Today’s Motherhood

Stand a chance to win hampers in Innokidz and Today’s Motherhood New Year Babar and the Adventures of Badou Giveaway Contest. We have 3 hampers, each worth approx. $45 up for grabs. Contest ends 10 January 2011.

General Synopsis:

Babar and the Adventures of Badou is a story that speaks to diversity, tolerance and especially the importance of a strong family bond.

It’s sure to rekindle heartwarming memories for parents, with fun and meaningful stories about growing up and growing older.

Set against the lush exotics of Celesteville, this 3-D animated series centres around Babar’s 8 year old grandson as he encounters the exciting and challenging aspects of growing up.

Babar’s grandson is a “one-elephant stampede’, bursting with a sense of adventure. Immense in the world of Badou and his friends, Chiku the monkey, Monroe the porcupine, Zawadi the zebra and Jake the hyena, in kids-friendly views of palace intrigue and comic jungle adventures.

Giveaway Contest

We have 3 hampers, each worth approx. $45 up for grabs. Total 3 winners. All you have to do is

Simply fulfill these 2 conditions

a. Sign up Today’s Motherhood mailing list for free below;

Note : Existing subscribers need not sign up again

b. Like InnoKidz Singapore Fan Page in Facebook.

Contest ends 10 January 2011.

The above contest is proudly brought to you by InnoKidz Singapore and Today’s Motherhood

P.S. Names wlll tallied for both Today’s Motherhood mailing list and Innokidz fans page

Terms and Conditions Apply

Music and I - Children’s Personalized Music and Videos

Website : www.music-and-i.com

Parents are encouraged to have music around in the house, because music is known to enhance development in children. Even science has supported the idea that music affects the way people think. So in choosing the right kind of music for children, we highly recommend these CDs because of its fantastic collection of songs that inspire values and uplifts the spirit.

Personalized Children’s Music and Videos - Artistic and fun way to teach children how special and valuable they are, the songs will educate the kids about colors, animals and positive habits and virtues in a fun & danceable tunes!!

We also have albums that talks about Christian Faith like Jesus Loves You and Bible songs that helped Christian parents instill the godly values in their children and what makes it different from any other children songs is your child’s name is actually part of the lyrics! A great gift for a child that is special to you!!

Originated from MediaK USA, listening to the music with your child’s name in the lyrics is now a reality! Originated from USA, Now it’s in Singapore! Your children can have their songs they can call their own as it’s personalized with their own names.

Parents are encouraged to have music around, because music is known to enhance development in children. Even science has supported the idea that music affects the way people think. So in choosing the right kind of music for children, we highly recommend these CDs because of its fantastic collection of songs that are educational, encouraging and inspiring!

Bless a child today by giving them the best music and videos that will affect their lives in a positive way!

BENEFITS:

EDUCATIONAL
MOTIVATIONAL
IMAGINATIVE
ENCOURAGING
INSPIRING
EXCITING
ARTISTIC

FACTS:

• Albums/videos are personalized with the child’s name in the music.
• Captured the attention of Children ages 12 years old and below.
• Products contain the talent of professional writers, musicians, and vocalists and composer
• Licensed Mediak songs contains more than 2000 names (from the USA, Australia, the UK, and Canada) in the library. The capability to generate names with unique spelling or pronunciation is also available.
• Disc labels are also customizable. They feature the child’s name and a special message from a loved one.
• Any song from any album can be previewed with the child’s name before a purchase is made.
• Child’s name is heard in the music and seen on-screen in personalized DVDs
• Products are unique, timeless keepsakes and very affordable
• Over 40 albums to choose from, combination of Music CDs, DVDs and Photo Videos

To place an order contact: sales@music-and-i.com

For business opportunity contact: gladys@music-and-i.com or handphone: 90093884

Another school year has started and you will have excited kids, happy to see their friends again. But preparing for the beginning of the school term for some can be tough. Some children have the trouble to get into the daily routine of school life again. Instead of prolonging school jitters, parents can implement some of the tips below to ease the transition to school again.

Words can help:

1. Talk about the beginning of school in advance. Getting your child ready to resume school will help to reduce anxiety and prepare him for the new school year.

2. If your child has specific feelings about school (e.g., anxiety, fear, school refusal), acknowledge and talk about them with your child. Be a patient listener before rebutting his feelings. You will have greater clarity and create a stronger bond with your child.

3. Expect some highs and lows, and challenge yourself not to minimise your child’s feelings even when they seem disproportionate. Although a spat with a classmate might not feel like the end of the world to an adult, it might be for a child. Instead of jumping into ‘advisor mode’ with the “Don’t worry about it, you’ll be fine” or “Tomorrow it will all be forgotten”, try to just identify and paraphrase your child’s feelings. Give comment such as “That must have been hard for you!” or “Sounds like a tough day” can go a long way in getting your child to open up and be more receptive to your advice.

What is on the agenda?

4. The first month is usually tougher as the child has to adapt to a new routine again. At the beginning of the term, sit with your child and design a colourful time table that defines school time, homework and play time. Include rewards for achievements. Stating clear expectations and the understanding of what are the gains from following the rules helps to respect them and avoid the homework battles.

5. Be realistic about your expectations. Your child might not be acing his math class, but he might be very good at sports or language composition. Praise his achievements and strengthen his self-confidence. Celebrate small achievements.

6. Be positive and encouraging. Show your child what is good about school and how to make the best of it. You are your child’s best supporter.

Now, you will be all set to enjoy the school year with your child!

This article was first published in Today’s Motherhood Magazine Dec 2010 / Jan 2011 issue Page 22

Free Preview Class! Free Registration for First 50 Kids*

Nurture Kids brings award-winning USA enrichment programme to Singapore

January 2011 enrollment now open

Kindly email us at enquiry@nurturekids.com.sg or call 6288 4823

We are located at Blk 211 Hougang Street 21 #01-297 Singapore 530211 (near Kovan MRT)

*Terms and conditions apply

“Having a child with special needs is priceless. Each day, you are faced with a challenge on how to manage her behavior, what strategy would best improve her skills, or what new word she will be able to say next.”

When my husband Edgar broke to me the news that my new-born child has Down syndrome, I was shocked for about a minute. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I pondered my daughter’s future. I remembered having told friends, “I don’t mind if I have another girl or a boy this time - as long as my child is normal.” I was a bit concerned about my pregnancy because I was near 40.

My husband sat by my side at the hospital bed and said, “We asked God for a child and He sent us a special child. My sister is a geneticist, my other sister is a psychologist, my mom, a sister of yours, and you are teachers - what could be a better environment to raise a special child?” Next, the words I often uttered to my own staff at my tutorial center came back to mind,” I hope God would give special children to mothers like us, because as teachers, we are always ready to give love and care these children deserve.” At that moment, I told myself that God must have given me this child for a purpose.

The first eight months changed our lives. Our family activities revolved around Sandra. My husband and I gave up a lot of social obligations, for trips to Sandra’s doctors and therapists. She required regular check-up of her eyes, ears, and neurological responses. We also had two household helpers to assist us at home and during Sandra’s therapy sessions.

Another initial struggle was to handle people’s varied reactions. One good friend even told me I should have checked first through an amniocentesis. “What for?” I asked. “To abort my baby upon knowing that she has Down syndrome?” I told her the idea never crossed my mind, and I resented her for even thinking about it. In public places, I often observe people whispering to each other upon seeing Sandra. This does not affect me because these people are not significant in my life. Relatives are also concerned about Sandra’s life expectancy, as have heard that people with Down syndrome do not live very long. However, I take all these in stride.

Breaking the news to our older daughter, Danielle, was another hurdle to overcome. When I first told her that Sandra is different from other babies and that she’ll grow up to be a little different from her, she bombarded me with so many questions.”You mean we’re not alike? Can’t she go to my school? We don’t have the same features?” I broke into tears feeling she will not be able to accept her baby sister. But I manage to compose myself and showed her photos of children with Down syndrome. At times, I read to her stories told by siblings of children with Down syndrome. Now, she takes great care of her baby sister and has become a great storyteller to her as well.

Perhaps this is why Sandra grew up to love storytelling. She loves to anticipate what comes next in the sequence of events in the story. Besides that, Sandra also finds immense joy in singing and dancing. Once you start singing a nursery rhyme, you have to be prepared to sing it for another 15 minutes, if not Sandra will start to ask for more. While viewing her Montessori sing along video, she follows the actions and gives it all her might to move and jive with the music. Our friends and relatives are amazed by Sandra’s charm and enthusiasm. Performing in front of an audience is something she would willingly do. Often, she would smile and shake hands with any stranger in front of her. This has made her well liked by most people we meet on the bus or train.

Despite all the obstacles my family I initially had to go through, there were positive outcomes from it as well. We actually spend more quality time together as a family. My husband comes home earlier from his trips abroad, and I find myself rushing home from work every afternoon to spend some play time with my two daughters. As they grow up, I find every achievement in their lives, big or small, a great blessing from God. If there is one significant lesson that Sandra has taught us, it is the virtue of patience.

To express everything I feel about having Sandra in my life, I have written this poem:

On January 7, 2004
A gift from above was sent to me
2 weeks ahead of time she came
An adorable baby girl, Sandra is the name.

They say she has Down syndrome
And when they handed her to me
My heart was so fast beating
They have to be mistaken
For she was like an angel from heaven.

Her eyes have an upward slant
The eye slit is narrow and short
There is a single crease across the palm
But as for me, I’m the proud Mom.

Sandra is such a blessing
For she has made us better people
Nothing will keep us apart
‘Cause she’s what I asked for
from the very start.

Note: Children with Down Syndrome are born with hypotonia (low-muscle tone), weak legs, arms, back, and jaw which make them sit, walk, and talk at a later stage. In order for them to develop to their fullest, they require early intervention, with help from occupational, physical, and speech therapists.

By Obelia Lacanilao-Cutiongco

The writer has been a teacher for more than a decade, but her full-time profession is a Domestic Engineer. Her greatest passion is community work. This article was written 8 months after the writer gave birth to Sandra, her second child in 2004, to serve as an inspiration to parents/families with children with special needs. You can read more about Obelia’s stories at her blog, http://laurenstyle.multiply.com

Singapore General Hospital (SGH) is organising a forum on Women’s and Children’s Health

Date : 22 Jan 2011
Registration Fees : S$12 (free goodie bags for registrants)
Venue : Deck on 9, Block 6, Level 9 (Lift opposite Bengawan Solo outlet)

Pre-Registration is Required:

• Deadline : 18 Jan 2011
• Call Ms Susan Goh @63214668 to register or for more information
• Forum Fee of S$12 to be paid by cheque or credit card upon registration

Making DIY Confinement Is A Possible Impossible

Do not be misled into thinking you can do it all on your own. With nine months of pregnancy and the toll of childbirth behind you, the fact is that your body needs all the rest it can get, and you owe it to yourself and your family to do so. You will still need some help around the house if you have to get your share of rest.

So What Is DIY Confinement?

Simply put, it is putting yourself in control of what you want to happen during the first few weeks post-birth. It is for the independent woman who wants to make the decision about who and what will help her ease into her new role as a mother in the beginning weeks.

Here are my top 5 tips on how you can get through the first few postpartum weeks with minimal help.

Tip 1: Plan And Prepare Early

Other than getting the baby things ready, you should also look into how you will meet your various needs during this time. Two important areas to look into include:

Food

Proper nutrition is critical for you as you recuperate especially if you are intending to breastfeed active. Whether it is getting a confinement meals caterer, precooking and freezing meals ahead of time or having relatives take turns cooking for you, ensure you get it all planned and sorted out at least a month before baby is expected to arrive. Load up on healthy snacks and other grocery supplies so you don’t have to run out to get them after baby is here.

Help Around The House

Put aside the meticulous clean and neat freak in you. You will be better off saving your energy for sleep and bonding with baby. Arranging for a part-time cleaner to come in once or twice a week will help greatly. This also frees your partner and other family members from the menial tasks to focus on you and enjoy the baby.

Tip 2: Have Support Networks

Things can get a little topsy-turvy with the postpartum hormones. Having people who can keep you from losing it are exceptionally helpful. Make out a list of at least 3 people you know you can count on to keep your spirits up. They don’t have to be moms but they have to be friend you know won’t gossip about you or judge you if you burst into tears with them.

Tip 3: Rest When Baby Sleeps

Grab rest when he sleeps. He probably keeps you up enough during the nights for you to crave it. So chuck your work and cleaning and opt for rest. I had great difficulty putting work aside and was rushing manuscripts to meet deadlines all through that first month. What a grave mistake that was!

Tip 4: Make Time For ‘Me’ And ‘Us’

With all the attention centred around baby, it is easy to forget that you still need personal and couple time. This may seem impossible and irresponsible in the beginning, but it’s one of the simplest secrets to happiness in parenthood. After the first two weeks or so, you should be able to spot some quiet periods in the day where your baby naps. Use these times to give yourself a little loving break doing what you enjoy. It may be as little as 15 minutes but that’s a start. Don’t forget about cuddling up with your spouse too! When you have your own love tank all topped up, you will only have more love to share with your little one.

Tip 5: Be Flexible With Your Own Expectations

Even if this is your 10th baby, you will probably find her surprising you with quirks that demand for changes on your end. If thing don’t go as you thought they would or as the trusty parenting ‘bible’ says it should, relax. Remember: A baby is also a little human. No two babies are alike. Whoever said you have to stick to all your own expectations or those rules in the books? Don’t drive yourself insane trying to meet all those standards! Adjust your own expectations as you discover your baby’s needs and also your own parenting style.

Written by: Sarah Lee-Wong

Website: www.messangel.wordpress.com

This article was first published in Today’s Motherhood Magazine Oct / Nov 2010 issue Page 8

All parents would like to see their children succeed. Nothing could be very rewarding than to look at triumphant kids in terms of their academic journeys. And much more will be the joy if you know that you are behind your children’s achievement.

Parents can always help their children do well in their academic performance. Here are some things they could do in order to polish their children’s road to get high grades in school:

• Spend some time everyday to check on your child’s work. See to it that he has answered all the questions asked in the homework. Some children may think that their answers are right but if you know that there is a better way to state the response, then you can modify without scrapping the child’s idea.
• Identify areas which the child find difficult to excel in. Some children may be good but not in all fields. Focus attention on the weakness and you might provide some exercises that could support lessons in class regarding this weakness.
• Set up the home with a study corner or a study room. Children will be enticed to bring out their assignments if they have their own working tables or areas.
• Create an atmosphere more conducive to studying. Ask siblings to tone down music or other unnecessary sound during study period so as not to disturb others. Make sure that the room is well ventilated and that other possible disturbances are dealt with accordingly.
• Entice children to study as you prepare great snacks they could munch and crunch while reading their lessons in advance. You can prepare home-made cookies or sandwiches which you all can share even right after the study period.
• Be open for parent consultation during card-giving days. Your child’s report card may just be mere reflections of his scores but the chance to talk with his teachers will give you an idea of the entire attitude and performance of your child. This way, you will know their needs and what form of help could you extend to respond to these needs.
• Celebrate your child’s achievement. Rewards are efficiently savored when given at the right time. Celebrating does not only motivate but also creates an impression of how much you value your child’s efforts.

More than anyone else in this world, parents are the most important people expected to support children for them to achieve good academic performance and excel in school. Everything will fall into place if parents would believe in their children’s abilities and skills from the very beginning.

We all say we want more intimacy in our lives. Did you know intimacy is much more than just having sex with your spouse? Now that the baby is here, do you appreciate sexual intercourse as a way to reconnect with your spouse and have mutual pleasure and satisfaction?

Intimacy Defined

Couple intimacy is about the ability to share one’s fears, dreams and pains. It is about being connected, even from across a room of strangers. Sex without intimacy eventually becomes shallow and unfulfilling. If intimacy is not nurtured, the relationship will wither and die over time.

The deeper your intimacy is in your relationship the more explosive and satisfying the sex will be. When sex is explosive and mind-blowing, it cements you to your lover in a very powerful way, and thus opens the door for more intimacy. Thus, intimacy and great sex feed each other.

Differences Explained

Women need to feel loved, valued, special, intimate and listened to by their partner for sex to be at its best. If she feels these things, she will desire her lover more deeply and be more willing to pleasure her lover in the way he desires. Men also need intimacy, but may not be as aware of this need and it may not be as evident to them in the context of sex.

Breaking Patterns

A lot of relationships fall apart or sex is not very good anymore because couples have fallen into a rut and begun to take each other for granted. Also any kind of abuse – whether physical, emotional, physiological – does affect intimacy. Once the intellectual and emotional sharing in the relationship stops, intimacy and passion in sex will end soon after.

Vulnerable Heart

Sharing makes you vulnerable and can feel extremely risky and scar. Most people don’t like that and intentionally avoid being vulnerable – perhaps by keeping themselves busy with their career — and thereby run away from intimacy. Also, because you value and cherish the opinion of your spouse, or know your spouse so well that you can anticipate what he or she might say, you refrain from sharing for fear of the reaction and judgment.

Authentic Openness

When you open up, you create instant intimacy. Try revealing what is personal to you, and then ask him to do the same in return. You could trade sexual fantasies, share what you like in bed, or just reveal something that scares you or that you have always dreamed of doing. This will bring you closer and also decrease his fears of romance.

Watchful Communication

Couple Intimacy has to do with your daily communication–from the way you address each other, how you apologize when at fault, how open you are with most of your daily dealings to the kind of friends that you keep. The first thing is to acknowledge this as a couple, and be conscious of the words you are using and what they mean.

Seek Help

Couples do not need to struggle and suffer in silence. Couples can get a trained professional like myself to help with more authentic intimacy. Afterall we make time for what is important to us. By building intimacy, expressing affection and love, you can begin rediscovering each other and your needs and desires more deeply. You can recapture the same passion and excitement that you felt earlier in your relationship.

Find this article useful or you have something to share with us after reading this post? Do feel free to write in to us at mailbox@todaysmotherhood.com!

This article was first published in Today’s Motherhood Magazine Apr / May 10 issue Page 28

Updated 9 Feb 2011
Thank you for your participation. The Top 3 Entries Cheerful Mum-To-Be Contest 2011 are

1. Kelly Teh (47) (First Prize)
2. Joo Dee Foo (32) (Second Prize)
3. Zakiyah Binte Md Shah (20) (Third Prize)

The winners will be contacted by the sponsors individually.

The prizes are sponsored by Foto-U Studio, Origins Jamu Massage, D’ Elegance & The Birth Shop

Today’s Motherhood Cheerful-Mum-to-Be Contest

Today’s Motherhood is holding our first ever Cheerful-Mum-To-Be Contest to celebrate the happiness in Parenthood. We will only hold it once to choose Mrs Today’s Motherhood 2011. There will be 3 winning entries.

All 3 winners will receive:
Foto-U Studio - Regular Studio portrait package @$150.00

• Up to 60 minutes session
• Maximum 5 people
• All captured images in CD in web friendly format (low resolution softcopy) for selection
• 3 pieces of 8R enlargement prints including touchup version of high resolution of softcopy images or 5 pieces of 5R enlargement prints including touchup version of high resolution of softcopy images

First Prize:

Origins Jamu Massage - Jamu Postnatal Massage Products & Services Worth $500 (as below)

• 3 x complimentary 75min session of Jamu Postnatal Massage Home Service
• 1 x Complimentary Cloth Binder
• 1 x Complimentary Baby Massage Class
• 1 x New Mum Hamper Pack
• 1 x Exclusive Interview to be featured on Today’s Motherhood Magazine

Second Prize:

D’ Elegance - Worth $280 (One Complimentary Curvature Analysis-worth $180
Plus $100 gift voucher.)

Third Prize:
The Birth Shop - $150 worth of online store vouchers

To take part in this contest, you must be

1. You must be a subscriber of Today’s Motherhood mailing list to enter the contest. To subscribe (existing members need not sign up again)

2. Only ONE photo per mom (multiple entries will be deleted)
3. Open to mummies who are currently pregnant
4.. Submitted photo should be taken within the last 2 months.
5. File size of photo must not exceed 1M btyes.
6. You can only submit photo of your own/spouse.

This contest will be an INTERNAL voting contest by Today’s Motherhood panel of judges & sponsors. The judges decision are final and no correspondence shall be entertained.

Closing Date : 20 Jan 2011

1. Click Upload Photo below
2. Select an image to upload : You can either choose from your harddisk or a WebURL (Note : File size must be less than 1M bytes)
3. Caption : Please enter “I Love My Baby Bump”
4. Enter Your Name, Your Email (the one used to join our mailing list)
5. Key in Your Phone Number, Your Child’s Name (Put Your Name), Your Child’s Birthday (Put EDD - Expected Date of Delivery)
6. Click Submit
7. Once the photo shows up, click Done

For enquires, please email support@todaysmotherhood.com

Terms and Conditions Apply

To submit a photo,

Upload Photo

Select an image to upload:	Browse for file  Enter URL Import Image by URL
Caption:
Your Name:
Your Email:
Your Phone:
Your Child's name::
Your Child's birthday:

57.  Aiden

56.  zoey

55.  Tentative

54.  Sherine Lee

53.  Chloe Chng

52.  Aiden

51.  Angeline Ong

50.  Chan Chuei Mei

48.  Anlinna Lim

47.  Kelly Teh

46.  Alvatore

44.  Clarissa Ng

43.  Megan Lim

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