Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Christmas memories

I write this while trying to complete my office work for today. I would hate to have to carry on working all the way till this evening! It's been a different kind of Christmas eve this year. One that's been quite stressful for me on the work front. It wasn't like that last year. I could take time off work and it was very quiet.

Nevertheless, I don't want my spirits dampened (a tough feat and it's been raining continually since the wee hours of this morning)!

So, I made a little mental exercise to think of all the happy memories that I've had in the past few years during this festive season.

Eight years ago this time, I was in London for a holiday. Spent some time catching up with some of my university friends. I was single and had quit my job, without any firm plans to find another job as I was burnt out! It was during this time in London that I renewed my friendship with DH whom I've lost touch with for years and well, look where we have ended up 8 years later. ;)

Six Christmas eves ago, DH and I were in Leicester doing some last minute Christmas shopping. One of the top priorities of our Christmas list was a diamond engagement ring! It took us hours to look for the right one (yes, DH is the practical sort. He rather that I see the ring myself than buy one himself without knowing whether I would like it or not). We were cold, hungry and very very desperate. We finally found a quaint jewellery shop called Lumbers. DH later shared that the cost of the ring was over his budget but when he saw how my face lit up when I saw it, he couldn't say no and bought it for me.




Five Christmases ago, I bought our first Christmas tree after marriage. My Dad and I had always put up the Christmas tree together and I wanted to have that tradition continue in my family. The same Christmas tree stands in our living room and this year, Osh Osh decorated it with lovely candy canes and plastic red mushrooms for the added colour!




Three Christmases ago, when Osh Osh was 5 months old, we had chosen one of his nicer photos and made it into Christmas cards to be sent to family and friends. We also had a few photos of him underneath the Christmas tree, lying on his front. It made him look like he was part of the Christmas presents. To us, he is indeed our greatest gift from God! I often forget that when Osh Osh kicks up a fuss and shouts. He didn't seem so much like a treasured gift at those particular moments!

Two Christmases ago, Osh Osh was baptized. He hated being wet but we all thought he was brave as he didn't cry. It was indeed another big milestone for him and for us.

Oddly enough, I can't remember much from last Christmas. Am I suffering from short term memory loss??
What I can hold close to my heart this Christmas are as follows: Osh Osh putting up the tree decorations with us; DH and I are settling down in a new church which we have just started going to this month, the love both sets of parents have for us, in helping us out to enable us to have some time to reconnect as a couple, the friends who have been there for us when the tough times hit us this year and lastly, DH and I have started praying again as a couple. The last item has been long overdue and I know some of you who read this will say, "PTL!"

As we remember the birth of our Lord this Christmas, may the reflection on his birth give each of us a renewed sense of hope and peace and a spark of inspiration, creativity and confidence to make 2009 a God filled, God driven year.
Blessed Christmas, everyone!

Monday, December 22, 2008

Regret

Yes, I'm back from my break to visit my parents. Right now, I'm in the office catching up on my own work and also covering my colleague's work. She'll be away this entire week so I'm pretty swamped. Luckily, it's the Christmas season so the workload is not as heavy as on normal days. However, trying to bring myself up to speed on my own work and looking after hers has left me quite exhausted and it's just barely past lunch time!

It was a good break. However, when we came home on Saturday afternoon, reality set in. I got short tempered again and quarrelled with DH yesterday. He was fed up and disappointed in me as we got along fine when we were away. What he said last night left me stunned. He said that he's too tired to carry the weight of the family on his shoulders. I didn't understand what he meant so I asked him quietly. He said he cannot be the only one trying to be cheerful and to lift me up each time I am down. I need to show him that I want to start being positive about things rather than whine and complain all the time. He's right. I always ask him to help me feel better when I am kicked in the gut, reeling over. It's a heavy responsibility on his part as he has his own worries involving work, studies and being a good husband and father. I often forget that and take him for granted.

I feel really bad right now as our argument yesterday tainted the end of a very nice holiday. We were both happy with each other and Osh Osh was really having a good time with my parents. I guess there is no one to blame for this except myself.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Ten arms!

A few mornings ago, on our way out to the car, Osh Osh was asking me to carry two of his Transformers toys, his school bag and him! I said to him, "Do you think I'm Four Arms?" Four Arms is one of his favourite Ben 10 characters which he absolutely adores, and yes, this character has surprise, surprise, four arms!

He grinned cheekily and replied, "No, you have Ten Arms!" I just laughed. He's so funny sometimes, especially when you least expect it. I was actually getting quite annoyed with him at that moment but after hearing his reply, the tension melted away.

Seriously though, I do feel like I have "ten arms" or rather it would be nice to have ten arms. Today, as DH is not home due to work, I had to multi-task - preparing dinner, washing clothes, giving Osh Osh a bath, making sure he finishes his dinner, pack his school bag, hang out the clothes, talk to him and play with him, tidy up the kitchen, fold the clothes, check today's mail, wash Osh Osh's potty, get him ready for bed, read his books, prepare his milk, brush his teeth, make sure he says his prayers (I ask him to think of things to thank God for each night) and after he's asleep, I tidied up the hall and exercised! Yes, I really wanted to fall flat on my face but if I didn't exercise, when would I find the time???


I know that there are a lot of women out there who are capable of doing immensely more than what I did today. I always admire such women as I am often struggling to stand on my two feet when the urge to crawl into bed and hide under the covers is so strong!

Well, I guess with more practice and the determination and passion for not wanting all the things in your life to come crashing down on you all at the same time, I'd make a pretty good juggler! Anyone know of any circus who would want me to join their troop?

Sunday, December 7, 2008

A Day of Communion

We have been trying out a new church for the past two weeks. We've not been attending church services for quite some time now. I guess we let DH's work and study schedule, my busyness with Osh Osh and certain personal issues, mainly anger, disappointment and rejection, get in the way of us attending church.

However, God didn't let us "off the hook" so easily. He's been prompting both DH and myself to resume church attendance. We have known of this church for quite a while now as it's near Osh Osh's school and much closer to home than our old church. So far, DH seems to enjoy the services. He finds the worship music there just right...not too loud and not too fast - yes, DH is one of the more conservative worshippers. The sermons that we've heard so far have been sincerely delivered and well thought out.

Osh Osh has been very well behaved in church. He played with his Transformer toys quietly and he patiently does his colouring while the pastor speaks. I carry him when we sing the hymns. He will ask questions about Jesus ("Why did Jesus cry?") and he recognized Amazing Grace (as we used to sing that to him before his bedtime when he was less than a year old).

Today, we had Holy Communion. Osh Osh was getting impatient and kept asking to go to the Fellowship Hall to eat 2 square biscuits (part of refreshments that the church provides with the free coffee and punch). I told him that Mummy and Daddy needs to go to the front to eat bread and drink wine first. He didn't quite understand but I promised him that he will get his square biscuits if he behaved himself.

He obliged and I carried him with me to the front of the church for the communion. He clung tight to me and gave me a big hug. At that particular moment, my heart was filled with so much love for him. I can't quite describe it in words but it just felt special...a special feeling and bond that both he and I shared as mother and son.




When I knelt down to receive the communion with Osh Osh standing beside me, I was pleasantly surprised that the pastor also gave Osh Osh his share of the bread and wine (i.e. round wafer and a small cup of Ribena). Osh Osh partaked in the communion by slowly eating his wafer and finishing his Ribena. I was so moved and he looked at me and said, "Can I have square biscuits now?". I had to stop myself from laughing.

Osh Osh was already baptized but he has never been involved in adult communion before. I'm very proud of him for being quiet and respectful when he was in front witn me. It was definitely a very memorable impactful moment for me and I'm sure for DH as well.
Today we had another type of communion at home. A closer fellowship in front of the tv! ;) DH has reserved the Wall-E DVD from the local video shop last week because it's a hot favourite now. Both DH and I have not watched it but Osh Osh had seen excerpts of it at school. So, Osh Osh was actually narrating the story to us for the first half hour. He knew when there would be "the fire" (from the spaceship landing) and when Wall-E's cockroach friend would make an appearance).
We had lunch while watching the DVD. It was a simple afternoon but a good family time together. I know people say that you shouldn't watch tv and have a meal at the same time. However, in this instance, we talked to each other while watching Wall-E, answering Osh Osh's questions, explaining some of the scenes to Osh Osh and laughed at the funny scenes. Overall, it was just a very relaxed, fun afternoon.
I think DH enjoyed Wall-E too although it wouldn't have crossed my mind that this would be the type of movie he'd enjoy. Who would have thought that a simple story about an innocent lonely robot wanting to find another robot just to hold its hand is so touching? I guess it drives home the fundamental fact that none of us, be it flesh and blood or wires and metal, wants to be alone. Life is much easier to handle when you reach out your hand and find another hand grasping it in return.

Friday, December 5, 2008

A happy moment

It's been another tough working week for me with a late night on Wednesday (due to work) and also a long meeting yesterday. I've not been spending much time with Osh Osh in the evenings this week. On Wednesday, when I arrived home, Osh Osh was already asleep and all I could do was just look at him in bed. Part of me wanted to wake him up so that I could talk to him but that's just very selfish of me as he needed his sleep and it was late. So, I didn't do anything. Honestly, I felt very sad that night. I also felt like a really lousy Mummy.


This morning, I could spare the time as I'm working from home and didn't have to "fight" with the human traffic in the morning "rush to the office" commute. DH and I dropped Osh Osh off at school together. DH couldn't stay long as he needed to get to work but I decided to linger on.

Osh Osh happily walked into the classroom (he's now moved up to a new class - Nursery) and two of his Nursery class friends were there, EN and Jan Jan. There were 2 other older kids (a boy and a girl) from the Kindy class in the play area as well. As it's still early, the kids don't go to their respective classrooms and hang out together for a while until the rest of their friends arrive.


The older girl was playing with Jan Jan, showing her how to thread round bead-like blocks into a long stick, with EN looking on. Osh Osh came and took a stick and sat down beside Jan Jan. He was just very happy and chatting away. He commented that the colour beads on the stick that Jan Jan made looked like an ice cream and Jan Jan smiled.

Then, the older boy flipped through his Power Rangers sticker book (now I know where Osh Osh discovered Power Rangers!) and Osh Osh beamed. He asked the older boy, "Why you have Power Rangers book?" and moved closer to look at the stickers. EN joined them too. So, all three boys hovered over the book while the 2 girls carried on playing with the bead blocks. Then one of Jan Jan's blocks rolled away and she just said to Osh Osh, "Go get it!"

To my surprise and amusement, Osh Osh immediately jumped up and ran to take the block, returning it to Jan Jan. Jan Jan said to me (I was just standing outside the room, looking in through a big window) and said, "My block roll away". I take it that was her way of explaining why she ordered my son to retrieve the block for her.

Yes, you guessed it. Osh Osh really likes Jan Jan. There was one point of time (almost a year ago) that all Osh Osh could talk about was Jan Jan. He was also very protective of her in that if I said something which he thought was negative about Jan Jan, he would become very angry. He's much better now in that he doesn't need to talk about her everyday! The power a woman, or a little girl for that matter, has over the man/boy who is crazy about her! ;) This really made me smile.

Osh Osh went to sit with the older boy and EN again. He saw me and smiled. Then he proudly told them that's his Mummy. They turned and looked at me and I smiled. Then, the older boy gave one of his Power Rangers sticker to Osh Osh. Osh Osh took it, stuck it on his left arm and said, "Thank you." I beamed.

Then the three of them carried on chatting about the Power Rangers stickers. I couldn't quite make out what they were saying but they were clearly engrossed by the book.

I decided to leave. As I walked to the train station to head home, I had a warm happy feeling inside me. My son is a happy sociable boy who has good manners plus he has a "girlfriend"! :) In a way, I'm assured that I can't be doing too bad a job as a Mummy. There are days when I doubt my ability as a parent. I believe this happy moment was given to me by God to let me know, "It's ok. You can breathe easy. Osh Osh is doing fine. Don't be too hard on yourself".

It's amazing how a simple moment like this can be bring such a powerful message to me.

Friday, November 28, 2008

Something's got to give

I just came out of Osh Osh's room. Sat there for a while, watching him sleep. I had to hold back my tears.


It's been a stressful 2 days for me. Work has been particularly demanding and my superiors have been doubting my judgment calls which makes it a very difficult environment to work in.


Osh Osh's school is closed for 2 days due to their annual spring cleaning so he's at home with me while I try to do my work. I asked my inlaws to come over and help but it didn't turn out well. They try to help and have good intentions but Osh Osh has been very clingy to me these past 2 days.


For example, this morning as I was typing on my notebook, the phone rang and someone from work wanted to discuss something with me. Then Osh Osh came over to the dining table where I was seated and kept asking me to play with him. My inlaws were trying their best to tend to him but he raised his voice and kept asking for me. It was so frustrating and my colleague could hear all the commotion that was going on. So, finally, I had to hang up and scolded Osh Osh for behaving so badly. Argh, I am so frustrated and drained.

I just feel so overwhelmed and stretched! It's as though I'm going to collapse under this heavy load of juggling work and family. I don't know how much longer I can keep this up. Expectations of me at work have increased because everyone is expected to deliver more given the current economic crisis and also company reorganization. As a result of my work stress, I'm short tempered with Osh Osh, DH and my inlaws. Everyone just seems so miserable now.

Something's got to give...is it my job or my family? If I give up my job, does it mean I'm giving up "my life", the life I have other than being DH's wife and Osh Osh's Mummy? If I "give up" my family, I would hate myself for it. How do I decide?

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Busy Bumblebee

I've been busy as a bee today…a bumblebee to be exact!

What's the story? Well, Osh Osh has a list of the toys he wants for Christmas. Yes, a list at his age! As you know, he loves Ben 10. One of his favourite Ben 10 alien is Four Arms (a big red guy with yes, you guessed it…4 arms!) and he wants the action figurine of it. He also wants Power Rangers. I don't know why and I don't like them.

He doesn't watch them on tv so he may have picked it up from his friends at school or maybe he saw some adverts on the toys on tv, in between his Ben 10 programme. He has also asked for a caterpillar toy (I guess that must have stemmed from The Very Hungry Caterpillar play) but we're not getting him that. On top of all that, he's been asking for the entire Transformers toys collection!

Last night, we spoke to him and told him that we can't buy all of the toys he wants as they are very expensive. Daddy and Mummy don't have so much money to buy so many toys. We need money for food! ;) We proposed to buy just one Transformers toy for him and that's Bumblebee because it's cute, Osh Osh likes it and so does DH! He thought about it and said ok. He also said that if we can't find the Bumblebee toy, we don't have to buy him anything! That really moved me, considering the length of his Christmas list (which he formulated last month) and how persistent he's been in asking for them. To move from that to this i.e. being happy if we can't buy him anything for Christmas made me go, "Wow!"

So, today during my lunch time, I went to Toys R Us which is in the mall near my office. Unfortunately, this particular Toys R Us outlet ran out of the Bumblebee toy. I asked one of the customer care consultants to call up the outlets and guess what?? They all ran out of the Bumblebee toy!!! They told me it’s one of their best sellers and they don't know if they will be able to replenish their stock in time for Christmas.

I panicked! DH and I had seen it in a small toy shop over the weekend but we didn't buy it as we thought we could get it easily at any other toy shop including the one near our home. We also didn't want to get it as Osh Osh was with us and we didn't want him to see it. As DH and I are really busy during weekdays and he's got to work this weekend (and I have to attend a parents teachers meeting on Saturday), I decided to rush to that toy shop (about 1/2 hour journey by train from my work place) to buy Bumblebee. I was feeling stressed, tired and hungry as I haven't had time for lunch but I just wanted to get it. Osh Osh has been so good and well behaved lately that I feel I owe it to him to get that toy for him.

When I arrived at the shop, I quickly went to the display area of the Transformers toys. At first, I couldn't see the Bumblebee toy! I felt so disappointed. Then I went behind the display and there was a stack of boxes and Bumblebee was sitting right on top of that stack! Hooray! It was also the last one left so I grabbed it! I got carried away and bought Prowl too (another Transformers robot which can turn into a motorcycle which Osh Osh likes too) as that was also the last item left. I've not decided if we will give Prowl to him for Christmas or whether we will save it for another special occasion.
I took the train back, had a very quick lunch (about 10mins) and rushed back to work. Luckily, my workload today is not that heavy and I can breathe a little. Whew!

I can't help but think how my antics today somehow resembled Arnold Schwarzenegger's crazy Dad character, albeit I was less crazy!, in an old Christmas movie titled Jingle All The Way in 1996. Here's the link on the movie.


The things parents do for their kids!!!

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Capterpillar and Christmas Tree

This weekend is an eventful one. Yesterday, we took Osh Osh to his very first children's play, The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Other Eric Carle Favourites. It's a puppet show by Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia, Canada. The puppets are painted in bright colours and against the "black" light, they glow in the dark. Very colourful and entertaining and all the kids who were there loved it. You could hear the squeals of laughter and excitement in the entire theatre hall.

There were 3 stories, The Little Cloud (about a little cloud wandering off on its own and having some fun transforming itself to different objects), The Mixed-Up Chameleon (a chameleon with an identity crisis, not believing that it can be happy with its true self - I can relate to that!) and The Very Hungry Caterpillar (this caterpillar can really eat!).

Osh Osh was excited and kept asking where is the Caterpillar. That's the only character he really interested in although he did laugh when he saw the chameleon. The whole play lasted about 45 minutes and Osh Osh was tired 2/3 through the play. To him, the Caterpillar was a no show! He felt that the Caterpillar had stood him up! He started to cry. I comforted him and kept saying the Caterpillar will be out soon. He sobbed into my chest as I carried him on my lap.

When the Caterpillar finally showed up, Osh Osh was still crying. I guess he was so overwhelmed with emotions: the long wait for his much anticipated character, the fact that he was also hungry and the dark theatre. All these factors contributed to his mixed up and uncontrollable emotions.

However, it didn't take him long to be his happy self again. He watched keenly as the Caterpillar ate through lots of fruits and food. Each time the Caterpillar finished eating something, it would kick away the remnants of the food with its tail end. Very funny!

Towards the end of the play when the puppeteers came out to explain how they manipulated the puppets to make those moves, Osh Osh was already walking about, exploring his surroundings. I'm glad we went, despite the short crying spell. Overall, I think it was a good experience for him and for us.

Here are some momento shots:






Today, we put up the Christmas tree together. Osh Osh was asking about his Christmas tree every time he saw one in the shops. So, I couldn't put it off any longer. This year, I must admit, this tree is all "him". I assembled the tree but he coordinated and put the decorations up by himself. What he couldn't do (either because it was too high or too awkward for him), he asked me or his Daddy to help him. He was so thrilled when he saw the end result of his tree. I'm very proud of his efforts too. What do you think?


I told him that this Christmas tree was put up by us as a family and he happily repeated that statement. It's indeed a warm feeling; akin the ones you get when you watch one of those soppy Christmas movies on Christmas eve in the comfort of your home.

Right now, my little man is playing on my bed with his army soldiers and dinosaurs (I think they are preparing for war) while Mummy has some time to herself on the computer. Bless his heart! ;)

Friday, November 21, 2008

Mummy's blown away!

Today is a big day for all of us! Osh Osh is performing on stage for the first time in his life. As I mentioned in my earlier posts, he was very secretive about what he will be doing even until last night. I was anxious, nervous and excited for him. I kept thinking to myself, "Will he get stage fright? Will he cry? Will he fall down?", etc...yes, this Mummy is a professional worrier!


So, yes, I know you're all dying to hear how it went. It was AWESOME! He is really a star performer!



I was blown away. DH was there with my inlaws too and I think they were all very moved. I was already crying even before he came on stage. One of the teachers had put together a powerpoint presentation of photos of the kids in the school and when I saw Osh Osh's happy and mischievous face on the large screen, I just cried! Sob Sob Sob...I am such a softie!

For the first performance, Osh Osh had to perform a happy dance with his classmates and the theme is National Day so they came out in really nice traditional costumes. He was wearing a white long sleeved Chinese top with matching trousers and had bells tied around his wrists for the added musical touch.

We were blessed as we had front row seats and it was a great view. Osh Osh saw us but he kept so composed. He smiled and carried on with the routine. We could see that he put so much of his heart and soul into the dance steps. I thought he was so mature and disciplined! That was the first moment Mummy was blown away.

The second performance was even more amazing. The kids played Chinese drums so they each had a little drum to themselves. Again, it was a Chinese outfit but this time, it was gold (now, I don't have to buy Osh Osh any more new clothes for Chinese New Year next year!). Osh Osh was really into it. He was doing all the right moves. He knew exactly when to drum, when to wave his drumsticks into the air, when to tap his drumsticks together for the beat and when to turn around and jump. I am so amazed. Yes, I was blown away again!

The grand finale was about 20 minutes later when all the other classes had finished their respective performances. Osh Osh came out on stage with everyone else and just swayed to the music. The older kids sang but he didn't. He looked so happy.

Finally, the teachers made all of them sit down on stage and came the roll call. The parents are to come to the front of the stage to collect their child when their child's name is called. When it came to Osh Osh's name being called, he ran down the stage stairs and jumped straight into my arms. I was so filled with pride and a certain type of feeling that I can't quite describe. "Mummy" feeling, I guess.

All of us lavished him with praises and hugs and kisses. He performed so well, beyond my wildest expectations! I am so impressed and he has shown me a different side of him. I should have never underestimated him. He's grown up so much. There goes that "Mummy" feeling again...where are my tissues???

By the way, my star performer is having a much deserved nap now. ;)

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

The "heal all ills" bath

What is the cure for all ills? I believe I have found the secret! A nice long hot relaxing soak in the bath tub!



I know what you're thinking...I've lost my marbles. How can a bath cure all ills? Bear with me as I explain.

I had a very tough 2 days.

Work: I've been cooped up in a meeting room all of Monday and today with an entourage of high level top management team from London. It's been extremely "brain-draining" on all of us who participated as they demanded so much out of us.

Osh Osh: The specialist doctor on children's speech told us that Osh Osh requires fortnightly therapy. Her prognosis was good but we still have to go through the motions.

Relationships: I've had a horrible quarrel with my inlaws tonight. You can sum it up as expectations not met. I've not spent much time with DH as I was home late last night due to an obligatory work dinner and tonight, he's on shift duties and won't be home.

After my inlaws left and I settled down, I spent some quality time with Osh Osh, assuring him that Mummy may have gone bonkers but she still loves him very much.

After he was sound asleep, I ran the hot water into the tub, together with seaweed bath salts. I applied tea tree facial mask on my face and a hair mask for my hair (to improve his its shine and softness). Then I played one of my favourite Norah Jones CD. When I soaked in the tub for 20 minutes, all my tension, worries, guilt and frustration melted away. I didn't want to get out but the water had turned cold and I was starting to resemble an old prune!

I now feel relaxed, rejuvenated and at peace, ready for a good night's sleep. That's why my belief in a nice bath being THE cure of all ills remains ever so strong! :)

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Making amends

We went grocery shopping this morning. DH wanted me to cook some noodle soup for lunch and I wanted to have breakfast outside for a change. Osh Osh didn't want to go out as he rather stay home to play with his toys and watch tv but of course, we couldn't let him stay home alone.

Anyway, off we went. DH bought a nice breakfast meal for Osh Osh in return for his word that he will behave well when we go to the supermarket. It tends to be quite crowded during weekends, as expected, as that's the time everyone has time to do their groceries.


DH brought Osh Osh around the supermarket while I quickly went around the aisles getting the ingredients I needed. By the time, we regrouped at the check-out counter, DH was angry and scolding Osh Osh. It appeared that Osh Osh was kicking up a fuss, asking DH to buy him some corn chips but DH refused as they were the spicy ones, meant for adults. Still, Osh Osh refused to listen and gave DH a hard time. The supermarket was crowded and noisy so you can guess that didn't help calm DH down.


DH wanted to give Osh Osh a severe punishment but I didn't think it was that serious. Osh Osh was already looking very remorseful and sad. Anyway, we agreed no tv for the entire morning.


When we got home, I realised that I had forgotten to buy the most important ingredient of all...the noodles!!! DH agreed to go out to buy them. He also needed the walk, just to get some air after what had happened.


While DH was out, I talked to Osh Osh and asked him to make amends to his Daddy by doing something nice. I suggested colouring something for his Daddy. I had printed out some of his favourite Ben 10 characters from the internet. Osh Osh eagerly agreed.


Osh Osh had only started holding the pencil correctly last week. Prior to that, he was holding it with a tight fist as if he was going to "stir" the paper with the pencil. I know that a lot of kids, his age or younger, already know how to draw and colour well but I'm just glad he's ready now and he's enjoying colouring.


Here's the end results:



Four Arms is actually red and black in colour but Osh Osh wanted some variety. He tried very hard to colour within the lines and I think he did well.


XLR8 (pronounced as Accelerate) is actually blue and black but I like the purple touch (my favourite colour but no persuasion from Mummy) Osh Osh has good taste! ;).

DH had calmed down when he came home with the noodles. I can see he really liked Osh Osh's colourings and DH gave Osh Osh significant praises. It's been almost 3 hours since the incident. Osh Osh spent the rest of the morning playing by himself while DH studied and I cooked.

I guess the "making amends" idea worked as both Daddy and Son are now watching tv together! :) Mummy's happy too as she's finally having some "me" time blogging. I think I deserve a pat on the back...well done, Mummy. :) Ha ha

Friday, November 14, 2008

A much needed reprieve

A much needed reprieve just doesn't seem to be coming for me! I hate not having time to do my own things which includes blogging. Now, it seems at best, I am only able to blog once a week, on Fridays when I work from home. Sigh.


Some updates on what's been happening with us:


DH: He's still on the mend from his flu (and I think I caught it from him too as have been sniffling a lot over the past few days). He's been studying whenever he can to keep up the momentum. He's also put forward the paper work for his deferment of his national service enlistment in order for him to be able to resit the exams in April 09. Praying for a good outcome of his application to defer.


Osh Osh: We took him to his first speech therapy session on Wednesday. He was quite relaxed and happy. He didn't want to leave the clinic when it was time for us to go as they had so many toys there which he couldn't get enough of. However, I was quite surprised and upset when the speech therapist told us that Osh Osh has to attend fortnightly therapy sessions. I thought he had improved a lot in his speech and stammered less since we last saw the doctor in early September. We have another follow up appointment on Monday to see the doctor and will see what she has to say then.


Osh Osh has also been practising for his year end concert (next Friday - Nov 21) and yesterday, they had a full dress rehearsal at the concert venue. We dropped him off at school and he and his friends along with his teachers took the school bus there. When we picked him up, we were very curious as Osh Osh has not revealed to us what he and his friends will be doing for the concert. All the teachers will tell us is that it's a song and dance. I find it quite amusing that Osh Osh is so tight lipped about the whole thing. You would have thought he would eagerly want to show us his dance steps, singing his song repeatedly but nope, we couldn't pry anything out of him!


Now onto me! As I'm also feeling under the weather, I've not had any time to myself lately. Most of my 'free' time after work is spent on chores and Osh Osh. After Osh Osh goes to sleep, I sleep too as I am too tired to do anything else. DH and I haven't been had much time to sit down and talk. Our conversations are often rushed through dinner, in between chores and a few words before we sleep. I really don't want this to carry on as we're not reconnecting. It is definitely not good for the marriage in the long run. He's not working this weekend so I plan to carve out some time with just him alone.


Work wise, I've been busy attending internal workshops and meetings all focussed around the reorganization of the company and control issues. It's quite draining especially when the same things are being drummed into us again and again. The management wants each of us to sing the same tune as them so I guess an overkill of repeated information would do just the trick.


There are 2 job openings within the company that I wanted to try for. These positions would be a move up for me. However, my manager did not support my intention to apply (in the company, if you want to move internally, you would need your manager's approval first) and there were valid reasons for her decision. So, I am disappointed and feeling somewhat trapped now. I've been sitting in my current role for almost 2 years and it doesn't give me any more fulfilment.


DH said I need some time off just to relax and think things through, to chart my course for next year. So, we have planned a short break to go back to visit my parents in December. We'll let them take care of Osh Osh for a few days while DH and I find a peaceful beach resort to escape to! Praying it will do both of us good. Oh...December just seems so far away now...I can't wait to exchange the noise of heavy traffic, crowded trains and food courts, demanding work environment to the sounds of the ocean, lazy mornings and walks on the beach...






Friday, November 7, 2008

It's ok, Mummy, it's ok

I can't stay angry at Osh Osh for long. I'm not writing this because he made me angry recently. It's just that while I was doing my work today, I heard his voice in my head and it made me smile. A sense of contentment filled me.


So, what did I hear? Well, it relates back to something he did a month or two ago. I was tired after a long day at work. I wanted to get dinner ready and Osh Osh was playing with his toys on the coffee table. There were toys everywhere and not an empty place to put his plate of dinner down. I was fed up and impatient. One of those evenings when it would only just take one more thing to trigger an explosion in me.

I know not keeping his toys is not a major crime but I wasn't in the right frame of mind. I told him sternly to keep his toys and I can remember feeling tension creeping all over me.

Osh Osh looked up at me from where he was seated. He smiled and said, "It's ok, Mummy, it's ok". At that point of time, I didn't get what he meant. He repeated himself and then went back to play happily.

I can't remember exactly what happened next but I calmed down and realised that it's not the end of the world that he didn't want to keep his toys yet.

What a nice reminder to me. My 3 year old son has taught me a valuable lesson in life. No matter what happens in life, it's ok to just carry on playing...we don't have to allow stress to get the better of us.


That's why every now and again (like today) when I hear his voice saying, "It's ok, Mummy, it's ok", life just seems sweeter and I am able to smile.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Perception

Perception :

1. the ability to see, hear, or become aware of something through the senses.

2 the process of perceiving.

3 a way of understanding or interpreting something.

4 intuitive understanding and insight.

I extracted the above defintion from the Oxford Dictionary.


Why am I emphasizing this word? Due to a series of communications and meetings at work, I've been perceived in a way that has been negative and possibly detrimental to my appraisal at the year end.

The upper management has taken the view that I am not keen or proactive enough when it comes to my work. They feel that I should be carving out my personal time at home to make calls to my counterparts in other time zones in order to expedite matters.

That is their perception.

I believe I work hard. I put in the extra hours. I'm efficient and I act quickly, promptly and decisively.

However, I've not been one to promote myself in public. I'm one of those who do the work quietly and resolve matters on my own without making a big fuss of things.

So, what do I do now? I've been feeling low and demoralized by these comments and feedback as I have been working so hard for the past few months, fire fighting issues for the company in relation to what's been happening in the world economy. Colleagues have suggested that I have a face to face session with my manager and inform her that I don't think her perceptions and those of her superiors are right.

I'd better start thinking about writing a fabulous advertorial to start "selling" me the right way??

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Adventures with friends

This is a light hearted post which I believe is the preferred mode. Osh Osh is really into role playing and story telling lately. He has 3 very good friends now and they are: Alex the Lion (from Madagascar), a little robot he calls Transformer and Spiderman.

I got Alex from MacDonalds yesterday. They are giving away these Madagascar toys as part of the Happy Meal to promote the sequel to Madagascar. I didn't buy a Happy Meal but happened to buy breakfast at MacD and I asked the cashier to give me the toy because my son would like to have one. She was reluctant at first but I kept smiling and it worked! :)

Osh Osh is into Transformers too (the cartoon series) and the little robot was a freebie that came with a toothpaste which my inlaws brought over a few months ago. He wasn't that keen on it then but since his interest in Transformers grew, the little robot is now one of his best friends.

Spiderman is an old toy from last year. Osh Osh has always been a big fan of Spiderman and this toy is one of his all-time favourites.

Every chance Osh Osh has, he will play with his 3 friends. He makes me hold either 1 or 2 of them and he'll hold Alex (his favourite for now as Alex is the newest edition to the family). Alex will ask Transformer and Spiderman questions and I, ahem, I mean Transformer and Spiderman will reply.

The 3 friends will have adventures together. They visit each other at their homes (different locations in the living room, selected by Osh Osh and these homes match the colour of his friends, eg yellow surroundings for Alex, blue for Transformer and red for Spiderman), have dinner together, travel together, help each other out (eg. Transformer is often heavy and clumsy so Spiderman has to carry him to places) and fight and make up (they love giving each other hugs).

These 3 friends are quick to forgive each other. They are considerate as they often ask what the others want to do. My favourite "adventure" is when Osh Osh takes a book, makes them all sit in front of the book and he "reads" or rather narrates the story of the book through his own interpretation of the pictures.

Believe me, Osh Osh tells me exactly what to do and say when I role play his friends for him. If I miss a line or do something wrongly, he gets very upset...what do you think? Does he have the making of a movie director? A mother can hope...

Friday, October 31, 2008

What happens next?

DH and I did not fight and I know many of you were concerned that I would beat the living daylights out of him. I didn't.

I didn't go the airport and when he arrived home, I was tucking Osh Osh in to bed. DH asked why I was cold towards him and I told him I will explain later as I wanted to get Osh Osh to sleep first. His parents didn't tell him what I told them (I had spoken to them earlier explaining why I didn't want to go to the airport).

To cut a long story short (because I am just so tired and drained at the moment and typing this from work), DH's opinion is that it wasn't because he started off on the wrong foot for the first day. He genuinely didn't know the answers to a few questions and even if he had arrived 3 hours earlier to the exam centre, he still wouldn't have gotten it right.

I apologized to him for jumping to that conclusion. I reiterated that I feel that it is such a waste of effort and hard work on his part if it was due to the delay of arriving at the exam centre. He repeated saying it wasn't because of that.

However, as expected, he felt that I should be more supportive to him at this time. I told him I am unable to do that.

It's not just this exam and him failing it. I am just so disappointed and drained. All 5 years of our marriage, I've been putting my life on hold for him to clear these exams which he promised me that I can "start my life" after he passes. My life meaning what I want to do in my career, what I want to pursue. As his job takes so much out of him, I have to be the one to be there for Osh Osh when he needs a parent. He used to tell me that once he passes, he would have more time for the family because he doesn't need to study anymore and then I can embark on what I want to do.

Looks like that has to be shelved for now. I feel like I'm living with an empty shell of a husband.

DH isn’t really around even when he's home. He's just detached mentally and emotionally. His reason - he is distracted with his studies and exams. Sometimes, I feel that although he is physically at home, he's not with us. Well, that is going to carry on for another year. I have spoken to him many times about this; about how we're not connecting anymore and about how he doesn't connect with Osh Osh. His reply - he will change.

He's often hot tempered and he takes it out on me and Osh Osh when he is fed up with all his studies and exam stress, when he feels that his colleagues have moved on ahead of him, when he feels he's been short-changed by God. We've talked at length about his temper many many many times. His reply - he will change.

How do I feel today? I told him last night, a part of me has died. He went back to sleep.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Unspeakable anger

That is exactly what I am feeling right now.
DH's friends sent text messages to say that DH failed. Most of them passed.
My unspeakable anger is not towards God. It's towards DH.
I feel that he brought this onto himself when he couldn't get a taxi to the exam venue on his first day and ended up all flustered when he got there. He had studied so hard and I just feel that this failure is just such a waste and could have been prevented.
I know I am using the word "feel" and yes, I agree I am very emotional now.
Some of my friends have sent me text messages and emailed, asking me to calm down and to think of our marriage as he needs my support at a time like this.
I just can't do it. I am not going to the airport. His parents will be there. They can give him the support which I am not able to do so now.

In limbo!

It's about 9 hours more before DH is home. It's been such a stressful week for all of us. As most of you know, I've been sending out prayer requests for him and yes, I'm behaving as though I'm the one sitting for the exams! Thank you all for standing beside me on this, being united in prayer and "holding" my hand (even though some of you are miles away), telling me, stay calm, stay calm...breathe!




Yes, DH started the first day of his exams with a hiccup as he had great difficulty in getting a taxi (despite the fact that he easily found a taxi the day before on his dry run to the exam centre) and was flustered throughout the day. I'm praying that God will turn things around and make things good for him. He's probably finished his last oral exams as I type this (before 4 examiners) and is probably on his way back to the hotel to check out. He needs to get to the airport by 2pm to check in for his flight home.

His results will be out this evening. As he will be airborne, he's asked a friend who's staying over the weekend to check it out for him (it will be posted on a notice board outside the exam centre) and she will send him a text message. So we will know the outcome when he arrives at the airport. I guess the expression of his face will give it away. However, I must admit a lot of times, DH's face is quite expressionless!

Osh Osh is also having an exciting day today. He and his friends together with his teachers took a bus this morning to the venue for an onsite rehearsal of his graduation concert. The concert is late November so it's timely for them to start rehearsing now. I was talking to one of his teachers this morning and she said it can be quite stressful for the kids as they have a lot of routine to remember. I hope that despite that, Osh Osh will still enjoy himself.

I'm working from home today to save the travelling time as I need to pick Osh Osh up from school earlier, let him have dinner earlier so that all of us can head to the airport in time to welcome DH home. However, I must not let Osh Osh know that by going to the airport, he will miss watching Ben 10 on tv this evening! If he realises that, between Ben 10 and greeting his Daddy at the airport, can you guess what his little heart will desire more??

Yup, Ben 10 will win hands down...no competition at all! :)

Seriously, whatever the outcome of DH's exams, I pray for peace and strength for him and for us to accept what God has planned for us. All in good time...8 hours and 47 more minutes to go...tick tick tick...

Monday, October 27, 2008

Anxious

I don't feel like writing much. DH is in Hong Kong now and tomorrow's the first day of his exams. I'll be at work at that time (9.45am) and yes, although it's not me sitting for the exams, I can feel his stress and his anxiety! I've not spoken to him yet and will call him later tonight.
There's so much riding on this exam for him and well, in an indirect way, for us as well. Once he passes, there will be no more exams to take and he will have more family time with us. I'm praying that he will make it through this time!
Well, I can't think of anything else to write. I'm just feeling quite stressed and restless and in some ways, helpless too. Will keep praying. Thanks for reading.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

The sweetest voice

I rarely get the chance to hear Osh Osh's voice on the phone as I'm always with him and it's usually his Daddy or his grandparents who call him.

Today was my turn! It's such a rarity and such a treat!
My Mum's here to help me out while DH leaves for Hong Kong for his exams this Sunday and he will be away for about a week.

So, on my way out of the office, I called home to see if everything is ok. Osh Osh didn't go to school today because Mum wanted to spend more time with him. While talking to Mum, she told me that Osh Osh wanted to speak to me.

I heard the softest, sweetest voice on the phone, after a second or two of silence. My conversation with Osh Osh went like this:

"Can you show me Ben 10 on your computer?"
(His favourite cartoon of the hour! I went online last night to look up the names of Ben's 10 aliens - they go by names like Ripjaw, Four Arms, Stink Fly, Grey Matter and some names which I can't remember. He wanted to see them again tonight. Osh Osh can remember and describe each alien character accurately and he just loves looking at them - don't ask me why! Something I will never understand as I think the aliens look ugly.)

"Yes, but you have to wait until Mummy comes home first"

"Ok" then he continues (I later asked Mum if she had prompted him and she said yes. It doesn't matter because he said it and I'm sure deep down inside his little heart, he meant it too.)

"I love you, Mummy"

"Can you come home?"

"Yes, I'm coming. Have you eaten dinner?"

"No"

"Go eat dinner and be good. Don't give Poh Poh (meaning my Mum) a hard time. Mummy will show you Ben 10 on the computer when Mummy is back"

"Ok"

"I miss you, Mummy"

"See you later" and he passes the phone back to Mum.

I was smiling all the time I was on the phone with him, while walking to the train station. Hearing Osh Osh's voice over the phone made all the stress, tension and fatigue from work melt away. I thanked God for blessing me with him.

Somehow, this phone call was like a wake up call for me, to stop and really take stock of what matters in my life. My family, the people I love. Not my job (although lately, I've been so bogged down by matters at work including the uncertainty of keeping my job), not where I live, not whether I can afford a vacation, not whether I have enough money for retirement...yes, I know all these things are important too but I shouldn't let them overwhelm or consume me.

I hurried into the train...all I wanted to do was to go home and give my little man the biggest hug and kiss I could muster...simply because he said, "I love you, Mummy".

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Clumsy feet dance

This morning was a bit of a rush. Although it's a Saturday, DH has to attend an all day tutorial for his coming exams. I was trying to meet Osh Osh's needs and fix breakfast (trust me, he has a lot of demands when he wakes up) while DH was busy sorting out documents before he left.


Amidst our busyness, I decided to give him a longer hug than usual in the kitchen. Somehow, we started to sway while hugging. Before we knew it, we were doing a two-step dance, moving around the kitchen. We were clumsy but we didn't step on each other's toes. We didn't want to stop but we both had things to do and DH was running late. So we stopped.



Throughout the day, I thought of that moment and I sent DH a text message telling him that thinking about it made me smile. He replied that he was also thinking of it and it made him smile too. :)

We've been under a lot of stress lately that moments like this morning are rare. The little dance we had made me think. We may never be the "Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers" type of married couple who has their every step synchronized to each beat of the music of life. Nevertheless, we don't fare too badly ourselves. There are times we are too absorbed in our own daily activities and our own problems that we fail to hear each other's rhythm and end up hurting each other by stomping on each other's feet. However, when we slow down, make the effort and really tune in to each other, we realise we hear the same notes and feel the same rhythm and together, we dance a happy dance of marriage, albeit somewhat clumsily at times, but always together.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Something's not quite right

I'm sick again! I seem to be falling ill every month! What gives?? There's definitely something not quite right with me.

I had my gynae appointment yesterday morning (the usual annual routine check up) and she said all was fine with me. I told her that I've been having problems trying to conceive a second child and she said not to worry. I wanted to have some tests done to see if I'm infertile. She said that can wait as she thinks I'm normal and don't have any problems. She did say that stress is definitely a factor and yes, DH and I have been so stressed, him with his studies, exams and work and me with work, Osh Osh and surprise, surprise, trying to conceive! It's a catch 22 situation. I shouldn't be stressed about the thing I'm so stressed about!!

My gynae is a really nice lady. She was very positive. When it was time for me to go, I said I'll see her next year to which she replied with a smile, "No, I'll see you when you're pregnant".
After my check-up,I went back to work. That was when I started feeling feverish. Guess there must be something in the air in the office! :P Seriously, the fever was high so I couldn't sit there and do any more work. I went back home to nap.

DH brought Osh Osh back from school together with his parents. I was still sleeping when all of them came home. DH and Osh Osh came into the room to see how I was. Osh Osh was happily carrying a paper star which he did for his art and craft session. As my fever was high and I was slightly delusional, I couldn't quite make out who that little boy was. He didn't look like Osh Osh, rather he looked like an older boy and oddly unfamiliar. Anyway, he happily chattered away (I can't remember what he said) and left the room. DH had to leave too as he had another study session to attend in the evening. My inlaws helped look after Osh Osh the rest of the evening until Osh Osh turned in for the night.

Today, Osh Osh is at my inlaws' home. We decided not to send him to school as there are some cases of Hand Foot & Mouth disease there, one of whom was a boy in Osh Osh's class. As it's highly contagious, we thought it was best to keep him away from school for the next few days. I think I may have it as apart from the fever, I have many ulcers in my mouth! That's one of the symptoms!

So far, Osh Osh is fine. He had a mild fever over the weekend but it subsided 2 days ago. DH is keeping his distance from me as this is a crucial revision time for him with his exams being less than 2 weeks away and he doesn't want to fall ill.

Right now, I'm home. As I'm writing this post, it is quiet outside. I've just done the laundry and hung them out to dry. Not sure what to eat for lunch as my mouth and throat hurt. Maybe I'll just drink some milk.

Back to my hunch that something's not quite right. DH said that every time I go through a very stressful period, I'll fall ill a few days after that. That's what happened to me last month and it's happening again this month. He said I should learn to cope with stress better and have better control of my emotions. I have to agree with him on that. I tend to be very emotional and always seem to mull about things, over and over again until it eats me up!

Maybe I should have a lobotomy! Hmm...that's too severe, isn't it? Take up yoga?? Any suggestions? Don't let me mull alone!!!!!

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Moving up!

Osh Osh sleeps in his own room down the corridor from ours. However, all this time, he's been sleeping on a mattress on the floor as we thought he wasn't ready for his own bed yet. We also thought that with him rolling about so much in his sleep, he'll probably injure himself by falling off a bed.

Lately, Osh Osh has been asking to sleep on a bed. We took him seriously and decided to give him a trial run on the guest bed. We started 3 nights ago and he's been sleeping well on it. I believe there's familiarity there as my Mum sleeps on that bed when she visits and he often goes over to play with her and have his bedtime stories read there by her.

Today, we decided to give him his very own bed. DH has an old foldable IKEA bed which is kept in our storeroom. He decided to take it out. It's the size of a single bed and not very high off the ground so it's just right for Osh Osh. DH spent a lot of time cleaning the frame and mending one of its support planks. He also vacuumed the mattress as it was dusty.

We set up the bed together. We leaned his old mattress against the wall and propped the bed against it. That way, when Osh Osh rolls towards the wall, he won't hit his head against the hard wall. Osh Osh chose one of his old bed sheet which has Mickey Mouse and Lightning McQueen (the red car from Cars) on it - my Mum found the material and made it for Osh Osh.

We also put some pillows and his favourite soft toys on the bed. We also put another mattress on the floor next to the bed so that if he does roll off the bed, he won't land on the floor with a loud thud!

Here's the end result! :)



Osh Osh was really happy with the end result too. He leapt onto the bed, declaring that he likes his bed, his new bed, very much. He slept very well in it during his afternoon nap. Well, it's almost his bed time now...so I better end this post here. I guess moving from the mattress to the bed is a step up for him...showing us that he's indeed growing up! :)

Friday, October 10, 2008

Recession and regression

I'm not having a good morning today. Osh Osh was in a difficult, "I refuse to cooperate with you" type of mood from the moment he woke up until he got to school. I asked him to brush his teeth and get dressed and he refused to budge! He insisted on wearing his "sleeping clothes" (that's what he calls his pajamas) and curled up like a ball and covered his face with his hands so that I couldn't get to him. Argh!



When I eventually got him ready, he wanted to be carried and he said, "Like baby". This means I was to carry him horizontally with his head near my breasts, just like when he was a baby. So I humoured him as we were still home. However, my mistake! Osh Osh wanted me to carry him in the same way when we were outside! I don't know why he wanted to be a baby again. I figured it's because I scolded him in the morning for being difficult and he just wanted to be affectionate.

Anyway, he's in school now and I should get some work done. I'm also feeling low, partly due to the difficult morning, partly due to what I read in the papers today that recession has officially started for us here. I wonder what lies ahead with the world economy looking so gloomly. Will we all get to keep our jobs? Will what we earn be enough for our daily needs? Nothing we can do now but wait it out.

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Scared silly!

Osh Osh was very well behaved all of yesterday which made it a very happy and relaxing Saturday for me. He even cooperated patiently when I cut his hair yesterday evening. He kept still for what would be a very long time for a preschooler. I normally have to rush when I cut his hair as he can't stay still. However, this time, I could take it slow and do a nicer job.

He asked me to comb it like how Peter Parker combs his (yes, he knows Peter Parker is Spiderman's alter ego) i.e side parting. He seemed very pleased with the end result. :) He said, "Mummy, my hair very nice" when I gave him a mirror to evaluate his new hairdo.

Anyway, DH was at work all of Saturday. After I put Osh Osh to sleep around 10pm (half an hour later than his normal bedtime as I decided to give him a treat for being so good), I sent a text message to DH to check if he could come home instead of staying over at his workplace. He replied he can leave after 11pm. So I decided to stay up and wait for him. I turned on the tv and there was this movie titled The Ring, which was the American remake of the Japanese horror film of the same name. Here's the link to the movie if you are keen:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0298130/

I love watching horror films but I suffer from being very scared afterwards and have difficulty sleeping. Needless to say, this was one of those movies that I find myself drawn to although part of me just wanted to switch off the tv and run away! I was watching it from behind a small pillow covering my face (yes, you can start laughing at me) with my legs curled up on the sofa.


DH arrived home after 12midnight just as the movie ended. He found me on the sofa, pale and unable to move (yes, keep laughing!) and asked me, "Was that The Ring you watched?". He knew I was watching it as I had told him earlier that I was going to watch a horror movie while waiting for him. When he saw the state I was in, he smiled and gave me a big hug. Good of him not to tease me!


It helped that he came home just in the nick of time. Otherwise, I would have been too scared to move or go to bed. DH - my lifesaver! Whew! I think I will give horror films a rest! It's not good to scare myself silly again!

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Gifts and goodies!

DH is home! :) I took half day leave off work today to be at the airport to meet him. My very excited father in law (FIL) was there too. When I saw DH walking towards the arrival gate, I told my FIL that there he is. However, FIL was probably too filled with emotion to spot him until DH was face to face with him!


It was so good to give DH a nice long hug after 8 long days of being apart. DH looked very tired and worn out because it was a very long flight. Flying economy class in a dry stuffy aeroplane with limited leg room is not much fun! The important thing is that he's home and catching up on sleep, as I type this.


DH didn't have any time during his stay to do any shopping as he was busy studying. However, he managed to buy things for us at the airport just before he left for home. He bought his parents a nice jar of strawberry jam and tea. He bought me a lovely box of chocolates! I was very surprised at the size of it (it's a really big red box, if you can't estimate its size from the photo below) and he managed to pack it into his little carry on bag! It was very thoughtful of DH as this is my favourite type of chocolate.

He bought Osh Osh a model aeroplane. It's just the right size for Osh Osh to hold and play with. When I went to pick up Osh Osh from school, I had brought the aeroplane with me. I told Osh Osh that this is a gift from Daddy. He said, "No, Daddy not back". I said, "Yes, Daddy's home and he's sleeping". I then went on to tell him that as soon as he gets home, he should go and say hello to Daddy and thank him for the gift but I told him he must say it quietly. Osh Osh looked at me and asked, "Not loudly?" I said no and he proceeded to whisper "Hello, Daddy". "Softly like this?" he asked keenly. I said yes and couldn't help and smile as he looked so serious and cute at the same time.

True to his word, as soon as we were home, he quickly took off his shoes and while I was still at the entrance, he was already on his way to our bedroom. By the time I got to the room, Daddy was awake and Osh Osh was asking, "You buy aeroplane?" I noticed that he was speaking very softly to DH. He then climbed onto the bed and hugged and kissed DH after which he climbed down and proceeded to leave the room, to let DH rest. I thought that was very mature and considerate of Osh Osh.

Coincidentally, the model aeroplane wasn't the only gift Osh Osh received today. The teachers at his school (about 8 of them) each gave him a gift for the Children's Day celebration (Children's Day is tomorrow but the party's today as the school is closed tomorrow). I was just as amazed and delighted as Osh Osh was, with all the gifts he received from the teachers - pencils, pencil cases, sharpeners, colour pencils, a portable fan (with soft rubber blades so it's harmless), eraser, a book and lots of sweets!

I told Osh Osh that he is so blessed to receive so many presents today. He said he's a very good boy. He is, indeed, a very good boy! :)

The purpose of my post is not to glorify material goods. It's just to share what these gifts mean for us. The gifts are just gestures of the love that is in our lives. I'm sure DH was very happy to see the expression on my face when he presented the big box of chocolates to me. Likewise, it was a very special moment for me to see how Osh Osh's face beamed when he saw the model aeroplane. It was also such a nice warm feeling when Osh Osh and I opened the presents together. I'm sure DH felt the same when he eventually joined us while Osh Osh was describing his goodies loudly. We shared his delight when he first put the pencils into the sharpener. We were just as curious as he was when he asked us what sweets he had received. We excitedly helped him keep all his goodies into his pencil cases.

Simple things...but oh, so meaningful! It's moments like these that I am so grateful for.