'Never Take This For Granted' -

Many a time, I had insisted on upholding my one principle which I hopefully had instilled in my kids.

It's the 'Never Take This For Granted' principle.



For example,
'Never Take Friendship For Granted' ,
'Never Take family member's help For Granted'
'Never Take food laid on your table For Granted'
'Never Take stranger's help For Granted' et cetera.


(I was tempted to add 'Never Take tiger prawns For Granted' and 'Never Take library books For Granted.' But then it will turns obsolete as time passed.)

I wasn't sure if my kids ever take my advice for granted in any sense, but I sure am glad that I had uphold my principle as much and my effort had paid off, most, if not all of the time.

There were occasions when my kids were invited out for dinner but they won't take for granted and ordered food or drinks 'like nobody's business'. They even appreciated me cooking up a simple packet of 2-minutes instant noodle for them, and the tonic soup, and the herbal tea, pop the corns, concoct the Dino Milo, and I can still write on and on and on.



My husband came to benefit from my tireless preaching along the road of educating our two kids and appreciated the 'Never Take This For Granted' principle too.

At times, he would came home from his work and proclaimed that "Thank God I 'Never Take This For Granted!'" Be it that he'd double-checked his signal lights, double checked his change of fare, a road direction that had unknowingly diverted overnight, an additional traffic junction that just sprout out of nowhere or his childhood friend who used to booked his service on a regular basis...

"Friend is friend but when it comes to business, friend becomes customer. 'Never Take a friend conveniently For Granted!' "



I had to add that my husband and I 'Never Take Each Other For Granted either.

That's why until now, even after more than fifteen years of marriage and seeing each other over three meals a day, with occasional supper, we still enjoy each other's presence.

The point that our friends and relatives wondered why is he so polite to his wife over the several phone conversations or over our meals when he will always ordered my food or why I always make it a point to wait for his return or his meal to be served puzzled them. That's Okay! It simply showed that we 'Never Take Each Other For Granted '!

I appreciated that he always ordered food for me and he appreciated mine waiting for him to dug in together was always so loving and pleasurable! And don't be surprised if you see us stirring and serving drink to each other instead of just slurping up our drink when they were served.



'Never Take This For Granted has always been my one big Lifebuoy which may came in as a different form from others. You may want to think back and see your own lifebuoy or buoys, as you had came along so far in your life. Or you may want to adopt mine, which is guess what? 'Never Take This For Granted'. Try it! and See the outcome.



Feel free to drop your story here and share with other women who may still be searching for a lifebuoy. Life will be great with lots of sharing and love, without dire consequences.



With Love,


Monica

A-Z Ways To Praise A Child Or Someone You Love

I had been noticing this particularly outstanding poster that I, myself, stuck it to the back of my kids' bedroom's door years ago. Whenever I walked passed their room, I was reminded of its existence and knew all this while that it was a golden rule that I, a mother, should be following it religiously.

The first time I got hold of that poster, I was glad and closed to being childishly delighted, who can I blame? Even till these days, as a mother of two, I myself would secretly wished that my mum would utter such 'nourishing' words to me and it would definitely makes my day. However, as time goes by and as I kept catching glances of that poster, rather than simply wishing I had been practising what I secretly honour, I genuinely knew I could do better than that.

Years had passed. Just last month, I was contemplating of removing that poster and forget about it altogether. After all, that poster was such a nagging reminder that I almost felt too burdened to practice what it preached. (Bear in mind, it had nothing to do with religion.) Now that I took a last look (or I thought so) at it, I found a long-lost love and decided to rekindled it by penning it down instead. I Knew even by the time that poster was torn or discarded, I still have this post on my blog to remind myself of its gist, and who knows, my daughter or son may happens to look up my blog one day and found my love.

I had devoted this post to honour the poster's gist - that poster's love, which was devoted to children. Here, I would like to include children of all ages. With that, I also include adults even seniors like my mum (now ages 73). She would smile and shows obvious delightfulness when I simply utter some 'nourishing' words to praise her. Smile. I am glad I still have the opportunity to contribute in bettering her life. Originally I had intended to copy religiously a 100%, from that poster, word for word, I began finding the listing rather dry. So I came up with this fun-way of alphabetically listing the praises and you can play it as a game, without the burden of committing to it. Have fun!

The rule is simple.
Rule No. 1: Start day one from 'A', utter such words like Awesome! Dear! (see suggestions list below) and ends your day as far towards 'Z' as you can. Don't worry even if you can't get past E or further on the first day.

Rule No. 2: Next day, start from 'A' again. This time aim at getting further (more) than the day before. have fun!

Rule No. 3: Always says it with love.

If you had forgotten where you had ended the day before or you had skipped (incidentally) a day or two without praising anyone, that's fine!

Simply start from Rule No. 1 again.
There is no penalty or forfeiture of any kind.

Here is a list of suggested words or phrases to kick start your thinking, you can add your additional words or phrases and if you are willing to share your development, please add your comment or email me.

Suggestions List:-

A - Awesome! Amazing! Absolutely, you are Almost there!
B - you have done your Best, Beautiful, Baby, you look Better already!
C - you are so Creative! Cute, you look Clean, what a Clever boy/girl/idea,
D - Dear, darling, I am so delighted, you look different..
E - Excellent!, Enjoy yourself!, be Easy on yourself,
F - Fantastic! you look Fresh, you are so Funny,
G - Great! Good! Gorgeous! what a Gift! that adds Glory!
H - Hooray! for you, Honey, Have fun! How true!
I - I'm Impressed!, you are Incredible!,
J - Just for you, what a Joy!,
K - 'Kick your heel!'
L - that's so Kind of you, Love ya!, Looking good!,
M - you Make me laugh, you Make my day!
N - Nice haircut! Neat!,
O - Outstanding!
P - I'm so Proud of you, Pretty, Perfect!
Q - Quite ___ ,
R - Right, (show Respect), There's always Rooms for improvement, you are so Romantic!
S - Sensational! Sweet! Super! you are Special, (always with a Smile),
T - Terrific!, Tasty! True..
U - That's Unique,
V - quite a Victory! Very ...
W - Wow! Well done! Wonderful! (put on a Wide smile!)
X - (X-tra hugs!)
Y - Yap! Yes,
Z - (Zip your lip for 10 seconds, when you are angry)

You can print the list out and paste it on any door or wall for easy reference. You can then add in your own idea onto the list and extend it for personal use!

So go ahead! Have fun and drop your praises from now! Don't forget to Praise yourself too!

With Love to all mums,
Monica


ps: Notice I only included positive phrases throughout my entire post and trying as such as possible to skip any negative suggestions or remarks. That goes the same to your using of phrases each day too.

'Lucky Noodle' - With Love From Mum

To all mummies with kids, let me starts with a story. A short one.

Years ago, one sunny day, our family was having lunch and my sweet 3-year-old had just started learning how to use a pair of chopsticks.

I was enjoying seeing him fished around a big bowl of rice noodle soup with his tiny fingers gripping around 2 sticks.

Out of nowhere (or right from that bowl of noodle soup, actually) a strand of yellow fat noodle floated up, amidst the bowlful of white rice noodle.

Nicholas stared at it for quite a while and seems not knowing what to do with it.

It pops up and looks totally different from the rest of the noodles in his bowl.

He was frowning, undecided what to do, with a 'to accept and eat it or what?' kinda expression.

I decided that this is a golden opportunity to teach him something (for once, this is something I came up with on the spot, actually) that he can from his mother.

So instead of telling him to pick it out and throw it away or simply swallow it, I said "Oh look! It's a Lucky Noodle!"

"What's a Lucky Noodle, Mummy?"

"It's one that appears odd in your bowl of normal noodles. You are lucky!"

"So I am lucky?"

"Of course! That's because you found a lucky noodle in your bowl!"

Nicholas accepted that that 'lucky' idea I came up with sounds great!

Since then, whenever he chanced upon something odd popping up in his daily routine (or in his bowl of noodles), he took it with a smile and recognised it as his Lucky Noodle!

These days, I would accept and appreciate my 'Lucky Noodle' whenever one pops up too. With a smile.

So have you noticed any Lucky Noodle in your life?

Accept it as a blessing and set your kids one good example that they can follow.

And remember, always with a smile, mums.
Monica.