Sunday, March 31, 2013
Saturday Morning Snapshot
Saturday mornings are best for sleeping in for us full time working moms. However, the word 'mom' does not go well with 'lazy mornings' or 'sleeping in'. We got up early this morning and here is a candid shot taken of Aiden zooming around the house on his ybike!
Linking up with Jean Angus' Saturday Morning Snapshot
Of Colds, Coughs & Nightmares
I am sure every parent out there would be worried sick themselves whenever their child falls ill. Of course I try not to worry over a minor cough or a sneeze, but recently, Aiden has been falling ill too often to make me sit up and feel really worried. Our usually healthy, bubbly and hyperactive boy is either down with the common cold and coughing, or he'd be suffer from tummy discomfort contributing to diarrhoea and sometimes even bouts of vomiting. We refrain from bringing him outdoors for water play, and crowded places like the shopping malls for fear his condition would worsen. Luckily he is happy at home, playing with his choo choo trains, lego and riding his ybike.
What worries me is, I don't recall him falling ill so often before he turned two and before he started attending pre-school. I attributed this mainly to his interaction with other kids in school who were probably ill. It makes me feel guilty as well, as we have work commitments and are unable to withdraw him from school until he has fully recovered before sending him back. This has also taken its toil on the family as we will be awoken in the middle of the night, attending to him as he would have blocked nose or cough in his sleep. Sometimes, he would also wake up from his sleep and decides to play for a good two hours before returning to bed in the middle of the night!
We have not tried other remedies besides taking the medicine prescribed to him by his PD. But I am open to trying other methods now, hoping it would help. If any of you have any remedies to recommend, please do share with me too.
Since starting pre-school, Aiden has also been waking up screaming and crying in the middle of the night and sometimes does a continuous hitting action. It seemed like he had nightmares, and will go back to sleep after we comfort and carry him. Sometimes he would cry for an extended period, shedding tears too. I have googled for ways on helping to lessen nightmares and have tried to regularly read books with him before bed, ensuring he has his comfort blanket and favourite toys around him. Getting into a routine for bed time and having regular bed time is a huge challenge for us since birth. We usually follow his timing which is erratic and irregular. I do envy friends who can get their kids in bed before 8.30pm so they get some me-time after. But with our hectic work hours, it is good that Aiden sleeps later as we get to spend some time with him daily after we finish work.
Sleep is so precious now. These days, just seeing him sleeping soundly through the night or sleeping past ten in the morning is great joy to me.
What worries me is, I don't recall him falling ill so often before he turned two and before he started attending pre-school. I attributed this mainly to his interaction with other kids in school who were probably ill. It makes me feel guilty as well, as we have work commitments and are unable to withdraw him from school until he has fully recovered before sending him back. This has also taken its toil on the family as we will be awoken in the middle of the night, attending to him as he would have blocked nose or cough in his sleep. Sometimes, he would also wake up from his sleep and decides to play for a good two hours before returning to bed in the middle of the night!
We have not tried other remedies besides taking the medicine prescribed to him by his PD. But I am open to trying other methods now, hoping it would help. If any of you have any remedies to recommend, please do share with me too.
Since starting pre-school, Aiden has also been waking up screaming and crying in the middle of the night and sometimes does a continuous hitting action. It seemed like he had nightmares, and will go back to sleep after we comfort and carry him. Sometimes he would cry for an extended period, shedding tears too. I have googled for ways on helping to lessen nightmares and have tried to regularly read books with him before bed, ensuring he has his comfort blanket and favourite toys around him. Getting into a routine for bed time and having regular bed time is a huge challenge for us since birth. We usually follow his timing which is erratic and irregular. I do envy friends who can get their kids in bed before 8.30pm so they get some me-time after. But with our hectic work hours, it is good that Aiden sleeps later as we get to spend some time with him daily after we finish work.
Sleep is so precious now. These days, just seeing him sleeping soundly through the night or sleeping past ten in the morning is great joy to me.
Saturday, March 30, 2013
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Friday, March 29, 2013
The gift of an ordinary day
It dawned on me today as I watched a
video featuring an excerpt from The Gift of an Ordinary Day by Katrina Kenison - how we neglected the void we created in our parents' lives as we walk right out into exciting, new chapters of our lives as we grow up. We do not realize that we mean the world to them and leaving them to a
quiet home and an empty room where we used to occupy is difficult to
cope.
I have to admit that I'm my dad's little princess and he takes care of all my needs too well for over two decades. Without fail, he'd ferry me to places, buy my favorite food on weekend mornings while I sleep in, stock the refrigerator with snacks and drinks I like, do the household chores & cook despite having a full time job and just yesterday, fetching me from the airport at 5.20am in the morning! When I moved to a hostel during my university years, he even came by to help me spring clean when I moved in. It's become so clear to me now that I've become a parent myself, how we will always remain the little child we were in our parents eyes and have their unconditional love, care and concern. And yet, we very often take things for granted, and can be really rude to them with our words and actions.
I moved home after I graduated, but working life & being in a relationship left me with very little time at home. Two years later, I moved out for good after I got married. This is an even bigger step (= permanent void in our parents' lives). I recall how I cant wait to begin a new chapter with my newly wed husband, and look forward to a life together. I didn't think much about how my parents felt, but focused more on myself. I enjoyed being away, leading our own lives and lesser interaction means lesser friction and disagreement with my family. My dad was very involved during our renovation, and when we moved in, he continued buying the snacks I like, preparing fruits for me and leaving them in the refrigerator when we are not around. He also replenishes the drinks Darren likes when he goes grocery shopping, even till today. It must have hurt him when I walked out of his life. I can imagine whenever he eats out (maybe often alone, as my mum's working hours are different), he must have felt so lonely without our company. When he goes to the market, he will be reminded that he need not buy breakfast for me. When he is at home, he has the remote control to the television all to himself, and he does not need to wait for me to get ready in the mornings to fetch me to school/work. He can have all the food he likes without leaving the best bits for me and he does not need to check on me & whether I will be home late.
To date, six years after moving out, my room at my parents' place is left largely the way it was, used for storage and more recently, Aiden's room when he stays over. It must have been sad adjusting to the fact that my room is no longer occupied, that the sheets need not be changed, that my clothes need not be ironed and that he & mum need not walk in to wake me up in the mornings when I moved out.
This really is a wake up call for me, and I will cherish the time I have with my parents and family. To be present and care for them, as this will not be forever. As a parent myself, I will also need to learn the art of letting go as Aiden grows up. He may not want to hold my hands, let me kiss his cheeks and read to him when he is older. Instead of having to look back and regret what I have done or not done, I will enjoy every moment I share with him, and focus on the present. Before I know it, I am sure he will be grown up and I will miss his fingerprints on the television screen, the marks he leaves on the walls with his ybike, the crumbs he leaves behind after every meal, switching on the lights in broad daylight and him craving for my attention all the time.
I have to admit that I'm my dad's little princess and he takes care of all my needs too well for over two decades. Without fail, he'd ferry me to places, buy my favorite food on weekend mornings while I sleep in, stock the refrigerator with snacks and drinks I like, do the household chores & cook despite having a full time job and just yesterday, fetching me from the airport at 5.20am in the morning! When I moved to a hostel during my university years, he even came by to help me spring clean when I moved in. It's become so clear to me now that I've become a parent myself, how we will always remain the little child we were in our parents eyes and have their unconditional love, care and concern. And yet, we very often take things for granted, and can be really rude to them with our words and actions.
I moved home after I graduated, but working life & being in a relationship left me with very little time at home. Two years later, I moved out for good after I got married. This is an even bigger step (= permanent void in our parents' lives). I recall how I cant wait to begin a new chapter with my newly wed husband, and look forward to a life together. I didn't think much about how my parents felt, but focused more on myself. I enjoyed being away, leading our own lives and lesser interaction means lesser friction and disagreement with my family. My dad was very involved during our renovation, and when we moved in, he continued buying the snacks I like, preparing fruits for me and leaving them in the refrigerator when we are not around. He also replenishes the drinks Darren likes when he goes grocery shopping, even till today. It must have hurt him when I walked out of his life. I can imagine whenever he eats out (maybe often alone, as my mum's working hours are different), he must have felt so lonely without our company. When he goes to the market, he will be reminded that he need not buy breakfast for me. When he is at home, he has the remote control to the television all to himself, and he does not need to wait for me to get ready in the mornings to fetch me to school/work. He can have all the food he likes without leaving the best bits for me and he does not need to check on me & whether I will be home late.
To date, six years after moving out, my room at my parents' place is left largely the way it was, used for storage and more recently, Aiden's room when he stays over. It must have been sad adjusting to the fact that my room is no longer occupied, that the sheets need not be changed, that my clothes need not be ironed and that he & mum need not walk in to wake me up in the mornings when I moved out.
This really is a wake up call for me, and I will cherish the time I have with my parents and family. To be present and care for them, as this will not be forever. As a parent myself, I will also need to learn the art of letting go as Aiden grows up. He may not want to hold my hands, let me kiss his cheeks and read to him when he is older. Instead of having to look back and regret what I have done or not done, I will enjoy every moment I share with him, and focus on the present. Before I know it, I am sure he will be grown up and I will miss his fingerprints on the television screen, the marks he leaves on the walls with his ybike, the crumbs he leaves behind after every meal, switching on the lights in broad daylight and him craving for my attention all the time.
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| Dad and me at 2 year old |
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Nothing feels like home
The past week has been quite an adventure for Mummy Cher and I. On Sunday, we packed our bags and went on a sourcing trip overseas to bring back our very first collection of clothes for PriviKids, our online store selling stylish and quality clothes and lifestyle products for children , and we only just returned to Singapore this morning. We're very excited about our picks and trust us, it wasn't easy at all to put it together! We are also proud to announce that we will be able to launch PriviKids officially in a few weeks' time!
Four days flew by in a flash and this must be the first time we did not even pull out our camera to take pictures - simply because we did not do any sightseeing at all! Even when I went to Kuala Lumpur for training a couple of years ago, the local hosts brought us around the city to savor some local culinary delights. This time, the only photos we took were of the clothes we bought, with our mobile phones. Food was what ever that was the most convenient.
There may be interesting sights to see and wonderful things to buy overseas, but for all our complaints and unhappiness over the state of affairs on our little red dot, nothing feels quite like home. As I walk towards the automated clearance gates at the immigration area, I smiled uncontrollably. I am sure it was uncontrollable because I was only thinking about getting
Home - Singapore, just feels like the place that we can be totally at ease, totally comfortable, totally familiar with the surroundings. Perhaps that is why there is so much negative reaction from fellow Singaporeans when that 'feeling' is at risk of being eroded or lost. The Singaporean Core is still strong within myself. I hope it is the same for you too!
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Another way to look at/through Lego
Ever since we bought Aiden a couple of train sets for his 2nd birthday, he has been less enthusiastic about his former love, Lego bricks. He uses them to learn more about physics (specifically about projectile motion) instead of using them to create objects of his fancy.
In his mind, he must have found it useful to add the words "Play" and "Choo Choo Train" to his very limited vocabulary. Without fail, for the past two weeks or so, he has been using these words very effectively together with the act of wearing his own shoes to get us to bring him home so that he can some locomotive fun.
And so I decided to put things into my own hands (and literally on my own head) to pique Aiden's interest in Lego bricks last week at Ah Gong's place.
I can't actually see through those Lego glasses (I am very short-sighted) but I guess Aiden really loves it. After laughing at me, he insisted that I make him one so that he can have another laugh at himself. I duly obliged.
Ah... the things parents do to see our children smile. Or is it the other way around!
In his mind, he must have found it useful to add the words "Play" and "Choo Choo Train" to his very limited vocabulary. Without fail, for the past two weeks or so, he has been using these words very effectively together with the act of wearing his own shoes to get us to bring him home so that he can some locomotive fun.
And so I decided to put things into my own hands (and literally on my own head) to pique Aiden's interest in Lego bricks last week at Ah Gong's place.
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| Can't actually see through these. |
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| I see you! |
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Honey, shall we decouple?
"Honey, shall we decouple?"
"Huh!!! Is there another party in our relationship?!"
"Well... yes. That party that strikes like lightning loh. Anyway, I think it's best for us to decouple as soon as we can before more cooling..."
*SLAP*
If you think I am encouraging couples to file for divorce, read this. I am actually talking about the report on a rise in couples asking about the process of changing the joint ownership of their matrimonial home to sole ownership, so that their spouse can buy a second property without having to pay additional buyer's stamp duty (ABSD) of 7%. Sounds ridiculous, but us Singaporeans are a savvy bunch that will pounce on every opportunity to take advantage of any predicament. To illustrate this, just two words would suffice - "Meatballs" and "Egg McMuffins".
For those who are close to us, they would know that we believe in having full disclosure and open access to each other's finances. Joint ownership of our matrimonial home is a given. Our reason is simple. Money is one of the most common things that couples quarrel over. Being open about it builds trust and encourages the couple to make financial decisions as "we" rather than "me". If a couple cannot agree over money matters, they are more likely to have disagreements over many other things.
I think that when couples decouple, it weakens the sense of dependency and encourage more of "me" rather than "we". The report also mentioned that as a practical tip, the couple thinking of decoupling may need to have a trust deed in place to protect the exiting party's share in the property, in case of a divorce. If you agree that pre-nuptial agreements are a bad idea, you would probably also give decoupling the thumbs down. It just sounds wrong - a couple that decouples.
It is unfortunate that in trying to cool the property market, a side effect that the government created might be a weakening of the family unit.
Do you agree? Let me know what you think by leaving a comment!
"Huh!!! Is there another party in our relationship?!"
"Well... yes. That party that strikes like lightning loh. Anyway, I think it's best for us to decouple as soon as we can before more cooling..."
*SLAP*
If you think I am encouraging couples to file for divorce, read this. I am actually talking about the report on a rise in couples asking about the process of changing the joint ownership of their matrimonial home to sole ownership, so that their spouse can buy a second property without having to pay additional buyer's stamp duty (ABSD) of 7%. Sounds ridiculous, but us Singaporeans are a savvy bunch that will pounce on every opportunity to take advantage of any predicament. To illustrate this, just two words would suffice - "Meatballs" and "Egg McMuffins".
For those who are close to us, they would know that we believe in having full disclosure and open access to each other's finances. Joint ownership of our matrimonial home is a given. Our reason is simple. Money is one of the most common things that couples quarrel over. Being open about it builds trust and encourages the couple to make financial decisions as "we" rather than "me". If a couple cannot agree over money matters, they are more likely to have disagreements over many other things.
I think that when couples decouple, it weakens the sense of dependency and encourage more of "me" rather than "we". The report also mentioned that as a practical tip, the couple thinking of decoupling may need to have a trust deed in place to protect the exiting party's share in the property, in case of a divorce. If you agree that pre-nuptial agreements are a bad idea, you would probably also give decoupling the thumbs down. It just sounds wrong - a couple that decouples.
It is unfortunate that in trying to cool the property market, a side effect that the government created might be a weakening of the family unit.
Do you agree? Let me know what you think by leaving a comment!
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Singaporeans are Asia's happiest people online???
According to a shocking survey concluded by Eden Strategy Institute, a consulting firm that provides thought leadership and investment advice on social innovation, Singaporeans are Asia's happiest people online!!!
The full survey results can be found here.
It is supposed to be 'an independent and objective Happiness Index that spans multiple social media platforms across five Asian countries'. It is supposed to be one that understands 'the true levels of happiness on a widespread basis across entire online populations'. It is supposed to be backed by 'scientifically-reviewed principles of true happiness, powered by an online intelligence tracking engine, and comprehensively covers over 200 million social media accounts'. So I suppose it must be true?!
In summary, it adds that 'despite recent complaints, the majority of Singaporeans continue to build on the Singaporean dream of self-actualisation, meritocracy, safety, and efficiency in society. The youth is particularly vocal during festive periods and special occasions, express their encouragement, and share pictures as a means of connecting with each other.'
What's even more ridiculous is that Singaporeans are two times happier (in terms of index scores) than Malaysians and almost 50 times happier than Indonesians. These results threaten to throw slamdunk the phrase 'money cannot buy you happiness' into the bin of outdated quotes.
I think the 'online intelligence engine' is incapable of detecting, understanding and measuring the amount of online sarcasm dished out daily by Singaporeans. So for this special occasion, I shall share a picture below as a mean of connecting with our readers.
Have a good weekend!
Friday, March 22, 2013
My son is a bully
It's terrible. My dear son Aiden is a bully. Most of the people who know about his behavior would tell me that it is "better for him to be the bully than the bullied". While I do agree to a certain extent that it is better, it is still unacceptable behavior to me!
From the first day Aiden exhibited such tendencies, we have been telling/explaining to him why bullying is naughty/unacceptable behavior and that it hurts the victim. And he understands - he would listen and nod his head, before faking a beating action followed by shaking his head and waving his hands to indicate that it is not acceptable. Most of the time, he would also offer his apologies to the victim. We also noticed that he would only bully certain people. To other kids, he would be very friendly and sometimes even shower too much love (think random handshakes, hugs and kisses).
Last month, his teacher in Playgroup told us that he fought a girl in class over toys and even bit her! A few weeks ago, while playing with the water jets at the pool, he gave his trademark naughty look before shoving his playmate Levine in the back intentionally and unprovoked.
I have never beaten him and Cheryl has already stopped using physical means to discipline him. What is wrong and how can we correct this?
From the first day Aiden exhibited such tendencies, we have been telling/explaining to him why bullying is naughty/unacceptable behavior and that it hurts the victim. And he understands - he would listen and nod his head, before faking a beating action followed by shaking his head and waving his hands to indicate that it is not acceptable. Most of the time, he would also offer his apologies to the victim. We also noticed that he would only bully certain people. To other kids, he would be very friendly and sometimes even shower too much love (think random handshakes, hugs and kisses).
Last month, his teacher in Playgroup told us that he fought a girl in class over toys and even bit her! A few weeks ago, while playing with the water jets at the pool, he gave his trademark naughty look before shoving his playmate Levine in the back intentionally and unprovoked.
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| Aiden the bully. |
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Simple guide to child seats
So the big debate in Singapore following
the announcement of the cooling measures for car ownership was centered
around the fundamental question of whether car ownership in Singapore should be viewed as a luxury or a necessity.
I do have some views on this topic but I'll leave them to another time. In the
meantime, this post will begin with a similar question on a related matter
- Are child seats a luxury or a necessity in Singapore?
Luxury?
Although there are plenty of ostentatious child seats out there in the market, the word luxury is not to be interpreted literally. Instead, to many parents, being able to fasten their child into a little seat that limits their movement and perhaps vision, is really a luxury. To their children, a child seat equates to an instrument of torture, a seat of death, and they will do their utmost to show how much they er... embrace life. Whenever I tell these parents that Aiden has long been conditioned to look forward to being strapped in for all car journeys and is very comfortable being in a child seat, three words would usually be uttered - "You heng ah!". In truth, I had to earn this luxury by making it a point to repeatedly explain to him why he needs to belt up until he stopped whining/crying. I forgot how many journeys we had to endure with Aiden crying incessantly. We now know that Aiden has very powerful lungs.
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| This is how a child seat looks like to many children. |
This is easier to answer. According to the latest law, anyone below 1.35 metres tall is required by law to use child restraints, booster seat cushions or adjustable seat belts when in a vehicle. Age will no longer be used as a criterion to determine if child restraints or booster seats are required. So there you go, the answer must be that child seats are a necessity in Singapore. Nuff said!
Not quite.
Actually, my answer would be neither of the above. A child seat is not a luxury nor a necessity, but is really the logical thing to have. The truth is, normal seltbelts in our cars are not designed to save the lives of children. No, that is not a reason for not belting them up altogether! One study done by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the US estimates that child safety seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 69% for infants and by 47% for toddlers. We love our children so much, so there should be no reason why we won't insist on putting them into a child seat that could save their lives in an unfortunate accident! It is also a lame excuse when some parents insist that it is ok as long as they drive safely! With the increasing number of driving bullies/idiots unleashed upon our Singapore roads, no one is spared from an accident no matter how safe you may be! Remember the unfortunate Ferrari accident in Rochor?
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| If you drink, don't drive. |
1. Shop early
There are many types of child seats out there, never mind the brand. There are car seats for infants, toddlers and children, convertible car seats, booster seats and more! As many of these systems may overlap or complement each other in their usage, you do have to plan ahead to save yourself time and money later on as you move from one age/weight group to another. Choosing the type of mounts is easier. If you car is equipped with ISOFIX, then get a child seat that has ISOFIX mounts. If not, you will need to use the seat belt to fasten the child seat.
For us, we chose the Maxi Cosi CabrioFix baby car seat and we use it together with the Maxi Cosi FamilyFix ISOFIX base. This configuration means that we can leave Aiden in the seat undisturbed for the longer time, as the CabrioFix can be easily removed from the FamilyFix base and mounted directly onto our very stylish Quinny Zapp Twine stroller. We can also hand carry the CabrioFix with Aiden in it. Perfect when he's already sound asleep but we have reached home! After Aiden outgrew the CabrioFix, we immediately changed it for the Maxi Cosi Pearl, which also attaches to the FamilyFix base. Eventually, we plan to ditch these to get a slimmer child seat, perhaps the Maxi Cosi RodiFix, or a booster seat.
2. Don't skimp
We all know kids grow fast so there is a tendency to decide on a over-sized child seat that is not age/weight appropriate at the point of purchase. This ultimately sacrifices safety, which is against the whole point of getting a child seat! There are some child seats that market themselves as all-in-ones, but I reckon the Jack of all trades would inevitably be the master of none. So please get the right ones and upgrade accordingly!
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| Happy. |
A badly installed child seat is as bad as an ill-fitting child seat, which is as bad as no child seat. So read the freaking manual and install it properly! I don't know about you, but having seen salespeople demonstrate how 'easy' it is to use the seat belt to fasten the child seat, I am convinced that these people should make pretty good astrophysicists too. It looks impossibly complicated! And so I chickened out by going the FamilyFix route. This wonderful system comes with a 3 point safety system, which monitors and tells you whether all the connections are properly attached. If somebody tried to make a living by writing a Dummy's Guide to using the FamilyFix, he would be bankrupt!
Last but not least, don't give yourself the excuse not to use the child seat because your kid refuses or suffers a meltdown whenever you try. Ask yourselves this question - If your kids refuse to go to primary school, would you give in to them? Or would you try whatever is necessary to ensure that they go to school? Do the logical thing! Good luck!
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| Thank you for keeping me safe! |
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Entering the Year of the Snake
As we grow older, we tend to get less excited about the Lunar New Year. It was not until we had Aiden two years back, that the Lunar New Year becomes fun (again) for us. I still remember vividly, two years ago, on the 11th day of the Lunar New Year, our little rabbit, Aiden joined us, a day before Valentine's Day. He was 35 weeks and 5 days when I delivered him via emergency C-section, and I remember very clearly how dramatic the day was for us. And so, every year during the Lunar New Year holidays, we also celebrate this boy's birthday.
Celebrating the Lunar New Year is much more fun now, as we bring Aiden to visit friends & family, teach him how to greet them, stop him from throwing oranges and excitedly shop for his wardrobe.
It is really tough to stop him from munching on all the new year goodies, unhealthy snacks and soft drinks during the period when everyone else is happily stuffing themselves. We find it a challenge banning unhealthy food from his diet although we know it is not good for such a young boy. Share your tips with us on banning unhealthy snacks from your kids' diet - we regret exposing him at such a tender age but we can't reverse it overnight now.
Pictures to remember the Year of the Snake with our little Rabbit:
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| Just moments after he's out! |
It is really tough to stop him from munching on all the new year goodies, unhealthy snacks and soft drinks during the period when everyone else is happily stuffing themselves. We find it a challenge banning unhealthy food from his diet although we know it is not good for such a young boy. Share your tips with us on banning unhealthy snacks from your kids' diet - we regret exposing him at such a tender age but we can't reverse it overnight now.
Pictures to remember the Year of the Snake with our little Rabbit:
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| CNY 2013 Day 1 at my parent's place |
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| Gong xi fa cai Daddy! |
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| 快高长大 Aiden! |
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| Cheeky Boy with Ah Ma |
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| Finally a good shot with Mummy (all were blur as he was fidgeting too much). |
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| With his doting grandparents |
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| At home waiting for guests |
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| With my little friend, Eden |
Sunday, March 17, 2013
FTWM: Juggling Work, Home & Family
Before I was a mother myself, I didn't think much of what my colleagues who had kids go through. Right now, being a full time working mum myself, I truly salute all FTWM out there who still remain very much in control & manage a work-life balance while looking polished & groomed.
Dual roles
After a hard day at work, we do not have the luxury of going home to rest & unwind. We've got to transform into our role as a mother, and spend quality time bonding with our kids & be as involved as we can in their growing up years. After tucking the kids in bed, which can sometimes be close to midnight for Aiden, I am most often too exhausted to do anything else. At times when I have important reports or presentations to do, I will stay up to complete them after he's gone to bed. It is exhausting indeed, but kids have the amazing power to make all the stress, the frustrations we have at work melt away, even if it is only momentarily. Coming home to see their happy faces, planting kisses all over them & holding them in our arms are the simple pleasures of life.
Priorities & Increased Efficiency
Life as a FTWM challenges me to prioritize better & be more efficient at everything I do so that I can balance time at work and at home. It is definitely straining as I do not have time left for myself - to catch up on sleep, to go for pampering treats & to do things at a leisurely pace. But, if given a choice, I would still choose to work.
I enjoy the challenges work brings - the accomplishment of tasks, learning and improving my skill set, interacting with people, excelling & growing in my role at work. Working also allows me to be connected to current news & trends, doll up for work, sometimes travel to see the other markets & keep my sanity. I enjoy being able to live more comfortably with our dual income & being able to contribute to building our home.
Dependable Support
Having adequate support is essential in bringing up Aiden if I were to remain a FTWM. I am very thankful for my parents for their help - my mum who quit her job to take care of Aiden since birth, and my dad who is always around to lend a helping hand in every way. He's taken great care of the family and now, his pride and joy - Aiden. Leaving Aiden in their care allows me to work in peace as I trust that he is well taken care of vs. leaving him in infant care or a helper.
I am also happy to see how much more joy and laughter Aiden brought to our family & extended family & friends, bringing everyone closer as we spend more time together. Earlier this year, we enrolled Aiden for full day playgroup to interact with kids his age and to lighten my mum's load as the boy gets increasingly active & mischievous.
Supportive Partner
Having an understanding & hands on partner definitely helps ease the hard work being a FTWM. I am thankful for Darren on taking on most of the household chores, not insisting that I cook for him, for making the extra effort to strike a work-life balance so we spend more time together as a family, for working hard & striving towards a better quality of life for us, for sacrificing me-time which I know is important for him, for being a role model to Aiden in many ways, for supporting me in my role at work and encouraging me to pursue my dreams & interests. We may have differing views but we accept our differences & are able to complement and support (and sometimes influence) each other well. I hope this continues to develop and grow positively for us. I believe that a happy & strong marriage contributes to a happy child as he grows up in a loving environment.
As much as I complain of not having sufficient me-time & to do the things I enjoy at a leisure pace, I really enjoy being a FTWM. Let's wait and see if it'd be the same when our family grows.
Dual roles
After a hard day at work, we do not have the luxury of going home to rest & unwind. We've got to transform into our role as a mother, and spend quality time bonding with our kids & be as involved as we can in their growing up years. After tucking the kids in bed, which can sometimes be close to midnight for Aiden, I am most often too exhausted to do anything else. At times when I have important reports or presentations to do, I will stay up to complete them after he's gone to bed. It is exhausting indeed, but kids have the amazing power to make all the stress, the frustrations we have at work melt away, even if it is only momentarily. Coming home to see their happy faces, planting kisses all over them & holding them in our arms are the simple pleasures of life.
Life as a FTWM challenges me to prioritize better & be more efficient at everything I do so that I can balance time at work and at home. It is definitely straining as I do not have time left for myself - to catch up on sleep, to go for pampering treats & to do things at a leisurely pace. But, if given a choice, I would still choose to work.
I enjoy the challenges work brings - the accomplishment of tasks, learning and improving my skill set, interacting with people, excelling & growing in my role at work. Working also allows me to be connected to current news & trends, doll up for work, sometimes travel to see the other markets & keep my sanity. I enjoy being able to live more comfortably with our dual income & being able to contribute to building our home.
Dependable Support
Having adequate support is essential in bringing up Aiden if I were to remain a FTWM. I am very thankful for my parents for their help - my mum who quit her job to take care of Aiden since birth, and my dad who is always around to lend a helping hand in every way. He's taken great care of the family and now, his pride and joy - Aiden. Leaving Aiden in their care allows me to work in peace as I trust that he is well taken care of vs. leaving him in infant care or a helper.
I am also happy to see how much more joy and laughter Aiden brought to our family & extended family & friends, bringing everyone closer as we spend more time together. Earlier this year, we enrolled Aiden for full day playgroup to interact with kids his age and to lighten my mum's load as the boy gets increasingly active & mischievous.
Supportive Partner
Having an understanding & hands on partner definitely helps ease the hard work being a FTWM. I am thankful for Darren on taking on most of the household chores, not insisting that I cook for him, for making the extra effort to strike a work-life balance so we spend more time together as a family, for working hard & striving towards a better quality of life for us, for sacrificing me-time which I know is important for him, for being a role model to Aiden in many ways, for supporting me in my role at work and encouraging me to pursue my dreams & interests. We may have differing views but we accept our differences & are able to complement and support (and sometimes influence) each other well. I hope this continues to develop and grow positively for us. I believe that a happy & strong marriage contributes to a happy child as he grows up in a loving environment.
As much as I complain of not having sufficient me-time & to do the things I enjoy at a leisure pace, I really enjoy being a FTWM. Let's wait and see if it'd be the same when our family grows.
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Once Upon a Time... in Hongkong!
After weeks of contemplating
whether to visit Australia, Korea or Japan, we finally booked our
flight for a much needed vacation to Hongkong. It does seem like an exhausting trip as I was planning it with Disneyland, Ocean Park & The Peak on the list, as we are traveling with our then 23 months old toddler with boundless energy. But heck it - we want to have a blast of a time with our beloved boy, so let's go!
Dressing your toddler for a flight, a tip would be to pick basics that are comfortable to sleep in. (Note: I don't mean pajamas) This means no tight fitting shirts, bottoms with uncomfortable clasps. Best choices are bottoms with elastic bands & a light long sleeved top.
Packing for a vacation, especially with a toddler is no easy feat. Coupled with the winter season, our luggage came up to 33kg! Here are some packing tips from our experience:
1. Check with the hotel if they loan strollers, bottle sterilizer, bottle warmer, baby toiletries beforehand so you can skip bringing these items
2. Bring medication for common ailments if available
3. Bring comfort toys, books & food for a (hopefully) fuss free plane ride
4. Bring a favourite or new video to entertain in hotel room
5. Prepare snacks for your toddler as they may not like to take main meals and get hungry
6. Always use bottled water, boil the water to be extra safe when preparing milk
7. Start packing a week ahead!
For a comprehensive list of what to pack on vacation for a toddler, this is a good guide
We stayed at The Langham Place for its convenient location - right above Mongkok MTR, so traveling to the other areas was a breeze. It is linked to Langham Mall with good shopping & food selection, Ladies' Market selling women's accessories, clothes, bags, Sai Yeung Choi Street South selling electronics & sports wear, as well as Argyle Centre selling affordable fashion items. We stayed in the Vital Place which can house a king size bed comfortably. Their beds were also ultra comfy and luxe - we couldn't drag ourselves up & out every morning. Love how they place creative soft touches in the room & of course the bath tub which is a must have on our vacations.
Day 1: Food and more food!
We headed straight for dim sum & mango dessert after dropping off our luggage. Can't wait to overindulge in the long list of must eats! We took it slow on the first day, eating and walking the streets & Langham Place Mall. Our first stop was to 稻香 (Shop B, 3/F, Grand Tower, 639 Nathan Road, Mong Kok) for dim sum, and 許留山 for my favourite mango desserts.
Day 2: Disneyland
An exciting day for Aiden, visiting Disneyland, a magical place where all the characters he knows come alive!
We stayed to watch the fireworks which was a really magnificent, extensive show! Aiden was initially very scared and clinged tightly onto me but he enjoyed it in the end.
Day 3: The Peak
Haven't been to The Peak during day time on my previous trips to Hongkong, so I thought it'd be nice we do it once.
Tip: Check out the ticket counters at the Lower Peak Tram Terminus before joining the queue as there are express lanes, and a shorter queue if you are purchasing Tram Tickets with Madame Tussaud's & Sky Terrace Viewing. On how you can get to The Peak.
Here are pictures of the view from the top, and the fun (& drama from Aiden) we had at Madame Tussaud's.
Us goofing around the wax figures at Madame Tussaud's. Had to juggle the bags we were carrying holding mostly Aiden's barang barang (diapers, milk powder, milk bottle, change of clothes, water bottle and so on), a hysterical toddler who was desperately pleading with us not to go near the wax figures, and us wanting to take pictures with the wax figures. It wasn't a very good experience.
A pity visibility wasn't very good today.
We left The Peak and went to shop at Central before having a yummy dinner at Yung Kee (32 Wellington St Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong). As we were returning to the hotel, I started feeling weak and couldn't sleep well that night. Aiden also started showing symptoms of stomach flu- vomiting and fever.
Day 4: OWWWW!
We were supposed to visit Ocean Park today. We set out for breakfast and Aiden felt ill & fell asleep in my arms. I felt unwell too, and couldn't eat much either so we returned to rest in the hotel room. At this point, I wasn't sure what was causing all these symptoms of vomiting and diarrhoea. My tummy hurts so bad, I swear it is comparable to or more painful than contractions during childbirth!
A
vacation to unwind and relax with the family didn't quite turn out to
be. We are happy for the times we spent there, and Aiden still remembers
Disneyland fondly whenever I speak to him about it. Looking forward to
the next family holiday!
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| Goodbye Singapore! We got up at 6am to get to the airport. |
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| Planes..... When I grow up.. |
Packing for a vacation, especially with a toddler is no easy feat. Coupled with the winter season, our luggage came up to 33kg! Here are some packing tips from our experience:
1. Check with the hotel if they loan strollers, bottle sterilizer, bottle warmer, baby toiletries beforehand so you can skip bringing these items
2. Bring medication for common ailments if available
3. Bring comfort toys, books & food for a (hopefully) fuss free plane ride
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| A blissful sight: Toddler sound asleep on flight |
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| In flight entertainment, occupying him for five mins |
5. Prepare snacks for your toddler as they may not like to take main meals and get hungry
6. Always use bottled water, boil the water to be extra safe when preparing milk
7. Start packing a week ahead!
For a comprehensive list of what to pack on vacation for a toddler, this is a good guide
We stayed at The Langham Place for its convenient location - right above Mongkok MTR, so traveling to the other areas was a breeze. It is linked to Langham Mall with good shopping & food selection, Ladies' Market selling women's accessories, clothes, bags, Sai Yeung Choi Street South selling electronics & sports wear, as well as Argyle Centre selling affordable fashion items. We stayed in the Vital Place which can house a king size bed comfortably. Their beds were also ultra comfy and luxe - we couldn't drag ourselves up & out every morning. Love how they place creative soft touches in the room & of course the bath tub which is a must have on our vacations.
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| View from our room |
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| Aiden jumped right in as soon as we checked in! |
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| Peek-a-boo from the bathroom |
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| Cheers to our 4 year wedding anniversary |
We headed straight for dim sum & mango dessert after dropping off our luggage. Can't wait to overindulge in the long list of must eats! We took it slow on the first day, eating and walking the streets & Langham Place Mall. Our first stop was to 稻香 (Shop B, 3/F, Grand Tower, 639 Nathan Road, Mong Kok) for dim sum, and 許留山 for my favourite mango desserts.
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| Quite disappointing despite good reviews |
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| Ordering dessert at 許留山 |
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| Can't keep his hands off to take a picture |
An exciting day for Aiden, visiting Disneyland, a magical place where all the characters he knows come alive!
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| Prepping him for Disneyland |
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| Can't wait to get in! |
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| Getting excited upon seeing Mickey Mouse |
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| We're finally here! |
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| Avoid the queues - order online & pick up your tickets at the automated machines |
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| Ready to go! |
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| Aiden's first meltdown - riding on the carousel. He couldn't calm down. |
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| It was all... YELLOW. Aiden was quite frightened and kept his eyes closed most of the time in the theatre |
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| Slinky Dog Sling - Go to Toy Story Land first as it is one of the latest addition |
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| Handsome reward |
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| Best child actor |
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| A long long wait to have a minute of their time & a picture to remember |
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| To infinity and beyond! |
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| Shades for the stylish boy |
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| Aiden in Boots |
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| Bear (Lotso) on the loose! |
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| Disney Parade - we nearly missed this as there was a change in timing, so check early |
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| It's Winnie the Pooh! |
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| It ain't always a bed of roses, know that I love you always - Happy 4 years! |
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| He was dancing to every tune he heard, everywhere we go. |
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| Our little adult - keeping warm with a cool pose |
Day 3: The Peak
Haven't been to The Peak during day time on my previous trips to Hongkong, so I thought it'd be nice we do it once.
Tip: Check out the ticket counters at the Lower Peak Tram Terminus before joining the queue as there are express lanes, and a shorter queue if you are purchasing Tram Tickets with Madame Tussaud's & Sky Terrace Viewing. On how you can get to The Peak.
Here are pictures of the view from the top, and the fun (& drama from Aiden) we had at Madame Tussaud's.
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| Breakfast at 翠華 before we set off |
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| My cuddly one |
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| Cool dudes |
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| And we huffed and puffed along the way to the Tram Terminus |
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| He is afraid to take the tram to The Peak - closing his eyes throughout the ride |
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| How steep! |
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| Aiden's second meltdown: He kept pulling us away from the wax figures. |
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| Hmmmm... |
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| <3 |
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| Who's she, mummy? |
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| Hello Ah-Ma & Ah-Gong! Calling from the White House |
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| Mummy wearing different hats |
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| Sharing the limelight |
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| He has the upper hand! |
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| Let's have tea! |
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| Ouuuuuch!! |
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| 'Kick ah!' |
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| Belting a tune after a dramatic time with the wax figures |
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| We are at The Peak! |
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| Mirror mirror - enjoys mimicking daddy |
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| Like a boss |
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| Super funny- he nodded when I asked him if the scenery was nice (eyes closed) |
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| Run Aiden run! |
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| Dinner at Yung Kee |
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| Signature roasted goose - must eat! |
Day 4: OWWWW!
We were supposed to visit Ocean Park today. We set out for breakfast and Aiden felt ill & fell asleep in my arms. I felt unwell too, and couldn't eat much either so we returned to rest in the hotel room. At this point, I wasn't sure what was causing all these symptoms of vomiting and diarrhoea. My tummy hurts so bad, I swear it is comparable to or more painful than contractions during childbirth!
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| Like father like son |
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| All ready to brave the cold |
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| Breakfast before Ocean Park |
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| Nice healthy soup |
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| Sleepy, sick child of mine |
We didn't make it to Ocean Park, all plans for the rest of the day were also cancelled. We finally went to see a doctor recommended by the hotel in the
afternoon and were diagnosed with stomach flu & prescribed a
cocktail of
medication to take. We suspect this was caused by the water we drank - lesson learnt: I will be extra careful next time and use only bottled water to be safe.
Hongkong may be memorable to most of us for excellent food &
shopping. Although I didn't get to experience all the food & shopping I would love to, this trip is made even
more memorable with Aiden & I falling sick with stomach flu which
was a really painful and worrying experience. I was in great pain and
could hardly take care of Aiden, when he needed me most. We were
especially worried for Aiden as he had high fever and risk dehydration with high frequency of bowel movements. Also, imagine the
pain he is going through when I can barely take it myself. Darren was very worried & stressed, watching over both of us through the night after arranging for the earliest flight out & packing all the luggage.
Day 5: Home Sweet Home
How glad we were to see Aiden slightly better as we left Hongkong. And how blessed we are to have my parents who helped nursed Aiden back to health while I rest & recuperate at home.  |
| We're coming home! Poor boy who lost weight. |
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| Bye Bye! |
