Mothering Corner

Finally, my kids will be going back to school next week and we are all excited about it! They like their new school on their first visit, and they will be attending an orientation this Thursday. Hopefully, they will get to know some new friends and adapt well with the new environment.

Once they have started schooling, I can work in peace again, but all of us will need to get up earlier to beat the morning rush. It’s not too bad for me as I’m self employed, so I can work on flexible hour. But since I was pretty late to work during this school break, I better come in on time again. If I’m holding on of those san diego jobs or working for others, I might have got myself fired for being late almost every day for the past 9 weeks! LOL!

Time flies, and my kids will be back to school in 3 weeks. Start from next week, I will start training them to sleep in early. If not, I doubt that my kids can wake up at 6.30am!

Right now, I’m still not sure if both kids need to pack an after school bento. Maybe only my gal will need one as she has to wait for her brother who’s in primary school for at least 30 minutes before mommy’s picking them up. We still have to check out the after school activities, and pick a few for the kids to enroll. What to do? Mommy has to work so the kids have got to stay a bit longer at school.

We will bring the kids to visit the new school sometime after next week, especially for the school orientation. I know that they will love the playground, a bigger library and computer room with lots of desktop computers which are sufficient enough for the whole class, and also a bigger cafeteria.

I’m yet to see the pool. I hope that the school swimming class will be scheduled on Fridays, then I would love to enroll my kids.

There are a few things which I want to do when I fly back home next month. Firstly, I need to bring my gal to her ex-pediatrician for jabs, as stated in her card. She’s going to be 5 years old soon, and there is one more immunization jab which she has to go for.

Both kids hardly see a doctor here, except for 2 times when they were hospitalized due to influenza A. I found that most pediatricians here like to prescribe antibiotics, even if it’s not necessary. Then they will ask us to return for check up again after completing the dose. Unlike my kids’ previous pediatrician back home, he would give the normal medication and only prescribed antibiotics if needed. That’s why I feel more comfortable with the Pediatric Hospital back home.

Nonetheless, we still need to engage the kids to a pediatrician here. But most importantly, we are trying to make sure that our kids are healthy and fit most of the time.

Bangkok is experiencing weird cold weather these 2 days, and there is a chance that my kids might catch a cold. Temperature has dropped to 18 deg, which is very rare in March. So, putting on a jacket is a must! I must make sure that the kids eat well and probably get them to take the multivitamins too, if needed. We have not been very discipline in taking those supplements given by MIL.

Frankly, I really like the cool weather now. It’s way much comfortable those the hot sunny days!

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.