Post X'mas Gathering - 26.12.12

Had an awesome catch up with my super preggy pal Shirlene (ps: she dilated 4cm and still can insist to meet us for dinner before checking herself into hospital) n fam, long never meet up chix fam n min on boxing day.

These kids are all grown up now...

An Addition to TPG 27.12.12

God bless this little one with love, warmth, health, happiness... and forever more!

Children are lovely gifts from above.

Seriously... Talk to my hand!

Tommy's & Kathy's Union 29.12.11

This is one of the most creative, original, memorable weddings I've ever attended.

Yr 2013 Resolutions

It's a raining all day New Year Eve. I love to see the fireworks at the floating stage but we are not going to cos of drizzling rain and my sleepy Charmaine who insisted that I sleep beside her.

PS:- Just as I thought no more fireworks... I heard snoring... Charmaine fell asleep and we (hub, Charlotte and me) sneaked out to see fireworks! The 8mins of fireworks is worth the sneak. Haha.

My New Year resolution for Yr 2013 are: -

1) to get my driving license,
(have a whole year to try)
2) to spend more time with my family esp kids... teaching them, nurturing them, giving the best I can and
3) to slim down by 2kg.

... Not too greedy right?

Wishing all a Happy, Healthy & Prosperous New Year!

Charmaine Performs at Childcare Graduation Concert

Back with captions later...

Batam Trip 8 & 9 Dec 2012

Back to captions later...

Maid Troubles

I just found out that my helper took my stuffs without permission - hair clips, mascara, concealer (I doubt she even knows what it's for), eye lash glue (ditto the latter), eye shadows, necklace etc.

On top of that, she went to the market to buy bags etc just because of her coming off day - we intend to give her an early off day (rightfully she is only entitled to 1 day off on her 4th month) as its Hari Raya Haji this Friday.

I was fuming mad when I found my stuffs in her cupboard when I did a spot check! She betrayed my trust and it's not the matter of money... It's the principle cos if she can take these little stuffs without permission, god knows what she will do in future! She still has the cheek to say that she will put back after use.

I even gave her $20 for her to buy stuffs for Hari Raya Haji cos I read up and know that Muslims are supposed to wear new clothes during this special day and despite us bringing her to John Little sales at Expo, asking her to choose stuffs, she told us that the stuffs are expensive and I thought she is so sweet to save money for me... I was wrong!

ARGH!!!

The Love of my Life...

I'm a Newbie!

Started my new job not too long ago.

I started my first day of work weak - had stomach flu... buddied with the toilet and bed throughout whole weekend... dragged myself to work cos it's never good to be absent from work the first day you had to report for it.

Dread the feeling of waking up early - I am waking up much earlier than before as I need to go public. No more naps while Ivan's driving :(

I usually reach office 15 mins earlier and hope this can continue on. Haha.

After almost 5 years especially with the last 2 in supervisory role, its rather challenging to eat humble pie. Ya... I am doing much lesser than before but getting higher paid with more benefits. My scope is more of PR, tenants liaison, handing & taking overs and tenancy shopfront design which is never a problem for me except for the latter. I am not trained in design - especially on shop front details, though I was also in charge of retail previously, there's never a requirement. But I don't foresee it to a big issue once I get the hang of it.

In short, it's not a total different ball game for me. Currently I need more time on my new job to learn the ropes and hopefully my helper does not add on to my "to do list"... I am beginning to notice some issues

Throwing Tantrums

This is how Charmaine throw her tantrums whenever we do not give on to her - this time is becos I refuse to let her have my wallet.

How to tame a whiny child?

 

Charmaine is getting horribly whiny. She cries at the slightest thing - did not manage to get what she wanted, fight with Charlotte, insisted that I change diaper instead of helper, wanted me to carry her around the house and if I refuse to act according to her wishes, she will lay down on the ground and start to roll around or swing her legs to hit whatever she can hit.

 

I tried many times to leave her laying on the ground ignoring her then with continuous crying on a full stomach, she will vomit. On certain lucky days, her whining will diminish after a while when something more excited comes along and she decided I am no longer fun.

 

Argh! Many times I snapped. I will cane and scold her but its totally useless. Daddy tried the "placing her in dark room" method it didn't work too and I am against this method of teaching as I do not want to leave a permanent damage - afraid of darkness. 

 

Yesterday I tried the naughty corner method, so far its working a little. Let's hope that this will curb her. She is a tougher nut to crack than Charlotte.

 

My helper told me that Charmaine is very lovely and she will play by herself when we (my hubby and me) are not around while she cooks. She will finish her meals without being difficult. She will ask politely for something and not whine or cry to it. This is a complete different version of what I faced.

 

Whenever I am cooking, she will hug my legs and demanded to see what I am cooking. She will want to sit on my laps when I am having my dinner even though she ate loads and her stomach is bursting. She will scream, cry and do her usual lay-on-the-floor stunt to make me give in to wash her ass after her poop.

 

I proved that what my helper said was true. Yesterday I rested on Charlotte's double decker (upper deck) bed for 2 hours and true enough... its a peaceful 2 hours. No screams, no cries, no whining cos no mummy is not around. WTF?!  

I am Officially an Employer

After the drama that I went through few days ago shopping for helper ... My helper is here today.

I fetch her this evening and recognized her immediately when i reached the maid agency cos saw her in Skype and kinda interviewed her before selecting her. Now maid agencies so IT savvy wor.

Sigh. I had prepared tonnes to tell her but ended up forget everything. Should have noted it down. Ivan don't really care - you know how guys are, they love to push matters aside and only look into it when something major cropped up. But he was sweet enough to fetch us from the maid agency so that we do have to lug her luggage back.

I am still trying to get used to have a stranger staying in my house.

I am stressed even though I have a week to teach her.

Hope everything turns out fine.

Updates updates...

I am finally serving notice for a almost five years job after wanting to leave for sometime back.

I just came back from an overseas trip - just us, family of four.

I just had a big screw up right after my trip with the maid agency called to inform me that the maid I selected did not pass her health check and I need to wait for another month at least to get a new maid. I went maid shopping for the past two evenings and finally selected a transfer maid just now. She is coming this Fridays. Luckily I managed to find one as nanny will be going for operation on her leg this Saturday. Luckily that I do not had to cancel my leave and delay sending charmaine to Childcare coming Monday.

Phew... Went a big round and hope its all worthwhile.

Kicking, screaming, lay on the floor

Nowadays whenever I refuse to allow Charmaine to do the things she wants - play rides, carry her, give her the color pencils she wanted, put back the toys she chose to buy etc, she will first scream then cry with tears then either kick non stop or lay on the floor.

Every day it's getting worse.

But few minutes later, she can be this huggable, kissable and lovable Angel!

Really lost for words.

Extra lessons not enough?!

I wonder if most mothers went through the same thing as me... Every time I bring Charlotte for her abacus class, she will have to stay back till an hour later then she will be allowed to go home.

Teacher will always feedback on how inattentive Charlotte is. She will be distracted at the tiniest thing that happens in class. She has loads excuses - go toilet to poo, go toilet to pee, need to drink water, need to wash hands, need to rest her eyes, hungry etc etc. It's endless...

Sigh. I am lost for words. Other kids all go home after 1 1/2 hours and my girl has to stay back for "detention". Every time I fetch her I will have to apologize to her teacher. Feels super paiseh!

Sighs.

Teacher says that she wants to send Charlotte for Abacus contest. OMG! It's my nightmare. She now time her for her papers, gave her loads homework and gave her a mental card. I don't know if she can make it but all I hope is that she is not too stressed out.

Numbers are boring... So now I am teaching her - cat . rat . hat . bat . Making her learn to spell it and pronounce it correctly. Maybe I should send her for phonics. Maybe speech and drama isn't enough. I am such a stressed and contradicting mother! BOO!

WSH Award 2012

Disclaimer: - Efforts were not put in by me. I was only representing UE Square to receive the award.