Dedicated To : Those Without Kids (Yet)

During a lunch in a restaurant recently, while 2 mummies yak on, Isabelle and my friend's son communicated to each other across the table, by not talking, or babbling, but screaming. And they were having a blast doing that. I know their screams may not be music to all ears, not even to me but kids will be kids. And with that, they attracted some unwanted attention from the next table of a group of young office workers. I can accept the stares as I have been there, done that. But I heard one of them made a Malaysian remark 'Aiyoooo....' and with a face expression saying 'Why can't these 2 mummies and 2 kiddos do their lunch and shut up their kids?'. I tried to keep my cool while I tried to quiet down Isabelle by distracting her with some food. It worked on Isabelle but not my friend's son who was still on high screaming. But we managed to keep their mouths full with food so that they can't scream any further.

*Picture sourced from google search

Our young audience from next table continued to watch and (I believe) was still talking about us. I can't help but to look at them and then turn to my friend telling her (hoping these youngsters would hear me as they sitting near enough to hear even a whisper), "These young people had been a baby and toddler themselves before and they have most probably did the same thing our kids did earlier. Scream. They should learn to be more understanding towards parents but can't blame them because they are just so young and have a long way to go. Wait till they become parents one day with screaming kids like ours." Then I just turn to them again and gave them a big smile. It ended the staring game.

Call me sarcastic. But my tolerance level towards such audience, is very low.

Have you encountered such situation and what would you do? Would you have go for the sarcastic resort like I did?

Jude & Belle & Mummies' Date

I love play dates and I love mummies' date even more ! :)

Isabelle looking relaxed and Jude looking cheerfully handsome!

It was lovely to have Lyn and Jude coming over for lunch. As usual, the 2 kids played to their content.

I made nasi lemak and Lyn brought RT's delicious cheescake for dessert. Yummy!

My Nasi Lemak (served with cucumber today)

The glorious cheesecake. Thanks Lyn!

Mummy Jenny, we missed you this lunch date and hopefully you will be able to join us for the next one :)

How much Are You (SAHM) Worth?

I have always wonder how much would I worth if I were to get paid for my long working hours.

I got the answer here (link below).

I AM WORTH $117,856.00 a year!

http://blogs.babble.com/strollerderby/2010/05/07/stay-at-home-moms-worth-118000/

Thanks Mummy Jenny for sharing with me an article which lead me to this u$eful link :)

Thank God It's Friday and....

I thank God even more for...

* a roof on top of my head

* providing us our comfy little condominium unit and not a bigger house because He knows I will be stressed out chasing after Isabelle in a bigger space.

* making me a SAHM & giving me a chance of enjoy the privileges of being one.

* my understanding, kind & loving husband

* food on the table every day without worries

* my average cooking skill (am still learning & improving) and with that, I can make good home cooked meals for my family

* enough clothes to wear

* occasional splurges and pampering

* my health and I am so so thankful since I had Isabelle, I have only fell sick once. With no help nearby, she only have 2 of us to rely on and our health is very precious & crucial.

* Isabelle's health. She too had been really sick once in her 16 months of life (which I am going to blog about soon)

* DH's career because God really provides according to our needs

* my parents' unconditional non-expiring love and for still loving me like a little baby

* Isabelle have so much love not only from Mummy & Daddy but also grandparents, uncles & aunts, cousins & Mummy & Daddy's friends

"You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever"

~Psalm 30: 11-12 ~

Is SAHM/Housewife An Occupation/job?

I have recently read in several blogs and heard friends debating about how SAHM should be categorised. Some argued that SAHM/housewife should not be recognised as a job just because well, SAHM stays at home 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. While some thinks otherwise.

As a SAHM myself who had a 9-5 job previously, I would say both are considered an occupation. It is hard to deny that SAHM is not a job. In fact, it is a true full time job at home, where she don't get to clock in at 9, clock out at 5 and gets her off day on weekends. Of course, working moms are equally challenging where they had to fight all the crazy end of the day traffic and rush home to their kids and stay busy till midnight leaving little time for themselves (lucky are those who have helpers).

But the point here, a housewife aka SAHM, IS an occupation. Because if it is not, then you would not have seen 'HOUSEWIFE' being listed as one of the options under the occupation category when you feel in application forms of any sort.

When one perceives a housewife as jobless, correction. A housewife is payless job.

God Is Awesome!

I have had my share of experience working with big international companies, working closely with wonderful people and had fantastic bosses. I have also enjoyed many great perks and plump salaries. Glamorous functions, prestigious meetings, press conferences, travels on company's expenses... been there done that.

Decision for me to stay home did not come easy. Having to bid farewell to all the goodies mentioned above was difficult. Worries about settling with 1 income to feed 3 mouths was frightening. But God amazed us with His abundant supply. DH was still holding his previous position as Business Development Manager when I left my job while still pregnant at 7 months. Although his remuneration then was good but I was still doubtful if it will be sufficient to get us through comfortably. Out of DH's convincing and prayer, we decide to submit it to God. DH kept reminding me that if this is what God wants for us, He will walk us through.

Hallelujah! Not long after leaving workforce and arrival of Isabelle, DH was soon promoted to Senior Business Development Manager with additional perks, which was a blessing and bonus all in one! And a few months down the road, DH brought home another excellent news! He was upgraded to Regional Manager! It was unbelievable!

Being a SAHM is sweet itself. But being one with so many blessings is heavenly.

Did I mention that being a SAHM defeats all the jobs I had before? I can't imagine going back to work and leaving my little darling with a babysitter, maid or even my own parents. Some think that it would be quite a chore to wake up to a wailing baby with soiled diaper waiting to be changed then fed. To me, waking up, having to fight the mad morning traffic and to fight the misery of missing the little child I had to leave behind under another person's care while I go to office and fight another round of endless battle, now THAT is nightmare.

Many perceive being a SAHM equals to boring, plain, monotonous & even purpose-less and rather be working than to spend time at home with their kids eventhough they are capable to survive with 1 income. Sad to say, those who thought so do not know what they are missing from their lives. There is never a deadline to go out and earn the moolah. But a child's early growing years are too precious to be missed. We only have the few years to have them near to us. In no time, they will grow up and spend most of their time away, be it studying abroad or they will just somehow have their own circle of friends they prefer to be with. We will then have all the time & space to pursue our own carried forward dreams.

Mommy's A Little Vain & It is O-Kay!

Skincare, cosmetics, clothes, shoes & bags was my utmost fetish and still is. But being a sahm, I have not many valid excuse to reload those supplies regularly, except for skincare and occasionally, clothes.

Before Isabelle came around, I would take my own sweet time to slap on the toner, serum, eye cream and moisturiser in sequence and even had the time to let each item sink into my skin before applying the next, twice a day!

I can still do so now, just that I had to literally really 'slap' everything on in a jiffy. On few occasions, I caught Isabelle observing what I did and then turn to her Daddy and did the same to him. Only thing was, her action was much clumsier but surely cuter than mine. Monkey see monkey do!

Many presume that sahm would have only enough reasons to look haggard all day long and with absolutely no need to look good. I have to disagree. We all want to look our best, regardless of job or status because it is for ourselves. To look good is a boost of confidence. And who needs that more than sahm (usually mistaken for the worst and most boring job on earth)?

Healthy and clear skin makes the best canvas for make up and it is the first step to looking great!

My cleansing 'gadgets'

From right: Sothys, EL, EA, Kose, Aesop and Faceshop

(love Faceshop eye & lip make up remover *economical + magical*

Post-cleansing 'gadgets'

4 items from right: Day care products (Shiseido & EL)

4 items from left: Night care products (Sothys, Shiseido, SKII & EL)

Perks Of A SAHM!

When I told my exboss and my other friends about my decision to quit and be a SAHM, they questioned if I can endure staying home 24/7 after being out in the working environment all my life.

My answer was 'never try never know and there is always a first time for everything'.

I am glad I survived quite successfully and I love what I am doing! The best part is I know my baby is getting the best in everything.

Friends who sometimes call me up to chat over the phone or over msn had the tendency to assume that being a SAHM would means I get to nap with the baby all the time OR I am busy with dirty diaper every moment of the day OR I would sit and rot due to boredom within the 4 walls of the home.

I am just so sorry to say you are all so wrong! I might easily have a more enjoyable and certainly more rewarding job than you can imagine!

I do not need to wake up with an annoying alarm clock and having to rush to work. I do not need to fight the crazy morning traffic. I do not need to literally drag myself to work and knowing I have to face a group of monkeys who would die without office politics and can't wait to make other's life miserable. I do not need to fight yet another round of after working hours traffic and come home feeling all worn out and can only wish that tomorrow would be a better day.

Just to correct some assumptions out there, here are the 'perks' of being a SAHM:

• We wake up to a happy baby, smiling and we know it is going to be another fun filled day
• We look forward to the games we are going to play with our little precious
• Maybe if there is a pool at home and weather is kind, we can bring them down for a cool dip
• Politics FREE
• Traffic Jam FREE
• We are there when our little precious took their first step, uttered their words, had their first fall and we are there for them 101%
• We get to bring the baby to a shopping mall on a weekday during off peak hours when everyone else is struggling a long day at work and wishing that 5pm comes soon
• And yes, when we feel our eyelids getting heavier, we can just take a nap with our little one right next to us and no worries being caught falling asleep at work or worst still, in a meeting!

Of course, that is not all and the list goes on and on.

True that we do not have the luxury of getting the monetary pay at the end of each month. Nor, do we lead an active social life as often as we'd like or to dress up glamorously on daily basis. Nevertheless, the job of a SAHM is surely not plain boring and only full of endless housechores and not to mention the rewards are beyond any salary can get you.

Ok... kind suggestion from Mummy Jenny, here are some of the shortcomings of being a SAHM:

• No pay
• No EPF and SOCSO
• No benefits
• No medical allowance
• No sick leave
• No annual leave
• No bonus
• No off day on Saturday & Sunday

Does it bothered me that I am not entitled to any of the above?

No.

Have I ever thought of returning to workforce just to enjoy the above?

Honestly, I only thought about the salary. But then again, it was just some thoughts that came to mind when I am on idle mode and I would not trade what I am doing now for any other job. So, answer is NO.

What & Who made me a SAHM?

To start with, I thank God every single day for making me a SAHM, although I never thought that I would be a homemaker one day.

When I was 5th month pregnant with Isabelle, that was when I decided that I am going to quit working and be a SAHM, for better or for worse.

Here is the story of why I should thank my ex-boss, the push factor of this wonderful decision. Now I clearly understand what 'every cloud has a silver lining' truly means.

I had a weird boss in a VERY non-family oriented company. Even the salary was good, it failed to made me stay. My boss who was a childless man, was envious of me when I broke to him the news that I was pregnant. He started to make life VERY miserable for me in many little ways (I don't wish to mention them here). My days in the office was often spent complaining or rather, pouring out my sour feelings to my kind colleagues (here I would like thank my dear ex-colleagues who were there for me & I could never have survived a day more there without their support & love). I remember I was always telling Isabelle then in my tummy how sorry mummy was to let her 'go through' all that misery with mummy. And not forgetting...the journey to office every morning felt like I was driving from South Pole to North Pole. ARGH!

Below were the list of scenarios & my worries in the event that I had to return to work after Isabelle arrives:

Scenario of Isabelle being sent to daycare/babysitter. Not a big problem as there is a daycare centre few floors below our condominium. BUT... yes, the big BUT... (please see below)

• We will have to be prepared to take emergency leave often as she will tend to fall sick more often, catching flu and cough and what nots from other kids in the centre.
• My boss would not be able to understand these sort of situation and would make my life even MORE miserable.
• Not being to leave work on time to pick her up from daycare will cause somehow rather some chaos
• The thought of leaving a 2 month old fragile baby at a daycare centre, in the hands of a stranger... I don't even want to think about it.
• Hiring a maid and leaving her at home alone with the baby, BIG NO NO.
• My parents deserve to enjoy their golden years after caring for us for a challenging 30 years. So, no, it is not my choice to invite them to stay with me and babysit my baby.

* My imagination .... golden years *

After many discussions and prayers, me and DEAR HUBBY (DH) put a fullstop to my worries and misery. And we decided that it would be best for me to quit even temporarily so that I can concentrate and take care of our little baby at home.

Although that means DH will have to support the family with single income, the decision gave me a big peace of mind and gave DH peaceful ear (because he can finally go to sleep without listening to my sour stories or how bad my day went in the office or my worries about our unborn child).

A couple of agonising weeks pass by, I happily handed in my resignation letter. I can't forget how I felt the moment the letter left my palm! It was a big big BIG relief!!! I can proudly tell my ex-boss in his face, I DO NOT NEED THIS JOB ANY LONGER!!! He asked me to stay till my due date approaches. Oh my.. thanks but no thanks. I am carrying a baby, a precious life in me & maybe additional 10kg of body fat then and I am not going sit around and let you torture me. After a long chat, I walked out of his office, la la la.. I feel I could float despite the extra weight!!!

So, here I am now.. a tired, sleepy but happy and joyful SAHM!

Thank my DH for standing by me throughout the whole journey and for putting up with my silly fuss. ♥

My First Post

Aloha!

Finally, I am blogging my first post in my first blog. After a lot of 'encouragement' from my dear sister (DS) since a year ago, I am finally doing it. According to her, I would have nothing much to do being a SAHM and blogging would help me kill my idle time. LOL... Idle time?? What is that?? If any SAHM out there understands what does idle time means or had idle time while handling a baby alone, please contact me. I would like to congratulate you and personally give you a pat on the shoulder.

Blogging is a brilliant idea come to think of it. I am hoping to be able to find enough time and space to blog my thoughts and memories so that when Isabelle grows up, she will be able to read the wonderful journey we went through together. After all, PINK BIBS would be mostly about her :)

OK. I believe this is good enough to wrap up my first post.

Till the next post, cheers!