Working moms can still impact their children's lives

I must admit I'm a little irked when I hear comments that stay-home moms are 'greater' because they can make an impact on their children's lives. Does that mean working moms can't have an impact on their children's lives?

Because of what Jesus has accomplished for us on the cross, He has promised that whatever we put our hand to prosper. Because of His superabundant grace, whatever choices we make will turn out for good. That's what GRACE is all about - unearned undeserved favour.

So because I've made the choice to be a working mom, I believe Jesus will prosper my decision. And my son won't miss out on anything in his life than if I were a stay-home mom. I won't have any less of an impact on my son's life.

Like Alv said, I will have to trust the Lord all the more since I don't spend most of my time with my son. A woman I highly respect also told me that she doesn't spend that much time with her three children. But the time they spend together is quality time, and I can see the tremendous impact she has in her children's lives.

So far things are going well thank God. Ian is closest to me. Some people say it's because he doesn't see me that often. But I also know of moms whose children prefer their main caregiver. I choose to believe it's because the Lord answered my prayer.

Who knows, I may decide to switch to working part time or stay home when I have more children. Whatever it is, I know the Lord and Alv will always support my decision. For now, I will enjoy my life as a working mom!

Who is Sa Sa

I was at work when Alv smsed to say that our son kept saying the name Sa Sa. He found out from my MIL that it's the name of the ang moh girl whom he has been playing with at the playground.

She's a few months younger than him. It must be the same girl he hugged the other time, and they both fell. She cried and he was shocked.

So my son is saying another girl's name! And he didn't tell me!

Great perks ahead for working moms

When PM Lee announced an increase of childcare leave from two to six days, I cheered. When he said moms are entitled to four months maternity leave, I shouted "praise the Lord!"

I don't know what this will do for the fertility rate in Singapore. And I think pregnant women working in SMEs may have a tougher time by making them less employable. But perhaps it's time Singapore SMEs change their mindset?

For me, I'm just thankful and happy for these incentives which will be really helpful when I have another child. Any extra days off that I can use to spend with my children are most valuable and definitely welcome.

Someone lamented the lack of more cash incentives and more subsidies of maid levy. I say, focus on what we already have, not the have-nots. We are very blessed that the government is willing to do more for working moms.

A smartphone at last

I finally got myself a smartphone, the nokia e71. Was deciding between the sony ericsson 5 mega pixel cam phone n a smartphone with easier web surfing and content uploading functions. Then Alv suggested getting the e71. It's sleek, looks good (key consideration for me!), allows me to edit, create text docs, surf the 'net easily, and has a 3.2 mgp cam. Looking forward to do my writing - work and personal - on it and posting photos unto my Facebook and blog.

Blog on the go!

I tried to upload my recent blog entries written on my new nokia e71 directly from active notes from my phone! But can't do a cut and paste! Anyway I'm posting this in a hair salon! Isn't this cool...

Will have to go online from my notebook to upload my entries.

Money can't buy you good taste

When I went shopping with Rachel during one lunch time and while waiting for her to try her tops (see Fashion stylist for a lunch time entry), I noticed a fellow customer browsing through the clothes at Bebe.

You can tell she's quite rich - she was carrying an LV bag and a recent purchase from a jeweller, plus she was shopping in Bebe and the clothes there aren't cheap.

But her hairstyle, clothes and shoes really need a makeover. She had a frizzy perm, and she wore a rather cheap looking top with tight white pants and garish gold wedges.

There were also a couple of working aunties who were ploughing through the sales items. I can't remember exactly what they wore but the combis were erm terrible.

This goes to show that money can't buy you good taste.

That said, I checked out Mango tonight. Saw a black jacket with a ruched design that I felt I had to get. Also tried on this grey puff-sleeve top with printed blue peacock feather detail. I stepped out of the fitting cube and was rather convinced to buy it. Until an auntie from another cube who was trying on jeans asked me where I got the top from.

The auntie was quite bold in her fashion sense - she was trying tight jeans, mind you. But when she said she wanted to try the top, (and she did) I just lost all interest in it. No way I'm going to end up wearing the same top as an auntie in her 50s, fashionable she may be. :-p

I bought the jacket eventually. And I love it.

Something else to chuck: the plain polo tee and jeans combi

A fashion combi I can't stand on women: the plain polo tee and jeans combi. I know why there are times when women have no choice but to wear this combi, e.g. at work, roadshows, company kickoffs. But I don't understand why women would want to wear this combi on off-work days. Worse when the polo tee is a bit loose. The combi is so totally unflattering.

There are so many options to that polo tee:

• a cool tee (I like Animal and Split) - time to ditch that Hanks tee!
• an embellished tank top
• a funky/embellished top
• a button front shirt with details
• just look in the shops and you'll find