Never, never, never

A little baby girl aged three months suffered six fractured ribs, both of her legs were fractured and her brain was so damaged that if she was to live, she would be a vegetable. Therefore, her mother did something no mother should ever have to do. The young mother did what was right and best for the little baby girl by taking her off the life support.

The little baby girl had been entrusted to a male caregiver who had probably had shaken her fatally.

This act is called Shaken baby Syndrome (SBS). SBS is the shaking of an infant or child by the arms, legs or shoulders with or without the impact of the head. Shaking, jerking or jolting can cause blood vessels in the head to tear or burst. This trauma can result in bleeding and brain injury with no outwards signs of abuse.

Often, frustrated caregivers feel that shaking a baby or child is a harmless way to stop them from crying. However, a baby's brain and blood vessels are vulnerable to whiplash motions such as shaking, jerking, jolting and impact.

The neck muscles of a baby or small child is weak, so the child's head is relatively heavy and the neck cannot support the stress of shaking or impact.

Therefore, shaking a baby or a small child with or without the impact of the head, can cause irreversible brain damage, blindness, cerebral palsy, hearing loss, spinal chord injury, seizures, learning disabilities and even death!

It is a tragic that healthy and intelligent babies and small children are suffering from these disabilities simply because their caregivers do not know the dangers associated to Shaken baby Syndrome.

More info about SBS.

Encourage the young to ask ...

CQ was reading last week's Weekend Bulletin, when a portion of an article caught CQ's attention.

The first two paragraphs made CQ smile. Is it true that the local young are not being encouraged to ask questions? And if they do open their mouths to ask questions, they are marked for being disrespectful!?

So, in order to show respect, the young will conform to what are being told to them not to do. That means they are being obedient. If they disobey, then they are being disrespect?

Respect and Obedient are two different 'characters'. Yes! Naturally these should be instilled and nurtured when the young are growing up. Encouraging them to ask questions when they are doubtful, does not deemed the young to be disrespect nor disobedient. But if they are asking senseless questions, then be tactful to make them stop! Do not embarrass them by shouting at them to stop.

One of the most important things parents can teach their children is respect. Parents play a significant role and have the most influence in molding their children to become respectful individuals. Respect is not the same as obedience. When children obey, that means they are afraid. However, if they respect you, then they will obey because they know you have their best interest at heart.

The best way to teach our children the meaning of respect is to show respect. When they experience respect, they will know what it feels like and will begin to understand how important respect is ...and being obedient will come naturally.

Respect is an attitude. Being respectful is being responsible and it will help a child not only in school but in his/her life later on. Like adults, children too have human dignity. If we want our children to be respectful, we as parents and peers must also be respectful ourselves. Remember! Children are our mirrors. If a child shows respect in his/her home, it is likely the child will show it outside the home too.

Therefore, when the young are asking questions (irregardless whether logical or illogical), that means their minds and brains are working perfectly well. If they don't ask questions, then they are not thinking.


??? Never feel shy to open your mouth to ask questions when in doubt.

To my child

CQ got this beautiful poem through an email that was written by a father to save his child.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Just for this morning, I am going to smile when I see your face
and laugh when I feel like crying.

Just for this morning, I will let you choose what you want to wear,
and smile and say how perfect it is.

Just for this morning, I am going to step over the laundry
and pick you up and take you to the park to play.

Just for this morning, I will leave the dishes in the sink,
and let you teach me how to put that puzzle of yours together.

Just for this afternoon, I will unplug the telephone
and keep the computer off, and sit with you in
the backyard and blow bubbles.

Just for this afternoon, I will not yell once, not even a tiny
grumble when you scream and whine for the ice cream truck,
and I will buy you one if he comes by.

Just for this afternoon, I won't worry about what you are going
to be when you grow up, or second guess every decision
I have made where you are concerned.

Just for this afternoon, I will let you help me bake cookies,
and I won't stand over you trying to fix them.

Just for this afternoon, I will take us to McDonald's
and buy us both a Happy Meal so you can have both toys.

Just for this evening, I will hold you in my arms and tell you
a story about how you were born and how much I love you.

Just for this evening, I will let you splash in the tub
and not get angry.

Just for this evening, I will let you stay up late while
we sit on the porch and count all the stars.

Just for this evening, I will snuggle beside you for hours,
and miss my favorite TV shows.

Just for this evening when I run my finger through
your hair as you pray, I will simply be grateful that
God has given me the greatest gift ever given..

I will think about the mothers and fathers who are searching
for their missing children, the mothers and fathers
who are visiting their children's graves instead of their bedrooms.

The mothers and fathers who are in hospital rooms watching their
children suffer senselessly and screaming inside that little body
and when I kiss you goodnight I will hold you a little tighter,
a little longer.

It is then, that I will thank God for you,
and ask him for nothing, except one more day...

Exam fever!

Besides the GCE 'O' Levels exams, there are other exams that are on-going in schools; like the GCE 'A' Levels, PMB, PSR and the final year-end exams for primary and secondary schools.

CQ hoped all these students have made early preparations and revisions for their exams. Parents must also ensure that their children do study and revise at home and to lessen any other activities like watching TV or lepak-ing with friends ..yeah!

Just hours ago, CQ recieved an email about a Malay composition written by a primary four pupil. CQ believed it was written in such a manner due to the after effects of watching tooooo much TV ..read on to find out =)


"Karangan oleh kanak2 darjah 4...

Pagi itu pagi minggu. Cuaca cukup sejuk sehingga mencapai takat suhu beku. Sebab itu saya tidak mandi pagi sebab air kolah jadi air batu dan air paip tidak mahu keluar sebab beku dalam batang paip.

Pagi itu saya bersarapan dengan keluarga di dalam unggun api kerana tidak tahan sejuk. Selepas itu emak saya mengajak saya menemaninya ke pasar. Tetapi saya tidak mahu. Selepas emak menikam perut saya berkali-kali dengan garfu barulah saya bersetuju untuk mengikutnya.

Kami berjalan sejauh 120 kilometer kerana pasar itu letaknya 128 kilometer dari rumah. Lagi 8 kilometer nak sampai pasar saya ternampak sebuah lori kontena meluru dengan laju dari arah belakang. Dia melanggar emak saya. Emak saya tercampak ke dalam gaung. Dia menjerit 'Adoi'.

Lepas itu emak saya naik semula dan mengejar lori tersebut. Saya pun turut berlari di belakang emak saya kerana takut emak saya melanggar lori itu pula. Pemandu lori itu nampak kami mengejarnya. Dia pun memecut lebih laju iaitu sama dengan kelajuan cahaya. Kami pula terpaksa mengejar dengan lebih laju iaitu sama dengan dua kali ganda kelajuan cahaya. Emak saya dapat menerajang tayar depan lori itu. Lori itu terbabas dan melanggar pembahagi jalan lalu bertembung dengan sebuah feri.

Feri itu terbelah dua. Penumpang feri itu yang seramai 100 orang semuanya mati. Pemandu feri itu sangat marah. Dia pun bertukar menjadi Ultraman dan memfire pemandu lori. Pemandu lori menekan butang khas di dalam lori dia..lori itu bertukar menjadi robot Transformer. Mereka bergaduh di udara. Emak saya tidak puas hati. Dia terus menyewa sebuah helikopter di Genting Highlands dan terus ke tempat kemalangan. Dia melanggar pemandu feri yang telah bertukar menjadi Ultraman itu. Pemandu feri itu terkejut dan terus bertukar menjadi pemandu feri semula lalu terhempas di jalanraya itu. Pemandu lori sangat takut melihat kejadian itu. Dia meminta maaf dari emak saya. Dia menghulurkan tangan ingin bersalam. Tetapi emak saya masih marah. Dia menyendengkan helikopternya dan mengerat tangan pemandu lori itu dengan kipas helikopter. Pemandu itu menjerit 'Adoi...!' dan jatuh ke bumi.

Emak saya menghantar helikopter itu ke Genting Highlands. Bila dia balik ke tempat kejadian, dia terus memukul pemandu lori itu dengan beg tangannya sambil memarahi pemandu lori itu di dalam bahasa Inggeris. Pemandu lori tidak dapat menjawab sebab emak saya cakap orang putih. Lalu pemandu lori itu pun mati.

Tidak lama kemudian kereta polis pun sampai. Dia membuat lapuran ke ibu pejabatnya tentang kemalangan negri itu. Semua anggota polis di pejabat polis itu terperanjat lalu mati. Orang ramai mengerumuni tempat kejadian kerana ingin mengetahui apa yang telah terjadi. Polis yang bertugas cuba menyuraikan orang ramai lalu dia menjerit menggunakan pembesar suara. Orang ramai terperanjat dan semuanya mati.

Selepas itu emak saya mengajak saya ke pasar untuk mengelak lebih ramai lagi yang akan mati. Di pasar, emak saya menceritakan kejadian itu kepada penjual daging. Penjual daging dan peniaga-peniaga berhampiran yang mendengar cerita itu semuanya terkejut dan mati. Saya dan emak saya terus berlari balik ke rumah. Kerana terlalu penat sebaik saja sampai di rumah kami pun mati. Itulah kemalangan yang paling ngeri yang pernah saya lihat sebelum saya mati."


p.s. This is one ridiculous yet hilarious piece of Malay composition! and CQ hoped that no one had read and laugh to death! =)

Abandoned ..

What were the parents of these school-going children be thinking when they decided to abandon them heartlessly in such a state?? No food. No decent living quarters. No basic neccessities.

CQ hopes that the relevant authorities will deal with the parents ...

source: KB Happening

It is so disheartening to read about the unfortunate plight of these children on the pages of SenorPablo, KB Happening and Iskandar World.

These children have bright and promising future ahead of them. Therefore, let us join Senor Pablo, Princess Nashwa and Iskandar to help these young children in any way we can.

To those who wish to donate monies, food or any form of neccessities, please email to babelizcious_78@yahoo.com . Let us give these children the life they deserve!

Aspiring boy-footballer

CQ had eyes on this little fella about two days ago. All by himself, he was kicking the ball all over the neighbourhood park-field and doing some hat-tricks as if he was another Pele? hehehe ..

Mimicking the styles of a pro footballer, this cute and amusing boy could be the next DPMM FC star! huhu :)

Who is to be blamed??

Road safety is everyone's responsibility. This is a gentle reminder to CQ and readers of this blog. Pictures speak for themselves.

CQ was driving towards Mumong last Sunday when CQ saw this two cars 'kissed'. Obviously, it looked like a 'NO-give-way' accident.

Anyway, CQ also saw a child laid back on the side of the road - bleeding while awaiting for arrival of medical help.

In a different situation ...

As a parent, CQ is quite disturbed with this picture. This happened a few weeks ago and was not the first time!

Where were the teachers or guardians? Yes, the teachers were also taking part in the morning run or walk around the residential housing vicinity ..but these less-stamina teachers were staggering among or in between the hyperactive children!

These two young girls were standing on the road, obviously waiting for their teachers ...and a car passed by! Who will the parents of these girls blame, should there be ...?? You readers can finish up CQ's sentence!

No doubt this school is Not situated on a busy road, BUT when out of the school premises, danger lurks everywhere in any forms. Handling young children, especially when outing on foot as in the above pictures, needs stricter supervisions, discipline and patience.

... *sigh* ...

Playground

Growing up as children must be one of the best moments in our life time. Able to laugh, dirty yourself, have playful fights, care-free attitude and many gusto activities that you will not be able to do when you grow up ...yeah right !!

Nowadays, there are adults who behave worst than children. Street fights, dressed shabbily or gung-grang ..huh?? what's that? CQ also do not know :) ...being arrogant, ignorant and many more lahh...

Anyway, that is not what CQ wants to berkurapak (talk) about...

CQ saw this playground at the Gaint superstore. Conveniently set-up in the middle of the building that partitioned the supermarket and the other side which has some small-size shops and the makan area - errr is it correct my architectural map reading?? hehehe

Its vibrant and loud colours will definitely attract children of all ages. Some parents will leave their smaller children at the playground with their elder ones while doing their shopping at the supermarket. How convenient yeahh ...

Hmmm CQ was wondering ...what about those elderly people who prefer to wait around, rather than following their adult children doing long-hours shopping at the huge supermarket? Where would they wait? At the makan area? hmmm ...

Why not make a corner - (strictly for senior citizen only) - where there are benches or swings - like the ones in the famous Malay hit movie 'Bawang Merah Bawang Puteh' ...for them to relax and enjoy. Maybe we could hear them sing ..'buai laju-laju ..' or berkunyayang (endless talk) among them ..'eh liau, tulak bahhh ..' or with their antic gigiran-ness like 'oh nini kou melatup' and others that you can imagine the worst of all ..hahaha

It would bring back nostalgic memories for elderly couples by having a ball of their time waiting hehehe ...CQ's wild imagination huh? hahaha

Well, if CQ reach that old age ..insyaAllah! CQ will play the swing huhu ..'buai abang buai laju-laju ..' lols - CQ even hope that CQ still has full set of teeth to smile graciously :)

Simply clever

A stranger was seated next to a little girl on the airplane when the stranger turned to her and said, 'Let's talk. I've heard that flights go quicker if you strike up a conversation with your fellow passenger.'

The little girl, who had just opened her book, closed it slowly and said to the stranger, 'What would you like to talk about?'

'Oh, I don't know,' said the stranger. 'How about nuclear power?' and he smiles.

'OK, ' she said. 'That could be an interesting topic. But let me ask you a question first. A horse, a cow, and a deer all eat the same stuff - grass . Yet a deer excretes little pellets, while a cow turns out a flat patty, and a horse produces clumps of dried grass. Why do you suppose that is?'

The stranger, visibly surprised by the little girl's intelligence, thinks about it and says, 'Hmmm, I have no idea.'

To which the little girl replies, 'Do you really feel qualified to discuss nuclear power when you don't know sh*t?


...oohhhh man! how embarrassing it can be ..to be an adult when talking to smart kidz ...kwang kwang kwang :)

How much $$$ ...

When it comes to money, I wonder what our children spend with their allowances. In fact how much should they get for their allowances? Does it depend on the age and gender? As youth spending continues to rise, I am putting my drained-effort-brain to figure out just what Bruneian children are buying with their pocket money.

I found out that some children are given allowances according to their age. For instance, if the child is between ten and fifteen, he/she could be getting one or two ringgit a day; and more if the child is above sixteen and so on. Therefore, that sums up to about forty to eighty ringgit per month for the daily school allowances per child; imagine if there are more than three siblings!

Besides, school allowances, do these children get any other allowances – like extra weekly or monthly pocket money - that they can spend or buy whatever they want when they are out with friends or even with families?

I am sure with this extra pocket money; it increases their overall spending power. I guess the biggest part of their ‘heavenly’ allowances would go to food with movies comes in at a close second and followed by clothes, gadgets and so on. But some children are smart when comes to dealing with money. Some are spending right along their gender lines. Though at times it is fascinating to see how they are spending their so-called extra cash, parents should also instill the habits of savings at a young age. It is quite-an-alarming fact that there are some children who do take money for granted – spending lavishly and unwisely. They can just act as if their parents are running a money factory at home.

Today's kids, even those as young as three can wield an enormous amount of spending power. As the amount of money in the kids' wallets increases, it falls on to the parents to figure out how to teach their kids to responsibly save, budget and spend their cash. They should be taught how to manage their money and how to set priorities at an early age. These include allowing them to test their own financial limits and learn the value of money so as not to spend on frivolous things.

You can never know how’s the future economy will be like. If these children do not learn the value of money now, they can never survive when they enter the real world or working life.

Just sharing my concerns as it also serves as a reminder to me. Alhamdulillah, having taught the responsibility of savings at a tender age, Kimchi understands the importance and value of $$$ and learn not to be an impulsive spender.