Not Enough Time

I'm sure all working parents feel the same way. We often feel like we don't spend enough time with our kids. In fact, this is true. We don't. I'm sure most parents have done the maths for this. For us, we get an hour in the morning with bean (sometimes less) and up to 4 hours after sundown on weekdays. Weekends are simply too short but try to make the best of it.

So back to weekdays. Oh how it drives me nuts thinking about it. Bean would rise at about 7am every morning. Sometimes she'd wake up earlier therefore giving us an hour before we send her to daycare. Lucky for us, she wakes up smiling everyday even if she's got a temperature. She'll have time for a bit of interaction with her toys and with us. It also gives her about 5 mins to be completely naughty and she knows that she'll get away with it. She'll get away with anything considering how dreadful we feel having to leave her behind for a good 12 hours (on average).

Then we have the evenings. Earliest would be 6.25 if I can leave early and traffic is kind. If not, it will be 7.30pm on average. No matter how sleepy she is, Bean would greet us yet again with a smile. She gets a bit chatty after not seeing her almost the entire day. By the time we get home, Bean will be a tiny bit restless but when she sees her toys, she can go on forever if you let her.

Then she sleeps and this routine starts all over again. So really, I know it is a fact of life to go to work so we parents can provide for our kids but at what cost? Is it enough? Work-life balance really is hard to achieve unless you are your own bos or a damn lucky housewife. Otherwise, we have to do what we do and keep finding a solution as to how we can have more time with our baby bean.

A Walk in the Park

Bean has been having on and off fever, flu and cough since forever. My main worry is the fact that she's been taking meds for way too long. She don't seem to get any better. Okay maybe slightly better. But our little trooper is a happy trooper. No matter how sick, she's always up for a walk about town. Since we didn't feel like pushing a stroller around a mall, we decided to do something different. Something fresh. Something healthy. Something that can naturally heal our little Bean.

A walk in the park was that something. A bit of sun, fresh air, wind, greens and people can make a child really happy. The sun with a bit of shade, sunblock to protect the skin and multi-layers of insect repellent ate the essentials when you decide to do this. Remember the idea here is to let your child interact with people and nature. Our little Bean had a time of her life. But until now, I can't quite figure out how she sweat so much even though I was carrying her all the way. I didn't sweat as much so that's a shame.

It is now decided that every weekend we'll be taking things outdoor. Whatever it might be, we just want our little Bean to feel and learn to know that she has a lot to appreciate for being born into this world. Nature is the way to go. Bean looks so much healthier now. She gave me a big fat hug at the end of the day. Maybe it is her way of saying thank you and only if she knows how grateful we are that she made her unplanned way into our lives. Feeling blessed.

Cool Fever Innit!

As first time moms, we're panicky when it comes to Bean being sick. The ongoing struggle to stay calm when her temperature rises in the middle of the night or early in the morning is still something we are trying to get use to. It really does help now with our age and having friends who have gone through the earlier parts of raising a child. So while Dr. Google remains essential in this time and age, it is experiences of the "pro-moms" that proves to be of greater help.

What to do or how to do it can show 1000 over results on Google but when you post a question or alarming status about you baby on Facebook, you get great good precise answers from your friends. Best part, it works. Then of course we have our mothers, sisters and cousins to give us a tip or two. It all works. This brings us to the subject of keeping stock.

1. Cool Fever patch - always have boxes stocked in your medicine cabinet or better yet, by your bed (or baby's crib)

2. Paracetamol - syrup or the rectal application type that freaks me out a bit but it work wonders

3. Syringe - truly it says "one time use" but of course none of us actually operates a clinic or pharmacy at home so we tend to reuse but try not to and keep stock. I like the none sharpish tip. Bean likes it too.

4. Vicks or EukiBearRub - for them sleepless nights when breathing is tough, nose is runny and coughing interrupts. Tip: apply on baby's feet and put a sock on it. Baby will sleep through the night and you won't wake up cranky.

5. Nasal spray - Sterimar Baby works best to create that easy breathing passage and lightens mucus so it comes out without having your baby struggle.

I'm not a doctor and all of the above was approved or prescribed by Bean's doctor. Then again, these are the basics and might work for you too. Get professional advice first though.

Image: This is what happens when you put a Cool Fever patch into the washing machine. Cool innit?!