Father-son bonding #2 — Rites of Passage

Hey J my precious son, Since my first post about it, I'm getting both excited and nervous as I start planning our December staycay. Truth is, I've never in a million years thought I would be undertaking such an ambitious project -- to take us away for a father-son bonding retreat. Just us two. To … Continue reading Father-son bonding #2 — Rites of Passage

Parenting Motivations #5 — Our first family cell phone agreement

three white ceramic pots with green leaf plants near open notebook with click pen on top

Son, congratulations on owning your first cell phone! You’ve proven yourself mature and responsible enough for us to entrust you with this modern-day device. Given that you have a new cell phone in your hands now, courtesy of your mom and me, we obviously trust you to make good decisions. So why are we making … Continue reading Parenting Motivations #5 — Our first family cell phone agreement

My Monday Metrical Musings #53

acoustic bowed string instrument bowed stringed instrument classical

I Just Need A Moment (Violin Musing II) So this is how it feelsWhen a dream dies.A dream I never knewWas all mine.Had I knownI would have given it back.Returned it like a dog-eared library bookOr an old shoe to its rack. But we strolled into this dream togetherDidn't we?We didn't force feed or threaten … Continue reading My Monday Metrical Musings #53

My Violin Virtuoso — From Verve to Vitriol

brown violin

Dear J my precious boy First off, I'm sorry. I had no idea you felt so much vitriol now for the violin. Recently, when we broached the topic of you returning to violin lessons after a long break (to prepare for your PSLE), your almost knee-jerk reaction and rejection of the idea threw your mom … Continue reading My Violin Virtuoso — From Verve to Vitriol

My Monday Metrical Musings #51

All over Splash!Just like thatHis morning milkAll over Clap!Palm on browMy morning calm spilledAll over Splat!Dry rag wet floorMe down on all foursAll over Drip!Milk-soaked clothBack-forth sink-floorAll over Fume!Rage boilingThreatening near eruptingAll over Sigh!Another day Self-care neededAll over.

Daily living with autism #1: It’s about small wins!

a soccer ball on the grass

"Daddy, look!" It was a typical weekday evening, an hour before dinner time. That's when I usually take C for some outdoor play. What we in my family sometimes refer to as his "eye-care" time, away from home screens and out where nature and distant sights of the world await. The ground outside was fairly … Continue reading Daily living with autism #1: It’s about small wins!

Father-son bonding #1 — “Now that exams are done, …”

adventure backlit dawn dusk

Hey J my precious son, First and foremost, CONGRATULATIONS! After six long years of primary school education, you're finally done with that Holy Grail of a gruelling national examination (the PSLE or Primary School Leaving Examinations). That which forever decides which secondary school you'll go to next year. Of course it's only the first of … Continue reading Father-son bonding #1 — “Now that exams are done, …”

“Tomorrow I’ll miss you” — my son’s last Children’s Day

four person standing at top of grassy mountain

The shrill delight in my youngest son's loud declaration reverberated across our home yesterday morning. C was emphatically reminding us that it was Children's Day in my land. Yet for some nebulous cosmic reason, what actually came to my mind when I heard him was a voice from another land instead. Or should I say, … Continue reading “Tomorrow I’ll miss you” — my son’s last Children’s Day

Guest Post On Children’s Day: Another stay home dad’s musings

I'm so pleased today to introduce a fellow stay home dad and his musings on Children's Day 2021 (celebrated today in my country). This is also my blog's very first guest post on parenting! Woo-hoo!! (For more in my blog on parenting, click here) Cliff Tam's a friend I got to know in June this … Continue reading Guest Post On Children’s Day: Another stay home dad’s musings

Sports: How I came to play my least favourite game!

For the longest time, sports was never my thing; I would much rather sit down with a good book. Even now when I regularly swim, jog or brisk walk, I would still never call myself a sports enthusiast. I do those merely to stay in as pink a health as I can. For, unlike other … Continue reading Sports: How I came to play my least favourite game!