I have always encouraged my son to take ownership of his decisions and actions. Whether it is to postphone doing his homework until after he watches his favourite programme or spend a night at his cousions or to deal with an issue at school or put away his toys after a messy play date. It could be anything really. I am always ready to lend a ear, give some advice and encourage him to make the right decision. It has always worked. Lately though, I have been facing an uphill battle on two issues.
Taekwondo and Mandarin lessons. My son started taking taekwondo lessons since he was about four years old. He has always been passionate about it. He is now just a step away from getting his black belt....and he wants to quit. He takes Mandrin classes in school as a second language. He has been at it for about two years now and only recently, has started to hate it for some reason. He tends to fall 'sick' on Fridays to avoid going to school because of the Mandrin lesson.
I am literally on wits end as I don't want him to give either one up. I believe these lessons would be useful for his future. More importantly, I don't believe in quitting something just because it has become difficult. I don't want him to have this mentality of giving up easily or turning away from anything that becomes challenging. I have debated, rationalised and pleaded with him to continue with these lessons. I have given him all the support and extras he needs to cope. But it has not become easier. I dread the days when these lessons are on as I face the continuous whining and crying. I hate the fact that I have to be the bully and make him go for these lessons. I hate the tension it creates within me and between us. I just pray for the day to come when he has conqured these challenges and we can see eye to eye again.
September 21, 2012
August 28, 2012
Chic Pea and Tofu Dry Curry (Vegetarian)
I twitted last evening that I had cooked something delicious and healthy for dinner and that I would take a picture of it. Well, procrastination never did work out well for me. I forgot. So I will owe you that recipe the next time I make it.
For tonight though, I have something very simple. Being a game night for my husband, he likes to have something easy and healthy when he gets home. So, here is my Chic Pea and Tofu Dry Curry recipe:
1 can Chic Pea (drain and wash away the liquid from the can)
2 squares of Tofu (pat dry and cut into bite size cubes)
1/2 white onion (diced finely)
3 cloves garlic (roughly chopped)
1 tsp mustard seed
2 stems of curry leaves (roughy chop the leaves)
3 pcs of dried chilli (cut roughly into 1 inch pieces)
1 tsp tumeric powder
1 tbs curry powder (more if you like it spicy)
2 tbs olive oil
1/2 cup of water
1 cup of powder milk mixed in water (instead of coconut milk)
Salt to taste
I fried the cut Tofu cubes in a little oil first so that it got a little firm to give it some texture. I removed it and threw in the onions. Once it was tender, I added the garlic, mustard seeds, dry chilli and curry leaves and sauted it for about 1 minute. I put in the tumeric and curry powder next and after a quick stir, I added the chic peas, taufu and about 1/2 cup of water so it does not burn. I let it simmer for about 3 minutes and then added the diluted powder milk and let this boil and reduce for about 5 minutes. Just before I turned the heat off, I added salt to taste. And there you have it. Simple and fast.
I prepared it in a dry style this time as we are going to have it with Chapati. You can always have more gravy by adding more water and milk as per your preference. I personally like this dish because its hign in protein. Since I use olive oil and powder milk as substitute for regular cooking oil and coconut milk, it also makes it less rich, albeit still tasty.
For tonight though, I have something very simple. Being a game night for my husband, he likes to have something easy and healthy when he gets home. So, here is my Chic Pea and Tofu Dry Curry recipe:
1 can Chic Pea (drain and wash away the liquid from the can)
2 squares of Tofu (pat dry and cut into bite size cubes)
1/2 white onion (diced finely)
3 cloves garlic (roughly chopped)
1 tsp mustard seed
2 stems of curry leaves (roughy chop the leaves)
3 pcs of dried chilli (cut roughly into 1 inch pieces)
1 tsp tumeric powder
1 tbs curry powder (more if you like it spicy)
2 tbs olive oil
1/2 cup of water
1 cup of powder milk mixed in water (instead of coconut milk)
Salt to taste
I fried the cut Tofu cubes in a little oil first so that it got a little firm to give it some texture. I removed it and threw in the onions. Once it was tender, I added the garlic, mustard seeds, dry chilli and curry leaves and sauted it for about 1 minute. I put in the tumeric and curry powder next and after a quick stir, I added the chic peas, taufu and about 1/2 cup of water so it does not burn. I let it simmer for about 3 minutes and then added the diluted powder milk and let this boil and reduce for about 5 minutes. Just before I turned the heat off, I added salt to taste. And there you have it. Simple and fast.
I prepared it in a dry style this time as we are going to have it with Chapati. You can always have more gravy by adding more water and milk as per your preference. I personally like this dish because its hign in protein. Since I use olive oil and powder milk as substitute for regular cooking oil and coconut milk, it also makes it less rich, albeit still tasty.
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| Chic Pea & Tofu Dry Curry (Vegetarian) |
August 23, 2012
My Weight Loss POA - The Beginning Of A Healthier Me
I am one of those who struggle to loose weight. First of all, I am not fat. I will describe myself as healthy, if thats okey. I am five feet four inches tall and around 56 kilograms healthy. So my struggle to loose weight is really my desire to look better, feel healthier and to get back into my favourite pair of jeans. I think 50 kilograms will be my target.
The struggle I mentioned above is that, I could not find a routine that suited my lifestyle. See, my lifestyle really excludes any form of exercise, because, I hate it. I have tried walking, jogging, running, swimming, but, two minutes into it and I am wishing I was done. If I had to do these things for fun, like I do with my kids, then I tend to enjoy it. But when its coupled with loosing weight, I seem to falter. I even invested in a high end treadmill thinking perhaps exercising in the privacy of my home may be the key. Well, it sure makes a great spot for storing my stuff.
So you see what I mean. I cannot seem to commit the time or the energy it takes to burn say 100 or 200 calories at a time. It just takes too much pressure and effort and on some days, I don't have the energy to spare. To some it may sound like an excuse, and you may be right. So that is why I am saying outright that exercise is just not for me when it comes to loosing weight. It does not mean, however, that I don't want to.
So I decided to take another route. I focused on food, i.e. what I ate. Luckily for me, I love my veggies, fruits and all things healthy. Being from a culture where the staple diet is rice (even up to three times a day), I can go a whole week without it and not crave it. So I guess that was a great starting point for my weight loss plan.
It's been about 23 days now and I know I have lost some weight. I know because, I feel it and I look it. Last weekend, at a family get together, people noticed. I stop short of saying exactly how much I have lost only because I have not weighed myself. Firstly, I don't own a weighing scale as I threw my last one out after it jammed on me. Secondly, I am afraid to jinx it. I am afraid that if I see the numbers going down, I may start to slack and give myself treats I should not be having. Believe me, with kids around, cheating on treats is easy.
I am trying to hit a whole month with my healthy eating plan before weighing myself. If I loose about 3 kilograms or more, I will be happy. I will be happy and I will stick with it for a long time to come, with some improvements of course. I will share with you my weight loss plan and thoughts on it in my next blog.
The struggle I mentioned above is that, I could not find a routine that suited my lifestyle. See, my lifestyle really excludes any form of exercise, because, I hate it. I have tried walking, jogging, running, swimming, but, two minutes into it and I am wishing I was done. If I had to do these things for fun, like I do with my kids, then I tend to enjoy it. But when its coupled with loosing weight, I seem to falter. I even invested in a high end treadmill thinking perhaps exercising in the privacy of my home may be the key. Well, it sure makes a great spot for storing my stuff.
So you see what I mean. I cannot seem to commit the time or the energy it takes to burn say 100 or 200 calories at a time. It just takes too much pressure and effort and on some days, I don't have the energy to spare. To some it may sound like an excuse, and you may be right. So that is why I am saying outright that exercise is just not for me when it comes to loosing weight. It does not mean, however, that I don't want to.
So I decided to take another route. I focused on food, i.e. what I ate. Luckily for me, I love my veggies, fruits and all things healthy. Being from a culture where the staple diet is rice (even up to three times a day), I can go a whole week without it and not crave it. So I guess that was a great starting point for my weight loss plan.
It's been about 23 days now and I know I have lost some weight. I know because, I feel it and I look it. Last weekend, at a family get together, people noticed. I stop short of saying exactly how much I have lost only because I have not weighed myself. Firstly, I don't own a weighing scale as I threw my last one out after it jammed on me. Secondly, I am afraid to jinx it. I am afraid that if I see the numbers going down, I may start to slack and give myself treats I should not be having. Believe me, with kids around, cheating on treats is easy.
I am trying to hit a whole month with my healthy eating plan before weighing myself. If I loose about 3 kilograms or more, I will be happy. I will be happy and I will stick with it for a long time to come, with some improvements of course. I will share with you my weight loss plan and thoughts on it in my next blog.
June 28, 2012
Cheers To Me
I have just only realised how long I have been away from my blog. The whole format here for posting new blogs has changed. I must have stayed away longer than I thought.
Anyway, I have a good excuse for my absence. I have gone back to part time employment. I started the job in March and now, after nearly four months, am finally allowing myself the luxury of getting back to things that I love doing. Like blogging.
So this is just a short entry to say, I am back. It is also a way to reaffirm to myself that I have been doing things alot different this year and will continue to do so. It is even more significant to me as I celebrated my birthday yesterday. So here is to me and exciting days ahead.
Anyway, I have a good excuse for my absence. I have gone back to part time employment. I started the job in March and now, after nearly four months, am finally allowing myself the luxury of getting back to things that I love doing. Like blogging.
So this is just a short entry to say, I am back. It is also a way to reaffirm to myself that I have been doing things alot different this year and will continue to do so. It is even more significant to me as I celebrated my birthday yesterday. So here is to me and exciting days ahead.
February 11, 2012
What's A Stay-At-Home Mum Worth?
I am a stay-at-home mum. I know what my days are like. I know the challenges I have to face on my own from the moment I wake in the morning, until I lay down at night. No two days are the same. Some are better than others. Some are happier than others. And some days can be down right scary. Would I trade being a stay-at-home mum and miss being hands on with my son? Not on my life.
I value the last seven years I have had bringing up my son. I know almost everything that he has experienced throughout his early years. I have fed him, nurtured him, clothed him, wiped away tears and tended to cuts and bruises. I have been first on hand to share in proud, amazing, funny moments that swell my heart with unimaginable joy and I have been there to witness his awkward moments, his disappointments, his hurt feelings. There is no one else who knows as much as I do about my dear son. This will be something that cannot be taken away from me, nor from him. These seven years of being together will be something I will have for the rest of my life, and he will have for his.
A mother's love knows no bounds. A mother's love cannot be quantified. You cannot attach a monetary value to a mother's love. A mother's love is priceless.
I value the last seven years I have had bringing up my son. I know almost everything that he has experienced throughout his early years. I have fed him, nurtured him, clothed him, wiped away tears and tended to cuts and bruises. I have been first on hand to share in proud, amazing, funny moments that swell my heart with unimaginable joy and I have been there to witness his awkward moments, his disappointments, his hurt feelings. There is no one else who knows as much as I do about my dear son. This will be something that cannot be taken away from me, nor from him. These seven years of being together will be something I will have for the rest of my life, and he will have for his.
A mother's love knows no bounds. A mother's love cannot be quantified. You cannot attach a monetary value to a mother's love. A mother's love is priceless.
February 1, 2012
Outcry over club’s ‘fee by race’
Outcry over club’s ‘fee by race’
I can't believe at this day and age, in my country, this sort of racial segregation still exists. I hate to think that I am bringing my kids into a society that hangs on to believes that there are superior and inferior groups of people among them and that marginalising certain groups are acceptable. The gall of them to try and justify and explain away their rationale is humiliating at most, to them and me.
I can't believe at this day and age, in my country, this sort of racial segregation still exists. I hate to think that I am bringing my kids into a society that hangs on to believes that there are superior and inferior groups of people among them and that marginalising certain groups are acceptable. The gall of them to try and justify and explain away their rationale is humiliating at most, to them and me.
January 6, 2012
A Very Happy New Year 2012!
Wishing my son, husband, family members, dear friends and readers a Very Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year this 2012. I have many exciting things to look forward to. Many positive and amazing things that I will make come true, because I truly believe, everything I want to have happen, will happen, because of me. Great luck everyone!
December 7, 2011
Year End School Break 2011
This year end school holiday is very important for me. For my son. I just want him to have a blast. Lots of fun, activities and a whole load of great memories. Of course I am trying to strike a balance with a little bit of lessons everyday, but he does put up a bit of fuss. Can't blame him entirely as he is aware he is on school break. We are half way through the first week of hols and so far, we have managed to hit the Mall for a bit of shopping and lunch. Today, he has gone out with his cousin sister and we will have taekwondo lessons in the evening. Will try and do something interesting before Friday and hopefully, have a fantastic weekend after that.
September 21, 2011
Fog
I can't seem to wrap my mind around anything these days. I feel blank. I feel confused about everything. It's like a fog has blinded my senses and I can't seem to get out of it.
I don't know if there is something troubling me subconsciously. I can't put a finger on anything specific. I mean, I worry about my son, my family, my sanity, etc. Maybe I am just a worry wort. I know I am wasting precious time and energy worrying about things that have not happened, and may not happen.
I guess I should just let things be and deal with it as it comes? What was that saying again? Live in the moment? Be present with now? Something like that. I should try it. Okey, I am trying it now. I am letting go.
I don't know if there is something troubling me subconsciously. I can't put a finger on anything specific. I mean, I worry about my son, my family, my sanity, etc. Maybe I am just a worry wort. I know I am wasting precious time and energy worrying about things that have not happened, and may not happen.
I guess I should just let things be and deal with it as it comes? What was that saying again? Live in the moment? Be present with now? Something like that. I should try it. Okey, I am trying it now. I am letting go.
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