Cindy

Have you visited Jubilee Park? It’s located right beside Fort Canning MRT station where there’s an abundance of lush greeneries to unwind after a long day. I enjoy driving over for a pit stop when we are in town, and just chill while the kids play. Just a gentle note that there’s no need to travel out of Singapore for children to have fun during the school vacation. It’s our presence that truly matters 🧡 📍Jubilee Park

Yesterday I was upset with the older kids and gave them a piece of my mind. Later in the evening, when we were baking together, my daughter turned to me and said, “Just now, when you were angry with me, I thought you would not allow me to make muffins with you anymore. I thought you didn’t need me. I’m happy we are baking together now.” She said it as a reflection, with no resentment. That is the purity of a child’s heart. My daughter’s words reminded me of the immense power I have over my children - that my emotion, my speech, and my action could mean so much more than I know. My anger must have scared them quite a bit. And that fear was probably peppered with insecurity and confusion. I paused a little as I digested her words; but I refused to let guilt set in. Because, choices motivated by guilt are often self-serving. I chose, instead, to bask in the joy that we re-connected - that I shifted from a place of disconnection and returned the elements of safety, love and security to our relationship. That is kind of a typical day in our household. Chaos, peace, joy, chaos, laughter, and maybe.. chaos again. :) The muffins we made didn’t turn out as tasty as I hoped for. But my three picky eaters found them really good - and that’s quite enough to warm my heart. 🧡 📸 A snapshot of the two older ones drawing together just before breakfast.

There are days when my husband and I cannot agree on how we manage our children and today is one of those days. Our differences do not fundamentally change how we want to love and raise our kids, yet, there are moments when we differ over the tiny decisions. Tiny as some choices may be, they do add up to become big things when we choose not to talk about it. Still, talking can sometimes be hard. It is hard to talk about hard things. This disequilibrium might be healthy but it brings me lots of discomfort and confusion; and above all, a layer of shame. As I pen my reflection to process it all, I am reminded of how my husband and I bring in the stories of our childhood - of the ways we were raised - into parenthood. All the good and the bad, the joy and the (unintended) trauma - they all come back to us in a big, beautiful mess when we become parents. And as mindfulness grounds me, my resentment dissipates. I begin to acknowledge how resentment is often an unconscious manifestation of our pursuit for perfection. When we release ourselves from the cuffs of resentment, we allow compassion to clarify and purify our hearts. My heart is filled with empathy for the part of us that suffered in childhood (with the deepest respect to our parents for doing their best), and appreciation for the part of us that represents who we are now - the deep loving self that is always doing our best for one another, and for our children. Today is hard. Yet, today is beautiful too. It is the kind of hard that grounds me when I react more than reflect. It is the kind of hard that tells me that honouring myself and my husband, as well as the love we share, is as important as the work we do for our children. It is the kind of hard that gently nudges me to remember that it is always the raw bits of parenting that truly grow us. 📸 Shoutout to the man I seldom speak about. The one who listens more than he speaks. The one who always believes in me, The one who loves us in your quiet ways and who always brings us to places for the best adventures.

I shared this in stories last week and several parents quickly checked out @publiclibrarysg & agreed that this book is indeed easy to read + understand. I’m encouraged to share this here so more families and professionals can discover this wonderful book. I borrowed it from @publiclibrarysg - do look out for its availability through the @nlbsingapore app cuz the existing copies are now on loan! ♥️✨ Enjoy weekend! #mindfulparenting #mindfulparent #mindfulparents #consciousparenting #sgparents #sgmums #sgkids #sgtoddler #publiclibrarysg #readingnationsg

🥹🥹🥹 . . . . #mindfulparenting #positiveparenting #positivediscipline #consciousparent #parenting #asianparenting #consciousparenting #positiveparentingtips #earlyyears #childdevelopment #childhoodunplugged

🥚Check out what arrived - The Bunny Hunt Kit filled with Easter egg hunting essentials! 🍫 Indulge in the sweet life with The Cocoa Trees, your one-stop shop for vibrant, playful chocolates that delight kids and satisfy the cravings of chocolate lovers. From crafting unforgettable Easter baskets to treating yourself to a decadent escape, The Cocoa Trees makes gifting a breeze - perfect for every occasion. Shop the exclusive Easter selection of festive goodies from The Cocoa Trees, including Hershey’s Solid Milk Chocolate Eggs, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Miniatures and fun Egg Box. ✨This Easter, The Cocoa Trees is sweetening the deal for you - just buy any 3 items and get 1 item free✨ #easter #eastereggs #chocolates #sg #sgkids #sgfamily #easteregghunt #sgparents #TCTSpringForSweetness #thecocoatrees

This was a totally random discovery because the kids asked for a gelato treat. I’m not a fan of icy treats but @leprairiegelato won me over with their delectable flavours and thoughtful menu. The experience was extra lovely as the staff were friendly and helpful 🤍 Have you visited @leprairiegelato ? Let me know if you check it out. 🧇😋✨ #weekendgetaway #visitmalaysia #parenting #sgparent #sgweekends

Fun doesn’t need to cost much and there are so many wonderful spots to discover around us if we pay a little more attention. 🧡 For my friends in Singapore, how about a visit to Coney Island, alone or with your loved ones? We visited that space last weekend and I was enthralled by its beauty, the rich biodiversity (so many opportunities for observation!), and the easy-to-follow trails throughout our hike. And I just discovered that Coney Island is connected all the way to Jurong Lake Gardens - I’m definitely venturing into the coast-to-coast trail next! Ps: Explore the nature play spaces if you’re bringing along young kids and do watch out for the uneven terrains! 🚗 If you’re driving, park at the new estate, Punggol Point, and cross over to Coney Island - it’s a 2 min walk! 📍Coney Island, Singapore #parenting #sgkids #mindfulparenting #childhoodunplugged #theearlyyears #mindfulparent #sgparenting #sgweekends

I’m a fan of rock climbing and how fun it is to watch my children enjoying this sport that was once a feature of my youth! 🧗🏼‍♀️ Chanced upon @rockybasecamptc while we were at @aeonmall_tebraucity - tucked at a secluded corner right beside JD Sports, you might accidentally miss this gem if no one tells you about it. My only grouse - the tiny tots play area is under construction till further notice 😔 Still, there’s plenty of space to chill out and run about if you’re looking to relax while your kids play! 🏃‍♀️ 📍Rocky Basecamp AEON Mall Tebrau City #parenting #visitmalaysia #weekendgetaways #sgfamilies #sgfamily

Anyone here enjoys a cuppa in your PJs? I do. And once in a while, I’ll agree with my husband’s choice of chilling outdoors. We spent some time at @nimmies.pastrycafe last weekend and I was blown away by their pastry. 😋 I love how warm their staff is and how quick they were to attend to us - this made the entire experience at Nimmies a whole lot more beautiful. A cafe that welcomes children is extra special to us. Given a choice, would you chill at home or in a cafe? 📍Nimmies Pastry Cafe 171, Jln Beringin, Taman Melodies, 80250 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia #visitmalaysia #weekendgetaway #parenting #sgfamily

We have been using @mycuriouschild activity book sets for a while now and there is great mileage in their sets as the stories can be enjoyed over and over again. I love how there are tiny snippets of socio-emotional learning sneaked into the stories as children learn math - this is my all-time favourite feature. Enjoyed by my kids 3 to 8 - they often rave about the activities and kept asking for more. Sharing this wonderful set (our second!) with you today 🤩 . I’ll share more reading resources in the next few weeks! #parenting #childled #theearlyyears #sgparents

I don’t know about you but my primary schoolers often bicker - over food, bathtime, and everything else! 😅 That frustrates me quite a bit but I thought those were also wonderful opportunities for them to discover new social skills - and I’ll chime in whenever some extra guidance is required. 🤩 What I’m really concerned with is to offer them the best conditions to build a strong relationship that lasts a lifetime - and this can be possible even if they continue to bicker over small things! 🧡 Sharing 5 easy tips today and do rememebr to check out my earlier post with @parentingwith.moesg as we offer you wonderful conversation starters - they make good topics for family chat time too! #parenting #mindfulparenting #positiveparenting #siblingswithoutrivalry #consciousparent #sgparents #sgparenting #sgprimaryschool #sgmummy #sgmummies #sgdads #sgparenting