Woodlands Waterfront

S$19M Woodlands Waterfront was officially opened by Sembawang GRC MP and Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan on 23 Jan 2011.

This is a recreational playground for residents in the north and comprises of a 9ha costal park and a 1.5km-long waterfront promenade. It also has an event plaza, picnic areas, a playground and a tracks for cyclists and runners.

Since the girls were not feeling well for the past few days, I thought bringing them out for some sun and fresh air will be good.

The girls had a great time…running around, playing on the slides, vast area for Joey to ride her scooter.

It was a wonderful day! The place was so windy and the weather was simply great!

Also areas for adult training.

If you like to take photos of kids, I can assure you this is definitely one of the best place, enough space for the kids to run about.

Time to go home after a relaxing and fun evening.

Eye Twitching

Old wives tale says, if your right eye twitches, there will be something good happening but if your left eye twitches, there will be something bad happening.

My left eye has been twitching for almost a week, what is gloom and doom that is coming??

Called myokymia in doctor lingo, these rippling muscle contractions in an eyelid can be triggered by: Stress, Tiredness, Eyestrain, Caffeine, Alcohol, Dry eyes, Nutritional imbalances or Allergies. This kind of eye twitching can be hard to treat, the only option maybe is to find the cause and deal with it.

A more detailed understanding of eye twitching.

Stress
When we are under stress, our body will react in different ways. Eye twitching is one of it, especially when it is related to vision problems such as eye strain. Reducing the cause of the stress level can help make the twitching stop.

Tiredness
A lack of sleep can cause eye twitching. Catch up with your beauty sleep!

Eyestrain
Vision-related stress can cause eye twitching. Maybe you need glasses or a change of glasses. Maybe you are spending too much time staring at your laptop. Take a break, look at the greens.

Caffeine or Alcohol
Many experts believe that excessive caffeine or alcohol can trigger eye twitches. What you need to do is cut down on the intake.

Dry Eyes
More than half of the older population experiences dry eyes, due to aging. Dry eyes also occur to those who wears contact lenses. Treatments are available for dry eyes, do seek medical help.

Nutritional Imbalances
Lack of certain nutritional substances like magnesium can trigger eye twitches too. If this is the cause, then seek medical help and buy some nutritional products. Remember it is not advisable to buy off-the-shelf products without fully understanding what is the problem.

Allergies
People with eye allergies will have itching, swelling and watery eyes. To offset this problem, it is advisable to use eye drops to help the eye twitches.

All I know now is if my eye continues to twitch, I will have to see a doctor. Funnily, whenever my eye twitch I will think of one person.

Isn’t she cute?

Cheeky Jayne

Grandpa is working, what are you doing Jayne?

Jayne? Can you hear me?

Are you watching Grandpa working? Do you know how to help him?

No? So what are you working on? Trying to fix your toy?

Come on, give Papa a nice smile. Huh? Still the same one-eye smile?

A Day @ The Playground

Joey woke up with a high fever (38.8 degree). First reaction was to sponge her to keep the temperature down. I had to say after numerous times of handling sudden high fever like this, we are pretty experienced and it didn’t worry us as much as before.

Within an hour, the fever is contained, Joey is once again jumping up and down like nothing happened.

Did her homework after breakfast and immediately she was nagging us to bring her down to the playground. As strong as a bull…

So here we go… See how high she jumps? Who can ever tell she just had a close 39 degree fever?

Jayne was enjoying herself too, she kept calling out to me to join her. I have no idea why, but both my girls speak English with a slight American accent. Is it because of the cartoons on CN?

Just 20mins, both my girls are fully satisfied. And I am happy too =)

PS. all photos taken using my BB9700

10 Things To Teach Your Daughter

1. Work hard, even when no one is watching
The definition of integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching. Kids like to do things to gain attention (of course some adults do too), but we got to correct them when young that doing good, working hard is not for the sole purpose of getting recognised and be rewarded.

2. Honesty actually is the best policy
There is a saying that when you said a lie, you will need to say 7 more lies to cover it up. The fact is no matter how, a lie will always be exposed. I would rather my kids to grow up learning failures and become better than lying through life just to get pass certain stages. Honesty will surely be rewarded eventually.

3. Modesty isn’t an old fashioned ideal
Being modest can be trendy at the same time. I do not want to raise up my girls to be humble but old-fashioned in thinking or in behaviours. Be colourful, be vibrant, but remain humble and know that nothing is a guarantee.

4. Protect your heart
Teach your daughter to be caution in relationships. Dating is fine but teach the kids to be accountable.

5. Serve your community
Be a responsible member of the society. I feel in this internet, fast-paced environment we are living in now it is even more important to teach our kids to understand that their actions and decisions may or can affect others. If possible, do good for the less fortunate is always a nice thing to do.

6. Focus on the beauty on the inside
Our culture puts so much focus on outer focus so much so that young girls are starving themselves just to look pretty. Encourage your girls to be true to themselves. Everyone is uniquely beautiful. Focus on the inner beauty because that is what will stay with them forever.

7. Don’t be afraid to take risks
Encourage your daughter to pursue her dreams and take (reasonable) risks to advance her learning, her career, her future.

8. Gossip is dangerous
Girls are known to like to gossip. Deal with this habit early and be a good example at home. Teach them that words can build or destroy. So their choice is very important.

9. Don’t be afraid to walk into a room alone
This is about inspiring confidence in your daughter. As girls, they may at times be shy or lack of confidence when handling issues or people. Always greet people with a firm handshake, that is definitely a good start.

10. Don’t take your blessings for granted
Remind the girls that they are very very blessed. Showed them the differences between what we had and what they have now. This is not to teach them to sympathise us but rather to be able to give thanks for whatever they have or may not have. Don’t lose sight of what they have now for what they wish to have.

Postpartum Depression In Men

According to a new study, fathers of newborns are twice as likely to be depressed as men in general.

Postpartum depression (PPD), also called postnatal depression, is a form of clinical depression which can affect women, and less frequently men, after childbirth.

In terms of depression, men are in general more likely than women to hide their feelings or withdraw from others. This only worsen the symptoms. Some research suggests that PPD develops more gradually in men over the course of the child’s first year than it develops in women. Men often experience depression in ways that are different from women. Men sometimes cope with their symptoms in different ways too.

Some of the classic symptoms of depression:

Depressed, sad mood
Loss of interest or pleasure
Significant weight loss or gain
Trouble sleeping or over-sleeping
Restless feelings and inability to sit still or slow down
Fatigue, loos of energy, or tired all the time
Worthless or guilty feelings
Impaired concentration and difficulty making decisions
Recurring thoughts of death or suicide

To be diagnosed with depression, a person must be experiencing five or more of these symptoms, including either depressed mood or loss of interest, over a two-week period. For men, the symptoms are seems to be unique and slightly different.

Symptoms of men’s depression:

Increased anger and conflict with others
Increased use of alcohol or other drugs
Frustration or irritability
Violent behaviour
Losing weight without trying
Isolation from family and friends
Being easily stressed
Impulsiveness and taking risks, like reckless driving and extramarital sex
Feeling discouraged
Increases in complaints about physical problems
Ongoing physical symptoms, like headaches, digestion problems or pain
Problems with concentration and motivation
Loss of interest in work, hobbies and sex
Working constantly
Frustration or irritability
Misuse of prescription medication
Increased concerns about productivity and functioning at school or work
Fatigue
Experiencing conflict between how you think you should be as a man and how you actually are
Thoughts of suicide

The peak period for men’s depression seems to occur between 3 to 6 months after the baby’s birth. Experts say depression in men is under diagnosed and undertreated. Women are more likely to seek care than men, and while pregnant women are being screened for depression, expectant fathers are not.

If as a wife you recognise depression in your partner, try to speak to him in a nonthreatening, nonjudgmental way, and show concern and understanding. Encourage him to talk the depression out. Rather than looking at depression as an individual phenomenon, we really should see it as a family phenomenon.

Love and care for your man!

Joey’s Theory

Saturday is Bookworm Day.

Conversation at home before going to library.

Me: Joey, we are going to the library later. Do you want to go?
Joey: Yes! I like to read books!
Me: But if you are not obedient, maybe I won’t bring you along. (trying to get her to eat her breakfast and clean up)
Joey: You won’t do that. You cannot leave me at home. You are a parent and you must bring your children to library.
Me: Why?
Joey: Because no parents will leave their children at home when they go to library. It’s important for children to go library, so that they can read books.
Me: (speechless…)

Conversation at McDonalds before going to library.

Me: Joey, you can eat your chocolate sundae and fries. I’ll share my coke with you, but just a few mouths.
Joey: Why? Is it because children cannot drink a lot of coke?
Me: Ya.
Joey: I know, only when I become a mother in future, I can drink a cup of coke all by myself. Only adults can drink a lot of coke because they never bring water bottle like children. So they have to drink coke.
Me: Hmm… (speechless again….)