mummymeiling

Indeed it is My life My story

2012-02-10T06:42:00.000-08:00

I read this somewhere and it spoke to my heart. Indeed I need to learn from this mummy!

"Today I am learning to embrace the life God has planned for me. Yes, I have moments where I wish, and I compare. But then I take a moment to step back and look where God has me right now. Right now I am a homeschooling mom of three who writes in her “spare” time. Would I love to speak and go on fancy business trips? Sure, that is what my flesh desires! But my heart desires God’s will for my life and right now it is His call for me to be right here."

God help me to believe in myself and this choice that I have made, to be a stayhome mum for this season. Thank u so much for teaching me to make time to create beautiful memories intentionally. I learn to embrace this awesome season of my life now!!! I don't want to live in regrets and I want to live my life victoriously and statisfed with my own progress and goals achieved. No story will ever be the same...,. I don't need to compare because we are all different and unique!

Spending one to one time with Princess Venecia

2011-03-18T21:07:00.000-07:00

I was kind of 'forced' to stay home with my second daughter recently. This intensive one week with Princess Venecia was actually quite fun and has indeed taught me to be more patient with her ability to overcome fear. One incident that striked me significantly was at IMM playgound. I was bored after spending 20 minutes watching her. She refused to try the higher slide despite of my coaxing. I wanted to leave after seeing all the younder children seem to be more adventurous. Suddenly she just ventured into the higher grounds just like that! I would have missed this if I insisted leaving and denied her the opportunity to overcome her fear. Later after that incident, we went to Daiso for lesiure shopping. As usual, I encouraged her to pay for her item and surprsingly, she did it with obvious brimming pride!

WOW!!! I'm so proud of her, yes it may seems so insignificant in many mummies eyes, BUT this mummy is so PROUD OF HER ACHIEVEMENT!!! This period of bonding defintely pays off, I see a more confident and cheerful PRINCESS ready to venture out of her comfort zone!

Hang in there.... Mummy

2011-02-05T05:40:00.000-08:00

I have been trying to stay above the water lately...... Sometimes I can't help it but feel this constant pull by my circumstances. I can't keep my head above the water level. HELP!!!! Every part of me wants to quit!!!! This homemaker job is getting ever more challenging, more mundane than ever and less appreciated. I doubt I have much motivation except my faith that keeps me going. Many friends, cousins and relatives never expect this rambutious, extrovert and Career minded Meiling would ended up a homemaker. I played soccer, hockey, basketball anything that has sun around.... I'm there. I'm famous for not staying at home especially during my holidays.... Now I'm stucked at home most of the time, talking to children day in and day out. Adult and intellectually stimulating conversation is rare now.

During my school days, i studied really hard for my grades to enter university, especially in a private school. Then I worked hard for my distinictions during my Bsc and postgraduate so that I could get a good job.... Hee hee but I ended a job that requires no resume but requires someone with high EQ, tons of patience, love, organizational and culinary skills, and delayed gratification. I muz admit that I run super low in all these qualities! I don't have a degree in homemaking!!! How do I excel in this????? I'm not a meticulous person but someone very vivacious and outdoor. I love the sun, I love to meet people, I love to talk, I love to buy my own things...... This homemaking job does not fit me at all......

There is a season for eveything. I know this is the wisest choice for me NOW!!!! I'm willing to learn, to juggle with this complicated role that requires multiple skills. I'm improving my cooking skills... I'm learning how to be a tutor, a taxi driver that is on time, a domestic cleaner that is more meticulous, a grocery shopper that knows where to get the cheap and fresh food......,I know I can!!! I need to keep on trying n never give up. My feelings tell me otherwise at times but I'm trying my best not to be controlled by my feelings.. My God is a big God, He is
teaching me something here......My lord...... Give me the stength to hang in there!Change my mindset about being overwhelmed by 3 children.

Disneyland HONGKONG Dec 2010

2010-12-22T19:35:00.000-08:00

I must first thank my dear hubby who made this memorable trip possible, first monetary and most importantly, he had a great attitude towards all the stress that we faced during this trip! I guess I just DO it when it comes to this trip and I never really want to anticipate all the huge stress involved. Denial........If my hubby had not been so patient with all the hiccups, whinnings, carrying our toddlers, sheer exhaustion...... I believe this trip would not turn out as FUN as it could be. Not many men do it, u surpass it ALL !!!

HOWEVER, We STILL had an AWESOME time despite of all the fatigue and frustration. We this created a great memory not only for our dear children, and my in-laws BUT also ourselves!! I'm sure we will look back and marvel at our BRAVERY for bring 3 children to 2 AMUSEMENT parks!! Hee hee how on earth did we manage to that!!!!! Praise the Lord for this wonderful trip!!

My fruitful year 2010 - thanksgiving heart

2010-12-22T18:25:00.000-08:00

" Be Joyful, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances.' 1 thess 15-16

This year 2010 has been one of my most challenging parenting year. My domestic helper left abruptly just before last Christmas and we happened to have 2 parties held during that period. With escalating stress pounded on me suddenly, my life changed radically since then...... so did my spiritual life.

BUT my GOD is indeed faithful. I screamed, yelled, pleaded, lamented, sobbed,then finally I relented reluctantly that I needed HIM more than anything. It was this time, my dear humorous God led me to find my long lost contact Canadian friends who happen to be mothers of preschoolers now. Ha ha..... He told me that I'm far better off than them. YES, yes yes I finally admitted shamefully. They handled a huge house with YARD( need to be attended as well) three small kids, 1 big dog, 1 possible pampered husband, erratic weather, and tons of HOUSE CHORES AND FIXING MEALS!!! yes, I cheated in many ways. My parents and in-laws help me a great deal, and we could dine out in Singapore cos cooked food is affordable and lastly, I could engage a part-time domestic helper. SO EXCUSE ME....why AM I whining!!!

Soon, I start to learn that it was my NEGATIVE MINDSET. Many Asian mummies are pampered or blessed to have either parents/ in-laws or domestic helpers to raise their kids. I was awe fully jealous and started to attend self-pity parties. I wanted to look good as a working mother who has her own purchasing power. Homemakers seem so lame and unproductive. The ugly truth is I couldn't handle 3 kids and the immense housework. THANK GOD that HE helps me to deal my stresses in perspective and finally I'm getting better each day!!!

I'm thankful for my doting husband who have been very understanding and supporting in this journey of becoming a BETTER mummy and wife. It was a rough ride and lots of trashing out our differences and our ways of coping stress. We learn to accommodate, accept and adjusted after many slient wars and ugly fights.

NOW, I'm thankful that my kids are all healthy and reasonably well-behaved compared to hyperactive kids. I'm thankful that my family's basic need are met and hubby helps me in housework as well. And I must add this, our dear God brought us a WONDERFUL babysitter recenly who has been such an Angel. She has been blessing us so much, especially to my two cheeky girls and also us, with some couple 's timeout cum dating!!! SO if I put everything in a right frame, I SHOULD REJOICE and give THANKSSSSSS!!!

This amazing 2010 year brought out patience, self control and contentment in me. But it also brought very ugly traits such as pride, anger, imatience, self pity, complaining, anger, murmuring, grumbling, fault finding that were gradually dragging me down. I realized God is moulding me during this difficult period, a purification process. I learn that I need to be thankful, be realistic and contented. NOW I constantly count my blessing and take each day with a better attitude than yesterday. God has been SO good to me. I may not understand his ways but I know He will carry me through my self perceived difficulties. I learn to enjoy each day whatever comes with it. Embrace life like never before

I'm excited about 2011 because it is going to be a GREAT YEAR!!!

Celebrated Father and son's birthdays at Festive Hotel

2010-11-09T07:44:00.000-08:00

Prince Gabriel's Birthday

2010-11-09T07:06:00.000-08:00

My dearest Prince Thomas Gabriel, I know mummy's highest calling is to raise you to be a godly man, a man after GOD's heart! It is indeed a daunting task but yet it will be eternally rewarding. This mumster has to be purposeful in helping you in your journey to manhood, equiping you the neccesary skills and imprinting spiritual truths in your heart to sail through today's compromising culture. I know God has a great destiny for you since the day you were conceived. You will bring immense joy and Good news to the people around you. Indeed your charming smiles , confidence and cheekiness always lift my heavy spirit. My son, I love you and mummy pray that you will continue to cheer weary hearts and draw many lost souls for our Heavenly Father!!!

Positive mindset.

2010-11-03T08:49:00.000-07:00

I have been reading Joyce Meyer's books lately and she has definitely taught me more about how our thought pattern can determine the quality of our lives. Indeed we have 2 clear choices to make everyday, to dwell in our circumstances or to rise above it and still enjoy the rest of the day. I like what she wrote about being positive
"Even a person who is really positive won't have every thing work out the way he would like it to all the time. But the positive person can go ahead and decide to enjoy himself no matter what what happens. The negative person never enjoys anything. A negative person is no fun to be with. He brings a gloomy outcast to every project. There is a " heaviness" about him. He is a complainer, a murmur, and a fault finder. No matter how many good things are going on, he always seems to spot the one thing that could be a potential problem."
I want to be a fun and positive mum. I realized I need to change my negative mindset and start enjoying the good things in life!!!! Especially my daily mundane chores and relentless whines.
Lord, please teach me to how to trust in you and learn to have positive mind and mouth that will deeply bless those around me. Amen!!!

Daddy's personalised birthday cake

2010-09-29T22:19:00.000-07:00

My dear ahlao, may God strengthen you in the journey of devoting what truly matters and grant you all the joy, wisdom, patience and perserverance to become a MAN after God's heart. I know you are :)

Our recycled chair

2010-09-29T22:10:00.001-07:00

It is time to save the earth and $$$$$$. Jie Jie was very innovative and decided to use this Ikea lamp box as a chair! Gong gong actually taped this chair to make sure it is usable!!! Verdict: the children love it!!! Didi even personalised it with THOMAS stickers!!! And it can be used for peek a boo game!!! GOOD BUY!!!!

Our Second Wedding. Venue: home sweet home!

2010-08-05T19:55:00.000-07:00

I decided to surprise my dear hubby this wedding anniversary. I dressed up my 3 beautiful kids to be the flower girls and page boy, and myself as the bride. My ah lao was still sound asleep when we woke him out from his slumberland!!! It was quite chaotic initally as diddi was quite whiney..... Though the wedding "ceremony" did not turn out as planned, we all had so much fun! We exchanged new wedding bands and recommitted ourselves to this 11 years of marriage.

This purposeful "ceremony" was very significant to me. I want my kids to celebrate our love and feel secure and affirmed in our marriage. I believe Marriage is hard work and it has been so vulnerable especially in this instant love society. Our love has brought us to many places from Canada, Australia and China, and back to Singapore with this complete family of 5!!! Never thought we will have so many kids!!!! We have laughed, cried, hoped, fought, sacrificed, sang and danced in this song of love. We created a 11 years of HISTORY together and it requires intentional effort to make this 11th year marriage work. Indeed the 1 Corinthians 13 love tested and refined our love in this long journey. May our marriage continue to blossom and bless our 3 kids with a real picture about long lasting tough LOVE. Let us fight a good fight for this marriage together and celebrate many more years ahead!

Wedding anniversary celebration with 3 kids!

2010-08-03T08:41:00.000-07:00

Hee hee, it is kind of interesting to celebrate our anniversary with 3 BIG lightbulbs!! BUT it is really amazing to witness how relaxed and loving my dear hubby was during this trip, especially knowing that he usually gets uptight with all three together. He has matured in his fatherly skills and I'm so proud of him!!! My dear ahlao has finally accepted the fact the all the 3 kids have to be OUT together and I believe this was indeed a BOLD move for him! I'm sure he also felt that he did WELL and had successfully passed thru' hiccups that went along the way! The truth is , it is not too bad if we let our hair down for some fun, mess and lots of noise!!!! Surprisingly, I enjoyed this kind of "romantic" celebration!!!!

Happy Birthday Princess Venecia

2010-07-11T07:36:00.000-07:00

My dearest Princess Venecia,

You are mummy's pumpkin pie, peanut and everything in the world. I never ever thought mummyhood is so difficult till I meet you, my dear feisty, witty and "whiny" girl. I Believe God has given me you for a GREAT purpose, to mould mummy more like JESUS . I fall short in so many ways, and it is You who challenged mummy's patience, love, perseverance and faith in GOD to heal u divinely. So much about 1 Corinthians abt love is patience, love is kind... always hopes, always perseveres.

My dear princess, I pray that God's love will engulf you and protect you from all harm. Your mysterious interrupted sleep troubles mummy alot and I realised I'm so helpless and vulnerable to stress that I need GOD desperately. I cannot be with you all the time and I can't see with my naked eyes what is actually going on.....yes, I whined why why? BUT I can trust in HIM that he will your refuge and fortress, and His peace to be with you where ever you go.

Though Mummy's heart ached so much when U when thru your endoscopy and surgery recently, I trust that God's divine protection is with you, especially during your everyday sleep. You will have sweet sleep every night and wake up refreshed, rejuvenated and refreshed, so may your parents and neighbours!!! May you grow in Stature and be courageous to follow God and in your beliefs. May God's presence be so strong in your preschool years that you will shine for HIM!! I know you will, my SUNSHINE!!!!

lots of love, your mummy!

Sentosa

2010-06-28T08:27:00.000-07:00

Some memories cannot be erased......

We went to Sentosa at least 4 times this month!!! I brought my kids there by myself recently and I muz admit it was quite frustrating and weary at times when my kids do not CONSCIOUSLY cooperate !!! BUT I repeatedly told myself that the outings were meant to be fun, spontaneous and whatever it will be........ I relaxed and just enjoyed being with them and tried not to fuss over the extreme heat, or the sand over my mat and bag or their exemplary behaviour, or didi's constant yelling or even meimei clinging to me!!!!!

I was determined not to let my fussiness, my escalating anger, brimming impatience or my unrealistic expectations ruined this "history" that we had created together!!!! At the end of the day, I was exhausted cleaning up the kids, listening to their everlasting whinnings, chasing after them, coaxing them to eat and still had to drag them home. AT that moment, I wished , a fairy God-mother could just instantly flag her magic wand and send us home IMMEDIATELY!!

BUT I was reallly satisfied when I see how they enjoyed the trip despite of whatever hiccups happened. I realised there is NOooo perfect outing, but a right attitude and cheerful mindset. We still CAN have splendid and AWESOME time together. I asked Valerie whether she enjoyed the trips to Sentosa, she exclaimed "SSSSSSplendid!!!" So what more do I ask..........a captured memory for my children, my precious, my pride and joy (whatever included in the package).

Mcdonald breakfast

2010-06-10T08:26:00.000-07:00

A family that eats together stays together.....My parents insisted our family to eat together every weekends since we were very young and I believe this purposeful weekly gatherings weaved a strong bonding among my siblings.

Now, I hope that my nuclear family will continue this good habit of eating together. Mcdonald breakfast offers this drained mummy a break and yet creates fond memories for us when we eat together. Hence, this "Mcdonald tradition" will go on for quite some time......

Future Fashion designer Valerie

2010-05-25T22:14:00.001-07:00

My dear Valerie has been quite creative lately. I gave her a blue cloth while I used the rest to sew her a bag. Then she decided to make a cardigan for her sister. Using her own imagination, she cut two arm holes and sew a button on. I muz say I was quite impressed to see such great ART PIECE. So to boost her morale, I helped her to sew some laces on as well as the little rabbit ornament. WOW, it was actually quite pretty!!! Most importantly, it was fun to help her to use her creativity. She was so proud of it that she decided to own it instead!

Nostagic shoes

2010-05-25T22:03:00.000-07:00

I'm keeping these favourite shoes..... each pair brings me very fond memories ..places where they had walked and run. A reminder that I need to treasure every moment, even when they are stamping their little feet whinning !!!

Hang In There, exhausted mummy

2010-05-24T08:11:00.000-07:00

These childrearing exhausting days will pass and I will miss them. Many mummies have regretted not enjoying their children moment by moment. So I told myself repeatedly that this crucial period will be the BEST DAYS of my life and I can never turn back the clock if I miss this boat. YES, it may be exhausting, but I still want to learn to enjoy my three dearest children and ENJOY EVERYDAY! I want to create pleasant memories for my family , which are far better gift than anything I can buy. I remind myself not to be a SUPERMUM, and be kind to myself and discard unrealistic expectations. I learn to take one thing at a time, one day at a time and enjoy each day as much as I can. Todays' happenings become tomorrow's history. SO what kind of history I can "create" depends on how I react today........ STAY CHEERFUL and PRAYERFUL!!!

" A cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bone." proverb 17:22

My Precious Venecia

2010-05-19T08:09:00.000-07:00

I'm actually very weary and physically drained after so many espisodes of fighting Venecia's cold bugs and enduring interrupted sleep due to her night terrors...... Venecia's sinusitis is not getting any better. She just finished her 10th course of antibotic today and NOW she is down with runny nose and teary eye again. She had high fever of 39.4 degree during her last bout of cold. I guess this is her last straw and she probably needs a surgery to drain the mucus out so that her sinusitis vicious cycle will be "eradicated" completely

My greatest worry is she is so petite and going through a GA has some risks. I'm afraid....... maybe I had miscarrages and letting her to go thru' this minor surgery scares me a GREAT deal. She has been so traumatised lately with all the medical procedures, MRI and nasal endoscopies..... to see this tiny body struggles and hear her wailing break my heart so much. YET this helpless mummy can't do anything to alleviate her immense fear and pain. Somehow I can't hold it anymore.... I'm not that strong mentally to support her...... please pray for my girl.

I know my GOD will carry me thru this ordeal.

"Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance." (1 Corinthians 13:7 NLT) Love NEVER gives up

Our weekday mornings

2010-04-01T00:42:00.000-07:00

Preparing weekday lunch for two kids isn't as easy I visioned........especially with a terrible two fighting for my attention. Prior to that, I have to juggle with their breakfast, then Jie jie's school work, didi's cries, nag at Valerie to shower and get changed for school. Hence, weekday lunch is pretty chaotic for me to prepare. There will be two sets, one for Valerie and the other will be Gabriel's porridge or marconi soup.

BUT I'm so encouraged that I'm able to pull out something nutritious for my children in the shortest time that I can. Valerie likes cheesy mashed potatoes, creamy marconi cheese pasta, ham and egg sandwich, fish sticks with potatoes....these are staples that she will eat slightly faster than traditional chinese food. Then I will also distract ah didi with his jie jie's food while I wash all the pots and pans!!!!

Amicable play

2010-03-30T07:57:00.000-07:00

It is actually quite rare and of course heartwarming to see all my 3 children playing amicably. May we have more of such days!!!

Sarong Pa Pa

2010-03-29T08:39:00.001-07:00

My Devoted daddy carries me around like a little joey!

Our children's Building Blocks

2010-03-29T08:25:00.000-07:00

Our kids have

been saving $$$$ quite abit for us lately. They are into primitive play which is quite amusing for us!

The Most Respectful Award

2010-03-28T07:44:00.000-07:00

Recently, our dear Valerie came back home excitedly and announced to us so proudly that she received an award up on stage -- The Most Respectful Award. I'm so encouraged that her good behaviour is recognised and may she be affirmed that she is well liked because of her thoughtfulness.

Valerie, may you continue to respect others and love your neighbours as yourself. God sees your good behaviour my dear, even when no one is looking and that MATTERS THE MOST!!!! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!!

Mummy and Daddy are so proud of you!!!

My Dear Mr Gab and his Barney

2010-03-23T22:03:00.000-07:00

Our dear cheeky Prince Gab is so much into Barney that drives this mummy nuts recently. He wants to hold the Barney CDs all the time even when he is drinking milk, expects all the TVs to play Barney shows, needs to hug his Barney stuff toy to sleep...... I was so upset that I told him that I have slaughtered BARNEY!!! For once, I dislike this purple dinosaur!

Happy ROAR ROAR YEAR!

2010-02-23T21:27:00.002-08:00

Happy Birthday Princess Valerie

2010-02-23T20:29:00.000-08:00

My dearest Princess Valerie,
Wow it is amazing to see my little baby has grown into a beautiful understanding girl. I still remember tears of pride were brimming in my eyes when u graduated from your kindergarden recently. Mummy has many heartfelt wishes for you. I wish I could shield you from all pains, disappointments and difficulties in life. BUT I will only ruin you in the process. I hope you will understand one day why mummy has to be strict at times so that you grow into a Godly responsible woman . I pray that you will be courageous to make right choices in this scary secular world. You will embrace God's love to pull you though times of doubts and loneliness.

You have been a great funloving and thoughtful sister that Mummy is so proud to tell others. Your kind compassion and empathy never fails to pick up mummy's discouragement and will never hesitate to offer me a big embrace or words of WISDOM. Remember you told mummy that God's power is with me. So may these words be deeply imprinted in your heart when u are discouraged. Thank you for allowing mummy to be a human not a super mum and giving mummy grace to stand up. So my dear girl, Never fail to stand up tall to face your GIANTS in life and know that You can DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS YOU! Rest in the LORD when you need to and My dear child, SOAR LIKE AN EAGLE after God's embrace! I BELIEVE IN YOU!!! YOU CAN DO IT!!!!! Do your BEST and NEVER GIVE UP! May your vibrant joyful life continue to be a big blessing to us and many others!

Lots of love and blessings for you,
Mummymeiling

My blessings

2010-01-22T07:33:00.000-08:00

I learn to count my blessings when I'm wallowing in self-pity. This gives me a better perspective and positive attitude to face my difficulties.

Mighty to Save

2010-01-22T07:16:00.000-08:00

I love this song as it gives me great comfort and encouragement.

Everyone needs compassion
Love that's never failing
Let mercy fall on me
Everone needs forgiveness
The kindness of a Saviour
The hope of nations
Saviour He can move the mountains

My God is mighty to save
Forever Author of salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
So take me as you find me
All my fears and failures
Fill my life again
I give my life to follow
Everything I believe in
Now I surrender
Shine Your light and
Let the whole world see
We're singing
For the glory of the risen king
Jesus
Shine Your light and
Let the whole world see
We're singing
For the glory of the risen King

Our heartache - Princess Venecia

2010-01-15T00:10:00.001-08:00

Our dear Venecia has been turning this house upside down lately. Most of you would know that she screams frantically in the middle of the nights since day 1. Somehow it has not improved much and her PDs and neurologist had urged us to get a MRI done to see what's wrong with her brain. I must admit that I REALLY thank God that she is fine except that this recent MRI is doing a harvoc in her. She is EVEN more cranky, fussy and hard to pacify especially at night. We did not sleep for two nights in a row since her MRI and we are at lost with her screaming at the top of her lungs. Her sleep terror is a TERROR to us and sad to say, our poor neighbours. We are really helpless and extremely exhausted...... so please do pray for us to have enough patience to get by and that GOD will heal her and grant her peaceful sleeps.

Yes, I have been so angry with her as she has worsened my nightmare since my helper left. I pray that God will give me the grace, wisdom to react during her non-stop screaming display and I will learn to step back when I face uncontrollable anger myself.

" A fool gives vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control." proverbs 29:11

My 10 effective ways to DEstress lately

2010-01-14T23:43:00.000-08:00

1. Have short coffee breaks infront of my toddlers.
2. Take long hot shower
3. Write my prayer journal - trust that God will MAKE a WAY
4. Put on a smile
5. Take ONE day at a time
6. Sob when I reached my limit
7. Watch my Hongkong drama series
8. Nap whenever I can with my son. A sleep deprived mum snaps easily!!!
9. Laugh at my own stupid acts, not to be too hard on myself and others, esp toddlers
10. Eat cos a hungry mum is a scary mum

"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest luke 12:25-26

Sanity and salvation intact? 2010 resolution?

2010-01-12T02:29:00.000-08:00

Yes.........finally after so many months of MIA, this mummy is back. I was so busy with the renovation, moving and adjusting that I was too tired to blog. But I'm back not with pictures of my darlings at this moment. Please let me lament about my recent stress that I'm facing. I'm without a helper again and the perpetual washing, cleaning, feeding, resolving conflicts, enduring two toddlers struggling with immense stranger anxiety and sibling jealousy have been driving me nuts. There were so many times that I asked "how long more?" Is it 9pm already?

Yesterday, I just found extreme comfort when my dearest Valerie gave me the longest hug that I ever needed. My tears just flowed. I was trying to hold all together and her empathy somehow sensed that mummy needed some encouragemnet. She praised my cooking and that really eased all the "pain" away.

I'm rereading this book that I read 6 years ago!!!! Mommy's locked in the bathroom by Cynthia Sumner. This book saved my sanity when my firstborn was so colicky and had bowel diffculties then. Now, I needed it ever more since I'm struggling with 3 children. I need to get my perspective back in order to survive this motherhood. According to Cynthia, "An acquired skilled in mothering is the ABILITY TO GO OVER THE TOP EVEN WHEN YOUR UPPER LIMIT HAS BEEN REACHED."

Please pray for this mummy to overcome my children early years and may God grant me ever more strength, hope, love, creativity, joy and heaps of patience in this tough mothering journey. May I learn to let go the inevitable irritations and learn to laugh with them. while raising them.

" Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will giveyou rest." Matthew 11:28-29

Our 'homemade' hopscotch

2009-10-27T01:59:00.000-07:00

Purchasing Power

2009-10-24T08:29:00.000-07:00

One BIG con of this homemaker role is a lack of purchasing power...... Yes, I have this growing resentment about not having as much ability to buy whatever I want... yes, what I want, not I what I need. I hate to justify it all the time. I know the clever market is targeting at the trendy financially independent working women, and yet this poor homemaker mummy does fall into this temptation too. I succumb to the many shopping sprees.... I love books, I love pretty clothes, I love accessories, I love lattes.... Ah ya...sometimes I feel so guilty spending especially when I dun work for it. So I muz say working does helps me to feel more justified to spend on the things I like..... BUT yet, deep down in my heart, I know there is a big price to pay for being a homemaker. I do enjoy being with my children, yet ....... errrrr sometimes I really like to have something I like too, like any women. YET, a prudent wife is what God likes....

Mr charming prince Gabriel

2009-10-11T19:58:00.000-07:00

Our dear Mr didi is refusing to walk by himself. So he has been cruising along the sofa and posing for mummy to take pics. I muz admit his charming smiles do melt my heart......

Our Expressive hilarious mei mei, Princess Venecia

2009-10-06T08:32:00.001-07:00

Our dear mei mei is still as cheeky as ever....sometimes this furious mummy is simply appeased by her funny actions. We can't deny that she brings quite abit of spontaneous laughter in our family. She is actually our family's second MISS DRAMA, Miss expressive!

I'm still on probation....

2009-10-06T07:52:00.000-07:00

"I did it, I did it!!!!"

Increase your love bank units

2009-10-05T07:58:00.000-07:00

I have been reading this excellent book by Dr Harley about Fall in love and Stay in Love.

According to him, "Being in love is vital to a happy marriage. And it's "a feeling that can be sustained indefinitely," says Dr. Willard Harley as long as the right conditions are met. In Fall in Love, Stay in Love he outlines those conditions and shows you how to meet them in your marriage.

He used the illustration of a love bank. We deposit love units when we meet each other's emotional needs and make withdrawals when we don't. According to him, there are 10 cruical emotional needs. It is usually during the courtship days that love units are deposited consistently when we meet each other's emotional needs and love busters are avoided at all cost to prevent unneccessary withdrawal of love units. And sad to say that many married couples start to make frequent withdrawals till they suddenly realise their love units for each other are depleting. This book gives me a wake up call about how we usually take each other for granted as the years passed by and allow our love busters to destroy marriage. This book affirms my belief that marriage needs CONSCIOUS effort to make it still romantic, loving and alive!

I must say My dear ah lao has recently deposited lots of love units when he waited for me at the pavilion with a bouquet flower. WOW!! I was really touched by this unexpected romantic gesture. Thank you for that lovely surprise.

Divide and Distract my TERRIBLE TWOS

2009-10-05T07:53:00.000-07:00

My latest strategy with my terrible TWOS, Prince Gab and Princess Venecia is DIVIDE AND DISTRACT. They have been driving me nuts and threaten my sanity alot lately. I came up with a plan. I will make sure they are miles apart and at least one party is engrossed with an activity, and usually that will be my favourite babysitter, TV!!! Dora has been the best choice recently and that keeps me INSANE when they are not screaming at each other. Another brilliant way is to lock one of them in the playpen.... hee hee....I hope this strategy will last...

Prince Gabriel turned ONE

2009-10-05T07:46:00.000-07:00

Yes yes, mummy finally remembered to post his birthday pics.... My dear ah boy turned one in August. We did not have a big celebration. I guess that happens when u have three kids. We are simply too tired to do alot of things nowadays.

His current milestone is DiDi can stand by himself for at least 5 secs, but is still afraid to venture on his own. He still prefers his primitive mobile style, crawling and yelling at everyone else.

What I wanna be.....

2009-09-13T21:19:00.001-07:00

My amazing living room

2009-08-13T19:53:00.000-07:00

My dear ah lao always complained incessantly about how untidy our living room is.... BUT my living room is indeed amazing. I can put so much things that actually don't match , yet very functional. This awesome room can accomodate my 3 seater sofa + 1 + 1 , coffee table, side table , my huge 7 feet TV console, a shoe cabinet, a slide, a toy kitchen set, a playpen, a toy basket, 2 boxes of books......

The BEST part is we can STILL play football, do acrobats and fashion shows, practise violin, sing karaoke, watch TV, study, eat, read, sleep in this living room!!!! Most importantly, we celebrated birthdays, chinese new years, christmas, even national day in this amazing room. This place is going to bring me VERY FOND memories. A place of laughter and tears.....YES, a little messy for the exchange of REAL human interaction, esp with your children. I think it is definitely worth it! A room full of LIFE!

National Day face painting

2009-08-13T19:35:00.001-07:00

Our recent zoo outing

2009-08-12T22:28:00.001-07:00

Sibling rivalry

2009-07-29T22:20:00.001-07:00

Wow, I can't believe this sibling rivalry is starting so soon. I guess their small age gap is causing this impending bickers. My dear ah boy, Gabriel was only 10 months when he first started snatching his jie jie's toys. Of course, my cheeky second born, Venecia is NOT ready to give in. Venecia is facing a strong jealousy here and apparently it is quite serious cos she actually dreamt about her didi snatching her toys!!! The typical scene would be....She will run away with whatever she is holding if she sensed her didi is interested too. In fact, she will throw it at places that will be impossible for didi to reach. Her famous line is " NO DIDI, SHARE!" and she runs away with that coveted toy. Ah ya, if not she will say, "NO!!!! didi DIRTY!" and takes away the toy defensively!!!!! Didi will immediately yell to get HELP!!! So if u were to call me ..... u will hear all these commotion!

HEY my immediate task is to teach BOTH of them CONFLICT RESOLUTION!!!!

Marriage Vow

2009-07-29T21:40:00.000-07:00

We have just celebrated our Actual wedding anniversary on the 24th July. Though it wasn't as great as the Banyan tree resort retreat, I truly enjoyed it especially the late movie and supper. It wasn't a romantic candle nite dinner but a BBQ stingray, shellfish, and craypot frog legs at a coffee shop. Yet, it was special to me..... cos I enjoyed this kind of dating again.

Then, it was time for me to reflect on this day about my vow when we went back to Chijmes, the place where we exchanged our vows 10 years ago. I vowed to love him for better AND for worse, for richer and for poorer. I realised my love for him has been quite shallow for this past 10 long years. I seem to love him more only when skies are blue and storms are away. I demand, I shout, I pout, I cry, when he doesn't reach so called my mark. I dun really understood my vow.

I strongly believe that marriage requires alot of hard work, time, and money. We need to invest in this relationship to make it work and I know I need to start from my ATTITUDE, back to the beginning of what I have promised him. To love him for better AND for WORSE. This marriage building is a lifelong process and we will never be on the same scale all the time. We are changing everyday as partners and for both of us to strike a balance requires serious commitment and GRACE. Moreover, we are experiencing many life stages with different mindsets and readiness. Parenthood is one of them that has definetly knocked us off the equalibrium scale. We are learning to juggle this dual role as lover and parent at the same time. It takes time to learn, and the key is willingness to make adjustments to still make time for one another. We have to continue to date and enjoy each other's company. What I really hate most is to live like roommates under one roof......

May this 10th year anniversary remind us that we did well for the past decade and there will be more hiccups on the way before we celebrate the next 10 year anniversay. Let us be realistic and learn to be more accomodative to each others' effort to love one another.

God please teach me to be a Godly wife who will cheer and love my dear ah -lao at ALL TIMES!!!

Downdown East celebration

2009-07-07T22:51:00.001-07:00

Cheeky Venecia turned TWO!

2009-07-07T08:03:00.000-07:00

My dearest Venecia is very special to me because God has graciously given me this beautiful girl. God has answered my sobbings when I miscarriaged twice in Shanghai. I prayed, in fact begged God in my pool of tears to give me another Child. I weeped and literally fell onto my knees when I couldn't contain that immense pain in me. I believed God heard me then....cos I felt so peaceful after leaving my pain and questions with Him. I knew I can't ask why, but trust that He knows what is the best for me.Thank God that I conceived Venecia three months after my last miscarriage and but was swept with this irrational fear of losing her. I was paranoid, scared and uptight.... somehow, that unfounded fear came back again when she had fluctuating high fever during her HFMD episode. She is already so small in built that she looked absolutely pitiful when she was so sick. I was afraid of losing this girl......

This event reminds me that I need to treasure every moment with her, even her whinnings. I know time flies so quickly that I will miss these times. Now she has turned two and somehow I feel these two years just had flown in just one blink. NOW, my dear mei mei is back to her usual cheeky self.... she will suddenly screamed "STOP" at me when I'm nagging at her. I can't hide my laughter even when she challenegd me. I learned to laugh more than to be angry over the little inevitable irritations of nurturing this cheeky peanut.

My 3 little pigs had HFMD

2009-07-06T22:09:00.001-07:00

When all my three children succumbed to this UNWELCOMED HFMD recently..... we were bombarded with high fever, mouth ulcers, crankiness, poor appetite, sleepless nites. As a homemaker, I was really exhausted after fighting this war days and nites, and seeing their PD so many times. Their adamant refusal to eat, incessant whinings, outburst of sudden anger were SO legitimate that I couldn't blame them for frustrating me. But yet there was this brimming inpatience, and anger escalating in me. Somehow the little few hours breaks or retreats do not do the trick. I was still mentally tired for a long long time...... In fact, I was still quite disorientated when we finally went for Venecia's birthday celebration at Downtown East chalet after winning this WAR! Yes, I nearly packed a my entire house there just for a NIGHT! hee hee this kiasu mummy is constantly untight abt everything! NO more Hssssss pls, esp H1N1!!!

Cold Storage Kids Run 09

2009-06-15T21:51:00.001-07:00

Valerie went for her second Cold Storage Kids Run recently. She seemed to enjoy this run alot and I'm glad that my hubby had planned this activity for her. It was defintely a great bonding time for Daddy and daughter.

Though there have been many transitions in our TAN family lately since we came back from Shanghai, I'm glad that Val has adjusted well especially when mei mei, Venecia and di di Gabriel arrived one after another. In fact, she has been very understanding and helpful. I appreciate my ah lao's effort to continue to involve her in concerts, plays and activities like this cold storage run despite of the ongoing chaos in raising our children all under 6!!!! At least, Val knows that her parents DO make time for her even though she is facing a fierce competition here. Thank you, my dear hubby for being so meticulous in planning these activities for your children!!! I'm sure these will become memorable moments for them and us too!

Salvation Prayer!

2009-05-26T21:23:00.000-07:00

My dear firstborn has been asking about God lately especially after watching the Easter story- God Rocks! Prior to that spark of fire, she has been writing her prayer journal when she saw me writing my heartfelt prayers.

I guess God has His timing.... I confessed to God that I have done only mediocre teaching about Him as I myself has too many far fetch questions. Yet, He still knocks on my daughter's heart..... a whisper that touches her heart. She cried watching Jesus died on the cross and have been sharing with her friends in school about how much God loves us.

She also started to make flowers and card to God and oh mind, what she wrote was an innocent and pure confession of her LOVE for GOD. No wonder, God says "LET ALL THE CHILDREN COME!" I know I have to do something. So I bought Stormie's book about prayer that simplifies the salvation prayer. I told her a few days in advance to urge her to ponder about this serious prayer and we read it together on this special night, 12th may. She accepted Christ into her heart!!! My brimming tears flowed when I saw her sheer Joy in receiving God into her life and her name will be written in the BIG Book of LIFE. She was so thrilled signing the contract!!!!!

She loves the Joseph story and started singing the beautiful song that I truly agreed " I let go the reason to know why." Sometimes, we have to let go our painful questions and know that HE is in CONTROL.

THANK YOU LORD!!!YOU ARE INDEED AMAZING TO WORK THINGS IN YOUR TIME! LET HER PASSION FOR YOU CONTINUE to BURN AND MAY OTHERS SEE YOU IN HER LIFE!!!

Great resource for enhancing marriage

2009-05-16T00:38:00.000-07:00

Valerie's violin practice

2009-05-11T09:32:00.001-07:00

Mummy is so proud of you!!!

My cheeky Venecia

2009-05-11T07:51:00.000-07:00

My cheery ah-boy

2009-05-06T21:43:00.000-07:00

My dear ah-boy has been quite difficult recently cos he has flu and cough for the past few days. Your poor mummy's sleep has been ever MORE interrupted than before....... Hope to see your usual cheery self again and pray that you will have a good sleep tonite, and so does your cranky mummy!!!

Our rendezvous 10th year wedding anniversary banyan tree celebration

2009-04-13T23:01:00.000-07:00

Wow, wow, wow!!!!!!!!

Yes the 1st wow was we finally got away miraculously WITHOUT our children after 6 long years since our firstborn's arrival! At first, I thought we would have to cancel the trip cos our dear Valerie was quite sick early that week and I finally succumbed to the virus as well. Thank Goodness we all gotten well and the other two young ones were also well. So we took a leap of faith and left QUICKLY!! My parents agreed to babysit while we jumpstart our marriage! How romantic and exhirating this trip would be without the constant harrassment from our children!!! Finally I had time to eat in peace without having to cut food into bite sizes, cajoling my children to eat and hear constant mummy mummy all the time!!! I really prefered facing my ah lao more under the moonlight and savouring my long awaited tom yum soup, thai fish cake, curry etc....

The 2nd Wow was our celebration was held at Banyan Tree Villa with our own swimming pool !!!! So can u imagine how much swimming we had!! The pool was right in front of our villa. It was so serene even if I were to be stuck in this villa! Can u imagine having wine by the pool...yes, I abstained wine for two LONG years because I was either pregnant or breastfeeding!!! So that is a BIG WOW for me, THE once in the lifetime experience for me. Yes, this is indeed a very luxurious retreat for me! Thank you my dear ah lao. I appreciate this trip alot!!!

The third WOW was we actually sat down to discuss about our marriage and children. We discussed our differences and needs as husband and wife. After answering the questionaires, I realised I have more needs than him!!!! I was pretty shocked that my hubby actually brought Bill and Pam Ferrel's parenting book as well as a bible to discuss. So I must say I'm very IMPRESSED with my hubby's seriousness!!! We also talked about critical issues concerning our three children, their differences, their developmental needs so that we can be on the same page for our parenting issues. So I must say I was rather surprised that my hubby was keen about the discussion. In fact, it was very interesting cos he was in the pool while I was sitting by the table writing minutes.......very memorable

Lastly, I asked my dearest hubby whether this celebration is only a PRELUDE cos our actual date is on 24th July!!! Hee hee.... He told me to wait for another DECADE!!!

Anyway, A BIG thank you to God who let this happened, my dear ah lao for his meticulous planning, my parents, Yaozong's parents and prayer support from friends!!!!! I'm indeed MORE refreshed, rejuvanted and relaxed as a MUMMY and wife. I sincerely proposed to my hubby to make this an yearly affair so that I'm more recharged, effective and positive as an AWESOME WIFE!!!!

Princess Valerie's violin practice

2009-04-03T08:42:00.000-07:00

My dear Valerie, I'm so proud of you that you persevere even when your violin practice becomes more difficult and takes up your TV time. Mummy wants you to know that some things in life needs hard work, positive mindset and never give up attitude.

You can do it and I believe in YOU, my dear girl!!! You are such a bright and understanding girl, do take time and think how much you have progressed since you first started learning violin. You have come so far because you are willing to continue to learn more difficult songs.
Well done, sweetie!!!

Train up a child in THE way that he should go

2009-03-23T02:42:00.000-07:00

Look at these pictures and I do wonder what my dear children will become when they grow up.......Parenting is such a heavy responsibility and daunting that sometimes I feel inadequate to do it. God has indeed sent such an inexperienced parent to do this gigantic task! How should I TRAIN them.......

I realised in order to be a good role model for my child to emulate, I need to change and constantly remind myself of my glaring flaws. I learn to think more positively myself as I'm teaching my eldest daughter to have a postive mindset about her ability. I realised that our children are watching us closely and learning can be very subtle. I also learn to control my impending anger especially with irritable situations. I blurted out while driving" Go! Go! Silly driver...." hee hee Yes I do say that when my girl was sitting right next to me and she actually emulated my tone and words few days later.

Most importantly, I want my children to base their self-worth not on anything like appearance, acclaim, status, popularity but on God alone. I need them to know that if we based our identity on other aspects, we will only get disappointed and frustrated. Our real identity is based on Him. And I have to make sure I do that myself cos I usually compare my self worth with secular success that usually brings immediate disappointment and impending depression! I do not want my children to set themselves up to constant world comparison, but to reach their God given potential confidently in their comfortable pace.

Next, I need to pray and seek God more, so that my children see that our God is REAL in this household and they themselves will seek them especially when venture toward adulthood. It was found on a survey done by Shaunti Feldhadn that "that the fact that God might be disappointed in them was a bigger influence than whether their parents would be disappointed." The world is more complicated than our era, our children are learning from media, peers, school, everywhere......So now I have to train my children to know our God, to have personal relationship with Him too before it is too late...I need to lay clear boundaries for them now, before my children embark into teenage identity-creating years. YES and all these just happen in the blink of an eye, so I can't just procrastinate, but be active in my parenting which has a lifelong impact, training them in the way that they should go.... HOWEVER, GOD SHOW ME THE WAY FIRST and NOW PLEASE!!!

Sanity

2009-03-18T14:31:00.000-07:00

I NEED SANITY!!!! This homemaker job is NO DOUBT one of the toughest job in the world. Not only this it is a no pay, no leave, no intellectual and social stimulation job, it is also a job that is constantly harassed by your loved ones. No wonder not many mummies do not want to take up this role as it requires lots of self motivation, prayers, self talk to convince oneself it's long term investment. Sometimes I feel like quiting when my patience, love and joy seems running so low. Somehow it seems that your children bullies you perpetually! And it is so hurting and frustrating that u feel so defeated after a long fight especially with a terrible two toddler who insists her rights all the time. Power struggles fights with loved ones are the most exhausting........What I like to do during such low time is get my latte, or escape to the bathroom and have a hot bath, call a friend and complain, watch my Hongkong drama series, pray, or even writing blog. Writing this blog helps me to keep things in a right perspective, to see my life in a bigger picture. So sorry if u feel a little bored here.....hee hee cos It is A way for me to regain equilibrium for my IMMEDIATE sanity and to continue to work " effectively" as a mother and wife.......THANK YOU so much for encouraging friends who believe in me and have assisted my sanity recovery program!!!!!

My Sweet hubby, ah lao

2009-03-14T08:38:00.000-07:00

Yes, I addressed him ah lao cos we have been married for so long. Whoa, yes a DECADE! I want to grow old with this man and still be madly in love with him. BUT I know this take 3 to make it happen. God, my ah lao and myself. This divine marriage is hard work and it is worth all the time, effort and money to invest in. The first thing I need to remind myself is to learn to remember my hubby's effort to show me his WAY of love. I usually forget conveniently when I really mad with him, and yet become a instant historian about his past mistakes.... I know I'm being so unfair and unreasonable. SO NOW, I want to practice to remember actively all the good conscious effort he has shown me the past few years! Thank you my dear ah lao!!!!

1. Bought me flowers when he was away and thank me for taking care of our children when he went for oversea assignment.
2. Bought me Tiffany ring, bracelet, necklace
3. Bought me spa and facial package when we were in Shanghai
4. Bought me SKII when he went overseas assignment recently
5. Took leave on my birthday and spend the entire day with me
6. Bought snacks for me when I complained incessantly about being a homemaker
7. Allow me to buy Non essential stuff and go for coffee breaks when I'm down
8. Let me have my western kind of breakfast even though he prefers mee poh than bacon and egg.
9. Accompanied me during my night shifts.
10. Let me sleep till late morning to catch up the lapses
11. Called periodically and asked about my " survival state"
12. Gave me surprised a diamond ring on Christmas. I actually cried cos I really wanted him to propose to me again when he forgot how he did it in the first place!
13. Bake me a birthday cake long long time ago.
14. Let me sleep on his lap for straight 5 hours during our ride back from States to Canada.
15. Hugged me and hold be tight when I needed comfort recently.
16. Cried when he thought I was lost in a snow storm in canada.
17. Bought me food when I had my internship in the hospital.
18. Bought me dough nuts specially for me after I gave birth to Venecia and Gabriel
19. Bought me muffins/ or my favourite la po bing occasionally.
20. Pays for the household bills

21. Spends time with our children
22. Runs errands for our family.
23. Provides plenty of money for food, clothings , toys and my lattes
24. Fetches Venecia and Valerie and me from school
25. Brings valerie to her enrichment classes
26. Spends more undivided time with me.
27. Works hard to provide becon for this family
28. Wakes up every night to pacify Venecia

28. Cooked me Mee suah when I was down with chicken pox in Canada

29. Fetched me when I'm out for my facial

30. Planned how to celebrate our ten year wedding anniversary

31. Makes effort to listen attentively not selectively

32. Comes back for dinner

33. Remembers my birthdays, anniversaries
34. Picked me up from my depression when I was so down in Canada
35. His thoughtfullnes during my 1st pregnancy esp when we went Mt Buller in Melbourne
35. Joined me for lunch dates in Shanghai
36. Bought issurance policies for all of us

37. Bought me a laptop

38. Bought me a handphone recently

My Choice

2009-03-04T08:53:00.000-08:00

I believe it is a freewill decision, a conscious choice for me to be either a homemaker or a career woman. I have chosen willingly to be a HOMEMAKER and I believe it is right choice for me at this moment, this season.

Yes, I remember a vivid image of a stylish MODERN mummy who drove a BMW convertible came to fetch her preschooler. How I envied her , I wanted to be like her..... BUT when I first became a MUM many years ago, these were the QUESTIONS that I ask myself "Do I want to take a risk to see how my children grow up without a nurturing figure during their formative years?" Can I pursue my dreams, my purchasing power, my status in the expense of my children's psychological well being during their growing up years? Who would be there to encourage or comfort my hurting, scared child if I'm I busy at work? Can I REALLY balance my work and family life well? I doubt so.... really doubt it. Maybe I can return to the workforce when they are more physically and psychologically more independent. I tell myself repeatedly that there is a TIME for everything. A critical time for nurturing and meet their heartfellt needs during formative years, and a time to let go gradually during their school age years.

I thank God that my husband is able to provide for our "big" family of five. It is not easy for him, but He does it really well!!! I always joked that he needs to work hard to buy 4 types of milk powder for his children!!! Not only did he provides bacon for this family, he also adores his children and makes time for all of us individually. Most importantly, he also helps me alot in adapting this homemaker role. I struggled with this role so much and he takes effort to convince me to believe in myself, my worthy role. He always affirms my role and helps out when he comes back from work. The truth is I also feel extremely satisfied to assist him to climb up his career ladder while I make sure that his home base is doing fine.....

Yes, we could do so much more if I were to work and chip in financially. We can have more in material sense, more luxurious holidays, more expensive dining, more branded clothes, shoes, bags, whatever... NOW, We just have to assess our NEEDS and WANTS all the time, to cut down on lustful DESIRES. BUT are we going to have more family time, more laughter, more bonding time as a family when both are working in the corporate world?

Indeed a homemaker job isn't easy, this is a MUNDANE and exhausting job 24/7/365 with no pay, no leave, no appraisal, no compensation and benefit, no OVERSEAS conference, no lunch or teabreak, no status, no socialisation, but the intangible BENEFITS are very memorable and fulfilling in the long run. A job or INVESTMENT that most mummies never regret because you see them grow up literally before your eyes and a strong bond is cultivated literally day by day. I know my children just love having mummy around and to help them to face this harsh world confidently in a gradual way. Now is the time for me to instil in my young children positive attitude in believing in themselves and teach them to have positive mindset when they feel overwhelmed emotionally or socially. I want to equip them LIFE SKILLS that help them to excel and reach their greatest God given potential and lead a meaningful, well-adjusted responsible life in the long run! BUT all these need heaps of patience, love, endurance, wisdom and even joy.....so LORD, please do GRANT me all that I need to be a GODLY MUMMY!

Amazing 20 month old Venecia

2009-02-19T19:41:00.000-08:00

Whoa, I was really amazed and thrilled when she read these words from the flashcards!

1.fingers
2.nose
3.toes
4.eye
5.hair
6.head
7.face
8.leg
9.clap
10.eat
11.kicking
12.smiling
13.waving
14.arms up
15.baby
16.hippotamus
17.elephant
18.giraffe

Though she looked uninterested most of the time, she actually imbibed these words......so never understimate toddlers's ability to learn!!!! She could also sound out letters like A, B, C, O, M, S, H after watching million times of Letter Factory from leapfrog. Her current top 10 shows are Bees, KungFu panda, madagascar, Scarry Richard's counting, Barney, leapfrog......U shld see how she imitates the barry bee in the Bee show. Sometimes, it is exhilarating just watching her. She can also say numbers 1 to 10 now and literally count her blocks one by one to 10. My jaws dropped when I heard her counting. My verdict is DO NOT give up teaching toddlers even when they looked bo chap. They really do absorb like sponge.......

Blessed mummy

2009-02-18T07:12:00.000-08:00

I think I need to look at these classic pictures more often to remind myself how blessed I am!!! The truth is they grow up so fast that sometimes we just forget those difficult times! I thank God for my awesome children everyday. Though there were so many times I lament about how my children torture me, or wish I could just stop being a mummy for JUST ONE DAY, I know I'm kidding myself!!!!

My dear Gabriel just made me walked at least 10 times into his room just to pacify his sister alike wailings and patted him back to his slumber land.... he just drank his milk, his diaper is still dry...even after having three babies, I still wish babies even those revised versions come with handbook or warranty...
As for this sister er xiao jie, Venecia, oh I guess u tortured me the most with your incessant wailings and whinings! Sometimes, I really feel like snapping and just walked out of the house when she throws volcanic tantrum, in fact everyday. I just feel extremely defeated after a long day with her especially when she yells morning, noon and night time....... Her jealousy is even worst when mummy carries her baby brother Gabriel...... so Lord grant me ever MORE patience with this Missy!

Valerie, should be the most sensible.... but at times, her super slow eating habits just bring instant anger and horrid memories...... Now, she is such a articulate girl that she argues her case...so my little girl has grown up and she needs more explicit explainations most of the time! Yet, your poor mummy is tired to explain about everything!

It seems so valid to be a little exhausted being a mummy, BUT I know children also don't packed in a PERFECT package! They come with a little annoyance that is pretty worth it especially when u take time to enjoy those pictures!

Chinese New Year 2009

2009-02-17T22:01:00.001-08:00

This Chinese New Year is pretty significant as we have 1 new member in our family. Hopefully it stays this way with no more surprise additions..... Our Kungfu prince Gabriel joins us for this blessed joyous new year celebrations!!!

My Valentine

2009-02-17T21:48:00.000-08:00

My dear hubby still sends me flowers!! He is actually quite romantic and thoughtful. He used to give me flowers during our courtships days. He also sent flowers to my workplace in the past which actually cheered me up...... n when I delivered my firstborn and also during his absence days. So I can't complain much about such lovely hubby!!!

My 2009 resolution

2009-02-05T23:56:00.000-08:00

This year is our 10th year of marriage. We have grown so much together and gone through so much life stages together. Life used to be ONLY US, then came our first born, then the second and now the number three. So marriage seems more complicated than before. Our past upbringings, education and experiences have pre shaped our parenting attitudes and expectations that we differ so much. NOW we have EVEN more conflicts and differences than before.........Marriage becomes more complex when our children are competing for our attention, love and everything else.

I strongly believe that in order to provide a stable, loving and secure family, we must first love our spouses, our first love. Our children would suffer psychologically if we aren't loving. In fact, it is very detrimental for their psychological well being if we "fight" all the time. Children strive when they find security knowing their parents are committed to work hard to make their marriage work. After our recent frequent outburst of "verbal wars", I realised our first born is nervous, uptight and upset when we raised our voice at one another as both of us were under more stress than ever. So now, I want to make sure that I invest equally much in my marriage too cos it we will lose ALOT MORE if we failed our marriage.

Endevaour to maximize my husband's strengths and minimize his weakness; to fall in love with the man I marry IS MY THIS YEAR'S 2009 RESOLUTION

I want to learn to appreciate my husband's qualities that drew me to him and learn that he shows love to me in a different way. I plan to REread at least 10 books about marriage this year and make it work! MARRIAGE is a HARD work and I dun believe happiness JUST COME LIKE THAT!! A blissful marriage takes effort, time, money and willingness to make it work. And I know God has to be part of this restoration as well!!!

Princess Venecia

2009-01-20T09:19:00.000-08:00

You are Mummy's constant heartache. Your nights wailings still frighten mummy so much that it is painful to see you cry inconsolably. I really wish You could quickly talk to me so that I know what's wrong with you. Are you having a bad dream (night terror) or you are in pain ???? Mummy can only pray that you will have good sleep every night and may all the mighty angels watch over you and grant you peace and sweet dreams!

My dear precious princess, you are such a witty, feisty and cheeky girl that your spontaneous smiles always bring instant joy to my heart! You liven up mummy's mundane life and affirm my mummy's role! I thank God everyday for you, my God's answered prayer when I wanted another child! Though you are such a tough cookie, and strong willed, I know God will give me the wisdom and heaps of patience to handle you. Somehow you are such a bright and lively girl who knows how to cease mummy's impending anger most of the time!

Prince Gabriel

2009-01-12T20:35:00.000-08:00

My cheerful little boy who gives mummy THE LEAST headaches....... Thank you for being so sweet and thoughtful knowing that your mummy is too stressed to handle another cranky and difficult baby! Your lovely bright smiles always relieve mummy's stress and even boredom!
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!

My dear princess Valerie

2009-01-11T20:48:00.000-08:00

My dear princess, mummy is so proud of you!!!! U are such a thoughtful, generous, kind, talented, determined, and beautiful girl! Your love, sensitivity and patience for your cheeky sister and baby brother always amazed me!

Most importantly, my eyes were always brimming with tears of joy and pride when I marvelled at all your performances! Well done, sweetie for all your hard work and perserverance! May you learn that the more you pratice, the better you become. Do not give up my child when you face difficulty or discouragement. Mummy is there for you, let's do it together!!!

My Awesome children

2009-01-11T20:21:00.000-08:00

Our new bundle of JOY: Prince Gabriel

2008-09-23T20:13:00.000-07:00

My 13 month old baby......

2008-08-10T19:27:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I do wonder IF I have ENOUGH love for my children.
HER spontaneous smiles and innocent actions definitely melt my doubts away......

siblings

2008-08-02T18:38:00.000-07:00

As my due date draws near, I'm alittle apprehensive about my ability to cope with three, esp with all three below 5 and of which 2 are still babies! However, I feel alittle more consoled when I see how my two girls play together and how much joy they actually bring into our lives. Somehow, I'm stronger each day to face this "insurmountable" task and will just simply TAKE ONE DAY AT A TIME to enjoy the rudimentary chores of child rearing!

I need a quick shower!

2008-08-01T22:57:00.000-07:00

Australia trip March 08

2008-07-10T22:52:00.000-07:00

Our long awaited Australia trip, March 2008

2008-04-08T17:58:00.000-07:00

My family has just returned from our 2 weeks vacation in Australia. I muz say it was really a mixture of feelings; exhaustion cum stress cum excitment.....

Can u imagine my eldest daughter actually contracted chicken pox just the second day when we arrived Aust. My stress level was escalating especially when my 9 mths old mth pumpkin wasn't vaccinated and I am currently pregnant. I remember vividly from my childlife internship in Canada how a poor baby suffered and abandoned in the hospital with almost all her major systems down just bec her mummy had chicken pox during pregnancy. That thought scared me immensingly! In addition, my baby was having bad running nose with tears and mucus streaming continuously down her face. She had so much trouble sleeping at nights and screamed her little head off the entire first few nights to protest when we needed rest so badly. Thank God that my dad was there and he woke up many times in the wee hours as well just to accompany me and tried cuddling her fussy grand-daughter while i catch my sleep.

But thank God that the chicken pox did not affect my eldest as much cos the weather there was dry and cooling. She was still having so much fun with my niece and we just had to keep fingers cross that my pumpkin will not contract chicken pox as well. Praise the Lord that her chicken pox "ordeal" only lasted about 3/4 days and we started our real "Hoilday" finally. We had our intensive tour and starting touring malls, farm, wildlife park, beach.....during our final week!!!!

It was heartwarming to finally meet up with my brother and his family. We missed them dearly as we had not seen them since we left for Shanghai almost 4 years ago. So this trip was very emotional at least for me....... I missed my brother, sister-in-law cum friend, and niece and warms my heart to see her grown up to be such a fine considerate and beautiful preschooler!!!

Next, my sister in law found this book "your relationship can survive a newborn" which I guess begins my recovery process from my impending pre cum post natal depression. I just got to believe I CAN DO IT despite that my 10 month old baby still wakes us at 12 a.m, 3 a.m and 5 a.m. I am extremely exhausted physically, mentally and emotionally. I'm still up several times during each night, if not more, and my dear baby girl cannot fall asleep without me...... Can I survive another newborn in 4 months time?????? Somehow I just have to take ONE DAY AT A TIME now and find solutions to solve my sleep deprivation and get a full time domestic helper! I NEED SANITY!!!!!!!

will try to put the aust's pics ASAP......

Have u ever felt like a lousy mummy????

2008-03-08T20:49:00.001-08:00

Have u ever felt like a lousy mummy???? I have this provoking thought many times and always questioned myself about my choice of staying home to take care of my children. However, I know deep down in my heart that I need to invest in their formative years, especially the first five years and I can work as long as I like till I drop......when they are schooling. My education and training in Child Development have strongly affirmed my belief that children need attentive caregivers to provide their NOT only their physical but emotional, cognitive and social needs. Yet....I felt so inadequate now. I feel so drained, I felt so unaccomplished, so tired, so helpless.....my body's hormones and changes are making me worse. I can't it....

I know I can OVERCOME! BUT how???? I used to give myself my so-called self-declared deserved time-outs like my favourite coffee club breakfast....suddenly, it doesn't help anymore. It seems lonely and sad affair that interestingly people think u are having a great time, like tai tai..... ya ya....I wish I have somebody to talk to..

Motherhood seems so easy for some, yet so insurmountable for me. I feel so useless for not able to take all these care giving and house chores. I know my battery is running low now and my emotions are fluctuating like roller coaster. I know I have to do something about myself.......

Meanwhile pray for me that I will stand up strong again for my kids!

cheers meiling

Mei mei's latest pics

2008-02-18T21:52:00.000-08:00

Sisterhood

2008-01-23T00:13:00.000-08:00

There is one thing that really warms my heart so much recently. That VERY thing is simply to see my two gorgeous daughters loving one another. My baby girl simply adores her elder sister and her eyes literally sparkle when she hears and sees her beloved jie jie. In fact, her hands and legs will be kicking so vigorously that I often thought I might drop her! And as for the eldest girl, she always tries her best to make her baby sister laugh by playing peek a boo nonstop and picking up her toys! We went Tokyo recently and jie jie missed her mei mei just the very first day!

/div>

A Milking cow stops her fresh milk supply finally!

2008-01-14T02:56:00.000-08:00

Just spoken to a mummy about expressing milk as a homemaker. My baby doesn't latch on well as she struggled alot. I hated grabbing her neck like a poor struggling puppy forcing her to latch on. So i resorted to expressing milk days and nites knowing how much breast milk will boost her immunity. The truth is expressing milk as a homemaker is not as easy as it seems cos I often had to withstand my screaming baby who apparently hated me for sitting there collecting her milk painfully!! So many times I have to appease my crying baby with one arm and holding the expressed milk apparatus. So often I have to also killed two birds with one stone by talking over the phone with that background expressing milk noise or catch up with my latest updates abt world affairs!

I'm so glad that I have persevered for 6 mths. At least this was the basic requirement and I reached the mark!!!! I used to have at least 5 bottles of expressed milk in the fridge till my milk supply gradually dropped. There were so many times that I was so discouraged when I see only one bottle left the revolving milk "conveyor belt". Somehow know I need to press on. There were so much to do running errands, running my home business, cooking, coordinating this and that, grocery shopping, feeding my baby.......

However, like what I encouraged a fellow mummy, just press on. things will get better each day and this amazing strength in us will simply keep us going!

From A milking cow resigned recently

Techniques to inculcate values to your children

2008-01-13T14:37:00.000-08:00

Seize everyday scenarios to teach them the cause and effect ramifications of various behaviors. Eg: Replay the behavior and teach your child the appropriate behavior

Discuss with your child about moral values . Studies have shown that time spend discussing with children have a strong correlation with moral behavior. Great time to assist our children to make right choices when we discuss small crisis that happen to us and how we have reacted

Praise when we catch them doing something food so as to reinforce the GOOD behavior. Acknowledge and reinforce the good behavior immediately help them to associate the good behavior with acceptance and recognition.

Self checks on our own reactions to everything living, In addition, we should also assess when our child regresses or misbehaves, it could be parents themselves have been rushed., or preoccupied or maybe just too many transitions have happen

Reward children immediately when good behavior are shown. Rewards charts/ specific awards such as plaques or announcements are great examples to acknowledge the good behavuir shown,

Memorization of short phase about good values. Books that teaches values are great ways to help them to remember those short phrases such HAVE A GOOD ATTITUDE!

Why is Phonics IMPORTANT for preschooler?

2008-01-12T01:49:00.000-08:00

Phonics is the foundation for success in early reading. Early reading gives your child a HEADSTART in his academic endeavor. So what is phonics all about? It is an approach to reading that begins by teaching letter sounds, then progressively progresses to the blending of those letter sounds to form syllables and words.

English words has 45 sounds; 21 words of which are vowels sounds. Children are taught consonants and short vowels sounds first in three months of a usual phonics preschooler class. With this training, a phonics trained child has the word attack skills to recall in excess of 1200 words, But a child who is not taught phonics lacks the rudimentary skills to decode any word outside his memorized list. He is likely to read only 1500 words when he reaches the fourth grade!

National Ready Panel found that phonics is fundamental in beginning reading. Further research has found that

1) Systematic and explicit phonics instruction is more effective than no clear phonics instruction at all.

2) Explicit phonic guidance is most effective when taught in preschools.

3)Systematic and explicit guidance in phonics improve children’s word recognition, spelling and overall reading comprehension skills.

4) Systematic and explicit guidance in phonic teaching benefits learning disability children the most especially the dysphasia and dyslexia.

To conclude, substantial research has shown that well read readers always use phonics to decipher the codes of new words. What better skills can parents give their precious ones than to equip them with phonic skills to start off their academic endeavor.

Parenting Guide

2008-01-08T09:25:00.000-08:00

This is one parenting book that is highly recommended and I look forward to start my new year with this!

One of the review actually said this, "You honestly owe it to yourself to read this book. If you have ever paged through a Consumer Reports before buying anything, consider the value of a child and the value of your own sanity. Beg, borrow, or buy this book."
I guess the last sentence convinced me that I should read it for my own sanity purposes!

ClickNRead Phonics

2008-01-01T03:58:00.000-08:00

My 2007 memories

2007-12-31T07:58:00.000-08:00

How time flies, my baby is 6 months old already!

2007-12-23T07:33:00.000-08:00

An extract of my Motherhood hardcopy diary.....

2007-12-20T08:30:00.000-08:00

When My Eldest girl was 4 years and 3 mths. May 2007

“The real ability of a mother to secure a spiritual legacy is based on the strength of her relationship with her child. As we tenderly care for our children, meeting their needs, teaching them and guiding them, praying for them and modeling our faith we are also anchoring their hearts to our home, our values and our beliefs. These ties are built over a period of many years, through the small ways we spend the minutes of our days and large ways in which we celebrate the momentous events of our lives.”(Mission of Motherhood, Sally Clarkson)

The mother who reaches the HEARTFELT NEEDS of her children by helping them feel loved and secure, by believing in their dreams, by noticing when they stray and gently steering them back in the right direction, and by teaching them what they need to know to live full and meaningful lives accomplishes a great work for the Lord.” (Mission of Motherhood, Sally Clarkson, pg 14)

I was ONCE again confused over my role as a mother recently till I reread Sally’s books about the mission of motherhood that I wasn’t alone in my confusion, my uncertainty as well as fear. But what truly consoled me was what she said.” As a woman now pushing fifty, I realize that those foundational years in the life a child – those same years when I sometimes thought I was accomplishing NOTHING – have a LASTING effect on almost every aspect of the rest of that child’s life”

So this deeply affirmed what is in my heart. I may not see the tangible RESULTS NOW that measure my SUCCESS as a mother, I know it WILL PAY OFF EVENTUALLY, in a long run…… my CURRENT role is motherhood and that means that .” I am to follow the Lord’s design for my marriage – cleaving to my husband , supporting him, honoring him, loving him as my own flesh and I am to shepherd the hearts of the children whom he has providentially placed in my care.” (Mission of Motherhood, Sally Clarkson, pg 14)

I am indeed blessed to have parents who support my decision to be a homemaker, especially my dad who sacrificed so much just to send me to overseas universities. He NEVER thought that my current role as a homemaker is a waste of all the money and energy that he has spent on me. On the contrary, he gladly supports my role and thrilled to see me excel as a wife and mother serving my family!

I have to keep a clear mindset about what our culture honors and what our Father in heaven honors. Yes, there were so many times that I was swept away by societal norms about today’s mothers…to live your dream and leave your child with a stranger so that I could climb the pay scale, or what u called the cooperate ladder, afford vacations and materialism.

I have to resolve the two conflicted drives of my hearts – my commitment to motherhood Versus my lurking desire to have life my OWN WAY. My divided heart was tearing me apart. I’m thankful that God to spoke to my heart about my confusion, He sent Sally to clarify my current role, and season of life. At least I know being a mother is a FULL TIME JOB, though demanding, exhausting, devalued, it is deeply fulfilling. I can give my primary attention and calls for an intentional commitment, not whatever is left over after a busy day at the office. I must remember clearly that loving my children, protecting them, and building them into a godly heritage is a life’s work worth more than any MONEY, or STATUS I might find in a career.

I decided to follow Sally’s words….
“ I needed to accept days like this – my children’s NEEDINESS, the myriad mindless tasks, and even my own occasional discomfort- as part of my partnering with my husband toward our mutual goal of building a godly heritage for Christ. I needed to nurture my children with my songs, my words, and my physical labor, treating each as sacred in their development toward becoming healthy, mature adults. I needed to face the reality that all of the “important stuff” I was longing to do had far less eternal significance than what I was involved in doing. If I didn’t commit myself wholeheartedly to the demands of motherhood, I would never be able to do my best, because my heart would ALWAYS BE SOMEWHERE ELSE.” (Mission of Motherhood, Sally Clarkson, pg 45)

Wow, this is what I wrote in my diary some time back..... hee hee I think I'm STILL TRYING VERY HARD to be committed. What an arduous task to follow Sally's example. Just DO it, one day at a time!

How to be a Happy person?

2007-12-19T09:16:00.000-08:00

I just received this quote from my customer and I'm convicted!

The happiest people dun need to have the
BEST of everything;
they make the MOST of everything they have.

How often I have become so complacent and felt that everything seems so wrong because I DUN have the BEST of everything. I have forgotten to be contented and grateful for WHAT I HAVE. Though some may not be the BEST, but yet I could make the MOST of what I have.......If I seriously think about it, it is adequate even for me to succeed! I guess we have to stop making excuses for ourselves for NOT succeeding or being HAPPY because we dun have the BEST BUT learn to cope with what we have or make the BEST out of it!

There are simply too many awesome things that God has graciously given me. I need to seriously reflect them, especially when the new year is coming real soon. I started a "tradition" of writing a list of grateful things that happened during that particular year. This tradition was "inaugurated" when we relocated to Shanghai four years ago. My first year over in this place with no family and friends support was the toughest, yet God still gave me lots of wonderful things to thank for! There were so may times that I felt I can't make it in that place, somehow we just pulled through till my husband finished his 3 years contract. In fact, I gradually grew to like that place even the traffic jams!

I have learnt that we just have to look for the treasure within the storms and believe that God has given us the BEST of everything we need to navigate suceessfully! Meanwhile just enjoy the rough ride as well!

My eldest daughter and I used to do to these....

2007-12-17T07:59:00.000-08:00

YES messy activities! But it was FUN. Sometimes life is equally messy...we just have to learn to enjoy them!

Eversince I tried to start a home internet business, I dun seem to have enough time for alot of things. I seem to be really overwhlemed by it. It is difficult to juggle time and somehow I know I'm not spending meaningful time for my two girls. I really hope I can do the same activities with my youngest girl as well. I know DEEP down in my heart that how time flies and I can never turn back the clock for them. I keep reminding myself to keep my piorities right...TO spend time with them ..yet it is so TOUGH!

My most recent conversation has been like this." Hey sweetie, just wait for a little while, mummy has to reply this email." Somehow this became endless....

JUST 3 SIMPLE words

2007-12-12T07:32:00.000-08:00

I received an email from my sister-in-law about strengthening our interpersonal relationships with just 3 powerful words. I can't agree more.....how often we are too busy, too cold, too tired, too prideful, too indifferent, too WHATEVER to use them!

SO WHAT ARE THE 3 POWERFUL YET simple words??

I be there
I love u
I respect you
Maybe you're right
I forgive you
I thank you
Count on me
Let me help
I understand you

These are so effective, warm and encouraging WORDS, yet we are so stingy with them and I know I'm guilty of this. After the sudden death of my God-brother, I realised I have neglected many crucial relationships and took them for granted. I'm trying my best to catch up with them. BUT like any other mums who multitasked, I still juggle with this alot. HOWEVER my coming resolution will be at least to remember to use these 3 words SPARINGLY WITH A SINCERE HEART.

The person who wrote this email should be deeply blessed cos he/she reminds us that when these 3 simple words spoken or conveyed will deeply enrich relationships!

Have u use these words LATELY?

Nurturing linked to brain development

2007-12-10T19:49:00.000-08:00

Something that I found that was pretty profound.
Below is the extract from Child Developmental Psychology.

Nurturing linked to brain development

Experiments conducted on rats by Canadian researchers suggest that nurturing enhances neural connections in the brain and improves both memory and the learning of some tasks. The findings are a part of McGill University scientists' investigation into how one's environment affects the brain.

In this specific part of the study, university scientists examined how a mother's nurturing would influence brain development. McGill scientists divided 32 rats into two groups, with one group providing a high level of care to its offspring, including actions like stroking and grooming and another group that was less attentive in its mothering. The offspring that received attentive nurturing were able to perform certain tasks better such as finding a platform in a swimming maze.

Michael Meaney, endocrinologist and lead author of the study, reports that the findings are an indication of how nature and nurture foster brain development. "Activity of the genes is always influenced by the environment," reports Meaney. "And the most important feature of the environment for an infant is its mother."

So no wonder mummys have this tendency to feel guilty all the time!! We have so much to bear, the MASSIVE responsibility to nuture! Sometimes really wonder what have I done as mummy. I wish babies do give me a step by step instruction book to follow!

An exersaucer for my little pumpkin

2007-12-10T08:08:00.000-08:00

Wow, actually surprised that some mummys actually shipped them over from US. So looks like u can really get anything u want now...the world is indeed flat! The one that I gotten for my dear pumpkin is from leapfrog, but it doesn't seem as entertaining as these.......

Have u ever felt....

2007-12-08T09:10:00.000-08:00

- extremely lonely
- painfully unheard
- perpetually inadequate
- terribly envious
- unexplained exhaustion
- explosive and uncontrollable anger

I can't believe I have been feeling so down and lousy lately. Can I attribute all these negative emotions to my raging hormones????

Of course there were days that I'm so hyped up but soon I see myself succumbed to the above feelings. Are all these symptoms of occupational hazard of a SAHM??

The truth is I have my good days too.....it is just these few days I have been feeling terribly lousy in my roles and somehow my sense of self-worth gets really shaken up. I know I should based my self-worth on God, yet circumstances sometimes tell u otherwise......

Thank God that I have You to fall on and I know I just have to return to the House of worship and God will turn things around. He doesn't sugar coat my circumstance, but I know I can DO ALL THINGS THRU" CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME and will give me the Wisdom to do the RIGHT thing. I know I have been rather foolish and uncontrollable recently......so Lord HELP ME!

My two gorgeous girls

2007-12-06T08:10:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I wonder what would I be.....if I wasn't a mummy. I once had dreams too.... like having my own convertible (Oh yes, I actually like to have one very much!), having my own successful career in helping profession, touring at least half the globe, wearing my power suits and also helping the poor people in third world countries. Wow, I'm surprised with my list now as I try to recall them. The truth was I remembered my goal was to get married at 28 and have my first child only when I turn 30! Somehow, all these dreams were not realised at all!

So what am I doing currently. I'm in my T-shirts and shorts most of the time. I remember telling my hubby that I missed wearing power suits or at least being more dressed up. Then I joked about wearing them to do my house chores the next day! Hee hee that's professionalism!

This profession as a SAHM is difficult to quantify, how do u know whether u are successful? You do not have appraisal like in a coporate world. This was a question I once asked myself. But now I realised that was a silly question. I just need to know in my heart that I do my best to inculcate values and spend time during their crucial years when they need me! In reality, they NEED me when they are sad, scared, mad and glad, and these emotions usually happen 24 hrs a day. They do not hold their needs and wait only till when I knock off from work at 6pm and spend the so-called quality time during the last 2/3 hrs before they drift off to their dreamlands! From this point of view and I'm fortunate to be able to meet their emotional needs throughout the day and build this strong bonding.

Indeed my two girl have changed my life dramatically......in a very AWESOME and MEANINGFUL ways!

My 7 Highly Effective Ways to Regain Sanity

2007-12-04T21:33:00.000-08:00

Have you ever feel that you are operating on an OVERDRIVE mode most of the time? It seems that the constant juggling of many roles on a tight rope lead to sheer exhaustion and impending burnout or depression.

So I have came out with my own eclectic style to regain my sanity. In fact, this is my highly effective WAYS to balance my fluctuating mental health and recuperate from my fatigue.

1. Just do it NOW ; stop procrastinating
2.Divide and conquer; Break into smaller chunks and multi tasked
3. Conquer the biggest and most troublesome issue first. Esp for chores.
4. Dun be too hard on yourself; love myself more and stop accusing thyself!
5. Outsource domestic help!
6. Read uplifting and inspiring books
7. Go out and have my Latte!

Books that truly inspired me

2007-12-04T17:50:00.000-08:00

My TOP TEN BOOK LIST
Books that deeply touched my heart recently.

1. Real moms Exploding the Myths of Motherhood by Elisa Morgan and Carol kuykendall. (I was able to relate well to those myths and was deeply encouraged by genuine views from REAL mummys!)

Like what the amazon reader said," If you're like me ~~ a mom of toddlers ~~ there are some days when you think you're going insane ~~ this book IS for you. This book is explosive in a positive way ~~ it is uplifting, encouraging and enlightening." A must read for mums who want to practical advice, spiritual guidance based on the Biblical scriptures in a light hearted way!

2. The Power of Positive Wife by Karol Ladd (wow, tips to turn a bittered wife to a more understanding and loving, most importantly less historian! I believe this particular book had given me valuable tips to improve my marriage and how REAL and common some experiences we face as WIVES!)

Amazon reader's feedback "This is an extremely valuable book for wives in many stages and many areas of success and difficulties in marriage."

3. For Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn (Simply love this book as it provides POWERFUL INSIGHTS and thought provoking questions! A TEXTBOOK that I read over and over again! An Awesome book to reveal men's secretSSS! Don't be mad if your hubby turn to see a beautiful shapely woman, it is a natural response for them! )

This is a short summary about this TRUE findings about what MEN really think that were pretty shocking and accurate though u can't take these findings too literally. This is written by a newspaper columnist, a Harvard graduate with a Christian perspective, this fairly intelligent guide is based on systematic surveys and is explained with the clarity of social science. With no ground-breaking insights to report, it's all the more impressive that Shaunti Feldhahn manages to read the book with such verve and attentiveness to the material. With charm and sincerity, she offers a message that can't be repeated often enough-that sharing feelings and giving appreciation are necessary practices for a satisfying relationship with any man.

4. Blink the power of Thinking without Thinkingby Malcolm Gladwell (how biases influence us subtly and how automatic our thinking can be!)

From an amazon review: By Michael Erisman (Seattle, WA)
This review is from: Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking (Hardcover)
This is one of the most fascinating books I have read in some time. The book centers on the concept of how fast we really do make judgments, called "thin slicing", and how deeper analysis can sometimes provide less information than more. It is all about cognitive speed.

5. Mummy's locked in the bathroom by Karl Ladd (how true this is!So I am not the ONLY one! )

6. A Life Well Spentby Russ Crosson (Dramatically change my mindset, and priorities in Life and affirmed my decision to be a SAHM. A book that I strongly encourage my hubby to read and even highlightened tons of valuable insights for his easy reading.) This is written by a financial planner on financial stewardship that impart of eternity.

"A much deeper book than you might think - very good read, November 29, 2006 By Dan Panetti "Worldview Director" (Plano, TX USA) " Crosson also drives home the point that time, not money, is our most precious commodity - and something that cannot be purchased in any greater quantities than what others have regardless of our income or financial status - we all have 24 hours in a day to use how we choose - and if we are not deliberately carving our time for our posterity, training our children will be done in bits and pieces with a hit or miss strategy that is unreliable and detrimental to our children."

7. A Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren (wow, how lost I have been......)

Like what Mark A. Wuebben reviewed in the amazon review "Other than the Bible, this is the most important book you will ever read. If your heart is beating, whether you are a believer or not, the questions and issues raised in this important work will strike a cord or at the minimum induce serious introspection about the big questions in life. "

8. The Mission of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson ( This is my WOW book! A must read for mummys, a "truly-inspiring textbook" that I re-read many times to truly imbibe her advice and be encouraged!! )

What I found from the Amazon review abt this book: 5 of 6 people found the following review helpful!

Great insight on the true role of a mother, April 10, 2007
By Kim Mac "kim" (Texas) - See all my reviews

"Reading this book inspires me to try harder to be a better mother and to give my kids the best of me in the few short years that I have to mold their hearts. In this generation where so many mothers would much rather work than stay home and sacrifice their time and energy for the sake of their children, Sally Clarkson inspires those of us who have chosen full-time motherhood to hold up our heads and realize that we have chosen the most demanding and rewarding job on this earth. Sally reminds us that being a parent is a challenging job and full of opportunities for us to grow as well as our children. Through her personal tales of motherhood, she inspires us to look for the little opportunities to encourage our children and be an example for them. We do not all find ourselves with the same opportunities, but we can use our own environment and circumstances to create a home for our families that will nurture them and help them grow into responsible, caring and thoughtful Christians."

9. Children Learn what they Live by Dorothy Law Nolte (A easy to read book. Be careful what u say and do, mummys! They are watching us intently much more than we know!) From a BUSY mum who commented "you're busy and don't have a lot of time to read it, it's perfect for you. It is also a book that you can keep in your library as your kids grow older and then pass it onto them when they start!"

10. The World is Flat by Thomas L Friedman. (an eye opener! Shocking to hear how reading Xrays can be outsourced in India) Review

"Captivating . . . an enthralling read. To his great credit, Friedman embraces much of his flat world's complexity, and his reporting brings to vibrant life some beguiling characters and trends. . . . [The World is Flat] is also more lively, provocative, and sophisticated than the overwhelming bulk of foreign policy commentary these days. We've no real idea how the twenty-first century's history will unfold, but this terrifically stimulating book will certainly inspire readers to start thinking it all through."--Warren Bass, The Washington Post

Christmas gifts for my children

2007-12-04T07:36:00.000-08:00

I'm thinking abt getting this for eldest princess, This product is apparently very popular in States for preschoolers and I'm sure my girl will love it as she has been eyeing on our laptops all the time

Then, I just ordered this for my baby princess. Yes, I seem to favor LEAPFROG products as they are more educational and at the same time engaging!

outsourcing? Part-time SAHM

2007-12-04T07:20:00.000-08:00

Thank goodness that I learnt something about outsourcing! So domestic work can be ingeniously outsourced too! Initially it was all about outsourcing the clothes to be ironed!! Hee hee no more sweating over a wrinkled working shirt or pants.

Then I finally succumbed to the idea of outsourcing a part-time domestic helper when my second one comes along. Oh she is God-sent and suddenly my burdens are lifted almost instantly. So I guess I'm considered a part-time SAHM as I have extra help and I dun feel as guilty when things aren't as clean because it wasn't done by me. My new role is just to delegate and oversee the big picture. I spend my "Quality" time with my children as I dun yell at them when they interrupted my supposed chores and NOW I'm definitely a happier mum!