Raise your hand if you’ve ever handed your toddler a phone just so they’d eat two mouthfuls of rice and stop acting like a Victorian orphan at the table. Keep your hand up if you said, “It’s only for today, promise,” and now it’s year three and your kid thinks food tastes like Baby Shark.

Here’s the truth nobody says out loud: If feeding kids is a drama, feeding kids with special needs is a K-drama with three plot twists before breakfast. Autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, sensory disorders, allergies, medical issues—you name it, there’s a feeding challenge that goes with it. And no, Google and your mother-in-law don’t have all the answers.

Malaysian kids are world-class food critics. Not the kind that gets a Michelin star, but the kind who’d make Gordon Ramsay walk out mid-service. I’m talking about the kind who can detect one invisible speck of “something green,” then spend the next hour giving you the side-eye and a TED Talk on Why This Meal Is an Insult to Humanity.

Feeding burnout is that moment you stare at the fridge and consider serving air for dinner, just to avoid the whining. It’s the deep sigh when another lovingly-prepped meal gets the “I don’t like it” death sentence. It’s eating crackers over the sink at 10pm because you spent all evening negotiating over broccoli.

Looking for an adventure that’s scenic, toddler-friendly, and just a little bit magical? Say hello to the North Borneo Heritage Train—your golden ticket to slow travel, stunning sunsets, and pure Sabah charm.

Looking for a nature adventure without leaving the city? Say hello to Kota Kinabalu Wetland Centre—a real-life jungle boardwalk tucked just minutes from the city buzz!

If you're planning to take the kiddos—or even just reclaim your inner child—The Noah by Mark Baba Pets Café in Kota Kinabalu is a must-visit. Part café, part petting zoo, all delight.

f you’ve recently moved to Malaysia and think your biggest driving challenge will be switching to the other side of the road — oh sweet summer expat, you're in for a ride. Here in Malaysia, driving isn't just a means of transport. It’s a sport. A negotiation. Sometimes a spiritual journey. And always, always a gamble.

There’s nothing like an international move to slap the clutter out of you. When we left Australia for Malaysia, I was determined to keep my “essentials.” My fancy citrus zester. My emergency drawer of hotel soaps. My slow cooker. Because obviously I’d be whipping up casseroles in the tropics.

No one really talks about the brain fog that comes with moving abroad. Sure, people ask, “How’s Malaysia? You must love it!”And yes, I do love the food, the jungle, the people, and the fact that I can get a solid iced latte for RM8. But what I don’t always say is: I’m tired. Not from parenting. Not from work. But from thinking all the damn time.

Let’s be honest: making friends in your 30s is hard enough. Add in a foreign country, a timezone mismatch with your old mates, and a child hanging off your leg like a koala on Red Bull — and suddenly, “making friends” feels about as realistic as finishing your coffee while it’s hot.

It always starts the same way:You’re bleary-eyed, scrolling at midnight, baby screaming in the background, and BAM — a reel appears. A glowing mum, perfect skin, no eye bags, holding a bottle of “Natural Baby Brain Booster Plus++” or “Toddler Calm Chewies: Sleep Like Never Before.”

Here’s the thing nobody warns you about: your child’s emotional growth doesn’t wait for them to “be ready.” It’s already happening — in the way they cry when their toy breaks, hide behind you at a party, lash out at their sibling, or whisper “I’m scared” before bed.

There’s a moment every parent experiences: your child spikes a fever, sneezes like a tiny hurricane, or throws up something suspicious — and your brain goes into overdrive. Is it just a bug?Should I call the paed?

Before a child can read a single word, they need to soak in the sounds of language. That’s how babies and toddlers begin the incredible process of learning to talk, understand meaning, and later, learn how to read and write.

From the moment your child grabs a crayon like it’s Excalibur, something magical starts to unfold: the link between creativity and motor skills. Whether they’re finger-painting, building towers, or attempting to cut paper into the shape of a “dragon spaceship rocket,” your child isn’t just playing — they’re wiring their brain for coordination, confidence, and cognitive growth.

In a world where every milestone is instantly Instagrammable and privacy is traded for likes, a quiet revolution is underway — one that your child didn’t ask for, and one they’ll grow up living inside. Welcome to the age of sharenting — where parents, often with the best of intentions, create a digital identity for their children long before those children can speak, let alone consent.

kids are not known for their personal hygiene.They are, however, known for smelling like outdoors, having mystery gunk behind their ears, and somehow getting chocolate on their scalp even when they didn’t eat chocolate. Whether your child is still in the “hates water like a gremlin” phase or has entered the “I’ll shower later, I’m not even sweaty” era, here’s your survival guide to keeping them clean enough to cuddle — without losing your mind (or your nose).

Being a dad isn’t about stepping in when mum’s busy. It’s about being part of the rhythm — the daily, messy, joyful rhythm of family life. You don’t need a degree in parenting, or a 10-step strategy. You just need to show up. With love, with patience (most days), and with the willingness to keep learning as you go.

Most dads walk into parenthood the same way we walk into a packed mama support group meeting by accident: quietly, awkwardly, unsure where to sit. The world doesn’t really pause for you when you become a dad. People ask about the baby.They ask how mum is doing. They never ask if your back hurts from sleeping upright on a hospital chair that clearly predates the iPhone.