Myth – SAHMs are very free

This is at least true for me.  I am certainly one of the busiest SAHMs in town.

Monday – Homeschool followed by Parent Volunteer at a school I’m eye for Mr E

Tuesday – Homeschool followed by give tuition

Wednesday – Playgroup with ABCD

Thursday – Homeschool followed by Parent Volunteer again

Friday – Playgroup with another group

Saturday – Piano for Mr E, Ballet for Ms Z, followed by give tuition, followed by outing with nephew and niece

Sunday – Church followed by In Law’s place

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh……………

And I still need to schedule in something with my parents!!!

My dear friends good friends (you know who you are ), please forgive me that I have not been able to arrange any playdates with you ladies and your kiddos. 

We are still loving siblings!

I shared about my earthly father before.  Tonight, after some time with my only sis (elder), I simply feel so sentimental and emotional towards her that I just have to write my thoughts down.

My sis and I used to fight a lot… rephrase: Due to jealousy towards her, I used to bully her a lot!!!   and I was really violent than, hit her, yelled at her, shouted at her, accused her, even hated her.  I can never forget an incident when I hitted her so hard that the scene got stuck in my mind forever.  Come to think of it, I was really terrible!!!

But, my sis, on the other hand, is someone with a very gentle spirit.  She has always be loving, patient, and caring towards me.  With my mum at work, many times, she took on the role as a guardian, to make sure that I come home early, do my work, stay with the right company, etc.  Sadly for me, I interpreted her care and concern as nag and nosey.  I never appreciated her, and thought she was really bossy.

Even when I was in my 20s, I was still really immatured and never bother to show much concern towards her.  But I really thank God that over the years, He convicted me, changed me, and moved me.

Today, my sis and I are the constant emotional pillar for each other.  We have become close friends who share our innermost thoughts, fear, joy and struggles with.  And I really thank God for blessing me with a sis like her.

100% God 100% Man

After switching off my PC last night, I just felt that I haven’t written clearly about my post last night.

While I came to a partial understanding of what it means to submit my children to God, it doesn’t mean that me, as a parent, should switch off and don’t do anything when my children need guidance.

I still have to do my part as a parent, and I’m one who believes that there are many things that we SHOULD pray for, but, ultimately, I have to ask God for WISDOM.

Do my best, and let God does the rest.  100% God, 100% Man.

(But I have to confess that many times I didn’t do my best .  Thank God for His grace.)

Surprise 2

Parenting is not easy.  And there are simply things that are beyond our control.  We can teach and influence all we want, but I have come to realised that:::

I can’t control their conscience,  I can’t control their heart.

As I look back at my teenage days, in spite of the fact that I was surrounded by bad company, what kept me from turning ‘bad’ was: by God’s grace – my conscience.  I was the rebellious and disobedient child in the house.  And I did have my teenage woos, gave my parents lots of problems, refused to go home, made my dad so mad that he gave me his first slap during those days, and even ran away from home after that slap!

BUT, I simply couldn’t bring myself to do things like taking drugs, gambling, get into fights, , act bitchy (my friends did all that!), etc.  By God’s grace, conscience told me that those things are wrong, and conscience steered me away from walking the wrong path in life.    In general, I was still ‘under control’.

Last week, during the first night of the church’s Sauntification Week, I finally realised that I have to totally submitted my children to God.  To say it ‘bluntly’, ‘I GAVE UP!’  I told God that it is not up to me to place a good heart and conscience into my children, it is Him.

Was with CC at Ikea (again! ).  After eating the yummy chicken wing, Mr E went to the toilet to wash his hands.  Moments after he left, CC’s son, Ca needed to wash his hands too.  CC asked me if Mr E could bring Ca.  I have no issue with it, but I told CC to be prepared that Mr E may not be very helpful or willing, especially since he had just gone to the toilet.

When Mr E came back, CC asked him for the favor, and, lo and behold, Mr E agreed to bring Ca!!!

This surprised me!!! Why?

When Mr E wants to play, he may not be very helpful.  Especially when it is at ikea!  Plus he just came back from the toilet, (which is not that near), and got to bring a little boy there again!  Plus, this morning, I was telling Mr E that when at the playroom, he has to help take care of Ms Z and Ca.  His reply was “Huh, I have to take care of TWO!”

I truely believe, it is the work of God that caused me to see this different side of E.  Probably, God has all along been waiting for me to ‘Let Go and Let God’.  What I can’t teach, He can.

“God, thank you for your grace upon Mr E.”

“Mr E, you are so helpful towards Ca, that you make me so so so glad today.  You did well son.”

His first tooth dropped!

Last few nights, while brushing Mr E’s teeth, I noticed that there was a gap between 2 of his bottom teeth.  Asked him if any of his tooth felt shaky, he said no.

Today, went out with CC and she also commented the same thing about Mr E’s bottom teeth. (CC is SO observant that she even notices other kiddos’ teeth!!! I wish I’m half like her!)

This evening, was waiting for cab after dinner at my sis’ place, Ethan was talking to me, and lo and behold! A tooth was missing!!!  First thing I asked him was : “Did you swallow your tooth?!” (cause I wanna keep their dropped teeth)

On the cab, Mr E said while eating his frozen hard ice-cream, he felt something hard in his mouth.  Spat it out but didn’t know that it was actually his tooth!  I quickly ranged my sis to asked her maid to look out for the tooth which should still be inside the bowl if it wasn’t washed yet.  Phew! They found it!

So here it is, Mr E’s new look: 

Although I’m expecting Mr E’s first tooth to drop anytime soon, but I didn’t expect that the process will be so short and quick!

Kids can bake – Chocolate Chip Cookie

Firstly, credit to A from one of the regular playgroup, the ABCD gang

This is very easy, and kids can do it too.  My children helped to do this to give away during the CNY.

For younger: Ms Z (3.5yo) stirred & shaped the cookie.

For older: Mr E (coming 6yo) measured the flour, baking powder, sugar, choc chips, stirred, shaped

Chocolate chip cookie (credit A from ABCD)

Ingredients:

• butter – 175g
• flour – 1.5 cups
• baking powder – 1.5 tsp
• caster sugar – 1/4 cup (I put lesser)
• sweetened condensed milk – 2 tbsp
• vanilla essence – 1/4 tsp
• chocolate chips – 1/2 cup

Method:

1. Melt butter. Leave it to cool it at the side. 
2. Sift flour, baking powder into a mixing bowl. Add sugar.
3. Make a well in the centre of dry ingredients.  Add condensed milk, vanilla essence and melted butter.
4. Mix well until combined.
5. Mix in chocolate chips. (butter has to be cooled, else chips will melt.)
6. Roll heaped teaspoonsful of mixture into balls.
7. Place on a greased oven try and flatten with a fork.
8. Bake at 180C for 15 minutes or until golden.

Enjoy!

Read the Label

In most, but not all cases, there is usually a good and justifiable reason why a brand is more expensive than another.   And actually, prior to the last months of inflation, I usually buy ‘reputable’ brands.  But recently, I started to cut corners.   HOWEVER, 2 weeks ago, the difference in prices of sweetened condensed milk got me squatting at the supermarket for 10 minutes in pursure for the answer.  And since than, I started to appreciate labels and the differences in prices, and am now back to getting things for its value, even though they are more expensive.

Some examples:::

Sweetened Condensed Milk

Since childhood, my family has been using Brand M.  But it now costs about S$1.60 per 397g, compared to some other brands that can even go slightly below S$1.00.

The difference? Its in the ingredients.  For Brand M, the milk used is skim milk, while every other brands on the shelf use milk solid.

(erm, I know this is quite unhealthy , but I still used this for my milo, taste nicer )

Light Soy Sauce

I used to use Brand T.  To cut cost, I recently bought oyster sauce from Brand L that comes with free Light Soy Sauce.  Today, I checked the ingredients.

The number of ingredients in the cheaper Brand L is much more, and also more questionable!  And to my ‘horror’, I even found MSG and colorings in Brand L!  Brand L doesn’t even list out the Nutrition Information.  This is not difficult to know why.

You see, for Brand T, it has different ranges.  The more expensive range has higher protein content, which means more soy bean used in the brewing process.  So why doesn’t Brand L list the nutritional information but include MSG and coloring in its content?  Not difficult to guess the answer right.

Uh, I just found in the supermarket that another brand, Brand K, do not contain the preservative Sodium Benzoate, which is found in all other Lt Soy Sauce I checked.  Hmmm, shall try Brand K next time.

“No Sugar Added”

This is another very misleading heading.  “No Sugar Added” DOESN’T mean there are no other form of sweeterners added.  Again, I learnt from MY mistake!

Happily bought Brand S jam cause of its “No Sugar Added” label.  With my ‘read the label’ craze, I read its ingredient list today.  Again, to my ‘horror’, Sorbitol is used instead of sugar!!!

What is Sorbitol and why am I against it?  Do a search on the web, it will not be difficult to find out why.

“Healthy Choice” Labels = Healthy Choice?

I don’t think so.  It all depends on what one believe in.  For me, I take it with a pinch of salt.

And always “READ THE LABEL”, will be good to read the Nutritional Information too.

Because You Loved Me

There was a day, when it was particularly stressful, tiring, troubled, when everything didn’t go well.  That day was actually a Prayer meeting night, when I was feeling really down.  Left home, hopped into the taxi, to make my way to church. 

In the taxi, as I close my eyes, the song “Because You Loved Me” by Celine Dion played over the radio.  As I listened to the song, at that instance, it wasn’t a love song between a man and a woman, but, it became a love song between God and I.  And when the chorus played, I was reminded that:

“You (God) were my strength when I was weak

You (God) were my voice when I couldn’t speak

You (God) were my eyes when I couldn’t see

You (God) saw the best there was in me

Lifted me up when I couldn’t reach

You (God) gave me faith ‘cos You believed

I’m everything I am Because You loved me.”

A timely song, on a timely taxi, on a timely night, for a timely me.

The chorus kept repeating, and God kept reminding me, that He was always there for me, and He IS still there to be my strength, He IS still there to be my voice, He IS still there to be my eyes, and He still SEE the best there IS in me.

My amazing God who can even use a secular song to speak at a moment when I needed Him most.

Was seaching for another song in Youtube, when I happened to find “Because You Loved Me” set to the Passion of Christ video.  How appropriate it is as we remember Jesus’ death and resurrection, all Because He Loves Me.

Ms Z’s 1st ballet lesson

Finally! The wait is over!  After 1 week of daily asking “Mum, are we going for my ballet class?” Today is her big day!

Verdict from her mouth the moment she stepped out of class::: “Mummy I enjoy myself”

“Z, I can see that too.”

Ms Z::: I was standing outside throughout the class.  Ms Z was attentive, bold, and tried to follow all the steps diligently.  She wasn’t afraid when I left the class, but very very independent.

The teacher, Emi was able to capture the girls’ attention well, and I can see that the girls certainly enjoyed themselves.  Like a friend commented, the terms used during the lessons are not the proper ballet terms, but were animated, and informal.  The teacher uses simple game, animals, etc, to teach ballet.  Due to the big class size, she can’t really see that every girl does the movement correctly, but she still manage to notice little Ms Z having trouble with a step.

Other parent::: Was chatting with the only other mum waiting outside about the class.  Apparenty this is the 3rd ballet school she signed up for her girl, and the happiest one.  She said she likes the teacher’s casual style, and her girl obviously prefers this school than the other 2.  She said the other schools are too serious, which is not what she wants.

Ms Z’s new friend::: Coincidently, the daughter of the mummy I chatted with has the same birthdate as Ms Z! Except that she is 1 year earlier.  And both girls were actually pairing up with each other during the lesson, while their mummies were chatting outside. What a coincident!

After 1 trial class::: Well, I guess for an introduction to ballet in a fun way for the little ones (age 3-5), Dance Art is a good start.  The smiles on the little girls’ faces say it all.  For both Ms Z and I, we are happy with it.  The only thing I don’t like is the big class size.  The reception said max number in class is 20, but usually around 15 students.

What holds for Ms Z in the future? Well, I don’t know.  But for now, I guess it is a good class for her every Saturday while gor gor goes for his piano class.

When mum is not around to protect

Went to Ikea at Tampines with CC on Wednesday.  It wasn’t Mr E and Ms Z’s first time in the playroom there, but it was the first time they allowed me to go shopping while they play.  Nothing big about this and it is not my reason for blogging about this.  I write this entry cause Mr E did something that makes me feel so glad.

On the way home, I started chatting with the children about their time inside the playroom.  Mr E told me there were 2 boys who kept wanting to bully Ms Z and push her down the steps at the TV area.  I know which are the boys since it wasn’t crowded and they were the only other 2 boys there.

So I asked Mr E what did he do about it.  He said he brought his mei mei away from the boys so that she can play at other areas away from them.  And when the boys left the TV area, than he brought mei mei back to watch TV again, which Ms Z verified that it happened the way Mr E described.

I’m proud and glad that Mr E did his role as a big brother well, to be there when mei mei needed him, and protected her in case she falls.  When I see the siblings fight and argue so much, I wonder if Mr E will be a good gor gor to protect and help his younger sis when in need.

That Ikea trip showed me that my worry is pretty much un-found. And YES, Mr E will protect his younger sister.  In fact, he is no longer the ’softie’ who used to run away when someone bullies him, he now recognised his physical strength and he is capable of certain degree of self-defend.

Well, recognising his physical strength can work both ways for him, BUT, as a big brother, I tend to prefer the fact that he is strong rather than weak.  And Mr E is indeed what his name means, ie, “strong and firm”!

E, mummy is really proud and glad that you protected your mei mei when she needed you.  That is a really good and protective gor gor.