I'm a working mummy again

After turning down some job offers cos I cannot travel (sacrifice for the kiddos?), I picked 1 of the 2 non-travelling jobs I was offered, and am now back at work!

Before D-day, different friends asked on different occasions if I was excited to go back to the corporate world. Most of the time, I wasn't able to give a clear response. The feeling is really mixed.

I guess part of me was happy and looking forward to it - afterall, I've been thinking the education sector (no, I'm not a teacher!) is such a meaningful place to be (I started thinking this after having kids, along with feeling that jobs that go after money and profits have little meaning. I started looking out for jobs with NGOs... but they didn't work out.) The other part of me is worried that I won't have time to do stuff with and for the boys. But I was secretly thinking, how long can the hours be? After working 12-hour-a-day (or more!) jobs for the last decade or more, I should finally be able to enjoy some work-life harmony?

Perhaps it's too early to tell, but well, so far so good.

Besides it being a struggle waking up at 6.30am to prepare myself, so that I can wake #1 at 7.15am, #2 at 7.30am, and leave the house before 8 to get to their childcare by 8 and reach work by 8.30am (urgh!), it's been fine. And because I make sure I get to work early and on time I feel less guilty going back home on time to spend quality time with the boys. Afterall, we only get to spend about 2.5 to 3 hours together before they head off to bed. Time is such a precious commodity, especially so when you are a working mother with 2 young children.

Maybe that's why I'm also trying harder to be a good mummy... Oh, I made Yiyang a Halloween 'costume' instead of buying $2 hats/cape/wand from Daiso, a.k.a. the easy way out. So here's what I did between 11pm and 3am last Sunday night so that he could be Batman on Monday morning. By the time I packed up at nearly 4am, I was tired but really proud.

The costume was no-sew! The polysatin cape was obviously fraying 15 mins into my cutting it, but I didn't think the kid would be bothered. The only grey T-shirt I could find had a tag that said '6 years old' - bought in Perth's Cotton On last year during our trip... 派上用场了！！好开心。With lots of love, and lots of googling images, the whole package was done! I felt really proud, especially since the original plan was just to make a batman cape.

When I took this picture, I must have been imagining the big grin on Yiyang's sweet face when he sees this the next morning. :)

love, Peiling

It's been 3 years since i last looked at this blog. Should I or should I not keep a blog - I'm still not sold. I used to say I prefer to pen in a journal... but these days, my journal lay on the study table, under piles of paper. sigh, my house is a mess, I'm constantly washing and folding clothes and putting toys away.

Oh well, let's give it a try then. If we don't try we'll never know.

I'm really quite confused, really. At this point, I'm quite sure I want some work, especially after 9 months of not working. But part-time or full-time? I still don't have a decision. With a flexi-hour job and full-time job on offer soon, I'll prob need to make a decision real soon.

Between the luxury of flexi hours and the lack of routine and working colleagues, which is more attractive? I don't know. Let's let nature take its course then.

In the meantime, let me finish up these stack of clothes, put away the luggage that have been sitting near the door since we returned from our wonderful but tiring Melbourne family holiday, and start some crafting and sewing which I have been waiting sooo long to start. Hey wait, I need to read up and prepare for that 2nd interview next week too! ... urgh, I need a TO-DO LIST!

'Appy Der-Day' Papa!!

Yangyang wished Happy Birthday to Papa yesterday, albeit in his own special way: Appy Der-Day!

I came home from work yesterday and said to Yangyang, "When Papa comes home from the dentist later you must say 'Happy Birthday, Papa', ok?" Then I asked him to repeat after me... "Happy... Birth...day" He wasn't really in the mood to 'practice'... and trotted off to play.

Abt 1/2 hour later, when he was abt to go for his bath, he shouted 'Appy Der-Day! ... er, my boy, Papa's not home yet.

To my surprise, when Paul came home, once he heard the door, he again shouted, 'Appy Der-Day!!' This time to the birthday 'boy' who's turned 36. That night we had yummy mango mousse cake from Baker's Inn with GongGong and Popo, and Yangyang blew candles for the first time!!

It gets better and Mommy is hopeful

GOSH, when you grown up, we have to tell you what we went through to help you get into the school routine.

Over the last weekend, we decided that the whole family will wake up early (no more lazing in bed on lazy saturdays and sundays! urgh!), and go thru the routine as thou we're heading for school. But instead, on Sat, we headed to Gongong's place (cos Daddy has to attend Athletic Assn's workshop at Gombak) and on Sun, we had breakfast at MacDonalds at West Coast!

Furthermore, on Monday morning, Mommy decided to try something new. I'll change your diapers and pants BEFORE we leave the room for milk... it worked! Mommy also kept telling you that I love you but I have to go to work, so Yangyang will go to school and play with friends, and Mommy and Papa will be back for you. While there was some whining, the outbursts has decreased rather significantly over the last 3 days and we are out of the house by 8.30am, including this morning!

Mommy also made you the exact same star which you made in school (I saw them in photos), let you carry Xiao Ding Dang back to school (with your favourite book in there), hoping that they'll give you comfort (I'm not even sure if you touch the bag in school but well.) I also requested Mei to take more pictures of you enjoying activities in school, so that I can print them all out and show them to you at home to remind you that school is fun!!!

Hiaz - The things parents do...

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Yangyang was so naughty at mealtime on Sunday that Mommy cried. He came over to 'sayang' Mama, hugged me, said 'I love you' and asked if Mama was "o-teh" (ok). When I said yes, Mama is ok, he happily trotted off back to his new computer toy...

* * * * *
On Tue after school, Paul told him that 'we're going home to find Mama'... but when they were outside the home door and Yangyang went 'knock, knock, knock', Paul said, 'Mama is not at home.' Immediately, Yangyang started to wail, all the way into the house, all the way into milk time, throwing tantrums, kicking off shoes, I was not there but it was havoc... He didnt even want milk 'served' by Papa. Screamed only for Mama... It was only until Popo came that he calmed down to drink his milk and proceeded to show off his new "bear-bee-ter" (computer) to Popo. He ignored Papa for the rest of the night.

Parent lesson learnt: Breaking a promise undermines your credibility.

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Yangyang's struggle to school

Yangyang did not like his morning today. Like yesterday, he resisted changing his pull-up nappies (which the teacher requested that we changed to), then into his shirt and pants. Yangyang insisted that he should keep his 'fog' (frog) romper on. Kept crying "Fog! Fog!". Paulus thinks Yangyang thinks as long as he keeps the romper on he doesn't have to go to school; Mama here wishes that you just like the frog on the romper.

It took nearly 15 mins to change the boy, amidst the struggling and crying. Mama tried to explain that every kid changes into new clothes in the morning so that they're fresh and happy; Even Mama and Papa changes (and he knows!) Dragging me into his room, he insisted that I get his 'fog' from the wardrobe... which of course is no longer there. Nothing worked - not a rubber frog, not a bottle of Johnson baby oil (with big and small bubbles in it!!)... but finally he settled with our infrared thermometer, still crying.

It took another 10 mins to get out of the house. The poor boy was crying hard. It was heart-wrenching to see the lips swelling where he bit himself when he fell last night (and bled lots). It must still be painful. Yangyang pushed the main door closed and calmed down. But Mama maintained that we have to go to school, "where your friends are and you played bubbles and toys, remember?" Mama and Papa really want you to enjoy school, darling.

I offered a hug at the door, and surprisingly, he took it. We hugged tight and he calmed down. He wants me to carry him; I'm not supposed to, not after bleeding so much on 26 Nov. But Mama has not carried you for 2 weeks already... and how much I missed you, boy. What the heck. Let's go! ...Finally.

In the car, unlike yesterday, Yangyang didn't cry when he saw the CMPB building. But intermittently, he mumbled, "no, no, no, no". Paulus and I exchanged looks in the rear mirror. Sigh. Papa Mama really want you to enjoy school, darling.

At Cherie Hearts, while a gor gor sanitised his hands, had his temperature, hands and feet checked, Yangyang wailed away. Ms Mala lovingly carried you off, wailing. That moment, Papa and Mama wished you'll forget us in 5 mins. As I pen this post, you should be sound asleep. Have a good nap, my boy. Mama loves you.