Would You Test Your Child's DNA to Find Out his/her Strengths or Weaknesses?

Hi! This post has moved to

If you can save thousands of dollars instead of sending your child to every enrichment class under the sun in hopes of grooming the next sportsman /singer/ political leader/ CEO / dancer / artist etc, would you do it? Would you allow your child to take a DNA test (at least 2k) of finding out her/his strengths, characteristics, traits and such - even though the results are supposedly to be 100% correct? Or are you going to allow your child to take up whatever interest she/he wants and hopes that she will just sustain this interest in the long run?

When I first read about Map My Gene, I was surprised. Not only has Science now really scale new heights in the arena of parenting but such great leap at that.  A global company, it has been gathering quite an interest from parents, scientists and such. It has also partner with some centres as well. Currently, for $1,980, it will supposedly show you results in 40 areas of your child - including EQ, IQ, artistic, athletics and many more. The company will also help to recommend suitable careers for your child down the road!



When a Baby Just Ignores You - Ow! Ego Hurting

Do you turn into mush whenever you spy a baby across the room? Now babies are the cutest things on earth, aren't they? When there is a baby, somehow adults turn to mush (ok, not all adults) and they will start acting or speaking in strange voices to attract the baby's attention. Some pull funny faces, some giggle in high pitch voices, some blackest faces around suddenly seem to be able to find the light of day and smile and revert to normal the moment the baby is not around.

I, too, am especially bitten by the baby bug since..well..I got pregnant. I never really use to like babies all that much. I will say I am scared of babies because somehow they just seem so ...fragile and I am too rough for them. So when my sister-in-law has a baby (Zoey) recently, I could not help but found myself mesmerised by the little one. And like all other normal adults, I start to try to attract the her attention. An epic failure.

To be a SAHM (Stay at Home Mum)? I don't think so.

If there is ever one thing that has me worried, it's the maternity leave. For a long time, I thought of shortening my maternity leave to go back to work for I am not sure if I can face my little one the whole day. Many times, when I mention this, most people will look at me in shock with the expression "I can't believe she even thought of this" etched on their faces. They will then try to dissuade me and tell me that I will have a lot of things to do. I stubbornly persisted in my thinking and declared "I'm a workaholic! My mind is so active! I will need distractions than just facing the baby 24 hours a day!!" Newly-become mothers also told of how tiring they are but needed distractions as well because they felt bored by the 2nd month!

Then I started reading up about child development. Oh my... I didn't realise that it's best to stay home to be with your kid the whole day if you really want to fully develop and bond with him/her. The more I read, the more fear I felt. All books kept talking about the first three years of the baby's life and how it is possible to rear a Harvard student by then.

Your Kid May Not Turn Out To be How You Mould Him/Her

Hi! This post has moved to here! Please update your bookmarks. Thank you!

As I watched my husband scurrying along to liaise with the rest of his family members for his mom's upcoming birthday, I cannot help but think, "My husband is definitely a family man and I'm proud of him (Disclaimer: He is also absolutely extremely capable of driving you up the wall as well.) When I first joined the family, his family members proudly regaled tales of how he made them chase him around the kampung and things he got into that were bound to be of any parent's nightmare. Now, as we joke and laugh; they would watch him in silence and then remarked with a hint of pride that he has changed and grown into a fine young man.

His mom would often tell me tales of him and he, of his past. I could see how his mom have done certain things in the hopes that he would grow up into a person who with character and to be able to lead an independent life with resilience and yet not forgetting the family. He, on the other hand, told me tales of his experience when he was young and and learnt but not necessarily at home and under the watchful eye of his parents.

Truly, the mantra that I stood by reflected as I compared the stories. Experience, character, personality and perspectives truly shape a person. If a person never encounter first hand of things - no matter what we do and how we hope to mould a person - will not be able to come in to fruitful being.

The Cost of Raising a Child in Singapore - $350k?

Hi! This post has moved to here! Please update your bookmarks. Thank you!

If you have read the July's issue of Simply Her, you would have come across the article about the cost to raise a child in Singapore. When I read the price tag was $350, I did my usual freaked-out-OMG dance before settling down to read it.

If you read the short article, OCBC conducted a survey that shows in 2004, it will cost $296,000 to raise a child. Now, in 2010 with the 3% inflation rate (and remember, the inflation rate will continue throughout the years), now it will take us $353,439 to raise a child!
Eeeek! The article then went on to offer advice on the types of investments that one can take based on their risk appetites as well as savings allocations. The more I read, the more I felt the words becoming a blur. More like, I want the words to become a blur ...