I think it should be the same dates as CA2 dates for the non-IP students. You can check the calendar of events. This should be printed on the student's diary as well.


http://www.chijstnicholasgirls.moe.edu. ... =secondary

It is almost close to a year since we went without maids (and no part time maid either).


Initially, I washed the school shoes for my children (this year 10/12/14 years old). But after I realised that they were lazing around and not making effective use of their time to do their homework or revision, I made them wash their own shoes. They also have to vacuum (there is a very portable one which I highly recommend) and mop their own floor weekly, made their own bed and washed their own plates daily. Sometimes, their plates are not washed properly, so I call them back to re-wash again.

For laundry, I sorted them into the children’s piles and put on their bed. They are expected to fold themselves. No. 2 is quite untidy and sometimes she stuff her clothes into her drawer (I close my eyes and don’t see what is inside. See no evil, hear no evil).

For bedsheets, I changed fortnightly alternating between 5 beds, so each bedsheet is changed once in 4 weeks. For daily cleaning of the floor, the iRoomba is a life-saver. We only mop our floor once a week.

On Sat, while hubby send the children for classes and do the marketing, I will clean the toilets, pop the clothes into the washing maching and wash their socks.

My mum helps me iron the clothes and cook lunch/dinner for the children during weekdays. Steam fish and eggs are done with microwave in about 5 minutes, while the air-fryer takes care of nuggets/pop corn chicken/fried fish cake/fries (less the oil, so it’s a healthier version).

Weekday/Sat evenings are spent on supervising or revision with the children if they need help with their school work (while hubby takes care of mopping floor on Sat afternoon/Sun morning).

Of course there are still many nooks and corner that probably needs cleaning (window grill/wall fan), but we only clean them when there is time. Can’t be too perfect or we tire ourselves out.

My girl did not take the pre-primary grading.


As we moved house, she did not have sufficient time to learn her Grade 1 dance either. Her ballet teacher told her to go straight to Grade 2 the next year.

You can look at some community centres/clubs which offer ballet lessons. Some of the teachers may be good also. And the cost of the lessons are much cheaper compared to Crestar.


My girl took lessons at Crestar when she was much younger, but we switched to a CC ballet class after 1-2 years.

Both piano and violin have their own plus and minus points.


Piano vs violin

Piano - good for two hands coordination, but investment cost on the instrument is quite high.

Violin - it helps to train the listening skills as the child progress to higher grades. At the beginner grades, the children have stickers pasted on their violins to help them identify the notes. Progressively, they have to listen by ears (without stickers on their violin) to get the notes. Cheaper outlay if you are not sure whether your child is into music. Of course, they will out grow their violins and have to replace every few months to a year. But once you hit about Grade 4 or 5, you may need to change your violin to a better quality one ($500 and above).

Guitar vs Ukelele

I think for the younger children, ukelele is much easier to pick up. I find the chord fingering easier to handle than a guitar (even as an adult).

That’s my 5 cents worth of view.

Hello all…after more than 10 years n 8 maids…i have decided not to have a helper anymore…i am tired but i hv a piece of mind!..hv been maidless for nearly a month now


my kids r 13,12 n 8…my father is staying with me too…

i woke up at 4.30-5 am to cook lunch for my family…
household chores r share among us
lucky for me…my husband is the type that can do marketing n help in household matters…

to make my cooking a ‘faster affair’…as i need to leave house by 6.45 am…

i bought
-iona roaster(like air fryer)
-pressure cooker
-thermal pot
others
-stick vacuum

i need to replace my blender etc too

i am thinking of getting a dryer?

i have 1 mth more to get my timings right before the school reopens…

reading the stories here somehow ‘motivates’ me and ‘get some ideas’ to shorten the time of doing housework\cooking…

Hi Linayh,

It should be manageable for you, esp since your children are 13, 12 and 8 years old. Time to train them up as well.

I let go of my maid early this Feb. My kids are 9, 11, 13. I started with washing the shoes for them, but after a few months, I get them to wash their own shoes. Otherwise, it can be really tiring for the mummies.

Housework wise, get them to fold their own clothes, wash their own plates after dinner, and sweep/vacuum their own room and mop the floor.

And yes, roomba is a good helper as someone suggested. Then everything is much easier.

Though of course, I think we must learn to let go a bit and close our eyes if things are not in tip top condition. But overall, it’s really good not to have a maid.

Why not try violin? I think it is good to train their listening skills.

Tx themutantgerm.

The new JC…will it be in the same SNG campus…or will be a new school site somewhere else ?[/quote]


It will not be in the same SNG campus. But somewhere near to SNGS and CHS (that’s the only hint that we got from the school)…so maybe Bishan/AMK area?

Ninjago:

t_mother of swc:

Anyone can recommend a place for Aikido in the north, bishan area with patient instructors?

I was also looking around. Seems like only got Bishan CC on Tues evening or Aikiforest at Serangoon private estate area on weekends. Not tried any yet. Son is currently doing Aikido at his childcare but moving out at end of yr to enter P1.

Bishan CC, Toa Payoh Central CC, Toa Payoh West CC, Cheng San CC are all under Sensei Kelly Tan. I attend Toa Payoh Central CC together with my children. Sensei Kelly Tan is a very patient instructor, especially for the elderly who took up Aikido. So far, my children enjoy the aikido classes.

Has anybody bought anything from Alibab website? I saw Roomba 560 going for US$99~US$120 FOB for min 5 pcs. But not sure whether trustworthy to buy from them or not.