PDFers & Em2lites

Met up with the other PDF parents today. It was a great gathering... really enjoyed the sharings and dun really feel so alone in this entire parenting discipline. Blanca mentioned that the mum must be really determined, or failure rate will be really high. I think it's quite an amazing gathering. There were 3 3-month old babies (Abigail 2nd August, Joan 14 August & Daniel 9 August), and one 11-month old Noel. And all 10 adults still managed to sit at the table to have jolly good conversations!!! The 3 babies are on a similar cycle, so all slept at & for about the same time... fed Abby at 1pm but she was really tired coz she was up from about 12, so she koed at 1.30pm in the car seat while Joan and Daniel also koed around the same time (both of them sleep on their tummies.) Joan was awake most of the time while during the 'Sleep' part of the routine, but she was left on her own. She was crying on and off but Abby just slept through... Daniel too! As for the 11month old Noel, he was with the adults coz his wake time was longer, but he sat really well in the high chair! Just as we have been advised to teach our babies - hands by the side, no struggling!

Jessica (Noel's mum), shared about how she went out with her friend with a 15mth old son who had to be entertained by many objects during feeding time and how the mum and Jessica herself couldn't eat WHEN the toddler was eating or else he'd want their food. That boy's mealtimes were also very unpredictable - lunch can range from 10am to 2pm. So Jess fed Noel in less than 15min while her friend took a long time! The friend, because she had run out of things to entertain her son, gave him her lipstick, and guess what - he opened it and stuck his finger inside and ruined it! That's 'normal' for Jessica's friend's life.

Our group also discussed about how PDF is really frowned upon by tonnes of people. It's really controversial. Type 'Gary Ezzo' and you will hardly find any good thing regarding it. However, we the 'converts' are really glad that we've been exposed to it coz we see results which are pretty unheard of. A 3month old baby that sleeps from 7pm to 7am? But we all agreed that the mummy must be really strong and be able to face up to criticisms. We also noticed that the Ezzo underlying principle is supported (usually) by SAHM (stay at home mothers) which subsequently lead to homeschooling.

Well, our instructors has just given birth to their SIXTH child. All PDF babies and their schoolage kids are being homeschooled by their mother. *kowtow* Apparently, Gary & Anne Marie Ezzo personally visited Petrina and Seng Kiat (our instructors) and are in pretty close contact with them. Hmm. The group also talked about their kids - all very well-behaved. Ben (Glen's husband) shared about how the children, when their mum comes out and claps 3 times - all put back their toys promptly. The kids all have their own temperaments, but all are very well behaved. The third one - about 5-7yo - cleans up the table after dinner. All the kids do housework! (Except those who can't walk yet.) It's an incredible household. Petrina's really a Proverbs 31 woman.

And they have no maid.

Alvin was sharing about how he once casually asked one of the kids (while he was having his dinner at their table) whether she had her dinner. She refused to answer. Cuiling (one of our course helpers with no. 3 on the way) told Petrina when the mummy walked past that her girl had ignored Alvin. Petrina then held her daughter's face very firmly and faced it towards Alvin and made her respond. Gosh. Very strict. But the children all love her. Alvin also shared that when the cell gathered to pray for Pet, all the kids went and hugged their mum. We've seen their kids... really very wholesome! Unlike the kids ben & i have seen.

Am really very encouraged after today's outing. Sometimes when what I do seems so different from the rest of the world and the world doesn't really see eye to eye with it, I can get quite discouraged. But when I gather with like-minded people, it is rejuvenating. Really look forward to such meetings in future. :)

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Last nite, the em2lites went for block 85 bak chor mee after cell. It was really fun! Oh, and we saw Maia Lee. Tattoos all over. Hahah... I saw her back, didn't need to see her face to recognise her. Poor thing. Even go eat BCM also gotta dress up. Andrew and Charlotte shared their testimony of how God provided great weather for them. Roland and Chellie were going fishing this morning. Min's going Vietnam - mission trip. (But she was down today, big time! Must pray for her!) Edna was organising an outing this evening. 6 of them went. We stayed at home instead. There's wedding lunch tomorrow. Such a strange date - It's a working day for those who did not take leave.

Cell was short and sweet yesterday. Wat impacted most was Roland's sharing about the Holy Spirit. Jesus told his disciples - prior to his ascension - that they'll receive the Holy Spirit, and then go make disciples. (Acts 1:8) When Roland's feeling really down, he shares with people about Jesus. He liken it to Lupin's favourite activity - computer gaming. When Lupin is not allowed to play on the computer, he feels down. But when he's allowed, his spirit is uplifted and he is happy. Likewise, according to Acts 1:8, the Holy Spirit is given to us to empower us to make disciples for Jesus. But when we don't, we grieve the Holy Spirit, so to speak. But when He is allowed His favourite activity, He is no longer grieved, and our spirits likewise is uplifted. (Of course, when we defile our bodies, we grieve Him as well.) I appreciated what he shared. So often, we're so self-absorbed and self-centred that we fail to recognise that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit and it is He that works in us. When we swear, smoke or have unclean thoughts, it affects Him. Tall order to live a godly life, but I'm glad God is the one doing the work and I am called to obey. So whenever I'm tempted, I sense His prompting and make the choice to either obey or otherwise. Well, i'm still work in progress and I'm glad I'm so, if not i'll be dead. :) Heh. The thing I've learnt is - when I obey His prompting, the next time He prompts, He becomes 'louder' and I am more sensitive. The opposite also holds true. When I ignore His prompt, the next time, His voice gets softer until it is barely audible. Simply because our own voice overrides His. We become too self-absorbed in hearing our thoughts, our emotions, and our self-justifications. We ought to quieten our defenses and just listen to His voice. :)