Tyan's Photoblog
Fireworks @ Padang
Posted by tyan (Singapore, Singapore) on 14 August 2007 in People & Portrait.
We decided to do what most people think is crazy to do on national day last week:Take the train to where the National Day Parade is held to watch fireworks.
It is crazy because the trains,the train station and the whole street are jam packed with people. Going there and coming back would be quite an adventure. If we are a dating couple,it is ok,but not with 2 kids in tow,lol.But anyway,we did it and we enjoyed the fireworks very much. Caleb described the fireworks as 'fire,sky'.
This is a stitched photo,with the fireworks just behind Caleb,I know it looks rather unreal but thats the best i can manage.
{H} creatives from Santa Clara, United States
Ah...very creative, Tyan! Thought I'd stop by and say "nicely done"! Caleb looks so happy...just another great moment you captured wonderfully! Send regards to Law and the boyz as always! Cheers! B-)
14 Aug 2007 6:25am
@{H} creatives: hihi!I am pleasantly surprised to see u here today!Thanks for popping by,i really appreciate it!Our local papers been splashed with news of US mortgage crisis and stuff,wondered if that was the cause of your busy-ness.Anyhow,you take care,and thanks for coming!:)
@Nancy: ya haha,there was this big screen showing the parade with music and stuff,so he started swinging to and fro:)
@celialee: i am glad you like it.He goes 'Fire,Sky,boom boom boom!'
Lorraine from Canada
Oh Tyan, He is soooo precious! What a fantastic moment to have captured. Hey, he could be a model :)
14 Aug 2007 10:08am
@Lorraine: really!I am honoured by your kind words Lorraine!:)
Viewfinder from Bradenton, United States
This is an absolutely precious moment. Stitched or not, your excellent p-p'ing deserves high praise for creatively bringing Caleb and this "fire, sky" together into one sweet image.
14 Aug 2007 11:11am
@Viewfinder: thanks Viewfinder,you make me blush.I am really a processing 'idiot' here:)
@Jen: thanks Jen,i appreciate it:)
MaryB from Staffordshire, United Kingdom
Lovely work tyan, Caleb looks like he's getting into the groove in this one, bless him :)
14 Aug 2007 12:55pm
@MaryB: ya he loves to dance!thanks Mary:)
Rahul from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
This is interesting picture, fireworks really make a good backdrop. :) EXCELLENT!!!!
14 Aug 2007 1:05pm
@Rahul: thanks for your encouraging words Rahul!:)
Eddie from Kyoto, Japan
I think this is simple , but delivers the boy's happiness
14 Aug 2007 1:27pm
@Eddie: thanks eddie!:)
Vanessa from Kent, United Kingdom
Apart from a nice family outing, Caleb is enjoying himself and having a jam. Nice shot Tyan :-)
14 Aug 2007 2:41pm
@Vanessa: thanks Vanessa! You remind me,what is more important is we've had a good time eh!:)
Rebecca from Leicester, United Kingdom
Yes indeed, very brave of all of you to venture on the trains for the parade! Whoa. :) Well worth the memories, though! :) You've got a terrific photo here. Lovely artistic processing, and Caleb with a priceless expression. Brilliant, tyan! :)
14 Aug 2007 2:49pm
@Rebecca: thanks Rebecca!Just for the experience!Not sure if we'd do it again!lol
@ChaCha: thanks cha2!:)
Shrig from New Jersey, United States
nice job ! very creative with the fireworks and the little one.
14 Aug 2007 4:57pm
@Shrig: thanks for your kind encouragement!:)
@alla: thanks alla!:)
Rebel Streetshooter from Big Apple, United States
Unreal or not...it's a good stich. A good "stich in time",
14 Aug 2007 7:24pm
@Rebel Streetshooter: thanks Rebel!:)
@Shutterbug: wow,thats really an honour!You are very kind,Shutterbug!:)thanks a lot!
Rebecca from Leicester, United Kingdom
Hi again tyan :) Many thanks for the lovely long comment you left for me today. I've posted a rather long response too :) LOL . Do come by to check it out when you have a moment. :)
14 Aug 2007 11:10pm
@Rebecca: ok Rebecca!thanks again for taking the time to write me long replies,i really appreciate it.You have seen my reply to you abt sending kids to childcare,did you?:)
bronzebilly u.k. from cardiff, United Kingdom
hey tyan--magical result on this shot--well stiched Mrs stitcher;-))--billy
14 Aug 2007 11:11pm
@bronzebilly u.k.: thanks Uncle Billy!:)
Joanie from Singapore
Your kids are really fortunate to have such adventureous parents. My hb will never do that. I suggested to go see fireworks but he wasn't quite keen coz he's not in for crowds.
15 Aug 2007 12:50am
Joanie from Singapore
Actually can't tell it's stitched. Well done job...I like the whole expression that the photo brings..haha...been so knocked out these few nights to do up my blog for weekend activities..haha..
15 Aug 2007 12:53am
@Joanie: you must be tired!lol,please take care!Tell me when u deliver,will you?I would like to visit you!:)
Ling from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
AHH! This is such a cute shot of the fireworks and the little boy.
Great shot man!
15 Aug 2007 1:31am
Ling from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Ooopss...I forgot to read the description.
You know what....it doesn't even look stitched.
15 Aug 2007 1:32am
@Ling: thanks for your kind encouragement Ling:)
@Rags: thanks Rags:)
Rebecca from Leicester, United Kingdom
Hi yet again tyan :) Looks like this is going to be the next instalment of our long "chat" :) LOL. Yes, I did read your reply on childcare. Have you seen my little response on 12 august? Never mind in any case :).
Managing 2 young kids at the same time is definitely a tough challenge (friends tell us the stressload increase is exponential! *) ), especially when you're having to do it without support. I really do hope and pray you will be able to have helpful support/relief to see you through the day-to-day grind, and especially in the most trying times. You know, I really think you're doing the right thing. But if you're still having doubts about your own abilities and whether a childcare centre could be better, let me just say I really think, however good or 'bad' a job you may think you're doing at home, you are definitely a much better carer for Caleb & Ian than any childcare centre could be. May I also recommend to you another book that has been a major influence on my decision to stay home with Elise (so sorry to be recommending so many books/articles! yes, you can say i've read rather widely on the subject and done some 'digging' - it's a habit left over from my legal practice days that i can't quite shake off! :) ) : "Day Care Deception" by Brian Robertson. You can read the reviews about it here on Amazon US. It doesn't make for light reading, though, so I don't recommend it easily.
Robertson uncovers some rather shocking truths about the damaging impact of the widespread childcare centre (called "day care" in the US, and "nursery" here in the UK) industry, which unfortunately, for various (political, policy, economic, even feminist!) reasons seems to be shielded from general public scrutiny. (Day care is a lot more widespread in the US and UK than it is in S'pore where at least it is more common for caring grandparents/nannies to be helping to look after kids. )
Robertson, a research fellow at the Family Research Council, has done extensive research on the subject and makes some pretty shocking revelations in the book. Please don't let this scare you, but he opens by revealing that the 2 Columbine High School killers were 2 outwardly pretty regular boys from comfortable affluent middle-class dual income backgrounds (ie. both their parents worked and 'delegated' the responsibility of looking after them to others) and one of them, DK, who had attended day care for several years before starting school, once wrote about Satan opening a day care centre in hell during a Columbine High creative writing class, prior to the shootings. Coincidence? Maybe. Maybe not.
He goes on to point out and examine in detail a host of damaging effects of day care, however good or bad the "quality" of the day care centre. Amongst these, he points out the damaging effects of "attachment disorder" (when kids are prematurely separated from their parents, and aren't healthily attached to them) which, again probably for political/policy reasons, is very little talked about in the wider world. There's a lot of silent anger and frustration that can be suppressed inside these kids that may not be evident/expressed until it's too late, as in the case of DK and EH, the 2 killers. You already know from Steve Biddulph's writings the effects such care can have on brain development of the young child.
Robertson asserts pretty strongly that being put into institutional care like this from such a young age places a lot of stress on little ones, however 'exciting', 'fun', 'stimulating' or 'educational' (my words here) the institution may be. I quote from his book : "New research confirms the long-held correlation between hours spent in preschool day care (whatever the "quality") and increased problem behavior and physiological signs of stress in young children." There's a lot more he says which is just not practical for me to put down here, but if you'd like to read the book and find it hard to get hold of a copy, please do let me know, tyan. I will be happy to send you my copy.
But at the end of the day, tyan, it really is your choice and Lawrence's, whether a childcare centre is right for you and your kids. No one can make you choose one way or the other. You can be assured my thoughts and prayers are with you as you wrestle with the many conflicting factors you have to deal with, as you daily make this choice. Once again, God bless, my friend.
15 Aug 2007 5:10pm
