Watch 'em grow

As a mom, the children and their different needs and schedules demand my time and energy, and emotions, too.

I'm learning to focus on the "up" in the growing up; the ups and downs and highs and lows are all part of the growth process, we're in it together.

Right: There's something positively serene about this Jon-says-hi-to-Mr Walrus moment, that makes me stop and gaze, too.

Like a reminder to steal a quiet moment amid the day's busyness and chaos. To not just look around, but look up also.

Main picture: Growing kiddos see how they measure up to a polar bear, at that 2-in-1 Point Defiance zoo and aquarium in Tacoma earlier.

Doodles, hugs and cuddles... that's half the picture

Both times Vern was away on work trips last month, Kait gave the Pa Pa warmer than usual "welcome home" hugs when he returned.

Could that be why she beat the two Gor Gors to her e-doodles first?

Cheeky gal, she also beat Jon and Ben to beat a certain level of a game when she let her finger do the walking on the screen!

But now, the phone is just one of more things she fights with them over. Her other not-so-secret weapon besides the hugs and cuddles is the pouting-crying-tantrum throwing, not necessarily in that order... as is the boys' still :(.

As the children grow, the meltdowns and outbursts are more trying on my patience though. Before, if I thought the disagreements between the boys were mentally exhausting, now I feel I'm at my rope's end with their fights reaching "a new level". Alas, the exchange of blows, it's happened again and again!

Surely it's not just a "boys are boys" thing. It is not alright to hit or punch, whether provoked, or provoked to retaliate.

Help! How can I help them and myself manage the anger and work things out nicely? Use your words, don't use force... I've said that so many times, I lost count. Count to 10, walk it off, or go draw it out?

I'll appreciate your ideas and advice. The fights drive me up the wall. I'm going "Waaah" more than I can grin and bear it -- like in Kait's e-doodle (right)!

But this is why I especially love the hugs and cuddles. Also those early "innocent" years, though physically demanding, are what parents of teens have called a "walk in the park".
Above: Kait doing her happy dance with a skip, many a skip, in her step -- to the ABC song on the Word Whammer. Round and round and round she spins in circles, and several more times before stopping to catch her breath! (all pictures from last month).

Turning 1.5 years old last week, the little girl has initiated her own toilet training. By day she needs to go for the umpteenth time, and by night with her runny nose these few days, she wants to nurse non-stop! I know what pooped is (no pun intended)...

How do we balance our young children's growing independence with their need to be mothered still? And our self-worth, that's not dependent on what others think or say of us, but often easier said than done.

Hot Pot lovingly served

Hot pot, or steamboat as we call it in Singapore and Malaysia, is my favourite meal during the Lunar New Year.

The piping hot soup is especially nice to have in cold, rainy weather. And ooh, how the flavour just gets richer and richer with more and more ingredients added to it!

You see why I was really happy when we chanced on this place that had it on its menu, while in Seattle over the weekend.

Because of my strained back, Vern did the cooking over the hot pot. He cooks maybe twice a year; it's one of those day-to-day housewifey responsibilities I joke I have to bow to his brilliance when he does it once in a very blue moon, haha!

Seriously now, such are the moments worth savouring... YUM! And extra special with it being Valentine's Day also, and the day off from school was all thanks to the President's Day hol. With the winter blues on me, the husband also knew I could use the getting out, more than the usual zipping here and there.

What a treat (vs. me preparing this at home)!

"Love is... taking care of my family", Ben had written below the heart he coloured, posted on the wall outside his classroom with all the other kindergarteners'. His own take on love, was exactly what I needed in the course of another busy day. To remind me, what it is we work hard for -- those we love, and why -- because we love them.

Loving is serving. At Hong Kong Bistro, the husband sweating over the hot pot, and I got to take a backseat and sit back with the children. Of course they weren't sitting down so nicely, but I can't complain!