Archive for the ‘Just us’ Category

Brendan: “Ready to march towards the new year?”

Darren: ”YES! Sir!”

Brendan: “But I still wish the year and holidays never end. I had so much fun! “

Indeed. Our boys had a blasting time at the closure of 2011.  Why? why? Why do happy times always sweep past like a wind? 

2011…

Great irony in my life ….. Made a bold step to put my career on standstill in second half of 2011 to commit fully to family. 

In 2010, when people asked me whether I would take a break from career, I would just laugh it off and asked “For What?”. 

In 2011, I guess my mother’s instinct came knocking and I had this idea that I would take a break, balance up our boys’ stressful studying life and holistic development and finally be more equipped as a mother and cook.  Suddenly, overnight I become a full-time cook, cleaner, tutor, logistics coordinator and everything it takes to be a homemaker.  To be complete, I felt like I was also sitting for Primary School Leaving Exams. 

[No. I did not study for Brendan but those planning of study materials, arrangement of tutorial sessions, preparation for Direct School Admission exercise --- felt like such a challenge.]

The decision to give up an additional income for the family was a struggle and I admit that it does concern me whether I would be losing out when I rejoin the workforce.  Frankly, it took me a few months to adjust and just when I am beginning to adapt to a 24/7  homemaker lifestyle and an extremely buzzling school holidays filled with kids’  joy and excitement, the new year has sped into our lives. 

[It's only 1st day of school and I am so missing the noisy bickering, the constant calling out for "mommy", the hilarious laughters and their company.]

I would say the last 7 months of 2011 is one of my most fulfilling period in my life as a MOTHER.   Considering that there is no gain without loss, in return for a cast aside career path, our family was compensated by a closer bonding, better understanding of our boys and I have never felt as complete “a mother” as before.  Our boys have a fabulous and entertained school holidays and  a full 1.5 month that we have enjoyed thoroughly together - seriously my happiest year-end period.

2012…

A new and challenging education phase for Brendan, a possible year of transition for a pre-teen.  A new class and study environment for Darren.  Me? I am hesitating…. perhaps a new career again?

It’s definitely a start to a year with much changes and new beginning.

2011, I realised my dream as a more committed mother. All these years, I have my share of experiences of managing 2 children.

2012, I have to learn to be committed in other ways.  Greatest challenges - parenting approach for teen, better grasp of secondary echool education, better communications with our boys….So, it is about understand and be understood.

Handling teen’s changing behaviour/physical developments, a totally different dimension to secondary education and granting independance - certainly sound ALIEN to me now.  

On my top priority, I believe I would need a sustained positive attitude, open mindset, youthful zest and WALK ON……The key to a happier 2012.

The benefits of having young kids is that we as adults (being parents) can have fun too on playground without others laughing at us :)

These slides can be extremely exciting especially if it is really tall.  I guess this is the main attraction at our newly added indoor playground “Amazonia”  in Singapore (location Great World City level 3).

Open to kids from 3 to 12 years old, Brendan played to his heart’s content, busy sliding - before he turned 13 *ha*. Kids below 3 years old can have heaps of fun too at Jungle Gym.

Tired of playing in the big playground?

It’s time to play golf in a glowing environment or even have some shooting thrills at Space Ball.

With skeletons and dinosaurs and their surprise noises.

Like most other indoor playgrounds, Amazonia has a cafe for parents to laze their legs or have some cakes/drinks/meals while the kids have heaps of fun.

Some think that I need my kids to achieve excellence in their studies before I would feel proud of them. Some think that Brendan has set high standard for my expectations to be elevated.

Correction: There is no scale of measurement in my definition to assess excellence or extent of achievements. I feel proud of our boys for every little improvement and new milestones.

Call me silly…but I truly felt proud when my elder one lifted his fingers to clear garbage into the rubbish chute and started to wash up his plate and spoon. For simple details in life, I feel proud whenever our boys are learning new life skill and a step nearer to being self-equipped.

The truth is our boys’ every little achievement COUNTS and means THAT MUCH to me…not necessarily assessed by academic excellence or achievement certificates.

Just the other day….

I was running through my photos on my phone and saw this.

Darren with his creative way of spending time to come out with this beautiful piece of  “work”. According to him, there is a building, tunnel and bridge.

[I am sure some of you would also discover great photography created by your kids (using your phone) every now and then.]

To me, these little pieces are enough to make me so marvelled over his little creations and be proud. Most impressed that our young one has learnt to exercise patience when doing things that he likes.

Seriously, they don’t need to shine the brightest to be my pride.