Category: Singapuraku

Frustrations Of A Mother-Of-4 Exploring Bazaar Geylang: Have People Got No Compassion And Manners?

I bring the pram to Geylang as my son, the youngest, is really hard to handle. He needs to be strapped in his seat.

I hv 4 boys. My 3rd is like a jumping Monkey on everlasting batteries. I will make him sit on the pram so that he will sit still. Albeit fighting will ensue btw him and the 4th boy in the pram.

I hv my 2 other boys holding on each side of the pram while walking as I want to make sure they are always by my side.

Thing is. It can be quite irritating to be dragging the kids and the pram out, but I have to. They are my kids. I need them to be safe. Also because I have to bring them along w me as we do not hv any maid to look after them.

I do not believe in maids although I do feel at times I need help as I struggle btw being a Mom and running my own business. But after hving two bad experiences, I would rather be without one. I hv my Mom but hey, she too needs a break from my kechorable kids. And now, w Papa gone and me being an only child, I bring my Mom along w me everywhere I go. To say the least, I bring everyone along w me.

It is not easy to be out w 4 kids. And it is back breaking to be babywearing a child of more than 10kg for hours. Plus having to ensure the rest of the kids dont go missing. A pram is like a soul reliever. Like godsent. I can strap my two boys in the pram and hang my bag full of bottlemilk, hotwater bottle, milk container and all that I need when we hv tods.

As parents we hv a lot of responsibilities strapped ard us. We hv errands to run and things to be done. At times we need them done w the kids tagging along. Though it hinders our movement at times, but what choice do we hv? We just hv to deal w it. They are our kids. Kids that I carried in my womb and suffered a bad nine months of nausea and morning sickness. I went through hours of labour for. They are my responsibility. My top priority is my children’s safety.

So pardon me for irritating you with my pram while I push my two kids in the pram and at times fighting w each other while dragging my other two kids alongside the pram, and lugging a bag or two. I need my kids in the pram so that I wont go crazy chasing after them.

Just like you. I am tired too. Just like you. I feel annoyed too. Just like you. I get irritated too.

While pushing the pram and pple just wont make way for us to go through. While pushing the pram and we need to go up the lift, but it is jam packed w able bodies that rather take the lift than the escalator and make way to parents w kids and prams. Instead, we hv to make way to these able bodies that just needed to walk a little further to climb on the escalators. While pushing the pram, some may just push you just so they can go through instead of saying excuse me or helping you out when you needed it.

Pushing a pram seems like an easy job but it is not that easy. It takes a lot of patience. I at times lost it too. Thanks to a few inconsiderate pple.

The thing is, it is not easy being a parent.

So pardon us. We are just being parents. We need to get things done and our kids are our responsibilities.

Do understand our situation. We are only parents and are doing the best that we can. Dont hate us for this thing called Pram.

Give love because we all deserve some. Be it those w kids, none or single. Sometimes a little love can really make our day. 🙂

Salam Ramadhan.

Source: Diana Hairul

June 18, 2016
Malay Female Police Officer Goes Extra Mile In Ramadan Helping Disabled Resident

Our patrol officer, SGT Kayisah, was conducting foot patrol when she came across an elderly resident requiring assistance near Block 220 Ang Mo Kio. Without hesitation, our officer stepped in – SGT Kayisah helped wheel the resident to the nearby supermarket, assisted her to purchase groceries and also to bring her back to her residence after that.

This seemingly small, but gracious act, makes us proud.

Kudos to the officer!

Source: Ang Mo Kio North NPC

June 18, 2016
Meet Kakak WO Rennysa Ithnin – She Tackles Hazardous Materials For A Living

WO Rennysa Bte Ithnin joined the SCDF after she found out more information about the organisation at a Career Fair. She was immediately sold by the opportunity to learn lifesaving skills and the adrenaline rush of attending to emergencies.

Having been a firefighter in various fire stations for many years, she is now a Senior Instructor in the Civil Defence Academy’s Hazardous Materials (HazMat) Branch.

It is hard to fault the tangy WO Rennysa for being too-cool-for-school. A mother of three and a passionate instructor herself, WO Rennysa believes that every learning experience should be a fusion of theoretical and practical vigour, and most importantly, it must be a fun and memorable one.

With this mindset, WO Rennysa has taught hundreds of local and international trainees from different professional industries on HazMat identification and mitigation techniques. Her trainees include local participants like members from the Company Emergency Response Teams, SCDF Emergency Responders and international participants from countries like Bhutan, South Korea and Oman.

At the start of every course, WO Rennysa makes it a point to break the ice by gaining a better understanding of her trainees and their professional background. WO Rennysa believes that it helps inject a sense of warmth to the classroom and that in turn, allows her trainees to feel more comfortable about asking questions candidly. WO Rennysa also explained that adult learning takes place more effectively through discussions instead of the traditional classroom learning methods.

WO Rennysa applies the same principles when teaching her children. Together with her husband, they guide them through discussions instead of instructions.

“This is what I strive to achieve as an instructor and mother, and it is to deeply embed in my trainees and children the ‘moral of the story’ instead of the countless number of technical points that he or she should memorise,” WO Rennysa said.

Source: www.scdf.gov.sg

June 18, 2016
Couple With 19 Month Old Baby Cannot Survive On Husband’s $1200 Pay, Expecting Another Child

Good afternoon Mr Gilbert.

I need your help…right now I am facing a financial melt down.

My hubby has been sacked by a company last year and he managed to get a contract job as a packer earning $1200 to sustain the whole family.

But his income is not enough to stretch till his next pay day.

I myself is a stay-at-home mum and currently pregnant with our second child. We are currently staying at my parents’ place.

My first child is 19 months old and I need a favour from you just for this month.

I need some help for my first child milk Friso stage 3 and pampers size XL and some money for us to survive till 4th July – my husband’s next pay day.

Right now my son milk is running low and this is his last tin of milk.

Totally we have no money on hand. I hope you could help us just this month.

Anything you can get back to me.

Anonymous

Source: www.transitioning.org

June 17, 2016
Singaporean Family Earns Ire Of Other Singaporeans For Supporting Pro-Settler Israeli NGO

StandWithUs has been described as a “notorious right-wing pro-settler organization that works closely with the Israeli Foreign Ministry”. The aim of the American not-for-profit is to enhance Israel’s image in the eyes of the world. The grassroots group concentrates on three main areas: Media Action for Israel, Call to Action for Israel and Educational Action for Israel.

A Singaporean Christian family has drawn the criticism of some for supporting StandWithUs. In a message to the pro-settler group, the Singaporean family said:

“As Singaporeans, we are thankful to Israel for the IDF’s help during our country’s infancy. Our military and our country are indebted to Israel. As Chinese with an ancient culture, we are inspired by the Jewish culture, which is of a similar vintage as ours. Chinese and Jews have much to learn from each other. As Christians, we are lovers of Israel and all its people; it is the birthplace of Christianity and central to the coming of HaMashiach. We remain contrite for anti-semitism in the Christian heritage and are committed to return to the Jewish roots of the faith. Today, we celebrate these things and our hearts are full. We stand with Israel, we stand with Jerusalem, now and always. Am Yisrael Chai!”

StandWithUs shared the Singaporean family’s picture in their Facebook and captioned it, “We LOVE our supporters of Israel from around the world! This week we received this message from a family in Singapore.”

Facebook user Shaffiq Haz who is from Singapore, in responding to the right wing group’s sharing of the picture said: “You guys do know . .. a large percentage of Palestinians are Christians . . .right . .. and they are similarly oppressed . . ”

Hidhir Arafat Ariana Aifa, another Facebook user from Singapore said: “Where does Israel stand in the map?? Obviously nothing… the biggest bully which call other place their country…shame on you.”

Other Facebook users from Singapore, like Mohd Jamil Mohd Said agreed that Israel was a bully. He said, “Zionist STEALS Palestinian land and kills innocent woman and children. Lets not forget that…!!!!”

The Singaporean family though got support from some others.Facebook user Magdalene Shane Lee said, “I am Singaporean, and I support Israel too. They are a secular nation among theocratic nations, as we are.”

Sources: The Independent – Singapore and StandWithUs

June 17, 2016