Mothering Corner

I had a bad incident 2 days ago, and I felt like the stupidest mother in the world. Of course, nothing seriously bad really happened but it might. So, one important lesson learned. Never never ever leave your kids in the car alone, even if the air-conditioning is on, or off with windows open or what-so-ever. Just drag them along no matter how tired they are or just forget about how urgent things needed to be done and drive straight home.

I tell it, it’s really NO JOKE. I had almost wanted to smash my car window yesterday if I could grab hold of anything big, or if I’m in safety gloves, I might also try punching it. Of course, I will only end up hurting my wrist instead of breaking the glass!

But still, at moments like this, it’s best to stay calm. I’m so glad that my kids are alright.

I hardly print photos, especially after purchasing my first digital camera. Furthermore, I snap a lot of photos previously, like I can’t miss any tiny step of my kids development, so I should have thousands of photos in my disk storage now.

Last week, I decided to print my gal her first photobook, started from the day she was born. My boy has one, which I left back home. I would most probably bring it here if I go back next time. When I was designing the photobook, I realized that I don’t have all her babyhood and toddler-hood photos, but then, I could see how much she has grown up over the years, and how much I’ve enjoyed walking down the memory lane.

If I have the time and budget, I might use her photo and get her one of those custom tote bags by AH. Again, this busy mommy needs time to do it, maybe before her next birthday. I think she will really love it.

Most of my friends in FB or readers in my kids blog would probably know that my boy fell of the bike 2 days ago, and ended up with 6 stitches on his chin. He’s feeling alright now and he’s back to school as usual. He still insist on going to school, maybe it’s because he doesn’t like to tag along to the office with me.

I felt very guilty for that being by his side when he got hurt. He was brought home by some neighbors and security guard. We stay in a gated community, with lots of good Thai people, and watchful patrol guards. I’m truly grateful with everyone’s help, especially my neighbor (he’s a ladyboy, but he’s super nice!) who accompanied me to the clinic. But later, hubby came back and brought our boy to the private hospital for thorough checkup and stitches.

We don’t have life insurance policy or any personal accident coverage here, so this is something I should work on getting by a year or 2. It’s time to look for insurance coverage for expats!

Anyway, I feel so blessed by having friendly and helpful neighbors and people in my neighborhood.

As a Chinese, my mom advised me to avoid feeding my boy eggs, ginger, chicken and some fruits like durian, mango and etc. She said they are bad for wound. Oh well, I better listen to her.

Thanks everyone for your Mother’s Day wishes, both in my blog and Facebook.

We didn’t exactly have a Mother’s Day celebration yesterday, but my parents were here so we had a nice dinner together. It’s been years since I last spent Mother’s Day with my mom, so yesterday was kind of special. Best of all, my kids behaved so well throughout dinner, and that’s the best gift of all!

Hubby didn’t get me anything yesterday, but I got myself a nice facial session and some makeup from Estee Lauder. Hey, I deserve to pamper myself. LOL! I would have bought some shoes and hip hop clothes, but my shopping budget is kind of tight this month since our kids are starting school next week, and we have just paid the school fees and schooling essentials.

Anyway, I hope that you have a nice Mother’s Day, yesterday.

Songkran is coming in 2 weeks, and I will have more than a week break soon. It’s our 2nd Songkran in Thailand,but I’m not sure if the kids will enjoy it this time. Last year, they were pretty annoyed when they were sprayed and splashed with water. Even if we got them the water guns, but they dared not shoot at the kids, but spraying at the plants! LOL!

Hubby is quite busy so we won’t be going anywhere far this year. Maybe we will go for a short trip, if I manage to get a room. The weather is pretty hot now, and it’s the hottest season in Thailand. You won’t need a dehumidifier but a good air-conditioner. I’ve just got mine fixed and serviced yesterday.

Oh boy, none of us can sleep without the air-con!

I’ve been pretty busy lately, but I guess I’m coping well now. I only pack fruits for the kids, which they will take in the car on the way back home. Occasionally, SIL will help me to pick them up and bring them back to the office if I can’t leave early. By then, the fruit bentos might not be sufficiently enough, and SIL will get some food for them as tea, while the office maid helps me to keep an eye on the kids so that I can work “in peace”.

My close friends joked that they can’t see “shoppingmum” in me anymore, which is quite true. I don’t have time to check out the daily deal at shopping malls, and the only time I have for shopping is SUNDAY! LOL!

I will still try my best to fix at least a kyaraben a week. Bento-ing is a great way to release my stress.

Hubby’s been away for a few days, but the kids are behaving quite well. They do make me lose my cool some times, but kids are just kids, I can’t expect them to be totally “good” 24/7.

I only drop by the office in the afternoon, so I will have more time to settle some chores at home. I feel like a better mother this way, at least I’m not getting too tired  trying to get things done by the end of the day. Since the kids are having their exams this week, they don’t have any homework. Besides that, I don’t do revision with them. Come on, they are only 5 and 3 years old, how much should I care about their exams now? *ok, I’m a lazy mom is some ways. *

As for work wise, things are slowing down again this week. Maybe it’s due to the “predicted political turbulence” on Friday, so most Thai people are getting nervous about this. I shall put away the new product specs and whole life insurance, which I’m supposed to read about today and follow the news closely. Sigh, there it goes again.

I found this website about exzema, check it out if you are interested but I found that it’s not as informative as others.

My gal used to have it when she was a baby. Her skin is very sensitive, so we were very careful in introducing food to her when she was younger. There was once when she had a bad skin condition, sort of like eczema, but it’s different. Even her skin doctor couldn’t tell for sure what caused it, despite carrying out some tests. So, he took a photo of my gal’s butt*ck and thighs, and used it as a case study with her pediatrician. *slap head* Luckily, she recovered well after a series of creams and medication.

I hate the mozzie seasons in Malaysia. We stayed in a house with a big compound and there are always a lot of mosquitoes. Check out this post to take a look at the old photo taken at my house. And how my gal looked like when she’s attacked by mosquitoes.

I’m so glad that she’s grown out of eczema and sensitive skin. *I’m crossing my fingers!*

Thanks to ~Rachel~ for giving this award to me. I’ve always loved her blog, which has a lot of nice bentos and cakes!

I’m slowing down in bento-ing lately and don’t even mention about baking. LOL! It’s end of the year, and I’m slightly occupied with short trips this month. In fact, we have only spent the weekend in Phuket and Similan Islands, so my heart is still on holiday today even if we are back to our normal routine. *roll eyes*

I shall try to pack something for the kids tomorrow. They are asking for cute bentos already!

During our first year in Bangkok, hubby and I were very busy with his new biz, and thus we sent our kids to school throughout the year, except a two weeks holiday during Christmas. They joined the normal school terms and holiday camps, so basically, they spent quite a lot of time at school.

But in second year, I let them have a month of summer holiday, and only enrolled them for summer camp on the second half of the holiday. They were so happy to stay at home and watched TV the whole day, which is something they hardly have the chance to do on school days. Same goes to this term break which is spent back home in Malaysia, and they are so glad to be “free and easy” without school work and activities.

But the problem is, my gal will surely give me a lot of fuss when she’s getting back to school in November. After a month of being with mommy, she’s reluctant to go back to school on her own. She’s been telling me that she wants me to be there at her class, instead of dropping her and leave.

Frankly, I can’t wait for school to start. When the kids are at school, I will be back to the office, and I will have my own free time if permits. I miss shopping and having my own personal time. LOL! I just can’t wait to got back to spa and facial again in Bangkok (not that I can’t get them here but I have packages there). I could have install a spa filter at home, but it is different to be pampered without my kids’ disturbance. LOL!

So, even if I will be very busy once we go back to Bangkok, but I am looking forward to it!