Jo's Musings

My dearest boy,

You're turning 10. That's going from single digit to double digits. Wow!

I wanna tell you that I love you. Have always loved you. Watching you grow up has been a pleasure and a priviledge. I'm glad we're been talking lately.

It saddens me to know you find it hard to talk to me but I really do understand. I am praying that you will find someone in your life that you can talk to and share with.

I hope you have a fun filled happy day. I pray God fills your life with joy and peace and love.

hugs and kisses

your mummy

Today, 10 years ago, I started a new relationship that will take me a lifetime to build and strengthen.

Today, 10 years ago, I fell in love like I've never done before. Gave away keys to my hearts of hearts without a qualm.

Today, 10 years ago, I glimpsed a very special someone for the first very time... didn't have my glasses on but I immediately knew he was gonna play an important part in my life  ahead. 

Today, 10 years ago, my eldest was born. He's changed my life in ways indescribable. 

To my darling Khai-ster... guess I shouldn't call you that any more... may God grant you wisdom to know right from wrong. Strength to do what is good, to love what is hard to, to forgive when its even harder. Joy, oh so much joy that it overflows out of you. Peace, to soothe all your inner ouchies. And above all... Love... to receive and to give of freely. 

wanted to jot this down before i forget... here's a S moment

me : i love you Shiyr-ster
S : i love you mummy
me : you do know i love you lots right?
S : I know... in my heart, I know *pats her chest*

and that's where I want them to know... not just mentally but to feel my love. I'm so glad that she does.

*cross posted at fb*

‎*annoyed* every Wednesday I face the same issue... the boys' dirty clothes can fill up 1.5 loads in the machine and its scattered around their room. WHY can't they just put them in the laundry basket?? not like I'm making them do the laundry... ultimatum given. If this happens next week, I'm gonna refuse to wash whatever is not given.... then sit back and wait for the complaints of no clothes to wear come it. *evil grin

• • Jenn Newgent Just remember to turn your back on the mess of the rooms... I know its hard, have done the same thing with my kids. Now they actually do it, though took awhile.

    14 hours ago · Like
  • <input ... >

    Joanna Peck trying to cool off... just so *pissed*

    14 hours ago · Like
  • Dayna Longwell Huzyak Let me know how it works out- my elder son is great about keeping up w/ room & laundry in hamper. Youngest- is just as you describe- but not sure that your solution will even work w/ him. After I gather laundry I get annoyed because of all the time I waste checking pockets & turning clothing right side out. GRRR!!!

    14 hours ago · Like
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    Joanna Peck so I'm not alone huh D... tell me they out grow this... s

    14 hours ago · Like
  • Renee Peters I did that with my step daughter when I kept finding the newly washed and folded clothes hiding under dirty ones in her hamper. Worked like a charm! I even got thank-you's when I started doing her laundry again :)

    14 hours ago · Unlike ·  1 person
  • Regina Chan Cool Joanna. Don't send your laundry to proper place = no laundry = no clothes to wear. I do that to my 7 year old. There are specific places to keep / hang used clothes. I catch it on the floor, I will ask if he wants it in the bin. I once threw his clothes into the bin and from then, no more throwing around. Key is you must carry out your threat. Don't be a NATO :p

    14 hours ago · Like ·  1 person
  • <input ... >

    Joanna Peck I hear you Regina... I've been nagging for months now... time to really show them what they're doing... gotta remember to tell my part time helper tomorrow too... why can't they be like my girl? I know, I know... cos they're BOYS...

    14 hours ago · Like

• Sherrie Yap ‎Joanna, make sure you carry out your threat. :) I train them really young and resist the temptation to clean up after them even if it is convenient for me. So I will get them to do it no matter what. Now it is a habit for them to put their dirty clothes in the laundry basket. Even my 18 month old does it (he probably thinks it is fun!) Your kids are a lot older but if you want to break this habit, you'd probably need to supervise them daily for awhile. Remember, it takes something like 6 weeks to break old habits and another 6 weeks to form new ones. And you can't expect what you don't inspect. Hope that helps. :)

  13 hours ago · Like ·  1 person

• <input ... >

  Joanna Peck Sherrie they were fine before... its just lately... especially after we rearranged closets... with the boys together... its like they're feeding off each other's laziness or something... sighz... yeah... will keep the whole 6 week thingy in mind... and chant "this *will* pass"

  13 hours ago · Like

• Sherrie Yap ‎Joanna Hate to throw a wet blanket but this kind of thing may not pass. I have cousins who are still behaving that way at 20something years old and their mom is still nagging. Their mom also threatened not to wash their laundry but she caves in because they started buying new clothes when there are no more clothes to wear. Imagine that?! I told myself, I am going to house train my kids no matter what because it is so unbearable to live with a person who is not house trained!

  13 hours ago · Like ·  1 person
• <input ... >

  Joanna Peck ‎:O trust me... I won't let it get to that point! my kids *will* learn basic life skills... even if I have to kill them myself!

  13 hours ago · Like ·  1 person
• Vivien Chong 那我们就开始吧！哈哈哈....

  13 hours ago · Unlike ·  1 person
• Chen Yee Ju LoL same issues here!

  12 hours ago · Like
• Alvin Chong Let me know when u wanna me to come in to the row. ><

  12 hours ago · Like
• Barb Griffin lol at the exchange. i second what sherrie's wriitten. you need to only watch them with a (sad) but hard heart as they fish out dirty clothes to wear again (in my case it was school uniforms). assure its not gender specific since, cough, cough, we have exceptions here (names not mentioned to avoid embarrassment).

  8 hours ago · Like
• Regina Chan ‎@barbs: er, it's quite easy to guess in your case :p

  7 hours ago · Like
• Barb Griffin heehee regina, is it? (innocent)

  7 hours ago · Unlike ·  2 people
• Jamie Soh Siew Peng Same experience here. However most get the message except for no.2. Think I should leave it to his future partner to nag. I sm sick of it.

  5 hours ago · Like
• <input ... >

  Joanna Peck ladies... thank you for your words of support, encouragement and shared experiences... its nice to know I'm not alone in my frustrations. Guess its all part and parcel of the parenting journey... *hugs to all*

  55 minutes ago · Like

  update on the vent from last nite...

  told the little boy to go change into going out clothes this morning. He disappeared and returned later carrying their designated laundry basket.
  K : see mummy... see
  Me : *looks into the basket and sees his sleep clothes* Good boy!!! I'm so happy you put your dirty clothes in the basket.
  K : *big happy contented satisfied grin*
  
  this kid of mine tries so hard and is soooo earnest and sincere... I pray he never loses that trait cos it'd do him good in the years to come.

me: itchy.. Itchy...ITCHY!!!! (at almost full volume)
k2 : *pat pat pat* 
then disappears 
comes back with my 2 steroid cream tubes and my special moisturizer... hands them to me and watches carefully as I apply them... smiling contentedly
me: thank you K2... you're so thoughtful... thinking of a solution for mummy then going to get it
k2 : leans in for a hug, cuddle and kiss

he just got home from school.. and says.. i wanna kiss... so i get two... 
whoever gets him as a bf is gonna be sooo darn pampered... especially if his EQ stays as high as it is now!

Alvin Chong Some say true love is strong and enduring
It’s also true sometimes the strong need reassuring
When we were young we long strolls in the park, 
Hand in hand so happily just walking in the dark
We loved without a care, without the worries 
but only the merries
I thanked God then as today for giving me you
We loved life and each other, 
we promised our devotion
“Till death do us part” we often say and 
it is still valid today.

We had not a lot of things or money but 
I have the best of life, my wife is my best friend
Today to just lie in bed as you fall asleep in my arms 
My place your spot is my pleasure
Always it’s the simple things that mean so much
As simple as just feeling your touch and heart
Now all these years later I feel so loved
By you and with you I am a very blessed 
Each day I awake and I realize what I want to do
I want to pour my life devoted to and loving you

We love today more than we did yesterday
Because each day I love you so much more
You are so beautiful, more beautiful each day
You beauty is more than it was yesterday
You have grown from a beautiful young bride
To a beautiful woman with love and life
I love you my wife and I hope you know 
that you are the best thing I know
I will love you as I always do 
and more so tomorrow as we enjoy more days together 
Just you and I

didn't wanna lose this... so pasting it here... :)

and just in case photobucket goes nuts... this is the poem

My wonderful wife

She is so beautiful, like the sunrise
Of red-orange hues that caress 
And all that's best of warmth and light
Meet in her form and her eyes: 
Thus mellowed to that tender flame
Which to any gloomy day denies all rights. 

One ray more, one shade less, 
Had half impaired the lifeless plight
Stirs such silent sea since slumber 
To softly remind that all is fine
How pure and dear the thought ablaze
I’d replay the scene; smile at the sight.

wow... its been a long time since I've posted.. just wanted to today as I've spent some time literally scrolling through memory lane. Reading through past posts is a wonderful way of relieving my children's childhoods. So many things that I've forgotten, so many pictures posted. I'm glad I made the time over the years to record those little gems of life.

Now, looking back I'm sorry that I stopped. They've grown so much and come so far. I guess I should start blogging again... I'll think about that :)

so why am I here today? well, came across this article on facebook - A License to Rape. I didn't realise that I've read it before but it struck a chord with me again today. Especially considering Al and I just spoke about Shiyr's birth again last night. 

Its an ongoing thing between her and me. I have serious... well you could call them guilt issues... about her birth, about her first year and about breastfeeding her. The birth was horrid, the first year was detached and I truly wish our breastfeeding relationship had lasted longer than 13 months.

Anyways, that got me wondering where all my birth stories were... so after much scrolling and discovering I had to be logged in to read one of them *horrors... giggle*... I know have the urls to all three... what I'm gonna do with them I don't really know. Read through the first and third. Refused to read the second. The third just reconfirmed the satisfaction and accomplishment I felt after Khen's arrival. It was a really special experience.

enough babbling for now... will try to do more soon

this blog is gonna be filled with family related posts... my makeup/ramblings will be mainly posted over at Frond's Fun... so do add that url into your blog reader or follow me there :)

there's a chat box where I'd love to have you drop a comment or two. Would love to get as interactive as possible.

So see you there ...

Khen to older brother : don't call me so loud... you made me bang my head!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

we were talking abt giving flyers for tuition at the school gate
and al was like ... not me
and i was like nope
so i said khai can do it
and he said no
so i said for extra pocket money
and the answer was still no... but
khen heard and said I like money
i'll do it
mummy i likkkkkeeeeee moneeeyyyyyyy
I can just imagine him at the school gate with flyers in hand, giving that "fang dian" smile of his... *grin*