Tag Archives: me time

Get the kids in bed early

Posted in Everyday Life by

If there is one tip I could give to mothers in improving their physical and mental well-being is that – try to get your kids in bed early.

Mothers always yearn for ME TIME. The meaning differs from one mother to another but the concept is the same – having time for yourself. It can mean getting your beauty touch-ups done, time to enjoy a movie, shopping, studying or worship. It could be taking a rest from the rest of the family to just do nothing and get some quality sleep. If you have an understanding partner, they will learn to give you that time even without you asking for it. Otherwise, it will be up to us to make it happen.

If my husband is around, he would usually give me My Time on Friday afternoons – the long break between office hours or certain hours over the weekend when he brings the kids to play with their cousins at the grandparent’s house (5 mins away).

My Me Time means I could focus on my part-time studies, eat in peace and just enjoy simple things that bring me joy. I do not have a specific day for it and it usually happens at random times of the week. But one thing I am sure of is that I try to make my nights free from the kids. Which is why I turn them in early. For now, early means before 10pm. But they rarely go past 930pm unless there is a special occasion. For example, takbir raya, big family activities etc. Most of the time, especially on school nights, the house is quiet by 9pm. Leaving me to attend to my own matters such as studying, cleaning the house, doing laundry, soaking in a bathtub, extra TLC to the skin and all. Of course, I am also tempted to turn in early which I usually do anyway.

So, how does it work? Don’t the kids rebel against sleeping early? So far, not much drama. They are manageable.

I finish work by 5 pm and after fetching the kids from daycare and religious school, I would usually be able to reach home by 6PM. Latest, by 615pm. I would prepare a simple dinner. Sometimes, my MIL would give us a tiffin meal if she cooks extra. In the meantime, the kids will respectively take their own evening showers, turn on the air conditioner for the bedroom and resort to their own activities until it is time to eat.

My eldest son would use the time to complete his homework. My younger daughter would either sit with him at the table doing her ‘homework’ scribbling something, read a picture book or play with her toys. I don’t allow them to watch Tv or play games on the mobile phone on a school night. So, once my son is done with his homework, he would usually read a comic book or assemble his lego. It’s a different scenario when their father is home. He is pretty liberal with TV time but that only happens on a Thursday night when he is back for his weekly visit. He is working in a different state. In other words, I oversee the kids more on their academic days.

Taking the husband out of the picture, we usually have our dinner by 7pm. Followed by Maghrib prayer and then with whatever that the kids want to do. By 8 till 830pm, I’d already been reminding them to keep their toys away and for the son, to pack his bag for tomorrow’s class. The kids would then have their milk – a mug for my son and a bottle for the girl. I have restarted my son on taking milk properly as I find that he has problems with his teeth. It is gradual with the plaque and loosening but I don’t really want all of them to fall off. He needs the calcium for his teeth and bones. Lights are off once they finished their milk and that is when my Me Time starts.

How do you allocate your Me Time?

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Me Time in Ramadhan

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It’s 0329H in the morning. I have another hour to go before I start to prepare Sahur for the family. I have been up since 0200H. Partly because of the baby waking up wanting milk and to change her diapers, another part was so I could solat Isyak, Tahajud and do some Quran reading. I also need to prep things for Ee’s school hols activity at his neneks house – this would mean arithmetic exercises and reading.

I have yet to fold the laundry which is piling up as fast as dust building up on the furniture. Most importantly this is a good opportunity for Me Time. 

Me Time involves me blogging, reading other peoples blog, doing some Quran tagging … or planning and journaling in my HOboMInci. I like that I can do these things in solitude without those ridiculing/mengusik eyes of Mr Husband. He is an extrovert. A typical one. Type A personality. He is very upfront in his conversations with people. He finds it difficult to understand why I need to blog. Or write in journals. Or why I choose not to work in the same clinic as his sister. So I do these things at times when he is not around. Or if he is around, I would sit somewhere where I could be alone. Lock the door if I must.

Me Time at work is during lunch hour. Where I have that one hour to reflect on things that morning and plan my moves and improvise my treatment plan for the evening sessions. I could also catch up on some reading on my Google Book app which is cool, cause reading on the smartphone makes you look less nerdy. Ha ha.

It is 0357H. Need to mark Ee’s math work now. Chiaow.

 

My 3 days off. Aneka aktiviti dalam cuti.

Posted in Everyday Life, Movie, Reviews by

Since Mr Husband and his family is away for umrah – the sole responsibility of caring for the kids rest on my shoulders. With a bit of auxiliary help from other members of the family. I was prepared and in fact, have put aside a considerable number of days for me to take leave for this matter. However, due to work constraints.. only 3 days were approved.

My main reason for taking leave was so that I could pick up my firstborn Ee from school on time and usher him to his school activities promptly. I’d feel worried if he had to stay within the school compound longer than he should. Otherwise, most of the hours I am pretty much a free bird as Baby Ninie is in daycare. I tried to negotiate my hours with my boss instead of taking leave , which in my opinion does not affect the clinics daily service – but I got a look and a sigh in return. so takpelah….Minci does not beg. Or take EL. I just feel that if you are in a position to help – please do so within your capacity. I saw a way to go around the problem but my solution was not accepted. Perhaps there are hidden things I have yet to know. My youngest brother thankfully will come over to help out next soon. Alhamdulilah walaupun lunch call hours rasa mcm dah burn.

Anyway – I reaped the benefits of my 3 day leave to the max. For myself – I got my hair done after having a Mak Limah balik kampung fashion for almost 2 years, watched a movie and shopped for new tudungs. I wished to get a full body massage but the parlours I surveyed opened quite late and I would have to rush to pick up my son. So, maybe next time – an afternoon session on days Ee does not have religious school.

My Hair Do

I chose a salon nearby called Heritage Hair Salon for my hair treatment using an Indonesian product range called MAKARIZO (green tea & butter). Having experienced quite a few other salons in Kuching and Selangor – this place would fall under the budget category with perhaps a rating of 5 stars out of 10. The hospitality (meaning the chatters and advice) is wonderful but there are a few aspects which could be nicer, I think.

I go to the salon for various reasons. Apart from the obvious of getting your hair managed, I choose to go to a shop to have my hair shampooed is because I want to enjoy the head and shoulder massage and read the many magazines they have! The ones that you wouldn’t really want to buy for yourself but love to read all the same. Heritage lacked that factor a bit.

My best head and shoulder massage was from a salon in Kuching. Can’t remember its name because I went there during my zaman jahiliah times.. but it was at The Spring. I had my hair cut into a pixie, bleached and got the best massage ever from a chinese, male hairstylist. I was treated like a princess, OK. Aduh.. pastinya pengalaman itu tidak akan berulang. Astarghfirullah. 😛 I think I went to Bali after that with my girlfriends.

MOVIE – BLACK PANTHER

This is one of the reasons why I never take Mr Husbands, or any other peoples reviews seriously. He said it was a boring movie. Ee and I on the other hand, enjoyed it a lot. I love how Wakanda’s women are so empowered and that sibling relationship goals are so cute.

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I went for the early bird showtime at Melaka Mall. I swear the workers there was amused that someone would actually watch a 10AM movie but that’s because they don’t have the vision of their bosses. These hours are meant for mothers like myself who steals time for a movie before they go about picking up their kids from school. I was literally standing in line for the counter to open. LOL. of course I took the time to explain to the popcorn girl that I need to fetch my kids. Just so when they talk about me during their break, this girl would enlighten them of my duties. Nanti korang jadi mak.. korang taulah ye.. nak cukur bulu kaki pun tk sempat kekadang. 

Other than my #selfreward activities, I also did the house chores and attempted to do some meal prep to lessen my cooking times. Hopefully it helps. LOL.

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I managed to also bring Ee to The Shores Oceanerium but that is another blogpost. It was a 3 day holiday well spent. I will remember to put aside some time for myself again in the future. Maybe with my girlfriends next time, InsyaAllah.

Me Time starts now ..

Posted in Everyday Life, Good Things, Mama Minci by

I rested my sachet of Peppermint tea in a Spongebob mug containing hot boiling water. While waiting for it to brew properly – I performed my ablution in preparation for my Isya prayers.

I wore my mint green telekung which I bought from Indonesia. I faced the Qiblat and made my niat. I raised my arms for the Takbiratul Ihram “Allahu Akbar”and  recited Iftitah, surah Al Fatihah and another short surah. I made sure my spoken words were at a pace which was slow and clear to my ears, I stood up straight till I could feel my back stretch and I pulled back my shoulders just so I could feel the relief of the spasms of the muscles down my spine in between my scapula.

Then I  Ruku’. A perfect 45 degrees bow facing the floor with both feet firmly to the ground. The back of my hamstrings were probably thankful for such actions – I felt like wanting to be in that position longer than usual.

Next was Sujud or prostration. I imagined all the blood flowing to secret areas of my brain as I placed my forehead touched the ground. I kept my back straight as I sit in between the double prostrations. During Tahiyat, I stretched my feet and back enduring that mild ache yet relief to the already exhausted body. Then it was time to give Salam – a head turn to the right and then to the left. The solat ended. Alhamdulilah.

I could really relate to this article: Why Mothers Stay Up Late. Hence most of my blog posts are usually drafted in the night. Or daytime when Mr Husband and my son is not around and I happened to be on Night Shift. Even 60 mins ‘me time’ is sufficient in a day. And what better way to spend it well on the perfect prayer.

My brew is ready. Sipping peppermint tea in my sanctuary, my happy place. My corner of kawaii stuff.

Oh I wonder, what do you enjoy doing in your ‘Me Time’??

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Me Time Vs Children Time

Posted in Mama Minci by

“Time spent on oneself means NO time spent on their children”

At least Victoria Beckham was being honest to the public. That she, does not have an army of people helping her to take care of her 4 children, that she too stays up at night and looks like a twig because Baby Harper hasnt learnt how to sleep through the night yet and the fact that she regained her pre-pregnancy figure 6 months after giving birth, as opposed to only 2 weeks like some celebrities…. is assuring.She is normal, just like me. Id love to know Angelina Jolie’s secret in raising her brood.

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I have to admit. I too have a screaming need to have a ME time. I used to be able to pay a visit to Tjantek Spa anytime I like. Or have a meal at Secret Recipes whenever I feel like it. Now with Baby Zeeq in the picture and Mr Husband on his quest to become ‘locum king’,(pffttt..Photobucket)  I have to work my way around these 2 babies.

Compromise. Yes, that should be the key. Or should I add on sacrifice. Like, an hour of your locum time Mr Husband?

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I can do without the visits to the spa or salon. What I need is that peaceful time to have a meal, a shower and even to solat. Perhaps allowing sunat prayers on top of the wajib ones.

Yes. it was a discovery I recently made. That while we can make time for our husband and children, it is only fair that we should also be given time to worship Allah.After all, it is from HIm that we ask for good health and extra energy to care for our families.