Handicapped and Disabled Children Association of Klang

Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see. ~Mark Twain


UPDATED AS OF 15TH APRIL, 2011

An exemplary response was received from our friends in echoing to the donation drive for the visit to Handicapped and Disabled Children Association of Klang on Sunday, 1st of May, 2011.

I must give commendation to all who have given unconditional support to my hubby and his charity comrade, aka our spiritual leader, Mr Ngo Chong Let who had garnered a total fund of RM14,550.00 within a 2 weeks drive.

It is truly an amazing experience to be able to materialize our aim at helping this home in such a speedy manner. It is indeed a blessing to have family and friends who are deep down inside, a compassionate lot. My heartfelt appreciation to all and pray for best of health in return for your kindness and generosity.

To summaries in detail our preparation so far, as of today, 15th April,2011:

(1) Purchased and Installed new wardrobes to the girls and boys dormitory
(2) Purchased and Delivered one single door refrigerator for the girls dormitory
(3) Purchased and Delivered one unit DVD player for the general area
(4) Sponsored packed lunch and drinking water from Old Town White Coffee for home's children & visitors of 140 pax.
(5) Confirmation of one clown performance
(6) Confirmation of A & W package food with Mascot and games
(7) Sponsored prizes for children games

I want you to know that none of the above can come into realization without each of your contribution. I am proud of you, my friends.

I AM ONLY ONE, BUT STILL I AM ONE. I CANNOT DO EVERYTHING, BUT STILL I CAN DO SOMETHING. AND BECAUSE I CANNOT DO EVERYTHING, I WILL NOT REFUSE TO DO SOMETHING THAT I CAN DO. ~ Helen Keller

Program of the Day:

Sunday, 1/5/2011
10am - Gather at Sungai Rasau Toll Plaze, near Tugu Keris
10.30am - Arrival at Handicapped and Disabled Children Association of Klang
Welcome dance by the children
Welcome speech delivered by the Chairman, Mr Morgan
11.00am - Official handing over donations to Mr Morgan
Tour around the building and facilities
11.30am - A&W Mascot and Clown games
12.00pm - lunch
1.00pm - Time with children
2.00pm - Goodbye

For those of you who wish to join us in the visit, please email to me at : swisspalma@gmail.com

Thank you once again to all my friends and relatives, you certainly have a heart of GOLD!

Cabinet Work-in-Progress at the Girls Domitory

Cabinet Work-in-Progress at the Girls Domitory

Cabinet Work-in-Progress at the Girls Domitory

Cabinet Work-in-Progress at the Girls Domitory

Refrigerator to be delivered to the Home

DVD Player to be delivered to the Home

Make a Donation to help JAPAN

WORLD VISION RESPONDS TO JAPAN QUAKE/ TSUNAMI

World Vision has declared a global response to the Japan Quake
and Tsunami with its offices worldwide working to raise USD10
million to finance the massive relief response.

Malaysians interested to help the survivors of the Japan Quake,
can do so by donating to World Vision's Japan Quake/Tsunami
Fundraising effforts. Please indicate "Japan Quake/Tsunami"
behind your cheque and on this donation form. You can also follow
updates via our Facebook.

Official News release - English | Chinese || Other payment modes

Frequently asked Questions (FAQ) - English | Chinese

*Disclaimer: World Vision does NOT make telephone calls
to solicit funds for our work. If you are unsure of emails or
sms received, please contact World Vision at 03-7880 6414
to clarify. We do not tolerate scams that misuse the name
of World Vision for their own purposes. Thank you.

p/s:

from worldvision facebook:

WorldVision Malaysia

As of yesterday, 22 March 2011 - Your generous donations have helped us raised RM105,445 (appx USD 34,000) to help in relief efforts to Japan! THANK YOU! We are closer to achieving World Vision Malaysia's pledge to raise USD50,000

The Man Who Made A Difference

A friend of ours was walking down a deserted Mexican beach at sunset. As he walked along, he began to see another man in the distance. As he grew nearer, he noticed that the local native kept leaning down, picking something up, and throwing it out into the water. Time and again, he kept hurling something out into the ocean.

As our friend approached even closer, he noticed that the man was picking up starfish that had washed up on the beach and, one at a time, was throwing them back into the water.

Our friend was puzzled. He approached the man and said, "Good evening, friend. I was wondering what you are doing?"

"I'm throwing these starfish back into the ocean. You see, it is low tide right now, and all of these starfish have washed up onto the shore. If I don't throw them back into the sea, they'll die from lack of oxygen."

"I understand," my friend replied, "but there must be thousands of starfish on this beach! You can't possibly get to all of them. There are simply too many! And don't you realize this is probably happening on hundreds of beaches all up and down this coast? Can't you see that you can't possibly make a difference?"

The local native smiled, bent down, and picked up yet another starfish and, as he threw it back into the sea, replied, "Made a difference to THAT one!"

~Author Unknown

Handicapped and Disabled Children Association of Klang

A quick update.

Our scheduled visit in March is now postponed to another date due to preparation for the furniture works.

Some quotations are still pending and finalization should be by end of March. From there we will know the estimated costs required and our donation drive will begin soon after.

For those who had emailed to me indicating your contributions and help, we thank you and greatly appreciated your kindness.

Will keep in touch when the plan is rolled out.

See ya!

擁抱生命，笑看人間

◆中國報：甄子權

世上最難防治的心靈病毒，莫過於自殺。

人心啊，難測、難解、難治。

2011年伊始，揮不去的自殺病毒，又借屍還魂。

有迷途女生在學校跳樓身亡、有一時迷糊的媽媽把女兒拋下樓復自殺、有迷失了自己的女子因賭而跳樓自盡，留下難解的疑問，和難捨的抽泣聲。

人心常有莫名的悲憤，恨家人、恨同學、恨世界……。

這是心病，心病自有心藥醫，要自己尋找。

有一首歌，叫《快樂天堂》：

大象長長的鼻子正昂揚全世界都舉起了希望

孔雀旋轉著碧麗輝煌沒有人應該永遠沮喪

河馬張開口吞掉了水草煩惱都裝進它的大肚量

老鷹帶領著我們飛翔更高更遠更需要夢想

告訴你一個神秘的地方一個孩子們的快樂天堂

跟人間一樣的忙碌擾攘有哭有笑當然也會有悲傷

我們擁有同樣的陽光

這首80年代的歌，其實是滾石歌手送給台北圓山動物園的。在生命的莊園中，有人活得像快樂的大象，也必然會有人無助地，像一隻受傷的小白兔。

當你發覺身邊的人，經常不安或焦慮、不開心、容易憤怒、自我隔離時，別掉以輕心，耐心地用眼神給予關懷，當一個聆聽者。沒有人應該永遠沮喪，拉他一把，到陽光照得到的地方。

活著，可愛或可怕，就看你怎麼想──學習孔雀旋轉著碧麗輝煌；學習河馬張開口，把煩惱都裝進它的大肚量；等待老鷹帶領著我們飛翔，看見更高更遠的人生。

保持童心，觀之如畫，你是大象，我是白兔，活著“有哭有笑當然也會有悲傷”，最要緊從容以對。

感覺一無所有？世界背棄了你？不，我們不是都一直擁有著同樣的陽光嗎？

人心再如何難測、難解、難治，解藥都在釋證嚴法師以下這句話裡頭：用開闊之心體悟人生苦難；用不忍之心悲憫天下蒼生，如此方能長養“人傷我痛，人苦我悲”的同理心，這就是成長慧命。

活著，總有一道又一道看似難以跨越的高牆，逼著我們前行，跨越它，從而彰顯生命的不凡。

活下去的方法，其實有很多：擁抱生命，笑看人間，快樂天堂，盡在心田。

HELP THE OLD FOLKS IN SEGAMAT, JOHOR

Received message from Facebook via Serene Xinni Wong:

昔加末老人院-求救

在昔加末加略山暂时的收容所里，目前楼下是轻微智障和残障老人。。。

而楼上还有四十几位的精神病患！！

他们位于Kg Jawa的收容所完全被大水摧毁。。。现在还没办法重振家园。目前，他们一天最少要用到2包的成人尿片，希望大家可以帮帮这些可怜的老人家，捐出衣物和所需用品。 施比受更有福~~~~~手心向下，福至心灵。。。

另有 - .老人院负责人 联络电话：019-7166100 在网上灾区得来的消息，紧急需帮忙！！！！

位于昔加末灾区内的加略山老人院被紧急疏散到IOI新区店屋（昆明园关帝庙后部）后，被逼过着没水没电的日子，有些老人因行动不便却因物资缺乏~~~结果被逼用碎布抹排泄物！！！可怜可怜她们吧！！！

在新的一年里为自己积善。。。赶快买些成人尿片及其他物资救济她们吧！！！ 可以直接送到那排店屋的暂时收容所，你从大路进昆明园后，直过了十字路口的交通灯后，就在左手边的店屋，可以看到有老人家坐着轮椅在走廊边的。。。

网上灾区的朋友刚刚去了回来的报告，大概有五十幾個老人。負責人說，吃的喝的很充足，所以不需要再買了，麵包容易壞，所以不建議買太多，餅乾之類的可以。成人紙尿片跟換洗衣物缺乏，大家可以多送點過去！幫幫忙吧！日行一善，功德无量！


I called Mdm Jamie, wife to the person in charge - Mr Wong 20 minutes ago.

Here is the brief summary to our conversation:

Center's Name: PERSATUAN KEBAJIKAN KALVARI SEGAMAT
No: 13-1, (2nd Floor) Jalan Kiambang, Off Jalan Genuang, 85000 Segamat, Johor Darul Takzim
Contact: 07-9311778 Fax: 07-9311867 (Temporary Out of Order)
Jamie : 019-7711500
Mr Wong: 019-7166100

The old center which housed all the male residents was destroyed in the recent floods.

Some 50 persons are now accommodated in a temporary shoplot near Bandar Baru Segamat. (Address: Lot 615P, Jalan Maryani, Kampong Jawa, Segamat, 85000 Johor). The 2nd floor housed those with mild mentally challenged old folks.

The temporary shelter now is without water and electricity.

Foods and drinking water are quite sufficient for time being.

Mdm Jamie requested for Wet Wipes, used clothing and bedsheets.

For people who are away from Segamat, you may contribute your donation to them via:

RHB ISLAMIC BANK
Account:
251160-0000-1692
Persatuan Kebajikan Kalvari Segamat

May God Bless You with your Kind Deed !

Handicapped and Disabled Children Association of Klang

We popped into Mr Morgan's place a few days before Chinese New Year. Hubby always has a soft spot for the children in this home, and this is the home we have no second thought whenever we have an impulse for an impromptu visit and making our small contributions.

Mr Morgan was in hand to receive us with his trademark grins. Circled by his lovely young "children" as usual, Mr Morgan was filling us in on the home's latest happenings and at the same time busy instructing the older kids to help transfer the pastries that we brought for their afternoon tea.

Ah Hong, our favorite child, is 5 years old now and has grown up so much that he hopped around just like any other kiddos. His heart condition has healed so far. Only scheduled checkups are required in IJN (Institute Jantung Negara). His bone cancer is, touch wood, status-quo (no deterioration).

While most of the other children were dressed up waiting to go out to attend a charity luncheon, they did not want to miss the chance of posing for the camera. Thru the lens, we saw them in good hands, we saw faith thru these innocent eyes. We know Mr Morgan has been a dedicated and loving caretaker that these children can ask for, and the most befitting "papa" for them. But, deep down, he has some fair share of problems that hopefully kind readers like you can help.

We have decided to come back again, after Chinese New Year, hoping to help solve some of them.

This is their wishlist:

1. Small Refrigerators (1 to 2 nos.)
2. A DVD Player
3. To replace broken clothing cabinets
4. A Water Filter for the kitchen
5. Bedsheets for baby cribs and single beds
6. Body lotion, Vaseline, Vicks
7. Used clothings for children aged between 5 to 12 years old
8. To replace a broken stainless steel long dining table
9. Volunteers (Chinese preferred for easier communication cause most the children speaks Chinese)

We plan to visit them in March, 2011. Anyone keen to lend a helping hand?

Please leave me your message via email: swisspalma@gmail.com.
Thank you in advance for your kind generosity.

Happy Chinese New Year 2011

I didn't plan for an elaborated celebration this year.

I have been missing Ringo, all this while. Although Zuba came into our family some one month ago.

At least for another year, until time heals this void and sad feeling, for as long as time can tell, I still want to mourn over his untimely passing.

This is also part of the reason not updating my blog as often and less interests in organising activity like before.

Well, let's hope this CNY brings about new perspectives to everyone and blessed with great health and prosperity too.

In ever loving memories of our beloved buddy:

RINGO, WE ALL LOVE YOU VERY MUCH.
MAY YOU FIND ETERNAL PEACE IN HEAVEN
XOXOXO FROM ALL AT HOME

United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef)

The children need your help, and they need it before it's too late.

This is a dream of Puteri, a 12 year old living with HIV in Malaysia: "I dream of getting cured,"she says.

Puteri was born with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) - a severe viral infection that progressively destroys the immune system. When she was still very young, both of Puteri's parents died of AIDS-related illnesses. She lived with her grandmother in the northern state of Kedah until December 2006, when her declining health required care too specialised and time-consuming for her grandmother, who also had to support Puteri's two teenage sisters.

She then came to live at a special home in Kuala Lumpur for children like her. Children affected by HIV and AIDS. It has been a difficult adjustment for Puteri, who has to take a daily cocktail of pails just to stay alive. She longs for the day she can put the pills behind her and transform her thin frame into one more like a healthy pre-teen.

"I sometimes feel scared and anxious. I don't know why,"says Puteri. "Sometimes I feel said. I missed my parents, I miss my family."

Puteri's story is sad, but unfortunately, it is not unique. By official estimates, at least 1,000 children in Malaysia are living with HIV. Unofficially, the number is much larger.

And this global epidemic is growing. Every hour, 42 children below 15 years get infected with HIV.

Children just like Puteri.

Most of these children have no one to turn to and are bereft of any opportunities to live full and productive lives. This should not be the world in which our children should grow.

It does not have to be this way.

The above was a letter wrote in to us from UNICEF MALAYSIA appealing for help to bring hope and life to children like Puteri.

The letter continues ;

In Malaysia, an average of 5 child abuse cases were reported each day in 2006 according to the Department of Social Welfare. With you help, we can introduce child protection programs that will help prevent violence, exploitation and abuse against children.

Around the world, 25,000 children die each and every day from preventable causes; 1 in 3 before they are even a month old. With your contributions, we can save children's live with immunisation, clean water and even something as simple as mosquito nets to protect them from malaria.
Let us UNITE to put an end to their suffering.

UNICEF is here in Malaysia. We have been here since 1954, working closely with the Malaysian Government to introduce programs that improve children's lives in the areas of health, nutrition, water and sanitation, education and providing services for children in rural and poor urban areas.

Each of these programs is a success because there are people who care and support us. People like YOU. Although UNICEF is a key member of the UNITED NATIONS, we do not receive funds from the UN. We rely entirely on voluntary contributions to change the lives of the world's children.

Your contributions will be placed directly towards improving children's lives through vital programs in Malaysia and around the world.

For example, a contribution of just RM100 can provide vaccines for 60 young children, protecting them from measles, a preventable disease that kills an estimated 1.4 million children every year. RM100 is also all it takes to facilitate youth-friendly education and services to 25 students in Malaysia, helping them to protect themselves against HIV and AIDS.

A donation of RM300 can provide 1,800 sachets of oral re-hydration salts which, when mixed with safe water, can help protect children from life-threatening diarrhea diseases. Or provide educational materials for a class of 28 underprivileged primary school children in remote areas of Malaysia.

These are just some examples of what we can do with your donation, given the chance.

As we remember our own past childhood hopes and dreams, let's ensure our children are not deprived of theirs.

To make a donation, simply fill out the online form at HERE.

Or contact UNICEF MALAYSIA office at:

UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN'S FUND
Wisma UN, Block C, 2nd Floor
Kompleks Pejabat Damansara
Jalan Dungun, Damansara Heights
50490 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
Tel: +603-2095 9154
Fax: +603-2093 0582
Website: www.unicef.org/malaysia
email: kualalumpur@unicef.org

What the Modern Woman Wants... By Amanda Chong Wei-Zhen

Singapore girl wins Commonwealth essay prize!

MUST READ TO SAFEGUARD YOUR VERY OWN FUTURE.*
A TASTE FOR THINGS TO COME??????

You will be amazed at the maturity of this 15-year old girl.
It's worthwhile taking 5 mins to read this essay.

Have read this before? It is definitely worth having another read......
Singapore girl wins Commonwealth essay prize!

A 15-YEAR-OLD Singaporean, competing against 16-> 18-year-olds, has
won the top prize in a writing contest that drew 5,300 entries from 52
countries...

In the annual Commonwealth Essay Competition, Amanda Chong of
Raffles Girls' School (Secondary) chose to compete in the older category and
won with a piece on the restlessness of modern life.

Her short story, titled What The Modern Woman Wants, focused on the
conflict in values between an old lady and her independent-minded daughter.

'Through my story, I attempted to convey the unique East-vs-West
struggles and generation gaps that I felt were characteristic of young people
in my country,' said Amanda, who likes drama, history and literature and wants
to become a lawyer and a politician.

Chief examiner Charles Kemp called her piece a 'powerfully moving
and ironical critique of modern restlessness and its potentially cruel
consequences'.

The writing is fluent and assured, with excellent use of dialogue.
Amanda gets (S$1,590). A Singaporean last won the top prize in
2000, said Britain 's Royal Commonwealth Society, which has been organising
the competition since 1883. Singaporeans also came in second in the 14 to
15-year-old category, and fourth in the under-12s. Other winners included
students from Australia , Canada and South Africa

===================================================

What the Modern Woman Wants...
By Amanda Chong Wei-Zhen

The old woman sat in the backseat of the magenta convertible as it
careened down the highway, clutching tightly to the plastic bag on her lap,
afraid it may be kidnapped by the wind. She was not used to such speed, with
trembling hands she pulled the seat belt tighter but was careful not to touch
the patent leather seats with her callused fingers, her daughter had warned
her not to dirty it, 'Fingerprints show very clearly on white, Ma.'

Her daughter, Bee Choo, was driving and talking on her sleek silver
mobile phone using big words the old woman could barely understand.
'Finance', 'Liquidation', 'Assets', 'Investments'... Her voice was crisp and
important and had an unfamiliar lilt to it.

Her Bee Choo sounded like one of those foreign girls on television.
She was speaking in an American accent.
The old lady clucked her tongue in disapproval...... 'I absolutely
cannot have this. We have to sell!' Her daughter exclaimed agitatedly as
she stepped on the accelerator; her perfectly manicured fingernails gripping
onto the steering wheel in irritation.

'I can't DEAL with this anymore!' she yelled as she clicked the
phone shut and hurled it angrily toward the backseat.. The mobile phone hit
the old woman on the forehead and nestled soundlessly into her lap. She
calmly picked it up and handed it to her daughter..

'Sorry, Ma,' she said, losing the American pretence and switching
to Mandarin. 'I have a big client in America . There have been a lot of
problems.'

The old lady nodded knowingly. Her daughter was big and
important.

Bee Choo stared at her mother from the rear view window, wondering
what she was thinking. Her mother's wrinkled countenance always carried the
same cryptic look. The phone began to ring again, an artificially cheerful
digital tune, which broke the awkward silence.

'Hello, Beatrice! Yes, this is Elaine.' Elaine. The old woman
cringed. I didn't name her Elaine. She remembered her daughter telling
her, how an English name was very important for 'networking', Chinese ones
being easily forgotten.

'Oh no, I can't see you for lunch today. I have to take the
ancient relic to the temple for her weird daily prayer ritual.'
Ancient Relic. The old woman understood perfectly it was
referring to her. Her daughter always assumed that her mother's silence
meant she did not comprehend.

'Yes, I know! My car seats will be reeking of joss sticks!' The
old woman pursed her lips tightly, her hands gripping her plastic bag in
defence.

The car curved smoothly into the temple courtyard. It looked
almost garish next to the dull sheen of the ageing temple's roof. The old
woman got out of the back seat, and made her unhurried way to the main hall.
Her daughter stepped out of the car in her business suit and
stilettos and reapplied her lipstick as she made her brisk way to her mother's
side.

'Ma, I'll wait outside.. I have an important phone call to make,'
she said, not bothering to hide her disgust at the pungent fumes of incense.
The old lady hobbled into the temple hall and lit a joss stick, she
knelt down solemnly and whispered her now familiar daily prayer to the Gods.
Thank you God of the Sky, you have given my daughter luck all these
years. Everything I prayed for, you have given her. She has everything a
young woman in this world could possibly want. She has a big house with a
swimming pool, a maid to help her, as she is too clumsy to sew or cook. Her
love life has been blessed; she is engaged to a rich and handsome angmoh man.
Her company is now the top financial firm and even men listen to what she
says... She lives the perfect life. You have given her everything except
happiness. I ask that the gods be merciful to her even if she has lost her
roots while reaping the harvest of success.

What you see is not true, she is a filial daughter to me. She
gives me a room in her big house and provides well for me. She is rude to me
only because I affect her happiness.. A young woman does not want to be
hindered by her old mother. It is my fault.

The old lady prayed so hard that tears welled up in her eyes.
Finally, with her head bowed in reverence she planted the half-burnt joss
stick into an urn of smoldering ashes.

She bowed once more. The old woman had been praying for her
daughter for thirty-two years. When her stomach was round like a melon, she
came to the temple and prayed that it was a son.
Then the time was ripe and the baby slipped out of her womb,
bawling and adorable with fat thighs and pink cheeks, but unmistakably, a
girl. Her husband had ticked and punched her for producing a useless baby
who could not work or carry the family name.

Still, the woman returned to the temple with her new-born girl tied
to her waist in a sarong and prayed that her daughter would grow up and have
everything she ever wanted.

Her husband left her and she prayed that her daughter would never
have to depend on a man. She prayed every day that her daughter would be a
great woman, the woman that she, meek and uneducated, could never become. A
woman with nengkan; the ability to do anything she set her mind to. A woman
who commanded respect in the hearts of men. When she opened her mouth to
speak, precious pearls would fall out and men would listen. She will not be
like me, the woman prayed as she watched her daughter grow up and drift away
from her, speaking a language she scarcely understood..

She watched her daughter transform from a quiet girl to one who
openly defied her, calling her laotu, old fashioned.... She wanted her
mother to be 'modern', a word so new there was no Chinese word for it.
Now her daughter was too clever for her and the old woman wondered
why she had prayed like that. The Gods had been faithful to her persistent
prayer, but the wealth and success that poured forth so richly had buried the
girl's roots and now she stood faceless with no identity, bound to the soil of
her ancestors by only a string of origami banknotes.

Her daughter had forgotten her mother's value. Her wants were so
ephemeral, that of a modern woman. Power, wealth, access to the best fashion
boutiques and yet her daughter had not found true happiness.
The old woman knew that you could find happiness with much less.
When her daughter left the earth, everything she had would count for
nothing. People would look to her legacy and say that she was a great woman
but she would be forgotten once the wind blows over, like the ashes of burnt
paper convertibles and mansions.

The old woman wished she could go back and erase all her big hopes
and prayers for her daughter now that she had looked out of the temple gates.
She saw her daughter speaking on the phone, her brow furrowed with anger and
worry. Being at the top is not good, the woman thought, there is only one
way to go from there – down.

The old woman carefully unfolded the plastic bag and spread out a
packet of beehoon in front of the altar. Her daughter often mocked her for
worshipping porcelain Gods. How could she pray to them so faithfully and
expect pieces of ceramic to fly to her aid? But her daughter had her own
gods too, idols of wealth, success and power that she enslaved to and
worshipped every day of her life.

Every day was a quest for the idols, and the idols she worshipped
counted for nothing in eternity. All the wants her daughter had would slowly
suck the life out of her and leave her, an empty souless shell at the altar.
The old woman watched the joss stick. The dull heat had left a
teetering grey stem that was on the danger of collapsing.

Modern woman nowadays, the old lady signed in resignation, as she
bowed to the east bone final time to end her ritual. Modern woman nowadays
want so much that they lose their souls and wonder whey they cannot find it.
Her joss stick disintegrated into a soft grey powder. She met her
daughter outside the temple, the same look of worry and frustration was etched
on her daughter's face.

An empty expression, as if she was ploughing through the soil of
her wants looking for the one thing that would sown the seeds of happiness.
They climbed into the convertible in silence and her daughter drove
along the highway, this time not to fast as she had done before.
‘Ma,’ Bee Choo finally said. "I don't know how to put this.
Mark and I have been talking about it and we plan to move out of the big
house. The property market is good now, and we managed to get a buyer
willing to pay us seven million for it. We decided we'd prefer a cosier
penthouse apartment instead. We found a perfect one in Orchard Road .. Once
we move into our apartment, we plan to get rid of the maid, so we can have
more space to ourselves....."

The old woman nodded knowingly. Bee Choo swallowed hard. "We'd
get someone to come in to do the housework and we can eat out – but once the
maid is gone, there won't be anyone to look after you. You will be awfully
lonely at home and, besides that the apartment is rather small. There won't
be space. We thought about it for a long time, and we decided the best thing
for you is if you moved to a Home. There's one near Hougang – it's a
Christian home and a very nice one."

The old woman did not raise an eyebrow. I"ve been there, the
matron is willing to take you in. It's beautiful with gardens and lots of
old people to keep you company! Hardly have time for you, you'd be happier
there." "You'd be happier there, really." her daughter repeated as if to
affirm herself.

This time the old woman had no plastic bag of food offering to
cling tightly to, she bit her lip and fastened her seat belt, as if it would
protect her from a daughter who did not want her anymore. She sunk deep into
the leather seat, letting her shoulders sag and her fingers trace the white
seat.

Ma, her daughter asked, searching the rear view window for her
mother. "Is everything okay?

What had to be done, had to be done. "Yes" she said firmly,
louder than she intended, 'if it will make you happy,' she added more
quietly..

‘It's for you, Ma! You will be happier there. You can move
there tomorrow, I already got the maid to pack your things.' Elaine said
triumphantly, mentally ticking yet another item off her agenda.
'I knew everything would be fine.' Elaine smiled widely; she felt
liberated. Perhaps getting rid of her mother would make her happier... She
had thought about it. It seemed the only hindrance in her pursuit of
happiness. She was happy now. She had everything a modern woman ever
wanted; money, status, career, love, power and now freedom without her mother
and her old-fashioned ways to weigh her down......

Yes she was free. Her phone butted urgently, she picked it up and
read the message, still beaming from ear to ear. "Stock 10% increase."
Yes, things were definitely beginning to look up for her and while
searching for the meaning of life in the luminance of her hand phone screen,
the old woman in the backseat became invisible and she did not see her in
tears.

Story of Appreciation ~ Dedicated To All Parents

One young academically excellent person went to apply for a managerial position in a big company.

He passed the first interview, the director did the last interview, to make the final decision.

The director discovered from the CV that the youth's academic result is excellent all the way, from the secondary school until the postgraduate research, never has a year he did not score.

The director asked, "Did you obtain any scholarship in school?" and the youth answered "none".

The director asked, "Is it your father who paid for your school fees?" the youth answered, "my father passed away when I was one year old, it is my mother who paid for my school fees."

The director asked, "Where did your mother work?" the youth answered, "my mother worked as cloth cleaner." The director requested the youth to show his hand, the youth showed a pair of hands that is smooth and perfect to the director.

The director asked, "Did you ever help your mother washed the clothes before?" The youth answered, "Never, because my mother always wanted me to study and read more books, furthermore, my mother can wash clothes faster than me."

The director said, "I have a request, when you go back home today, go and help to clean your mother's hand, and then see me tomorrow morning.

The youth felt that his chances of landing the job is high, when he went back home, he happily wanted to clean his mother's hand, his mother feel strange, happy but mixed with fear, she showed her hand to her son.

The youth cleaned his mother's hands slowly, his tears flowed down as he did that. It is first time he found his mother's hands are so wrinkled, and there are so many bruises on her hand.s Some bruises incites pains so strong that shiver her mother's body when cleaned with water.

This is the first time the youth realized and experienced that it is this pair of hand sthat washed the clothes everyday to earn him the school fees, the bruises in the mother's hand is the price that the mother paid for his graduation and academic excellence and probably his future.

After finishing the cleaning of his mother hand, the youth quietly cleaned all the remaining clothes for his mother.

That night, mother and son talked for a very long time.

Next morning, the youth went to the director's office.

The director noticed the tear in the youth's eye, asked: "Can you tell you what have you done and learned yesterday in your house?"

The youth answered, "I cleaned my mother's hands, and also finished cleaning all the remaining clothes'

The director asked, "Please tell me your feeling."

The youth said, Number 1, I knew what is appreciation, without my mother, there would not be the successful me today. Number 2, I knew how to work together with my mother, then only I can realize how difficult and tough to get something done. Number 3, I knew the importance and value of family relationship.

The director said, "This is what I am asking, I want to recruit a person that can appreciate the help of others, a person that knew the suffering of others to get things done, and a person that would not put money as his only goal in life to be my manager. You are hired."

Later on, this young person worked very hard, and received the respect of his subordinates, every employees worked diligently and in a team, the company's result improved tremendously.

A child who has been protected and habitually given whatever he did, he developed an"entitlement mentality" and always put himself first. He is ignorance of his parent's effort. When in a working environment, he assumes that every colleague must listen to him, and when he becomes a manager, he would never understand his subordinates' problems and always blame others. For this kind of people, he may be able to achieve career highs, may be successful for a while, but eventually would not feel any sense of achievement, instead he will grumble, have full of hatred and fight for more. If we are this kind of protective parent, are we loving our children or destroying them?

You can let your kid live in a big house, eat a good meal, learn piano, watch a big screen TV. But when you are cutting grass, please let them experience it. After a meal, let them wash their dishes together with their brothers and sisters. It is not because you do not have money to hire a maid, but it is because you want to love them in a right way. You want them to understand, no matter how rich their parents are, one day their hair will grow grey, same as the mother of that young person. The most important thing is your child learns how to appreciate the effort and experience the difficulty and learn the ability to work with others to get things done.