Peering into the baby monitor whenever DZ makes a peep at night, sometimes having to go over to his room to give him a pat or a bottle of milk if he wakes and for some reason couldn’t go back to sleep on his own, and typically crawling out of bed at around 7a.m (though with Sari now I could escape back into my room for another hour or two of snooze time) to start the day.
While some of my peers are busy climbing the corporate ladder and building an accomplished career, my typical week looks something like this: scheduling weekdays around play dates; outdoor time at West Coast Park, Botanic Gardens and the likes; doctor’s appointments; art class on Thursday morning; reading and trips to the library; grocery shopping and wet marketing; menu planning and cooking; plenty of play dough, puzzle and playground time, AND not surprisingly very limited personal time.
Some days are easier than others. Like when DZ decides to be a perfect angel at a playdate session, or when he finishes a meal withou much fuss. When everything I planned for the day unfold beautifully and seemlessly that for a delusive moment I thought I had this childminding thing down to a pat.
Then there were what felt like endless days of temper tantrums erupting from within my little volcano, when I’d be emotionally drained after a day of constant buttons pushing and boundaries testing. Or when a bout of cold coincided with another tooth coming out and broken sleep became the order of the day once more. Oh how my body and mind sometimes long for a break from all these daily nitty gritties.
That’s pretty much what life’s like nearing the mid thirties. Two years on and I’m still entertaining questions and suggestions from both friends and total strangers on my intention to return to work. Perhaps it is the fact that my mother was a stay-at-home mom to her four children and played a big and influential role in our growing up years, making this choice to give up work for family felt almost natural to me. The very, very occasional pangs of self doubt aside, this is truly a “dream” job albeit a much more exhausting and challenging one than I’ve ever imagined or was ever warned. So yes, nevermind the irreversible eyebags and dark circles, I know I am lucky indeed.
Advanced birthday meal at Jaime’s Italian with the hub as he was away in London on business trip on the actual day. Thank you for making it possible for me to be a big part of our child’s life and devoting my time and energy to our family as a SAHM, I love you so much!
Dad and Mom who insisted on taking me out on my birthday for simple lunch and tea at ION foodcourt. And the simpler the sweeter. Thank you for being ever supportive in all that we choose to do. You guys are the best!
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