well, for the malays, after a woman gives birth, she has got to go through some post natal rituals. these includes getting massages, using 'pilis', eating jamu, etc. my hubby and I believe that these rituals have physical and mental benefits.
the physical benefits are that the woman would be healthier, regain her energy and get back her shape. the most important benefit is the mental benefits. from the rituals, even if she is not healthier, just going through the whole process would somehow make her feel healthier and revitalised.
most importantly, she would not have a culture shock from the sudden change of attention. you know, when she is pregnant, everyone is giving her the attention and care and concern. she is looked after like a queen, then suddenly, after giving birth, nobody looks at her anymore. all eyes are on the baby. if the baby makes a little noise, all hands are ready to cradle her. imagine...for the past nine months, she is the centre of everyone's lives and suddenly, she is invisible. that can be traumatic!!
so, by going through the rituals, it shows that she is still being taken care of. as most of the ritual has to be carried out by another person, preferably a midwife, the mother feels that she is not invisible and slowly will get used to the transition of being a queen to being a provider for the little queen/king.
that is why I intend to go through the whole process after I give birth. our nenek moyang who actually thought of this is really a genius. power to tradition!!
Sunday, February 26, 2006
Why didn't you come?
I was absent on thurs. so on fri, the moment I step into the classroom, my students came up to me and ask why didn't I come yesterday. when I told them I was sick, they ask again what sickness was I suffering from? yesterday, we had a meet parents session and one parent even told me that her son went home on thurs and keep asking his mother why I didn't come that day...kids can be so curious sometimes...anyway, my P2s made get well cards for me which was very sweet, hehe.
the flu bug is spreading amongst my students. some of them were absent for 2-3 days and even when they come back to school, they still look very weak. so pitiful. i even got one P1 kid who just fell asleep in class while I was giving spelling. she was crying and burning up and so I called her grandma to come and pick her up. so kesian!!
talking about meet parents session yesterday, it went quite well. I meet some wonderful parents who shared stories about their kids. some are quite honest and told me their feelings about being a single parent, about being a working mother who hardly has time for her child, about a mother who is not too educated to teach her own son....it was a nice sharing session. I just took some tips from their stories...
the flu bug is spreading amongst my students. some of them were absent for 2-3 days and even when they come back to school, they still look very weak. so pitiful. i even got one P1 kid who just fell asleep in class while I was giving spelling. she was crying and burning up and so I called her grandma to come and pick her up. so kesian!!
talking about meet parents session yesterday, it went quite well. I meet some wonderful parents who shared stories about their kids. some are quite honest and told me their feelings about being a single parent, about being a working mother who hardly has time for her child, about a mother who is not too educated to teach her own son....it was a nice sharing session. I just took some tips from their stories...
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Yikes, stretch marks!!!!
I really, really worry about stretch marks. I have been applying Jojoba Oil Lotion on my bulging tummy and hips everyday after bath. I hope that's going to help!
Don't get me wrong. I love being pregnant. all the attention i get especially from my hubby is just superb. (hope it continues even after birth, hehe!) I am waiting to experience all pregnancy have to offer. I am prepared but the only complaint i have is my aching back and the possibility of having stretch marks.
talking about my hubby, he is just excellent. putting up with my complaints and crazy mood swings and everything else....love him sooo much...
when we watch television, we used to see actresses holding their back and walking as if the stomach is soooo heavy...i used to think that hey, it can't be that bad right? I mean, how heavy can carrying a baby in your belly be? oh please, we don't see a fat person walking about holding their backs like that!! some of them have bigger tummy that the pregnant ladies, and they are walking fine.
but now that i am experiencing it, i know. it's not about carrying the baby, it's just one of those things that expecting mothers have to go through. and the pain....ah, i shall not say it.
last night, i experienced my first muscle cramp on my left calf. I did not know it can be sooooo excruciating. my hubby had to get up and help stretch my leg. the malays call it simpul biawak. I have read about experiencing cramps and wondering when it would come....well, serves me right. just hope it would not happen too frequently!!!
everyone is asking about my baby's sex. what can I say! the kid refused to open up the legs and reveal what's in between...we all have to wait, I guess....
Don't get me wrong. I love being pregnant. all the attention i get especially from my hubby is just superb. (hope it continues even after birth, hehe!) I am waiting to experience all pregnancy have to offer. I am prepared but the only complaint i have is my aching back and the possibility of having stretch marks.
talking about my hubby, he is just excellent. putting up with my complaints and crazy mood swings and everything else....love him sooo much...
when we watch television, we used to see actresses holding their back and walking as if the stomach is soooo heavy...i used to think that hey, it can't be that bad right? I mean, how heavy can carrying a baby in your belly be? oh please, we don't see a fat person walking about holding their backs like that!! some of them have bigger tummy that the pregnant ladies, and they are walking fine.
but now that i am experiencing it, i know. it's not about carrying the baby, it's just one of those things that expecting mothers have to go through. and the pain....ah, i shall not say it.
last night, i experienced my first muscle cramp on my left calf. I did not know it can be sooooo excruciating. my hubby had to get up and help stretch my leg. the malays call it simpul biawak. I have read about experiencing cramps and wondering when it would come....well, serves me right. just hope it would not happen too frequently!!!
everyone is asking about my baby's sex. what can I say! the kid refused to open up the legs and reveal what's in between...we all have to wait, I guess....
Hanyut = Adrift
Met my secondary schoolmate yesterday...she got married the same day as me. very fun! anyway, we had a long chat. she still remembers that i used to shout at my sis. she reminded me to stop yelling at my sis, now that I am pregnant. well, i don't shout at her anymore but i do shout like tarzan at school.
my current batch of P1 is very much different from last year. last year, they were all so cute and innocent and adorable but this year, some of them want to grow up to become Hanyut. (A popular TV series featuring real life criminals turned good).
It was really a rude shock! some of them are saying that they want to be gangsters and one even claimed to have been in jail before. this is P1 and P2 students here!!! I tried to set the record straight by asking them if the people in Hanyut are good or bad examples. All of them said bad but they still want to Hanyut! Scary, very scary. Being in jail is something cool for them! I can't use that to stop their crazy ideas so I had to use religion. Saying that if they do bad things, they will go to hell. hopefully they will get the message.
I really wonder about their parents sometimes. they allow their kids to see these shows without explaining to them that it is not cool at all. kids need to be told about the consequences of choosing those actions. if the parents think that only teenagers need to be guided, then they are wrong. like the saying goes, bila melentur buluh, biar dari rebung. these young, impressionable kids are the ones we need to monitor. Once they reach adolescene, it's too late. they have already made up their minds.
who's fault is it anyway? the TV station for airing the series at a bad timing or the parents who do not hold their child's hands.........
my current batch of P1 is very much different from last year. last year, they were all so cute and innocent and adorable but this year, some of them want to grow up to become Hanyut. (A popular TV series featuring real life criminals turned good).
It was really a rude shock! some of them are saying that they want to be gangsters and one even claimed to have been in jail before. this is P1 and P2 students here!!! I tried to set the record straight by asking them if the people in Hanyut are good or bad examples. All of them said bad but they still want to Hanyut! Scary, very scary. Being in jail is something cool for them! I can't use that to stop their crazy ideas so I had to use religion. Saying that if they do bad things, they will go to hell. hopefully they will get the message.
I really wonder about their parents sometimes. they allow their kids to see these shows without explaining to them that it is not cool at all. kids need to be told about the consequences of choosing those actions. if the parents think that only teenagers need to be guided, then they are wrong. like the saying goes, bila melentur buluh, biar dari rebung. these young, impressionable kids are the ones we need to monitor. Once they reach adolescene, it's too late. they have already made up their minds.
who's fault is it anyway? the TV station for airing the series at a bad timing or the parents who do not hold their child's hands.........
Thursday, February 09, 2006
Why never update????
Well, finally another update after like ages.....
A lot have happened since November...first up. My bro's thingy have been settled, after dragging for so many months. Good for him. at least he can get on with his new life...wish him all the luck....my sis as usual, been in and out of 'rehab'!!! wonder when she is settling down....
my life had been hectic. with school, household chores, stomach growing bigger....still managing. my daily routine have somewhat changed due to my current school schedule. wake up in the morning, subuh, then masak. sometimes when I'm too tired, then no masak. wake my hubby up and clear the kitchen and house. then I will go to school. but there are days when I have to go early to settle some marking, then some of these steps would be skipped. and the week goes on with me doing the same thing over and over again...
i have been feeling less sick. I guess being nearly 5 months pregnant means I am in the honeymoon period (that's what my bro said). but if honeymoon means extreme backache...then i am definitely in honeymoon stage....getting up from a sitting or lying position is really a challenge...in fact, just changing position during sleep can be agonizing...
I used to think that pregnant women are just overacting to get attention but in actual fact, the pain that we go through is really indrescribable. it is NO EXAGERATION.
A lot have happened since November...first up. My bro's thingy have been settled, after dragging for so many months. Good for him. at least he can get on with his new life...wish him all the luck....my sis as usual, been in and out of 'rehab'!!! wonder when she is settling down....
my life had been hectic. with school, household chores, stomach growing bigger....still managing. my daily routine have somewhat changed due to my current school schedule. wake up in the morning, subuh, then masak. sometimes when I'm too tired, then no masak. wake my hubby up and clear the kitchen and house. then I will go to school. but there are days when I have to go early to settle some marking, then some of these steps would be skipped. and the week goes on with me doing the same thing over and over again...
i have been feeling less sick. I guess being nearly 5 months pregnant means I am in the honeymoon period (that's what my bro said). but if honeymoon means extreme backache...then i am definitely in honeymoon stage....getting up from a sitting or lying position is really a challenge...in fact, just changing position during sleep can be agonizing...
I used to think that pregnant women are just overacting to get attention but in actual fact, the pain that we go through is really indrescribable. it is NO EXAGERATION.
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