another new thread for chinese mums

[csa]

gong xi fa chai!

a new thread for a new year? (good idea yingers)

hope everyone had a good celebration this weekend. us? the closest celebration i got to was speaking to my family on new year's eve and hearing about their reunion dinner

Hi tootsieroll, there is a chinese school in southend and it's for anyone from age 4 to AS level. My mum is a teacher there. The only thing is they only do cantonese.

I live in Rayleigh so i dont know anything about Harlow apart from i heard that there was a chinese shop there.

How long have you lived in harlow/Uk?

hi wyl,

I was working in Harlow before, but now work in Romford. Been in UK for the past 10 years. We live in Brentwood, and have family in Southend, so that's a good location for us. Language lessons are a while away yet, as DS is only 3 months old But it's just something good to know

Hi Y'All

What is it with the terrorism thing? Has kinda put a damper on the whole New England trip ... And even if we do cancel, it's not covered by our travel insurance as terrorism is excluded (which will mean £2k ie our annual holiday budget down the drain).

Did you read about mothers having to publicly taste their babies milk and food before taking it on board? There seem to be 2 schools of thought - one that says it's probably the safest time to travel and another that says don't take any unnecessary risks. I'm all for the "if you change your life then the terrorists have won" etc etc but all I can think about is my DS ....

What do you guys think?

Well, in a situation like this, I'm all in favour of dragonian security measures

Just wondering, what language do you speak at home, with your child? I speak English to DH, but obviously would like DS to learn Chinese, only I can't decide which dialect. I grew up speaking both Mandarin and Cantonese. Both have their obvious advantages, I just don't know how to incorporate it into DS's life?

Heybaby

I think you just have to get on with your life as normally as you possibly can under the circumstances.

I travelled through Dubai with DS just as the Iraqi war started a few years back and lived in Northern Ireland through some of the worst bombings and riotings.

Tootsieroll - if you can speak both Mandarin and Cantonese well, why don't you speak both to your DS, he will pick both that and English up.

I can't speak any Chinese dialect well enough to have a conversation (can ask for a bowl of noodles and that's about it) so my kids don't speak any Chinese (yet - as move to Spore should sort that out! )

Rojak is right, you should just speak to your ds in chinese, he will pick it up definitely. My ds is 14 months and both my mum and i have been speaking to him in cantonese. I dont know how much he can understand but he does know the word milk and feet in cantonese. I tend to speak to him in both so we will see when he can talk properly.

I dont know how well u know southend but there is a chinese cafe there and a good dim sim restaurant and also a chinese supermarket there. Romford is not far from Rayleigh at all. At last, we have got another essex girl!!! ha ha

Wyls,

No I didn't know that!!!! Tell me all about the Chinese supermarket/ dim sum in southend! I suddenly feel so rejuvenated

I currently do my Chinese shopping at Hoo Hing in Chadwell Heath (although they don't have Lee Kum Kee chilli oil ), and go to Mandarin Palace in Ilford for the Dim Sum, which I actually think is really good quality and reasonable. The proprietress also loves children....kept giving out free ice creams to the little ones during the heatwave

Ya, I'm trying to remember to speak as much Chinese to DS, but I get confused myself, switching between Mandarin and Cantonese hee hee.

Rojak, had you been in Northern Ireland long? Which part were you in? We're actually going Bray to see DH's family next week....far from NI of course

the chinese cafe is down york road and so is the chnese supermarket. I say supermarket but it's not as big as Hoo Hing, actually it's more like a shop the owner can order in stuff for you. The restaurant that does dim sum is called the pearl dragon and it's at the seafront opposite the sealife centre. In fact, next door to the restaurant there is a very good fishmonger.

We do our shopping at wing yip and oriental city in edgware. It's a day out really. Have you been there? I must try the dim sum in ilford.

Have a great weekend girls and speak next week.

Hi Tootsieroll, I speak to my DD in a mixture of cantonese and english and hope she won't get too confused! Neither DH nor I speak Mandarin and we are considering learning it together as a family when DD is older.

Wyls, how is your DS doing? Is he walking yet? My DD is taking a few steps but she's v cautious and will revert to crawling if she's feeling unsteady.

Heybaby, its upto you to decide whether or not to go ahead with the New England trip. DH and I travelled there 3 weeks after 9/11 but it was just us, no DD then. Not sure if we would make the same decision now. If you can't get a refund, surely you can change your trip and go elsewhere?

Tootsieroll - am in Belfast have been here a total of 13 years (not all at one go - had several years break back in Malaysia pre-kids).

Do you get back to Singapore often? Fez lived in Singapore for a while too I think.

Hi Fishnchips, DS is doing fine. He is walking now, he has been for the last couple of months, he started when he was just before 1. It's a nightmare though cos he is a right climber too so he is climbing onto everything and we have to move quite a bit of furniture in our lounge so he does hurt himself.

How is your DD? I bet she will be walking in a couple of weeks. How many bottles is she on now? 2 or 3? And how is she eating in general?

I have booked DS for his measles jab on Wed but he's developed this cold at the weekend so i dont think they will give him the jab. I am doing them separately just in case. How about you? Have you thought about it yet?

i meant he doesnt hurt himself ...

Hi Wyls, DD has suddenly started walking loads. Will have to get proper walking shoes for her soon. Baby shoes are so cute!

She's on 2 bottles a day (morning and bedtime) plus a cup of milk mid-afternoon. Eating wise she's been great so far, loves her food and isn't faddy at all. I'm sure this will change has she gets ever closer to the terrible twos! Hows your DS with food?

DH and I decided to give DD the MMR jab and she had it last month. We looked at all the available literature and decided in favour of the jab. I was a bit nervous about it but so far DD seems fine. I can understand your worries, there's so much conflicting info out there, its difficult to know what to believe. Also with all the media hysteria about an imminent measles epidemic, we felt it was safer to go for the MMR than not.

Hiya, DS had his measle jab yesterday and it went well. I think I have made the decision for my son to have the MMR done separately.

Fishnchips, DS is ok with eating, he can be a pain sometimes but in general, he loves his food and he is willing to eat almost anything. He loves chips and prawn crackers but he doesnt have them often.

He is still on 3 bottles a day though and I havent managed to get him to drink his milk out of a cup yet. He wont drink his milk if I give him a sippy cup but he will drink water or juice out of his cup. Any suggestions?

I also need to wean him off his dummy, he only has it when he sleeps but still I would like to wean him off it.

Btw, if you go to clarks to your DD her first pair of shoes, they will take a pic of your DD in her shoes for you. So sweet!!!

hi all, haven't logged on for ages. glad to hear everyone's fine. rojak, how are plans for the move going? was i going to find out some stuff for you? oops - sorry. have you guys decide on an area to stay, etc. etc. can't remember - was this move permanent or for a fixed term? your family must be happy that you will now be not that far from them? let me know again what you wanted to know and i will try and be better about replying this time

tootsieroll, where are you in the uk?

Hi Fez,
I'm in Brentwood. Whereabouts are you?

Am currently in the land of the in-laws. We've been here for a week now, and leave tomorrow. Pity the weather hasn't been better, I was hoping to do some sightseeing!

Wyls, thanks for the tip! I shall certainly be looking for the restaurant/supermarket now Finally managed to get 2 bottles of my favourite chilli oil here in Ireland....imagine a tiny chinese shop stocking something which a giant place like Hoo Hing doesn't! I haven't been to Wing Yip before,but Oriental City (is that in Colindale?) is wonderful

Hello all, I must try and log on more often.
I leave it so long that the conversation has completely moved onto something different, and I have to do a lot of reading!

I speak cantonese to my children when I remember but this is seldom, I try to get my mum and dad to speak to them largely in cantonese but even they lapse into english for my dd1, she has these cards which she does with my mum so she knows odd words. I live very close to a chinese school but it teaches only mandarin, I might send her there when she gets older but then I think she may as well learn french instead!

Sorry girls - I have been busy trying to pack and clear up stuff and get rid of the kids' winter clothes.

I am a dreadful shopaholic who stocks up on clothes furing sales and have now go to get rid of DS' and DD's winter wardrobe (for this winter) which I bought in January during the sales. Does anyone else do this or is it just me???

Anyway we have started to S L O W L Y pack up stuff we want to ship but won't be needing in the meantime.

Fez - DH's job is for a set contract so it's really for as long as we enjoy being out there. We have said that if we really enjoy it there, we will stay till it's time for DS to go to secondary school.

The shippers are due to come in on 28th Sept and we fly to Spore on 2nd Oct.

Heybaby - did you get away ok?

Hi Y'All

I'm actually still here. We leave next week - YAY!

Rojak - sounds like you have everything under control. Very impressed! I would be a mess by now if I were in your shoes I think!

Things are hectic over here hence the perhaps noticeable absence of messages from my way. DS had gastro for a week then was better for two days (which was a joy!) but now has come down with sore throat, cough, congestion etc etc. So none of us have been getting much sleep at all and it's just so horrible when your normally sunny child becomes a whinging, clinging listless little thing - heartbreaking and often there's not much you can do except reach for the Calpol. Have to say we feel really exhausted - it just seems to be never ending. I think DS has been almost constantly sick since he started daycare! I'm just trying to tell myself that at least he'll have a decent immune system by the time he starts school ....

Unfortunately had another "incident" at nursery last week where DS was bitten and scratched by another child. Apparently the other little girl has done this before (she is older) to one or more other kids. Initially I was trying to remain calm and remember that kids are hard to control/discipline (I should know!) and that things can happen in a split second; however the concerning part was that (a) the "attack" was unprovoked and (b) she actually drew blood (ie pierced the skin) when she bit DS which is potentially a health risk (if she had any diseases eg hepatitis etc). So I ended up writing a letter of complaint asking for this girl to be supervised more closely. I wonder whether in hindsight I sound like a hysterical mother?! But I think that instances such as these should be able to be more controlled especially if the girl has a history of doing this. And wouldn't want this to happen again to DS or any other little one ...

Hope you are all well. Over and out for today - dinner calls!

PS Rojak - I used to stock up in the sales but have slowly weaned myself out of the habit after a few incidents like yours. In fact, I was looking at snowsuits the other day which were on sale and wondering whether I should get one for DS for winter! But I controlled myself thinking that he might have a growth spurt and not fit into it by then etc. Chinese force of habit I think - this bargain hunting!

Hi Heybaby, I am sorry to hear that your LO is not very well. My DS was the same when he first started nursery, it's heart breaking and tiring and especially when you are working. I know how you feel but it will get better soon.

Rojak, good luck with the move and dont forget to keep in touch and let us know how you get on in Spore. I am so jealous, just thinking of all the food that you are going to be able to have typical chinese, always about food.

Rojak,
Be sure to eat your fill of everything! I am dreaming of char kway teow, laksa and of course, rojak I'm a bit like you, love to get clothes in the sales....was at mothercare today and the winter clothes from last year were on sale, and I was contemplating getting some for this year's winter.....managed not to get any though, as I don't know how fast/slow DS is going grow in the next few months! Also, have booked to go to Singapore in November for a month...hurrah! Laksa here I come!

Btw, for anyone who likes singapore food, the Singapore UK Association is having its family day this sunday. I've never been before, but thought I'd try this year, just for fun. I bet half of the people there won't be singaporeans, but there just for the food though

Where is everyone???? I know some people have graduated to Brunei, Malaysia & S'pore thread but what about the rest of us?

Mooncake festival just passed, managed to avoid eating any just I don't like the coying sweetness of them. My DH's SIL just had a baby girl, my PIL now have 4 grandchildren - all girls!! My DD getting into mischief, already knows how to say 'NO', climbs everywhere and loves getting into my kitchen cupboards. I thought I would have another 6 months grace before the onset of the terrible 2's. Decided to try and save some of my last remaining brain cells and have joined an evening Mandarin class. Been good fun and nice to do something not Mummy related.

Oh well, that's a bit of my news. Hope this tempts some of you guys (you know who you are!) back on MN again.

snowmum,
where are u located?