Mothering Corner

My gal’s turning 5 soon, and I still haven’t made up my mind what to buy for her. Frankly, I would love to throw her a birthday party but hubby is not one of those who fancies parties for his kids. That’s why it’s always a small celebration among ourselves, with a cake and a few pressies.

But since we will be back to Malaysia in April, we can get our families back home to celebrate with our gal in advance, and that will mean a lot to her. She’s always wanted to have a lot more people to cut cakes with her. LOL!

Maybe I will try check out the BIG + BIF fairs in April and see if I can find some nice toys in good bargain. It’s a great fair in Bangkok, and you can buy household items, toys, books, and all sort of stuffs in cheaper price. Don’t be surprise to see shoppers going there with trolleys! You just need one for all the items bought! On my first shopping trip there, both my hands were so tied up with bags that I had to give up buying because I couldn’t hold on to more items anymore. Hubby was away with the kids because the mommy was too busy shopping.

Maybe I can find some nice musical jewelry boxes or Limoges boxes there. For for my gal though but for myself. LOL!

Our weekends are mostly packed with the same routine, but this week, hubby will be very busy and he won’t be at home much. So, I’m going to have a busy weekend, mostly tied up with driving the kids for classes.

The hardest part is actually eating out with them as both of them likes to use the washroom in the middle of the meal, even if I’ve brought them to the washroom earlier. Since I can’t leave one behind, I will have to pay up the bill, even if we haven’t finished the food and tell the waiters that we will be back again. With my limited Thai, I always have  problem making them understand this. LOL!

Maybe we should just have take away. How about pizzas? I haven’t tried ordering pizza here. I used to do it when I was staying in M’sia. Really need to check out ephedra reviews for having fattening food like this often.

Or maybe I can try some dishes at certain restaurants. They do have delivery service.

I love buying toys for my kids but hubby is against the idea of spoiling his children. Thus, we set up a reward system, in which the kids will have to earn the stars to get the toys they desired. Each star costs THB10, so you bet it takes quite some time for them to get their toys. LOL!

But if they would like to play the iPad, they will have to deduct the stars from their chart, and use them as play time. So, it always puts my kids into consideration if they should spend their stars on playing gadget or buying the next toys? Of course, we do buy them toys on special days, without using their reward points.

This plan only works when the kids are slightly older, especially after they can read numbers. They will check out the price tags at the toy department, and ask us how many stars they need to buy a particular toy. It’s like setting a goal. It saves us a lot of headache trying to pull a whining kid away from the toy section.

When they were toddlers, they used to fuss a lot if we didn’t buy their favorite toys. I’ve gone through the nightmare of having a crying kid throwing tantrum at the mall, and begged me to buy those baby toys. I tell you, it’s one of the easiest ways to grab a lot of attention in public.

Oh boy, I’m so glad that those days are history.

The school term ends in a month, and my kids will have a long break again. I’ve transferred them to a new school, so they would have to wake up earlier to avoid the traffic and arrive school on time. But this time, maybe we can car pool with SIL since her girl is attending the same school too.

I have a feeling that I might be busier this year, and if everything goes well, I would love to invite my parents over here to help me out. By then, maybe we need another cheap car insurance to get the 3rd car. But it’s too early to say anything now and I guess both SIL and I can manage fetching and picking up our kids, until we can’t manage to squeeze time out!

We had a great weekend in Pattaya, even if we have been there so many times. Of course, we always try to stay at different resorts or hotel, and the kids are always excited to try out different rooms.

Their school break will be over in a week, and it’s back to the new semester next month. So, I guess we will all back to the normal routine and there won’t be any more holiday until end of the year. Hopefully, hubby will have time for another trip by then, and we can spend some time away with the kids again.

I’m going away to the beach for the weekend, and this time, I am making sure that I spend time with the kids as much as possible, and not thinking about work or getting connected on my iPhone. I admit that I have really “neglected” the kids this week, and there might be more next week until end of this month. Sigh…

I know that I should be juggling my time well, but it’s hard to give them much attention at work place, even if they are looking for one. Since hubby and I only rest on Sundays, we can’t really spend the whole day together too as the kids have music and Chinese classes on Sundays. See? That’s how busy we are! Even my mom complains that we hardly rest! LOL!

But since we are not working tomorrow, hubby plans to bring the kids to the beach. As much as I have got bored with Pattaya beach, I will still try my best to enjoy it. That’s why I ditched my plan of going for a nice facial on how to get rid of acne and spots, and decided to accept hubby’s weekend away.

So, to make it up with them, I will be “disconnected” to be connected with my kids. This ad says it all.

Anyone hire a babysitter in M’sia and in Thailand? Most families I know have at least a maid, or nanny, and might send their kids to grandparents, nursery or daycare centers if both parents are working. So,hiring a babysitter for a few hours, when the parents wish to go for a date it’s quite uncommon! Ok, it’s more likely to happen in western countries though.

I have never thought that I would need a babysitter. My first choice will be getting my mom to fly here to watch the kids, just like the time when I had to go for a minor surgery. Other than that, kids will be tag along to my office if they are not going to school.

But yesterday it’s my first experience in hiring a babysitter. Of course, she’s someone I know, and she is my part time cleaner. After knowing her for about a year, I have more trust and confidence in leaving my kids with her, especially since I have to be away for a long day. Even if she had to bring her son along but that didn’t bother me. In fact, my kids had another playmate, and they got along very well.

Besides paying her wages, I cooked early in the morning and got hubby to tell her that they are free to have lunch at my place. But she brought lunch for herself and her boy. I think that she’s indeed very thoughtful. Even if hubby paid her some lunch money, just in case if she needed to buy some food, but she didn’t take it. So, I was very touched. Most importantly, she did a good job in taking care of the kids, as I came home seeing 2 happy kids who were fed, bathed, and took their naps. Things like this won’t happen when they tag along to work with me!

So, if I ever need a babysitter, I know where to find one. But it’s subjected to whether she’s available or not.

To show my appreciation, I will try to give her family back home in Isan some necessities. This place is badly affected by serious floods now, and a lot of people had lost their homes. Not pet beds, but some old reusable clothes, shoes, blankets, and food will be good enough.

I’m around most of the time, when my kids tag along to me at the office. Even if I might not be paying much attention to them, but they know that I’m still in the same building, some where, or in my room, and the kids are free to go around the work place, except the production area. Some times, my gal will spend the day with the young girl at the store because she gives her junks. *slap head*

But today is a bit different. I will be away in a short while and only be back in the late evening. So, my kids will be babysat by the office maid, and I have got to make sure that they have everything they need for the day, especially their meals.

My kids’ lunch bentos, fruit bentos, afternoon milk and yogurt as snacks.

As you can see, it’s not kyaraben. I don’t do kyaraben every time, but try to provide them a hearty meal. The bentos may not provide the best multivitamin or nutritional value, but at least the kids are not starving. That’s what a working mother has to do….just try her best!

Ok, I have to get ready for my appointments today. Gosh, what a busy week.

My boy has decided to quit going to holiday camp after the first day as his buddies were not attending. He was bored and disappointed that he couldn’t play with his friends, so he didn’t want to go to the camp anymore. Even if my gal would love to go, but due to my own personal selfishness convenience, it’s best that both kids are not going so my time is not too tied up with shuffling around.

So, here they are at work with me, and they daddy had got them an iPad to keep them company. As much as I hate my kids to spend so much time working out only with their index fingers and their eyes, but having some Apple toys definitely make my working days easier. Honestly, my iPhone belongs more to them than to me! But I shall limit their time spent on these gadgets and do some simple work too.

Juggling both kids and work might be the best fat burner for me, as I’m multi tasking for more than 8 hours straight, 6 days a week, for the rest of October.

It’s a working day today. I have tonnes of work load to be completed but I decided to take half a day off later and spend some time with my kids. Call me irresponsible! But I need a break, seriously, I DO!

Since I can’t get some lady gaga concert tickets and go wild at her concert, singing and dancing to Poker Face, as much as I wish to, I shall take my half day off and bring my kids to a big indoor playground. The main reason is, I feel bad that they have to spend their break at the office with me, with the mommy ignoring them mostly, and they try their best not to disturb me and find something else to keep them occupied. I’m so blessed to have such understanding kids!

Snapped this with my phone yesterday, amidst of my work, and felt so blessed.

Besides that, their parents are too busy to bring them for any trips this break, and I really hate to see them spending the whole term break at holiday camp only. How can we parents be soooo bad?

So, kids, mommy is going to make it up with you two this afternoon. Let’s ditch the office work (for half a day only ok?) and go get some yummy Italian food and go have some FUN!!!!