Emir & Taekwondo

Since Emir has so much energy and I wanted to do something about it in a way, I told his guardian at the child care to enroll him into the afternoon Taekwondo class. Actually the worry is he is still too small to be able to take instructions and I guess they don’t want disturbance to the class. So they put him into trial class at first. This had been a month or so already. The report I got is he only follow the stretching instructions but he came out of the class drenched and soaked in sweat like he’s done a marathon.
I always asked him, “Emir! Show mommy what you did in Taekwondo.” And he will sit down, put his feet together and bend down (stretching) then he gets up, kick his leg to the front, to the back. Shout “HUH!! Then stand straight and bow.
And that’s it! All in 15 seconds or so.
Anyway as I watched him I feel very proud of him.

What I want to achieve for him is actually for him to learn self discipline, confidence, concentration, respect and of course physical as well as mental strength which Taekwondo is. And it's okay to start young.
For me Taekwondo is good for both boys and girls, but I have asked Fatini whether she likes to join the class but she said, “ Taekwondo is for boys”. Okay, I could see she has no interest and I also think she’s too fragile for it ( and I feel the guilt of being gender discriminative here).

Fatini's Birthday Pictures

These were Fatini's birthday party pictures which I wanted to capture here.

Trip

On Saturday Fatini and Emir had a school trip. They visited an Ostrich Farm. It was fun for them. They had been talking about the trip since weeks ago. It was especially fun since they were with their friends and teachers as well as parents. It was the first time that Fatini and Emir rode on a coach too. They had never been in a bus before. Emir asked me, where’s the seat belt? It was a sunny day and even though it was hot it was also windy and the place had lots of trees. After the farm, they visited a cookie factory and had a try on making the cookies.

The preparation

As previously mentioned, last Saturday I had the dinner function. In my company this is something we look forward to. Especially the women like me who hardly go out for any party. Well, it’s also the only time we get to dress up, makeup and show off. Weeks before the function we would discuss and ask each other what are we going to wear etc etc. Some of us will go to great length to have professional make up and hair do.
What about me? This was my preparation.

Starting the Saturday afternoon I started to get nervous. After putting the kids to sleep, I went to the shop nearby. I brought with me Christina Aguilera picture and showed the hair dresser I want hair like that. He he he. Just tried my luck, maybe I’ll get hair like that. One hour later I came out of the shop with my hair looking like anything but Aguilera’s hair . But still okay la tu. Somebody remarked later like Marilyn Monroe’s hair. Betul ke mata dia orang ni?
Then I came home. Fatini was awake and Emir was still sleeping. I’m supposed to put on make up by myself. I thought rather than have somebody paint my face paying RM150 I’ll do it myself. After assembling all my make up items old and new, I started to work on my face. I really am not good at makeup and I hardly wear make up to work except for a little bit of eye liner and lipstick.
However I have had professional make up done before so I think I know how to do it.

It’s not easy though with Fatini by my side, asking me, why are you putting this, why are you putting that? What is this, what is that? Oh my God, give me some peace, I prayed. To make it worse, all of a sudden I heard Emir woke up and cried, MOMMY MOMMY! I WANT MOMMY!
Failed to calm him down my husband brought him to me and I left my task to soothe him. After which, Emir joined Fatini to satisfy their curiosity as what was I been doing. Touching everything and refused to give me some of the items I need. It was a war trying to finish my makeup.
However finally by God’s grace I was done. I put on my dress and shoes to see the result. Emir said, your dress is beautiful. Thank you Emir. Fatini said, No ! it's not beautiful. Thank you Fatini. It was now almost time to go. My husband who on last minute had decided to go then got ready and came down. Emir upon seeing his daddy said, Papa, your shirt is beautiful! His papa was pleased. Emir is a real gentleman. On the way we dropped the kids at their cousins’ house. Fortunately Emir and Fatini understood I had to go to “work” and did not give any problem whatsoever.

Pictures? Hmm. Maybe later.

Going out

I got a dinner and dance (company’s function) this Saturday night. Normally I will go with my husband. As in every year we have to arrange for child care. Normally we called my sister in law (my husband’s sister) who was still single to look after my kids. But she just got married so I don’t want to call her. But I also have my other sister in law (my brother’s wife) living not too far away since last year. She has no problem to take the kids in. The problems lie with the kids especially Fatini when I told them that I have to go to ‘work’ on Saturday night. Why do you have to go to work at night, mommy? asked Fatini with teary eyes. It didn’t make any sense to her that all of a sudden I’m going to work at night. I didn’t want to lie to her but she’s too small to understand that Mommy want to go have a party. I mean this is the only night in a year that I go out without my kids. Yes, I never have parties since I got them, oh yes, only kids’ birthday parties. That is fun too!

My husband said that to lessen the impact on the kids, maybe he should stay home to look after the kids. That means I am going alone and I really don’t mind since I know at least some of the people. I have asked my SIL to come with me because I have booked for two places. She was reluctant since she doesn’t know anybody and hasn’t got a dress to wear. She even told me that there will be AF final that night on TV. Well, I never watch AF but she is fanatic on it. The dress can be bought since there’s still time but she’s right about not knowing anybody. It would be awkward to her.

Every year I would sneak out of the house quietly and left the kids in the house without them noticing my absence for another half hour or so. This year it would be different as I would have to send them to their cousins’ house and leave them there. I can imagine the scene they will make, Fatini’s tears, Emir’s screaming, etc etc. They love to be with their cousins Nabila and Hakeem but my kids are used to having me around outside school hours. Deviations from routine really worry my kids. Or maybe it worries me too!

I have another day to determine whether I’m going alone.

The honour I received

Last night I got a present from my hubby and children. Thank you so much my loves… A very pretty designer blouse ….just what I love and wanted. I also received a card specially made by Fatini. This morning on the way to school, Fatini suddenly said Happy Birthday mommy!

Last night something amazing happened to me too. Normally when getting Emir to sleep, I will lie close to him with my face very close to his face. So last night, while Emir was between his slumber state and being awake, he touched and caressed my hair in front of my face. Since my hair was a bit wet and I didn’t want him to feel the coldness of my hair and thus make him awake, I tried to take his hand away and move my face away a bit. I did this a couple of times because he persisted to caress my hair.
Suddenly he said, Mommy I am not pulling your hair, I just do this (showing that he just pulled gently and caressing my hair). I love your hair. Your hair is beauful (beautiful). I like your hair, your hair is beauful (beautiful).
Did I hear that correctly? My, this is the first ever compliment I got from Emir, my 3 years 5 months old son. He gave me compliment and he praised me. This is going to be a beautiful relationship between me and my son. He is a natural on how to make this mommy happy. My heart melted, my heart swelled, and I was smiling so big in the dark.
Thank you Emir, I said. Ok, mommy, Emir replied and fell asleep.

Celebrations

May is a special month for me especially the first week of May. It’s my birthday’s today. (Happy Birthday to me!!! ). Thank you Faizah for wishing me the birthday, I love you. It’s also mother’s day last weekend. Happy mother’s day everybody. It’s my anniversary too. It’s my mom’s birthday month. It’s my sister (dak angah) birthday month too.
My sister Angah and me are within the same astrological sign but our characters are world apart. Maybe looking from outside. Many years ago she told me, that I looked tough on the outside but soft inside while she looks soft on the outside but very tough inside. That were her exact words I remember till now. Of all people she would know me better. While we were growing up we fought most of the time. I am extrovert while she is so introvert in characters. However in all years we grown up and throughout adulthood, there’s nothing more I wish for her but the best for her.
My mom is the strength that bonds the whole family together. I am happy to see her happy and hope she has good health and happiness. She has produced very well formed individuals that we hope to see in our children.
My children gave me beautiful mother’s day cards they prepared at school. I love you Fatini & Emir, my two wonderful children. I am a mother because of you. Fatini knows today is my birthday as she repeatedly told me.
Daddy took us to a special dinner last Saturday night to celebrate our anniversary and we happily finished everything on the plate and for me and hubby we finished off with hot latte and lots of kisses afterwards, hehehe.

My Labour day

Last Saturday afternoon we went to the BSC. First we went to the DOME to have some lunch. Emir is still too naughty to be invited to restaurants. He won’t sit down or he will stand on the chair and ate food with his fingers. I mean finger foods are okay but these were not it. He would drip everything onto the floor, chair and table. And even he wanted to eat while sitting on my lap. Nowadays I don’t allow him to sit on my lap while at a restaurant.
So last Saturday he wanted a cake, so I ordered him a chocolate cake with ice cream. What a mistake I have made! He messed his whole face with chocolate. Not to mention his two hands, his shirt and mine.
On the other hand Fatini has a superb table manner as always. However she was already full from the brunch I fed her. It was me who was hungry for lunch actually and also Emir who hadn’t ate anything but only having milk in the morning.
I left the restaurant as soon as I finished my chicken and mushroom pie. We headed to the restroom to clean up Emir.

Then I decided to check out the kids floor on the 4th floor. After much confusion (because of the renovation works going on) we arrived at the place. There was a roller skate rink, a jungle gym, coffee shop and other kids’ specialty shops.
The kids spent 15 minutes playing in the Jungle gym of which I had paid RM56 for them. Certainly was not worth the money. I was expecting them to spend longer time. Emir wanted to play the roller skate and demanded to go into the rink. I asked him, do you know how to play? He said confidently, yes mommy, I know how to skate, I want to go in and play. I asked him, why don't you pretend roller skating and just slide on the floor outside the rink. It was so funny seeing him trying to assure me he knew how to roller skate.

The children was tired and slept as soon as they settled in the car heading for home.