Yesterday, Q and I went for our first couples date without K in maybe a year!
We were blessed with a free pair of tickets and happily took the chance to catch a show, our first in 2 years.
Q wanted to watch it because it had psychological elements, I wanted to watch it because it looked funny and light hearted.
Well at the end of it, both of us were blown away by the movie but not because of either of those reasons.
In fact, I found myself sobbing through half the movie... so much for funny and light hearted.
This show has changed my perception on my time spent with K. I now see every moment as an opportunity to be part of her memories. I also start attributing her actions to the fictional little purple, red, blue green and yellow creatures in her little brain. She is really using her goofball island these days :)
What hit me the most during the movie wasn't the plot or the storyline, but the underlying truth that when we spend time with our children, we help form core memories that shape our child's personality.
It brings the meaning of quality time with our kids to a whole new level.
When our kids go through difficult times, when they feel sad, angry, fearful, disgusted or even happy, are we there to share those moments with them? And more importantly, are we there experiencing these key moments with them?
When we see time spent with our kids as opportunities to be part of pivotal moments that shape their personalities, doesn't that make everything else we could be doing instead become so insignificant?
It does to me...
I want to be part of as many of K's core memories as possible.
I want to be there with her when she goes through tough difficult times as well as good ones and build that family island strong, big and beautiful.
Well, after the show instead of going with our initial plan of taking a long and relaxing lunch without having to entertain a 16 month old while trying to eat, the only thing on our mind was to get home.
There was nothing in the world more important than hugging our little one and seizing the most of what was left of the day to make some awesome memories together.
Sunday, August 30, 2015
Monday, August 24, 2015
Vaccination and Autism
I've been asked quite a lot lately about my view towards vaccination and the risk of Autism..
Probably because I used to work in the field of Autism and have a child under 2 years of age which is when most kids get a lot of vaccinations...
My simple answer is a simple question:
Would you rather have a child with Autism or a child who is dead?
Maybe dead is a bit extreme and under physical torture and pain for weeks may be a little closer...
But you get the idea.
The link between vaccination and Autism is not proven.
And the study that linked the two has been discredited so many times.
But if you want to play it safe, let's just assume the risk is there.
So the risk of being vaccinated is getting autism.
The risk of not being vaccinated?
Let's see...
A whole lot of diseases of which many are fatal.
If you don't know what that means, it means suffering or/and death.
I have seen how parents with autistic children struggle and I have struggled along side them so I am definitely not alien to what it means to have a child living with Autism.
The bottom line is this: Autism is not a death sentence.
With early intervention and therapy, many children grow up to be fully functioning individuals who are capable of contributing meaningfully to the community.
So yes, even if the risk of autism is true I will choose to vaccinate my children because I would rather have a child with autism than a child in the grave.
Probably because I used to work in the field of Autism and have a child under 2 years of age which is when most kids get a lot of vaccinations...
My simple answer is a simple question:
Would you rather have a child with Autism or a child who is dead?
Maybe dead is a bit extreme and under physical torture and pain for weeks may be a little closer...
But you get the idea.
The link between vaccination and Autism is not proven.
And the study that linked the two has been discredited so many times.
But if you want to play it safe, let's just assume the risk is there.
So the risk of being vaccinated is getting autism.
The risk of not being vaccinated?
Let's see...
A whole lot of diseases of which many are fatal.
If you don't know what that means, it means suffering or/and death.
I have seen how parents with autistic children struggle and I have struggled along side them so I am definitely not alien to what it means to have a child living with Autism.
The bottom line is this: Autism is not a death sentence.
With early intervention and therapy, many children grow up to be fully functioning individuals who are capable of contributing meaningfully to the community.
So yes, even if the risk of autism is true I will choose to vaccinate my children because I would rather have a child with autism than a child in the grave.
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
Three? No.. Four.
I haven't been keeping up with the blogging lately...
Mostly because I simply haven't had any spare time to do anything!
Between the household chores, occupying K with 'educational activities' and cooking for three now, I am exhausted.
Another reason for my exhaustion is also that I have one more thing on my list....
Growing another little human being.
I'm not sure if this is the toughest part about having another child but it sure feels like it!
This pregnancy has not been easy at all.
I have been utterly exhausted.
Pair that with the day long morning sickness, a blocked and running nose, on and off headaches.. URGH.
When you are on the verge of throwing up and dealing with a throbbing head, it is not easy to cook and feed a toddler much less play with one.
I JUST WANT TO LIE DOWN AND SLEEP.
I find myself crashing on the sofa while K uses me as a human jungle gym between her nap times and after I put her down for her nap, I sleep some more!
And as you can guess, with all that sleeping I simply don't get much done.
For now if I manage to do ONE chore a day and get food on the table on time, it is considered a good day...
Thinking about managing two on my own at the moment is slightly overwhelming and I have been doing as much reading as I can manage.
From what I have gathered so far, it seems like the first 3 months will just be utter chaos and things will start to stabilise and if I can just get to 6 months I will be good.
But we'll only know when the time comes.
I guess this time round I kinda have a better idea of what to expect which definitely helps a bit..
But as they say, every baby is different.
So for now even with all the planning and calculating and preparing, I am praying every single day and moment that this baby growing inside is a very calm, happy baby who eats and sleeps very very very well.
I am thankful that K is a relatively good kid.
She will be close to what they call the 'terrible twos' when this one comes along but we are praying that it would be the 'terrific twos' instead ;)
Mostly because I simply haven't had any spare time to do anything!
Between the household chores, occupying K with 'educational activities' and cooking for three now, I am exhausted.
Another reason for my exhaustion is also that I have one more thing on my list....
Growing another little human being.
I'm not sure if this is the toughest part about having another child but it sure feels like it!
This pregnancy has not been easy at all.
I have been utterly exhausted.
Pair that with the day long morning sickness, a blocked and running nose, on and off headaches.. URGH.
When you are on the verge of throwing up and dealing with a throbbing head, it is not easy to cook and feed a toddler much less play with one.
I JUST WANT TO LIE DOWN AND SLEEP.
I find myself crashing on the sofa while K uses me as a human jungle gym between her nap times and after I put her down for her nap, I sleep some more!
And as you can guess, with all that sleeping I simply don't get much done.
For now if I manage to do ONE chore a day and get food on the table on time, it is considered a good day...
Thinking about managing two on my own at the moment is slightly overwhelming and I have been doing as much reading as I can manage.
From what I have gathered so far, it seems like the first 3 months will just be utter chaos and things will start to stabilise and if I can just get to 6 months I will be good.
But we'll only know when the time comes.
I guess this time round I kinda have a better idea of what to expect which definitely helps a bit..
But as they say, every baby is different.
So for now even with all the planning and calculating and preparing, I am praying every single day and moment that this baby growing inside is a very calm, happy baby who eats and sleeps very very very well.
I am thankful that K is a relatively good kid.
She will be close to what they call the 'terrible twos' when this one comes along but we are praying that it would be the 'terrific twos' instead ;)
Monday, August 3, 2015
Easy Yummy Beef Stew
Sometimes, I don't get enough time in the day to cook a decent meal..
I usually just wing it for lunch because it's just me.
As long as K has something good to eat, I'm fine having even just a bowl of cereal.
So on the rare weekend that I have time to slow cook a stew, I grab it.
This is one of Q's favourite stews.
It's super easy to make.
The only difficult part is that it is quite time consuming as it needs enough time on the stove for the beef to soften nicely.
If you use a pressure cooker or one of those contraptions that allow you to keep things simmering then this recipe would take you no time at all!
This recipe usually makes enough for 4-5 meals.
I usually just make as much as my pot and freezer can take.
The stew freezes very well and is definitely delicious and comforting for the end of a very busy day.
Ingredients:
2 packets of Amir's Beef Cubes thawed (Found at NTUC frozen section)
1 tablespoon of corn starch
2 bay leaves
3 cubes of Maggie beef stock
4 litres of water
3 white/yellow onions (sliced)
5 carrots (sliced/cubed)
6 potatoes (cubed)
1 tablespoon of tomato ketchup
Can of beer or 2 cups of dry red wine (optional)
Salt
Pepper
1. Cut the beef cubes roughly into half and season them with salt and pepper.
2. Fry the beef chunks in the pot that you are using for the stew until they have a slight char then remove from the pot.
3. Fry the onions in the same pot until they are soft and translucent.
4. Throw back the beef chunks and add tomato ketchup. (You can add some beer or red wine here if you like)
5. Pour in the water and the beef stock and bring to boil. Meanwhile, dissolve the cornstarch in some water.
6. Once the stock is boiling, add in the bay leaves and cornstarch mixture then bring the fire down so that the stew is at a simmer and let it simmer for at least 4 hours (I did 10 the last time and it was glorious!). In the meantime, just check back every 45mins to an hour to top up on water if necessary.
7. About half an hour before you plan to eat, throw in the carrots and 15 mins later, the potatoes.
That's it!
Lovely over rice or you can just toast some bread or french loaves and dip.
This entire pot of stew costs less than $10 to make... which means $2 a meal for 2 :)
Win! :)
PS: More potatoes and carrot means more stew and less cost per meal. Also, the broth is so good that even meat lover Q doesn't mind just broth, potatoes and carrots.
PPS: You can add celery too for variety. Just add them with the carrots so they have the chance to get nice and soft :)
I usually just wing it for lunch because it's just me.
As long as K has something good to eat, I'm fine having even just a bowl of cereal.
So on the rare weekend that I have time to slow cook a stew, I grab it.
This is one of Q's favourite stews.
It's super easy to make.
The only difficult part is that it is quite time consuming as it needs enough time on the stove for the beef to soften nicely.
If you use a pressure cooker or one of those contraptions that allow you to keep things simmering then this recipe would take you no time at all!
This recipe usually makes enough for 4-5 meals.
I usually just make as much as my pot and freezer can take.
The stew freezes very well and is definitely delicious and comforting for the end of a very busy day.
Ingredients:
2 packets of Amir's Beef Cubes thawed (Found at NTUC frozen section)
1 tablespoon of corn starch
2 bay leaves
3 cubes of Maggie beef stock
4 litres of water
3 white/yellow onions (sliced)
5 carrots (sliced/cubed)
6 potatoes (cubed)
1 tablespoon of tomato ketchup
Can of beer or 2 cups of dry red wine (optional)
Salt
Pepper
1. Cut the beef cubes roughly into half and season them with salt and pepper.
2. Fry the beef chunks in the pot that you are using for the stew until they have a slight char then remove from the pot.
3. Fry the onions in the same pot until they are soft and translucent.
4. Throw back the beef chunks and add tomato ketchup. (You can add some beer or red wine here if you like)
5. Pour in the water and the beef stock and bring to boil. Meanwhile, dissolve the cornstarch in some water.
6. Once the stock is boiling, add in the bay leaves and cornstarch mixture then bring the fire down so that the stew is at a simmer and let it simmer for at least 4 hours (I did 10 the last time and it was glorious!). In the meantime, just check back every 45mins to an hour to top up on water if necessary.
7. About half an hour before you plan to eat, throw in the carrots and 15 mins later, the potatoes.
That's it!
Lovely over rice or you can just toast some bread or french loaves and dip.
This entire pot of stew costs less than $10 to make... which means $2 a meal for 2 :)
Win! :)
PS: More potatoes and carrot means more stew and less cost per meal. Also, the broth is so good that even meat lover Q doesn't mind just broth, potatoes and carrots.
PPS: You can add celery too for variety. Just add them with the carrots so they have the chance to get nice and soft :)
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