Your parents probably knew what they were doing when they insisted on throwing a large wedding banquet and inviting all your neighbours, family and friends and maybe a few people off the street.

According to a report published by the National Marriage Project, a formal wedding, and the larger it is, may lead to happier and longer-lasting marriages. Reasons for such findings have been offered.

Public declaration of commitment encourages people to see through their commitments. This also leads to greater sense of security.

As weddings are traditionally public celebrations involving family, close friends and a wider network of people around the couple, a large wedding suggests stronger social network and greater social support, which are also important for a blissful marriage down the road.

There is also that feeling of contentment and ascertainment, from receiving the blessings of many important people in your lives, that one has done the right thing / married the right person.

Of course, this is also subject to individuals, and not having a formal or large wedding does not spell doom to your marriage. After all, a successful marriage is made up of many other components.

Throwing a lavish wedding despite the lack of financial means, for example, lands a couple in debt, which can lead to friction and become a cause for separation later when clearing the debt becomes a hurdle. Additionally, there have been horror stories of couples succumbing to stress and dissatisfaction at the other person's apparent lack of interest and contribution, and consequently calling off the marriage.

When getting married, it is very important to discuss with your partner about the necessity of a formal wedding, what kind of wedding both parties would like it to be, and what both of you are willing to do to make it a successful and happy occasion instead of a point of conflict. If you feel that you are unable to afford a wedding of your dreams, or can't spare the time and effort at the moment, consider holding the wedding later after your marriage, when you do have the means. It is never too late! In fact, renewing of marriage vows among old couples is becoming more popular, especially among those who have never had a wedding.

And if the parents are offering to organise the wedding and pay for it, well, why not graciously accept their offer and make it the best of all worlds?




Nina G is a stand-up comedian and motivational speaker who stutters.

There have been plenty of misconceptions about stuttering. No thanks to mainstream media in which dramas often portray stutterers to be socially-inapt, nervous wrecks, even stupid or mentally-challenged, many people trivialize stuttering, often considering it as a joke and something to be disrespectful about.

This week, America commemorates National Stuttering Awareness Week (9 to 15 May this year), and it is a good opportunity to learn more about this frequently misunderstood ailment.

Did you know that many famous people who rely on speech and charisma for their livelihood have struggled with stuttering? Some famous modern-day examples include Emily Blunt, Julia Roberts, Nicole Kidman, Samuel Jackson, Bruce Willis, all famous artistes who have made their names in Hollywood, and the list goes on, including even American vice-President Joe Biden. As for famous stutterers from the olden days, who would guess that Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, and even Winston Churchill the great orator known for his “Iron Curtain” speech, stutter in their speech?

So as you can see, stuttering has got nothing to do with intelligence or social skills, nor does it condemn one to a miserable existence. Some of these people treated their stuttering earlier in life, or while on the job. Some people are capable of refraining from stuttering when the situation calls for it, such as when addressing an audience in a speech. Bruce Willis, in fact, credits acting for easing his stuttering problem.

What causes stuttering?

-          Genetics
-          Early childhood development issues – children with speech and language problems and other developmental delays are more likely to stutter
-          Neurophysiology – the way in which one processes speech and language (stutterers do it a little differently from those who do not stutter)
-          Family dynamics and social environment – high expectations and hectic lifestyles can contribute to stuttering, in other words, stress.

Currently, more than 70 million people worldwide stutter, which is about 1% of the population.

Treatment

Speech therapy is known to have a pretty good effect on curing, or alleviating stuttering. Stuttering cannot be completely eradicated in adults and older children. However, specific speech strategies can help to control stutters, keeping one’s speech stutter-free. In younger children, the results are better and it is easier to get rid of the symptoms completely. Therefore, early treatment is strongly encouraged. There are several speech therapy facilities in Singapore. You can find them in hospitals like SGH and NUH. You can also find many private clinics specializing in treating stuttering.

Early Intervention

Early intervention is particularly important as not only does it increase the success rate of treating stuttering, it can help save a lot of future developmental problems in a child. Children who stutter do tend to be more likely to be picked on by bullies. They may be ostracized or laughed at. They may fear speaking up, and develop a poor self image. All these can have far-reaching negative impacts in their adult lives.

Early signs of stuttering include:

- repeating parts of a word e.g. wha-wha-what’s that?
- Prolonging or holding a sound for too long e.g. Ssssorry
- breathless or tense when talking despite not having done any strenuous activity
- Opens mouth to speak but no words come out
- Excessive usage of filler words like “er”, “um”, “uh”

Of course, young children sometimes have a tendency of not speaking fluently, or even making up their own variations of words. Sometimes, it is just a temporary phase and not a sign of stuttering. Parents can try to correct and improve your child’s speech, but if the problem persists, then take him or her to a speech therapist to get a professional diagnosis.

What parents can do to correct a child’s speech:

Refrain from criticising, scolding and punishment as these would only make the child more anxious and afraid to speak. Instead, use positive reinforcement and personal demonstration. For example, your child wants to eat ice cream but he stutters his request or uses some words incorrectly. You could correct him by gently saying “You want ice cream? Can you follow how I say it?” Then repeat the sentence slowly and correctly, and have him repeat until he gets it right, or there’s improvement. You can even make it into a game of getting him to imitate your speech. Smile and praise him, and of course, get him that ice cream. Positive reinforcement requires patience and a lot of repetition. He may make the same mistake again several more times, but correct him gently each time and your efforts will pay off. 

Chat with your child on a daily basis with no external stimulation or noise. This means no television, computer, phones. Your child will be able to focus better and hear your speech, while you’ll be able to pick up his bad habits and correct him.

Sing with your child. People don’t stutter when they sing, which can be a nice confidence boost. Singing is also known to help vocal alleviate impediments, and is sometimes used in speech therapy. In any case, singing is a fun activity for family bonding.

Don’t be stressed. Your child will catch on and that will make him more anxious and worsen your stammer. Just relax and be positive. At the end of the day, it is more important to ensure that he grows up confident and does not have an inferiority complex. As many real-life examples have shown, speech does not determine a person’s ability to be confident and successful in life. It is all in the head.

How to interact with a stuttering person?

Nobody likes being treated with disrespect or being picked on for a handicap they can’t help. When interacting with a stutterer, treat them the way you wish to be treated. Here are some things to do to help them feel more comfortable:

- Be patient, wait for them to finish what they are saying. Focus on the content rather than the way they are saying it.
- Maintain eye contact and body language to show that you are listening.
- Don’t imitate their speech or tease them for it.
- If the stuttering is severe and you’re pressed for time, or they’re just clearly stuck, you can politely suggest that they write it down - “Would you like to write it down instead?”
- If you are close to the person, you may ask them if there is anything you can do to help them cope when they stutter. Different people have different preferences on how to handle their stuttering. For example, some people are grateful when people finish their sentence for them, while others get offended.

Remember, respect is the key word. As long as you behave respectfully and genuinely, you do not have to worry that you’re behaving inappropriately.

References:







 Age is a risk factor for breast cancer!

Mother’s Day is just round the corner and the common act of filial piety and gratitude is to buy a present for Mum or take her out for a nice dinner. All these are well and thoughtful gifts, but Mum, being Mum, will more likely appreciate your love and concern over material gifts. And of the most practical ways in which we can show our concern for our parents is to be concerned about their health and encourage them to lead a healthy and fruitful lifestyle. After all, for decades our folks have sacrificed wealth and health to bring their children up, and it is only right that they take a well-earned rest and enjoy their new-found freedom. But they can only do so when in good health.

Which brings us to the topic of breast cancer, the most commonly occurring cancer among women in Singapore. According to the Singapore Cancer Society, 1850 women are diagnosed with this cancer each year, and over 400 die from it. As many as 1 in 11 women will get breast cancer in their lifetime. The good news is, early detection can greatly increase the chances of survival.

Mediacorp actress Pan Ling Ling is a walking testimony on how one can bounce back from breast cancer with early detection. She was diagnosed with end of stage one and beginning of stage two cancer in late 2012. She went for an operation to get the cancerous lump in her breast removed, followed by chemotherapy for six months, and then 25 consecutive sessions of radiotherapy. Today she is back to work as an actress, and still looks radiant and pretty as before. More of her inspiring story can be found here.

The risk of breast cancer increases with age, and according to The American Cancer Society, 2 of 3 invasive breast cancers are found in women age 55 or older. Symptoms present at early stages of breast cancer are not very intrusive and could be missed, especially if one does not make it a point to examine their breasts regularly. According to Healthline, early stage symptoms include:
  • changes in the shape of the nipple
  • breast pain doesn't go away after your next period
  • a new lump that doesn’t go away after your next period
  • nipple discharge from one breast that is clear, red, brown, or yellow
  • unexplained redness, swelling, skin irritation, itchiness, or rash on the breast
  • swelling or a lump around the collarbone or under the arm
Sometimes the cancer may have reached an advanced stage by the time it is felt, and treatment will be more risky and invasive.

On the other hand, the mammogram is currently the most reliable screening tool for breast cancer, and it can detect cancerous lumps even before they can be felt with the hand. It is therefore highly encouraged that women go for regular mammograms. Women aged 50 and above are advised to undergo a mammogram once every 2 years. 

Moreover, mammograms conducted by the Singapore Cancer Society at their mammogram facility are currently free for Singaporean women aged 50and above who are in possession of the orange or blue CHAS card. Otherwise, the screening cost is still affordable at $50.

If your mum does not already go for regular breast cancer screenings, offer to accompany her to one and pay for it. Nothing makes a better gift than the gift of health and life. 

To make an appointment or an enquiry, visit the SCS’s webpage: http://www.singaporecancersociety.org.sg/get-screened/breast-cancer/mammogram.html