Ka-bomb! My SIL wats’app me last night that Auntie LK mentioned to their maid about wanting to go back (where?). It may be a mere complaint but she thought that I should know. My heart dropped. I was just doing cartwheels and celebrating LK’s one month stay with us. I had thought that things are starting to stabilize. I must be dreaming.
I had intended to talk to LK about it and heard my mum nagging at her at 10pm while LK was going about with the housework. I told my mum about the wats’app, intending for her to stop. Popo still cannot let go, observing her 101 rules like some sacred rituals. Seriously, I don’t see how a little dirt can kill and why we have to wipe with dry and wet and then again dry paper just to get rid of some crumbs. This is just one of the many quirks. How not environmental friendly, which Popo of course does not care.
Of course all fingers were pointed towards how naughty the kids are, how they bullied LK and that must be why she wants to leave. She goes on to insist that it cannot be her, how she doesn’t scold LK or already cut down on the routines. I must be quite blind bcos I do not see any difference. She even went to the extent of relating to me how Lil Shauna yelled at Auntie this morning bcos Auntie didn’t tie her hair the way she wanted and asking Lil Shauna to acknowledge that such an incident took place. She went on to call my SIL to confront and the usual – try to sell her side of the story.
Well, we all know that there is more to it. It can’t be an one-off incident. I asked my SIL if she knows the reason and apparently, the complaint usually comes after Popo’s incessant nagging/ scolding. Bingo! Do I get a prize for guessing correctly? Blehhhhh….
Popo still doesn’t get it. She insists that she didn’t scold LK but many times, the way she speaks to LK is as good as scolding. And her body language! The black face. I think that is more potent than the actual scolding. Then, we have to add on the nagging! I cannot comprehend why she has to say the same thing 3 times or more. Imagine that with a “not scolding but equally harsh” tone. I know too that the maid gets blame for things that are not within her control, like how very long it takes to feed Lil Shauna bcos she was trying to be a hamster and insisting to keep the food in her mouth and not swallowing.
Poor maid, poor me. I hate getting stuck in between. I hate it when she accuses me of standing on the maid’s side. I have figured that it doesn’t make sense to give conflicting instructions to the maid and learnt to let Popo handles the maid. I have learnt that there is no point hurting family ties bcos maid can change but not family. BUT.. I have made it clear that LK is the last maid for the time being. If LK quits, the 2 kids will go to full-time CC and we will get a part time helper to do major weekly cleaning. We will get a iRobot too to do daily sweeping. Popo can figure out what she wants to do during the day when the kids are in the CC.
Haiz, conflicts do not just happened with MIL. It happens so long as there is more than one lady in the house. Popo has forgotten that I am 33 years old and a mother of 2 myself. She forgot that I am the lady in the house. Luckily I do not cook and need not fight with her over the kitchen. To her, I will always be her daughter. I better start my research on the childcare.
I did speak with LK last night before she turned in. She said that everything is fine. She understands that Lil Shauna is in a tantrum constant phase. She knows that Lil Isaac will grow out of his activeness. Haiz.. my fingers and toes are crossed.
Mummy Lim
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Church
We finally went to church on Sunday. Yes, yes, God has mercy on me. I had been so lazy. It has been many months. We stopped when Lil Shauna started her phonics class on Sunday noon. It was too rush to go to church, then to school. We tried and I ended up running around, pushing Lil Shauna in her stroller as if I was competing in the 100m dash race. Then I had to feed her lunch before sending her to class and all the time worrying that she would be too tired to concentrate in class and waste my money. Her phonics class cost us about $50 per lesson!
I wanted to go back after she was promoted and her new class is on Sunday early afternoon but that would mean that I would be away from Lil Isaac for a long time and I was expressing then. It was too troublesome to find a place to express.
Finally, I stopped expressing and Lil Isaac is also old enough to enjoy church. So we finally made it. Lil Shauna didnt welcome the idea of going back to church. She knew that she will progress to the big girl class and she didn't want to attend the big girl class on her own. Interestingly, Popo tagged along, half worrying that I cannot handle 2 kids and also since she has no program on Sunday morning.
The church went well. I stayed with the kids in the jolly room. Lil Shauna participated actively in the worship session. The kids were separately but only by a drawn curtain that segregated the room after worship. I stayed with Lil Shauna, who was really shy. She was attentive when the auntie read them a story and enjoyed craft work. I hope she enjoyed herself enough to go back tomorrow.
Lil Isaac danced when he saw jiejie participating in the action songs but otherwise, he spent most of his time walking around the room. I had to swop with auntie at one point when he cried for mummy.
The few nights following church, Lil Shauna was full of interesting questions about God. The followings are a few of them.
1. Why did Jesus die?
2. What will happen after we die?
3. Why must we go to heaven?
4. How do we put God in our heart?
5. Why can't I see God?
It is tough trying to explain to a 4 year old. It is interesting to hear her questions now that she can reason. I hope she will continue to learn and grow in Christ.
Mummy Lim
I wanted to go back after she was promoted and her new class is on Sunday early afternoon but that would mean that I would be away from Lil Isaac for a long time and I was expressing then. It was too troublesome to find a place to express.
Finally, I stopped expressing and Lil Isaac is also old enough to enjoy church. So we finally made it. Lil Shauna didnt welcome the idea of going back to church. She knew that she will progress to the big girl class and she didn't want to attend the big girl class on her own. Interestingly, Popo tagged along, half worrying that I cannot handle 2 kids and also since she has no program on Sunday morning.
The church went well. I stayed with the kids in the jolly room. Lil Shauna participated actively in the worship session. The kids were separately but only by a drawn curtain that segregated the room after worship. I stayed with Lil Shauna, who was really shy. She was attentive when the auntie read them a story and enjoyed craft work. I hope she enjoyed herself enough to go back tomorrow.
Lil Isaac danced when he saw jiejie participating in the action songs but otherwise, he spent most of his time walking around the room. I had to swop with auntie at one point when he cried for mummy.
The few nights following church, Lil Shauna was full of interesting questions about God. The followings are a few of them.
1. Why did Jesus die?
2. What will happen after we die?
3. Why must we go to heaven?
4. How do we put God in our heart?
5. Why can't I see God?
It is tough trying to explain to a 4 year old. It is interesting to hear her questions now that she can reason. I hope she will continue to learn and grow in Christ.
Mummy Lim
Egg
I bought fishball noodles to share with the kids without consulting her Majesty. So, it is definitely my fault that fishball noodles was not what she wanted. She said that she wanted eggs to go with her noodles. Ok, so we suggested steam egg, sunny side up, scramble egg or half boiled egg. She said that she wanted egg, oval shaped egg.
We assumed she wanted hard boiled egg. So daddy lim bought her half boiled eggs but specified for them to cook it longer. Lil Shauna was very excited when the eggs came after a long wait and bcos it was very hot, I took painfully long to peel the shells. It was almost hard except for the center of the egg.
Then Lil Shauna started cutting up the egg and asked for black sauce. She looked a little puzzled why the egg was so hard. That was when I realized that there was a miscommunication - she does want half boiled egg but didn't know how to express herself. She wasnt wrong to say that she wanted oval eggs. All eggs are oval in shape before the shell is broken.
She didnt finish the egg and we proceed to Ya Kun for another round of half boiled eggs. Mummy has the honor to finish the other hard boiled egg that Lil Shauna didn't even touch.
Mummy Lim
We assumed she wanted hard boiled egg. So daddy lim bought her half boiled eggs but specified for them to cook it longer. Lil Shauna was very excited when the eggs came after a long wait and bcos it was very hot, I took painfully long to peel the shells. It was almost hard except for the center of the egg.
Then Lil Shauna started cutting up the egg and asked for black sauce. She looked a little puzzled why the egg was so hard. That was when I realized that there was a miscommunication - she does want half boiled egg but didn't know how to express herself. She wasnt wrong to say that she wanted oval eggs. All eggs are oval in shape before the shell is broken.
She didnt finish the egg and we proceed to Ya Kun for another round of half boiled eggs. Mummy has the honor to finish the other hard boiled egg that Lil Shauna didn't even touch.
Mummy Lim
Friday, May 4, 2012
Sleep!
I don’t what went wrong. Maybe we went past Lil Isaac’s bedtime? He was wide awake when I tried to tuck him to bed at 9.40pm last night. He had his milk but I saw a pair of big, bright eyes staring back at me. Hmmmm, shouldnt he be asleep? I smelled trouble.
I think he wanted to play bcos he kept fussing and kept giving me his toy dog and pointed to the spot next to him. Yes, at 10pm and in pitch darkness. He tried to communicate with me using his “ehhh.. ehhh” language and pointing here and there. Tried as I might, I couldn’t understand his instructions and didn’t play pretend the way that he wanted which led to more “ehhhhh” but accompanied with frustrations and dissatisfaction. Win already. My fault that I cannot tell what this “ehhh” means and how different it is from that “ehhh”. Hello, I didn’t attend the “ehhhh” school.
After struggling and trying to play deaf to his cries for 30 mins, he still kept trying to give me instructions in “ehhh”, giving me his toy dog and then refusing it bcos I didn’t do things the way that he wanted it. I wanted to pull hair. Then jiejie has to peer into the room at that point. Lil Isaac came alive! I struggled for a while more after jiejie left the room before giving up. Daddy Lim took over while I entertained jiejie. Amazingly, the cries outside the door died down shortly and I was thinking that Daddy Lim must have exercised his daddy power, his daddy magic. I was secretly hoping that Lil Isaac had gone to bed and was prepared to give Daddy Lim a big pat on his back. Good job!
Barely 10 mins later, the door opened and a very excited Lil Isaac ran into the room. What? He wasn’t asleep? He was very giggly, very happy and even more active! What again??!! Then I found out that Daddy Lim carried him and brought him to the kitchen. They were at the fridge. He claimed that Lil Isaac was feeling hot and so he opened the freezer door for some cold air. Then Lil Isaac saw the ice cream and asked for one. So they ended up sharing a mini ice cream. Yes, at 10.30pm with a toddler who already refused to sleep. Sugar rush! No wonder the boy was so quiet for that 10 mins and was transformed into a happy energizer bunny and was disturbing jiejie who was finally settling down to sleep.
I took over Lil Isaac again and it was more crying and struggling. I even slapped his butt. That of course didn’t bring sleep but at least I vented some of my frustrations. I ended up putting him in the sling and bringing him to the park at almost 11pm for a walk. He was very excited to leave the house and I was struggling to keep him in the sling.
He finally fell asleep after many rounds in the park. I must have looked weird to be strolling in the park with an active toddler at 11pm. At times that Lil Isaac wasn’t struggling, I was walking with my eyes shut.
It was 11.15pm when I put him down in bed. Phew, at least he was asleep and I can have my beauty sleep too. I was worried that the commotion would give him nightmares but he slept pretty well or maybe I slept too well and didn’t hear him. I had also thought that the long night would knock him out but he still found the energy to wake up at 5am for his milk. Geez, where did all those energy come from?
Mummy Lim
I think he wanted to play bcos he kept fussing and kept giving me his toy dog and pointed to the spot next to him. Yes, at 10pm and in pitch darkness. He tried to communicate with me using his “ehhh.. ehhh” language and pointing here and there. Tried as I might, I couldn’t understand his instructions and didn’t play pretend the way that he wanted which led to more “ehhhhh” but accompanied with frustrations and dissatisfaction. Win already. My fault that I cannot tell what this “ehhh” means and how different it is from that “ehhh”. Hello, I didn’t attend the “ehhhh” school.
After struggling and trying to play deaf to his cries for 30 mins, he still kept trying to give me instructions in “ehhh”, giving me his toy dog and then refusing it bcos I didn’t do things the way that he wanted it. I wanted to pull hair. Then jiejie has to peer into the room at that point. Lil Isaac came alive! I struggled for a while more after jiejie left the room before giving up. Daddy Lim took over while I entertained jiejie. Amazingly, the cries outside the door died down shortly and I was thinking that Daddy Lim must have exercised his daddy power, his daddy magic. I was secretly hoping that Lil Isaac had gone to bed and was prepared to give Daddy Lim a big pat on his back. Good job!
Barely 10 mins later, the door opened and a very excited Lil Isaac ran into the room. What? He wasn’t asleep? He was very giggly, very happy and even more active! What again??!! Then I found out that Daddy Lim carried him and brought him to the kitchen. They were at the fridge. He claimed that Lil Isaac was feeling hot and so he opened the freezer door for some cold air. Then Lil Isaac saw the ice cream and asked for one. So they ended up sharing a mini ice cream. Yes, at 10.30pm with a toddler who already refused to sleep. Sugar rush! No wonder the boy was so quiet for that 10 mins and was transformed into a happy energizer bunny and was disturbing jiejie who was finally settling down to sleep.
I took over Lil Isaac again and it was more crying and struggling. I even slapped his butt. That of course didn’t bring sleep but at least I vented some of my frustrations. I ended up putting him in the sling and bringing him to the park at almost 11pm for a walk. He was very excited to leave the house and I was struggling to keep him in the sling.
He finally fell asleep after many rounds in the park. I must have looked weird to be strolling in the park with an active toddler at 11pm. At times that Lil Isaac wasn’t struggling, I was walking with my eyes shut.
It was 11.15pm when I put him down in bed. Phew, at least he was asleep and I can have my beauty sleep too. I was worried that the commotion would give him nightmares but he slept pretty well or maybe I slept too well and didn’t hear him. I had also thought that the long night would knock him out but he still found the energy to wake up at 5am for his milk. Geez, where did all those energy come from?
Mummy Lim
Monday, April 30, 2012
Port of Lost Wonder (POLW)
It wasn’t a disappointment but I was disappointed as I had higher expectations. Well, we had to pay entrance fees for the kids, so I was surprised to find the Port of Lost Wonder (POLW) to be not much bigger than one of those water playgrounds at the Zoo or the Bird Park. Adults are free. Otherwise, they would have further dropped on my ranking list.
Nevertheless, the kids were excited. The pirate ship-shape water playground is vibrantly colored. It is pretty safe and kids above 3 should probably be able to run around independently. In my opinion, older kids will probably find the playground boring. Adults can accompany the kids down the not-too-exciting slides. The ones at wild wild wet are better. Otherwise, it is just lots of silly water splashing around.
Other than the water playground, the kids are each given 100 curios coin that can be used for the various activities from foam party to gardening to storytelling. Each activity ranges from 20 to 50 curios coins. However, we went in the late afternoon and missed the more interesting foam party. We didn’t spend any of those coins and I think we brought them back. They are probably in one of those many bags. The amount of stuff that Popo packed resembled the amount that we would have brought for a 3 day 2 night trip. Maybe there was a miscommunication and Popo thought that POLW is in Malaysia. Lol. We should be able to spend the coins if we do visit POLW again. Otherwise, the coins are actually of good quality and served as good toys!
The kids were well entertained by the water playground and sand digging and didn’t bug us for more entertainment. Oh, the POLW partially sits on one of the beaches and there is plenty of sand to dig and pile. Auntie looked after the kids while they pretend to build sand castle and Daddy Lim and I attempted to camouflage into the background. The sand doesn’t taste great. Lil Isaac sampled it and told us so. Lol.
While the kids pull crazy stances and run amok, many parents sit and lie under the shade. It is a big picnic ground style and floor foam mattress were provided free of charge. For now, they are still very new but won’t be for long. We added to the mess with Lil Isaac peeing on it, me dropping some cheese fries and various stuff by the kids. I pity you who have yet to visit POLW and are intending to do so when the crowd died down. Do bring along Febreeze, especially that one with the germs-killing effect.
I was pleasantly surprised at the many sexy, bikini-cladded, super model figured mummies with kids trailing behind. They seem to have sprung out from one of those men’s magazines. Most of them were parading sexily in their bikini without getting wet. It was obvious that they were super proud and confident of themselves. Well, they should be in comparisons to mummies like me who still preserved the after child-bearing fats. It was really a feast for my eyes, so I can imagine how happy the many fathers were. If that is the reason why we are paying entrance fees, then it is definitely worth it. Fat mummies like me should consider the water playground at the Zoo or Bird Park or one of those complicated water playgrounds at the swimming complexes; it definitely will do much help to our already brittle self-esteemed.
The kids had much fun and didn’t resist when we had to leave. Will we go back again? Probably not unless there is good company. For water playgrounds, we can always go to JBP. The water playground at the swimming complex across the road isn’t too bad too. At least I won't be the only fat mummy.
Mummy Lim
Nevertheless, the kids were excited. The pirate ship-shape water playground is vibrantly colored. It is pretty safe and kids above 3 should probably be able to run around independently. In my opinion, older kids will probably find the playground boring. Adults can accompany the kids down the not-too-exciting slides. The ones at wild wild wet are better. Otherwise, it is just lots of silly water splashing around.
Other than the water playground, the kids are each given 100 curios coin that can be used for the various activities from foam party to gardening to storytelling. Each activity ranges from 20 to 50 curios coins. However, we went in the late afternoon and missed the more interesting foam party. We didn’t spend any of those coins and I think we brought them back. They are probably in one of those many bags. The amount of stuff that Popo packed resembled the amount that we would have brought for a 3 day 2 night trip. Maybe there was a miscommunication and Popo thought that POLW is in Malaysia. Lol. We should be able to spend the coins if we do visit POLW again. Otherwise, the coins are actually of good quality and served as good toys!
The kids were well entertained by the water playground and sand digging and didn’t bug us for more entertainment. Oh, the POLW partially sits on one of the beaches and there is plenty of sand to dig and pile. Auntie looked after the kids while they pretend to build sand castle and Daddy Lim and I attempted to camouflage into the background. The sand doesn’t taste great. Lil Isaac sampled it and told us so. Lol.
While the kids pull crazy stances and run amok, many parents sit and lie under the shade. It is a big picnic ground style and floor foam mattress were provided free of charge. For now, they are still very new but won’t be for long. We added to the mess with Lil Isaac peeing on it, me dropping some cheese fries and various stuff by the kids. I pity you who have yet to visit POLW and are intending to do so when the crowd died down. Do bring along Febreeze, especially that one with the germs-killing effect.
I was pleasantly surprised at the many sexy, bikini-cladded, super model figured mummies with kids trailing behind. They seem to have sprung out from one of those men’s magazines. Most of them were parading sexily in their bikini without getting wet. It was obvious that they were super proud and confident of themselves. Well, they should be in comparisons to mummies like me who still preserved the after child-bearing fats. It was really a feast for my eyes, so I can imagine how happy the many fathers were. If that is the reason why we are paying entrance fees, then it is definitely worth it. Fat mummies like me should consider the water playground at the Zoo or Bird Park or one of those complicated water playgrounds at the swimming complexes; it definitely will do much help to our already brittle self-esteemed.
The kids had much fun and didn’t resist when we had to leave. Will we go back again? Probably not unless there is good company. For water playgrounds, we can always go to JBP. The water playground at the swimming complex across the road isn’t too bad too. At least I won't be the only fat mummy.
Mummy Lim
Di Di
The little tiger’s vocabulary is really limited. I wonder if he is one of those with delayed speech or he is merely developing like how a boy should. His speech is made up of mostly “nnnnnnngggggg… eeeehhhhh… waahhhhhh..” with different annotation. I foresee a difficult terrible two stage. He is still very active, walking and exploring and draining our energy. It is so tiring trying to keep up with him. Oh, and very cheeky too.
Being a second child, Lil Isaac gets exposed to many things much earlier than jiejie did. He has his first bite of adult food much earlier, the first sip of sweetened drink, his first lick of ice cream. You get my drift. He is very much into Dora and Barney now when jiejie used to watch shows for babies at his age. He watches YouTube on the iPad and iPhone, play games and looks at the photo album. He uses so much of the iPhone and iPad that he thinks all screen are touch screen and attempts to swipe the page away. He can even take his own pictures. Yes, we are guilty. We do use the iPhone and iPad as distractions at times, hoping to earn that few moments of peace. We at least try to accompany them when they are playing with the gadgets.
Lil Isaac still doesn’t address us but loudly shouts for popo (or ah mah), nainai and kaka (my brother’s maid). I long for the day that he finally calls me. He shakes his head vigorously and insists “no more” whenever it is something that he doesn’t want. Only on rare occasions (probably very desperate), will he nod to indicate that he wants something. While watching the TV or DVD, especially Dora, he answers “No” to all the questions asked. Seriously cute!
Although irritating, I am secretly proud that he is sticky to me and wants to sleep with me at night. Daddy Lim calls it the “proximity switch” that Lil Isaac switches on in the night. He wakes up when I am too far away from him. He can be difficult but so lovable at times.
Mummy Lim
Being a second child, Lil Isaac gets exposed to many things much earlier than jiejie did. He has his first bite of adult food much earlier, the first sip of sweetened drink, his first lick of ice cream. You get my drift. He is very much into Dora and Barney now when jiejie used to watch shows for babies at his age. He watches YouTube on the iPad and iPhone, play games and looks at the photo album. He uses so much of the iPhone and iPad that he thinks all screen are touch screen and attempts to swipe the page away. He can even take his own pictures. Yes, we are guilty. We do use the iPhone and iPad as distractions at times, hoping to earn that few moments of peace. We at least try to accompany them when they are playing with the gadgets.
Lil Isaac still doesn’t address us but loudly shouts for popo (or ah mah), nainai and kaka (my brother’s maid). I long for the day that he finally calls me. He shakes his head vigorously and insists “no more” whenever it is something that he doesn’t want. Only on rare occasions (probably very desperate), will he nod to indicate that he wants something. While watching the TV or DVD, especially Dora, he answers “No” to all the questions asked. Seriously cute!
Although irritating, I am secretly proud that he is sticky to me and wants to sleep with me at night. Daddy Lim calls it the “proximity switch” that Lil Isaac switches on in the night. He wakes up when I am too far away from him. He can be difficult but so lovable at times.
Mummy Lim
Jie Jie
Frequent tantrums, emo, disobedient, difficult, meltdowns.. These are what describe Lil Shauna now. Yes, you are right, she is 4 years old, not 14 years old. Even Popo says that too so they are probably not attempts to capture my attention. Almost every day is punctuated with a few episodes of such outbursts. She will either demand her way, throw a tantrum if she doesn’t get it or turned very quiet or simply refused to walk. It is very mental draining. We don’t know what is wrong. In her limited vocabulary, she can’t tell us how she feels other than “sad” and “angry”. It doesn’t help that Lil Isaac is sticky and I have to channel a fair bit of attention to him to prevent a wailing toddler adding on to the already chaotic and frustrating situations.
Popo thinks that we should tell her to behave and put those tantrums away. Well, if talking works, it will save us plenty of heartaches. We coax and we threaten. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. This is her in one of those emo moments. She was still willing to pose for a picture but looking all emo and pathetic. It is a growing phase, right?
Mummy Lim
Popo thinks that we should tell her to behave and put those tantrums away. Well, if talking works, it will save us plenty of heartaches. We coax and we threaten. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. This is her in one of those emo moments. She was still willing to pose for a picture but looking all emo and pathetic. It is a growing phase, right?
Mummy Lim
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Sleep
Dear little boy, if you are tired, why don't you just nap. It is a mere hour, at most two and the world will not pass by while you nap. Yes, you needed the nap, I can tell that you needed it.
Don't deny, don't pretend that you do not. Otherwise, why are you so cranky, fussing over every little thing, over nothing. Please nap. It is for your good and mine. I needed that peace.
Your dearest mummy
Don't deny, don't pretend that you do not. Otherwise, why are you so cranky, fussing over every little thing, over nothing. Please nap. It is for your good and mine. I needed that peace.
Your dearest mummy
Visit to the Jurong Bird Park
Life is very interesting. I had wanted to bring the kids to Jurong Birdpark (JBP), especially on weekend mornings with fantastic weather. The sun appears to be smiling at me and JBP calls out to me. The desire was so intense that we actually bought the Family Annual Membership that allows our family free entry to JBP for the entire year. There are so many sunny weekend mornings. We will definitely fully utilize the membership, right? Amazingly, the magic dissolved right after we bought the membership. Now, I am either too lazy, or a sunny morning means it is too hot. Lol.
To make my money worth, last Sunday morning, Popo, Auntie and I brought the kids to JBP. We took a cab there and back. We rented one of those pull carts and the 2 kids happily sit in them while auntie and I sweat and took turn to pull and push the cart. Mad effort on a “sunny” Sunday morning.
Lil Isaac can better appreciate the “birds” now. All of them are birds to him except for the penguins. Those that swim in the water are all ducks. We walked the park, looked at birds, chased some really big crowned pigeons and fed the lory birds at the loft. The crowned pigeons are as big as a fat rooster and they roamed the enclosed area even in close human proximity. The kids, especially Lil Isaac, were so excited and attempted to catch the pigeons with their bare hands. Their dear mother freaked out, trying to grab the boy before he grabs the birds and yelling at the girl to stay away from the birds. I seriously worried about us making the newspaper headline about abusing birds or kenna pecked to death by crowned pigeons. Well, we made it safely out of the enclosure. We are safe and so were the pigeons.
We then headed to the lory loft. Lil Shauna wanted to feed the birds and we got bird feeds. Daddy Lim always feed the birds, that is his job but he was at work and I had to take over. The birds must be really hungry bcos they were all over us. Arrggghhhh.. Lil Isaac was scared by the bird mob and cringed on to auntie. Lil Shauna wanted to feed the bird yet wanted to hide behind mummy. I was like a tree….
We headed back after about 2 hours. By then, I was sticky and tired but we had fun. Happy kids, happy mummy.
Mummy Lim
To make my money worth, last Sunday morning, Popo, Auntie and I brought the kids to JBP. We took a cab there and back. We rented one of those pull carts and the 2 kids happily sit in them while auntie and I sweat and took turn to pull and push the cart. Mad effort on a “sunny” Sunday morning.
Lil Isaac can better appreciate the “birds” now. All of them are birds to him except for the penguins. Those that swim in the water are all ducks. We walked the park, looked at birds, chased some really big crowned pigeons and fed the lory birds at the loft. The crowned pigeons are as big as a fat rooster and they roamed the enclosed area even in close human proximity. The kids, especially Lil Isaac, were so excited and attempted to catch the pigeons with their bare hands. Their dear mother freaked out, trying to grab the boy before he grabs the birds and yelling at the girl to stay away from the birds. I seriously worried about us making the newspaper headline about abusing birds or kenna pecked to death by crowned pigeons. Well, we made it safely out of the enclosure. We are safe and so were the pigeons.
We then headed to the lory loft. Lil Shauna wanted to feed the birds and we got bird feeds. Daddy Lim always feed the birds, that is his job but he was at work and I had to take over. The birds must be really hungry bcos they were all over us. Arrggghhhh.. Lil Isaac was scared by the bird mob and cringed on to auntie. Lil Shauna wanted to feed the bird yet wanted to hide behind mummy. I was like a tree….
We headed back after about 2 hours. By then, I was sticky and tired but we had fun. Happy kids, happy mummy.
Mummy Lim
Auntie Lekah
Let out the fireworks! It has been ONE month and Auntie is Lekah still with us! Woohoo! Yeah!
Of course we are worried. LK is our 3rd maid for this year. Not only are we inching towards the MOM’s quota of 5 maids a year, maid changing is both frustrating and expensive. I have also promised myself that we will do without a maid if this one still couldn’t make it and the kids will go to Childcare. This, I made very clearly to Popo. Popo’s standards are way too high lah. Truthfully, I think some of the maids left bcos of Popo. They are maids lah, they get a miserable salary. They will not work their ass off for us lah. If they are really that good, they wouldn’t be maids.
I guessed it helps that my brother’s maid is also an Indonesian and they can chat while they are at my brother’s place. After so many maids (LK is our 6th maid), we have also learnt to close one eye. When the need arises, we close both eyes. It doesn’t matter that she may not be very efficient in housework or choose to look after the stroller more than the kids while we are in the shopping mall. So long as the kids don’t hate her, she does the minimum housework and she provides an able pair of hands when we are drowning, we are fine. So relax. Life goes on, a little bit of dust in the house won’t kill; the kids will still grow up anyhow. Not that LK is that bad, just that we have learnt how to let go and not to be anal about certain unimportant things. I can’t say the same for Popo. I just have to constantly remind her that LK is the last maid for now.
I hope LK will stay for at least her 2-year contract. Things will be easier on the caregivers when Lil Isaac starts going for his 2-hour playgroup in the later part of the year and join jiejie next year. Yes, I still look forward to the time that we will be maidless. However, unless the kids go to CC, otherwise it will be when Lil Shauna enters Primary One.
Mummy Lim
Of course we are worried. LK is our 3rd maid for this year. Not only are we inching towards the MOM’s quota of 5 maids a year, maid changing is both frustrating and expensive. I have also promised myself that we will do without a maid if this one still couldn’t make it and the kids will go to Childcare. This, I made very clearly to Popo. Popo’s standards are way too high lah. Truthfully, I think some of the maids left bcos of Popo. They are maids lah, they get a miserable salary. They will not work their ass off for us lah. If they are really that good, they wouldn’t be maids.
I guessed it helps that my brother’s maid is also an Indonesian and they can chat while they are at my brother’s place. After so many maids (LK is our 6th maid), we have also learnt to close one eye. When the need arises, we close both eyes. It doesn’t matter that she may not be very efficient in housework or choose to look after the stroller more than the kids while we are in the shopping mall. So long as the kids don’t hate her, she does the minimum housework and she provides an able pair of hands when we are drowning, we are fine. So relax. Life goes on, a little bit of dust in the house won’t kill; the kids will still grow up anyhow. Not that LK is that bad, just that we have learnt how to let go and not to be anal about certain unimportant things. I can’t say the same for Popo. I just have to constantly remind her that LK is the last maid for now.
I hope LK will stay for at least her 2-year contract. Things will be easier on the caregivers when Lil Isaac starts going for his 2-hour playgroup in the later part of the year and join jiejie next year. Yes, I still look forward to the time that we will be maidless. However, unless the kids go to CC, otherwise it will be when Lil Shauna enters Primary One.
Mummy Lim
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