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!

Stay At Home Mom

I gave up a professional career with a good package to take care of my kids. Friends and family were surprised and some even discouraged me saying it was a 'waste' of my education and it was better to leave the kids with a nanny. I am not against leaving kids with nannies. But the nanny must be someone I know. I didn't favour leaving the kids with strangers. After all, this person was supposed to take care of my kids' physical and emotional health.

I have faced a lot of negative comments about my 'career' choice.

"Why are you leaving your high income job JUST to take care of kids?"
"What a waste of your education."
"Are you sure you won't get into a depression?"
"Even if you can financially afford to quit, you should go on working just to maintain your network of friends."
"The kids will be fine with nannies (even if they are perfect strangers) after all so many other couples do it."


I find some of the comments hilarious. Motherhood must be the oldest profession in the world (as opposed to the other commonly known oldest profession!). And, I seriously thought that motherhood was supposed to bring joy and all all those lovey dovey feelings since we are always bombarded with messages on how wonderful motherhood is. So I was surprised at the negative comments? Or is there a secret I don't know?

Over time, has the job description changed from "bearing children and taking care of them" to "bearing children and then leave them with someone else to take care of them and only spend time with them occasionally?"

Don't get me wrong, I don't think there is anything wrong with leaving kids with nannies. But to justify that one should not give up a full time job so that one can maintain the network of friends, or to avoid depression, or just because everyone else does it? Hmm.....I am still scratching my head here coz I have yet to understand it.

So, before I am bought over to the other side and decide to go back to work so that I can KEEP my friends (although I am happy to report that no friends have decided to terminate our friendship just because I have decided to quite my job......so far), I will write about some of the pros and cons of staying at home with the kids. Maybe by laying down the pros and cons, then I will find out for myself if I should really go back to work. Good luck to me!