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Learning this simple concept could make your home tidy

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Tidying Up
Photo Credit: Nathaniel Rosa

All this while I have been dreaming having a minimalist house. That is, as simple as possible, for everything.

I want the house to be clutter-free with clean, simple look. To have the home stuffed with furniture and lamps and decorative items (and toys!) is the least that I want.

Funnily, having a simple house is not simple. And I have been putting off this dream until now.

Not that I am lazy to go after it but I don’t know how to begin.

As luck would have it, I think I have found the formula to having a tidy home. I have tested it with some of the items and I am very glad with the results. [Read more…]

How to handle unfairness between siblings fairly

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unfairness in children
Photo Credit: Sharon Mollerus

It’s too long. I can’t remember when was the first time J and K started to argue over what’s fair and what’s not. It’s as old as history.

I only know that lately their quarrels, sometimes even over tiny things, intensify to a level that I can’t stand anymore. They happen too often and over things that are getting smaller.

They try to uphold fairness in almost everything. If one party has not done something equally, the other party will start complaining. Oftentimes, this leads to unhappiness in all.

“It’s time for me to use the bathroom downstairs.”

“I do dishes more than you do. It’s your time.”

“This time you put away the toys. I did it the last time.”

“It’s your turn to wipe the table.” [Read more…]

How I reward my children with a twist

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Reward children
Photo credit: bricolage 108

I don’t do what most parents do. In fact, I do it the other way around. Sometimes, I don’t do it at all.

I am talking about giving rewards to children. Especially when it comes to motivating your child to achieve academic excellence.

(There are reasons why I don’t do it. To know more, read this past article:
http://www.parentwonder.com/how-not-to-motivate-your-child-during-exams/ )

I don’t motivate J and K with rewards to bribe for good results. I tell them to do the best they can. And to do it out their own motivation and willingness – at least not for some new, shiny toys.

This time is different. Even though I didn’t promise them rewards before the exams, we decided to reward them for their good results. [Read more…]

Learn about money: Bank Negara Malaysia Museum and Art Gallery

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Nautilus - spiral staircase

Who doesn’t love money? Even kids know the importance of it. Without it, there will be no new, shiny toys.

One of the ways to teach children about money is to tell them about the history of the most sought after stuff in the world.

What better way to do this than to bring them to the very institution that prints money: the central bank.

I did not know about it until recently that Bank Negara Malaysia, the central bank of Malaysia, has its own museum and art gallery. [Read more…]

I Failed as a Parent

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Children Lying
Photo Credit: Steve Garvie

In the past few months, my parenting life was smooth and without any big challenge.

Life has its way. When you think you are having a good time, it wants to make it even more interesting.

Out of a routine conversation we had yesterday, I accidentally found out that J was lying to me. It’s about school exams. She contradicted herself and I picked it up like a policeman investigating a case.

Here’s the fact: As a parent, when you realize that you child tells a lie, it’s definitely heart-breaking. I am no exception. [Read more…]