.
I've learnt the lesson on Grace big time. I've learnt to be gracious, the hard way.
I've learnt not to behave the same way as those self-righteous, selfish and lack of understanding people.
I've learnt to enjoy all aspects of specialness in my child, regardless what.
My job is to help her learn, re-learn, un-learn and grow along the way. My job is to protect and love. My job is also to cry with her.
Each parent who shared on this thread, I prayed a prayer for you. I ask for the overflowing love and comfort of God to flood your heart, to renew and refresh your inner man. To see the lovely sides of life once again. To be thankful that our children are lovingly special and we love them with ALL of our hearts, souls, minds and might.
Amen.
Kudos and blessings to every parent in this board,
Jess
20 August 2005
The Little Cheers The Children Bring - Part Two
After DinnerZoe and Zane should be sleeping soon, that leaves me with some personal time with the PC. :)Another child who does sweet little things from day to day is Celine Chan. You can easily spot her within the whole group of Nursery Class Two children, as she is the tiniest of them all. She is always my number one girl in the queue, just because she is the smallest in built and shortest in height. :)Celine is very happy to be the first in line, as that means she gets to hold Mrs Ng's hand. Every morning, I will see her standing next to her helper or mum, looking shy and as though she wants to say something to me. I usually pause for her, bend down and wait to hear what she wants to say. It is usually "Good Morning, Mrs Ng." and a little something she wants to tell me. One fine day, Mrs Chan shares with me that Celine always wants to talk with me. Just anything. But she is too shy to approach me at times, so, she will wait and wait and wait. Sometimes, she will wait till there is no chance to do so (when assembly song starts). :)This little girl has grown leaps and bounds in various aspects of development over the last six months. The first Celine who greeted me was a little girl who was very timid and reliant. She was a child who would colour one stroke only when prompted and colour the next stroke only when assured. She would not move to the next segment of her worksheet until you told her to do so. And, she only did best when you sat next to her, assuring her every attempt. This same girl now is one of my most independent child in class. In fact, she will be one of the first five children who finish the class work and all set to read or play. Such a drastic change, isn't it? Celine is a child who will give me her sweetest smiles even we are just having eye contact. Seeing her cheers my day on. Mrs Chan is also a very delightful parent to relate with. She has been helping me regularly in many aspects, esp, in the area of preparation work, which I won't be in time to do due to the morning prayer the staff have daily in the office. I am so grateful to God for such a supportive parent. Even on one ocassion when Celine was unwell, the next day, Mrs Chan still came and asked me for the library books' tags. This is so sweet of her. I was very touched by her willingness to help.This is also one parent who expresses her sentiments over her school's curriculum, my teaching style and Celine's progress. Her feedback is very constructive and encouraging. The most encouraging thing Mrs Chan had asked was whether I will follow up N2 to K1 next year.Well, this is my desire too. This group of children are a very wonderful lot to teach."Dear God, please bless this little family of four. May they know You more and embrace Your love for them. Thank You for this lovely family. In Jesus Christ's Name. Amen."Love,Jesselyn Ng
The Little Cheers The Children Bring - Part One
In my short 2+ terms with Galilee, I must say, the little ones under my charge have been great blessings along the way.I have a boy, Ben Chang, he has been trying to invite me to his house to play with him. He told me many times over that he has a lot of toys. When I told him, I am busy during school days, he went, "You come on Saturday, ok? Saturday, you are not working. I stay at home and wait for you."This boy is a real darling. He can be quite a challenge. I vividly recall on my first week with him, he blurted out, "I don't want you!" when I corrected his aggressive actions towards his classmates. This same boy, came over and sat next to me during video time one morning, and said, "I love you, Mrs Ng." Ben is a boy whom I have very deep first impressions. During the parents-teacher-conference in May, I got to know more from his mum the reasons for his behaviour and I understand her concerns more. I am glad that Ben's mum chooses to be a stay at home mum. This is a very wise choice. Ben needs a lot of security."I pray, Lord Jesus, for Ben to grow up knowing you. I know there is a purpose why he is in Galilee Kindergarten and why You have placed him under my care this year. I pray, dear Lord, you will bless his heart and his ways. Let Ben chooses to walk in Your ways and to call You His Lord and Saviour. I pray for his mum's salvation too. I commit these two precious lives into Your hands. Use me, Lord, in whatever measure You see fit. IN Jesus Christ's Name, I pray. Amen."Love,Jesselyn Ng
