What Daddies Don't Know...

Morning Sickness.

When you have an ageing teacher population, the school is always busy and ready for retirement parties. But when you have a young , vivacious teacher population, you have a different set of activity.

Yes, the young teachers are also a lot that are in their prime age for baby production ! Just this evening while easing myself in the restroom, the all too familiar sounds of morning sickness filled the room. Echoes of vomiting followed by intense sounds of sighing make the 'victim' so pale and listless. I patted her and look at her with compassion. Poor young thing; not a day older than Grace but she was already on the way to be a mama. The would-be daddy will never get a chance to see how she suffers here. She has to be a career woman, a wife and a mama soon. No opportunity to rest at home as she has to fill her teaching duties.

You wonder how the changing hormones during pregnancy can cause one to collapse but they are here for real. You can never escape them. Some young expecting ladies have suffered so badly that they cannot get out of bed ; oh the all-upsetting hormones.

However, when the young expecting ones think of the babies who are to be theirs after 9 months, they will continue to struggle and hope the hormones will stabilise so they can enjoy the days there after. Papas will never know what it's like ; this thing call morning sickness. The aroma of cooked rice and garlic oil can also send the suffering mama up the hill. Then they become hungry at the oddest hours and crave for the strangest food. At other times, the brain refuses to work and you become sleepy all the time. How is it the 'morning sickness' also attacks one in the evening?

Oh papas must really love their wives for all the suffering the poor wives have to go through.

Hopefully the sweet young mamas of the school will be well and healthy.

A New One

A Cross Breed

When you stop at the Tapah Rest Area you will be greeted by its many fruiterers all fighting to have your attention to patronise their stores. One new species of fruit not seen or known to me in my existence caught my attention.

They told me it's cross bred between the apple and the guava. At the first instant my response was to ignore as the colouring was too artificial for my liking. However the bus driver told me that it was tasty and sweet and out of the world. I trusted his judgement and bought some.

Verdict :

When I served to my guests on a Friday evening, none of my buddies went near them.

Personally after tasting them, it did not go well with my buds and I will not go for another buy.

Trust your first instinct.

A Grand Aunty I Am

Yes...I have a grand nephew this morning at 2 am...a Kan junior.

How time flies. I thought it was only yesterday that the Laus and Kans were staying back to back at SS15 Subang Jaya. The two families had a whale of time with the children running in and out of the houses as if the whole back lane belonged to them.

Kong Kong and Por Por used to make weekend trips to see us and pampered all their grandchildren. Weekends would mean having gala cuisines and great feasting. And shouting names across the lane was the norm. Even our neighbour, the very Lat and wife Faizah were used to out loudness and at times join in the merriment...how time flies.

Por por with the love of her life and Grace on the bouncer

Ky Vern is especially close to Grace then. He saw Grace at birth and was absolutely mesmerised by her...then a tiny tot. Por Por loves Ky Vern to the core of the bone...he being the eldest child of her daughter. I remembered Por Por toiling through the nights to look after his needs during confinement and oh ...what a hard time he gave her. Today, yes...he is a proud papa ...his child born in the wee hours of the morning. Will the new arrival also love to open his eyes in the nights like his papa? This time even the new grandma would not take the risk...it's best to have someone else to look after him!

Baby Yi Jay is a timely gift and arrival by the grace of God. Praise the Lord as even though it was not a painless birth, things work out the way just as hoped...safe and sound ...both mother and child.

Grace, in the medical field having also helped deliver some babies during her training, had guessed that the epidural would help the mother through and so it did. She is excited at the birth too and can't wait to see the new arrival. She remembered her growing years with the cousin kor kor and reminisces about her childhood days and her growing years with him.

Ky Vern and Grace in their primary years...always hand in hand .

Many years later in their teens they are still great pals.

Finally, the grandest event of the year in Penang! And today...another grand event.

Congratulations Vern and May...on the arrival of your new love.

Super Baker

Any orders?

Brownie


Lemon Cheese Cake


Apple Pie


Peach Tarts


The year is 2007 - Nov? Dec?

Mom : What do you think you are doing?

No.3 : Baking?

Mom : I suggest you keep those ingredients and go back to your books.

No.3 : But why? I want to bake.

Mom : Go away from here. Your As test is just round the corner. Go and read your stuff.

Of course , instruction not taken. No. 3 baked.

Mom : What's that you're pouring into the tin?

No.3 : Cake mixture?

Mom : You've got it right? Looks strange!


Mom gave her that look. And...it was that look that gave No.3 the final punch .

After failing to secure a driving license for the second time, and whilst trying to salvage any ounce of confidence left in her, No. 3 decided that surely she must be good at something. She decided to try her hands in baking. Me, as usual not always able to stand mess and waste would never condone her new venture. But, my not so little girl has grown up. She could actually follow instructions from recipes, understood them and baked all on her own.

To cut it short, she was furious that I looked down upon her , gave her that 'you think you can do it' condescending look and was adamant that I ate my words...

Today, Sara has proven me real wrong. She has taught me a precious lesson; not to curb creativity and I must remember that my girls are capable of more than reading books and 'taking instructions'. They are individuals capable of making fine decisions and I must trust them.

Congratulations Sara ! Good job! Gifted! Mama super proud of you!

Any orders please? Can assure you they taste very good and not forgetting her cinnamon buns too...yummy

Childbirth

Right outside my room in school stood a familiar face. Where have I seen her? My old memory actually failed me at that juncture. Can I see the Principal? She enquired. Sure , but she's not in at the moment. Can you wait a while?


Then a call came in. A call from Down Under.

Ma! What is it like to give birth to a baby? I have just watched a video clip on childbirth! Ma...I am supposed to help deliver babies this friday from 10 pm to 6 am! Ma , tell me , tell me what is it like?


Then...it all came back. That's dear Pn Sang! She used to tutor this daughter of mine in Add Maths back in those good old days. Hi...are you...? Oh , Now I (we) remember...oh yes, oh yes...How is Grace?


Then the call came again...here you talk to your teacher. Hi, Pn Sang, Joachim told me you have moved to Shanghai....

For a few minutes they exchanged a short conversation. I was glad that call brought teacher and student together again at the most unexpected time and place. But once you are a teacher, you are forever someone's teacher. A touching moment especially when the teacher went all goo ga ga, delighted to hear from her protegee.


Now back to serious business. Childbirth.


Here girl...I am no expert in the field of childbirth but I can give you a few tips through my experience with the process.

When in labour,

1 the pain gets intensified after the first few pangs (within 2 hours?)

2. do not push unnecessarily

3. each time when that pain comes, relax your muscles and do not push yet

4. when the ultimate excruciating pangs come (the feeling is like not able to pass motion when
down with food poisoning) then it's time for the magic moment...push at the first instruction
of the doc...and there the baby is out (sometimes I wonder how male gynaes ever understood)

Don't worry about the baby's head being big or small or whether the labour pain is more intensive than the pushing out process cos the mother is just as confused about the intensity of pain. Everything and everywhere is PAIN. Never mind about what kind of pain.

The post natal blues are worst. Even more painful...everywhere painful. Post natal blues will be another episode. So, husbands love your wives. You will never ever know that PAIN. Your wives give you children ...treasure them for the labour of love.

Childbirth... birth pangs... God's great plans thwarted by Eve.

Am I Like That Too?

Mama and the girls

Read an article on "The Gap" in The Star dated 27th July 2008 and it set my mind reeling the whole evening.

Here's an excerpt of it:

...she is also the most annoying person on earth, and her nagging seems to come from a bottomless pit. She comments about every little thing - from the way you dress, the way you talk and walk, the way you drive, the way you do everything!..She loves to know what you are doing and who you are going out with...she wants the minutest details...she enjoys invading your personal bubble...you hate arguing with her, because no matter what, she is always right.

Mothers, are you like that too?

Well, the accusation up there sounds so so so familiar. But, girlsssssss.

It's because I love all of you to the max!

That's mama. So what now? How? Any solution in store? Peace.

To My No. 2

I crept into your bed at 5 am this morn just to touch you cos ' you are leaving me again.
This time for 5 months. What a consolation, only 5 months.
Soon you will be back for Christmas. Yay!

For the time spent at home for the last 5 weeks...thank you for the company and joy.

Mama now once again put you in the hands of Jesus
and
may the God of Esther ever be there for you in times of need and guidance.

I am trying not to be kiasu but be No.1 whenever possible.

Psalms 25:1-3 for you, my child.

Me? Blog?

Ahem.

They say NOW, it's time to start. To Blog.
OK, I will attempt to say things from my heart... discernment....wisdom?

...but definitely experience.

No more very young but at the same time not giving in to age.
Will try to share from some perspectives of life and if they can enlighten someone, anyone ..why not?

After all, as a mother of 3 charming ladies and a teacher for 29 years - and still up and kicking - perhaps, just perhaps I have something for you.

So, Blog I shall :)