The Girl Who Silenced the World at UN for 6 minutes

Dear Friends

It had been awhile since I last posted.

Recently, the weather is scotching hot here in Asia and I believe many other parts of the world are experiencing much worst - like Australia's bushfires that wiped out an entire village. I think we should all re-think our daily ways of living and the waste we are creating. Imagine living in the "ultimate" world - all covered and filled with rubbish as featured in the movies "The City of Ember" and "The Terminator." We have all the wealth (no matter how small or large) compared to those who are completely deprived - starvation; lack of clean water, proper sanitation and shelter - we are blessed. Let's us bless others too in everyway we can.

Listen to this girl in the video below. Just 12 - 13 years old but she and her friends' minds are filled with such worries. How can we adults (even children) help - in our little and big ways? How?...



What CAN we do? What WILL we do? What MUST we do?

Let's re-think for our children, grandchildren, great grandchildren; and future generations of children to come.

Let's us begin to change our ways for the future!

Until my next post, let's solemnly re-think....

BUT MOST OF ALL ACT! Action always speaks louder than words. Talk is cheap...

The Terrestria Chronicles

If you loved Chronicles of Narnia, you'll love this series!

There is NO magic or wizardry in this series!



This is a series of 7 books which has "Fast-paced action… powerful imagery… heart-pounding adventure… These life-changing books are captivating and once you start reading, you’ll find them hard to put down. This adventure series has a particularly strong appeal to today’s young people: it’s a series with knights and castles, dragons and princesses. . . but these are books in which every page points to truths of the Christian walk. Biblical doctrines and character principles are taught in such a compelling, fascinating way that they will stay with the reader for a lifetime." ~ Ed Dunlop

To read excerpt from these books, go to Dunlop Ministries.

Invest in your children's soul now before it is too late.

Thank you Brother Vardaman and Sister Julie for recommending them to us.

To all parents and children out there, God Bless Your Souls!

Let's Do the "Body Boogie" With Us!

Hi Parents!

Here's the long awaited video of my class for your viewing pleasure.

We had just moved and my mum just found some time to do up this video and uploaded to YouTube.... so enjoy!



We'll try to put up the others as soon as my mum gets time to edit them.

Missed the times I had with you - my classmates - and hope I can find time to visit.

Meanwhile, enjoy your time in school!

Stay healthy and God Bless!

Yours truly, Javier.

P.S.: Happy New Year! :)

Financial Debt Counselling for The Young

Parents, are you concerned with the great possibilities that your children will run into financial debt in their future?

Worry not as there's an answer to this! Watch the following video and decide for yourself:



If you think the following is for your child/children, find out more here.

I always believe that there're always solutions to one's problems; one just got to look out for them and once found, let the world know about them too.

Best of all to all parents!
Jennifer Tan

Bored? Boring? - Just a chid's expression of feelings!

Administrative Note: Philip Chang, our family therapist/counselor continues with some parenting tips. Articles from ALL readers like you help Centre for Fathering broaden our network in sharing precious learning points on fatherhood. Please continue to send us your thoughts in comments, poetry, short essays etc. (within 500 words) keep sharing. However, the Centre reserves the right to decide whether to use material contributed by readers, as well as the right to edit such material.

“I am bored….” or “Dad, don’t be so boring…”

Have you ever had this complaint thrown at you by your child? How did you feel?

Many parents will feel guilt one time or another. This is because our children have just told us that they are unhappy.

Fathers in particular have the greatest difficulty in handling family complaints because in general many of them assume that happiness is the litmus test of their fatherhood. After all, isn’t a good father one who brings happiness to his family? That is why many fathers feel guilty if ever their families give the slightest hint of unhappiness.

This is one of those destructive myths that fathers should quickly kill whenever it raises its head. The fact is that happiness is a feeling.

Firstly, a feeling is like the breeze. It comes and it goes. Now you feel it, then you don’t. Feelings change consciously and unconsciously. This energy is in motion all the time, like air that surrounds us – invisible and yet palpable.

Secondly, feelings are fundamentally subjective. Everybody’s feeling is personal and unique to her. No two persons can feel the same feeling, the same way, with the same weight even when the feeling is shared, like laughter. So you can’t own another person’s feeling, much less be responsible for it.
Thirdly, feelings cannot be denied. We can navigate our feelings but we cannot ignore them.

So the next time your child complains about feeling bored, just accept that she is sharing a feeling with you. You don’t have to be responsible for her feeling because she needs to learn to navigate her own emotions. What parents (especially fathers) can do, is to model how to accept the feeling and summon the power to choose the response.

The first step towards raising our emotional intelligence is to accept and own our emotions. Denial or any form of repression will only start a pressure-cooker effect that in time leads to impulsivity and outbursts.
What’s Happening at CFF
Adventure in Fatherhood

This is a father-child bonding camp. It’s designed to help fathers build closer relationships with their children through challenging adventure learning activities.
Date: Nov 23 - 24, 2007 (Fri - Sat) – please note a change of dates earlier from Nov 30 – Dec 1

Camp Fee: $390 per pair (father with ONE child only. Age: Pri 3 to Sec 1)
Min. 10 pairs to commence each camp.
Venue: OBS – East Coast Campus (East Coast Parkway)
Call Irene at 6252-8408 or email us at Irene@fathers.com.sg to register for the above event

Beginning Parenting Programme (BPP)

A monthly workshop to enable expectant couples to learn and share together with other couples at the same life-stage; and form fresh ties that will mutually enrich and support them for the rest of their lives.

Date: 27 Oct, 2007 (Sat)
Time: 2.00 – 6.00 pm

Registration fee: $20 per couple
Venue: Centre for Fathering at Blk 128A Lor 1 Toa Payoh #01-01, Singapore 311128

Call Irene at 6252-8408 or email us at Irene@fathers.com.sg to register for the above event If you find this e-mail helpful, please forward it to others who are interested. To subscribe or unsubscribe Fathering Matters, please send us a email at fatheringmatters@fathers.com.sg or check out our website at www.fathers.com.sg. Thank you.

Singapore Children Not Eating Right

Hi concerned parents and especially mothers...

I just came across this article with the above heading... and the subheading "Mother knows best... or does she?" really put the pressure on us (mothers)!

As if we do not already have the pressure and having to tackle this very issue day in and day out, these headings really put a punch into our faces.

I REALLY wonder who they surveyed. I believe many educated mothers are quite well-informed about nutrition and are constantly exchanging ideas as to how they could better themselves in this area. Everyone should know of the inclusion of fruits and vegetables in their children's diets are crucial. Many can't control their children's eating (myself included) of snacks and tibits since the school or childcare center they go to often "provide" them - at the canteen or birthday goodie bags. I am guilty of allowing my younger son to snack but as long as he's taking his due meals and snacks only after he had his meals, I think it's fine but also in moderate amounts.

The article came with a sample meal suggestion that one may try it out. Even though I know my younger son will never try them at all but if he does, it'll be a VERY SLOW process ... well, better than nothing.

Best of wishes to all struggling mothers out there.
Jennifer @ www.my-personal-development-secrets.com

Babies Watching Too Much TV

Good Day!

This morning, my attention was skewed to a caption on MSN.com with regards to the above issue.

There's so many debates on this issue and nevertheless, is an on-going issue for every parent.

To find out what are the reseachers are taking about, read the full article.

In my own opinion, it still boils down to how the children learn - what're their ways of learning, calls for different methods of teaching and exposure.

I do admit that my older boy learns from watching educational VCDs and even TV. Yet these same VCDs do not work for my younger boy. While my nieces reacted differently to them and at different stages (in terms of their ages).

With different types of learning styles coupled with different personalities, preferences and tastes in the make-up of individual children (even with siblings); you will have to undertake different teaching plans and tools.

A father was telling me the other day that his older son is left-handed who has a different brain wiring, the boy learns his spellings through color-coded words.

E.g. the word "brother":
The "bro" is in red while "ther" is in blue.

He cannot learn the word even if you first underline "bro" and then underline "ther" with a pencil for him ... which works well with my older son while my younger son is attracted to words with background colors in his favourite color spectrum.

While my older son is independent in his learning, my younger one prefers group learning.

So, when it comes to the issue of how long must a child be exposed to TV ... there's no conclusive evidence as to what guidelines stand true.

My best bet is "moderation" since nowadays, there's more violence and sex on broadcast TV.

Also, outdoor exposure and exercises that help children boast their physical growth and health must NEVER be neglected. What's the point with lots of wealth and knowledge if you do not have the health to help you prolong their uses.

Parents are bombarded with so many research reviews that sometimes they skewed towards one side and lost tract of what's more important - focusing on each child's unique individuality and talents ... not forgetting buidling up their souls too. With materialism, genuine concern for others can easily be lost and thus, more social problems and violence.

.... the verdict still lies with the parents ... who are the ones who have the reign over their children.

God bless!
Jennifer
http://www.my-personal-development-secrets.com