It Runs In The Family

It all started with Bryan when he was helping out with my sister, Jasmine for a photoshoot for the kids line of Dive Junkie T-Shirts back in 2005. My sister noticed that his elbows look a bit funny.

And we forgot all about it until recently that over dinner the other day at mum's place. My sis noticed that Joel's arms look familiar too. So we started tracing back to our genes. We began scrutinizing Gavin's arms and suddenly it began to dawn on me that I may be the culprit. And guess what - it's really me!

So of course, since the kids got that from me, I'm just curious if that's genetic. So I started tracing back to my parents, starting with my mum, but her arms look fine. We called out to Dad who was surfing the internet to come out from his entertainment room to show us his arms. He must be wondering, these siao char bors must be guessing if an old man like him, still has muscles or not.

Spot on!!! Dad injured his left arm when he was young, but I never know that it will get passed down like that.

A Tai-Tai's Day Out

It has become a twice yearly ritual that my gal friends and I would take a day off just to give ourselves a well-deserved break, especially away from the kids.

We met for breakfast at Funan's MacDonalds. Yeah, it's slightly more high-class that the kopitiam, especially when the weather is so hot. So we had a groups of aunties (ok, excluding Nana) sipping teas, eating burgers and bitching about the weather, politics (at work), economics (at the supermarket), finance (where has got the best best sale) and of course of about the struggles within our families. Talking it out keeps our sanity in place.

After feeding our stomach, we adjorned to feed the fish. We shared a cab to the ulu Singapore Flyer, cos we haven't figure out where to take the shuttle service from City Hall. Boy, we were all so excited like little girls giggling about having our our feet kissed by the Doctor Fish.

The Kenko Reflexology at the Singapore Flyer is the only branch that provides fish spa. I find the ambience pretty soothing and the frangrance from the aromatic oil simply refreshing. It's just that the location is pretty far out.

It was rather scary imagining the feeling of having so many Doctor Fish nibbling the dead skin on my feet. However, it wasn't as ticklish as I thought, but it feels like the zaps of electric currents -- just like the milder tinkling sensation of blood flowing back to the legs when we experienced numbness for sitting cross-leg on the floor for too long.

We had 30 minutes of fish spa and 10 minutes of shoulder massage at the promotional rate of $38. And the newly mummies couldn't resist for a longer massage and they definitely deserved that. The excuse -- belated Mother's Day Treat for themselves. 10-minutes is more of a torture for me than shiok, I'm scared of tickles :P

Hehe... does Gina's new hairdo looks like one of the court ladies from the Korean drama - Da Chang Jin (Jewel in The Palace)? hahaha

And all that laughing and giggling is making us thirsty. And surely the water from the pond reminded our thirst even more. We later joined with the pregnant Angela at Suntec more makansutra and more sharing. Women simply talk non-stop and the few hours spent together always seems so short. And as the clock striked 4:30 pm, we hugged each other and said goodbyes (our gathering farewell routine) before returning back to reality. Farewell my ladies... till we meet again (which is probably in 3 weeks times, when Judy returns from China).

Eat With Your Family Day

Joel's school organised a breakfast gathering at the Ghim Moh Kopitiam this morning in conjunction with "Eat With Your Family Day".

The kopitiam couldn't cope with the large crowd, so we didn't manage to have our favourite half-boiled eggs. However, we have a yummy breakfast of sandwiches, soya bean milk and tea.

Do Be Do Be Do

On Being TRANSPARENT

A Blessed Mother's Day

Recently, there was a Mother’s Day feature on the Sunday Times which reported that HR experts estimate that the economic worth of a stay-at-home mums would be paid $23,000 a month considered all the jobs that she performs. Executive housekeeper (5hrs) $280

Childcare teacher (5hrs) $193

Chef (3hrs) $170

Personal Assistant (2hrs) $ 90

Driver (2hrs) $ 73

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Monthly pay $ 22,568

Yearly payout $293,384 (inclusive of 13th month bonus )

Did you hear my eyes go “ka-ching, ka-ching, ka-ching” like the cash register. I didn’t know a housewife value was rated that high. Hmm... probably higher than my boss’s pay…hehe! No wonder, I’m felt like the BOSS at home!

A housewife commented that she enjoys her work and don’t do it for money. (Erh, no comments.) Several others say that their roles are too important to be quantified. We can estimate how much the jobs might pay, but mothers are also involved in deep emotional bonds and life lessons, which will stay with their children and all their lives.

That’s why Mother’s Day is always more celebrated than Father’s Day. However, Mother’s Day is not only for mothers with kids, but also a day to commemorate those who are married, but have yet had any kids. However, being a wife is like a mother to the super “big kid” at home too… you know what I mean. I remember reading from Psalms 31:10-30 which describes the noble characteristics of a wife (and mother). Hi ladies, here’s a glimpse of married life. And guys, now you know what sort of women to look for, huh?

10 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. 11 Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. 12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. 13 She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. 14 She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. 15 She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls. 16 She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. 17 She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. 18 She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. 19 In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. 20 She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. 21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. 22 She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple. 23 Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. 24 She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. 25 She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. 26 She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. 27 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. 28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 29 "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." 30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. 

And gee, I always thought being a wife was challenging, but being a mother is demanding. It’s really a molding and refining process. I think I learnt more from the children, than the other way around. And I have discovered that over the years, I have become stronger because of the kids. 

COURAGE – to catch the flying cockroaches, bees, beetles and lizards. 

CREATIVITINESS – To come up with impromptu games during long boring car rides 

JOY – Laughing at my own self when the kids imitate my actions and use my phrases. 

PATIENCE – To wait for them to wear their own socks and buckle their shoes. 

PEACE – Knowing that it’s okay to mop the floor once a week, although the kids are crawling all over the place. 

PERSEVERANCE – To continue to carry them, although I felt my arms are giving way soon.

PERSUASIVENESS – In getting the kiddos to eat their greens 

SELF CONTROL – To stop pulling my hairs out, when the kids are disobedient 

STRENGTH – To wake up many times a night when the kids are having a fever. 

TRUST - That they will not break the glass ornaments at shopping centres. 

WISDOM – To know what’s sort of mischief is up their sleeves.

Although I didn't have the chance to pursue my degrees, but my kids confer me the title "Expert in Anything & Whatever" in the following disciplines:

Architecture & Design – constructing a make-believe house from huge carton boxes. 

Arts – Doodling on whatever pictures they request of us. 

Business – Setting up of our own very "Sianz & Siong" supermarket in the living hall.

Computing – Setting up of their video game consoles. 

Dentistry – Extraction of their teeth using my fingers. 

Engineering – Understanding the instruction manual and assembling their toys. 

Humanities – Reading and role-playing stories to them. 

Medicine – Self medication or administration of medicine when they are sick or hurt. 

Music – Karaoke singing to the song "Mouse Love rice" 

Law – Warning them to put on their seat belts, if not police will catch. 

Life Science – Growing sunflower from seeds 

Science – Mixing soap with water to make bubbles.

Boys, thank you for making me a mum!

Bryan & Joel

and my eldest kid

Havoc Mummies

We had a maternal relatives gathering at Amara Hotel for buffet to celebrate Mother's Day today. It's an annual affair, beside Christmas and Chinese New Year gatherings.

As usual Dad, would be the organiser and he would source for a makan venue and mum would assist him in the headcount. Hmm... now I know where I got my events genes - from Dad!

We had quite a good turn out of about 25 and 5 kids. Dinner was a spread of international buffet to feed the hungry growing teens in our midst. And we had fun table-hopping catching up with one another. However, the finale was when Dad carjoled all the mummies to go for the free drinks, which comes with the Mother's Day promotion at the lounge at the other end of the lobby. And they also had belly dance performance too.

Thought it was quite a funny scene to see a 3-generation of 14 ladies ranging from the age group of 20s to 80s hanging out a lounge and making so much noise! As we walked in, the lounge patrons were staring at us, especially at my 3 elderly folks. Most of us had fruit juices, while Ah Ma and gang had plain water. As usual the younger ones would prefer some alcoholic drinks, however, MeiMei was cornered by my aunties to just order juices. Haha! Not much of a choice, when you are out with people from another generation!

Just in case you are wondering where are the guys. Our spies Jake & MeiMei reported that they were starting to feel restless hanging around and babysitting the kids, while waiting for us ladies to finish off our drinks.

  

Happy Mother's Day!

Pig & Hen Debate

There's a difference between interest and commitment.
When you are interested in doing something,
you do it only when circumstances permit.
When you're committed to something,
you accept no excuses, only results.

- Art Turock, Getting Physical (Doubleday)

One morning, a debate broke out in a farm. The debate was raised between a hen and a pig. The topic of the debate is "Involvement is equal to Commitment". The hen argued, "if someone is willing to get involved, that means he is ready to commit." The pig said, " No, I don’t think so. Getting involved is far from ready to commit."

As they were arguing and it seems no one could totally convince the others, they heard the voice of the farmer’s wife. "Honey, what would you like for you breakfast? Ham or Egg?" The farmer replied, "I prefer ham."

Then the pig told the hen, "You see, when you laid an egg, you are involved in the breakfast. But we are committed to the breakfast when we are eaten as ham."