The ABCs of Life

It’s our 4th Anniversary today. I praise ALlah the Almighty for this wonderful moment and everything that precedes this beautiful day.

To my family; the Sevenlords, Mak, Tok and everybody that has always been around, everyone that has always been there for me, though I’ve never been there for some of them…

Thank you for your love, kindness, and sacrifices…there’s a Happy Anniversary for the both of us!

All praise be to Allah today it’s the 4th,

with two little darlings and

half a remarkable sweetheart

Happy Anniversary to US!

Well, I’m doing this for Tot’s Mom and her Love Q section, a lovely blogging friend who just had a wonderful idea of having fun with other moms and dads around the cyberspace. Frankly, I’m not into love and romance kinda thing when it comes to writing, not in THIS blog (or any other blogs) at least, but since this question is not too absurd and moreover just something of the past, I’ll try and answer it like I was 15 or 21. (Oh did I write was??? Sheesh ;))

The Question:

If you are being romantically pursued but you are not interested, what would you do to let the person know? For instance, would you be direct and blunt or would you drop hints?

My Answer:

I am a Malay girl by upbringing; and half Malay by blood (eh, is that the right expression) and most importantly I am a Muslim. I am shy (well, I was very very shy). But also brave and could be blunt at times. Dropping hints was the nice way to do things then (read years and years ago), and I was good at running away from such trouble too, BUT if the person has the guts to directly pursue his mission, I will have to also be blunt and direct. Well if it’s going to hurt, it should be quick and fast right? Ouch that sounds cruel! But I meant well and anyway, that person in the first place should have known his boundaries (trying to make myself feel better eh? sigh).

Ok, that’s it. I’m done. Phew…Wonder what Martini and Tammy’s answers would be?

Dare you say goodnight
when the angels
have just begun the fight.

I know you’re sleepy and tired,
but youth and childhood
aren’t here to stay forever.

Lets take out the balloons
and blow loads to play all day,
all night…
if that’s what it takes
to ease and reduce the plight.

I know it’s not easy,
but one day you’ll wish
they’ll never grow up
and please just be babies every day.

Why are you so grumpy?
When God is Gracious
and always aware,
counting all the days
each and every second
you’re struggling to stay
awake…and loving
to those little people
wanting and waiting
for your care!

I’m trying angels…
and I love you anyways…

Sleepless Momma down south
a.k.a k-e-w
0748am , Apr 23rd, 2008

I know it has been a while since the last update. I guess having to share a computer with three other persons in the house is no easy thing to do. Especially when the two little people are most interested in it while you’re at it! Therefore, to reduce tension so that everybody could live happily ever after; I choose to only use the computer if I have something important to do or when the two little people are not around (asleep).

The little boy is now three; that means triple energy, intelligence, love and sometimes…mischief! So does the little sister who is approximately 15 months now. Handzalah is a funny talkative kid but we’ve found out recently that Fidaa’ is even funnier at a younger age. I can’t believe how she could make funny faces, movements and so on and be a natural clown without a red nose and heavy make up all day long! What Handzalah will do in response to that then is imitating her silly acts and noises, trying to join in the fun.

Or is it jealousy? Handzalah loves copying her sister now. Seems as if he feels that doing so will gain him the attention she is getting (at that particular moment). Guess kids just love the attention so much when someone else’s having it. Be it another sibling, mummy’s friend or even husband! Whenever my husband and I have a long conversation about anything, that will be the time when our kids will need everything they could think of in this world. That’ll be the time when they’ll voluntarily ask for a nappy change, feel thirsty or hungry or even want to listen to a story. If the conversation seems like too fun, what these little people will do is…they’ll jump, sit or stand between us, physically (with great effort) trying to ‘remove’ the attention you’re getting from your partner. And usually, Ummi (me; my mom in Arabic) will be the one who can’t be talking to Abi (my hubby; my dad in Arabic) too long. It’s like they’re saying: “Ummi you’re mine, and mine ONLY! And Abi, time’s up ok?”. But the little boy now has learnt some manners, and have more patience to wait for ‘his turn’.

I remembered Handzalah having the same way of seeking attention with Fidaa’ now when he was much much younger. When they want us to pick them up, they will of course cry but if you simply try to comfort them from a bit of a distance (so that you won’t have to pick them up), they’ll cry and walk and suddenly, manja-ly fall! They do that every time we had ‘the crying test’, when there’s no reason to cry and they start crying we’ll wait for a while for them to come and see if the same drama happens and of course…the best actor and actress awards go to…MY KIDS!

Kids grow so fast and as time flies, I think I’ve also learnt to do many things and one of them is keeping my little boy ‘away’ from the PC in a more sensible manner now. A total ban won’t be good for something that has goodness in it but assuring he doesn’t spend all his time or most of his time just watching a flat screen is necessary. In exchange, he’ll just need simple but fun things to do and Ummi to accompany him too. I guess there’s a bit of addiction with all these techie accessories but it’ll be for a while InshaALlah. Though he still have a lot of interests in those things, I feel that given time and space, he actually prefers physical activities like playing football and running. He seems to love artwork too, always asking us to help him draw his ‘Ultraman’ (his current favourite character) or a computer. And of course, that computer must have a screen, keyboard and mouse! He loves scribbling on my little whiteboard with his sister and take every single marker I have of different colours to use. At the end of the day when it’s my turn to use those things for class, I’ll be writing on the whiteboard filled with patterns on its wooden frame and markers with a mixture of colours. It’s no longer blue or green, it’s like blue with a touch of red, and black green…or whatever.

Fidaa’ won’t only use the whiteboard but have this habit of drawing on her palm and arm! Worse, if you’re not fast enough to avoid the aftermath you’ll find marks of ink anywhere on her face and body, or if they’re doing group work you might find other abstract drawings around your household! I had a great laugh watching one of Joeprah’s video recently of her little gal who also did the same creative activity and turn out she even drew something on her belly! It’s funny enough to learn that kids are egocentric but their acts and imagination sometimes are without boundaries. I guess that’s why my parents never had the walls at home painted until most of us grew up ;).

Malaysia’s 12th PRU/GE shocking results made it the most interesting election in Malaysian history. Malaysians woke up to a new day, a new week…some greatly shocked by BN’s huge lost and little victory while others are in high spirits; feeling rejuvenated by the victory of the Oppositions which are considered as the victory of the people. Now BN is the Opposition in 5 states; something that has never happened in Malaysian history. I’d just like to jot down some interesting observations from the recent political scene.

- The Prime Minister has just sworn in for his 2nd term leading the country. Interesting enough to note that the country’s biggest leader is now ‘an opposition’ to the new Penang government after winning his Kepala Batas seat.

- The election’s result looks as if the people chose to sack the previous cabinet members when 4 ministers and 10 deputy ministers are now out of the system failing to be re-elected by the people.

- BN’s two main components which are MIC and MCA faced the worst loss of all. Seems like Malaysians are now saying NO to race-based parties. Even the seats won by UMNO had significant reduce in majority. I hope the ‘real’ integration led by the Oppositions will remain and improve in the future InshaAllah. Other than an opposition’s coalition, it’s a refreshing scenario where people of all races in Malaysia unite, fighting for what they believe in though they slightly differ in colour, language, religion and ideologies. We have lived too long together yet so little have been achieved feeling and being together. This time around, Malaysians caused serious political change TOGETHER, as one! Note: None of the winning Opposition parties are race-based; not even PAS and DAP who have majority Malays and Chinese as members. This could be seen from interesting pictures and reports showing:

1) an Indian wearing a shirt saying, “I’m an Indian, I’m a Hindu. I support Ulama’s (referring to Muslim religious scholars) leadership” during a campaign by the Opposition
2) Indians and Chinese helping PAS workers, Malays and Indians showing support for DAP

- The Election Commission’s corrupt practices; doubted postal votes, odd/inaccurate voters list are no secret to Malaysians yet the wind of change was so strong not even phantom voters could stop it.

- It’s like a dream to see key states like Penang and Selangor fall to the Oppositions..erm oops, the new government! I remembered a remark from a friend saying that it was OK for PAS to have Kelantan, but Penang and Selangor are money-making states which means the new governments will be having great income.

- Many fresh young leaders are born. The youngest MP aged 25 is Nik Nazmi of PKR

Before the election, I was a bit sceptical of change since Malaysia have been under BN for a long long time and many people thinks that change will only be worse than all the bad things that they’ve been experiencing. Well, thanks to the national media, people are reluctant to fight for what’s best for them before but thank God, truth and justice will always prevail! It’s a new Malaysia now. It’s time for hard work and it’s time to stick together no matter what. To all Malaysians, congratulations and may God help us all to achieve success, unity and peace for all.

At last, I could say, I’m proud to be Malaysian!

He is 3 years old now. It has been 3 years since. 3 wonderful years. 3 exciting years. 3 years of struggle, play, laughter and cries. 3 years since the day you took my breath away; and my heart, been yours.

Happy birthday angel, Ummi sayang kamu!

I can hardly find time to write nowadays and with Malaysia’s 12th General Election is just less than weeks from now, I’d rather read and watch the news than write anything unrelated to this. But for these few minutes that I have…as a Malaysian, I feel the urge to humbly ask my fellow Malaysians to please use their intelligence in facing the coming elections.

Many people know and talk about things but there won’t be many whom put those knowledge and debate into action. Many people are proud of their intelligence but they lack courage to use it, even if it is for their own benefit.

It’s a fact that many Malaysians, still, are afraid of change when other developed countries change their ruling party every now and then…

I’m not sure what you think of the coming GE, and politics in Malaysia, but if you’re reading this it means that you’re smart enough to be tech-savvy and reading English. so please be wise in forming your opinion and casting your vote, for the latter decides how your life would be in another 4-5 years to come.

I bet Malaysians have seen enough. If you really SEE and LISTEN to what’s beyond the national TV and newspapers, physical development and technology, and the truth about democracy…you won’t be able to live the next 5 years the way we lived our current 50 years of independence from the British.

Think wisely, choose wisely. You are FREE to DECIDE if there’s this thing called democracy…

I’ve been thinking of this since reading Audrey’s entry When Mom Says No. It’s about parents contradicting each other about the don’ts in the house and end up - unintentionally, I believe - negatively marking the other “the baddie”. I don’t think this is abnormal in many families. I think, for humans we are, such contradiction exists and common too. But what should be rare is the ‘baddie’ character formed throughout the differences we have in opinion with our partners.

I’ve once asked a family motivator about how, if my partner and I are of different backgrounds; one is way too lenient and the other is too strict, what should we do to avoid confusion to our kids and of course unpleasant moment in our relationship? He said, both leniency and strictness are good and bad according to circumstances. Avoid saying too many ‘Nos’ as it implies negativity to your child. But if your child is exposed to danger by doing something he wants to then being lenient on it won’t be good anyway. Should you not say no to your toddler playing with switches and plugs? I bet that’ll be the first thing that comes out of your mouth as programmed by Mr. Brain up on your head.

Kids are kids. Read the rest…

This is late, but here it goes:

I thank God for life and for faith;

I thank my parents for giving birth to me, for the love and care, and everything they’ve given me,

To my husband who filled my birthdays with all kinds of surprises,

To families and friends for always trying hard to remember,

And to everyone for their lovely wishes and prayers;

Thank you for everything

Psst…special thanks to tinkerbell for the gift. To Hana for the yummy cake and the Mayfield girls for ‘making’ me celebrate