Cookie Cutter Painting

More painting activity.

This time around, I tried using cookie cutters and also a set of brushes that I bought from Toys R Us.

So I set up an “Invitation To Paint” for ‘Ukaashah.

I placed paint on the plastic plates (a little bit of each color) for easy usage as well as to avoid wastage.  Because from previously, ‘Ukaashah keeps wanting to pour out the paint from the bottles.  And of cos this time I hide the bottles of paint before he entered the room.

There is also a plate of cookie cutters (unused items from my sister’s bakery stash) .

And another plate with the brushes (from the Paint and Stamp Art Kit) .  2-3 pieces of A3 colored papers.

When the invitation have been laid out, I called him into the room.  He went “wooooah!” and started his work.  I didnt guide him much this time.  I just sat close by and watch him do the works.

Here is the Paint and Stamp Art Kit I got (<$10) from Toys R Us.  But personally I don’t quite like it because, it doesn’t really give a good effect and the paint tend to get stuck to the brush/rollers and so the pattern didn’t turn out well on paper.

Just because….

Just because I keep quiet, doesn’t mean I am fine.

Just because I don’t grumble, doesn’t mean everything is manageable.

Just because I don’t complain, doesn’t mean I am coping well.

Just because I don’t fall sick, doesn’t mean I am healthy.

Just because I don’t break, doesn’t mean I am not in pain.

Just because I don’t rest, doesn’t mean I am not tired.

Just because I don’t retaliate, doesn’t mean I am scared.

Just because I don’t voice out, doesn’t mean I don’t have feelings.

There are times when I seriously wish you can see through me.  Through the fortified wall I built around me.  There are times when I ask for nothing much but a little compassion and understanding for all that I have been through.  To help and support me even before I crumble.  I am not asking for much.  Just a little bit of me time.  Cos many times I feel exhausted but cant seem to voice it out.

Sometimes I feel tired of being the only one to understand.  To be the only one to have to accommodate.  Just a note that even the most fortified wall don’t last forever……..

 

My November Read (another backlog entry)

Stumbled upon this book during an NLB visit last month.  Not that I badly needed a survival guide cos I am surviving fine alhamdulillah.  But just wanted a light read.  And since I dont have that many SAHM friends around (in fact i have NONE!!), I thought reading up from others’ experience will somehow help widen my perspective of this 24/7 job.

 

So, in my super short stint of SAHM-ing, I faced lots of challenges.  Physical and especially emotional.  Being a SAHM may be a choice for some but not for others.  I am thankful that I made this choice myself with no pressure from anyone else.  Cos this makes a huge difference in my perspective of staying home and nurturing my own child(ren).  The days are not always bright and colorful but in times where patience is at test, it is easy to reaffirm myself that this is just a passing phase and its part of the ups and downs of  a choice that I have made..Reading this also somewhat a reminder that I need to reattest my sincerity.  If I am sincere in doing this, I can love it and manage it well.  InshaaAllah.. Staying home not only means I have the sole duty to care for ‘Ukaashah at the moment but also to juggle other home affairs too..  It may not be too bad now, that I am still staying with my parents but I believe the real challenge will come in when we eventually make it on our own..

But from my reading this book, its good to know that I am not alone.  Many women around the world, in the past and present have been through this but of cos the issues with 21st century kids are something else to address altogether. And being a SAHM is a 24/7 job like it or not and I cant expect others to care for my kids for me.  And above all I learn that I need to be flexible and not be too tense.

This books shares many aspects of life of a SAHM.  Inputs from mothers through surveys.  Since the population survey is based on USA, it may not be exactly appropriate for me.  But the essence of mothering and staying home is there.  Common challenges with individual solutions to work around a problem.  While I am agreeable to some but not others, to each is his own.  And with different objectives, comes different solutions and ways.. Allahu ‘alam/

I have lots to learn still.  Lots and lots more..  Each day is a learning journey.  I have to stand up from each fall and get back on my feet as soon as I kind with renewed positivity because caring for a child is not as easy as just teaching them ABC.. Its lots more..

I pray that with each challenge, every other day, Allah bless my intentions and keep me firm in faith and give me the ultimate guidance in doing what is best for my family and me…Ameen..

 

 

Pick N Paste

Not wanting to break the morning play-and-learn routine, i decided on a simple short activity for our Botanical Garden trip last week.

All I brought along was a few pieces of A3 colored papers, glue and markers.

So I told the husband to assist ‘ukaashah to pick up fallen leaves or branches or anything interesting as they walk around that morning. 

And when theu return, all we did was identify those things, not by name though, and simply glue and paster them on the paper. ‘ukaashah who cant resist the marker did some coloring on the leaves and tracing out the leaves. Simple but hopefully meaningful for the little guy. 

We hope to be back for more walks there cos it looks like a lovely place.

Amidst the greens

The greeneries never fail to give me a sense of tranquility.  And i never get sick of capturing their beauty. MashaAllah..

Painting

I tried a new routine since Monday and tried to incorporate outdoor and indoor activities for ‘Ukaashah.

And alhamdulillah it worked well albeit some glitches.  I was undeterred and affirm myself that the start is always the hardest and it will work out in the long run.  Moreover, my bestfriend (who is working at a play-based learning childcare centre) dropped by yesterday and shared a few ideas and I was all excited to start.

So I picked up the simplest thing to do.  Painting.  With this set of paint that I bought last month (i think!).

So I laid out the materials.

Materials:

-Paint

- A3 size papers

- Pellet and brush

- Plastic plates (for additional paint)

- Plastic table cloth (for protection)

- Wet tissue (for quick cleanups)

Started out by tracing his handprints (which we tried before and he loves it and keeps on wanting to do it!).  And I guided him a few times with using his fingers to dab on the paint and then imprint that onto his handprint on the paper.  After a few trials, he got the hang of it and had a go at it all by himself.

 

He then decided to start using the paintbrush and did his strokes while I look on.  He asked for more colors and more paints.

His obsession for trucks got the better of him.  He told me to draw this cement mixer for him and he went on to color it.  He got cranky (perhaps bored already, read:short attention span!) soon after and we did a little clean up and wash up.

His masterpieces!  Which I planned to put it up on the wall of our “classroom” in our new house inshaaAllah..

That kept him occupied for half the morning after a trip to the market.  And basically half the day is gone in satisfaction for both mom and son!

Cant wait to try more play activities.. But we going for a picnic tomorrow (inshaaAllah), so I shall see what outdoor activities I can plan out for him.  Will keep you posted.

My motherhood woes

In wanting to be a good mother to my child, I am sometimes overcome with confusion.  There are times when I get utterly confused with my parenting style.  How best have I dealt with my son’s misbehaviour especially.  And of late, his tantrums and the “terrible two” stage have started to surface and truth be told many times I crumbled and just cried right there infront of him.  I got caught in between managing my own anger as well as getting to my wits end how best to approach his temperaments.  Talking dont help at times cos he can be so wilful most of the time.

I dare say I blame it partially on the instability of my emotions due to the pregnancy but I feel utterly shitty everytime I succumbed to yelling cos I know that dont help at all. In fact I believe that he started to imitate us and begin yelling for no reasons as well.. SubhanAllah.  There are moments when I had to grit my lips to control my anger and heighten my patience and I ended up crying amidst taking deep breathes. 

Such are the downhills of motherhood. 

But reading up where I can, did help a little but not all words can be put nicely into actions and its a lot harder when the situation repeats over time and I get all exhausted from trying.. There are many parenting tools that are available and I am still actively reading up on them and working on implementing whats works for me.  Its a lot of trial and error but all I know is love and emotional connection as well as physical connection was never neglected one bit. In fact I get quite worried that my son’s bonding with me is too strong that he might not be independent when he needs to…

Ala kulli hal.  These are nothing but trials and tribulations.  I pray for strength, patience and guidance in being the best for my child(ren).  ameen.

There is still so much to learn from in this journey of parenthood. Allah mustaan.

@ BookFest 2011. A Backdated entry

A must-go event for hubby and I.  Never a disappointment I would say.

This year, I went all prepared with a list of to-gets to keep me focus and within budget.  =)

Alhamdulillah, left the place happy with a little something for each of us…

Here are the few books I got for myself.  Am contented with the purchase.  However, I regretted not taking a book that I saw entitles “ROOM” ..Perhaps next time.

Hubby spotted this book while he was looking for his books, and being the supportive husband that he has always been, told me to get it =) and so I did since it wasnt at all pricey.

A few parenting book that I managed to grab hold of.  InshaAllah to gain some benefits from them.

A book for some light reading – during the hospital stay perhaps.

This has got to be my FAVOURITE buy,  although I did contemplated a little because of the price tag.  But my curiosity got the better of me and this has to be the most pricey item in my basket that day.  I have heard about hypnobirthing before this, but recently read more and more about it in magazines, so I thought I’d just purchase this book and find out more.  InshaAllah will share as I go along..

And the following are items hubby purchased for ‘Ukaashah.  Since I have gotten him many story books at the FablesClub Sale previously, I told hubby that we probably can get him some activity books instead.  And since he is not comfortable with the short, jumbo color pencils that we got him previously, we decided to get him a new set which is the normal long slim ones..

Hubby got a few things for himself which are of his interest..

=)  Till the next BookFest where we will be shopping for FOUR!! InshaaAllah…