Monday, December 10, 2007

A Crazy Weekend

When the days are gloomy and dark; when the windows are wet with raindrops; when you’re stuck in the house with four active kids; what would you possibly do?

Last week was a week of torment, with problems with plumbing and heating, making all the realities of life sink in. I realized that the main thing that would be a problem as a single parent for me would have to be bearing the task of bringing up the kids. I am everything to them, and I know that I cannot be everything. So how do I manage?

Bringing up the children is not only about providing them with food, clothes, shelter and education, but also providing them with the emotional stability as well. For a person who is far from the most patient and wonderful woman in the world, there certainly is a lot on my plate.

Twin H had asked me not more than an hour ago, Mom, when is your 'Iddah going to be over?

I looked at him in the eye and asked, where do you want to go?

He gave me his sheepish grin, and said, I'm bored staying home.

Told him that it has only been 41 days and there were still many more days to go...


Having said all that, I decided that this weekend, we’d release ourselves from the build-up stress in us (or in me, to be exact). Of course, physically, we are now confined to our house, especially in the bleakness of English winter. But emotionally and spiritually, we are able to escape to a world of make believe – where the limit is our imagination.

We started our weekend by sleeping in the now-spacious living room (I’ve asked the landlord to remove the two sofas) – all sprawled over the floor, on layers of duvet, cuddling each other tight. Oh, of course we were not spared the battle of who gets to sleep next to Mama! I seriously don't know what it is about my underarms that they like...

Then, they all played silly by entrapping themselves under my telekung (praying hijjab), right after our fardhu prayers. I played along to their games of crazy cards, train travel and snapping sharks, though my oversized body did come in the way in most situations. We waltzed and twirled, dancing ourselves crazy in our pretend ballroom, till we were dead dizzy.

To feed our growling tummies, we made some cheese and butter rolls on Saturday morning, to be enjoyed on our train trip to Lindin or Odinburgh. It’s surprising how much the children can eat on cold and gloomy days, as they savoured over the wild snacks we prepared together. Not forgetting, my orange cake baked early Sunday morning, which was salvaged in less than 3 hours!

In complying to the kids’ needs and tantrums, I simply had to sacrifice everything else – no form-filling, file-updating, blog-writing (not until now) or book-reading. Well, I did get a few hours of reading, of course! The reviews will hopefully come tomorrow.

I recall the late Mr D once saying, The kids will never cope without you (translated: if you died). And, to an extent, I think he was right. Despite the snarls of a female lion, the kids never seem to get enough of me. The funny thing is, even though they often drive me up the wall, I somehow think I need them too...

23 comments:

Kak Elle said...

anytime u need a break let me know ...I can babysit for you...but then you are there and I am here....hehehe

Enjoy the coming weekend D with them and have fun ...

eh ketiak ibu bau wangi agak nya tu:)

~ GAB ~ said...

I was here... reading as much as I could....

Have a good day!!!

knv said...

kak D, i somehow feel the same about my kids. kita garang macam mana pun i think they won't survive it if i'm not there.
but as much as they love me, i think i love them more!

bluewonder said...

u have to see Luqman's pic lahhh. He looks exactly like Little D. Hannan was jst looking at your son's pic wth you and said he bears an uncanny resemblance to our Luqman. Must be the BIG eyes inherited from the mamas

maklang said...

I agree with what late Mr. D said.

The Abah can leave the house to attend a course for a week or so, but without Mak, the kids are lost! Tapi kalau ada Mak, mak suruh apa2 pun macam tak dengar aje...ada tembok agaknya kat telinga mereka...tu anak maklang lah tu..

Take care D ...

iNa said...

:-)

HH said...

AAAAAAAAAA..... I miss my mummy already!

Dad of 4+1 said...

Yup no matter how fierce or strict you can be...they keep crawling back to you...Ain't that what love is all about? Kids can be so imaginative, huh - they make the best of what the have....That's one thing I must learn from them...sigh...

Azie.Fauzi said...

heya d...salam..

reading yr entry..make me feel betapa keciknya myself living in this world..which if this haappen to me..i guess i'll colapse..no stregth..but u..u are super woman...

and yr entry selalu buat i sebak..huhu...

keep on writing..u inspire me tau..to be as strong as u if anything happen to me..

hugs...

Anonymous said...

Yea lahhhhhh .. semua berebut nak tido or duduk dekat mak... saya pun sama masa kecil2 dulu..huhuhuhu

Anonymous said...

Salam

My son once asked me, 'mummy can you sleep without me'?

I replied...'Yes dear...'

He added..' but I can't sleep without you , mummy...

It just make my heart melt!!!

Imah

IBU said...

Salam D

Such a heart warming entry!

That mommy's armpit thingy - Dior, Bvlgary & CK to name a few are waiting in line to find out if there is any mommy out there who'd uncovered the secret yet. Hehehe.... Whoaaa... boleh commercialise kan eh?

We will one day look back & long for that "who gets to sleep next to mommy" battle .... sigh.

Cheers D!

KakNi said...

Nice weekend for you and your kids...




p/s D, tak jawap my email ke? Atau saya yang tak perasan...

Formerly known as Superwomanwannabe! said...

For me, its not the arm pit but my wobbly belly!One kid on the left, one kid on the right, and one on top! But I'd miss them I know I would if suddenly they decide to have enuff of me.

D- at least you have the imagination and energy to play wiht them! You inspire me!

Makcik Runner said...

i love that pikca of you and little d (i presume)...

that hug is so meaningful. take care!

Red Raven said...

U guys need each other more now than before. I love the pix....just show what loves means to some who may not know what it means.

Anonymous said...

asm sis,

I admire your courage and strength. may Allah give you (n the kids) joy and happiness every steps of the way..salam perkenalan,take care.

cikdinz said...

apa khabar kak D. anak-anak semua sihat yeik....
seronok dapat jlan-jalan. at least tenang kan minda dan dapat spend masa dgn anak-anak kan...

Queen Of The House said...

D, you're a wonderful mom and the kids will be alright with you. All kids need a mama lion in their lives!

wanshana said...

D,

I'm just like superwomanwannabe - my son always says, "Mommy, I love you because you're soft..." - and mind you, he's not referring to my "motherly" nature (konon!), but rather, to the flabs on my tummy! :)

Enjoy them while they still want to be bawah ketiak mak, D... :D

Anonymous said...

Sis D,
i salute u!u r such a wonderful supermom...hehe tak sabar nak tunggu anak2 sy mcm tu gak...hehe.wanginyeee ketiak itu....hehe :)

Kiah Kardashian said...

tu standrad phrase mana mana pun...dok berkepit bawah ketiak mak lagik...hihiihi. saya sampai dah beranak ni pun kut...hahhaha.

13may said...

hehhe...hebat la kak d :)