Helicopter parenting & Strawberry generation

Was reading with interest on this article on Yahoo, "its a bird, its a plane, its helicopter parenting"

The articles talks about parents (of the baby boomers generation) who are consistently involved with their children's (Gen Y's kids) life..Parents who handed out their children's resumes at career fairs, showed up at job interviews, even calling employers to find out why their kid didn't get the job.

Dr Kerry Bernes, a psychology associate professor at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta mentioned, "I've seen situations where the parents insist that their child become a chartered accountant, or a physician or engineer, or whatever they think might be a prestigious or high-paying position," he says. "So you end up with bright kids who foreclose on a career decision based on what their parents want them to do, not what they themselves want to do."

Long before this, there was the labelling in Taiwan of those born between 1981 and 1991 as the "Strawberry Generation" as the generation of youth who are delicate, fragile and the inability to withstand pressure, difficulties and frustration.

If you do the calculation, those born between 1981 and 1991, they will be in the age range of 16-26 now in 2007; the age where they will be going to University and who may or have graduated and looking for jobs. With the labelling of "The Strawberry Generation" and the "Helicopter parenting", I seriously wonder how our future generation will turn out...

Cheerios and keep smiling!

With Love from PoohBear

Picture courtesy from http://www.myspace.com/melissalimusic

It is WINTER again, in SPRING

Yup, you read me right, It is WINTER again in APRIL when it is supposed to be Spring now. The picture is what it looks like outside our bedroom window this morning, flurries on the ground in April. Yesterday, when the weather forecast reported that there will be flurries today, "The One" and I went, 'huh? flurries?' We were out yesterday and when we were on our way back, got into our car, the flurries started to come down and temperature start to drop.

Just a few days back, "The One" and I were just starting to do some packing up of our winter wears, the winter jackets, scarfs, gloves, ear muffles etc and were airing some of those jackets before keeping. Even before I get the chance to pack them all up, this morning, we had to use them again hahaha...

This morning, the traffic on the Highways were chaotic too, alot of delays and accidents, probably the cars were driving too quickly and most of the cars will have removed their winter tires.

Temperature today will be in the minus degrees (norm at this time should be in the plus degree)and with the windchill, this morning felt like -6oC. Guess this year, Easter Bunnie (this Friday will be Good Friday and Sunday will be Easter Sunday) will need to wear ear muffles even??

Whats the world coming to? "Green" Xmas instead of "White" Xmas, "White" Easter instead of "Green" Easter??

Cheerios and Keep Smiling!

With Love from PoohBear

What is bridal shower?

When I was first invited to a Bridal shower, I had no idea what kind of an event will that be. After doing some 'homework' of reading up, I had a rough idea of what it will be. Bridal shower is not a custom event back home (in Sg)and recently, I attended my first bridal shower of a niece. A bridal shower is a gift giving party given for a bride before her wedding, whereby guests offer gifts for the bride and groom.

At the bridal shower, food were served, games were played (there was the 'advice game' where the ladies gave the bride-to-be advices on marriage, the 'creative game' where toilet rolls and tapes were given and with that, the ladies had to create 'paper gown' from those toilet rolls) and lastly, the bride-to-be opened the gifts that were given to her. The ladies (mostly friends, relatives such as aunties, nieces, cousins etc) from the bride and groom's family interacted, got to know each other and socialized in this event.

The event "socializes women into the hyper-feminized traditional wife role", emphasising on the future role of the bride-to-be as family cook, homemaker and sexual partner; but this role is more of a homage to the mothers and grandmothers than a reflection of how the bride-to-be will actually behave in the marriage.

Just my two cents worth of thought to the bride and groom. As a couple from different cultural background, it takes alot more work, giving and taking, tolerance and forgiveness, an open mind to the difference, patience, faith and trust to maintain your marriage than couple from similar cultural background. Congrats and best wishes to the couple.

Cheerios and keep smiling!
With Love from PoohBear

Picture courtesy from http://www.sandscripts.nu-art.net

Happi Hatchday Angie!!

Will like to take the time today to wish a very dear gal friend that I known for a long time since my school days..we had lots of fun back then. She's a very strong gal, who has been through alot in life, who's a great singer, musically talented and a 'loyal' pal...who never failed to be there when you need her. To a friend who has taught me about life in your own way, I'm glad that in this life time, we have the chance to meet and know each other.

Just wanna say :

Dear Angie, Happi Hatchday! May all your wishes come true for you!

*muax muax*

Your Birthdate: April 1

You don't just believe in love at first site - you've experienced it. You develop crushes pretty easily, but keeping your interest is another matter! You are very prone to love - hate relationships. Number of True Loves You'll Have: 2 Number of Times You'll Have Your Heart Broken: 4 You are most compatible with people born on the 1st, 10th, 19th, and 28th of the month.

What Does Your Birth Date Mean For Your Love Life?