I asked my older kids what they think I do as Mommy all day. 

L said, "Take care of K, and go for tuition."

Ch had less to say. "Play, just play."

So they think their Mama spends her time playing the whole day. I decided to let them know what I actually do through this post.  

My weekdays are rather typical as I have to run errands, and get my groceries twice a week, and sends the kids to wherever they need to be according to their schedule. The usual places I'll be seen at are the nearby supermarket, the kids' school, the hospital (for K's medical appointments) or the nearby medical centre for K's therapies (read here to find out about K's typical day). I'll venture slightly further from home for three weekday afternoons as L has his Chinese enrichment, or I'll be at my students' place for tuition. 

6:20 am The alarm sounds. ZY gives me a nudge to wake me and I struggle out of bed. My whole body aches due to the effect of yesterday's morning jog. I remind myself to keep to the exercise regime else it will be this bad every time I exercise. My unwilling legs manage to get me to the children's room and I wake L. He starts whining (again) about going to school, and questions why he has to go to school (again). I reply as patiently as I can, and pushes him out of bed. He whines again about wanting me to help him prepare his toothbrush. I feel my body stiffening with frustration and I walk away from his whines. 

By the time I'm changed and clean, breakfast has been set on the table for us by my helper. We gather at the table for breakfast at 6:40 am and ZY gives thanks for the food. Today the kids have hard-boiled eggs according to our breakfast schedule. ZY and I have fried eggs accompanied with a cup of my 3-in-1 coffee. Yes, I'm one of those who can be contented with 3-in-1 coffee instead of freshly brewed gourmet coffee.

6:55 am L has to reach school by 7:10 am so we take a brisk walk to school. It is nice to see both of them in a fairly good "morning mood" today. On some mornings, they are just so antagonistic to each other. On my way back, I meet a few friends and have a short morning "auntie" chat. That is one perk I enjoy as a stay-at-home-mom. 


7:35 am I am far far behind my bible reading plan, but well, I take comfort that I haven't given up yet. I do a short prayer and asks for wisdom to understand the Bible text I'll be reading in a while. Today's text is from Genesis 41, Psalms 40 and Matthew 17. I love Psalms 40 so much. It feels like God is speaking about us when K was critically ill. I make a mental note to share this psalm with Mommy S who is also going through rough times with her little one.


8:05 am K is still sleeping, so I have more me-time. I check in on my computer and update myself with status updates on Facebook. Ah, there is a nice giveaway prize that I hope to win. I start on this post before I forget some details. I love the quiet mornings and late nights where I am more productive in blogging. 


8:35 am I check on the sleeping beauty. Ok, she is still sound asleep. That gives me bonus time on my computer. I check my Whatsapp messages and reply to the usual chat groups I'm in, who keep me sane and connected to the world outside home. 

9:20 am I hear laughter from my room. Ah, K is finally awake. I go to her, and sing my usual "Good morning" song. She asks for the same song three times this morning, and sings along with me. My helper then takes over the task of cleaning and changing her while I'm off to the kids' school.


9:26 am I help to prepare food for a friend's boy on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It is a very hot and humid morning walk today. My back is damp with perspiration and I wish for the days where I could just hide in the air-conditioned staff room to escape from the sweltering heat. 


9:45 am One cup of coffee at 6-ish doesn't seem to last me through the morning. I have coffee craving again. I decide to have a cup of hot tea as my substitute. I spy a bottle with a few pieces of biscotti left and took that to fill my tums. K offers to feed me, and it becomes an impromptu therapy session for her. She touches the biscotti with a disgusted look initially, but obliges unwilling when I asks her to feed me again. I let her sniff into the container for more sensorial experience. 


10 am I pick up cues from K that she is done feeding me. She requests for her Hi-5 show, and dances to the songs. I join in the singing and dancing to have some fun with her. We laugh together at her silly actions. 

I steal some time for my daily dose of Clash of Clan game on the iPad. Ugh, my village got attacked and I lost quite a lot of gold and elixir this time over the night. 


I love mornings where I am free to spend time with K and do some activities with her. After her Hi-5 show, I sing the phonics song that she enjoys listening to. She has heard this for about a week now, and she has started singing along from A to H. Seizing the opportunity since she is in a good mood for more learning, I print out some coloring pages for K that is aligned to the phonics song we sang. I get a little distracted while on the computer, and ends up Facebook cruising instead. 


1:10 pm Today, Ch stays back in school for her supplementary lesson. In fact, she only comes home for lunch once a week, now that she has to stay back in school for her other activities and supplementary classes. So it is an afternoon of bonding time with L while K takes her nap. On his way home, L confesses that he has forgotten to bring back his lunchbox. I frown, and asks why. His classic reply to my frown is, 

"Everybody forgets something, so why can't I forget my lunchbox? You also forget sometimes." 

Oh well, I have nothing to say. 

1:45 pm It's late and I want L to start eating his lunch. It takes me repeated calls before he slowly walks over to the dining table. I expect this response, and I remind myself that I will try not to get myself angry over this. Today is Tuesday, and it is the most trying weekday for me as I have to struggle to get L ready for his Chinese enrichment class by 4pm, while battling with his grumpiness due to being over tired. He usually takes a 1 hour nap but he has to sacrifice that on Mondays and Tuesdays due to piano and Chinese classes. 

Today, he tells me that I don't have to sit with him after I'm done with my meal as he wants a story book as his lunch companion. His robotic action to feed himself porridge amuses me. L takes up to 1.5 hrs to eat his lunch in spite of the fact that I have to hurry and scold him. Sometimes, to end my agony, I have to take out Mr Cane in order to catalyse his eating speed. But he finishes his lunch fast today as we have a Clash of Clan date. We look through replays of the attacks launched on our villages, and discuss strategies to place our buildings for a stronger defence.