Homework Torture

Aah.. A picture of such peace and tranquility, right? Khaleeq studiously and diligently doing his homework. I never thought the day would come...

When we first told Parmi (sometime last year) of our intentions to enroll him in Beaconhouse along with Khadra, her immediate response was, "Mampos." Why, "mampos" you might wonder? Well, it's just that previously Khaleeq went to a playgroup where he is in the Nursery class. Their daily activities would include playing, painting, getting to know numbers and alphabets, singing and more playing rather than serious reading or writing or other gruesome academic stuff. Add to the fact that Khaleeq started speaking rather late; around the age of 3 year old - so , we were overjoyed when he finally did! We even thought that he had problems earlier. A stark contrast to Khadra who was already talking in paragraphs by then. We have learnt early on that every child is different and we treat them differently, with different expectations. With Khaleeq, we kinda chilled and let him be...

For age group 5 and 6 in Beaconhouse however, there is such thing as homework as evidenced by what Khadra has gone through in 2008. So, yeah.. Khaleeq is nowhere near ready for that. However, we felt that he needed to be given that higher expectation and it would, Insya Allah, prepare him to smoothly transition into Primary One in 2011. (Medium-term plan, ni..)

Khaleeq is going to be 5 this coming July and now he has started to write his alphabets in that red-blue-blue-red ruled books; where the alphabets MUST reside within the specific boundaries - "Capital S" within the first red line and the second blue line & "small s" within the two blue lines. He could hardly write his alphabets neatly, let alone to ensure they are within the boundaries. So, to help him practice, the teacher copies down the alphabets and words in pencil-colour for him to trace over. He's doing that pretty well, and has actually progressed to a more solid writing as he becomes more confident of his stroke. Lately, Teacher Rita has left the last 3 lines for him to write on his own (as opposed to trace). I am now helping out by guiding him how big or small is the boundary - "Big A within this line, Khaleeq" and "small g inside here, boy" So far, so good.. I am pretty happy with how he's doing. I just have to spend more time with him every night to practice, practice, practice..

That's him in his good mood.. Singing Ben-10 theme song whilst doing his homework. Best kan?? Well, not necessarily.. hihihihihi.. In his not-so-good moods, he would just write one alphabet and starts being silly. Pretends that he's sleepy, act out a scene of his favourite cartoon, wanders off to God-knows where.. It just takes F.O.R.E.V.E.R....

The things us mommies, (OK, not all mommies, me definitely) have to do to get him to finish his homework ;
1. TLC (Tender, Loving Care) , constant encouragement, positive reinforcements and a sprinkle of "Good job, Boy"-s
2. Rewards - PSP, a thumb game, iced water, chocolate, Cartoon Network breaks.
3. Raise of the voice, a little pinch, ketuk-ketuk meja. Threaten to tell his teacher, the security guard or ____ (insert other authority figures)
4. Back to Number 1.

I know that my temper is sooo short when it comes to teaching the kids. I have to constantly remind myself to do more of Number 1 and less of Number 3. It can become a real torture for both him and me, at times. I need to take breaks as well for fear of losing my sanity. So, we start early on in the night and really pace ourselves. Not too much so as not to overwhelm him. Just enough. I think we are slowly getting better at it. He needs the practice, and I need the practice...

-dillz blogging out-

Exercise Caution!

We watched "Taken" on the DVD some nights ago. (Hubby thought it was a French movie thus won't be screening on the local circuit - So NOT true.. The movie was just SHOT in France.. ) Anywho, I thought it was a brilliant show though in retrospect, I would have slept quarter way through it if Mr Neeson was replaced by Mr. I'm-a-1-man-super-army Seagal. Without spoiling the movie for those who intend to catch it; adik-adik, kakak-abang; main takeaways from the movie would include:
- don't lie to your dad
- daddy knows best, eventhough he can be so incredibly annoying
- a little paranoia goes a long way
- your dad is THE best dad in the entire world

Leaving Hollywood behind and coming back to the realms of reality. I am compelled to share the following 3 incidents that happened to friends & family members not too long ago, i.e. in 2009 for us to learn from:

1. I am no burglar

My Mak Anjang who lives around Sunway Kinrara area spotted a group of people (2 men and a woman) acting rather suspiciously around her neighbourhood. She stopped her car to call her neighbour to warn them when one man approached her car, asking whether she knew the address he supposedly had on a piece of paper. Being suspicious, she only rolled down her window just a little bit, just so that she could speak to the man. The man said,

"Turunkan la tingkap tu kak.. Kakak ingat saya ni perompak ke?" (Why don't you lower down the window a little more, Miss. I am not a bad person / burglar)

After some hesitation, she lowered the window just a little bit more. The man then reacted and replied,

"Kalau perompak, buat macam ni" (A burglar would do it this way)
He lowered the window with his hands, opened the door and took out a knife. Pulled my aunty out of her car and drove off with it. Literally in a split second, her handbag, her car was gone! Can you believe that?

2. Valet scam
My sister went to Pantai Medical Centre for her doctor's appointment and met her friend there. After an hour or so after the appointment, the same friend called her up saying that her car was missing! Apparently, after she valet-parked her car, a good-looking, suit-wearing gentleman approached her saying that they have mistakenly given her the wrong parking card. (Oh, OK..) So, here's the real one and can you please return the wrong one? (Oh, OK.. again...) No harm done right? WRONG.. When she tried to retrieve her car, the parking card apparently doesn't refer to any car and her car has already been taken out by a good-looking, suit-wearing gentleman. What the ??

3. Snatching visitors
A good friend of mine from STF had this happen to her just a few weeks back. She was having a seat-down lunch at one of the restaurants in Sheraton Hotel, Subang. She had her handbag on the floor, partially covered by the table cloth. After some time, she realizes that her handbag has gone missing. The F&B manager later pulled her aside and related that they retained a suspecting group of Middle-Eastern visitors lingering in the restaurant. Since there were no complaints or reason to hold them any longer, they have just calmly and quietly told them to get out of the restaurant. He thinks that these people may have something to do with the disappearing handbang. I.e., the woman must have "smuggled" the handbag under her abaya. She had a first class treatment from the hotel to lodge a police complaint etc but luckily also, her husband called her kidnapped handphone and managed to get the thieves to return the handbag. She had everything back sans her handphone and some money. All others are intact - handbag, IC, credit cards, purse, keys etc etc.. (Boleh tak? So lucky, right?)

So, please, please, please be careful, people.. It never hurts to be extra careful in this day and age..

-dillz blogging out-

It's Time to Switch OFF the Lights..

Have you guys heard of Earth Hour? Have any idea what it all means? I don't either, well, not really.. The little info that I have gathered from listening to the radio or watching the idiot box only tells me that it'll be cool to turn off the lights on Saturday, 28th March 2009 for sixty-minutes (i.e. 8:30pm till 9:30pm) After all, the celebrities are doing it...

To gain more insight and the what-to-dos, my first stop was at:
http://www.earthhour.org.my/main.php

The local celebrities featured in the Malaysian Earth Hour page include Sarimah Ibrahim, Sheeby Singh, Karam Singh Walia, Yasmin Ahmad, Syarifah Amani, Reshmonu, Sarimah Ibrahim, Zainal Abidin, Alex Yoong, Hans Isaac, Sazzy Falak, Aishah Sinclair, Daphne Iking, Susan Lankaster, Lina Teoh, Dafi (of AF fame) and I think I saw a glimpse of our first space-tourist too! What the hey.. I thought I'd join in the fun too, so I signed up instantaneously..

Thing is, this is not just a fun way to spend your weekend, guys. There is a serious agenda behind it. By turning OFF the lights at that specific time, on that specific day in any parts of the world, no matter who you are, you are actually VOTING for Earth. What does that mean, Voting for Earth, you might wonder, right? OK, let me try again..

In 2009, Earth Hour has been transformed into the world's first global election.
Who's contending? You either chose Earth, or you choose Global Warming.
How to vote? Switch off your lights: One vote for Earth. Do nothing, let the lights on as per usual : One vote for Global Warming.
Comprende?

Right, but SO WHAT? WWF is targeting 1 billion votes for Earth, to be presented to world leaders at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009. The meet is significat as it will determine official government policies to take up action against global warming, replacing the Kyoto Protocol. This is your time to make your voice heard.. Register and sign up at Earth Hour and turn off that light next Saturday! Please, please don't forget to sign up .. Every vote counts..
In preparation, I shall be shopping for some candles... Hmm.. Apa la nak buat dalam gelap ni.. Oh, Oh, Oh.. Just so you know, Menara TM is also pledging their vote. How cool is that? I just hope our society is civilised enough that penyamun penyangak tak take advantage and buat missi merampok besar-besaran masa tu. Please keep your homes secured as we pledge our votes, guys..

Remember;
28th March 2009, 8:30 - 9:30pm. For 60 minutes, switch OFF your lights..
That's all it takes (for a start..)

Earth Hour 2009 by WWF - Sign up for Earth Hour!

-dillz blogging out-

Canvassing the day

It's the school holidays yet again... No hotels, no anywhere.. In fact, we decided to just take them to the local attractions this time around. "Local" being conveniently defined as areas around Bangsar and within 20 minutes drive from home. Hihihi..

The hubster took them over to Kidzsport BV2 (so cekik darah @ RM25 per pax) for some playtime and then to Baskin Robbins for the mandatory 'tachio Almond for Khaleeq and Chocolate ice-cream for Khadra. (Mom not invited!)

I took leave today to go canvas painting with the kids at Kompleks Kraf in Jalan Conlay. Inilah hasilnya..

Waduh.. Capek bangat.. Nak tidurlah kejap.. Nite-nite...

-dillz blogging out-

Been a little quiet..

There has not much activity going on around here, lately.. Not much traffic, either.. Before I lose all 3 of my readers, I'd better start a little buzz around here.. hihihi

A lot has happened since my last post (*Duhh!!*) Lemme just keep you up to speed - in no chronological order..

• Azrul has been away a lot. Business trip la, golf trip la.. Jetsetting across South East Asia.. hihihihi.. Which actually got me to thinking.. Why don't I have my own girlie SPA or shopping trip to Jakarta, ka... Bali, ka... Any takers out there? Cuma maleh nak plan la.. *serious*
• Thaipusam Weekend in Avillion.. Loads of fun, especially for the kids.. For me, it was just really really tiring and Thank God we brought Parmi along.. Tonnes of activities for Khadra and Khaleeq (Khaleeda was a little under the weather). They went swimming swimming swimming - there's even a water slide at the Children's pool; some activities at the Kids' Cabin (colouring, blocks, sand art, PSP) ; feeding animals at the Pet Farm (rabbits, tortoises, ayam serama, doves, etc); nature walking, playing with sand on the beach... *Beach wasn't all that, but OK lah* But, as I said, it was great for the kids..
• Ewa is back in KL - with her bulging tummy too.. Can't believe she's gonna deliver this April and Lil E will be the 12th addition to the Zaghlol clan.
• Catching up on work- what else is new? (One assignment completely done and wrapping up some lose ends with another - hopefully my torture will end this Wednesday coz we're leaving on a jetplane on Thursday to Kubang Kerian)

Dah la dulu, speaking about work, I need to just swing this and get it over and done with. Insya Allah, ketemu lagi dilain siaran, ya?

-dillz blogging out-