Tag Archives: raising a boy

His first competition and 5 lessons

Posted in Everyday Life, Parenting, Family and Relationships by
When I was younger and participated in various school competitions – to me they were just stuff you do to win a prize. Little did I know that all these activities serve certain purposes and was part of an education. These were learning processes beyond the classrooms 4 walls. Even colouring activites are of benefit as we can ascertain whether a child can colour in the lines, recognize colours and use them appropriately. for instance, not colouring a cow purple and those sort of things. When I had a child myself, I began to discover the beauty of extra curricular activities. 

Ee participated in a Nasyid competition recently. He was apparently chosen by Teacher Zara because he was one of the few who memorized the song well. All they needed to do was practice and boy little Ee learnt a few things while training.

He learnt to;

  1. Accept criticism – in the beginning, he was a bit shy although he have been in the company of Teacher Zara and his friends for nearly a year now. Hence he was singing initially in a whisper. Teacher Zara chided him gently on that but instead of taking it in, he did the normal toddler thing. He sulked, muted his voice and refused to participate. He said he wanted out. He merajuk long time. Until we made him see the importance of singing out loud. Of how he could help his team and Teacher Zara to win. He understood and went to see his teacher – apologized comically and was back in the group.
  2. Obey instructions – he was able to move according to cues. He listened to Teacher Zara on when was the appropriate time to speak, eat and even pee. He was learning to respect authority accordingly.
  3. Be part of a team – he was engaging with his friends as a team player. He acknowledged his team-mate as the group leader and himself as a team member.
  4. Interact with a wider group of people – that the world does not evolve around him per se. That there are other preschool kids just like him at a different place.
  5. To win, you must make an equally good effort – his team won 3rd place in the competition and the prize came with a mini trophy. He was so proud of it he posed a selfie with it quite frequently. He also had a bonus lesson; that life is unfair sometimes. He was surprised when his cousin who fell sick on that day could still get the trophy despite not singing the nasyid. Ha ha ha..

As a young mother, I am looking forward to more life lessons like these. Congratulations Ee, Mummy is very proud of you.

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Preschool Days

Posted in Everyday Life, Parenting, Family and Relationships by

I find it hard to believe that my flesh and blood is going to kindergarten today. I finally got to meet the lovely Teacher Zara who was Mr Husbands kindie teacher as well. Imagine the experience she accumulated over the years!!

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I still remember part of my preschool days and it was awesome. I went to Tadika Sri Keria in Kuching – I sometimes wonder if it was supposed to be Ceria instead of Keria. It was a lovely preschool on top of a small hill at the roundabout. Back then, popular pre-schools were montessori based. Mine was I think, normal. 

My teachers were called Mrs Hamid Bugo and a particular Mrs Bakhtiar who we addressed as Mrs B. We had the usual kindy fun activities like playing with water cans, treasure hunting, hide and seek. Then there were things more academic like collecting stars for your homework well done or for good behaviour. We had ‘intensive’ maths class as well, as we sat in a circle with our workbooks and Mrs Bugo would go around the table and tick our answers as we solve the problem. Hence, we felt pressured to complete at least an equation before our turn came once again.

I once had to have my forehead stitched because I played ‘ice skating’ with my friends using socks as blades and talcum powder sprinkled to the parquet floor as ice. It was a lesson well learnt.

The best teachers are the ones who see you as a person, recognise your interest and encourage you to pursue on. I will always be fond of Mrs Bakhtiar. My dad was transferred to Semenanjung due to work commitment hence the whole family followed suit. Knowing that I love books – she gave me a really big book as a gift. It costs her MYR 70++ at the time which was considered to be very expensive.

the book meant more than a gift. It meant ‘I love you and take care!’

Tantrum – his milestone

Posted in Everyday Life, Parenting, Family and Relationships by

I usually have it easy. My boy would bathe on time, sleep on time, eat his broccoli and play his toys nicely. It would be a rare occasion to have my son cry or throw a tantrum. must be the mother’s angelic genes. 

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Last weekend however, was horrendous. For God knows what reason, this 3 year old boy of mine is beginning to have an opinion of his own. Everything has an excuse to NOT doing it – refusal to bathe, refusal to wash his Number Two, refusal to eat rice. It’s like him being possessed by an indecisive Emily Rose.

Is this a milestone I’m not seeing in my Paeds Protocol reference book? I mean he is turning 4 next month. Poor december babies – they’re just growing up but the year has passed them. I remembered when he turned exactly 1 years old he could suddenly walk without a topple. So could that be it? Another milestone of the dark side?  See.. even doctors get clueless when it comes to their own kids.

Last night when everyone was just super tired of being a normal human being and by that I mean completing house chores, shopping groceries, folding endless laundry etc.. when ya know we just want to lay down on the bed and sleep the night off – my son did not want to wash and change into his pyjamas. Not even his favourite bear pyjamas with the pockets at front.

Mr Tantrum paid a visit and made him throw his collections of Ultraman on the floor. He shut off the TV and kept the remote control away from his father. He wouldn’t let me touch or hug him. He just wanted to be a little 3 year old called Diffy Cult.

I just couldn’t have it and threatened to switch off the lights to our room. He thought I wasn’t serious – I felt ‘challenged’ so without laying any physical harm towards him (never did) I flicked off the switch. He howled and cried so loud I was worried that the neighbours would think that we were abusing him or something. 5 seconds later I turned on the lights back of course but he was still playing that game of ‘I am Diffy Cult’. I left him in the bedroom sobbing more slowly – to play a mindless mini game on my computer. But I couldn’t concentrate. My candy on screen can’t seem to crush very well.

Soon he came out to look for me but recognizing his other friend – Mr Mini Eegow he did not come near me. He sat at a different chair and just watched me. Then from the corner of my eye I saw him slowly lying down on the couch, still sobbing but from what I gather becoming sleepy.

Being a softie that I am, I went up to him and touched his face. His eyes were like really droopy by now – he ‘regained consciousness’ when I gave him a kiss on the cheeks and without a fuss he said

‘Mummy.. I want to shower”

Then everything became normal instantaneously. I lathered him with his favourite soap, put him in his pyjamas, combed his hair the ‘encem’ style and applied a bit of oil fragrance on his neck.

He later climbed up the bed, pulled up his blanket, hugged his toy elephant and ZzzzZZzzz.. he passed out. Then I prayed hard that he would be a good boy the next morning.

Ill souls on a weekend

Posted in Everyday Life by

Baby Hazeeq seems to live in an imaginary yet effective little bubble. For he is the only one among us 3 who is not infected with the flu and fever. I’m not quite sure whether to rejoice that he is well or feel sorry that he has to play on his own.

The terrible bug attacked Mr Husband and I last weekend.

I had a terrible oncall in Casualty. Despite a grateful 3 hour snooze from 0330 to 0630 I woke up to a flat tyre that needed changing and a tortoise speed drive back home. Once at home, I was greeted by a couldn’t-be-bothered husband on the couch. He muttered an ‘eh’ from beneath the blankets and continued to wrap himself in it like a mummy. Dopey from probably his chlorpheniramine. Baby Hazeeq was already doing the helicopter spin on the floor with ‘snacks’ on the table and the TV switched on to Frozen. A bait to leave the father alone. And it’s only 9 in the morning.

I managed a quick breakfast. Chucked down two tabs of paracetamol and a tab of piriton down my throat before I too, took a spot in front of the TV in the living room to …. rest. In between my ‘nap’, I would be awakened by Hazeeq playing his dinosaurs on my contoured body of hills and mountains. Later, I am supposed to be a giant in a deep slumber. I just have to make a roar now and again to make him happy. Once Hazeeq got bored, he told me to change the channel to Minions. And then Frozen (again). And then Monsters University. Oh well, at least I get an 80 -90 min rest in between.

Lunch was toast and leftover pasta for the little guy. Mr Husband and I just gulped down glasses of water.

We felt better during tea time but we were still groggy. We had pizza for takeout. And mushroom soup for the soul. Perhaps the happiest person was Hazeeq by then as now he gets undivided attention from both his ill zombie- like parents. Who happened to be doctors. And is expected to come back to work again the following day. MONDAY.

An attempt at #mincibento

Posted in Food and Drinks, Mini Project, Parenting, Family and Relationships by

I am a fan of anything or anyone close to Kawaii (cuteness). That I have to constantly remind myself ,

“Minci..for gods sake. You are 31. Not 3”

I tried to tone down in allowing myself to be carried away with Kawaii-ness. I used a proper black Faber Castell Ball Pen 1423 1.0 although I am dying to use a ballpen with cute little trolls sitting at the edge when clerking my patients. I recently purchased 2 pairs of court shoes on sale (buy 2 for MYR80) despite wanting to parade around the whole Casualty Unit with striking heels heavily adorned with flowers and buttons. I wear proper professional clothing fit for the budaya koprat thingy as opposed to a gothic- lolita like dress with purple lipstick in the Red Zone.

An account on Instagram for the past few months however, shone an alternative way to channel these Kawaii-ness tendencies in a healthy, adult-y manner. I mean look at those adorable planners with stickers, the mind-blowing arrangement of books, the intricate designs of colourful cakes and pastries .. and my recent obsession; Bento Meals!

Bento Meals which not only looked cute but presumably healthy at the same time. I have to admit, it does require a hint of talent and creativity to produce such masterpiece! And it made me wonder and actually tried to korek that bit of bakat which I hoped is there. I know its there somewhere. Please.. I want to make my own bento..

Since I am on leave today. I decided to give it a go with the little tools I have and ones I manage to find from Daiso. Imagine this was Japan, I could get euphoric from the many available kits they sell there!

Recipe : Beef Rice with Beef Kurma Kismis

Inspired from Chef Hanieliza’s 1 hari 1 Resepi book ..

tweaked to suit the palate of a Sarawakian and her toddler.

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A child version VS an adult version. ironic how the kids set looks bigger.. and heftier.

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Followed by dessert : Corn and Raspberry Ice Cream served in a halved-cone with sprinkles.

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Looking forward to making more #mincibento. Hehe..