Archive for March, 2009

TT- Prizes/Ryan swimming

These few weeks I have won a couple of prizes.

1. WAHM Forum Challenge
2. A new blog button for Dominique’s Desk courtesy of Kaye
3. I won a prize from the UBP09 that I joined last week. One month free advertising by  Littlebytesnews.com.
   (I would have like the Mom Mastermind membership as it would come in more handy for me)

Ryan has been learning swimming for a few weeks and has been enjoying his weekly lessons.

Queen Bee Moms & Kingpin Dads: Dealing with the Difficult Parents in Your Child's Life

Ever since returning to teaching in February I have been reading up on books on how to deal with kids and their parents. Queen Bee Moms & Kingpin Dads by Rosalind  Wisemen is one of my latest read.

Reading this book was an eye opener to me. It helped me understand more about

• The toxicity of cliques
• What people actually mean when they are talking to you. ( Cracking the hidden parents speak code)
• How to be a better person and deal with people of different personalities
  1. Queen Bee -Seems to have the perfect life, very charming and loves to be in charge.

  2. The Sidekick – Second in command under Queen Bee.

  3. Starbucks and Sympathy – The silent powerhouse. May comfort you but then turn on you when convenient for her.

  4. Torn wannabes and desperate wannabes - May privately support you but abandon you when a confrontation erupts. Torn wannabes know better, desperate ones are just desperate.

  5. Steamrolled moms – Sacrifices her needs to avoid conflicts. She often sits on the fence.

  6. Floater moms - Genuinely liked for who they are, they embody nice popularity.

  7. Reformed moms -Used to be involved in the cliques but has analyzed her behavior and changed her ways.

  8. Invisible moms- Well-meaning moms who attend school functions but never speak up!

  9. Outcast moms- Are considered misfits. She is vulnerable to dismissal or attack, but also has the freedom to not worry about her social pecking order.

There are many real life scenarios being quoted in Rosalind’s book which are all too true. There are  many people  who  aim to live in the “Perfect Parent” world and how by  trying to make themselves seems “superior” they ostracize or harm other parents and their kids.

The book gives practical advice on how to deal with the other  adults in their childrens lives with skill and compassion, rather than wrath and confusion. I find this extremely helpful in my profession as will have to deal with “difficult” parents or colleagues in the line of work.

By understanding their mindset and their probable upbringing it gives me an edge in choosing the most suitable mindset to address the challenges that they throw my way.

I didn’t really get around to reading the whole book as I found it extremely dense and it wasn’t an easy reading book for me.  Based on the chapters that I manage to get through I gather that stereotyping and cliques can be extremely intoxicating with the presence of back biting and bitching that goes around irregardless of gender.

Have you read this book lately?

TT-Ryan's Piano Concert

I’m so proud of my baby. He managed to perform the 3 concert recital pieces confidently during Sunday’s piano concert. He has matured a lot since he first started playing the piano 1.5yrs ago.
This is the 1st time he is performing in a Piano Recital and it really helps boost his confidence in performing in public. Well done Ryan

Ultimate Blog Party 2009- Are you In?

This is my official invitation to all of you about this fab party hosted by  Five Minutes for Mom. Every year they hold what is called “The Ultimate Blog Party.” And you are all invited. So what is The Ultimate Blog Party?” Here’s what the girls at Five Minutes For Mom have to say about the event this year.

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For all who stopped by via UBP just here a brief introduction of myself.

From Dominique’s Desk(c)2009

I’m a elementary school teacher from Singapore. I’m currently teaching Grade 3 students in a neighbourhood school.  Here on this blog I write about my two boys and their various antics, strategies and techniques I have tried  in educating them.  This site is a mixture of short series injected with photos of my kids or objects of my fancy.  Each month I aim to focus on a different issue/ angle of educating kids and making parents more knowledgable about the tools avaliable to help them.

This month  focus was on IQ Vs EQ and how easy it is for parents to give their child a headstart in life.

Besides blogging I do freelance writing, web deisgning and have written a few e-books.  This month I relaunched – “Choosing the Right Primary School”- Singapore Edition (2nd Ed) which is a handy guide for parents who have kids entering Primary 1 in 2010.

There are many great prizes in the ultimate blog party. I have narrowed my choice   of what I would like to win to

1. INTL 27 — Lifetime Membership to Mom Masterminds
   Provided by: Mom Masterminds
   Prize Details: Mom Masterminds is a membership based learning center and forum for the internet marketing mom who wants to learn more and network with other successful mompreneurs. Value $500
2. INTL 66 – one month free advertising
   Provided by: Littlebytesnews.com
   Prize details: Get free advertising on your choice of one of the parenting sites on choice of: Little Bytes News, Mamas Timeout (network), Little Bytes News Blog or on our party supply site Gifts Party Supplies & More. Three winners will be chosen to submit their button or banner on the site for one month. (family friendly sites only)
3. INTL 60 — Secret Confessions of a Clean Freak
   Provided by:Carole at CommonSenseLiving.com
   Prize details: Get your house clean and keep it that way – fast & easy!
   Carole at CommonSenseLiving.com is donating a copy of her best selling system to one lucky winner.
4. INTL 39 — Two copies of Here You Are by author Mayke Beckmann Briggs – one copy for the lucky winner and one to pass along. ($16.95 value each)
   Provided by: BoathouseBooks
   Prize details: Here You Are just won the 2009 Mom’s Choice Award Silver Recipient in the Motivational/Inspirational Category with its simple, profound, and timely message. In Here You Are, a small child, enjoying nature and asking the fundamental questions of life, suddenly remembers something very deep in his very own heart, which dissolves all questions into a peaceful and joyful gladness. Since Here You Are has an uplifting and healing effect on children and adults, BoathouseBooks is donating two copies. This way, Moms can have their cake and eat it, too - “passing it forward” without having to give away their own copy.
   

Do hope over to the party and join in and have fun!!:)

Please feel free to sign our linky (and leave a comment of course) so I know you stopped by and others can continue their UBP hopping.