3 angry birds hit the road

We went for a short trip recently. The original reason for the trip is to attend the wedding of our dearest “blog inspector”, Izyahya. Congratulation Izzy, wish you luck on your new journey as a wife :-). Jadi, alang-alang dah sampai Kuantan…Haruslah stay sehari-dua untuk makan seafood dan mandi laut!

Selamat Pengantin Baru Izzy!

Hmmm, I’m not going to write every single details of our trip, no. It is not the intention. But a paragraph or two won’t hurt. We stayed at Vistana Hotel Kuantan for the first night and Cherating Bayview Resort for second night. Our short trip full of eating out session and “mandi laut” session. Sekian, terima kasih.

  

I am actually wanted to share my experience going for a vacation as a small family unit, which consist of Coffee Mama, Paparil and Ms Rara. Yes, the three of us. This is our first time having a trip on our own (usually, we will have other family members around). When I was a kid, my family and I always have this kind of trip during school holiday. I remember enjoying the trip very much! So, I have high hope for this trip.

I'm not guilty face by Ms Rara

Well, the trip to Kuantan wasn’t turning out bad. I definitely would want to have this kind of trip again. But, being a parent or the one in-charge in a trip is not an easy task. It can be stressful sometimes. I guess I like being the kid in a trip rather than a parent. But, I’m an adult with hubby and kid now. So, I should act like one, rite? 

I mean it’s hard to keep the “am having a vacation mode” all the time. It is not easy when Rara keeps messing the car with her coco crunch, Paparil refuse to eat food I want to eat and I refuse to go places they want to go kind of thing. Hence, we became 3 angry birds hit the road. 

Do you play this game?

However, in the end all those small little things make family ties stronger. We learn to compromise and tolerate each other. Even though it means no sight-seeing in the evening because Rara and Paparil is sleeping soundly in the hotel room, be it. That is the beauty of family trip. If you can’t cope with that, travel alone (more like a reminder to myself). I'm looking forward for our next trip and wonders what's ahead for us :-)

  

Parenting 101: Nak mandi ke nak baring?

Last night I encounter a miscommunication. With who? Yes, with my little girl Rara. My husband is out for his usual table tennis session with his friends. So, it’s just the two of us at home watching TV. After a while, Rara get bored and become restless. Well, am still glued to the TV watching Nanny 911.

Nanny 911, NTV7, Wednesday (8.30pm - 9.30pm)

She started seeking for my attention. Nak kartun la, nak susu la dan macam-macam lagi la yang dia nak*sigh*. So, I ask her firmly what her actual demand is. Ok, she said she want to take a bath. Then I told her give me 10 minutes because I want to watch the Nanny 911. Silly me. Of course she won’t allow me to do so. It’s either she don’t understand my request or just being stubborn. But I really want to watch the show!

So, I try to distract her with other thing while my eyes on TV. Ok2, I know I’m being a bad mom here. But, can’t she tolerate with me? *dengan anak sendiri pun nak gaduh..hehe..* So as a result of both of us being stubborn, she cried. It’s becoming louder and louder. I gave up and carry her to the bathroom. And guess what? She cried even louder! Tak nak masuk bilik air pulak. Tadi kata nak mandi? 

Then I just put her back on the floor in front of the TV while am going to the kitchen to get some water to cool me down. From the kitchen I can hear she’s crying her lung out “nak mandi, nak mandi”. Haih, this little girl is making me confuse. Then suddenly she came to the kitchen with her pillow. Oooo….dia bukan nak mandi la. Rupa-rupanya, she changed her mind from “nak mandi” to “nak baring”! Patut la tak nak masuk bilik air. It sounded same to me. So, as soon as I put her on my lap with her pillow she stopped crying. As though nothing happen!

Peace Mama! (Yes, that's Rara trying to imitate the "Peace" sign)

So lesson learnt. Listen to your child and don’t assume. It works wonders if you understand what they really want. Children can change mind in split seconds. You never know. But, we should set the limit and not blindly follow their request. Well, lucky me. Her changing request from “nak mandi” to “nak baring” buys me extra time to watch my show! Am I bad? Maybe most of mom out there would say that bringing her straight to the bathroom before she starts crying is the best solution. Ya, maybe. We know ourselves and children best.