My Life as a SAHM
@ 16 months 2 weeks 5 days
Reality striked me yesterday when I was left with Ryan all alone for the first time; without PILs, without Linda, without hubs to help.
This is how I spent my first day AT "WORK" yesterday.....
7.00am - Hubs first day of work. Everyone got so excited and woke up early incl Ryan. Prepared breakfast for hubs.
8.00am - Hubs left for work; reality strikes. Fed Ryan multigrain barley breakfast cereal. After his breakfast, I proceeded with housechores - vacuumed the carpet, swept the floor, wiped the tables, prepared Ryan's lunch, thawed the meat/vege for hubs dinner, put the clothes to the washing machine/dryer, brought Ryan to the park, showered the little fella, watched his fav Brainy Baby / Baby Genius, Baby Einstein (they take turns depending which one he picks) again and again, read him some books etc etc.....
11.30am - Finally Ryan was tired and took a nap. Checked on Ryan's food (sorry.. first time I cook, unsure of how much water). Looks okay.
** Realised or not I actually missed my breakfast....
1.00pm - Ryan woke up
1.00pm - Too busy!!!! Arrghhh... Fed Ryan. He rejected the salmon porridge (evitably my cooking sucks, even the little fella was not convinced. Sob..). Made him brown rice cereal instead. Finished all. Phew~
4.30pm - Ryan's nap time again. I started my food experiment for hubs' dinner. It was his first day of work so I wanted to make it a little special for him la. I spent the next 2hours in kitchen with not much progress. :( It gets even more difficult to cook after Ryan woke up at 6.30pm. He refused to let me get off his sight. I cannot go toilet, I cannot go kicthen, I cannot even go to the room without him. He's 100% a mama's boy now. Actually I don't blame him. I truly understand why he's reacting as such. I mean, I'm his only dependant now. Poor baby.. but I truly salute those who made it successfully being a SAHM juggling between housechores and kids and paid posting!!! Anyways, after an awful 3 hours I managed these dishes to celebrate hubs' first day at work - Cooked Egg White Pork with Thai Sauce, Vege, Mixed Taofu and a simple peanut soup
** Oops.. looks like I missed lunch too and yet I don't feel hungry at all...
9.30pm - Hubs came home (Yeah.. everyone in the company works late.. on average 11pm every night. We knew it way before we made the decision to come here. So we cannot complain. It's work and it's all about money)
10.00pm - Yummy yummy... hubs finished almost all the food. Yoohoo... but not so yoohoo after cos I have to wash all the dishes
11.00pm - Ryan went to bed. Me? Collected the clothes from the dryer and started folding :(
12.30am - Went to bed............
So do you think I like my SAHM job? I guess you could judge for yourself
It's 12.12am now.. Hubs came home at 10.30pm just now. after dinner hubs helped me washed all the dishes although he himself was dead tired I know. Thanks B. Sigh... money money.. please come in soon so we'll be motivated to go thru this. :P Arrgghh.. I better go to bed now before I start to think east, think west. Wish me luck for tomorrow.
Ps: Sorry.. you may not see me blog hop that often now and sorry sorry I really lost count the no of tags I owe too. I'm just too bogged down with this new role of mine. Pray pray.. my new live in maid will be here soon. But first I have to find time to go thru this 'brilliant' orientation e-learning programme and test required by the lion city government. So much requirements to hire a maid, gosh.. I thought I was applying to become a rocket scientist. I don't care. I'm calling the temp maid agency tomorrow.
35 etc~etc COMMENTS:
sayang sayang...all is well when the maid arrives...errr.pray pray is a good n reliable one la! no worries, spore gets the better quality ones! Hang in there n don't forget to eat leh!
you want a maid? call Min ! best maid in Singapore!
hehehe...sounds familiar :D You are doing a great job. Hang in there ;D
it sounds tough to me esp. you are all alone with ryan without family and friends and your hubby works so late. having said that, i would have done the same thing if given the choice, for the sake of the future. hang in there. things will get better. and, go get a maid.
Hey..you are doing a great job as a SAHM. Can cook somemore. I didn't e ven cook for my hubby...hahaha. Get a temp maid is good to do your housechores.
Amah: Thanks. I'll have to get thru the e-learning asap. Yeah.. pray the maid is going to be a good one else more headache!
Min: Thanks. Hope you're feeling better.
M2C: Familiar meh? I think you're doing a fantastic job. Really salute you.
BR: Yes.. loneliness is a silent killer.
KF: 1st day only. Yesterday I tapao-ed :P
I truly understand what you are going through cos I was a temporary SAHM 2 weeks ago for 9 days while my mom was in South Africa on a much needed break. Since I have never had a maid to start with, it was little easier on me. But for that 9 days, I cooked, laundered and ironed the clothes while taking care of the little tyke. It was tiring but fun for a short time. I would scour for exotic recipes so that I can come up with delicious meals for hubby when he gets home for work. As a result, my hubby kinda missed home cooked food now cos during work days, we tend to cook simple meals only on alternate days. It was hard cooking and tending to my son at the same time cos he needs so much attention. What I did was to adjust his nap times to coincide with the time I start cooking dinner ie 4 to 5pm. It worked on certain days but some days he just want to clamber onto me all the time. Even plonking him in front of the TV to watch the endless cartoons on PHDC couldn't occupy him for long since his span of attention is still rather short. But yeah, I missed lunch and breakfast almost for each of the 9 days and didn't feel hungry either but I must admit that's not a very healthy routine. By the time I got back to office, ppl commented that I lost weight even though I didnt feel that way. The only brief respite I got from the 9 days were trips to Bangsar Village to do some grocery shopping and accompany him to gymboree classes.
I guess when Ryan hits the 2 year milestone, he will be more independent and perhaps you can try to find a job which offers flexi hours. I heard there are plenty of such arrangements in Spore i.e I just got back yesterday from Spore on a 1 day business trip.
for a 1st timer in so many areas, it was well understood then.....
i absolutely agreed that being SAHM is not a joke....it's just not physically(/energy) demanding but also mentally torturing (to a certain extend if one is not prepared)!
but what caught me seriously was u really didn't take yr breakfast & lunch but still got d energy ahh... like that "cepat tua" ooh!!
my little 2 cent: work on d "mind/brain" first.....once that is convince that everythg's gonna be fine, it will be !!! take it easy!!
IMHO, SAHM is tougher that FTWM. But it gets easier when the children grows up.
Already did a great job ya.. you will do it better and better lar.. no worry... but, got to remember to eat something lar...
hang in there... things will get better soon..
Things will get way better.. ;) once you have a routine.. ;) food is cheap in singapore.. so try not to tire yourself too much in the beginning with cooking.. that way you can adapt.. and do the stuff you like.. and not stay at home all the time.. ;) it will make life a lot more interesting.. :) take care..!
Don't give up. SAHM is pretty fun if you don't try to stress yrself up with too high of an expectations. I was like you, wanting to cook the best food, and making everything perfect. But, once you get the hang of forgiving yourself that laundry dun need to be done so soon (it can wait until someone complains there is no clothes to wear), food dun have to be 3 course dinner (i use the steamer to cook a complete meals, you have to get one of those, can steam chicken, fish and veges, easy to wash and prepare, or cook those stew, got vege and meat else just eat out).
dun try to do everything on your own. u need to sit back and take care of yrself too. you will find that staying at home reaps amazing rewards ok.
hang in there! when u get the hang of the routine, u won't need a maid anymore..:) and believe me, you are doing great! my first meal smells like rubbish..hehe.. u can't beat tt..
Hey dont stress urself out. Inevitably change will get to everyone, just make the best out of it.. I remember the weekends I take care of Aiden, and the little boy doesnt sleep much during the day too, I always miss my meals ! I'm sure both of you will adjust.
It is not easier for start, as you go about it and used it to few hours can finish everything.
For my timetable:
8am: wake up, cook Terry's porridge, laundry, breakfast.
9am - 4pm: Blogging time (meantime 1 hour - cook own lunch, hang cloth and feed)
4pm - 5pm: Housechore (sweep, mop and hand wash cloth)
5pm - 6pm: Cook dinner
The rest hour is free liow...many things can open and closed one eye. Take it easy ya!
I'll be joining you in about a month's time...let's jia you together ok? :)
We can share pointers next time! :) Take things slowly and once the maid is here, i think it'll be easier! Take care! :)
maan maan lei la..when u're more expert in cooking and doing house chores its gonna be better. Try angeleyes or wokkingmum blog to see easy recipes lor...the house chores u can always employ part time maid. hang in there ya
this post make me recall those days i first become SAHM, the situation is exactly like what you have encountered now. Hubby went to office before 7am and back around 7pm, worked for 6 days, and always went out for drink till the wee hour in the morning, i was alone with Jo all the time, no friends, no internet and no maid. Terrible life in year 2005!
jia you jia you, and don't forget to take your meal! :)
hey... i know it is not easy but slowly with adjusting here and there, you will make it :)
it took me few mths to adjust the time in managing what to do when I 1st stayed home. Btw, I didn't call you cos you mentioned mobile sharing with your husband. Let me know when you get yours and see if we can meet up or something...hang in there!
Take it easy, yvonne. And remember to have your meals, ya:)
Babe, take it easylah. If you can't do everything at one go, alternate them lah. Hang in there, k? You'll be fine. Trust me! :)
Don't worry Yvonne, u are doing a great job and keep in on. Maybe u are not used to it. Give urself sometimes I'm sure u can. Take Care!
you're going good mummy. just don't try to cramp everything into a day :) take it easy.
as for ryan, it's natural for him to cling on to you. set a routine for yourself and him daily. once he gets the hang of it, hopefully it will buy u more time for your meals! try eating with him instead of just feeding him. great bonding time and u'll have your meals too. forget the mess he WILL make. it's part of their 'cuteness' :P
take care~
Take care of yourself before you get gastric.
hey! don't forget to take breakfast or lunch again otherwise how are you going to take care of ur hubs and Ryan...
Hey Yvonne,
Eat your breakfast and lunch when Ryan eats his...now's a good time to let him try self feeding. He will like it =) I got gastric now after months of skipping meals...dun be like me.
Since I'm "training" now, I also tried the special dishes and various recipes for Lucas' porridge! LOL guess we're the same.
I found that simplicity is best and my MIL taught me to cook main lunch and dinner dishes together. Just fry veggies fresh. I also use a slow cooker for soups and stews.
I fold clothes etc while watching TV of course halfway gets interrupted by "play with me" requests. Ok lor since I'm his playmate now. Enjoy those times!
My problem is Lucas not allowing me to close the door when I'm in the loo/shower hehe no choice lor free show for the hum sup chai.
You'll be an expert soon and yeah, I go to Angeleyes' blog to check out her yummy recipes. 5xMom's also. They're really good!
Keep your chin up ok? ;-) Remember to eat!
Come and claim your award here!
Dun worry, God Always Beside u. Slowly slowly u will like your new life there.
SAHM with a young child is tough.. w/out any help. Sometimes, just someone to look after the child for 30mins help.. so we can go berak and grab something to eat.
I think you should stock up some high energy multi grain bar.. can eat yourself while feeding Ryan. Kesian.. or you'll be so thin.
Btw, why you say hub's dinner ah? only he eats?
Thats kinda difficult for u. Best of luck from me.
Singapore hawker food is cheap, you can get Nasi Campur for S$2.50 so you don't have to cook lunch.
Which part of Singapore are you staying?
People do work way past 5pm in Singapore. But since your hubby is new, he doesn't have to follow them. I'm sure his colleagues would understand.
Well, if you need help, just let me know. :)
Btw, you have been tagged.
hi busy mummy. hope u are doing just fine. and to cheer u up, here is a nicety award for you :)
http://sweetpeamy.blogspot.com/2007/09/nice-matter-award.html
The initial change is the toughest and Iknow it can be quiet in the house too. Do ensure, you do not skip meals too often as it might affect your health and energy. Do take care
hang in there...i think you'll get the hang of it soon!:)
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