Nanny 911 to the Rescue

We have been really at wits' ends, trying to instill some discipline into our kids. My two boys are really naughty and their little sister follows whatever the big brothers do. So the whole house is, to say the least, always in disarray. I have tried using the 'magic wand' (i.e. the rotan/cane) but the results were always temporary. After the tears from the pain were dry, they go back to the same ways again. I am not really against 'corporal' punishment to discipline kids but when the effects are not lasting and the experience is painful to the kids and heart wrenching for the parents, we really need to revise our strategy. I will still reserve the 'magic wand' for circumstances that calls for it.


Now, we really needed a new strategy, to make the kids listen and obey without me losing my voice and my sanity (I know nobody said raising children is easy). So came a TV show called 'Nanny 911' to the rescue. The show is about a household with crazy kids and 'about-to-lose-it' parents calling Nanny 911 for help. A nanny (from England) will be flown to the family (in US) to help them in one week. With the nanny's help, within the week, the whole family gets turned around, the kids become better behaving and the parents have better control of the household. We love to watch it together with the kids and I wish I can really call Nanny 911 to rescue us. But since we can't, we have decided to do some of the things the nannies recommended, by oursleves.



We have implemented a reward scheme. Firstly, we set down a set of rules of DOs and DON'Ts. When the kids do something they shouldn't or do not do something they should, they get a 'thumbs down'. But if they do something right, they get a 'star'. So they will accumulate the 'stars' and 'thumb downs' for the week. Each 'thumbs down' will be squashed by a 'star'. By the end of the week or even within the week they can redeem rewards using the 'stars' they have collected, after they have paid the 'stars' due for the 'thumbs down' they received.



We have been getting very good response from the kids so far. They really value their stars and they will try to earn their stars by doing the right stuff. And when I reminded them that they will be given 'thumbs down' if they misbehave, they instantly stop. I have not used the 'magic wand' at all and I cannot remember raising my voice, for the whole week which is a miracle! Well, I know it is not a new concept. But seeing it being done in Nanny 911 kind of motivated us to do the same. Of course this system isn't really working with my 2 year old girl but it works wonders with the 2 brothers of hers and she does what the boys do. So when they behave, she does too (to an extent). Nevertheless, the outcome is still great! So, we will see if we can 'retire' the 'magic wand' for good or at least for a good while....

Sad Sad Week

This week had been filled with worries and tears as we watched and could do very little. A young boy has been called to the Lord. A young boy whom 2 weeks ago was still seemingly fine. It hurts to suffer a great lost of a good behavouring and bright young boy who would have had a wonderful future in this world. But we trust in our Lord, Jesus Christ, that You have heard and continue to hear all our prayers for this beloved child.

To You, O Lord, we humbly entrust this child, so precious in Your sight. Take him into Your arms and welcome him into paradise, where there will be no sorrow, no weeping nor pain, but the fullness of peace and joy with Your Son and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.

News from both sides

It is going to be a busy weekend. We had plans to 'do up' our little garden at home. Bought bags of imported pebbles and drawn up some design but looks like that is going to have to wait. We had received several news from both sides of our famlies.



My sister-in-law is in labour now as the doctor induced her since her blood pressure was high and getting dangerous to leave the baby in her. I feel this should be straight forward, if the drugs don't work, the doctors will perform C section on her. So I think I should hear of the birth by the end of the day. God bless her and the little baby who will soon be born.



This morning, I also received heart breaking news. A young member of our extended family has fallen ill. We can only offer prayer and moral support. Please join me in this prayer.



Prayer for the Sick


Dear Jesus, Divine Physician and Healer of the sick, we turn to yo in this time of illness. O dearest compforter of the troubled, alleviate our worry and sorrow with your gentle love, and grant us the grace and strength to accept this burden. Dear God, we place our worries in your hands. We place our sick under your care and humbly ask that you restore your servant to health again. Aboc=ve all, grant us the grace to acknowledge your will that whatever you do, you do for the love of us. Amen.

Sensational Gaga.... and Adam!

Who doesn't know Lady Gaga? She has taken the world of entertainment by storm not just for her catchy tunes that rings in your head but also for her weirdness in her style of dressing. I was browsing around as usual, when I saw the dresses she wore for the MTV VMA 2009, outlandish is an understatement! I do think it's a bit overboard but still she is really talented and her music is great. I love her all the same. Even my children can sing her songs although the lyrics are hmmmm, let's say, I don't get them...

She reminds me of Adam Lambert although he is less crazy in his attire but being a man does set a limit unlike Lady Gaga. Anyways, both of them are great entertainers for the moment and I love them both.

Watch out for Adam's performance in AI 2009 when he was invited as mentor for the top 9 contestants. Another great performance! I am going to get Adam's CD when I go shopping this weekend in PJ, I couldn't find any around where I stay.

Looking forward to the weekend, we plan to go PJ to visit my mum and brother and for a little shopping too.

Passive Income, I want...

Time for a weekly dose of my 'pretty much nothing'. Yesterday, I visited this interesting blog and read the article about financial planning for retirement. This is a timely article as I had been having nagging thoughts about planning for our retirement for awhile. The entry talks about passive income as opposed to saving an amount of money for retirement. I basically understand passive income as getting money while not working. Renting properties is one type of passive income and he also suggested REIT. I also know from MLM people that their scheme is a passive income too and can be so for a few generations! But I am not an MLM capable person, that's for sure. I will need to look for other avenues.

The blogger recommends 2 books to be read, both by Robert Kiyosaki, “Rich Dad Poor Dad” and “Cashflow Quadrant”. We have the 1st one but never finished it and don’t know where we put it. But I am determined to find it and finished it… before the end of the year!

I must admit, I am bad at finances but since my hubby is no better, we both have to work together on this no matter how much we dread it. I know it’s going to be of ultimate importance when we are too old to work anymore. We cannot rely on the hope that our kids can afford to take care of us financially. Gosh, I cringe thinking about this and I hope it’s not too late to start doing something about it. God help those who help themselves....

Good Friday and Easter

Today I would like to post a sign that I find ironic and yet funny. This is from a chinese/taiwanese restaurant that has a sign that says Pork Free (and not Free Pork which is probably better). The ironic thing is, it has a picture of a Chef Piggy running away from something. How did the owner come up with that? Your guess is as good as mine! Incidentally, the shop seems to not be doing so well, it is closed most of the time I pass by it and I pass by it alot. I also have to confess, I never ventured into the shop before. Not because of the ironic sign but because I do not go into a restaurant where there aren't many patrons inside, that's a kaisu mentality. If no one eats there, chances are the things are not nice.

Meat is probably not apt for today's post since I am vegetarian today cause it's Friday. And it is also Good Friday, my hubby and I are off for the day. After a morning of running errands, we are resting with the kids at home while my eldest is in school. We will be attending mass in the evening where the congregation will be following the ritual of the stations of the cross to commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. On Sunday we will celebrate Easter, celebration of the Resurrection of Christ. As a new Catholic family, we have done enough to observe the Lent season. I have got to be more committed and passionate about deepening my faith, Lord help me. To end this post, I recommend this beautiful song by Michael W. Smith entitled Above All, so beautiful that it brings me close to tears everytime I hear it. Have a blessed Easter!

Palm Sunday and Cheng Beng

The past weekend saw some interesting events. We celebrated Palm Sunday and in church, we brought along some palm leaves to join in the blessing of the palms. While on the way to attend the Sunset mass Saturday, we had to go collect some palm leaves. I asked my hubby to get from one of the neighbours decorative palm trees but my hubby was too shy, so I went down to try to retrieve from leaves but it was harder than it looked. I gave up since I didn't have any scissors or knives. We ended up driving to my in-law's house and got a few leaves from her African palm. These leaves were thorny and sharp, we got pricked and pricked others too in church. Gosh. I am going to buy a few decorative palm trees so that come next year, it will be a breeze to get the palm leaves.

The reason why we went for the sunset mass instead of out usual Sunday mass was because my in-laws and some relatives need to go to Nirvana park to pay respect to my children's great grandmother on Sunday morning. She died a few years ago in her nineties. She was a dear old lady, very kind towards me and loved my sons dearly. My hubby was her favourite grandson too. When my hubby told me that he needed to fetch these folks to his grandmother's grave, I told him I want to come along too. I have not been to her grave to pay respect, had always wanted to go. So we set off at about 8am and it was a major traffic jam. It took us more than an hour to get there which would normally take maybe 20 mintues. We went in 2 cars and parking was also big hassle there. The relatives did their offering burnings. My family put on some incense on her grave and prayed to Out Father for mercy for great grandmother's soul. Every year a few weeks before Cheng Beng Semenyih will see major traffic jams on weekends because the famous burial sites. Supposedly, you will be lucky if your ancestors are buried well and Semenyih seems to be the prime burial site. In fact my hubby said that it is the most expensive real estate, a small plot cost you easily RM20K to 40K. Chinese are very superstitious and customary people.

Lastly, a bit into politics. MCA had a re-election on Sunday and Dr Chua won. Was not what I expected but oh well, it's not going to mean much to me anyways. I am all for non-race based political parties and politicians. I hope to live to see the day when this becomes a reality in our beloved Malaysia.