Category Archives: work

life with a toddler: when Mom is on forced bed rest 

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When at home on a weekend or holiday, I rarely take an afternoon nap; unless of course I’ve caught terrible colds and cough. I consider those afternoons as a “me time” which is mostly to read or do the week’s ironing whilst listening to music. Truthfully, I welcome those ironing moments as it gives me the quiet time to reflect and think and yet be productive still (sheepish grin).  

Almost two weeks ago, Yui caught a high fever that’s lasted for almost a week. Thankfully, she got over it already. Truth be told, it was one of the most difficult time we had a parents. And as expected, I followed after. It’s worrisome, this tonsillitis, as I have an impending business trip – I have to put the house in order before my flight and of course I have to prepare for the task at hand. 

Yesterday (a Monday), I went to the office after visiting the clinic (my second doctor in a week) to make sure to issue some deliverables that may be required for my business trip; thinking of issuing them ASAP so that I can go home and take two days leave to recuperate from my tonsillitis and recover my voice. My boss learned I had 38degC fever over the weekend and strongly asked me to go home to rest. But my drive to knot loose ends was stronger so I told him I will stay until I’ve issued the last document. This left a small smile on his face. One hour after, he again strongly told me to go home (see, he is normally a scary person). My answer: one last document and I’ll be going home in 15 minutes. That same small smile on him again. And yes, I’m always headstrong when I’m driven with a passion; aren’t we always are?

And so now I’m on forced bed rest when even on a weekend, I don’t take naps. Forced because I know I have to rest to recover fast and prepare for my trip. Forced because I know this time, I really did maxed out my immune system. I can’t even do my “relaxing” ironing because it makes me dizzy. 

When us working moms living away from our parents get sick, it really poses a challenge. Yet a reminder for me not to overdo things. 

Yet, there’s so much to be thankful for. First of course is Hubs, who has been doing a great job taking care of Yui that our little one is all smiles and giggles recently. Yui’s sensitive side too, is more apparent during times like this. When she sees me lying in bed, she lies down beside me and holds my hand, giving me a smile whenever I open my eyes. What a sweet child you are anak. And your Dad and I are so thankful to God for giving you to us. 

One coin

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this has been the longest blogging hiatus I’ve had in this website. The reason being no other than that I am overwhelmingly busy at work. Hope to blog some more real soon.

In an industry that has seen casualties and injuries during a course of a project, milestones like a year or a million manhours that’s incident free are celebrated. Recently, our project celebrated a year sans injury among its project members. As a thank you note, we were given a coin token bearing our project’s logo on one side (reminding us of our objective and goal) and the “no change” sign on the other side (reminding us of the expectations in the project).

We thought of ways of how we can make use of the token but we couldn’t think of a novel idea other than the reasons why it was given to us in the first place – a token of celebration of safety among members and a reminder of our goals/objectives/expectations as we move forward in our project execution.

When my colleague who was seated next to me got to his desk, he noticed the coin and asked me what it was and from whom did it come from and what it was made of (gold plated? Not sure, probably not). And so I explained. Now this colleague usually has a serious face. But the expression he had and what he said after my explanation (and also partly because I know his wife died at a young age) left me speechless that I can only say “ooohhh”.

With a tender expression and a smile on his face, he said, “I’ll give this to my son”. His smile was a knowing smile, confident that his son will be happy with it.

We surely can’t beat that novel use for our token coin.

Company family day

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Today (or technically yesterday since it’s now past midnight) was our company’s family day – a day in which employees’ kids could get a glimpse of their parent’s workplace. The program is open for those who have kids from 4th to 6th grade in elementary. So for those colleagues who have kids around that age, they had their kids tag along with them for most of the day.

You couldn’t just bring along your kid on an impromptu whim however, your kid has to be registered ahead of time. The program is very well organised, I think, owing primarily to security reasons. The kids even have their own IDs with their photos on it – with the card coloured a pretty pink! whilst employees generally have blue or green – which they can use to open the glass doors for certain floors of the building.

If I were the kid, I’d be really wide eyed the whole day. First they had an orientation which took most part of the morning. One of the assistant area lead of our project had a kid who was part of the program so we all had lunch with him. The early part of the afternoon his Dad took him to meet our Clients who shared that they too have the same program in their country. After which the kid stayed on the vacant desk beside his Dad and “helped” by filing some outputs. Yet even with the simple task, he was very serious with it.

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I’m really glad there’s such a program in the office. Sometimes people work so hard the work-life balance is often off-balance, and leaning always on the work side. Excited for our little one’s turn some 9 years from now! Haha.

melon fiesta

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People in the office are frequent travellers. Be it for business or pleasure. So we’re used to the secretary walking around, distributing some omiyage/pasalubong/present at 3pm.

We usually have chocolates, crackers or some sweets. For today however, same as last year, some guy with a humour thought of bringing along a different kind of omiyage. It felt weird but I’m more than happy (and thankful!) to have a break with it. Who can refuse a sweet melon?!

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conversations at home last weekend

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M: why does the kanji for Wednesday same as kanji for water?
A: actually the seven days stand for seven planets including the moon and sun. Monday is for moon, Sunday for the sun. Wednesday for mercury.
M: eh? But there are more planets in our solar system than there are days in the week! What about the other planets?
A: for spare.
———–
(Was explaining to hubs the plant location of my previous site assignment and was sketching the rough plant layout).
A: where’s north?
M: I don’t know. And with what I’m about to tell you it’s not relevant.
A: it’s important. You always have to indicate where north is in plant drawings.
M: I’m not drawing a plot plan, I’m only drawing the block diagram!
———-
(I was washing the dishes and saw that hubs used the magic salt – salt with spices – and not the normal salt when he boiled the pasta).

M: oh, that’s why your pasta was good. You used the magic salt one and not the normal one.
A: I wanted to put the normal one but I couldn’t find it.
A: I also put oil.
M: ah yeah! (Curious) when did you put it. I put it together with the salt (sheepish grin) but it shouldn’t be like that.
A: I learned from school before that you should put it only once its cooked so that the pasta won’t stick together.
M: well actually, you put the salt before the water boils so as to lower down the boiling point of the water, saving time and fuel. You put the oil after it boils because oil makes the boiling point higher.
A: depends on the oil
M: hmm, on the other hand, oil and water doesn’t mix. So actually you’ll have different boiling points and water will still boil first.
A: depends on the oil.
———-
And so we wonder what Yui’s perspective will be in our conversations in the future.

baby diaries: more hugs and kisses

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Mommy yet again have fever and colds anak. Yet even when the dawn and morning had been pretty “eventful” from having had to change the sheets and your clothes twice, Mommy still have the energy to go on. And Mommy owes it to you. Because despite your very bad cough and your stye, you’re still your cheery self, giving Mommy and everyone else that beautiful big smile of yours. And when Mommy coughs (or even hiccup!) you would look at Mommy inquiringly while murmuring something, with an expression that’s quite akin to concern – yet another proof how empathetic you are.

Your body must be working double time now, adjusting from your new environment, new food whilst learning new motor skills (you try to stand up on your own now!). And you’re teething besides! Yet you didn’t make it all the more harder for Mommy by behaving, by not being fussy – main reasons why your paediatrician is not worried even when you have lost some weight already.

So I thank you.

Mommy sits here in the office during lunch break and all I could think of is how Mommy should have given you two extra hugs and kisses this morning, more than the usual. Albeit your teachers already always say “ii na” (wow that feels good), whenever I kiss and hug you goodbye.

I miss you anak even when we’re just apart for 8 hours. Let’s do our best shall we? đŸ™‚