For each of my three kids, the one month immediately following the birth of my baby has been spent very differently.

With Jay, we were brand new parents, staying at my mother’s place and she was the one helping me with my confinement food. While I normally enjoy her food, it is probably hard for her to cook for just one person. And because of that, my meals usually consisted of sad-looking veggies and small pieces of meat – totally UNappetising! Urgh… And so I “rebelled” within a week, and told her I would just eat with the rest of the family and if no one else was having lunch, I would just buy from the nearby food centre.

With Xav, we were back at our own home, and so I decided to hire a confinement aunty to help me with looking after the baby and cooking delicious meals for me! I managed to get a good night’s rest for the entire four weeks she was around, and was well-fed and happy! Haha!

With Zoie, things are different once again. Due to our upcoming move to Sydney, we are back at my mom’s house. The lack of space meant that having a confinement aunty wasn’t possible. Having learnt the food lesson from the first time round, I decided to have catered confinement food instead! Some more popular confinement caterers:

• Chilli Padi
• Natal Essentials
• New Baby

After doing some research (in other words, reading mummy blogs like Eve’s), I decided to go with Natal Essentials, and so far have been quite happy with the selection. The hubs, in particular, is impressed with their double-boiled soups, which are chockful of chinese herbs.

Other than the food, I’ve pretty much broken every other rule in the “confinement” rulebook.

• Tradition dictates no bathing for 28 days. Now, this is something I have never managed to follow for ANY of my three kids. I bathed on Day Number 2 (the morning after when I was still in the hospital)… and every day since then (sometimes up to twice a day). It is so humid in Singapore I cannot imagine any other way. In fact, when I was sending my boys to school, I met with a friend who took a look at my damp hair and was taken aback. Oh yes, and I usually don’t have the time to blow dry my hair so I just let it dry off naturally. 
• And if you noticed the paragraph above – yes, I don’t even stay confined to my house. The day after I was discharged (Zoie at Day 4), we brought all three kids for an ice-cream treat at the nearby 112 Katong mall. And we’ve gone out a few more times since then.
• No cold drinks. Once again… Not been very obedient with this. I blame the weather, but a cold glass of orange juice is simply too good to resist. Or the occasional bubble tea. *cough*

To be fair, this is a decision my hubs is fully supportive of. My mom is also pretty blase, and so doesn’t give me any strife for not following the traditional rules (she too is a firm believer of baths, thank goodness!)

Also, with our upcoming move to Sydney, there are just so much to do (and pack and plan and buy) and so many people to meet that we simply cannot afford the time to stay at home!

Posted by Sandra & filed under Tales from mommydom. This post has 6 comments.

Sometimes I get a little amazed that I’ve been held the title and position of “Mummy” for the past five years. How time has whizzed by!

It’s been a long, tiring, exhilarating roller coaster ride, but one that I would not trade in for anything else in the world.

Last week, Jay & Xav’s childcare had a special “Mother’s Day Tea Party”, and I wasted no time in going for it.

With Xav, it was an hour of singing, dancing, snacking and photo-taking.

With Jay, the Kindy kids even performed a little item to “entertain” us Mummies – and I was pleasantly surprised to see the kids lining up to get the snacks – and giving the Mummies time to snack first!

Jay also presented me with this award!

And if your eyes are sharp enough, the kids really spared no effort in ticking off the various qualities of the mums. And when asked about it, Jay “stood” firm with his decision – that while Mummy-me is pretty much awesome, “cute” and “energetic” are NOT my strong points! Haha! He was probably more than a little influenced by my pre-popping days, especially in the final few weeks where I’d be easily exhausted!

Nonetheless, I am thankful for my two cheerful and handsome sons, and pretty little princess – and learning to enjoy each moment of mummydom as it comes!

Posted by Sandra & filed under Tales from mommydom. This post has 2 comments.

Every child is a gift.

I am blessed to have three wonderful kids, and though at times they may tire me out or frustrate me, yet the truth remains that God has given them to us as gifts. Precious. Wonderful. Pure.

I recently read a friend’s Facebook status, and remember that even as I enjoy being a mother to a healthy, talkative five-year-old, she mourns the fifth year of her son in heaven. I remember another friend who has been disappointed month after month as she longs for a baby. I remember a conversation I had with a friend who recently found out she was pregnant but is full of worry, and another who also found out she is pregnant, and is over the moon. I remember all this, and more… and as I look at my three little angels’ faces tonight, I am also thankful to the One who gives.

As I look at my little Princess’ teeny fingers and delicate features, and breathe in her distinctly newborn smell, I can’t help but remember this verse in the Bible:

Psalm 139:13 (The Message)

Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;
You formed me in my mother’s womb.
I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking!
Body and soul, I am marvelously made!
I worship in adoration—what a creation!
You know me inside and out,
You know every bone in my body;
You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,
How I was sculpted from nothing into something.
Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;
All the stages of my life were spread out before you,
The days of my life all prepared
Before I’d even lived one day.

Thank You, Jesus.

Posted by Sandra & filed under Tales from mommydom. This post has 6 comments.