August 20, 2012

Guest Post: What it Means to be a Full Time Mom

Dominique Guest Post, Parenting and Kids Motherhood, Parenting

Today we are having a fellow SMB(Singapore Mum Blogger) mum sharing her thoughts on motherhood here at Dominique’s Desk. Let’s welcome Regina Moo of MummyMoo to the blog

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I race to him at the end of the work day, and am usually greeted with a squeal and a staccato hug. He then takes his shoes out, and prepares to come home with us. The routine works well for him… he has his cousin to play with in the day (as opposed to being an only child) and at the end of the day, he comes home with the two people who love him more than anything else in the whole wide world. It’s been working out, so far.

Weekends are sacred. Try to take him away from me. I bite.

I don’t know if this will be a permanent arrangement. I think that work is good for me and my family. It keeps me sane, and ultimately, the pay check also helps in meeting the escalating costs of having and maintaining a child in Singapore. I am doing what feels best for everyone… and we shall see how it goes as the boy gets older.

I am not justifying my decision to be a full time working mum. I read through what I’ve written so far, and I’m reminded again as to why I think that this is a course of action which I feel that we are comfortable with. I have had the luxury to make a choice, and for this I’m grateful.

That said, I really take my hat off to all Stay At Home Mums. It’s not easy handling everything, and juggling everything else atop of handling one, two or more! children who are usually more needy and demanding than many adults. I’m constantly amazed by the Stay Home Mum’s ability to keep everything together – and even though there are days when things could be better, they still solder on, for heart and home.

I still wish to have more time with my son, especially when I’m reminded over social media about the events of the day as recounted by the SAHM and on days when I’m missing him so much at work that it hurts. However, I have made my choice, and for now, it’s working out in all our favour.

I’m a Full Time Working Mum but it doesn’t make me a lousier mum than those who stay home with the kids. The time I have with my child is precious, and I have learnt the true value of it only because I don’t have the luxury of spending as much time as I am able to with him. We spend quality time together, as a family, and as much as the boy has brought us joy… we think that he’s happiest when he spends these precious moments with us, too.

Author’s Bio:

Regina documents her little family as they grow as one, charting everyday mundane events to milestones that will chart the shape of their future. She is enjoying being a wife and mother, two personae that she has never thought of becoming – in the past. She takes pride in being a working class stiff trying to be a first class Mum! She hares her thoughts about parenting and personal experiences at: MummyMoo

August 19, 2012

heART Studio- A Review

Dominique Parenting and Kids, Recommendations, Reviews art and craft

the corridor

During the weekend the kids were invited for a trial class at Heart Studio. It was the first them that the kids were attending lessons in an art school and they were looking forward to the lessons.

the corridor

There were three classrooms in the art studio and I had to shuttle between all three as Monkey boy, Doggie boy and Tiger girl were all attending trial classes at the same time in the different rooms. The theme for the day was flowers and all three kids were taught to draw flowers using different techniques and mediums.

Little Dali class

Tiger girl was assigned to the Little Dali Class for 3 to 4 yr olds. At the class they were taught to draw sunflowers or daisies using paint and crayon.

Tiger girl in class

Before the class started she was given some color pencils and a sheet of paper to doodle around. When the class proper started they were given little pieces of canvas to paint on. The teacher started off making them paint the background by letting the students chose one color and paint on the whole canvas. Tiger girl chose yellow for her background.

Tiger girl drying the painting

After the whole canvas was painted the students too turn to use the hair dryer to dry their canvas before they could work on the actual flower.

teacher teaching

The teacher explained to the students the two different types of flowers which they could draw and color. They could do a sunflower or a daisy.

under the teacher's guidance

Next it was onto the picture proper. The students were told to choose a color and paint a circle in the middle of their canvas. That would be the centre of the flower. Tiger girl chose pink and happily painted over the yellow. Next they were to draw in the petals of the flower using a third color. She wasn’t really able to follow what the teacher taught her and ended up with a rather abstract painting instead of a flower portrait. However it was really commendable effort that she could sit through the class and paint alongside the classmates who were 2-3 years older then her.

doggie boy painting.

While Tiger girl was painting, Doggie boy was at the room next door creating his masterpiece. Doggie boy was in the Little Picasso class for 5 to 6 yr olds and they were working on using pastels and soft crayon to color their flowers.

doggie boy painting

Doggie boy too had to work on his background before they drew in the flower. He chose to do a sunflower and was guided on how to create the painting.

Monkey boy painting

Monkey boy was in the Young Van Gogh class for 7 to 12 yr olds and was instructed on how to replicate a sunflower from a printed picture.

completed artwork

I was most impressed with his art work as it not only showed the different textures but also included the blending of colours using paint.

the kids art

The kids masterpieces

My thoughts

I was really impressed by the quality of the art work that the kids produced after a one hour trial lesson. The teachers are really good in imparting their skills to the students. Th boys actually learned some techniques in art and it was not just a craft making session. The art studio was brightly lit and painted in very inviting colours . The kids also had a great time and were fully engaged in their lesson.

I strongly recommend heART Studio if you are intending to send your kids for art classes. For the readers of Dominique’s Desk Heart Studio is offering a 5% off when you quote the code HSTSMB2 upon sign up of 10 lessons for a term.