Long break

>>What a long break from this blog. There were just too many things happening and time was so limited. Well, I am back and hopefully I have time to continue with new posts.

Monday Blues

When I was still employed outside of home, I used to look forward to the weekends so much. The anticipation will grow steadily from Mondays, accelerate faster by Fridays and I would be in the very good feeeling zone by Saturdays mornings (unless of course, I had to work overtime that weekend in which case, it was better for everyone else to leave me alone). I would thoroughly enjoy my weekends with the family and by Sunday evening, I would be in depression! So that was how it was, up, down, up down like the stock market.

Since I stopped gainful employment outside the home, my feelings are more steady. I still look forward to the weekends coz that's when hubby is also home and we can do more activities together. One of my favourite is to go to the park early in the morning. Or go shopping and dive into something totally sinful like lush banana chocolate cake. After the whirlwind of activities, I actually look forward to Mondays where I get to recuperate! Monday mornings, hubby is off to work and son no. 1 is at school. That leaves mommy and baby at home. So, the good thing about being a SAHM is that Monday Blues becomes Monday Peace!

Handwriting Sheets

Since I am a SAHM I have more time to coach my elder child on various activities. He prefers reading (could read well by 3.5 years old) compared to colouring and writing. I believe that is partly due to the fact that his finger muscles were not strong enough to hold a pencil for a long time so he gets tired easily.

Initially, I bought books with trace the dots alphabets. But over time this can get quite costly. In addition, sometimes, he needs more practice on certain alphabets only. So it does not make sense for me to buy the books just for a few alphabets. Sometimes I even draw the alphabets dots myself but that is so time-consuming!

So, when I stumbled on Nick's writing wizard, I was ecstatic! Its so easy to use. You can key in your choice of alphabets or words and it will generate the handwriting worksheets with the corresponding dots. Its also wonderful for a child to practice writing his or her own name. Check it out!

Online Contests

Received good news today. I just won 4 tickets to a local theme park! How exciting. Can't wait to tell my son. He would be so excited. The baby enjoys it too but he's too young to really understand.


See, another good thing about being a SAHM is that with the little teeney weeny pockets of personal time during the day, you can do whatever you want. And I have found a new hobby........joining online contests. As long as you know where to look, there are so many contests on sites like facebook and contests blogs. I don't join all contests. Only those with prizes I would like to win. So far, I have won a desinger watch, books, premium toys for my kids, thumbdrive and now theme park tickets. See, even if stay at home moms don't have income, there is another way to get things for our family!

My Breastfeeding Battle

Since I knew I was not returning to work after my second child, I was more determined to breastfeed. In the first month, I, or rather my breasts had every complication in the book. Engorgement, bloodied and cracked nipples, mastitis and from that, I was sleep deprived, stressed out and frustrated. Then, I kept thinking that Breastfeeding was the most unnatural act in the world!!!! A nurse say I had 'breast fever' (????). They were so engorged and so hot. Soon, I came down with fever and was on antibiotics. Still I persevered simply because my second child was a natural born sucker! He was so good at it. Not like my first born who was biting instead of sucking when he was an infant. We had to go see a lactation consultant and well......that is another story.


Back to my second child. I didn't want to give up coz he was good at sucking which helped establish a good flow. I think I just didn't master the right rhythm of let-downs and emptying my breasts which caused all these problems. Also, having NO ONE to guide me, other than books and the Internet, didn't help. People around me were more clueless than me! A lot of things I had to find out through trial and error.

But I had something very important. A very supportive husband. He helped me in every way he could and also took care of my elder son whenever he could. That helped A LOT!


After the first month, ALL complications suddenly disappeared! There was no pain, no engorgement, no breast fever. Just fully functional breasts and a very happy baby which made mommy ecstatic as well. My thoughts changed from "Breastfeeding is the most unnatural act in the world" to "I love Breastfeeding".


The bond that I feel with my baby is so strong which made mommyhood an even more enriching experience. I enjoyed it so much that.........I am still breastfeeding my baby and he is now 18 months. He is still so in love with my breasts and refuses to give it up.


If I was going back to work, I would've given up in the first month but knowing I was going to be home full time, I persevered and I am glad I did. Because of my experience, I have also been elevated to position of 'breastfeeding consultant' among my friends.  Sometimes, its not really about giving technical advice to new mommies. Its just about lending a ear when it is needed. I am glad to help whenever and however I can coz I found out that Breastfeeding is a really wonderful experience.

www.starfall.com

There are numerous learning tools on the internet even for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers. I know that some experts don't agree that babies and toddlers be exposed to the TV or internet when they are below 2 years of age. I apply the concept of Life in Moderation. As long as it is not for too long, I am ok with it. After all, how do you entertain a baby the whole day. There's just so much singing, dancing and reading one can do. Also, my baby only stays quite for 5 - 10 minutes anyway before he decides he wants to do something else!


I found out about this wonderful website, http://www.starfall.com/ when my first born was a baby. Its wonderful. By the time he was two, he knew his ABC all the way to Z. I am not saying that this website guarantees that all babies will learn their ABCs by two years old. Its just that it has worked for my son was it was an effective learning tool which was fun for him and me! Other than the ABCs, they have other programs for older kids which is very interesting and educational. Try it and see if your kid likes it as much as mine does!

Pro of being SAHM - Breastfeeding

One of the great benefits of being a SAHM is that being at home encouraged me to try harder to breastfeed. When I had my first child, I stopped breastfeeding after I returned to work. That was because my workplace was not supportive of breastfeeding mothers. There was just no place for us to pump! Some mothers have resorted to do it in the toilet and to me that was yuckkks! If you have seen the condition of the lavatory you would know what I mean. Then, my thoughts were what's the point of sterilising the bottles if I was going to pump in the yucky dirty toilet!


I became a SAHM after I had my second child. This time round, I was more determined to establish a good breastfeeding flow. After all, since I knew I was not returning to work, I knew I could breastfeed for as long as I or the baby wants to.


And breastfeeding has or rather IS one of the greatest experience I have as a mother. I absolutely love it. Despite facing numerous challenges along the way, I feel so much closer to my baby and I absolutely melt whenever I see a smiling baby with a nipple in his mouth! Its as if he is saying 'Thanks Mom!' It has worked out so well that I am still breastfeeding him at 18 months. I don't know when I will stop or when he decides that he no longer wants to breastfeed. But I don't think he is going to stop anytime soon!