Confessions of a Harried Mum

Confessions of a Harried Mum
(who is losing her hair)

I think the things that happened this holiday have set me on a sharp learning curve...no, not the academic kind. I went to the school of hard knocks( ouch!ouch!ouch!)and learnt a lot of new things, unlearn some of the things I thought I know, and of course, re-learn some pretty cool stuff.

It's bad enough that I am an absolute klutz when it comes to domesticated matters, but somehow the idea of retail therapy to help revive the economy does not quite appeal to me lately. So staying home to play mum helped me discover a great deal about myself...and a homo sapien sub-species called children.

I am asking that age old question. How come my off-springs have such different personalities when basically the share the same genetic makeup? It's bad enough they all have little resemblance to each other, and come in assortment of sizes... it is like I was in the genetic pool potluck when I had them.

A tween, a teen and a teen-going-into-I-got-wings stage bring about very different set of problems. Not only are their tastes and interests varied, their needs are also varied...and oh, so are the problems.

And since I have been tagged to do that 10 Things People Do Not Know about me...here's the Dazed Mother's Version.

1. I get 'lost in translation' when I hear teenagers speak. All I hear is LOUD SOUNDS and DEMANDs...so when I don't quite 'geddit', I just stare into the child's face until he gives up even trying to ask.

2. When Zarifah was born, it was 11.25am on a Saturday morning. Why do I remember it so well? The TV was showing Mighty Morphin Power Rangers...and in the middle of labour pains...it was going "Go Go Power Ranger"! No wonder she went through a stage where she would not want to wear anything else but Power Ranger clothes (even on hari raya day!)

3. I believe in the power of positive reinforcement. To toilet-train Zafran, he was rewarded with a toy car each time he could use the potty. Hence the 300-odd cars we now have in collection (that alone cost more than what I saved on diapers!)

4. No child of mind is ever going to ride a motor-cycle. I have drilled it into their heads so that they can atomatically chant.."I can't ride a bike...for my Mama will cry!" Well, hooray for Mother Power...[god knows how long that mantra can stick]

5. When the two boys were younger, they both had their fair share of knocks and falls. Somehow, each suffered a black eye...and I had to be 'interrogated' by the doctor at the A&E to ensure that I had not physically abused my children!

6. My lullabies had a tendency to make the children cry rather than sleep...Akmal especially, will have tears running down his cheeks when he heard my rendition of "Nian Bo Bo"...sob.sob

7. I play an excellent 'pepsi-cola' or what-u-might-callit game...you know, the one with the handgrip, and people trying to thumb you down. The kids think twice about playing that with me.You see, while they can thumb me me...I can grip their hands in a gridlock...and they can't let go. (Wanna challenge Zafran?)

8. Akmal gets frustrated when he plays 'tickle monster' with me. As a mum, I know all my kids most vulnerable and ticklish spots. So I can tickle them until they beg for mercy...Unfortunately, they do not know mine!

9. No one in the house gets to buy their hari raya clothes until I get mine done...(and sorry kiddoes...I look horrible in black...and too fat in white)...hmmm shall I get pink next year guys?

10. No matter how big the issue, or how complicated...I know I will win...Why? All I have to tell the kids is this: "I am your mother...." Kekekeke


I know the above was done tongue-in-cheek...but seriously, it is tough being a mother. There is no such thing as a perfect mother, and it is a constant -on-the-job' training that I get to do every day. But I love it, and wouldn't trade it for anything else in the world.