He's Doing Well At His Own Pace

Today, Hisham's teacher asked my permission to move him to her 4 yrs old class despite him being considered 5 yrs this year (He was born in September, 2002). She told me, "Hisham is having difficulties to understand and follow the 5 yrs teaching plan". She feel that it would be better for Hisham to start from 4 yrs class as "he's still very much like a baby".

Although I do not feel this as "something I should worry about', I still politely asked whether I should be concerned of his lack of learning progress. Although he does not speak in proper sentences, and could not pronounce some words properly, honestly I feel that he is doing fine. He is able to understand almost all my instruction and is able to do whatever I asked him to do.

Put aside a,b,c ...colouring, counting etc....he's doing pretty well with his Malay/English mixed words (blame me for my inconsistency and lack of experience).

• he can say "I am sorry (it sounds like sowii) ibu"
• then, I love you ibu..when showing his affection
• he can sing (not in proper lyric though) most of his favourite cartoon theme song
• he's able to display various kind of emotional mood
• now he start greeting his teacher when she came to pick him up in the morning...he says in full, "Good morning teacher" although I suspect she did'nt notice it. Probably due to his not proper intonation/pronounciation. (Mum always know best!)

I must confess that I have not been very supportive in preparing him for the kindergarten. I should have do this and that...lots of thing! (sigh). Bust just because he's being downgraded to 4 yrs class does not mean he's slow. I beg to differ and I shall endeavour to ensure he'll be upgraded to 5 yrs class back before June. I am the one who raise him and I know he's far from slow. May be he needs the correct approach or a different style of learning. Based on my daily routine now looks like time is going to be a constraints...but something must be done...fast!

Mengenang Cabaran Keibubapaan

Sukanya...sukanya...sssuuuuukkkkaaaaa sesangattttt!!! Tahu kenapa? Sebab...., hari ini adalah hari kerja yang terakhir sebelum aku dapat bercuti panjang...wellllll....tak lah panjang sangat, tapi cukuplahhhh. Cuti hujung minggu, disambut cuti hari Natal dan sambung 2 hari cuti tahunan. Ohhh...bahagiaanya. Harap-harap dapat balik kampung tapi hubby macam tak buat plan jerrrr!!! Tak kisahlah, yang penting ada banyak masa untuk "overhaul" rumah tu....tahulah sinki pun dah macam berkarat jer...nak polish tak sempat-sempat. So, I really look forward to this upcoming long holiday. Banyak bendalah nak buat rasanya...tapi tak tahulah kalau semuanya setakat tinggal perancangan, almaklumlah, dengan dua budak lelaki yang sedang lasak dah tentu tak menang tangan.

Seronoknya kalau tak payah kerja...he...he...he....tak payah risau nak tinggal anak dengan siapa. Rasanya semua ibu-ibu pun macam tu, kalau boleh nak tengok anak-anak membesar depan mata. Tapi realiti hidup di zaman serba maju dan moden ini, wang adalah medium kehidupan yang penting. Demi menjamin kelangsungan hidup, apatah lagi di kota macam Kuala Lumpur ini, kenalah berkorban. Ibu dan ayah kenalah bekerja. Nak kata kaya tu tidaklah, tapi sumber pendapatan daripada dua orang ini menjamin kehidupan yang lebih selesa. Lepaslah kalau sekali dua nak merasa pergi bercuti atau makan di luar tu. Adalah lebihan sikit untuk buat pilihan yang lebih baik demi keselesaan sekeluarga.

Tapi walau sesibuk manapun bekerja, ibubapa kena luangkan masa yang berkualiti dengan anak-anak. Bila dua-dua kerja, jarang ada masa untuk anak-anak, jadi, bila ada kesempatan, pastikan anak mendapat perhatian sewajarnya. Umum mengetahui implikasi rumahtangga yang tidak dibaja dengan baik, macam-macam anasir luar yang negatif boleh menular masuk. Apabila anak-anak tidak mendapat perhatian ibubapa, mereka akan beralih kepada kawan-kawan. Pengaruh kawan-kawan ini kebiasaannya menjadi lebih kuat dari masa ke semasa sebab anak-anak menghabiskan masa yang banyak bergaul dengan rakan-rakan sebaya. Di sinilah pentingnya bagi ibubapa mengenali siapakah kawan anak-anak mereka. Kalau boleh kenal ibubapa kawan anak lagilah baik. Ada check and balance. Apapun perkara di atas adalah hasil pengalaman melihat kawan-kawan membesarkan anak-anak mereka. Harap yang baik dapat dijadikan teladan dan yang buruk dijadikan sempadan. Insyaallah.

Life(Driving) Has To Go On

I've been quite busy lately. It's the end of the year and people are all rushing to settle everything so that they can go for holiday with peace in mind. I have not apply for leave yet, not that I have no plan to do so...I do. In fact, I hope I can finish off all the 15 days left, but, somehow ...someone has to be in the office and that someone is ME!!! :) My husband only has 1 more leave left so...we both do not have any grand plan. May be we'll just enjoy the quiet KL life once Christmas start. I guess many will start packing for 'balik kampung' fiesta for Christmas, Hari Raya Aidil Adha and New Year. I'll be taking leave from 26-27 Dec. So, I'll carry forward 13 days to next year...wowww....enough to spend for my next MBA convocation and my brother's wedding.

Back to my driving experience after the 'Oct Tragedy'...I am doing quite well, but, I must admit that I am still haunted by that experience. There's many times I think I can easily caught in the same situation...so far, I managed to avoid it. To be a good driver, you not only have to drive carefully but you must also be able to predict what other drivers would do. There's many driver who choose not to give 'signal' where turning...reckless drivers are countless. Some are too slow...some are too 'impatient' to overtake...most of them just don't care about other road user. If the attitude doesn't change...then, the accident statistic will never come down.

Boss, I Need A Lift!

Hari ini ada meeting kat Putrajaya. Bila bos tanya siapa nak drive? Aku kata bos la drive, ye lah, trauma tak habis lagi la. Kira jauh jugak nak pi Putrajaya ni...so, malaslah aku nak drive bawa passenger. Aku sorang tak pe! Setakat hari ini alhamdulillah, pemanduan aku lancar. Tapi banyak la aku tengok gelagat merbahaya segelintir pemandu. Bila nampak jer, mula la aku kecut perut. Paling banyak yang memotong secara melulu. Aku sekarang memang jaga jarak la, kalau berlaku apa-apa, harap-harap aku sempat elak. Besok, insyaallah, nak pergi Johor. Ada wedding sedara Abang. Mula ingat malas nak pergi, sebab balik hari kan...travel dengan budak2 lagi...mestila banyak kerenah dan ragam. Tapi kesian pulak sebab masa kitaorang kawin dulu, sedara ni datang. Masa adik ipar kawin pun diaorang datang jugak. So, ni 1st time dia kenduri, tak patut sangatlah kalau tak pergi, kan?

Peringatan Buat Yang Alpa

Hari ke-3 memandu ke tempat kerja selepas Tragedi Oktober. Perjalanan lancar, alhamdulillah. Memang cuba sebaik mungkin. Rasa nervous tu masih ada...biar ada , tak apa...sekurang-kurangnya ia akan sentiasa mengingatkan aku supaya berwaspada selalu dan memandu dengan baik. Kalau rasa selesa aja...takut nanti terleka dan ingat macam bagus pula...biasalah, manusia biasa...bila senang mula lupa Tuhan. Minta-minta aku sentiasa ingat untuk memohon pertolongan Allah, bukan sahaja dalam hal pemanduan tetapi segala aspek kehidupan.

Selepas Tragedi Oktober tu, aku dah hafal betul doa menaiki kenderaan, siap dengan maksudnya. Sebelum nie bukan tak tahu...tapi ambil lewa sahaja, jadi penghayatan kurang. Alhamdulillah, kena ingat apa yang dah berlaku itu adalah satu peringatan agar aku tidak lupa pada Allah yang telah memudahkan kehidupan kerja aku dengan adanya rezeki untuk beli kereta baru serta terbuka hati suami untuk benarkan aku memandu. Segala kemudahan yang diberi itu adalah menjadi tanggungjawab aku untuk memanfaatkannya sebaik mungkin.

Back On The Road

First thing first...I'm back on the road! Huh...it's like going to school for SPM's first paper. I am quite nervous. I drive pretty slow...(actually...very slow...heh...heh...). I need to get used to the car first...I've not driving for a month, okay! Gimme a break!!! Must also take into consideration that I am quite a new driver...although my license is 6 yrs old this year. Plus, I've just had a bad experience...so, I guess it'll take some time to build my confidence. I took longer time just to do the reverse parking...heck...actually, that is quite a difficult spot-not my usual place...kind of narrow and the wall look gigantic...(he...he...trust me, no trick!). Anyway....I reach the office safe and sound. Thank you, Allah.

I think the timing (back to driving) is quite good. 1st...it's the longest school holiday period now...so, the traffic is quite smooth. 2nd, my mother-in-law came to babysit my sons at my house instead of me sending them over to hers. The reason is due to the house being under re-construction (termite problem). The landowner is replacing the wooden parts of the house with bricks...so, the house is now in a mess. I've even had to take extra leave last week because she has no space left to babysit my kids. So, all in all, these two situations enable me to drive peacefully to work today. I really hope to keep a good driving record after my bad experience...I'll try to set one for a 5 years period (at least!). Insyaallah.

Tips On Dealing With Road Accident

Some tips for unexperienced driver (like me!) on dealing with road accident. Especially for first timer.

Traffic Accident - What to do next?

• Be calm and do not panic
• If there are injuries to any persons, call 999 for assistance
• If there are no injuries, move your vehicle to a safe area away from traffic, where possible.
• Note the names and addresses of the other driver(s) involved
• Note the model and vehicle registration number of the vehicle(s) involved
• Note names and addresses of witnesses, if any
• Sketch a simple diagram of the accident scene and the position of each vehicle right before and after the accident (Photos of the accident scene, if available, can be very helpful)
• Exchange information on the names of your respective insurance companies/takaful operators
• Do not discuss on whose fault it was. This may complicate handling of your claims
• If your vehicle needs to be towed, ensure that the vehicle will be sent to the correct workshop. Call your insurance company/takaful operator or its accident hotline number for the appropriate workshop
• Report the accident to the police promptly
• Inform your insurance company/takaful operator promptly even if you do not intend to make a claim. The third party involved in the accident may make a claim against your insurance company/takaful operator which would cause you to lose your NCD
• Complete the claims form in full and include any additional relevant information. If in doubt, ask your insurance company/takaful operator for advice