Category Archives: parenting

Mommy, you’re so beautiful!

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It’s Saturday morning and we all slept late. You, always the last to wake up every morning, was even the first one who woke up first. We had a late breakfast and then I started to do the house chores.

I was walking around, carrying some laundry, put it down the sofa, then I pulled up my hair with my hand, trying to remember what I was planning to do next. Then you spoke up;

Mommy, you look soooo beautiful!

You said it with so much awe in your eyes and you looked beaming with pride that I almost felt embarrassed, feeling I don’t deserve such a compliment. Especially since I haven’t even washed my face yet nor had I even brushed my hair.

Thank you my dearest. I am ever grateful for you.

a day to be thankful for

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The daycare’s small program for the September birthday celebrants fell right smack in the middle of our P&ID review period. And luck of lucks, my unit got scheduled on the very morning that the daycare program was gonna be held. When one of the Leads saw my pained look though, he asked if I wasn’t available. And so, right in front of the whole team, I said the reason. Before I realised what was happening (I was still debating in my head whether my conscience will forgive me in case Yui ends up the only celebrant without a parent), the unit leads of the team started to volunteer shifting the schedule of the units. Now who wouldn’t love a team like that?! Of course I told them so too; of how I love the team. In my almost 17 years at work, I have never heard of big review meetings schedules being shifted because of a parent needing to attend his/her child’s event at school (see, these meetings involve many other people from different companies hence most teams are less compromising)

  • And so yesterday, we could attend the celebration. To see Yui’s big, happy, exuberant smile. My heart is so full of gratitude to God and good people who made this possible.
  • There came a bonus too. After the birthday event, Yui’s head teacher called me and gathered her kindergarten troop. They had me seated in the center and then Yui’s class gathered around me. Yui then gave me a DIY-framed photo which was taken after my “Hello Work” presentation to the class. It was lovely; the thoughtfulness of having that small ceremony, the moment to have all the lovely kids and their brilliant teacher gather around me, the sweet photo frame memento. Grateful.
  • When I got back to the office, I learned that there has been “fire” in the morning review meeting. That meant a LOT of argument during the meeting. That means I’ll be dealing with hot headed people when it’s my unit’s turn in the afternoon. It meant making extra effort to be gracious and diplomatic yet authoritative as the specialist for the unit. By God’s grace, I was able to do just that. One Client even commented of how good the meeting for my unit went after having their patience extremely tested in the morning. Thankful to God for empowering me.
  • And to cap a beautiful day, I was able to have a chat with a beautiful friend; who capped our conversation by telling me of how she looks up to me as an inspiration and role model. I see her as someone who’s perfect and a role model herself. Hence for her to say that….it’s one of those ultimate compliments that encourages me to do my best and be the better version of my self.
  • And this, I pray to God.

    • life with a kindergartener: Yui got the gold medal

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    When I arrived at the daycare and was putting on my owabaki, as I glanced inside the Teachers’ room, I saw another class’ head teacher signal to your head teacher that I have arrived. Your head teacher then got out and approached me with a serious face.

    Her first line was that she has a good news for me. But I was very confused because her face was very serious and hence I could not expect there really is a good news coming. And as she went on, I understood why her face was serious.

    It was because you got the Gold medal in a drawing contest among almost 300 four- and five-year olds.

    Your daycare have 13 branches and on September, there will be a festival gathering all daycares. As part of the program, there is a drawing contest. Sometime in this August, all four-year-olds and five-year-olds were asked to draw something. I understood that the theme was to draw what each of you would like to become. You drew an ostrich. And your drawing won, not only because of the quality of drawing but also because of the composition.

    Your head teacher asked if I’d like to see a photo of your work on their camera or whether I can wait during the awarding ceremony during the festival. EQ test!! I chose the latter and goodness, how difficult it is now. Awarding is still a month away!!!!

    But, oh baby, I am soooo proud of you. And to think I never did anything at help you in this contest endeavour. You did a great job. Your head teacher, Sugawara, doesn’t even think it’s due to her teaching.

    It’s all because of your own effort and imagination.

    I’m proud of you. And thank you for working hard.

    life with a kindergartener: slightly not fun

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    As we walked toward the bus stop, I asked you how was your day. With twinkling eyes and a beautiful smile, you said it was such a fun day today at daycare.

    And I smiled back, thankful that you enjoyed your day with friends.

    But you suddenly said, that somehow, it was slightly less fun.

    Concerned, I asked you why.

    Hugging my arm tightly, and looking up at me with those round, expressive eyes, you said, “it would have been more fun if I were with you”.

    You melt my heart baby.

    baby diaries: you really are my daughter

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    Apart from our shared dislike with peach, I learned recently that you have some traits that seemed to be a mirror of mine.

    I bought you some new leggings and you pointed out that somebody-chan at daycare have a blouse with the same print as your leggings. I used to remember what somebody (at the office) wore at which day.

    Then today, when you were playing with a branch and you called it えだ, I asked you what is it in English. You tilted your head sideways and said, “it starts with a “b””. This had me laughing right out loud because that’s what I do when I forget words. I often remember what letter it starts with, what letter it ends with, and how many letters are there on that word but I-could-not-remember the actual word. How weird is that?!?

    You are my daughter alright.

    baby diaries: mighty proud of you

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    When I picked you up this evening at daycare, there was only you and a younger boy left in your teachers’ care. That’s quite an improvement since the whole week, I was late in picking you up and you were the only one left. But I digress.

    We were getting ready to leave and about to go down the ground floor when the Mom of the younger boy came; carrying her second born on her right arm, and holding daycare bags on the other arm. I recognised she was loaded and I commiserated since I perfectly know the feeling. However, the idea of helping her absolutely did not cross my mind.

    When you saw her shuffling nearer, you ran to the door and opened the door for her so she can pick up her other kid.

    Ah, I-am-so-proud of you our little one.