A little love, please?Written by Marsha Maung
Article based on a friend's experienceI just wanted to share an experience I just had with my daughters, Yee Ting and Yee Sin. Yee Ting is three years old this month while Yee Sin is only one-month old. Yee Ting has always been a rather good girl, apart from occasional tantrum outbursts sprinkling our usual day. She would tell me when she wanted to eat, wear clothes I tell her to wear, watch her TV and then play with her toys, without much hassle. As a stay-at-home mom, I really appreciated her obedience because it made it possible for me to perform my household chores while she went along with her usual day. She has not attended preschool yet, although we're thinking about it. Maybe next year, we'll send her to a good one. I am very picky about kind of schools she goes to. Maybe that's why I have been delaying decision. Yee Sin was born only a month ago and is generally a very happy baby but she's quite fussy. She tends to be very fussy about wanting me to feed her, even when my mother comes over to help once in a while. My mother has problems feeding, changing and helping her sleep. In end, my mother comes over to perform house chores while I find time to play and cuddle with Yee Sin. Ever since Yee Sin was born, Yee Ting has been on edge. She has behaved very badly at times, screaming and shouting. She even kicked at me one time, which made me very mad with her. I lost my temper and shouted at her. I even hit her a few times. I know I shouldn't but I couldn't control myself because I felt all stressed out with piles of dishes waiting for me and I needed to feed and bathe Yee Sin before I attended to those things. Yee Ting was very sorry after that and she sat in one corner, ignoring me and my husband (when he came back). She read her books in that corner, took her milk and then went to sleep cuddling her dolly in that corner. I felt terrible about hitting her and vow never to do it again. Then I took both my daughters to buy some groceries one morning in a nearby shopping mall. Let me get this straight, going to shopping mall together happens to be one of those special activities for me and Yee Ting before Yee Sin was born. We would go there and run around like wild horses. She would play hide and seek in clothes department, hiding behind clothes for sale and I would pretend to look for her. Because we go there during office hours, there are usually not many people there and staff ignores us. So, we usually have a ball there. This time, I was carrying Yee Sin in my arms while I insisted that Yee Ting walk alongside me. The stuff I bought was sitting in stroller destined for kids. When Yee Ting hid behind clothes, I barked at her and told her to come right out. "Come out! Mommy has got no time to play with you!" I shouted. Solemnly, Yee Ting trotted along with me.
| | A Tool to Help Mothers Order their LivesWritten by Lisa M. Hendey
A Tool to Help Mothers Order their Lives Review of Orderly Days from Kate Conway and Motherhood Press By Lisa M. HendeyTypically by this time of year, calendars and planners are marked down to half price and most moms have given up on yet another set of New Year’s resolutions, including perennial favorite one to get their lives organized. Thankfully, this year there is a new tool on market that will help revolutionize homes and spiritual lives of many families. The Orderly Days planner, by Kate Conway and Motherhood Press, provides a new perspective on time management. The first thing you’ll notice when you receive your Orderly Days planner is small Rosary ring clipped to inside of three ring binder that contains planner. Conway’s introduction for planner sets tone for tool, stating that her goal is to provide a “traditions day planner that helps you organize your life way God intended – in a proper and orderly way.” The Orderly Days planner logo features a gracefully drawn images, and uplifting fonts, artwork and scriptural references are sprinkled throughout. The planner is compact enough to fit in a purse, diaper bag, or to sit neatly at your desk. The Personal Data again reinforces emphasis on spirituality, by including important parish contact and schedule information among other high priority items such as name, address and emergency contacts. Kate Conway expresses objective of helping women establish a “God-focus” in their lives, enabling all else to fall into place. She gently reminds us to turn to Mary as a role model and intercessor, and lends an ecumenical spirit to planner through her invitation to women of other faith traditions.
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