When A Child Reminded You To Be Happy

One afternoon I was folding our laundry while Zaidee a 3-year-old was watching TV. She came to me saying Mummy, hold my hands. We were holding hands in my lap and she said to me in my eyes, “Be happy!”

I’m not sure though where did she learn this. I can’t remember telling this to her. I guess she learned it from her preschool and I am so thankful to the teachers for this nice gesture.

I’m not sure why she said this to me. Maybe she saw my serious face while doing my chore. And from time to time I get caught up by her question if I’m happy or sad. Sometimes if I smile or answer that I’m happy she would tell me, “I’m happy for you Ma.” So sweet of her!

I’m so grateful for having my kids who remind me to be happy. Sometimes I am pushed to fake it though for them to not see my sadness. Well, I have read in some blogs that say, Fake it until you make it! 🙂

Family Fun in Queenstown

Sometime in 2015, we spent our holiday in Queenstown. Yeah, I know it’s late but better late than never sharing! 🙂

Queenstown is one of the best places in New Zealand that you shouldn’t miss to visit. The breathtaking sceneries that make you feel you are in a paradise is an irreplaceable experience. And if you wanna feel being the Queen of the Town you must visit Queenstown! 🙂

-Fergburger

A well-known burger restaurant and is only located in Queenstown. The first place that we went to. We heard that they serve the best burger ever so we went right away as soon as we arrived QT because we were all hungry.

You may want to check their menu.

We have to line up to get our burger.
A bag full of burgers. 🙂

-Skyline

  • Take the scenic Gondola ride.
  • Enjoy the view from the top.
  • Dine at the top at Stratosfare Restaurant!
  • Have a Luge ride.

-The Remarkables

Wanna play with the snow? It was closed though coz it was early Spring when we went there. So we just hopped, touched, and took pictures with the snow! 🙂

-Ice Skating

Our older daughter loves Ice Skating so we tried even if it was scary for me. 🙂

-Ice Bar

This is amazing! As in negative 5 degrees! So freezing awesome! 🙂

-Strolling in Town

Nothing to do or waiting for your flight going back home? Stroll around the town and relax! 🙂

Hobbiton Movie Set Tour

Are you a fan of The Lord Of The Rings or The Hobbit movies? Well, I’m not but my partner is. In fact, through these movies he got to know and discover New Zealand to be our next home. And finally we’re here!

One of the things we wanted to do is to see and explore the beautiful sceneries of New Zealand and one in the list is to see the Hobbit houses.

It’s almost two hours drive from Auckland to Matamata where the Hobbiton Movie Set is located.

Inside the Shire Ticketing Center, there is Gandalf.

After acquiring our tickets to get in, they took us into this bus to the Shire.

Once we take off from the bus, another “Welcome” signage. The tour guide told us that we only pass this signage once for the entire tour, so we should take a picture. 🙂

Here are our pictures inside the Shire and with the Hobbit houses. Enjoy clicking! 🙂

If you’re interested about the tour and want to discover Middle-Earth, you can visit their website for more details.

A Random Act Of Kindness

Our neighbour’s stairs.

stairs

While I was playing with my one-year-old girl at our backyard an old man was sitting on the first staircase from the bottom waiving and saying “Hi” to us. I replied with a wave and “Hi” with a thumbs up asked him if he was okay. I continued watching my baby while she was playing but then I heard the old man greeted us again and I responded the same. On the third time, he did the same but he added some words “I need help, I can’t stand!” I said Oh! And repeated what he said. Obviously I was panicked. I don’t know what to do plus I was taking care of a toddler. I was thinking to knock at neighbour’s door but then I realised the one left in our next door is also a woman and has a little baby. Should I call 111? I even thought of refusing and reason out that I have a baby to look after.

I didn’t refuse. I didn’t call the Emergency number but instead I went inside the house and asked my eldest daughter to take care of her sister and play outside.
I decided to help the old man and jumped over this fence to get into his place.

fence

I didn’t know what to do when I arrived there. I asked him “Should I call 111?” He refused, he said let’s try first and if we can’t that’s the time we’ll call. I just need to stand up, he said.
It was so hard for him to stand up because he has braces on his legs and his crutches were on his side. He needs someone to support him. I did by just following his instructions – not that easy even if it was just lifting his legs one at a time on each staircase. I was scared he might fall down. Scared that he might not be able to make it with my support. Scared on what will happen to him and I would blame myself of helping him instead of calling 111. It was pretty scary for me and I could feel my muscles were shaking. ?
When he finally reached the last step, we were both relieved. He thanked me a lot and touched my face. I felt I wanna cry – it was amazing. I see him as my father or maybe a grandfather.
I learnt he’s staying alone and a cleaner comes to his house regularly. I learnt that he prepares his food, drive for grocery. He has a wheelchair but on that instance he did not use it because he was gardening. Maybe he managed to sit down to take rest and could not manage to stand up again.

It was a nice feeling to help somebody even if you’re scared and worried of the outcome. I felt this way maybe because I was thinking of myself but when I was holding him, I let go of my fear and focused on reaching the goal.

This was really a big deal for me and it felt great! I salute to my sisters out there, my relatives and to all who are taking care of the elders, may it be for a living or not. Now I understand how hard it is. Of course, I do because I had muscle pain for two days! ?

Sometimes we underestimate ourselves of what we can do to help others even in its simplest way. Sometimes we even refuse to reach out and offer some help. But sometimes, we will be called to ignite the kindness within us. To remind us that somebody needs us and someday we may need them as well.

How about you? Have you been called to share the kindness within you?

First Snow Adventure

August 30, 2015- The whole family and friends went to Mt Ruapehu.

It was tiring to be in this place but it was fun. We had an awesome adventure. It took us 4 -5 hours drive from Auckland.

These are some of our captured moments:

Playing with snow was nice and fun but I can’t imagine myself living or staying in such place for a long time. Yet we’re still looking forward to go back to this place next winter. ?

When Are We Gonna Be Rich?

Another question that blows my mind thrown by my daughter while she was eating. Ma, when are we gonna be rich? Ahhmmm, we are already rich honey! I responded quickly. But why don’t we have big computer? Another question that made me smile. She’s been wishing to have her own computer lately.

I was trying to compose quickly to support my answer to her. Even if it’s hard to explain to an eight-year-old kid that being rich is not only about money and material things. I told her that we are rich because we have each other, we have families, and friends.

“Being rich is to have lots of money so that we can buy more foods and if we have extra foods we can donate them. If we have extra money we can donate them too.” This is how she  defines being rich after hearing my side. This makes me feel proud of her for she thinks about sharing what we have even if still sounds that being rich is to have lots of money. ☺

 

Are You Gonna Be A Housewife Forever?

“Ma, are you gonna be a housewife forever?” This is one of the stunning questions of my eldest daughter while we were going to her school one morning. My answers were: “I don’t know”, I’m not sure”, and “Why are you asking?”. Well, to be honest, I really don’t know. And this reminded me of my goals in life or my long term plan.
It’s almost a year now for not having a job. I resigned as Software Test Engineer at Singapore and migrated here at New Zealand. I was five months pregnant when we arrived here and so I decided not to get a job yet. My daily routine was to send my daughter to school and pick her up after. Good thing that the school is just a walking distance but with my big tummy it was tiring sometimes. Some parents offered me a ride but I refused and told them it was my exercise but to be honest, I was just shy. 🙂
Now, we have our new princess. She’s four months old but still, I don’t know yet when to go back to work. Half of my mind is telling to go back to work and half of it is telling me to be a full-time Mom. For me to be worry free, I stop thinking about it and just enjoy what I am now.
The meaning of housewife is broad for me. I am into it without even understanding it fully. But, hey! I don’t think I need to to be qualified as one! My daily experience teaches me to be one. I’m not saying that being a housewife is easy. In fact, I realised that it is the hardest thing that a Mom will do. I cried, I shout, and I laugh with my kids. It may sound crazy, but it’s true and I think I’m still normal being crazy! 🙂 I’ve done bad parenting that made me regret afterwards.
So, to answer the question, Am I gonna be a housewife forever? Still, I don’t know! One thing I know is they wanted me to be with this occupation and they still need me. So, despite those crazy things, I will stay as a housewife for now.