How Far Would You Go

It all started one week before the school holidays. Kor-Kor came back from school asking to buy an art book from a flyer distributed from school.

I told him no need even though the book is only RM10 (since most of the time he would just buy & then chuck the book somewhere after he got it).

But on the last day to pay up for the book, he called me in the office, pleaded that he really wanted to have the art book. So I gave in & told him to get the money from his grandparents who would be visiting at lunchtime. This was Friday - one week before the school holidays.

When I got home, I asked him to show me what he bought.

“A boy in my class wanted to borrow the book, so I lent him.”

“What?”

“This boy in my class, YY, borrowed my book…” he shrugged.

A monster reared its head in me. “WHY DID YOU LEND YOUR BOOK TO YOUR FRIEND WITHOUT LETTING MOMMY HAVE A LOOK FIRST? I THOT U REALLY WANTED THE BOOK, TO LEARN SOME DRAWING U SAID, THEN WHY DID YOU LENT TO YOUR FRIEND WITHOUT USING A BIT FIRST????”

“YY said he wanted to borrow for a while mah…” Kor-Kor said more carefully now.

I sighed, calmed down “Ok, but next time let mommy have a look first at what u buy. So, remember to ask from him on Monday. I want to have a look at what you buy.”

I reminded him again on Sunday nite – the eve of the last week of school. But on Monday nite when I got home…… NO BOOK.

“YY said he forgot to bring…”

A bigger monster reared. And I think I must have nagged Kor-Kor for about an hour – on how it is his book, so he must show more responsibility towards it, more so since it was his grandparents who gave him the money to buy the book, etc, etc…

“If your friend forgot again, please ask for his mommy’s phone no. I will ask his mommy to help.” [Sigh! That would be awkward as this friend's mom is probably clueless abt all this...]

The next day, Tuesday, was report card day. When I got to the school, Kor-Kor told me his friend couldn’t find the book & he didn’t know his mommy’s phone no.

So I asked him to show me the boy. I told the boy nicely to please remember to find & bring the book, otherwise, to please give his mommy’s phone no. (The monster didn’t rear its head – even when the boy just looked at me nonchalantly & shrugged his shoulders. I was still hoping my son can settle this by himself.) But at home, I stressed to Kor-Kor “Bring me the book or the mommy’s phone no”.

Wednesday evening – NO BOOK. NO PHONE NUMBER!!!

“YY says he doesn’t have his mommy’s phone no. He asked why mommy wants his mommy’s no…”

The biggest, ugliest, monster took control. I WAS PISSED! I was pissed, not at his friend, but at Kor-Kor – at his inability to settle this on his own…, at his indifference…, at his irresponsible manner of tossing things aside after getting them, be it toys or books!

I felt the biggest urge to show him that he must get his book back by all means!

I called the school, hoping to ask the class teacher for assistance.

I called his friends’ mothers, hoping to get the contact of that YY boy. Actually, this was almost impossible since I only have one of his classmate mom’s no. But I called anyway, explaining that the book was a gift from Kor-Kor’s grandparents & thus, the need to get in touch with this YY boy’s parents. This classmate’s mom, bless her, volunteered her son’s help.

But the monster in me still refused to calm down. So the next day, Thursday – the last day of school for the Std. 1, I went to stake out at Kor-Kor’s school before the afternoon session begins, to ask the class teacher for this boy parents’ contact no. (I was at the neighborhood, as was told not to report to work yet due to H1N1 scare at the office.)

The school was having prize giving ceremony whole day, so the teachers were everywhere. After staking out for half hour, his class teacher was not in sight. As the bell had rung for the commencement of the afternoon session, I made my way to Kor-Kor’s classroom. What I saw next blew the wind out of me…

The classmate, whose mom volunteered his help, who is class monitor, approached this YY boy, ”YY, do you have xx [Kor-Kor]’s art book?”

“Yes, here, here, I bring today” That YY boy handed over the book to my son. Kor-Kor had the audacity to cheer…

“What's yr mommy’s no?” The classmate @ class monitor asked sternly again.

That YY boy actually gave him.

This classmate @ class monitor & Kor-Kor saw me hovering outside the class, came tell me that they got the book & the mommy’s handphone number liau…

I was speechless….

What I asked Kor-Kor to do for the last 3 days, this classmate @ class monitor, achieved in 5 minutes!

Sigh! I can just pacify myself that different boys mature at different pace.

But seriously, did I go overboard? I’m not sure now. But at that time, I just want to get the book back – no matter what. Not because of the cost (RM10 only mah..), but because I was so geram (annoyed) that Kor-Kor was so casual about his things. That stupid art book was a gift from his grandparents, how can he just shrugged it off. Moreover, it was a matter of principal mah.

But seriously again, how far would you go to get it back ?

Twilight Zone

Hi! I'm Lil' Monsters, Inc. And I'm a Korean-drama-holic.

My addiction started about a month ago when I took up a friend's suggestion to watch Boys Over Flowers (Korean version of Hana yori Dango/Meteor Garden). It's therapeutic, she said. And the lead actors are all hamsom-hamsom (slang for handsome)!

Ok, since she said they are so, so handsome, I'd checked it out. So far, I've only watched one Korean drama series, Coffee Prince, because the lead actor is so, so handsome! And not draggy. The others, I cannot take the draggy, the pitiful crying, the staring at each other, repeating over and over again...

But Sheeh! She is right. That lead, Lee Min Ho, is really good looking! And OMG, he's only 23 years old...really make me feel like a Dirty Old Woman, oogling after him.

And so, I was stuck. Sacrificing sleep, averaging only 5-6 hrs. Zombie-ing thru daytime. (But at least, I still remember the names of my boys, hehe!)

Till all 25 episodes were completed. And I actually took more than 25 hrs, because of the re-plays on the interesting scenes. (Though the series is actually quite draggy.)

Then, as if not enough 'torture' to my physical & mental health, I couldn't stop myself from watching Coffee Prince (link here to my fav song in the series) again. For comparison sake, I told myself.

Now, I'm back to Boys Over Flowers!!! Oogling at pretty boys!!!!

This is when I realised I needed help. Help to get me out of this Twilight Zone!!!

Whirlwind

Last 2 weeks was so hectic. Dunno who to take care first.

Firstly new job. First day, my little boss told me, "Sorry, but we need your help on a detailed report, deadline in a week, so u gotta stay back." Sucks! What have I gotten myself into, I asked myself.

Secondly, Kor-Kor got exam AGAIN! Mid second term exam. Why so many, I dun understand. That means they (Chinese schools) actually dish out 4 exam a year! Jialat! And the results from these 4 are averaged for streaming purpose. Streaming? My idea of streaming was when in Form 4, we have to decide whether we want to continue with Science stream or go to Arts stream! Nowadays, kids are actually 'ranked' according to their results & the results will actually determine which class they go (I actually thought the results are for choosing the creme for the top few classes only, how naive!). Thus, streaming wor...

So since I can't coach Kor-Kor in the morning already, I'll need to coach him at night. And weekends. But after making sure he has done his homework, checking his school work & other nitty gritty, there's only so little time for 'coaching'. Also have to split some attention for Di-Di le.

Thirdly, new maid also need attention. For my first 3 days at work, my mom helped out. So I didn't have to worry about a thing. But as soon as our new maid arrived, my mom quickly scurried back to my hometown (she can't stand the lifestyle here), after briefing the maid about cooking stuff for half day.

Poor maid too. On her 3rd day at our household, she have to 'manage' on her own already when I go to work. But Daddy did stay to 'look see, look see'.

So armed with verbal instructions with me, she cooked fried rice meant for lunch for breakfast; 'seong yin choy' (water crest vegi) for soup was fried and served for lunch, thus leaving the soup as 'chicken bone & hong zou' soup only; fish for dinner was cooked for lunch!

I asked Kor-Kor did he eat the vegi at lunch? He said yes, but it was very tough!

And Daddy said she kelam-kabut (unsure) about the boys' schedule.

Sigh!

So after that day, I had to come back, talk to boys for a while (both of them will be talking at the same time), quickly eat, bathe Di-Di (as he wants me to do it) and then:-
8.45 - 9.45: Go thru Kor-Kor's school work with him, especially his Bahasa Malaysia (big time weak). Also have to 'layang' (pay little attention) to Di-Di & force him to do some writing.

9.30-10.30 (with some over lap here & there, thus have to multi-task in giving advice & instruction to 3 people): Instruct & show maid on cooking next day's menu. First 'show & tell' with soup. Then asked her to write down (with Marker pen!) on which vegi/fish/chicken supposedly to be lunch/dinner for next day. Thank god most days my in-laws would ta-pau lunch over, so not so bad.

Lastly, go thru with her on the next day schedule. Not to ask her to clean things, mind you...but this:
7am: Make breakfast for Kor-Kor. (Di-Di don't like to eat anything, just drink milk, which I gave before I go work)
7.30: Wake boys up.
8.00: Di-Di must be ready for transport lady to pick him up.
8.20: Kor-Kor must be ready for his transport lady to pick him up.
10.30 or 11.20 (depending on which day of the week it is): Kor-Kor comes back.
11.30: Lunch for Kor-Kor. Then bath. Wear uniform. Pack water & bread for him for tea.
12.20: Be ready for afternoon school pick up.
And so forth. (In between, of course she needs to cook & clean up)

Besides that, she also need to know, the plate numbers & color of transport cars, remember the auntie faces, etc. Which bags to pack. Which uniform to wear to whom & when. My mom also said she almost pengsan the first day she took over! So thank god, our new maid has not gone berserk on us. YET!

After all that, my mind would go all blank & I had to stand in the shower for at least 15 minutes to clear my head. As well as to go thru everything again in case I missed out anything.

Then sleep. Then begin the whirlwind all over again the next day....

Working Mom

This mommy started working on Wednesday.

Yup! Yup! Working again. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!!!

Just think of the money, I tell myself. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!!!

I woke up really early, hoping to get out of the house before the boys woke up. Didn't want any scene, you know. Mom was here helping out for a few days (phew!) as maid has not arrived yet!

No such luck. They woke up early too.

Kor-Kor was no problem. I just kissed him good-bye and told him I'll be back early.

Di-Di too just waved me off after a kiss - surprisingly as previously, he would cry and get angry whenever I mentioned that I'm going back to work.

So I quickly crept downstairs to go off. But Di-Di followed me downstairs & told me:-

"Mommy, another kiss ? See, I big boy, I don't cry d...."

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!

Two weeks

Wow...has it been that long ???

Last 2 weeks had been crazy. First there was all that jittery about finding the perfect maid (where got such thing rite???). I've even looked all the way to Myanmar -as found the girls working at a neighbourhood shop to be exceptionally good & well behaved. At last, in order not to piss off the agents further for being indecisive, got to settle for a missy from our neighbouring country down south. Cross fingers!

Secondly, due to my own big mouth when met an ex-colleague - "eh, got job or not?" which was actually seriously just a reflex reaction from me only - he sent over 2 head hunters! So that would be juggling and making time to meet up with 2 head hunters and attend 3 interviews - which was no joke considering no maid to babysit the boys for a while.

Last but not least, getting this & spending the whole afternoon waiting for the delivery man to fix it up. Daddy & Mommy were hoping to entice Di-Di to sleep in the next room with Kor-Kor. After a week, still not successful. Up to the point that mommy has to go over & sleep (mommy don't mind actually, only Daddy thinks mommy is spoiling the kids)!

But Kor-Kor really loves it! And Di-Di really loves the idea of it!!!

Undomestic Goddess

U know the book, Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella. Though I think the book is a tiny wee bit far fetched, I still kinda enjoyed it.

Becos...I really, really CAN relate to the heroine. I really, really suck BIG time at household chores & cooking!!!!

2 days after my maid ran away, I knew I couldn't put it off any longer...I would need to mop the floor.

Just thinking about it makes my back ache already. So I did what any sane person would do. Go buy a really high tech mop (though we have several already ie the conventional ones, the flat longish one which I'm not very sure whether its a mop or for dusting, the yellow stripe fibre ones).

But hey, why stop at one, why not buy 2 at that, 1 for upstairs & 1 for downstairs.

Still after a day on my own (1st day got Daddy to help out) running about after the boys, sweeping, mopping, washing clothes, etc, I not only got back ache. Leg very pain as well - can hardly walk by night time!

Then there's all that episodes of blanking out. No, not fainting. Just old age forgetfulness. So far I have burned the soup (forgot to turn off gas when re-heating the soup, resulting in charcoal black old cucumber...which I didn't force the boys to eat, in case anyone think I did:), forgot to cook rice (until eating time), forgot to boil water, forgot to turn the water on for the washing machine to work, forgot to take in the clothes, forgot whether to put in garlic or onions or both....(u get the picture).

However, I also conveniently forgot to take out the trash. And forgot to iron the clothes. So that Daddy would do it mah! (Sneaky good, rite ?)

The upside is that the boys now do not seem so helpless & manja (whinny) already. Though previously, I did ask the maid not to do everything for them, she still did cos its actually easier than yelling at them. Though now I still do need to remind them (IN A LOUD VOICE), they'll do it quicker. Not so many delay tactics. And they get it now that the floor don't eat rice - not so messy.

Di-di also doesn't cry anymore when I scold him. Previously, I'm the bad guy & he'll go running to the maid to whine & cry. Now he got nobody to run to, hahaha!

But still, it's very, very, very tough...being down-graded from 'tai-tai' (I like to tell people that...more glamour though I don't always go out 'yam cha'/shopping/spend money) to full fledge HOUSEWIFE!!!!

(I think my brain is still not processing 'me being alone without help' so well!):P

25 Things About Me

I first saw 25 Things in FB. Thot it will be a fun debut blog. Here's my stab at it (more difficult that i realised):-

1. I can't parallel park...unless the 2 other spaces at the sides are empty!
2. I'm tone-deaf, can't sing to save my life...
3. I also have 2 left feet. Would love to get that corrected, if surgically possible.
4. My only talent is I can tell....whether the pregnancy is a boy or girl. Most of the time...
5. I am most fidgety when...i have to stand in line. I normally feel like yelling at the serving party if i have to wait for more than 10 minutes!
6. I have excellent memory (my friends call it elephant memory, god knows why!)....unfortunately about silly, trivial matters....like what my significant half promised me a decade ago, er, no wait, that's IMPORTANT stuff!!!!!
7. I don't eat goat, cow & lamb meat. And for the last time....it's NOT a religious thing. Don't like it, that's all.
8. I don't have a good taste bug. Once was tucking in heartily at a tibetan mo-mo (steamboat) until friends voiced out that it smelt like pee!
9. Nothing attracts me more faster than a 'SALE' sign!
10. Am not a social butterfly. Won't approach a person to break the ice...unless i know the person is from Penang &/or speaks Hokkien!
11. I'm not a morning person. Try not to talk to me before 10.
12. I'm a coffee-holic. I would be yawning, agitated bitch addict if i dun have at least a strong cup a day.
13. Have forgotten to zip up my pants a few times & didn't realise till i reached work! FYI, I used to take public transport!
14. Was molested twice in public transport & once in cinema. Was so engrossed with movie that didn't realise the uncle's hand was on my lap. Ew!
15. Thinks that having four kids would be ideal. Come to think of it, i recently look at pregnant ladies with ENVY again!!! (my hubby would freak out if he knows!)
16. Loves adventure holidays & was once inspired to climb Everest Base Camp (only kaki bukit, not the entire mountain, I'm definitely not that ambitious, he, he) Still dreaming...
17. During my late teens, didn't know i was on a group date till the boy called to tell me he missed me! That's me, Blur-blur!
18. Is guilty of taking a yearly holiday (or two) with gal pals & fib to sons that trip(s) are for work!
19. Have taken up reading a few books at same time. Cannot parallel park but at least, can parallel read!
20. Kinda thinks the fish monger near my place looks kinda cute!!!
21. Like to steal her sons Yakult to drink late at nite. And chocolate. Ice cream sometimes...
22. Is pretty bad at spring cleaning...thus, my closet looks like the bottom of the Bermuda Triangle.
23. Is not a touche feelly person, very, very awkward in doing hug hug kiss kiss!!
24. Is blessed to have BFFs whom I've known since 11.
25. Last but not least, I'm terrified most of... losing my lil' monsters! Not just literally, also to puberty as they'll probably think it's not cool to hang out with mommy anymore, sob, sob!