Archive for the ‘Just us’ Category

April and May can be described as EVENTFUL.

After a series of visits to the GP and hospital and a few weeks of being ill, Darren recovered from pneumonia. Was a big “”PHEW” to me because nothing pains me more than seeing my kids in agony.

This was followed by a class bully event when Brendan was injured and traumatised and sent to hospital via ambulance.

Shortly after, Darren was sent to hospital again, with a series of vomiting and chest/tummy discomfort.  That was two days ago and coincidentally both brothers were given the same bed in the hospital in an interval of only two days.

Thinking positively, thank God that these incidents happened only before and after their mid-year examinations. It has not been all bad news because Brendan brought home a little good news that he was top 10 in class for his CA1 and SA1 performance in his 1st year integrated programme in secondary school. So, this was one of our little consolation:)

So, it has been most eventful while I disappeared from our little blog space for two months.

Really have much to share on this blog but will be going on vacation soon and yet I have not even finished blogging about our last Taiwan trip. Attending to kids can be draining especially when they take turn to be unwell and when I have that little available time left, there seems to be that long list of things for me to do.

<Ironically, why has my life become so occupied now that I am a SAHM?>

Also, my apologies to those who left comments on my last blog posts because your comments have been accidentally removed after my system was updated. “Apologies”.

Just a brief update while I run off to tend to my sick little one. It has not been easy to stay as “iron lady” with a body impenetrable to viruses and bacteria especially when our guys at home have already gone into their third cycle of flu in 3 short months:( Could only rely on my regular exercises, daily consumption of yogurt and plenty of water.

Last few weeks have been full of mini-celebrations.

We had a simple wedding anniversary celebration alone with dim sum lunch and then bought a mini-cake to celebrate with our boys.

In celebration of the day we walked down the wedding aisle on 28 Feb 1998. Yummy durian cake:)

Love the flowers and bear he bought for me earlier during Valentine’s day and beautiful pair of ear rings for our wedding anniversary.

I do not really fancy little bearies but do cherish surprised gifts from hubby.

Then we celebrated Papa Ed’s birthday. Our boys, expecially Brendan, put in much effort to plan an interesting programme for their papa. What do they do when they are not fetching an income to purchase gifts for their dad?

Well, they put up a skit for Papa Ed, followed by other performances at home and prepared props. Haha! It was kind of kiddie but ultimately with the enthusiastic intent and sincerity, how could their papa not be touched? Really value these sincere thoughts of our boys to put in an exciting celebration programme for each of us in the family every year.

Ha! We must be obsessed with durian cake:) The thing about having kids is that we have no lack of people helping to blow the candles and cut the cake.

 Then, grandma and grandpa came over from the States and it’s get-together time for the family after two long years.

 Boys and their grandparents.

Naughty Darren giving a helping hand to pluck the last few strands of black hair.

 Our boys are always happy when family gets together:)

I believe I have broken personal record of not blogging for almost a month. Where has time gone?  Busy or simply weighing new priorities in life?

Stranded between going back to work or not dilemma, I am still on the “wait and see” mode.  

So, I asked myself why I need to get back to workforce?

When both boys were at home in the past, I used to complain that they were noisy and squabbling. Now, that our elder secondary school boy spends almost 10 hours a day in school, that terrible lonely feelings of an empty house overwhelms me after our younger one goes to school at noon.  I agree. Our kids grow and once they become independant and packed with their activities, it becomes impossible to hold them by our side. Treasure their company while we can.

Then friends were cautioning me “Hey! Your employment value will depreciate if you stay home for too long”, “Aren’t you putting your degree to waste?  You have younger and foreign competitors now and it’ll be too late if you delay further”, “Don’t you miss those days when you could self support financially or help relieve your hubby’s burden? It’s always safer in case your spouse lose his career too”, “Come back again. You have been a good boss”, “Oh! if you are still working, you would have been getting bonuses like us.”

Seriously, I do not meet the mark of housewives who gather together and gossip about family members, neighbours or “tai tai” who spend hours at beauty saloons, shopping or having afternoon teas. HAHA! Friends joke that I am not exploiting my freedom now to pamper myself when I could have. 

So, when those lonesome hours sweep over me, these persuasive words and temptations have its powers to push me from my comfort zone now and chase after that career ladder again.

Photo taken during the Sentosa Flower Festival in Jan 2012 and am so thankful for the strong relationships I continue to maintain with our boys. These precious moments to hold them close by our side will soon sweep pass and I don’t want to miss it.

Then, I have my doubts.

In contrary, my daily life now is packed with even more activities and things I wish to accomplish.

I am committed to living a healthier lifestyle now with regular exercising, and learning skills that I have not been able to pick up before in school or work life, and being able to move around and discover a whole new world.  These days, I value my freedom in the afternoons, abandoning my car and hopping onto a MRT - moving around, window shopping, reading, exercising, joining friends for lunch, attending courses, AND staying in the comfort of home - working on e-business and  experimenting the making of new dishes, desserts and yogurt.

I am thankful for those rewarding efforts of getting to know our boys better, growing with them, and witnessing the light up on their faces when they come home in the evenings to enjoy home prepared yogurts and desserts.

Despite our other sacrifices, I am happy to be able to give hubby an ease of mind to concentrate on his career knowing that the domestic affair is well-taken care of.

I am enjoying the flexibility to drop by the pools at my own time to watch our boys progress in their swimming lessons, join them in regular exercises, be available for them anytime when they need my support and catch up with friends or activities that I have shelved for so long.

Though I miss those days when I have no lack of people to mingle with at work every single hour and at home when our boys were in two different school sessions, I have also discovered the beauty of quiet afternoons for myself now — with no disturbances and having full concentration to indulge in my own activities. I really appreciate these ME and My fulfilling and self-enriching MOMENTS that I could only afford now finally after putting my career to a halt. As a result, a refreshing mind, a keen attitude to stay healthy, and a stronger relationship with the family.

Back to the question : Should I get back to work? Papa Ed replied :”If you go back to work, what’s happening to our kids? But then its’ really up to you because going back to work could mean saving for kids’ future too.” (I guess he has silently appreciate the greater opportunity for me to work on the character building or curriculum progress of our boys when I am home . BTW, I would really like to thank the supportive hubby for working extremely harder without a word of complaint so far and making it possible for me to stay home and be with our boys.)

I wish it’s as easy as throwing a coin to decide -  family vs career - again.