1) We've gotten a new car. Yes, that's my daily mode of transport to work, i've grown to enjoy the ride and peace. Though the sad part is, i dont get to read on transport nor do i get to stare into space, people watched or fall asleep. The best part is i saved a good 45 mins off travelling which means more zzz for me- Jan 2012
2) We've got a new place! Yes, we are rather fast movers in this aspect, and i cant wait for our new place to be up! Great ideas for decoration, having friends over for meals, DVD, or just chilling with the facilities in store.- Mar 2012
3) We've step foot on Europe-> Switzerland, a place both of us wanted to go, and we were joined by jon which made it even more fun, and memorable. Even though hang-gliding was cancelled, we were able to go up to Jungfrau, Top of Europe ( An really expensive ride) but hey, it's the 100th anniversary this year. We just returned 2 weeks ago, and it's such fun looking back at the pics.
4) And today marks Mother's day. Feeling abit more,( not because i'm preggie), which quite a few of my friends are, but perhaps because they are, and this year marks the year i'm celebrating with both mothers ( my mum and my hub's), and seeing friends around me post pics, status of their gifts ( be it receiving for the first time, or from their cute toddlers), or even our generation wishing our mum's happy Mother's day via facebook.
One cant help but feel overwhelmed with Motherly love. Nurturing love perhaps would be a better word. I had a conversation with my mum today, how young people today, are no longer that family-focused. We tend to ( i use the word tend) put their priorities on a balance scale. Family/ Work/ Personal/ and eventually Retirement. which is more important and how would you get your way through to a smooth Retriement?
In our late 20s early 30s, we are all over fulfilling our wants, our almost compulsory annual travel trips to get away from work, climbing up that ladder just to get that promotion, hit the next income level, get an apartment with your beloved, planning for wedding, having that honeymoon, buying the latest gadgets, or eyeing that handbag. It's a phase most of us will identify with.
For some, it's pursuing higher education, furthering our studies, be it abroad for that independent, travel experience, or local ( part-time : i salute), or full-time just to focus on getting that one item checked. Then it comes the point, when people start their family, photos of babies start appearing on your facebook. Gatherings of House-warming, now coupled with baby-shower, if not, it will be hearing so and so has gone for maternity leave, and 4 month break just seem oh that welcoming. Of course, in the year of dragon, you gotta coupled it more with securing your confinement lady, booking your maternity ward, or perhaps ( if not too crazy,) doing volunteer work for that infant care centre just blocks away from you. Do they even have that? Are we or are we all not chasing some dream set by the norms of our modern society? What else is there left?
Back in our parents' era, starting a family comes naturally after marriage. Once you have one, usually, you will find # 2 coming along shortly, some with #3, and for rare cases in the 1990s ( like my family) we have a #4. Life was tough, the internet evolution came about in the 1980s....and that's when information overload, growing economy, globalization, terms coined like Foreign Talent, Competition, came about and stayed on. I dont remember hearing my parents complain, i dont remember hearing my parents sigh to each other, asking for a break from all of this, having a trip all by themselves. They save, scrimped (prob we dont see it), and they make sure we have food on table, air-con at night, and books to study, and of course, the occasional trip to the beach. I had a fun childhood. But today, will that still be the case for say, 40% of the kids?
I cant say much for those in the upper primary to secondary students ( i dont have the data points), my statistics data comes from friends whose kids range from 2 month old till 5 years old. Well, if i were to include my colleagues, then 9 years old. So, hardly enough to know what the kids today are really going through as they learn to study independently, take responsibility for some of the actions that they are assigned to. I'm scared when i think of all these, I'm not sure how sustainable a parent i will be should i be given this opportunity. But, i will not ever want to think because of a kid, i have to give up on so and so, give up certain facets of my life. At the same time, both of us want to have kids someday. We are kids ourselves, and so we have to learn to take care of others. The idea of being responsible for someone for the rest of their life, seems daunting and yet intriguing at the same time.
Just as i came across this line: I'm afraid of Success AND Failure. Yes, it sounds strange, but i can totally relate to it. On this mother's day, no amount of $, gifts, can express the gratitude i have for the wise woman i call my Mum. I'm here, because of her. I'm who i am today, the thoughts , the personality i have today, is directly and indirectly because of this great lady, whom i'm so proud, so proud of that i will constantly try to recall the things she has done, for me, as that's how i want to teach, impart to my future generation. I love you mum.
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