Welcome home, ILHAM

So Ilham is home...yeay...I am ecstatic. Haven't seen him for a month or so. I missed him like crazy. Imiss his handsome face, his whining, his tantrums...I am sure he misses me too. That was what I thought.

He arrived at 2.30 am after a long car journey with MIL and brother IL. When he got off the car he sounded happy as a lark. MIL was complaining about multiple body aches and pains. He didn't rush at me like a long lost lover, instead he tried to dodge my wide open arms and puckered lips. Sigh..... But I managed a chaste kiss on his cheek. I was rewarded with a giggle, but no to a hug. I decided to bide my time and catch him in a corner and kiss him senseless soon.

By the next day, it was quite clear he prefers to live with MIL than with us. This was demonstrated by his constant whining to "balik kampung". Every time we made contact he would look me in the eye and say, "Mummy, balik kampung." "Ok, adik, nanti balik kampung ye." "MUMMY, BALIK KAMPUNG....EHHHHHHHHH!!!", "Adik tak nak duduk sini ke?", "MUMMYYYYYY, BALIK KAMPUNGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!"

So, I bought the tickets for him and MIL. On top of showing how much he prefers to be in the kampung, he obeys MIL whenever she says anything to him. But not me. SIGH......

I do see a lot of improvement in him though...he can spell words - S-A-N-D-W-I-C-H and he says, ROTI..hehehe...cute. But he got P-A-P-A-Y-A & STRAWBERRY correct. And he actually wants to wear underwear all the time now. Hooray!!

The reason he prefers to be with MIL is simple, there he is the centre of attraction. MIL is at his beck and call 24/7. In the afternoons he has playdates. His aunts and cousins (several times removed) will come and play with him outside the house. If not MIL will send him to their house to play. Or he will go to the great grandaunt's house and bug her. twice a week he gets to eat at his favourite restaurant. Everyday either morning or evening, he is driven around by MIL. And they all worship him. Lucky bugger. In our house, he is not the centre of attraction. So there's the dilemma. Oh well, as long as he is happy. And soon he will attend school for the special kids. Apparently he is very excited about it.

As a mother, I only want what's best for him. I am sad that he does not want to stay with me, but I understand his needs. And I understand that someone like him does not possess sensitivities that are necessary for social functions. And no matter how many times I will break down thinking about it, I will be strong. I will accept that he is better off with MIL than with me.

Baba, I need your shoulders to be dry and smelling nice for the next couple of weeks....

Kes Curi Tulang

Baru-baru ini saya terbaca satu artikel di tampal di dinding tentang penjawat awam curi tulang. Sekurang-kurangnya 70% masa kerja sehari digunakan untuk tujuan selain dari kerja rasmi. Kerja rasmi dilengah-lengahkan sehingga kesuntukan masa dan orang lain terpaksa mencampuri hal dan memberi bantuan. Apakah justifikasi golongan yang suka curi tulang ini terhadap perbuatan mereka? Ada kalanya saya sendiri merasakan termasuk dalam golongan ini. Sekiranya rakan-rakan membaca blog saya, sudah pasti dapat meneka saya menulis semasa waktu bekerja rasmi.

Apabila seketika dahulu laman Facebook disekat oleh administrator, satu kekecohan besar telah berlaku di pejabat. Berbagai alasan diberi untuk mendapatkan kembali akses kepada laman FB. Antara alasan yang diberi; FB antara perantara terbaik untuk menyampai maklumat terkini kepada rakan sejawat. Walau apa alasannya, tidak dinafikan alasan yang tidak diperkatakan adalah alasan yang paling kuat- FB untuk tujuan peribadi. Tetapi pihak atasan telah menerimapakai alasan yang diberi dan kini kami dapat kembali menikmati 'networking' melalui FB. Terus terang saya akui, hanya 1% sahaja FB digunakan untuk menyampaikan maklumat terkini.

Balik kepada isu asal iaitu curi tulang. Saya usulkan disini kepada sesiapa yang membaca, sekiranya kerja yang dipertanggungjawabkan kepada kita disiapkan dalm tempoh yang diberikan, dengan baik dan cermat; apakah kita dikatakan curi tulang jikalau kita berFB dan ber'blog' pada masa lain di pejabat? Atau semasa kita menjalankan tugas rasmi, kita juga mempunyai kesempatan untuk melakukan perkara-perkara diatas, kita dikategorikan sebagai curi tulang? Apakah gaji yang kita dapat dihujung bulan itu halal? Justifikasinya ialah, kerja yang ditugaskan selesai dengan sempurna dan tidak tergesa-gesa, dilakukan dengan 'research' dan 'thought process' ditahap tinggi.

Being socially responsible

This is for someone out there who has a thing or two to learn about being socially responsible. Firstly, when you make plans to go somewhere, make sure you know the exact venue. My place or your place? Or someone elses house? Or somewhere neutral (the mall, a restaurant, etc). Secondly, get the date and time correct. Tomorrow or today? Yesterday? Too late, it's today already. What? half an hour from now? Where? 45 minutes drive away? Crazy or what??? Oh, another thing... you are hitching a ride from a friend? And what's that? Your phone is out of battery? Eh? You are not sure when and where to meet? Huh? I send you to her house which is in the opposite direction of the party house, which happens to be just 5 minutes drive from our house? What? You did not charge your phone? Try using the my phone, your friend must be frantic, trying to arrange where and when. What? You forgot her number? Put your SIM card in another phone..there you go, 13 missed calls from her. Don't inconvenient people like this. Oh...it's ok, it's just her driver. Still, he is a person, waiting for instructions. Let's go already...they've been waiting for more than 10 minutes. What? She said wait at home? She'll come pick you up? But we're halfway to the meeting point!! Oh alright...tell them we'll wait here. (5 minutes later)..Look, it's not the driver, it's her father....hope you feel guilty for inconveniencing them....Have fun at your party....Sigh...Next time learn from these mistakes.