Life is short, time travel fast and things change tremendously day after day. We have to attach importance to every single occurrence, family, friends and even things around us. Why? To avoid regret and lost, of course!
My family and I are Singaporean. Singapore is a beautiful, safe and clean small country in Asia. Three years ago, my children and I are in Singapore while my husband is working in USA. He had been working in USA for the past ten years traveling to and fro from USA to Singapore. We had learned to treasure every moment when he is back to Singapore or when I am on business trip to USA from Singapore. The children and their dad correspond via Skype with Web-cam daily though there is a time lapse between Singapore and USA.
We had discussed for several years pertaining to the separation between the father and children. I felt that it is inappropriate, unhealthy and realize that is a gap between my husband and children separating for long period. My parent and in-laws persuade me to give up my managerial career in Singapore and move to USA. What they desire to see in us is a complete the family with parent and children bonding securely together. Finally, I began to plan on the re-location, settling all the bills, housing and miscellaneous stuff prior to the departure.
When I am in Singapore, I have a tendency to take things for granted that I will be there the entire of my life. My children education, my career, simply everything will be in Singapore. My parent, sibling and relative assist me in nurturing my children. Their pre-school, kindergarten and extra-curriculum enrollment are done by my parent. They had enrolled them to the best education center, which prepared for their future. At their age of three and four respectively, my children already enrolled in swimming, phonic, kindergarten, speech and drama, tae-kwon-do and gymnastic classes. They had been in these activities since they are 1.8 years old. What I do is concentrating on my job and play with my kids. I did not spend much time with my parent, sibling and relatives.
Currently, I am in USA distant away from my hometown. I started to feel sorry that I did not do an adequate amount of for my parent that they had done for me. I should bring them out for a holiday not just bringing them out for dinner twice a week. I should spend quality time daily communicating with my parent and understand what they want in life.
Lots of thought came to my mind after the children and I united with my husband in USA. I called my parent daily via Skype, to see how they are doing and communicate anything from the sky. Two weeks ago, my mom was suffered with shingles and in pains. I felt so lost and hurting to hear and see her suffering and I unable to hug her and take care of her. What I can do from distant is to call my siblings to ensure that she drink sufficient fluid, vitamin C and take her medication regularly.
Now, I just want to apprise everyone....... Let get our feet up and get together with your close one.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Should schools provide buses to children who live within walking distance?
To walk or to drive, which is better? My kids had been asking me this question since we moved to California, San Jose. Reasons being they hardly see people walking to school; only those that live a stone throw away. For those that live half a mile away from school, the parents/ guardians will drive them to school. They started to think back to when they were in Singapore and how they commuted.
When we were in Singapore, we walked to the supermarket, walked to the train station, walked to the school and even walked to work place if it is less than a mile. Otherwise, we will take public transport as it is so convenient and easily accessed.
After we moved to California, we gave up all the usual practices that we used to do; and started travel around by car even to the nearest grocery store which is only less than 0.5 miles. Reason being the landscape of California is large and public transport is not that accessible in certain places. And, it costs more than driving.
During the last winter, early this year in January, my boys 6 & 7 years old respectively had been talking about walking to school daily. So, they decided to start to walk to school when the spring comes! It's spring! It is the best time of the year to start walking.
Hurray! I walked my boys to school which was about 2 miles from our home. We wake up half an hour early everyday compare to the time we are driving to school. We have our breakfast, get dressed and ready for the walk to school.
After a week later, we have mixed feeling about walking to school. First of all, we in fact benefit from the 45 minutes walk to school. The boys told me they feel so fresh during the class start. And, we have more quality time sharing our thoughts, daily happening and jokes etc.
And, of course, we get teased and laughed at by neighbors, friends and the male classmates. They told us the natives here do not walk such a long distance to school or work. They also commented that we cannot afford a car. And, it is ridiculous to walk 45 minutes daily to school. Worst of all, they scrolled down the car window and wave aat us and laugh every time they pass us. We are greatly affected by such behavior. We felt that we are being humiliated and began to feel discouraged thereafter.
After the few incident, the boys asked me over the dinner table whether we should continue walking to school or drive. I personally feel that walking is an extremely good exercise and asked them to write down on a piece of paper about the pros and cons of walking. After writing down the pros and cons shown below, we decided to continue our plan to walk.
Pros:
Walking is good for health. Walking can improve our relationship (sharing our thoughts, daily happening etc.) Walking can reduce stress and relieve tension. Walking can help to reduce car trips. Walking can help to reduce congestion around the school. Walking can reduce pollution.
Cons: Feel humiliated when peoples laugh at us.
After the comparison, in a nutshell, we should do what is right for us. And, walking is good for our body and good for the earth.
When we were in Singapore, we walked to the supermarket, walked to the train station, walked to the school and even walked to work place if it is less than a mile. Otherwise, we will take public transport as it is so convenient and easily accessed.
After we moved to California, we gave up all the usual practices that we used to do; and started travel around by car even to the nearest grocery store which is only less than 0.5 miles. Reason being the landscape of California is large and public transport is not that accessible in certain places. And, it costs more than driving.
During the last winter, early this year in January, my boys 6 & 7 years old respectively had been talking about walking to school daily. So, they decided to start to walk to school when the spring comes! It's spring! It is the best time of the year to start walking.
Hurray! I walked my boys to school which was about 2 miles from our home. We wake up half an hour early everyday compare to the time we are driving to school. We have our breakfast, get dressed and ready for the walk to school.
After a week later, we have mixed feeling about walking to school. First of all, we in fact benefit from the 45 minutes walk to school. The boys told me they feel so fresh during the class start. And, we have more quality time sharing our thoughts, daily happening and jokes etc.
And, of course, we get teased and laughed at by neighbors, friends and the male classmates. They told us the natives here do not walk such a long distance to school or work. They also commented that we cannot afford a car. And, it is ridiculous to walk 45 minutes daily to school. Worst of all, they scrolled down the car window and wave aat us and laugh every time they pass us. We are greatly affected by such behavior. We felt that we are being humiliated and began to feel discouraged thereafter.
After the few incident, the boys asked me over the dinner table whether we should continue walking to school or drive. I personally feel that walking is an extremely good exercise and asked them to write down on a piece of paper about the pros and cons of walking. After writing down the pros and cons shown below, we decided to continue our plan to walk.
Pros:
Walking is good for health. Walking can improve our relationship (sharing our thoughts, daily happening etc.) Walking can reduce stress and relieve tension. Walking can help to reduce car trips. Walking can help to reduce congestion around the school. Walking can reduce pollution.
Cons: Feel humiliated when peoples laugh at us.
After the comparison, in a nutshell, we should do what is right for us. And, walking is good for our body and good for the earth.
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