Getting Children to Look After Their Clothes

Fact: children are hard-wearing on clothes. Whether it’s a new pair of shoes that come home after one day’s wear scuffed and battered, the snowy-white socks turned green with grass stains or the discovery of the school blazer, wrinkled up in the corner after you’ve so carefully pressed it with the steam iron can be disheartening. But if your little ones aren’t aware of how much work it takes to keep them neat and tidy, it’s worth teaching them to look after themselves, cutting down on your work and giving them a life skill in the process. So how do you instil a sense of responsibility for their clothes?

Create the right environment

Your kids will be more likely to put their clothes away if they have a set place for every item. Plastic under bed storage is a great way of stowing away shoes. Make sure they have a wardrobe they can reach, with plenty of hangers and space for everything. Buy a large, easy to use laundry basket. Show them how to separate colours for the washing machine. This doesn’t have to be a chore, your child will find learning to take care of themselves more fun than you would think.

Establish a routine

Designate Sunday evening as the time to prepare for the week ahead at school. Stress to your child that it is their responsibility to look after their things, not yours. And don’t forget to ask them if they’re happy they have everything they need for the week ahead. Children will feel good about themselves if they feel they have participated in their own organisation for the week. Encourage them to lay out their school uniform the night before, polish their shoes and make sure there are no creases or stains. Making a game of uniform inspection with younger children will make it more fun, and having everything laid out will take the stress out of Monday mornings for both parent and child.

Teach them how it’s done

It’s an easy and common excuse for kids that don’t want to do housework that they don’t know how it’s done, so make sure you show them. Introduce the kids to little tips and tricks that will help them stay neat throughout the course of the day, such as using a lint roller to keep dark fabrics neat, or throwing a t-shirt in the dryer for five minutes to smooth out any wrinkles.

Just remember to be encouraging, consistent, and don’t lose your patience with mistakes. Having pride in a neat appearance is a crucial life skill, and instilling this in your children from an early age will serve them well later in life.

Image by Salim Fadhley used under the Creative Commons license. 

Happy 15th Birthday Our Sweet Princess

Our princess,

Time flies so fast! It seems like yesterday when we were cuddling you in our arms and prayed that you would always be safe, that you would be blessed as you grow and be loved by all. And now, you're fifteen.

We  have seen you slowly spreading your wings. At first your Papa and I were scared. We didn't know how to react with your newly found freedom. Before, you would always run to us because then, we were your number one. Now that you have found a world outside our own world, I guess there is no reason for us to stop you from exploring your new environment as a growing teenager.

Bear in mind that as parents, we only want the safest and best for you. We know we can be overbearing most of the times but that's not because we don't trust you. We're just afraid that you'll grow up too fast, too soon.

So, we pray each night that God will always protect you and give you guidance and wisdom to live your life the best way you can. We will always support you along the way.

Now that you're 15, it won't be long for you to start to go out on your own and become fully independent. But remember us, our precious child. Remember the values we have taught you. Take them with you where ever you may go and know that you are and will always be loved by us.

Happy birthday princess. Always keep this in your heart - we love you and you'll always be our little girl. Always.

Photo credit: yahoo images

What To Look For In A Children’s Car Seat

It's probably the most vital piece of equipment you'll buy for your car and it's so important get it right. Choosing a child's car seat is about gathering the facts, checking your child's size and considering the practical side, such as what types will fit into your car. With this in mind, here is my essential guide to kitting out your car for the kids.

Types of seating fit into rough age groups, but it's more important to make sure your child has correct equipment for their size. At the moment, this means a rear-facing seat for Brookland but she's getting near the stage when she'll outgrow it, as these seats are only ok for children under around 29lbs.

Rear-facing seats are designed to support babies who can't sit up on their own and can be used in the front as long as there's no airbag. But once you can see your child's head over the top of the seat, it's time to move on to the forward-facing seat. Austin has one of these and she's 3.5 years old, but again, you need to go by weight: around 20-40lbs is fine for these seats.

Child seats must be fitted correctly in order to work, so when you head out to the stores, try and test the products out in your car and think about any other cars that your child needs to travel in as well. A good retailer will suggest different types and help you fit the seat yourself, but you can also find videos on the web.

Many newer cars come with a system called Isofix (also called LATCH), which means there are points built into the car which match corresponding car seats. There's less risk of incorrect fitting with this system, but we've also used seatbelt systems in our car and they're no less effective so long as you install them properly. It's good to look at both options, especially as Isofix seats tend to be more expensive.

Lastly, always buy new, rather than used. Seats from a trusted friend or family member are ok if you know the history, but a second-hand seat from elsewhere could have been involved in a crash and have structural problems. I found as many brand reviews from other moms as I could online before going anywhere; it's best to be as well-informed as possible when it comes to child safety in the car.

Child Fashion Muse - Is it Bad or Good for Fashion?

I don't know what to think or say when I saw a picture of a 10-year old girl, dressed up way beyond her years with full make-up on in high-killer heels. While I admire the artistry of the photography but the theme was a bit disturbing. It's like making a Lolita out of the 10-year old French kid named Thylane Lena Rose Blondeau.

I am not a prude or righteous but this is why kids these days act and think funny. The fashion industry is playing with the very vulnerable minds of the youth because of what they splash on the covers of their fashion magazines. Vogue is an example. Not only that, the photo which is now circulating all-over is an easy access to the sick people of the world.

Plenty of people are justifying the photos, saying it is done for fashion purposes. But a lot of people feel and think otherwise. Let's use our common sense, shall we? I am a woman and seeing those pictures will not make me buy those clothes, shoes and make-up especially if they are worn by a 10-year old kid. What was the aim of that? Fashion pushing the boundaries or the industry just lacks the moral obligation to send correct signals?

I personally feel and think that this is tad disturbing and downright scary in a sense that Vogue has just sexualized the youth. The 10-year old model looked very adult in a pose that I cannot describe whether it is being "suggestive" or something. I certainly don't want to entertain other thoughts than to feel bad for this kid and how her parents let her pose like this. Not only that, I scoured the internet too for other articles about this kid and I even saw her in a half-naked picture. What is going on there? I wonder!

Now, the big debate is how young is too young to become a model? Is the fashion scene taking this lightly or the industry have no regards to a young person's well-being, speaking in a "normal" context. Shouldn't we be protecting the kids and their welfare and realize that there are psychos out there? This cover-shoot has just ignited some flames and I don't think it's good.

It frightens me to pick up the magazines these days. What will I see next? Babies in their birthday suits on the covers of famous fashion magazines? Now, that's crossing the line!

Best Mom Award from Best Moms themselves

I am thankful to have met these two lovely moms in the blog world. I am happy as well that I have been recognized by these two best moms as well for being a best mom. Thanks ladies! I truly honor this award. Beth and Kikamz, you two rock! Hahaha!



The rules:
1. Show the award logo in your post. 2. Pick a picture you have with your kiddo/s. 3. Post should include your best experience as a Mom. 3. Nominate other blogger moms out there that you consider the best mom, like yourself.

Well, being a mom is a 24/7 career. It's a very gratifying job if I may say because you get all the hugs and the slobbery kisses of your kids. Everyday is a best mom day for me even if my daughter and I squabble on petty things. We enjoy each other's company so much that she has become my little buddy, my shopping conscience, my mini-me, my fashion stylist, my royal highness, my hairdresser, my own daughter... We enjoy our togetherness that sometimes I forget the boundaries of mother-daughter stuff, forgetting all those authority over a child. For her, I am her mom AND her best friend and for me, I am her mom AND her best friend. I'll never forget the time when I got bed-ridden because of pneumonia and she carefully stroked my forehead, took a bowl filled with cold water and she wiped my face, cleaned my arms and legs. She acted as my nurse and she even made me a paper TULIP (which happens to be my favorite flower!) so I could get better. This was last year. I asked her why she was taking care of me when she could watch cartoons and read books instead of sitting by my side, she said "Mama, because you always take care of me too..." Awwwww... No other job in this world can ever replace the gratifying career of MOTHERHOOD. I am blessed to be a mom.

Our fave place in the world! Paris! My daughter loved the place and even quipped that when she gets older, she'd buy a house and we would ALL live there. Wow! Made my heart melt...


This was our first Disneyland visit in Hongkong and the year after that, we went to Disneyland Paris. I remember seeing how happy my princess was, the sparkle in her eyes each time we took the rides and hubby was so supportive of us, allowing us (especially me!) to act-out the kid in us. Imagine a 34 year-old (I was 34 then when we went there) mom running around like crazy just to get ahead of the line? Oh, that would be me!

Buzz Lightyear ride in Hongkong Disneyland. We had fun shooting those aliens. We're both "kids-at-heart." Well, at least my daughter is a bonafide kid. I am NOT!


Shopping at Siam Paragon, Bangkok, Thailand. My daughter is my "shopping conscience" because she always reminds me when to "stop." ;)

I am giving this award to the special moms I know: Cherry, Mommy Liza, Mommy Ana, Sarah, Niko, Chriss, Shiela

Baby P - The Innocent Angel

It took me sometime to gather myself and write this post since this hurts deeply and has rattled the very core of my being as a mother. I know, most of you have read the tragic event that lead to the death of Baby P on the hands of his very own mother, boyfriend and a lodger. He died last year but the gruesome facts emerged only recently causing an uproar. How? How can a mother do such things to an innocent being, more so, to her very own son and why? He was 17 months old.

I am enraged just by reading the atrocious accounts that lead to the early demise of Baby P. I cannot fathom the evilness of the people who are responsible in cutting the life of this beautiful baby short on their hands. I am angry at the system and the people who oversee the system of child care in that country. I am feeling a lot of intense emotion right now but I need to voice this out. NO PUNISHMENT IS ENOUGH TO ALLEVIATE THE SUFFERING OF AN INNOCENT CHILD.

Baby P, the little cherub, may you find the peace that you deserve and feel the love that has been selfishly denied of you here on earth there in Heaven where you can no longer feel pain. We are all praying for you. Fly away little angel...

(photo from: Irish Examiner)