Just to let older users know - “slmkhoo” has now become “sharonkhoo”!

A few days ago, my “slmkhoo” username was accidentally deleted/removed - not sure why or how it happened. Thanks to the KSP support team, although they couldn’t resurrect my original username, they were able to let me register a new one, and have my old posts gathered under the new name. My profile says that my new username has over 15K previous posts, so it seems to have worked.

Special thanks to @thebottomsupblog who has been my contact through this process!

@Raajbeary I do sympathise with the situation your son is in. Unfortunately, not all schools are accommodating to individual requests, and there’s the issue of fairness to other students who may be in a similar position.

If the school is unwilling/unable to do more, one option is to follow zac’s mum’s advice and opt out of CCA altogether, but it does mean that there may be repercussions later on if CCA record is a necessary prerequisite (e.g. participation in other activities, trips etc.)

I’m sure you’ve tried already, but is there any way you can persuade your son to accept the CCA he has been allocated? Can he participate in the most low-key way, just doing the minimum? Attendance is better than not having any CCA at all.

I don’t want to offend, but is there a reason why your son is so against accepting what he has been allocated? It was his 3rd choice, so is it something he really hates or can’t cope with? There are many kids who accept what they have been assigned, however unwillingly, and grow to at least tolerate it, and maybe even like it. Learning to accept what he doesn’t like can be a learning experience. Of course, none of us would want this for our kids, but sometimes it can’t be helped.

My younger daughter returned from overseas in mid-Sec2 and also had a similar experience trying to get into a CCA. She was refused by her first few choices, but was finally accepted (after appeal, interview and audition) by one that wasn’t among her top choices. We encouraged her to make the best of it, and although she didn’t always enjoy all of it, she made a few friends and gained some experiences that she otherwise she wouldn’t have. Overall, she now looks back at it with fondness for what she learned and experienced.

Wishing you and your son all the best in making your decision.

@thebottomsupblog “tankini” is a new word to me! Yes, that’s the kind of swimsuit I was thinking of, though I didn’t know that’s what they were called! Will go an have a look. I think I last bought a swimsuit more than 10 yrs ago.

I don’t completely avoid “fast fashion”. I think how you use the items matters - e.g., we don’t wear and toss, and we tend to reuse them many times.

@thebottomsupblog I’m about a third of the way through a course entitled “Masterpieces of World Literature”. Quite interesting, but there’s a quiz (20 MCQs) at the end of every work presented. I do a section when I have time.

@thebottomsupblog Exciting times! I went to the UK for undergrad studies, as did my husband and one daughter. We all enjoyed our time. My husband and I did find returning a little harder than my daughter did, but we didn’t have as much practice as she did, and times have changed!

Returning is slightly less challenging for 20-somethings because they have more memories of Singapore compared to younger kids. And nowadays (compared to my time 40 yrs ago), uni students travel back to Singapore more often and it’s easier to keep in touch with their Singapore friends on social media. But transitions are always challenging, no matter your age - the only thing I can say is that every subsequent transition gets a bit easier if you’ve learned how to to cope. So the 10th transition should be easier than the 1st!

The book is available already - print or ebook depending on your preference. Scan the QR code in the image for info.

Happy 2026!
I have just set up an Instagram account “singaporetck” (link below) with bite-sized tips to help families with Singaporean Third Culture Kids in their journey overseas and back to Singapore. This complements the book I published last year: Rooted, Resilient & Ready: Preparing Singaporean Third Culture Kids for “Home” .

Do have a look and follow the account! If you know a family planning to head overseas or return to Singapore, please share it with them. I will be adding more material regularly. Thanks!
https://www.instagram.com/singaporetck?igsh=YWMzYTR2Z3JmaXdj

Happy New Year to all! Hope the plans we have for the coming year come to fruition!

@thebottomsupblog Update: I visited Sun Paradise and had a look (all Arena brand), and also tried a couple to get an idea of sizing. I didn’t realise that swimsuits were so expensive! Original price $115, but some had 40% discount or 15% discount. When asked about the cheaper ones online, the friendly salesgirl told me that they were probably older models from previous years. Cheapskate me decided to have a closer look online first, and I eventually bought an older model for $59. Waiting for it to arrive!

Anyone interested in swimming at Queenstown Swimming Complex which has just reopened? I haven’t been in a swimming pool for about 10 yrs, but I feel I really need to get more exercise. I used to love swimming, so maybe the love will return.

@thebottomsupblog “tankini” is a new word to me! Yes, that’s the kind of swimsuit I was thinking of, though I didn’t know that’s what they were called! Will go an have a look. I think I last bought a swimsuit more than 10 yrs ago.

I don’t completely avoid “fast fashion”. I think how you use the items matters - e.g., we don’t wear and toss, and we tend to reuse them many times.

The sports centre near my home is finally going to reopen after renovations! My old swimsuit is no longer usable and I need a new one.

Recommendations for where I can buy a new swimsuit? My criteria:

• an actual shop, not online (prefer to feel material, try on)
• not too expensive (what is the price range these days?)
• “conservative” for me means preferably shorts/skirt and not too much bare skin (no exposed midriff, no cutouts front or back)
• cut should be comfortable for a senior (but not plus size)

Grateful for suggestions! Thanks in advance!

@thebottomsupblog I would like to learn a bit more sewing! I already know some, but new ideas and projects would be fun. A community group might be a good idea!

It’s the summer vacation for the northern hemisphere, and many Singaporean families who live overseas will be heading back to SG. It can be a difficult time for children who have lived overseas (third culture kids or TCKs) who don’t have many/any friends in SG, and feel that they don’t really belong in SG. How can they make the most of their few weeks in SG to help them feel more “at home”, especially if they will eventually return to school/NS/university here?

I’ve posted tips for families with TCKs on my IG account - https://www.instagram.com/singaporetck

Links to my book for Singaporean families with TCKs can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/Rooted-Resilient-Ready

If you know parents with TCKs, do ask them to have a look! They can also ask me more through IG (or here!).

@Vivi1122 My older daughter was like this (she’s now 29!). We also took her for checkups etc., and the final conclusion was that the blood vessel walls in her nose were thin, and that it would improve with age. It did improve, and by mid-Pr or so (can’t remember exactly now), she stopped having frequent nosebleeds. I can’t remember her having a nosebleed for years now.

In the meanwhile, these are the things we tried to limit bleeds:

• control sneezing by giving her daily antihistamines during tree pollen season (we were living overseas then); you should consult your GP before using antihistamines if you haven’t done so before. We couldn’t control the pollen as those trees were everywhere, but see if you can figure out whether your daughter’s sneezing is due to allergens, temperature changes or whatever, and try to reduce those?
• teach her not to dig her nose or be rough in cleaning her nose.
• in dry seasons (again, we were overseas), drink more water to stay hydrated.
• some people suggest a bit of vaseline in the nose to hydrate the mucous membrane - she didn’t like that we I don’t think we did it much.

Hope this helps.

@thebottomsupblog When SF first started, there seemed to be more “hobby” courses. But somewhere along the way it became more narrow and focused on “work” skills. That may have been an intentional decision? I guess it’s how the govt feels that taxpayer funds should be spent.

Perhaps there could be another category of SF courses which are not so work-related, which are subsidised but to a lesser extent? I’d love to be able to do some craft-type courses, or even repair/mending courses, not necessarily to start a business, but just for myself and others? I recently tried to sign up for a clothes-mending/upcycling course, but found that although it’s listed under SF, it can only be taken as part of a much longer and expensive course intended for those who want to start a business!

@beemum There should be plenty of seniors from Singapore your child can ask! As long as they’re fairly independent and willing to figure things out and adapt, they will be fine. I had a mental list of life skills which I mentally checked off - self-care (laundry, shopping, cooking, nutrition), budgeting, social skills, self-discipline, etc. Not that they won’t be silly sometimes, they are only 19 (girls)! But they should be generally able to manage on their own.

@beemum No, Cambridge. Depends on what you want to know - if it’s something fairly specific to the university, then I won’t know.

@beemum No, she graduated in 2021! But things change slowly in the UK.