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I was reading some articles the other day on today’s busy Moms and how everyone needs some ‘Me-time’ to recharge.

One article says:
“When we are stressed, overwhelmed and tired, we have a shorter fuse. We become irritable, and it’s more difficult to handle the challenges of being with children,” says Rachelle Disbennett-Lee, a personal life coach in Aurora, Colorado.

And another write-up says how “Rest and relaxation are two things that moms desperately need for sure, but often forget to put into their daily schedules. This is a must, as it not only rejuvenates a mom, but it helps to calm frazzled nerves.’

I don’t know about you, but for my case, as much as I know I need a break from our daily busyness, taking some time out when both kids are wide awake is just not easy.

I mean, we don’t have relatives in Singapore who can help and babysit the kids so that my husband and I can freely enjoy some ‘couple time-out’ (read: running our business and meeting deadlines means his working hours are naturally longer too, on average), let alone some time-out for myself.

Of course unless the kids are BOTH asleep.

So at night time, when they both have dozed off, that’s when I’d clear up my work and actually get a bit of ‘me-time’ - catching up on some reading and quiet time, blogging, instant messaging friends, chatting with Wilson and sometimes, watching a DVD together (or simply just … chatting and sharing) till the wee hours.

[All these are at the expense of lesser hours of sleep though. Oh well, can't always have the best of everything every time huh?]

Other than that, there are random occasions now and then too.

Like when the four of us went to a shopping centre and Wilson took the kids to the outdoor playground while I went off by myself for a good hour or so - to relax, windowshop and just unwind.

Or, if Vai somehow falls asleep on his pram after we send Anya to school (rarely happens though), I’d grab a book and enjoy some uninterrupted time-off while thoroughly enjoying my lunch and milk tea *NICE*

…

Juggling and balancing everything well is a real challenge to me. It often feels rather impossible to achieve too. But I must say, God has given me sufficient strength to go through each day, right until today, and though I’m not able to balance and juggle everything well every day and every time, I know I should always try my best to learn and do better each time.

Anyway.

Do you (or don’t you) have regular ‘me-time’ breaks?

How and what do you do to unwind and recharge?

Do write in and share yeah. It’s always nice if we can learn a little something from each other *smile*

Now that the school holiday is here, kids stay at home ‘longer’ and moms - like me - tend to search for activity ideas that they can do together with their little ones.

And so I thought, it’d help a lot if I just have a list stuck on my fridge or somewhere, that I can easily refer to whenever I feel the need for activity ideas.

I’ve compiled a few ideas from various resources, and I just thought I’d share it with you all too.

[Click HERE to download the list]

Btw, although I’ve categorised the activities (ie. From 2 years, and so on), I feel these ideas can always be modified (ie. simplified or made more complex) to suit your kids.

Anyway, have fun!

PS:
Btw, if you’ve created something from the listed ideas and taken a photo of what you and your kid have made, I’d love to hear from you too! Just drop me a message in the comments section, or email me! Am thinking of posting the photos on the site *smile*

Anya is yet to master the art of reading, but she LOVES books.

She’d insist on reading a book or a story with us before she goes to bed. She can quietly sit on our sofa surrounded with children books for an hour or so. She can ‘read’ (go through the pictures) her little children’s Bible for a very long time, day in day out, till she (somehow) remembers who wears what colour of robe in the Bible stories!

Anyway, here’re two good links on reading and kids you may want to check out:

> How to raise a reader

> How your child learns to read

As the highest level of created beings, we are ‘given’ a conscience, morality, a longing (to find the truth and purpose in life and in everything that happens in our lives) amongst many other attributes.

We are high morale beings who know what is right and what is wrong.

The problem is, after humans fell into sin, the things that we know as ‘good’ tend to remain as ‘ideals’ in our head, and we have this strong urge and tendency to do what we know as wrong (and even after we ‘regret’ our actions afterwards, we tend to repeat the same mistakes again and again).

It really is like we’re bound by our own sinful nature, and we’re not able to break free. It’s a constant struggle in the inside of every one of us.

Religions around the world teach us what is good, the good things we should do to ourselves and to others, the things that we should do in order to be a better person, a better being.

BUT unfortunately religions cannot fix our sinful nature.

This is why Jesus Christ came to find us, to give us hope, strength and life, and to redeem and break us free from our sinful being.

So that although we constantly face struggles between what we know is right and wrong (throughout our lives), we who trust and believe in HIM will have the strength to fight through it and do what’s right!

Let’s trust and hold on to HIM who can give you strength, hope and life.

Note:
Sunday’s Food for Thought posts are mostly inspired by sermons delivered every Sunday at our church.

We had a nice family day out today!

First we went to watch Dora the Explorer Live show at Singapore Expo!

The kids (yes, Vai too!) love watching Dora and Diego DVDs and so for them to finally see their show ‘live’, I’m sure it was like a huge WOW to them!

They enjoyed themselves throughout the show. They waved their flags, repeated the endings of the familiar songs and moved to the beat!

We then went to our friends’ 3 year old son’s birthday, and enjoyed another nice get-together there!

What a day!

PS: Oh btw, the Dora live show is still on till June 1st!

Since Anya started school early this year, it’s been harder for me to arrange a get-together with friends and their kids. You know, a time where Moms get to chat and keep in touch, while the kids play and enjoy themselves.

BUT, now that the school holiday is here (till 22 June), such a meet-up is finally possible! It was nice catching up with old and new friends.

Anyway, this is us today at Vivo City!

At the playground, Anya and Vai had great fun too (a little bit ‘too much’ at times I think *smile*)

Anyway, what’s important to me, is that they all had a good break from their usual routine.

And so I’m happy to just let them be the lively kids they’re meant to be.

The other day, on our way back from school, Anya said to me:

“Mommy, when I grow up I want to be a teacher”

“Oh wow okay”

“I want teach at my kindy … so that I can teach Jason, Justus, Cassandra … ”

“Errr … aren’t they your classmates?’

“Yes”

“Then won’t they be as grown-up as you are by the time you become a teacher?”

“No”