Years In Review (2014 - 2017)
Gosh! How time flies!! Since my last post (which was a catch up post), 4 years have past. And now it seems like I will have MORE catch up to do. Wish me luck in doing so.
SO... what happened in these four year?! What have the Toks done in these four years?!? So much had happened, so many things done, I must say! Let me start with the least interesting part of it all (due to the lack of photos). Kids' education!
EDUCATION
2014 to 2017, the Girl had started Primary 1 and moved on to Primary 4! Thanks to having an older sibling in the school, she settled in comfortably in no time and is doing pretty well. I am pleased that she is managing her academics somewhat independently, and is enjoying school life very much.
2014 to 2017, the Boy went from being a Primary 3 student to becoming a Primary School graduad! So how did he do for the "most-hyped-up-nation-obsessed-exam" in Singapore at this stage of his academic life?? Very well indeed! Very well, because it was better than expectation. Ha... ya, that is my "standard". So long as one has done his/her best and the end results turned out better than expected, it is very good.
What is more pleasing to me, than his results, is the fact that we successfully steered clear of all forms of tuition / academic enrichments throughout his entire six years of primary school life. Yep, ZERO. Not even any holiday Language/Science/Maths camp, or any short holiday programs to "Prepare for PSLE".
This is what I had wished for when I first became fully responsible for another person ("starting from scratch"). The wish to not spend resources (time, energy, finances) excessively/repeatedly on one thing. I mean, we are already paying the government school fees for them to learn the academics, why pay more for similar thing outside of school? And they are already spending close to 50% of their waking hours in school attending guided academics classes, why add more hours of guided classes after school?
The kiddos need time to figure out how to learn by themselves too. If they had difficulties learning from their school teachers, and have shown to be unable to learn by themselves, I will say "Let's get extra assistance". Fortunately, they managed fine. Not creme de la creme, but at least not failing any subjects. So... let's put the finite resources in other areas.
SURVIVAL SKILL --- COOKING
In these 4 years, the kids had practised and now are able to prepare a meal for the whole family independently.
From looking in the fridge to decide what to cook, to washing-peeling-cutting the ingredients, to cooking over the stove. And the occassional, planning and marketing for what they wish to cook.
The sense of empowerment that they get from this, is no less than the sense of comfort and assurance that I get from this. Yes, I felt comforted that they are equiped with a skillset to care for others. I felt assured that in the events whereby I am not with them, they are capable of feeding themselves well.
A heartwarming Japanese movie (Hana's Miso Soup) came to mind. The importance of eating right. Check it out, 'ya.
SURVIVAL SKILL --- SWIMMING
Beautiful sunset @ Changi Beach.
Living on a small island country surrounded by the sea, swimming is another national obsession. So much so that, the government made learning how to swim part of the primary school's extra curriculum at Primary 3 level. Seeing that the kids are already spending so much time in school, I opted out of this program. After all, learning to swim is, to me, like learning how to ride a bicycle; learning how to smack a shuttlecock; learning how to play the table tennis; learning how to... ... you get the idea.
It can be done as a family. And rightfully to be a family improvement program (not only self improvement). Especially when we have no intention of raising a champion athlete. Especially when they are at this age.
So... in these 4 years that passed, the kids had learned to swim decently and have high water confidence. The boring and tedious task of swimming laps? No problem too!
SO... what happened in these four year?! What have the Toks done in these four years?!? So much had happened, so many things done, I must say! Let me start with the least interesting part of it all (due to the lack of photos). Kids' education!
EDUCATION
2014 to 2017, the Girl had started Primary 1 and moved on to Primary 4! Thanks to having an older sibling in the school, she settled in comfortably in no time and is doing pretty well. I am pleased that she is managing her academics somewhat independently, and is enjoying school life very much.
2014 to 2017, the Boy went from being a Primary 3 student to becoming a Primary School graduad! So how did he do for the "most-hyped-up-nation-obsessed-exam" in Singapore at this stage of his academic life?? Very well indeed! Very well, because it was better than expectation. Ha... ya, that is my "standard". So long as one has done his/her best and the end results turned out better than expected, it is very good.
What is more pleasing to me, than his results, is the fact that we successfully steered clear of all forms of tuition / academic enrichments throughout his entire six years of primary school life. Yep, ZERO. Not even any holiday Language/Science/Maths camp, or any short holiday programs to "Prepare for PSLE".
This is what I had wished for when I first became fully responsible for another person ("starting from scratch"). The wish to not spend resources (time, energy, finances) excessively/repeatedly on one thing. I mean, we are already paying the government school fees for them to learn the academics, why pay more for similar thing outside of school? And they are already spending close to 50% of their waking hours in school attending guided academics classes, why add more hours of guided classes after school?
The kiddos need time to figure out how to learn by themselves too. If they had difficulties learning from their school teachers, and have shown to be unable to learn by themselves, I will say "Let's get extra assistance". Fortunately, they managed fine. Not creme de la creme, but at least not failing any subjects. So... let's put the finite resources in other areas.
SURVIVAL SKILL --- COOKING
In these 4 years, the kids had practised and now are able to prepare a meal for the whole family independently.
From looking in the fridge to decide what to cook, to washing-peeling-cutting the ingredients, to cooking over the stove. And the occassional, planning and marketing for what they wish to cook.
The sense of empowerment that they get from this, is no less than the sense of comfort and assurance that I get from this. Yes, I felt comforted that they are equiped with a skillset to care for others. I felt assured that in the events whereby I am not with them, they are capable of feeding themselves well.
A heartwarming Japanese movie (Hana's Miso Soup) came to mind. The importance of eating right. Check it out, 'ya.
SURVIVAL SKILL --- SWIMMING
Beautiful sunset @ Changi Beach.
Living on a small island country surrounded by the sea, swimming is another national obsession. So much so that, the government made learning how to swim part of the primary school's extra curriculum at Primary 3 level. Seeing that the kids are already spending so much time in school, I opted out of this program. After all, learning to swim is, to me, like learning how to ride a bicycle; learning how to smack a shuttlecock; learning how to play the table tennis; learning how to... ... you get the idea.
It can be done as a family. And rightfully to be a family improvement program (not only self improvement). Especially when we have no intention of raising a champion athlete. Especially when they are at this age.
So... in these 4 years that passed, the kids had learned to swim decently and have high water confidence. The boring and tedious task of swimming laps? No problem too!