GARGANTUAN steps
Wednesday, October 24, 2018
sacred parenting
Similarly, our children help us to grow spiritually - ' When our children expose our impatience and self-centred frustration, they hold up a mirror to our hearts. Just as God's response to his children reveals his character, so parenting reveals our character. It exposes our sin and holds up to us a clear picture of what we feel most passionate about.' We are continually faced with our own dark side, our own failings, our own sins, and we can only realise that we are not perfect, that we need a saviour as well.
The book also gives great thought that we are but caregivers for our children in this life, on behalf of God. And everything that we do for 'the least of us', these little children, we do it for Him! And we have to learn how to let go! 'If he had been a fear-driven control freak, Jesus never would have gone to the cross; the disciples, you see, never would have been 'ready enough'. But Jesus let go. He trusted in the work of the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, to confirm the lessons he had taught - just as we have to trust the Holy Spirit to remind our children of the spiritual truths they have learned.' That 'in the process of caring and loving, (we) bring God great pleasure.'
My final takeaway is this - 'being a parent is a sacred calling'.
' What is the purpose of my life? The purpose of my life is to prepare my son for his death; and not just his death, but for the judgement he will encounter upon death...the most important task is to prepare my son for that day when he stands alone before God and answers to God.'
- Gary Thomas
the ramakien
ชาติ ศาสนา พระมหากษัตริย์
Chat, Satsana, Phra Mahakasat
Nation, Religion, King
- (unofficial) motto of Thailand
And so we had our first ever family holiday together with little Nathan! After running through a list of destinations, dependent on flight times, convenience, language, and food, we decided on a short holiday to a beach resort in Phuket, Thailand. Normally, these trips are easy to plan and relatively stress-free, but with the addition of an infant, the difficulty exponentially increases - Is the flight too long? Will he cry inconsolably, especially during take-off and landing? How are going to pack his food, or prepare fresh ones for him there? How are we going to cater for his nap time (and therefore sacrifice sight-seeing)? Can he sleep in a carrier, or stroller, or does he need to sleep in a bed? How much do we have to bring - clothes, diapers, wipes, pacifiers, soap, shampoo, sterilizer, stroller etc? And the list goes on. It was an amazement we didn't abandon our plans altogether and just decide to stay in Singapore instead. Add to that, Chun Yi had some issues with her Children's Emergency roster, and at one point in time, it almost seem like her leave (and hence our holidays) had to be cancelled! But thankfully, things were sorted out in the end, and we managed to embark on our long-awaited journey.
Travelling with an infant is undoubtedly one of the most stressful travelling experiences, and I salute all who have ever brought their child on a holiday, especially those with more than one. Nathan has the curiosity and energy of a puppy (that cannot walk), and getting him to sleep at any circumstance is near impossible when there is even a sliver of light or the chirp of a cricket. If I must confess, our holiday was planned entirely around him and his sleep, and if I were to paraphrase Chun Yi, what we could and would normally accomplish in a day without him, we did in four days. But at the end of it all, he was pretty well-behaved, and we did manage, more importantly, to spend some family time together!
Our first task of the trip was to make it to Phuket, on a flight, with minimal fuss. I now am extremely sympathetic towards parents who bring their children on board flights, and their children are screaming or fussing or crying or just refusing to settle, though it doesn't mean that I can ever get used to it. These children just have a mind (and understanding) of their own, and try as you want to control them, it is just impossible at times! And now, being a parent with a child on deck, I decided to just ignore any stares or annoy glances, should there be any, from upset passengers. Thankfully Nathan did remarkably well, with a lot of help from Chun Yi of course, and some air stewardesses who were just enamoured with him (and on the flight back too). We almost had to tell them to keep their hands to themselves!
We only reached our resort, Marriott Mai Khao Beach Resort, in the late afternoon, and immediately, we set about putting Nathan to bed for his afternoon nap, catch our breaths, and then getting some dinner at the resort restaurant, before retiring to bed. With Phuket an hour behind Singapore in terms of time difference, and with Nathan typically waking up around 5-6 in the morning in Singapore, it could mean a really early start the next morning. But thankfully, his exhaustion from the days travel meant he woke up slightly later the next morning - at half past six in the morning.
Our activity for the next morning was attending mass at the nearest church, St Joseph's Catholic Church, which was a 45 minutes drive away. It was a quaint little church, and they had a really talented young girl who sang solo for a piece ('The More I Seek You'), and an equally talented keyboardist as well! And then it was another 45 minutes ride back on our Grab-ride, and the afternoon activity included putting Nathan to bed for his afternoon nap, in preparation for an evening out to a night market in Phuket Town.
We rented a car for the afternoon and drove to Phuket Town and explored the Phuket Weekend Night Market - the biggest amongst all the night markets in Phuket. The non-food stalls were housed in a concrete building with a steel roof, and with little cross ventilation, made for a very humid and uncomfortable walk. To make up for a lack of sight-seeing on this trip, we indulged ourselves in a little bit of shopping. After all, what else is there to do at a night market? Besides, we weren't feeling too adventurous to try out the food on display. I think, every since becoming a doctor, especially one specialising in Infectious Diseases, one worries about catching just about anything from any kind of food, worse still if it has been left sitting out in the open for longest time. They did look particularly delectable though!
We had grand plans for sunrise at Mai Khao beach and water sports (letting Nathan play in the swimming pool) the following morning, but all our plans were doused with a torrential tropical rain. We ended up visiting the resort's kids' room before eventually driving to a shopping mall near Phuket Town. What we thought was Central Festival Phuket mall turned out to be a brand new mall - Central Phuket mall (Phuket Festival Mall happened to be just across the road further down from where we were), and we ambled aimlessly looking for the missing massage parlour so that Chun Yi could relax those aching muscles. With nothing in sight, and Nathan's nap time coming up, we bid a hasty retreat back to our beach resort, only after lunch at the food court, where the stall still had its plates and bowls wrapped in its original plastic wrappers! That's how new the whole place was!
After freshening up the afternoon with a nap (for Nathan) and a massage (for Chun Yi), we headed down to Mai Khao beach just by the resort. Nathan got rather grumpy after the rather effervescent buggy ride to the beach, and I don't think he found it particularly memorable. We did manage to catch a glimpse of the sun setting but before it fully disappeared beyond the horizon, we made our way back with one cranky little boy - in time for his dinner and milk before his bedtime.
We were off to the airport the very next morning, a short four-day-three-night stay in Phuket, but not before Chun Yi managed to get off some yoga poses together with Nathan at the yoga mats by the resort swimming pool.
We managed to survive our first family trip abroad and I think it didn't go too badly! I think simple, short trips nearby are still a consideration in the foreseeable future. And I guess this will be our kind of holidays in time to come, and sooner or later, I'll finally fulfil the dad-holding-the-bags-whilst-the-children-and-wife-sit-on-a-roller-coaster role!
Chat, Satsana, Phra Mahakasat
Nation, Religion, King
- (unofficial) motto of Thailand
And so we had our first ever family holiday together with little Nathan! After running through a list of destinations, dependent on flight times, convenience, language, and food, we decided on a short holiday to a beach resort in Phuket, Thailand. Normally, these trips are easy to plan and relatively stress-free, but with the addition of an infant, the difficulty exponentially increases - Is the flight too long? Will he cry inconsolably, especially during take-off and landing? How are going to pack his food, or prepare fresh ones for him there? How are we going to cater for his nap time (and therefore sacrifice sight-seeing)? Can he sleep in a carrier, or stroller, or does he need to sleep in a bed? How much do we have to bring - clothes, diapers, wipes, pacifiers, soap, shampoo, sterilizer, stroller etc? And the list goes on. It was an amazement we didn't abandon our plans altogether and just decide to stay in Singapore instead. Add to that, Chun Yi had some issues with her Children's Emergency roster, and at one point in time, it almost seem like her leave (and hence our holidays) had to be cancelled! But thankfully, things were sorted out in the end, and we managed to embark on our long-awaited journey.
Travelling with an infant is undoubtedly one of the most stressful travelling experiences, and I salute all who have ever brought their child on a holiday, especially those with more than one. Nathan has the curiosity and energy of a puppy (that cannot walk), and getting him to sleep at any circumstance is near impossible when there is even a sliver of light or the chirp of a cricket. If I must confess, our holiday was planned entirely around him and his sleep, and if I were to paraphrase Chun Yi, what we could and would normally accomplish in a day without him, we did in four days. But at the end of it all, he was pretty well-behaved, and we did manage, more importantly, to spend some family time together!
Our first task of the trip was to make it to Phuket, on a flight, with minimal fuss. I now am extremely sympathetic towards parents who bring their children on board flights, and their children are screaming or fussing or crying or just refusing to settle, though it doesn't mean that I can ever get used to it. These children just have a mind (and understanding) of their own, and try as you want to control them, it is just impossible at times! And now, being a parent with a child on deck, I decided to just ignore any stares or annoy glances, should there be any, from upset passengers. Thankfully Nathan did remarkably well, with a lot of help from Chun Yi of course, and some air stewardesses who were just enamoured with him (and on the flight back too). We almost had to tell them to keep their hands to themselves!
Catching our first flight together as a family
All smiles on board
We only reached our resort, Marriott Mai Khao Beach Resort, in the late afternoon, and immediately, we set about putting Nathan to bed for his afternoon nap, catch our breaths, and then getting some dinner at the resort restaurant, before retiring to bed. With Phuket an hour behind Singapore in terms of time difference, and with Nathan typically waking up around 5-6 in the morning in Singapore, it could mean a really early start the next morning. But thankfully, his exhaustion from the days travel meant he woke up slightly later the next morning - at half past six in the morning.
Our activity for the next morning was attending mass at the nearest church, St Joseph's Catholic Church, which was a 45 minutes drive away. It was a quaint little church, and they had a really talented young girl who sang solo for a piece ('The More I Seek You'), and an equally talented keyboardist as well! And then it was another 45 minutes ride back on our Grab-ride, and the afternoon activity included putting Nathan to bed for his afternoon nap, in preparation for an evening out to a night market in Phuket Town.
Nathan and Chun Yi outside St Joseph's Catholic Church
Well fed and happy
We rented a car for the afternoon and drove to Phuket Town and explored the Phuket Weekend Night Market - the biggest amongst all the night markets in Phuket. The non-food stalls were housed in a concrete building with a steel roof, and with little cross ventilation, made for a very humid and uncomfortable walk. To make up for a lack of sight-seeing on this trip, we indulged ourselves in a little bit of shopping. After all, what else is there to do at a night market? Besides, we weren't feeling too adventurous to try out the food on display. I think, every since becoming a doctor, especially one specialising in Infectious Diseases, one worries about catching just about anything from any kind of food, worse still if it has been left sitting out in the open for longest time. They did look particularly delectable though!
At the Phuket Weekend Night Market
The food-side of the night market - though we were hesitant to try anything
We had grand plans for sunrise at Mai Khao beach and water sports (letting Nathan play in the swimming pool) the following morning, but all our plans were doused with a torrential tropical rain. We ended up visiting the resort's kids' room before eventually driving to a shopping mall near Phuket Town. What we thought was Central Festival Phuket mall turned out to be a brand new mall - Central Phuket mall (Phuket Festival Mall happened to be just across the road further down from where we were), and we ambled aimlessly looking for the missing massage parlour so that Chun Yi could relax those aching muscles. With nothing in sight, and Nathan's nap time coming up, we bid a hasty retreat back to our beach resort, only after lunch at the food court, where the stall still had its plates and bowls wrapped in its original plastic wrappers! That's how new the whole place was!
Me and one tired baby who still couldn't close his eyes despite
After freshening up the afternoon with a nap (for Nathan) and a massage (for Chun Yi), we headed down to Mai Khao beach just by the resort. Nathan got rather grumpy after the rather effervescent buggy ride to the beach, and I don't think he found it particularly memorable. We did manage to catch a glimpse of the sun setting but before it fully disappeared beyond the horizon, we made our way back with one cranky little boy - in time for his dinner and milk before his bedtime.
On some funky gourd-like rattan swinging seat
Obligatory family shot
The only photo with just a hint of a smile
Family on the beach
Sunset at Mai Khao beach
We were off to the airport the very next morning, a short four-day-three-night stay in Phuket, but not before Chun Yi managed to get off some yoga poses together with Nathan at the yoga mats by the resort swimming pool.
Yoga together
The obligatory family with baby on a luggage trolley photo
We managed to survive our first family trip abroad and I think it didn't go too badly! I think simple, short trips nearby are still a consideration in the foreseeable future. And I guess this will be our kind of holidays in time to come, and sooner or later, I'll finally fulfil the dad-holding-the-bags-whilst-the-children-and-wife-sit-on-a-roller-coaster role!
