New Chinese mum thread 3

[trying2bgood]

Thought I would start it!

hello everyone,

I am new! Very happy to know there is a thread for cantonese mums. I live with my French dh and 15 month old dd in Stoneleigh, Surrey. I don't know any chinese mums who speak cantonese in London. I am originally from HK and have been living in London for about 6 years.

I don't know many cool chinese places here, but I do go shopping in Wing Ying in Croydon and there is a good chinese restaurant (Confusious)in Wimbledon and a new one in Wandworth.

Anyone live nearby me? I am very interested to meet up if there is any gather together. I am a kew gardens member (saw some messages about meeting at kew gardens b4).

Anyways, I will try my best to follow the thread!

Hi cookiemon,

It's rather quiet on this thread of late. I live in Brentford, near Kew, with dh and 13-mth old dd.

I used to live in HK but I'm originally from Malaysia and I speak both Mandarin and Cantonese.

IMO, Royal China in Bayswater serves the best HK dimsum in London.

hello mellow2,

This thread does seem to be a bit quiet lately, but thanks for your reply. Seems like we are not too far away and our daughters are about the same age.

Confusious used to do dimsim, but not anymore. it's a shame as their dimsim's very good. China Boulevard in Wandsworth does pretty good dimsum too, but it's a bit far for me.

May I ask what language do you speak to your daughter?! I used to speak cantonese to her when she was born, but I have been speaking more english than chinese since we're back from HK for the CNY. I feel a bit bad but i feel a bit weird switching languages all the time since I don't really speak cantonese to anyone here. I am also worried that she won't understand any english words and get teased/bullied.

It's interesting that she seems to recognise the difference between english, french, and cantonese and imitating a few cantonese words when I am on the phone with my friends/family. She is so very cheeky!

Do you use IM? i am always on both MSN & Skype as I always leave my laptop online! if you do, you can add me by my email [email protected]. Maybe we can chat online sometimes.

Cookiemon,
I speak Mandarin to my dd as it's my mother tongue. My husband's English so he speaks English to her.

If you're interested, we could meet up at Kew Gardens one day. I'll ask snowmum too.

I'm afraid I don't really use IM much. Do you use Skype to keep in contact with your family in HK?

Which part of HK did you live in? I lived in HK for 3 years.

Mellow2, I'd love to meet up some day at Kew gardens. hopefully, snowmum can make it as well, she seems very friendly!

dd takes her long nap from 10am and it usually last for 2/2.5 hrs. I'll then feed her at about 12.30. I can meet you any time after 1.30-1.45. does your dd sleep in the morning/afternoon? I'm available any day of the week except Mon since dd has her favorite toddler group on Mon.

I use IM to do video calls to parents/friends and skype to make international calls. it's cheaper as virgin media seems expensive for IDD.

I was living in TsimShaTsui and Shatin when I was in HK. Where did you live in HK?

hope to meet you all soon.

BTW, I'm happy to meet up a bit earlier if you prefer to do lunch together. Just let me know, I am flexible.

Welcome cookiemon and hello all! Sorry, haven't posted for absolutely ages but have been very busy. I'm pregnant again! Baby 2 due at end of November.

The past few months have been hectic. Been exhausted by this second pregnancy and started showing at 8 weeks! We have been researching nurseries to get DD started part time by the time new baby arrives. I can't see myself managing a newborn and a toddler at home, so we have found a local nursery for her to go to 3 days a week. Just back from Toronto for a big family holiday with my in-laws (I nearly killed my MIL) and about to fly off this coming weekend to Sydney for a girlfriend's wedding!

If this isn't enough, just had a BBQ for DD's 2nd b'day for family and doing a toddler picnic for her and a couple of her playmates on her actual birthday later this week!

Hope everyone has been well. Anyone hear any more news on Oriental City? Are we still trying for a meet up there before they close it down?

Hi everyone and welcome cookiemon,

Congratulations Snowmum! Wow..you're expecting your second baby. I have been back at work for over a month now. The commute and work load is very tiring. I also, don't seem to have much time to browse the net.

We've just been to Wyls son second birthday party! It was such a lovely day seeing loads of toddlers running about. My ds is only crawling at the moment and has a very bad cold and cough!

Cookiemom, I'm from Hong Kong too! I used to live in Sutton but have now move to Essex. I used to go to wing yip and mama dumpling (in sutton, they do char sui rice etc) for dim sum and chinese food. I do kind of miss Surrey!

hello snowmum, congrats on your 2nd pregnancy! hope your tiny little one is not making you too exhausted. Seems like you have been busy traveling and still more to go! Have a lovely time in Sydney! is your DH going with you?! It's gonna be a long trip! stopping over in HK by any chance?!

Hi champagne, shame you have moved! I go to Sutton & Kingston very often, but I usually just go to the shopping centres in high st. Didn't see MAMA dumpling (only BB cafe ). It's probably a lot further up the st, I will check it out next time. BTW how old is your little boy? do you work far from home?

Welcome Cookiemum

And congrats snowmum, hope you are not too tired and have a nice trip to Sydney.

And also happy birthday to your DD. I can believe they are 2 already.

We must sort out a get together soon. I am definitely up for meeting at oriental city.

Snowmum, when do you get back from sydney?

Wyls, yeah can't believe our LO's are nearly 2 already. Where has the time gone??? I get back from Sydney on 19th June so its only a flying visit. No stopovers, flying straight there and back so it will be quite exhausting. Just me going by myself with a girlfriend, DH staying home to look after DD. The main reason I'm going to Sydney is becoz my girlfriend (the one who is getting married) is pregnant too and if we don't meet up now, we probably won't see each other for years. So its a last chance thing.

It appears Oriental City remains open until at least the end of August so we have time to have a meet up if anyone fancies it. Also up for a meet at Kew Gardens for those close to that area. However mornings and lunchtimes are best for me as DD naps after lunch (as do I at the moment!)

Hello wyls & snowmum, count me in for the meetup at oriental city. I have never been there b4, but it sounds like a place a chinese must go.

I am up for meeting up at kew gardens but dd naps from 10 for about 2-3 hrs. I haven't been able to go to any morning toddler groups. Thus, morning isn't good for me as I won't have any fun if she get tired & grumpy. Don't get scared, she is normally pretty good. I think I can do 12.30 and onwards if it's good for everyone else.

Hi all,

I hope you all had a good weekend! We got the paddling pool out for my ds.He'd really loved playing with the water.

My son is 10 months old. He is only crawling.
I work in the Green Park Area. It is such a long commute from Essex. I still have a flat in Sutton. If i'm in that area it will be nice to meet up.
Cookiemom, do you work or are you a stay at home mum?

It will be good to do another dimsum.However, i can only do Fridays.
Ps if anyone is the greenpark, i'll be happy to meet up for lunch.

Hi cookiemon,
Sorry I haven't gotten back to you earlier. I've been really busy with my new online store.

Yes, I could meet in Kew Garden in the afternoon. Currently, dd is napping between 12 to 2 pm.

Would you be interested in having lunch in Ealing? That's not too far away from Kew Garden. There's a good sushi place and a Japanese restaurant with a full menu.

Dd loves cooked sushi. Does your dd eat sushi?

Snowmum,
I just posted the cheque yesterday. Sorry again about the delay.

How was Sydney? Hope you're not too tired by the experience.

By the way, if anyone's interested, my new shop sells organic and ethical stuff for men, women, and babies.

www.greentrading.co.uk

I could give you a 10% discount and free delivery if you would like to buy anything.

Hi Champagne, I am a stay at home mum. I'd love to meet up with u & your ds if you are in the area. You'd give me a call if you're planning to come. I'll email you my mobile.

Hi mellow, congrats on your new online store. Looks great! well done!

I love sushi (my favorite!) but since my dd won't get up until 12 & yours naps between 12 & 2, maybe it'd easier for us to meet after 2. are u free next tues? if it's not raining, we'd meet up at kew gardens, i'll email you my no..

Hopefully, i'll get to meet the rest of you soon. Fridays is good for me.

Hi champagne and mellow, seems like there is a subscription fee of £5 to email you! gosh! is that for real?! shocking! . if you can email me then i can forward you my no. my email is on my first msg.

Hope you all had a nice weekend. Shame about the weather though.

I am up for meeting at the oriental city, i can do either Fri or Sat in July/Aug so let me know when and i wil be there. Champagne, we can go together if you want.

Snowmum, hope you had a good time in Oz. I am so jealous!!!

Btw, is anyone potty training their DD/DS yet? My DS was potty trained at 18 months as he was ready but recently we are having a relapse and it's driving me mad. I am trying not to react to his accidents but sometimes it's just too hard as i have to do so much more washing. The problem with him is that he is too lazy to go especially when he is at home. He tends to be fine when we are out or at nursery.

On top of that, my mum and i seem to have different ideas when it comes to potty training. She will make him sit there until he goes and she will also ask him every hour which i think it's too often and it's making him not want to go more.

I'm on the other hand will just wait for him to tell me when he needs to go.

We seem to be arguing about this constantly and we cant come to a compromise. She looks after him on Mon and Fri and I am keen to look for an anwser so that DS is not confused.

Any suggestions or advice?

Dd has been potty trained since she was 8 months old but she will have relapses when she is ill or when her routine changes. She's 14 months old.

These days, she needs to have her picture books with her before she will sit on the potty. She enjoys sitting on her potty because I keep her favourite books for potty time. She used to get into a real strop during potty time.

What about putting ds on the potty at set times (when he normally goes) during the day with his favourite books or toys?

Cookiemon,

I CATed you last week. Did you get it? If not, you probably need to pay for the CAT service to be enabled.

Otherwise, can you email me at sweehan [at] greentradingdotcodotuk?

mellow2, thanks for your suggestion. I have tried sitting him on the potty at certain time with his books and etc. We have tried everything, stickers, toys and the lot but he just wouldnt sit on it unless he can go. I dont know he is fine at nursery and it's only a problem when he is at home, he is just so cheeky!!!

Hi mellow,

I've received and replied to your email @(office creative). Anyways, I've sent it again to your new address. you can call me to fix a day/time if you're free on next Tues/Fri.

BTW you're training your dd quite early. Though I haven't started, i am sure "sitting at a certain time" will definitely not work on my dd as she can barely sit/stand still for more than 2 secs. She is always busy with something/everything. I guess i should probably start to train her soon. I do think she is ready but I have just been a little lazy .

Hello everyone,

I just wanted to let you know that I found this company that sells Chinese books, CDs, and DVDs for children.

www.xihaha.co.uk

Haven't been on this thread for the longest time but thanks for that link. Some really interesting things in it.