Thursday, September 20, 2012

Lessons learnt from a holiday

We are back – from a fabulously lovely Bangkok family holiday. There are so many photos, I have not even begun to look through my camera SD card to sort them out. Bangkok, to me, was a great experience of shopping, feasting and awesomely affordable massages! (My Bangkok posts WILL come, I promise!)

I am in a pseudo-theme of writing on creating memories for the kids. We went for the photoshoots. And now this trip with Jay. More than the purchases, we were happy to have a chance to also teach him some real-life lessons.

Of toys and beggars

Jay was pretty excited to get some new toys. We had a part to play in that expectation, naturally, as we kept telling him he could get some (cheaper) toys in Bangkok rather than the usual pricier ones in Singapore. So he waited. The first day went by, and nary a toy. The whole of the second day was largely spent in the 7-storey Platinum Mall, which I was repeatedly assured by my travelling mates would have some toys for Jay... On the fifth floor. Well, to future kid-lugging parents after me, let me tell you. There are HARDLY any toy shops in the Platinum mall. HARDLY. Sure, we saw a small stall soon after we got there, but when Jay started fiddling with the toy machine gun, I gently reminded him of our my "No toy guns" policy. The shop owner probably understood English, as she curtly told Jay to stop touching the toy. Well, that struck me as being rude, given he was merely pulling the trigger, and while I was resistant about toy guns, I was in the market for a toy for Jay. Her sour attitude stopped me from purchasing any other toy from there! Unfortunately…  there was barely another half decent toy shop! We only managed to get some toys for him the next day at Chatuchak Market... And on the last day, as we were walking around another mall, he turned and asked the hubby, "Why are there so little toy shops in Bangkok?"

Now most of us are used to toy shops around every corner, but we also used it as a chance to tell Jay the reason for the lack of toy shops was probably due to the fact the Thai didn't buy toys that often for their kids (I don’t know how true that is, but to us it kinda made a little sense! Haha...) Nevertheless, Jay understood, and for all the times we have reminded him how fortunate we are to be living in a country like Singapore, and how some kids really get by with hardly any toys at all, this little object lesson was a real eye-opener for him!

Walking down the streets, we also had the chance to see beggars on the street. We also took the chance to teach Jay about how there are so many less fortunate than we are. Empathy, kindness and contentedness are some things that we want to build in the kids, and sometimes in the luxury of life that we live in Singapore, we can often overlook these areas. It just takes a simple trip to give some object lessons that beats just describing it.

So apart from spending the whole weekend together (and having a blast!), I am really thankful to also be given the opportunity to instill and reinforce certain values in Jay.

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16 comments:

Ruth said...

What great lessons you are teaching your son! It makes the trip so much more meaningful than just the eating and shopping!

verna said...

It's nice that you made your trip even more meaningful by teaching those lessons to your kids. Kudos!

Velasco said...

To teach children kindness is a very good means of parenting. I personally think that if kids grow kind and compassionate, parents have done a good job.

Unknown said...

Always great to be given opportunity to teach our young about the less fortunate. What they see will be instilled in their minds. I remember being in BKK when my children were 5 and 3 years old. Hubs was working there for a few days and we tagged. I brought them out and we chanced upon many beggars along the way. Till today, they remember what they saw and able to empathize the less fortunate ones.

Madeline Heng said...

Yeah I agree there were very little toy stores there. It's a great lesson to teach them to be thankful for the things the have received in life! :)

Farida said...

Hope he carries throughout his adulthood these lessons you've been teaching him.. lucky kid :)

Would you like us to follow each other?

Gaylee said...

Its good that young as he is, you are already instilling in him good values. We can only do what we can as moms and the rest will be up to our child but with love and proper guidance, I'm pretty sure your son will grow up living up to what you have taught him.

Unknown said...

What an adventure you had. Teaching our kids the values in life is one thing that they'll always live by as the grow. Good job mommy. :-)

Allan D said...

Nice to teach kids with such lesson. Seeing some that where less fortunate than us can help them realize that they are really lucky to have the basic needs like food, clothing and shelter.
-daddy Allan (visit from BCB)

anne lei said...

It seems a nice trip except the one you encountered at a toy store. How I wish I could also travel in that place.

Vera said...

My first trip out of the country was to Bangkok and I was so young and wasn't with my parents so it was quite an adventure. I loved shopping! Yeah, I also don't remember seeing much toys, but there were other souvenirs and stuff to buy for kids anyway so it wasn't much of a problem for me.

Nice to see you taking much needed vacation with your family, and making memories, looking forward to your photos.

kat said...

Quite an eye-opener. Some kids do not have toys but they get to play games on the streets with friends. Still as fun!

KRIZZA said...

Thank you for having us peek on your recent Bangkok tour. It makes me more excited sa trip namin sa Bangkok also end of next month. Those were nice lessons learned by your little boy. :)

Khim said...

Making memories and teaching lessons. That's the best part of your vacation. :D

New follower here from BC Bloggers. Hope you can make a return visit. http://theworldofupsdowns.blogspot.com/

Olga said...

Travelling really is one of the best ways to teach children important life lessons and of course the culture of other nations. This is precisely why I am working so hard to pool a travel fund for the li'l ones so they can get to see and experience the world beyond our country.

Olga said...

Travelling really is one of the best ways to teach children important life lessons and of course the culture of other nations. This is precisely why I am working so hard to pool a travel fund for the li'l ones so they can get to see and experience the world beyond our country.