Rachel's first dental checkup was long overdue. I had wanted to bring her to the dentist around 3 but I sort of forgot about this since we were trying to save money for rental which had doubled since then and many others.
I started to brush her teeth even when the first one appeared using the First Baby toothpaste and tooth brush gadget.(retails around $11 then). As a toddler she was quite co-operative when it comes to cleaning the teeth. However, from 4 she starts to resent the brushing when I tried to floss, some blood did appear and I gave up flossing. Her favourite toothpaste is the Komodo Strawberry flavoured and occasionally we use the electric toothbrush to remove the plaque. It works!
I've called several dental clinics but many refused to attend to a 4 year old. Perhaps they could forsee the screaming and coaxing and how the dentist can make more $ if they attend to older children and adults. Lunch time whitening at $1200 payable by credit card instalment. Why not??
My sister in law highly recommended SmileFocus at Camden since they have pediatric dentist and the environment was highly conducive for young kids. There is this room with Wifi and Nintendo and other baby toys and even a small LCD showing Barney on the dentist's high tech and comfy chair. While the place was wonderful the rates are not so kind to the pocket of a middle income family. Camden afterall is in Orchard and serves mainly the well-off and the expats. Even the clinic was managed by several Ang Mo women.
Rachel's first check up cum x-ray was almost $250. A shocking 8 cavities were detected and I was quoted $175/ cavity and should the kid be uncooperative, the dentist said they will do a GA and get all the cavities fixed. I almost fainted at the quoted rate and the suggested "operation". My child, 5 general anesthetic for fixing cavities????? Shudders!!!
After discussing with Yan, I decided to trust God for a more affordable alternative.
Thank God, Raffles Hospital where Rachel was born in 2005 now boast of a dentist, though newly recuited, had much experience with young children overseas, even though she was not pediatrically certified. And wow, though there was no toy room and TV on the dentist chair, the young dental surgeon was able to fix 1/6 of Rachel's cavities. She was gentle and encouraging and even very polite to her assistant unlike the other dentist. Both had Filippino assistants now being the norm.
The price. $30 for consultation and a mere $60 for a cavity. I am so relieved that we are now paying good money for good service. In fact, I am so looking forward to the next appointment where a sedative will be given to make rachel drowsy, verus a GA, and hopefully all the remaining 5 cavities be fixed. The other 2 were too tiny for immediate attention and by the time they become serious if they do, its about time she have new permanent teeth.
I am so tempted to compare the 2 dentist, both women, for comparison sake.
SF dentist: You shouldn't use children's toothpaste, low floride levels and fruit flavours actually do nothing to protect teeth. Use pea size of adult toothpaste for sensitive teeth instead. (Which i did and rachel cried and yelled twice)
RH dentist: It's ok. most important is regular brushing. Adult toothpaste is too strong and minty for kids.
SF dentist: I need you, mummy to ban or control all the sweets intake. No sugared drinks, Ribena, fizzy drinks, cultured milk all contain too much sugar. Just give her milk and water bet meals. Sweets are only for parties or sundays.
RH dentist: The important thing is to reduce time sugar is in contact with teeth. Everything you eat has suger. Best have snacks after meals and brush/rinse afterwards.
Finally, I expressed my frustration that the pediatrician was the first to introduce sweets to my child. The RH dentist was equally pissed. "Can't they give a carrot or a celery!!!" "They always give sweets and even the church gives so much sweets on Sunday too!" She even said she will write to the press on day on this!!! How thoughtful and pro-active. Pray she will because what I wrote was not published I think.
Yes!!!! Most pediatric clinics have huge bottles of sweets and when Aerin, Rachel's cousin saw a doctor recently, she was given a whole bottle of gummies!!! Coincidentally, the pediatrician that gave my angel her first sweet happened to be the same one who referred her friend the pediatric dentist to my sister in law and then to me. It seemed like giving sweets to toddlers also means providing jobs to pediatric dentistry profession. How contradictory!!!
Another contradiction. If children are encouraged to have their first dental checkup by 1-2 why is it that most dental clinics refuse to attend to kids below 6, leaving the parents with little or no choice but to spend hard earned money at expensive specialist clinics with pediatric certified dentists??????? Are all these specialists necessary?????
Wednesday, 28 April 2010
Friday, 16 April 2010
On duty and responsibilities
Can't sleep last night. Was rather upset. It's a fact that a hands-on dad had become rather hands-off, totally unhelpful and lacking initiative when the kid spilled drinks, ribena for that matter. It's the second time now, it used to be that he was the first to dash for the rags etc. Now, I am expected to clean the messy child past midnight and the floors, at the same time?????
Anyway, Rachel is the glue that holds the marriage together and I know that she would choose me over the dad anytime. Actually most kids would prefer the mum. I remembered my parents having a big fight over in laws and my mother was crying much, trying to pack her stuff. I actually helped her fold the clothes, because as a young kid I was READY to stick with her no matter what even though she was the one that would scold, slap,hit, caned, ridicule me, etc.
I learnt DUTY and RESPONSIBILITY at a tender age. Rain or shine even when I was unwell, which hardly happened, it was my DUTY to fetch my younger sister home from Primary one several streets away. I was just 3 years older. I had to watch the clock every Mon-Fri and when it was time to fetch her, grab some money, an umbrella if neccessary, then wait outside her Boon Keng Primary School gate as a whole school of familiar looking kids dashed out to their mums or grandmas, now a days its the maids. Then I had to carry her heavy bag- much heavier than recommended for her tiny frame though I remembered she had a tummy. Now I am the one that sports a tummy especially so after child birth that destroyed not just figure but model-confidence as well. I would reward myself with some ice-packs. Afterall, it was a hazardous task, crossing the heavy traffic T junction each time.
It was also my duty to 'baby-sit" my siblings and I sometimes whack them, since its my mother's well demonstrated method to "control" them. I was like very authoritative kid, the leader of the pack. Yet nothing traumatised me more when accidents happened like my sister running and falling headon to a 17kg oil tin. There was blood everywhere from the gash above the eyebrow and even blood in the eyes. I was more scared that my parents would kill me, punish me, hate me forever if she died, or became seriously injured.
Apart from taking care of the siblings, totalling 3, I had to help with household chores, a bit of cooking, more the ingredients part. I remembered slicing part of my third finger with some potatoes and the skin was hanging, bleeding. I was scolded instead for not being careful. Ya..I was a day-dreamy type. In addition, there were countless incidents with knives and I definitely HATE being splattered with hot cooking oil. After primary school hours, I also did door to door sales with mum to help aunt sell her leftover stock of clothes. She wanted to be a fashion designer??? I also helped to cut thick layers of textile with some handy machinery, and others that sew the seams together. Making T-shirts was easy-peasy. Later when Aunt opened a provision shop in Jurong West, with my grandpa's inheritance meant for our education, I was roped in to weigh biscuits, man the cashier, pack groceries etc sometimes in school uniform. The shop eventually closed due to lack of liquidity and poor planning.
Many times, after school or during the school holidays, I had to help out as the stall assistant for my dad's fishball noodle stall. Once I accidentally spilled a little hot soup on a man and he grabbed my wrist ready to whack me despite all the apologies. Dad had to step in offer free food and barred me from helping him at his stall for my safety sake. I was about 10 or 11. It's the boys turn to serve their duties.
Then there was sick and naggy grandparents to help care for, from the fetching of things like water, newspapers, to dispensing medication etc.
Growing up, I wished my family was richer and I could have time for myself. To shop to learn music and its no wonder the number one place I want to visit after school was the malls. Shopping was my escape from a demanding childhood yet it also serves as my motivation to excel in school.
Personally, I want to spare Rachel the heartaches of being the eldest kid. Once you have a baby brother or sister, you have no choice but to grow up so fast and miss out on being a happy kid. It's no wonder I often wished I was an only child, the sole recipient of daddy and mummy's love and attention.
So, enough said, I am convinced that my maternal duty to Rachel is so strong that alone can be the reason to live for if I have nothing to live for.
If I were to die now, I actually have no regrets. I've lived my life well and I think Rachel had a very good mental image of the mother and many wonderful memories of being together, learning music, art and whatever and also shopping and coffee breaks. Similarly, Yan should think of me as a faithful supportive wife and good mum.
Having said that, it would be better to continue learning the violin until I could play most concertos that I loved and leave behind some sort of music legacy or heritage for Rachel. It will be great to be able to contribute in some ways to this small nation, in the area of classical music. Perhaps I could be a patron of the arts if God would prosper and bless me in this way.
Anyway, Rachel is the glue that holds the marriage together and I know that she would choose me over the dad anytime. Actually most kids would prefer the mum. I remembered my parents having a big fight over in laws and my mother was crying much, trying to pack her stuff. I actually helped her fold the clothes, because as a young kid I was READY to stick with her no matter what even though she was the one that would scold, slap,hit, caned, ridicule me, etc.
I learnt DUTY and RESPONSIBILITY at a tender age. Rain or shine even when I was unwell, which hardly happened, it was my DUTY to fetch my younger sister home from Primary one several streets away. I was just 3 years older. I had to watch the clock every Mon-Fri and when it was time to fetch her, grab some money, an umbrella if neccessary, then wait outside her Boon Keng Primary School gate as a whole school of familiar looking kids dashed out to their mums or grandmas, now a days its the maids. Then I had to carry her heavy bag- much heavier than recommended for her tiny frame though I remembered she had a tummy. Now I am the one that sports a tummy especially so after child birth that destroyed not just figure but model-confidence as well. I would reward myself with some ice-packs. Afterall, it was a hazardous task, crossing the heavy traffic T junction each time.
It was also my duty to 'baby-sit" my siblings and I sometimes whack them, since its my mother's well demonstrated method to "control" them. I was like very authoritative kid, the leader of the pack. Yet nothing traumatised me more when accidents happened like my sister running and falling headon to a 17kg oil tin. There was blood everywhere from the gash above the eyebrow and even blood in the eyes. I was more scared that my parents would kill me, punish me, hate me forever if she died, or became seriously injured.
Apart from taking care of the siblings, totalling 3, I had to help with household chores, a bit of cooking, more the ingredients part. I remembered slicing part of my third finger with some potatoes and the skin was hanging, bleeding. I was scolded instead for not being careful. Ya..I was a day-dreamy type. In addition, there were countless incidents with knives and I definitely HATE being splattered with hot cooking oil. After primary school hours, I also did door to door sales with mum to help aunt sell her leftover stock of clothes. She wanted to be a fashion designer??? I also helped to cut thick layers of textile with some handy machinery, and others that sew the seams together. Making T-shirts was easy-peasy. Later when Aunt opened a provision shop in Jurong West, with my grandpa's inheritance meant for our education, I was roped in to weigh biscuits, man the cashier, pack groceries etc sometimes in school uniform. The shop eventually closed due to lack of liquidity and poor planning.
Many times, after school or during the school holidays, I had to help out as the stall assistant for my dad's fishball noodle stall. Once I accidentally spilled a little hot soup on a man and he grabbed my wrist ready to whack me despite all the apologies. Dad had to step in offer free food and barred me from helping him at his stall for my safety sake. I was about 10 or 11. It's the boys turn to serve their duties.
Then there was sick and naggy grandparents to help care for, from the fetching of things like water, newspapers, to dispensing medication etc.
Growing up, I wished my family was richer and I could have time for myself. To shop to learn music and its no wonder the number one place I want to visit after school was the malls. Shopping was my escape from a demanding childhood yet it also serves as my motivation to excel in school.
Personally, I want to spare Rachel the heartaches of being the eldest kid. Once you have a baby brother or sister, you have no choice but to grow up so fast and miss out on being a happy kid. It's no wonder I often wished I was an only child, the sole recipient of daddy and mummy's love and attention.
So, enough said, I am convinced that my maternal duty to Rachel is so strong that alone can be the reason to live for if I have nothing to live for.
If I were to die now, I actually have no regrets. I've lived my life well and I think Rachel had a very good mental image of the mother and many wonderful memories of being together, learning music, art and whatever and also shopping and coffee breaks. Similarly, Yan should think of me as a faithful supportive wife and good mum.
Having said that, it would be better to continue learning the violin until I could play most concertos that I loved and leave behind some sort of music legacy or heritage for Rachel. It will be great to be able to contribute in some ways to this small nation, in the area of classical music. Perhaps I could be a patron of the arts if God would prosper and bless me in this way.
Tuesday, 6 April 2010
Update and Upgrade
Haven't got the time to update this as often as I would like to.
The past few weeks was rather busy. When I brought Rachel to the Suntec Convention Halls for the Kidz Academy exposition, we signed up for trial ballet lessons 2 lessons for $25 and at the same time brought home a ukelele. The ukelele remains more of a toy than a musical instrument, since she loved to sing along with Barbie and the Diamond castle and some almost 10 Barbie dvds, its great fun to watch her strum and chantez!!
The first trial lesson at JM Dance was not exactly fun. Rachel was scolded much and criticised from "weak knees" to "poor balance.". I thought the young teacher was not as patient with little girls and thought that my kid will probably HATE ballet after that lesson. Quelle Bonne surprise!!! She WANTED lessons every week!!! My kid can take strictness and demand.
At $240 per term for 11 lessons, throw in registration $25 and uniform $98, its $363 for term one and $240 for subsequent terms. Surely there are cheaper alternatives. So I went to enquire the francise Crestar. Personally I am not so keen about tuition and enrichment francise chains, something tells me that art and business do not gell well etc.
I deeply admired teachers who impart not just the skills but also their passion for the art and many do so without charging huge fees. I read that Joshua bell was often given free lessons by the great Joseph Gingold. Then there was the ultimate teacher, life-changer Leopold Auer who had all these famous students as Heifetz and Elman on scholarships. My violin hero Yehudi Menuhin set up a school that would admit any talented kid regardless of nationality and income. In essence no gifted child would be denied a place to study at this prestigious school, now complete with a swimming pool, if his parents can't pay the fees. Many conservatories and also Julliard now offers scholarships to the priviledge few.
Well, for Crestar, the fees are cheaper $173.30 but with a $100 deposit and registration $21.40 and the fact that the parents need to purchase from a separate shop the leotard, shoes, tutu, stockings at approximately $75-100. I visited the shop in Roxy Square nearby but felt that if my kid were to continue ballet lessons as a form of social exercise and discipline, perhaps the Suntec location is more ideal in terms of teacher/student ratio, location where the mum can shop for 45 mins..HEE and mainly no deposit rule. Often times, I find it a HASSLE to request for MY deposit upon termination etc etc.
Still we are half-hearted. It's two trial lessons already and Rachel seemed keen. We just upgraded her violin from 1/16 to 1/10 at $300 plus complete with new bow, rosin, European strings, for better sound quality and a cute case. To pay another $370 seemed sacrilegious!!!!
So, after consulting the kid, we decided to resume the ballet lessons at Suntec next Jan if she is still keen and in the mean time to practise those stretching pilates exercises she had been taught.
At the end of the day, I thank God for a GREAT kid. Each day when I supervised her on the violin and piano (sometimes dad takes over) she showed great interest, understanding and desire to learn. She came up with a motto "PRACTISE AND LEARN" We often let her know that music is an art and as with all art, one gets better each time we practise and appreciate it. She loves all things music related. She has seen many video footages of young violinists maturing from being a cute kid to who they are today and told me one day she will play a full size violin, have her own concerts, albums etc. I told her the difference its they really love playing the violin and enjoy making it sing. If you do, we know GOD will help you and bless you too.
Lastly, like us she enjoys all the reality TV programmes like Amazing race, American's Next Top Model, and Survivor etc. Imagine at 1am our entire family was watching the Amazing race!!! Cheers to home-schooling!!!
The past few weeks was rather busy. When I brought Rachel to the Suntec Convention Halls for the Kidz Academy exposition, we signed up for trial ballet lessons 2 lessons for $25 and at the same time brought home a ukelele. The ukelele remains more of a toy than a musical instrument, since she loved to sing along with Barbie and the Diamond castle and some almost 10 Barbie dvds, its great fun to watch her strum and chantez!!
The first trial lesson at JM Dance was not exactly fun. Rachel was scolded much and criticised from "weak knees" to "poor balance.". I thought the young teacher was not as patient with little girls and thought that my kid will probably HATE ballet after that lesson. Quelle Bonne surprise!!! She WANTED lessons every week!!! My kid can take strictness and demand.
At $240 per term for 11 lessons, throw in registration $25 and uniform $98, its $363 for term one and $240 for subsequent terms. Surely there are cheaper alternatives. So I went to enquire the francise Crestar. Personally I am not so keen about tuition and enrichment francise chains, something tells me that art and business do not gell well etc.
I deeply admired teachers who impart not just the skills but also their passion for the art and many do so without charging huge fees. I read that Joshua bell was often given free lessons by the great Joseph Gingold. Then there was the ultimate teacher, life-changer Leopold Auer who had all these famous students as Heifetz and Elman on scholarships. My violin hero Yehudi Menuhin set up a school that would admit any talented kid regardless of nationality and income. In essence no gifted child would be denied a place to study at this prestigious school, now complete with a swimming pool, if his parents can't pay the fees. Many conservatories and also Julliard now offers scholarships to the priviledge few.
Well, for Crestar, the fees are cheaper $173.30 but with a $100 deposit and registration $21.40 and the fact that the parents need to purchase from a separate shop the leotard, shoes, tutu, stockings at approximately $75-100. I visited the shop in Roxy Square nearby but felt that if my kid were to continue ballet lessons as a form of social exercise and discipline, perhaps the Suntec location is more ideal in terms of teacher/student ratio, location where the mum can shop for 45 mins..HEE and mainly no deposit rule. Often times, I find it a HASSLE to request for MY deposit upon termination etc etc.
Still we are half-hearted. It's two trial lessons already and Rachel seemed keen. We just upgraded her violin from 1/16 to 1/10 at $300 plus complete with new bow, rosin, European strings, for better sound quality and a cute case. To pay another $370 seemed sacrilegious!!!!
So, after consulting the kid, we decided to resume the ballet lessons at Suntec next Jan if she is still keen and in the mean time to practise those stretching pilates exercises she had been taught.
At the end of the day, I thank God for a GREAT kid. Each day when I supervised her on the violin and piano (sometimes dad takes over) she showed great interest, understanding and desire to learn. She came up with a motto "PRACTISE AND LEARN" We often let her know that music is an art and as with all art, one gets better each time we practise and appreciate it. She loves all things music related. She has seen many video footages of young violinists maturing from being a cute kid to who they are today and told me one day she will play a full size violin, have her own concerts, albums etc. I told her the difference its they really love playing the violin and enjoy making it sing. If you do, we know GOD will help you and bless you too.
Lastly, like us she enjoys all the reality TV programmes like Amazing race, American's Next Top Model, and Survivor etc. Imagine at 1am our entire family was watching the Amazing race!!! Cheers to home-schooling!!!
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