修身、齊家、治國、平天下

爸爸的信～

漢高祖劉邦統一天下後﹐有人向他請教“治國﹑安邦﹑平天下”的方法。他回答說﹕文的方面﹐我有張良﹔武的方面﹐我有韓信。我只要鴐駑了他們﹐我就能管治好國家。經歷過磨煉﹐你們成熟了。努力吧﹗孩子們。

人生觀

牢騷太盛防腸斷，風物長宜放眼量。

莫道昆明池水淺，觀魚勝過富春江

大學畢業, 爸爸贈予. 時隔十年, 還在學習.

Bad father... horrible father...

Today... I officially forgot my own son's birthday.  Had to go back to Facebook to check when I posted his first pic.  I claim overtiredness.  Joyce wasn't very forgiving...

Dealin' with Death

Do you remember you first encounter with death?  Was it a close relative? A grandparent perhaps.  Or your pet goldfish.  Or maybe even the death of Jesus Christ?

We've been reading Nui-nui a Children's Bible for about a year now.  But recently.... Nui-nui has been enamored with the death of Goliath.  This story is so famous... that 9 out of 10 Christian Story Books will have some version of this story.  And every time we get to 'that page' with 'that image' of Goliath lying down... Nui-nui will instinctively point to him. 

As a parent, how do you introduce death to a 2 year old? Do you lie? Do you embellish? Or how about doing what I did....  "David took care of Goliath....and he's down."  No lie... no harm... no foul. 

How long can I keep this up?

Letting kids watch TV?

We're one of those parents... those parents who are adament about not letting our kid (singular) watch TV. For many reasons. The easy ones to explain are TV only shows garbage these days. There's the theory that kids under 2 shouldn't watch TV cuz the motion actually hurts their frontal lobes. I personally think that parents who let their kids watch TV are too lazy (or busy) and need a means to keep them occupied.

So Nui-nui has been fairly protected from TV and the likes. With the few exceptions of the Giants World Series run, the Niners and Sharks...and occasional Elmo Youtube videos, we've been consistent with
our principles. Recently.. we purchased a set of Children Worship DVD's and Nui-nui's been enamored. And now I find myself stuck in my own accusations.

I do want to emerse her in praise and worship at a young age... but how often have I put on the DVD... just so I can check my email or go start dinner?

Parenting is full of compromise and decision making. Did I take the high road or the easy road in the name of raising a "Christian family?"

What is Happy?

I once heard...people who go around and say "I'm happy" aren't really happy.  Truly happy people don't need to say they're happy.. their mere existence oozes happiness.  Hence the question..."What is Happy?" 

I have this friend who grew up wanting to go to the Maldives island.  And she eventually did.   Now... she gets to accomplish another dream and go on an African Safari. 

To me... that is being happy.  As the song goes... "Because happy is what happens...when all of your dreaaaaaaaaaaaaaams come truuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuue."

My Girl - Part IV

Was shopping at the Pruneyard the other day with Nui-nui....and we happen to walk past Trudy's, a famous evening gown store that sells wedding gowns.  Nui-nui's eyes lit up when we walked by some of the mannequinns.  She couldn't stop pointing at the dress and saying "Pretty!" or "Princess!" 

My first time going wedding gown shopping with my baby.... a preview of what's to come?

Another playground bully

Ran into another bully today at the park.

And this time, the boy's dad and I were standing no more than 3 feet away from our kids.  The first time, he started throwing those little pieces of bark at Nui-nui.  He then walked around and pointed his finger on Nui-nui's cheeks. 

Perspective A: He was being friendly and those were signs of platonic engagement
Perspective B: He was being hostile and was showing signs of dominance

Like last time, I didn't want to deal with this.... so we went of to play something else.  Moments later... the little twerp came trotting over; he removes his hat... and flings it at Nui-nui.  I had enough... I simply said, "Ok...we're outta here."  Grabbed Nui-nui and left.

The little runt's dad apologized and said, "we're out of here too." 

Next time this happens.... I won't be so kind.  Nui-nui needs to learn that her dad will defend her and she will find protection with me. 

My Girl - Part III

Normally when a child hurts themselves....trip-n-fall, run-into-wall, smoosh-a-finger... they'll run to the person they can find comfort in.  In my case.... Nui-nui always runs to me. =D

Ahhh.... Be proud in victory.  Be humble in defeat.

Measuring up....

I always thought it was an old-wives tale that a height of a person can be determined by their length when they're 2 years old.  It was an old wives tale because I believed in all the other old-wives tale.  Playing basketball or swimming helps you grow taller.  Running a lot or playing soccer will make you shorter. Lifting weights or drinking coffee too early stunts your growth.

Turns out...those are all lies.  Our pediatrician told us that as unscientific as it may sound... two times a girl's length at 18 months and a two times boy's length at 2 years old really is the height they'll grow into. 

So how tall will Nui-nui be....? Well...let's just say she won't be taller than daddy when he walks her down the aisle.  There goes my dream of having a star volleyball player.  Well...she might still qualify to be a setter or defensive specialist.

My Girl - Part II

昨日在西貢, 外公帶囡囡去魚江.  見到一條反肚魚....

Grandpa goes, "瞓緊."
Nui-nui says, "No, 死左."