Archive for the ‘Just us’ Category

Darren: “I want the bow and arrow that is sold in the shop near Ah Ma’s house.  I want to have buffet and I want guns, more toys, more……… (the list goes on) and a laser pointer.”

Mommy:”Wow! That’s alot of gifts to ask for.”

Darren:”It’s my birthday and so why cannot?”

Mommy:”Then why do you ask for laser pointer?”

Darren:”Because I want to be like my teacher. She teaches with a laser pointer.”

Mommy:”So, you no longer wish to be a policeman?”

Well, this is my boy. He is never shy to ask for things and is still as loveable as ever when he turned 8 years old on 10 August.  In fact, he is happy that it is a local holiday for him on his birthday as long he remains a young student and at least till he starts his tertiary education. Thanks to National Day being on 9 August and hence 10 August is always announced as holiday for our young students:)

So, did our boy’s wish for many gifts come true?

Of course, he did.  However, elder brother, Brendan, did not let him have the easy way of getting his gifts easily until he cleared the treasure hunt. So, our little boy ran from one room to the other, solving clues, searching hidden corners. Tedious but both our boys truly enjoyed this FUN way of hunting for gifts because one simply made the clues tough while the other one was full of excitement each time he managed to retrieve one:) As for me, I made myself useful by whispering tips to Darren*hehe*.

After the treasure hunt came the entertaining performance by the 2 clowns at home who sometimes dress as chefs, sometimes as pirates/thieves, sometimes as royalties and sometimes make to sing and dance. Yeah, we have a pair of parents here who is crazy enough to let our hair down and let our boys throw down thousands of paper flakes at us.  Well, it doesn’t matter as long as all have fun and it brings the outrageous laughters from our boys. Brendan put in good efforts to decorate the room (some are art and crafts by him).

When it comes to birthday celebrations, one thing we will never miss is that birthday cake.  Cutting cake, together, as a family has been a family tradition. So, this year when I asked Darren : “Shall mommy bake a birthday cake for you?” I guess his answer disappointed an enthusiastic mommy as he said :”I want to have the Transformer cake.” Since I am not able to create a Transformer cake just like the exact one at the bakery, we bought one for him the cake instead.

[However, I am glad that he enjoyed the pre-birthday cake that I prepared for him (non-baked lemon strawberry cheesecake).]

The Bumblebee cake that we bought

As Darren always says “Papa dotes on me” and true enough the whole family got to enjoy a sumptous lunch buffet at Carousel @ Hotel Royal Plaza on Scotts. Thanks to Darren:)   While Darren self-helped himself to much desserts and sushi, Brendan was targetting the seafood, sphagetti and soup.  I was busy savouring the unlimited crayfish, crabs, ice cream and that mouth watering herbal prawn soup.

We had a wonderful meal, many funny birthday activities and most importantly a memorable celebration for Darren. It’s interesting that Darren is still wearing his birthday crown because he will not allow anyone else to rob his throne, not for this month of his birthday:)

Papa, Mommy and Gor Gor love you very much Darren.  Hope you love the gifts and entertaining activities too that were prepared for you.

Big Kiss from Papa, Mommy and Gor Gor *Muark*

Almost two months into my adjusted “Stay At Home” lifestyle, I still have friends commenting “Good life! You must be enjoying life being so FREE now.”

Routines…..

Huh?? “FREE”???

It’s a luxury I cannot afford. The “ROUTINES” are drowning me. If I could have a little bit of time out of these routines for self-pamper, I usually grab it gladly.

Contrary to what friends thought….

My days now start earlier than usual at the moment Brendan goes to school early in the morning. Then there is the rushing to complete some cleaning and washing, sending Darren off, tending to Yuki before I settle lunch again for Brendan who comes home in the early afternoon.

Sometimes, I wish I could enjoy a long afternoon nap or wake up only when the sun shines through.  That, however remains a wish. With Primary School Leaving Examinations (PSLE) round the corner, afternooons mean giving tuitions to Brendan or rushing him to others for tuition or running errands or fetching him home from extended days at school. Luckily, I have my dad who cooks dinner on my behalf on busier days. Otherwise, evenings are again for cooking, baking and then cleaning and more tuitions (this time for Darren), then spending some ”play or relax time with out boys” and then more housework.  Before I know it, it’s often already wee hours of the night and I am dead beat if I could only squeeze some energy to mark some of our boys’  homeworks or have a short chat with Papa Ed.

So, SAHM’s life is not luxurious.

A mother’s confession…..

I do miss those date nights in the past when I could enjoy a silent dinner with Papa Ed in privacy.

I do miss those days when I could sit in the comfort of an air-conditioned office - using my brain power mostly to plan and decide, spending my hand and brain power on emails/reports and signing documents, and exercising my listening and communication skills during meetings. I especially miss those lunch times when I could chat with colleagues and friends.

I do miss those days when I could spend more freely with own’s earning power and not to forget those training and travelling opportunities.

I am most afraid that my hands will turn hard and rough. I have been constantly applying moisturiser on my hands because those detergents can be so harmful to our delicate hands and they can get so painful /itchy when they crack/dry. Those gloves can be so cumbersome.

I admit no matter how superior we could be at work “bossing” others in the past, it is ironical that at home we end up wondering whether our kids or ourselves are the boss sometimes.

When patience runs thin having to put up with disobedient or bickering kids with long hours at home, many times I am so near to the verge of blowing my top. I have never recalled myself so near to losing my cool even during the most challenging moments in office. I guess with our kids, it is harder to maintain our composure when they simply refuse to obey sometimes.

I am really a clumsy homemaker and had a fall (after slipping on wet floor mopped by Darren) and ended up with a bruised palm and injured tailbone. Haha..I guess my usual diet of calcium has helped me to recover fast or either I am an obstinate bull. Doctor ordered two weeks’ rest but I choose to continue slogging and walking despite a painful injury. I am still on my feet, rushing here and there…

So, life remains a race and challenge with or without my other career hat to wear …..

After slightly more than a month, I was trying to break out of the routines…

Now.

I am glad I find time to brisk walk/jog with Darren every morning. Seriously, these housework and daily exercises have improved my stamina and I feel much healthier.

When Brendan is on extended days or having tuitions, I opt to enjoy my rare moments of facial/self-care sessions, reading at the library and shopping. Brendan and I spend short moments in the late afternoons on exercises.  On other days, I get to catch up with friends for lunch. 

Be Positive…..

Lifestyle has changed. For a moment, it can be demoralising if we have to keep comparing with what we used to be able to accomplish or afford while being a career woman.

Accepting a new life and looking at it positively, being a SAHM has its many positive aspects.

I am a more well-balanced person now. When I used to emphasise more on sitting (hee..hence building a mini belly in the past) and using my brain power, I now exercise my brain and also physical energy together and yet have more time to keep fit and ensure a more healthy lifestyle for the family too with healthier diet.

Nope. I do not allow our boys to rely on my presence at home to depend on me. Instead, building their independance is my first priority when I first set to be at home. Now, they help in performing simple household chores, pack their own room and have more appreciation of hardwork of what used to be their parents’ and domestic helpers’.

The moments I cherish most are the regular communications I have, individually, with our boys now and having our elder Brendan telling me that he understands that I give up a career to spend more time with them.

Frankly, this might not be the preferred lifestyle that I choose to lead BUT it is definitely a rewarding one measured by an enhanced BONDING and the healthy and better development of our boys.

This is what no amount of hard-earned money can buy.

Our boys have been very hooked on to a theme song in youtube recently. They are a karaoke duo who sing the song aloud again and again together. Of course, I am happy to see our boys so bonded by one heart:)

This song is Singapore’s NDP 2011 theme song “In A Heartbeat“.

Each year, weeks before Singapore’s National day, Brendan would faithfully check out NDP’s official website for the theme song. Then he would sing the song repeatedly till he memorises the lyrics, make his own recording on his handphone and play the song even while he is studying. Then he would pose as the emcee to introduce the theme song. This trend has recurred for the last three years.  Interestingly, he has “infected” Darren.

Singapore must be proud of our two patriotic  boys who are as young as 7 and 11 *hee*.

For me, the video reminds me of many beautiful memories and I am sure it strikes a chord in the hearts of many Singaporeans too.

Those nolstagic memories of kampong life (Hey! Those really remind me of the old sewing machines, ice kacang machine, neighbours and houses in my kampong), university and convocation days, those sweet memories of dating …. and till now those moments of excitement while cheering for our boys in their track and field events - ALL start flashing across my mind.

The video indeed echoed what has already happened and is going to happen in my life. I guess this is why they name it “In A Heartbeat” because it is meaningful to each Singaporean.

I recall those few years ago when I deliberated and gave up the idea to uproot our family and relocate to where Papa Ed was working overseas. Yes, even when it meant that we had to live apart from Papa Ed for a number of years.

I remember how mum-in-law suggested to raise Brendan in the States. No, we did not take that option.

Yeah, we actually did comtemplate to move on to Hong Kong, States, Shanghai and Australia. As I mentioned before, with grandpa, auntie and uncle in Hong Kong and Australia, and mother-in-law in the States, we could consider these options. However, at the end, we stayed on.

I recalled those many times when I was overseas for work and training and how badly I missed home, the local food (satay, hokkien mee, chicken rice and especially my dad’s homecooked food), my parents, the law and order, and my boyfriend . It might seem silly as I look back at how I would shed tears when I came across a Singapore TV programme being aired overseas, how I would travel all the way to Chinatown just to savour Chinese food while spending some time in Australia and how I would get very excited when I met a Singaporean overseas.

Of course, while overseas I do love those vast nature, those wonderful weathers and those magnificent landscapes and landmarks that might be lacking in Singapore. I do adapt to food and weather wherever I go.

However, something is never the same because here is where my heart belongs. Perhaps, those happy childhood days and bond that I have here have a big part to play.