Work life balance

Time just went by way too fast the older you get.  It has been more than 3 months since I went back to work and I am finally used to coming to work everyday.  The biggest struggle I have with work is I feel like there is never enough time to do everything I want when I am not working. I never get time to tidy up the house (not to mention the cleaning part), paying bills, running errands, and even watching my favorite shows.

Another challenge is to find time to spend with Aaron when I am exhausted after work everyday. Music and swim lessons are now scheduled on weekdays to free up weekends to do stuff together, but they wore us all out a little too well.  Even though it's tiring raising a child, I keep telling myself that Aaron is growing up so fast that I am going to miss all these days with him.  I don't mind being called a helicopter mom because I truly love hovering around Aaron and give him a hand whenever he needs it.

Wouldn't it be nice if we all have 48 hours a day? ;)

First day of work

This is such a mixed emotions day. It is definitely hard to leave my baby to go to work in the morning after being with him 24/7 all these years. We have been each others' companion for almost 4 years and we both started a new chapter of our lives today.  I can't help but feeling guilty that I won't be the one taking care of him primarily anymore. The joy that he has brought me is incredible and I wouldn't change a thing about it.

I am truly blessed and grateful that I was able to spend so much time with Aaron. From day 1 till now, there was never a dull moment. I wish time didn't go by that fast and we can spend more precious time together. Hopefully he will adjust to the new schedule at school smoothly and I can get used to working again.

my silly boy and his buddy :D

Totally defeated this week

It's never easy to be a SAHM especially when you get sick.  You don't get a break or a day off because there are still chores waiting for you.  This is always the time that I struggle with when my parents/family is not around to help.  I feel so helpless because all I want to do is to lay down and not do anything. I am sure I am not alone that many other SAHMs struggled with this before and I don't want to be a cry baby about it.  As humble and as grateful I should be, sometimes I can't help but think how life would be different if I am in HK with my parents. Would everything be much better as I always imagined? I truly hope that one day they can be around all the time seeing Aaron grow up every day. Don't you always miss your parents when you are sick? :(

Chicken ginseng soup is making me feel a little better

My silly little boy

A huge step in potty training

This is no doubt a day to remember when Aaron was diaper free all day except nap time and at night. I am so proud of my little boy that he is finally understanding the concept of going potty when he needs to.  He has been in diaper way too long and I feel like he could have been potty trained much sooner if he was in daycare.  It's a little bit of my fault to keep him in diaper when he's capable of using the potty. I feel like using diaper is much more convenient and hygienic especially when the outside bathroom is not all that clean.

Anyways, I hope he can stay dry for an entire week before preschool starts so that I can send him to school fully potty trained.  :)

He's becoming such a big boy already :(((

 

First semi-private swimming lesson

Aaron started his very first semi-private swimming lesson with a new teacher called Matt.  He seems to have trust in Matt right away when the lesson starts.  It's amazing to see that Aaron is able to follow commands and do exactly what he was asked to do.  He has been taking mommy and me swimming classes for such a long time I feel like he might advance in a faster pace if I weren't there holding him in the water.

I wish I switched Aaron to the semi-private lesson with the new teacher sooner as he showed disinterest in the previous teacher.  Kids truly do not hide their emotions and would tell you if they don't like certain things or people.  I should have listened to Aaron earlier and found him another teacher so that he could focus on learning.  Lesson learned and I will try to listen to his needs more from now on.

Swimming off with the new teacher right away

He did so awesome that he earned a terrific turbo

Aaron's turning 3

Another year flew by since I had Aaron and he's turning 3 in a blink of an eye.  I truly hope that time can stop and I can have him as a baby forever. He's just way too cute the way he is now and I feel sad that every time I look at his old pictures. He's walking, running, jumping, talking, playing just like any other kids and I can't believe he's mine.

I am so grateful that he's in my life and I am learning how to be a good mother everyday. I might not be the best mother in the world but I am trying hard to become one. I hope Aaron could feel my growing love for him. Happy Birthday, Aaron baby. Mommy loves you :)

Preschool tours

I have been keeping myself busy these days by touring all these preschools for the Fall.  I am so overwhelmed with all the schools and approaches they take that I am not sure what is best for Aaron. I was planning to send Aaron to bilingual school because I feel like he needs to start learning more Chinese; however, I don't feel like any of them after the tours. Most of these bilingual schools are either Montessori or academic focused, which is against my original principle.  I just want Aaron to be a child when he is still little. I don't believe in feeding him academic knowledge so early on when he's probably not ready developmentally. 

I think I've always been wanting to let Aaron play as much as he wants to before going to kindergarten. I don't want him to not like going school from so early on.  He should enjoy his childhood and not have to worry about academics until he's ready.

So far I have seen at least 8 preschools/CDCs and I can't quite make a decision yet. I hope there's one that stands out and I don't have to choose. I think there are still maybe a handful more to look at, hence the search continues. I would really hope to make a decision by this week so I don't have to worry about it by the time we fly home. *fingers crossed* ;)