A salute to all Stay At Home Mums (SAHMs) and all Mothers

Havent been blogging for some time as I am really really busy. It seems that a SAHM is really not easy...a duty that I need to fulfill for 24 hours. For me, I am half a SAHM and WAHM so is a double whammy.

I really must salute all SAHMs without helpers - is really a tall order and a very challenging job indeed. I have a domestic helper and yet I am so busy ...

The other day, my husband showed me an article from Reader Digest which we thought that the author wrote it in a very humourous manner describing the qualities that made a good mother.

The qualities are :

1. Organisational skills , ability to drive and to be in two places at one time
2. Financial Skills if you have to budget for birthdays , weekly grocery shopping which was growing as fast as the kids
3. Good mathematical skills will come in handy when u are trying to divide 7 sweets among 4 kids
4.Chemistry and biology when your two year old shows you a blemish, you will have to be able to tell if it is the beginning of a flesh-eating disease or just a freckle. You will also need to know which laundry soap makes the baby itch, why the sky is blue etc
5. Good memory to remember all the birthdays, names of the stuffed animals, the child who likes peas and cant stand grape juice
6. Creativity to do the art and crafts, teaching them music, turn a nightgown and a roll of tinfoil into a fairy costume for party etc

(Taken from Reader Digest Nov 07 pg 81 - 83)

Really can identify with some of these qualities...esp now I have kids of different ages. Wonder how my mum cope in the earlier days of bringing us up..maybe we werent as inquisitive as the kids nowadays or we were not that demanding or ....

Thank God for all mothers. No matter whether you are SAHM, WAHM or working mums, I think u are all great : )

The Earth shakes...

This afternoon while doing our work in our study room, both myself and Naomi felt ourselves swaying left and right for a few seconds. We looked at each other and I said "Is the earthquake !". We quickly rushed down to tell my helper and carry baby Nicole up to my room. Called my mum who is staying near my house and she said that she couldnt feel the tremors. 15 mins later, went to check the CNA website and true enough, Sumatra in Indonesia experienced a 7.2 earthquake. This is the 2nd time we felt the earthquake tremors since we have shifted here. The first time was in Aug and Sept when there was a major earthquake in Indonesia...

May God heal the earth from the fractures and protect the people from any death, injuries...

Home Blessing

Today I conducted a home blessing in one of my cell member BK's new house. Though it was a small group, we however had a wonderful time fellowshipping with each other. The kids had a good time playing with her son in the front yard too.

We are very thankful that not only did we bless the house, BK's maid also accepted the Lord when Pastor asked her if she wish to.

Thank God for his presence and for blessing BK and her family incl her maid. The heaven rejoices even when one soul is saved. : )

Parenting Challenges

Parenting is really not easy esp so when I stay at home. With me staying at home since my resignation from a full time job in Aug 06, I find that I may be giving myself too much pressure to do too many things that I planned to do while not working. Esp now that things are settled compared to previously when I have maid problems, renovating house, moving house, pregnancy, delivering etc.

Not that I am a perfectionist..people always say dont sweat the small stuff but really is easier said than done esp. when coaching them in their work, piano. Emotions run high and my expectations of them too.

Both Naomi and Nathan are considered fast learners or advanced in their age according to "external" standards but still... Maybe becos I am still working on a part-time basis...so tend to expect them to learn faster so that I can get down to my job.

Many parents are also faced with this problem, juggling between work, family, children and many other things... For Christians readers out there.. we really need to ask God to grant us the strength from God to carry us through and give us patience, unconditional love and help us be good role models for our kids to follow and in turn on pass these good values to their kids.

Having said all these, staying at home grants me joy too , seeing them grow and experiencing their first milestones. I didnt regret my decision to stay at home and work part-time as I strongly believe in making a difference in their growing up years by being there in their formative years.

Everyday, is a new learning experience for me...it is not learnt thr' books, parenting articles or anywhere : )

Funny photos from sis' mobile

My sister just emailed me some photos taken using her mobile. Amazed at how interestingly the photos turned out to be using the picture frames esp for Nathan and Nicole..so cute with the judge wig.

My first solid food

Yesterday for lunch,Nicole had her 1st taste of solid food after 6.5 months of drinking Mummy's milk exclusively. We gave her Eu Yang Sang Brown Rice with Si Shen Powder plus Po Po's grinded Ikan Bilis powder. She loves it ! and I am surprised that she gobbles everything down within 5 mins without making alot of mess. Unlike my two elder kids who had their first solid feed at about 6 mths, their tongue will initially reject the spoon as a natural reflux.

Good baby ! Motivated mummy is giving her mash pumpkin plus rice porridge tonite.

Seeing Double ?

Quiz time : Are these two photos taken on the same baby ?

While flipping the old photo albums, we realised that Naomi's baby photo looked so much like Nicole's photo shot at 3 months. The smile, the mannerism looks so similar...alot people thought they were two photographs of the same person.

Answer : Top is Nicole at 3 months, Bottom is Naomi at 2.5 months.

Chinese New Year

Happy Children, Happy Memories - Photo with my niece's daughters (From Left : Michelle, Nathan, Baby Nicole, Naomi and Joelle)

Top: Photo taking on 1st day new yr at my mum's place .Bottom : Posing with Mr Gong Xi and Ms Fa Cai at PP

This year Chinese New Year is especially special to us for two reasons. 1) Staying nearer to my sibilings' and my mum's house means that reunion dinner, visitation by relatives and gathering of my family members are held in my home. This is good as it means more bonding time with my sibilings, nephews, niece.
2) New Addition to my family i.e Baby Nicole who brings joy to our family.

Staying near my mum's house also mean that we go visiting together in a group. Today we went to two of my relatives' homes for visitation , much to the delight of my 3 kids (yes, even baby Nicole is very excited too with her two chubby legs kicking away). The drinks and the new year goodies are just like a buffet spread to them..eating without any inhibitions.