by Melody Tan | 12 December 2024 | Growing up, Enid Blyton was my favorite author. The Faraway Tree series will forever hold a special place in my heart. I loved good-natured Moon-Face, sweet Silky, and even silly old Saucepan Man. I dreamed of being the children’s cousin, entering the Enchanted Forest with its trees […]
by Melody Tan | 13 November 2024 | There’s a lot happening in the world right now that isn’t right. Russia. Ukraine. Israel. Palestine. Lebanon. Cost of living. (To name a few.) I first started writing about parenting issues back around 2016 when I, well, gave birth to my qualifications. While I only had a […]
The Pleasant Valley Seventh-day Adventist Church has revolutionized its ministry to young parents by introducing a groundbreaking “Parent Sermon Summary Service” (PSSS), designed specifically for adults who spend their Sabbath mornings in a complex dance of child management rather than sermon absorption. “We realized that most parents haven’t heard a complete sermon since their firstborn’s […]
by Melody Tan | 23 October 2024 | Saturday—Sabbath—mornings are often chaotic in our household. Sure, we all get to enjoy a little bit of a sleep-in because we don’t have to leave the house as early as we normally do on a weekday, but it’s all systems go, shortly after waking. After a leisurely […]
by Melody Tan | 11 September 2024 | Humankind wanting to know “why?” is the reason we know about things such as gravitational forces (“Why does an apple fall to the ground and not up?”) and the structure of the atom (“Why do materials have different properties?”). Our natural curiosity has led us to make […]
by Melody Tan | 12 June 2024 | As a Seventh-day Adventist Christian, married to a Seventh-day Adventist husband, we are raising our child exposed to Seventh-day Adventist beliefs and practices. My seven-year-old son currently believes in Jesus, regularly attends church with us, and always says a prayer before tucking into his vegetarian meal. I […]
by: Melody Tan | 8 May 2024 | We all love labels. Labels help us categorize things, help us make sense of things, help us put things neatly into a box. Extroverts, introverts. Shy, confident. Athletic, nerdy. Just some of the labels we use to describe ourselves or others. Then there are generational labels. Baby […]
by Melody Tan | 10 April 2024 | Early childcare is linked to better emotional and social outcomes for children than those who are looked after at home, a study published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health has found. Before you put your keyboard warrior hats on to challenge my claims, let me […]
by Melody Tan | 21 February 2024 | You know this story. Jesus pays sisters Martha and Mary a visit. While Martha busies herself with “all the preparations that had to be made,” Mary simply sits by Jesus’ feet, “listening to what he said.” As Christians, we’re meant to be okay with the moral of […]
by Melody Tan | 17 January 2024 There is an often-quoted saying when you become a parent: “The nights are long, but the years are short.” The idea is that while whatever period of parenthood you are in may feel arduous and tedious, the beauty of nostalgia provides you not only with the ability to […]
by Rich Hannon | 26 October 2023 | Parents and grandparents who are well-churched likely have also experienced Sabbath (or Sunday) School for little kids. It’s fun to see, although chaotic. Young children, when not melting down, are so transparent, curious, and a delight to engage with. I so appreciate the parents and volunteer […]
By Melody Tan | December 27, 2017 | My one-year-old son eyes the chickpea-filled bowl suspiciously. He tentatively pokes a stubby finger into the bowl and starts stirring the legumes around. I’m pretty sure it isn’t my imagination when seconds later, his hazel eyes light up and his little pink lips curve ever-so-slightly upwards. His […]
