Category Archives: Parenting, Family and Relationships

Ee returning to KPPN as an Asas II student

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The long school holiday has come to an end. Ee did his last-minute packing yesterday. He just got back from Umrah with his dad. I couldn’t take leave due to ‘kepentingan perkhidmatan’. So, maybe next time. They went to Turkey after Umrah and enjoyed the snow.

At KPPN, his fees are RM2095 with an additional RM100 for PIBG. Mr Husband and Ee departed early this morning because they did not want to be caught up in traffic. This year, he has different dormmates. I just hope they get along. One of his dormmates brought a cat plushie. That’s cute. So, I think Ee will be fine. Ee was the second student to arrive at the dorm. Hence, he gets to choose his bed and table. Mr Husband helped him with the luggage and the carpet in the room. Then, they left for an early lunch.

As usual, my advice to Ee is ‘jangan lupa hantar buku outing’ and ‘minum air putih’.

Haneem’s Khatam Quran

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Khatam Quran, meaning the completion of the recitation of the Holy Quran, is a significant milestone for many Muslims. This act signifies not just the finishing of the Quran but also a spiritual journey filled with reflection and devotion. Many aim to complete the Quran during the month of Ramadan, engaging in daily recitation to deepen their connection with Allah and to gain a better understanding of Islamic teachings. The completion is often met with joy and gratitude, as it represents a personal achievement in one’s spiritual growth.

The celebration of the Khatam Quran typically includes communal gatherings, where family and friends come together to honour this sacred accomplishment. These gatherings often involve collective prayers, the recitation of verses, and heartfelt supplications, known as du’as, during which individuals seek blessings and guidance. Additionally, it is common to perform acts of charity, embodying the values of generosity and community spirit that are emphasised in Islam. Through such celebrations, Khatam Quran not only strengthens individual faith but also fosters a sense of unity and shared purpose within the community.

Haneem had her ceremony recently. It was planned by Mr Husband and his side of the family. Haneem said she was nervous but braved on. She has been practising her recitations with her cousin, who also Khatam Quran for the past few weeks during the school holidays.

On the day itself, both of them recited the Quran in front of the imam. Then, everyone had a meal. My MIL ordered some catering. Mr Husband and his siblings prepared the goodie bag. Haneem and her cousin received monetary gifts from guests. It is not compulsory but the kids obviously loved them. Haneem received RM230 in total and requested all of it to be placed inside her Tabung Haji account. Bless her heart.

End of year babies

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It takes effort to build and maintain a meaningful relationship. The moment you decide that the connection is not worth your time, that is when the bridge crumbles and falls down.

I am blessed to have a younger sister that is always in a high spirit to keep everyone in the loop. Otherwise, we’d be one of those families that only meet during Raya. Or a death in the family.

Presentations and group work at KPPN

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I realised that at KPPN, Ee’s learning methods hugely adopt the use of digital technology and presentations. Laptops are super useful. My husband bought him a Dell that is useful for coding works considering that Ee is in the Digital Innovator Programme (DIP). The subjects are slightly different from the Pure Science Programme. Printers are nice to have. Ee does not have a printer but Ee has his A4 papers. So if he needs to print something, he will use his dorm-mates printer and pay him based on what they agree on (for using ink).

Ee has been exploring how to use Canva and other website-building tools. I’ve noticed his vocabulary improving through his WhatsApp conversations with friends, especially during group work discussions. During the last school break, he asked for my help in shooting a video for their group presentation. He already had a clear idea, and I simply assisted with the execution. Ee explained that he needed to create the video first as an example or template for his team members. He was also supporting his friend, the team leader, who is naturally a bit quieter. Interestingly, the tutor intentionally selected quieter students as leaders this time, so Ee stepped in to lend a hand. He’s also learning to navigate disputes among team members—a tricky skill, but I’m letting him figure it out on his own. It’s all part of the learning process.

It’s the exam season at the moment. His last paper is next Monday. I hope he has been keeping up with his studies. He only has himself and his friends to remain disciplined in his studies. It’s easy for a 13-year-old to be enticed by the freedom to do whatever they want such as gaming or watching movies, considering they have access to laptops and internet access. I cannot wait to see him for the upcoming end-of-year school holidays.

Me helping him to shoot his video in our backyard

Celebrating Ee’s Birthday at IOI Mall

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We celebrated Ee’s birthday recently during his weekend outing at IOI Mall Putrajaya. He really wanted to eat Nandos because of the well-seasoned chicken and the bottomless yoghurt. Haneem shared the quarter chicken meal with me because she was in a bad mood. But I did order extra Yuzu chicken wings on the side. We also shared a glass of bottomless soft drinks.

Before that birthday lunch, we had pastries at La Boheme Cafe.

I asked Ee if he wanted anything else for his birthday. A new T-shirt or underwear, or something. He said he didn’t need any.

He did ask me to bring the Mahathir biography book and the Lat comic for his group project. They are doing a skit on “Idols”. I suggested a more contemporary and young figure like Khairul Aming but it seems that the members are keen to proceed with Tun M.

Ee has always been a quiet boy. Lately, I can see that he is also growing smarter ( they should, right?). He can solve his problems better nowadays. I think Mr Husband was surprised that he did not bring his laundry basket during his latest outing. He said he was able to wash them all. Even I was surprised. Of course, this is probably one of those rare occurrences but it is still good to know that he knows how to manage his time. He is also doing the workbooks that my husband bought. It is something to keep his mind going and prepared for SPM (in 4 years). There is still doubt that KPPN will be able to address this particular concern raised by the parents since they are quite hooked up in ‘theories’ and ‘ideas’ of genius upbringing. I mean, it is fine if you have a unique pathway for the students but if you are still going to put them in the same pool at the university level, there is nothing special about KPPN after all.

It’s like you made the effort to send your child to Genius Aulad for a headstart and yet choose to send the child to mainstream schooling. Might as well keep up the momentum to private school or send the child to a less expensive kindergarten in the first place.