Yasmin@16mths

It's sure been a long time since I've written anything here.

Anyway,my dear Yasmin is 16mths now.Development wise,I really don't think she's having much problem.

-She's definately walking without any support.Knows how to kick a ball.And pretends to crawl when I do so as well.

-Loves to run too and "slam" against the mattress.Hmmmm....

-Starts to climb playground equipment but still afraid to go down the slide by herself.(Bet she wouldn't even want to go home if she's able to master that!)

-Enjoys splashing in the swimming pool.

Language:

-Able to say....dog...atuk....mama....papa....nanak(for nenek)....ooopah....car....almo(for Elmo)....nak(translate to english as "I want")....kakakoko(for helicopter/aeroplane)....

-Already knows how to identify some parts of her body.

Social and Emotional

-Lots of tantrums when she doesn't get her own way as she assert her sense of independence(lots and lots of patience needed for these....believe me.)

-Wants to do more for herself,especially with feeding and dressing(yeap.....and lots more mess too.)

Yasmin simply love to mess up the house although theoretically in child development books,they termed it as "exploration learning".Doesn't that sound better.Even dh is now commenting.....he knows he's home when he sees the house in a mess.

I was reading this interesting article in a magazine.It wrote:

"No matter how many years she has invested on her career,she will professionally derailed by motherhood.She might successfully arrange childcare, but one day she will be in an important meeting and will think about her baby's sweet smell.And she will have to use every ounce of discipline to keep from running home,just to make sure he is alright."
-from Every Day Miracles,Dale Hanson Bourke

That's part of motherhood.Many have asked me this question:Why do you stop working?

It comes in different directions and have many tones to it.

At times,it sounds as like .....why the hell you stop working.Bumming around at home eh?

At times,it sounds like....why stop working?Afraid that she won't love you?(actually that came courtesy from my mum who told many that I stop working as I'm afraid that Yasmin would love her more than me.Go figure...)

At times,it sounds more pleasant...like....why stop working?Oh....it's good to spend a little time as they are growing.You won't regret.

I think....I've learnt the simplest way to answer them a bit too late.To smile and ignore them that is.Andrea(my friend) is right.I DO NOT NEED TO GIVE ANY explanation to any of them.Period.

Although I've thought of writing down all the reasons here once upon a time,now I think....heck....what for.

In a simpler version....it's a mother's sacrifice.

One day, I'll return to workforce(and that's another mother's sacrifice)and seriously,you do not need to know the reasons why.

Yasmin's current reading list:

Potty For Girls
At the Pool

I like to bring Yasmin to the library.Although she can't comprehend yet what it is for, I'm simply hoping that it will be a habit for her to go there when she grows up.

She's not very interested in me reading it to her now.Now,she wants total autonomy.She wants to hold the book,turn the pages while muttering her version of the story.Cute.But story ends real fast.

Potty Training:

After much research done, I figure that potty training her earlier would not be necessary.I could merely add to the myriads of issues in my head that I have to sort.I think waiting for her to verbalise her needs is a much better idea.

Happy moments for her.And happy moments for me.

Eating:

She's demanding full control of the bowl and spoon of her meals.Anticipate a mess after meals.But it's really cute to see her eat with her fork and spoon.Not that anything gets in her mouth.It's just the actions that's cute.You know....those moments where a mum thinks..."my little girl is growing up...."

Mama's current reading list:

Raising a daughter-Elium & Elium
So that's what they're for-Janet Tamaro

Really interesting books for parents.When reading the book "Raising a daughter",I finally realised why I was acting the way I do while growing up.Miracle.To seek answers to my daughter,I found answers to my own questions.Actually,I never realised that there would be any difference.Having brought up the way I do,I was determined to have a similar teaching style for my children(future...that is)and boy,was I wrong.

Love this.Adapted from the book:

"Children don't belong to us....
They are little strangers who arrive in
our lives and gives us pleasure and duty
of caring for them-but we don't own them.
We help them become who they are."
-Ruth Nuneviller Steinem

In the book "So that's what they're for!",it's a book on facts of breastfeeding and hilarious anecdotes.

"Maybe your mom breastfed.Maybe she didn't.Even though almost 60% of new mothers try breastfeeding today,the generation that mothered us was brainwashed by formula companies and medical literature to believe that breastfeeding was crass and unsanitary and that formula was modern and healthy(incidentally,so was smoking at that time).Only a small percentage -less than 20%- of our mothers breastfed."

No wonder I have a hard time fighting for my "case"!