The Growing Up Home

Posted on June 18, 2012June 18, 2012 by Mamapumpkin

When my Dad sold the house that we grew up in in Cheras (down the road from Garden International School then), I felt very sad. I was in England then and they had just gotten a divorce so the house I suppose brought him ill feelings. But because.......click to learn what next.

The choice of being busy

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Mamapumpkin

I always try explaining how busy I am to people but inadvertently get judged in the process. It's usually when people invite me to go somewhere and I say I can't and then have to explain why. People love judging instead of understanding. It's either I am crap.......click to learn what next.

Playground Rules in Kuala Lumpur

Posted on April 15, 2012March 25, 2012 by Mamapumpkin

Who knows what the playground rules are in KL??? I ask because many a time, my kids are confronted with playground challenges. Today, T1 wanted to get onto a swing but the kids were hogging the swing like they owned it. She came to me to explain that.......click to learn what next.

Budding Entrepreneurs at T1’s School

Posted on April 10, 2012March 17, 2012 by Mamapumpkin

Last year, I was fortunate to be invited by T1's school to attend one of their programmes with children that were meant to spark the entrepreneurial spirit within all the kids. It was one of the most fantastic experiences! As an employer, I wanted to hire these kids!.......click to learn what next.

Sisters Chatting

Posted on April 2, 2012March 11, 2012 by Mamapumpkin

I love it now that T2 can talk and understand, makes her demands known and throws ideas across. Thank you, Hayley! And I love it when my girls communicate. I find it fascinating, the stuff they chat about. I am so proud to have made these two lovely.......click to learn what next.

Being Muslim

Posted on March 19, 2012March 19, 2012 by Mamapumpkin

People are always shocked when they learn that my parents are Muslim. Then when they find out that my Mother is married to a Malay, they go, "ohhhh......no wonder!" But in actual fact, my Mom became a Muslim way before she married Tok-Tok and it had nothing to.......click to learn what next.

Thinking of Friends

Posted on March 11, 2012March 11, 2012 by Mamapumpkin

Today, whilst I brought T2 to the hospital (because the sick child has not eaten more than 3 teaspoons of porridge and 3 teaspoons of pasta in all of 5 days nor drank very much at all AND she still is running a high fever after Day 5),.......click to learn what next.

The Queen of our Home

Posted on February 26, 2012February 26, 2012 by Mamapumpkin

Who might that be then??? My smart alec daughter, T1, is a smart alec. If she had been raised in my time, she would have just gotten a big slap across her face for every single retort she makes and believe me, sometimes, I feel like doing the.......click to learn what next.

Making KIDS Work

Posted on February 24, 2012February 23, 2012 by Mamapumpkin

What is life like when you have people doing things for you all the time? From the moment you are born, you are changed, bathed, creamed. Later, you get dressed, carried and pushed. For some, having others do work for them becomes a lifetime affair but not for.......click to learn what next.

ChiangMai Airport

Posted on February 20, 2012February 14, 2012 by Mamapumpkin

There is nothing more bitter sweet about the impending finale to a great holiday - happy to finally get to sleep on your own bed and back to normalcy yet the pain of having to go back to work and deal with that normalcy again. *sigh* What I.......click to learn what next.

Toxic People

Posted on February 16, 2012February 14, 2012 by Mamapumpkin

I'm sure we've all been there and if you haven't, well lucky you! In my 40 years, I have met and dealt with more than 10,000 people and for whatever it's worth, I'd like to think I am quite experienced when it comes to sussing them out. I.......click to learn what next.

Hello 2012!!!

Posted on February 10, 2012February 11, 2012 by Mamapumpkin

After an exciting trip with the family to Chiangmai, we were whisked back to KL but the excitement didn't stop there! My cousins stayed on till the New Year thus we were busy for the entire 2 weeks towards year end having fun. After our New Year's Eve.......click to learn what next.

Making Kids Work

Posted on February 3, 2012January 30, 2012 by Mamapumpkin

I was brought up with maids and hardly lifted a finger to do any work. OK, make that no work at all. This has caused me to be extremely LAZY. However, my in-laws are extremely HARD-WORKING people and tend to their huge garden every single day. Their garden.......click to learn what next.

The Resolve for 2012

Posted on February 2, 2012January 29, 2012 by Mamapumpkin

My GOD. The first month has already flown by and I've barely begun. Last weekend, a good friend of mine came back from Hong Kong to visit and brought the girls some stuff from Little Whale. T2 was OVER THE MOON with all the little pink accessories that.......click to learn what next.

Kids with a sense of Entitlement

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Mamapumpkin

A good proportion of the kids that I see today are very lucky kids. Lucky that they have all the food that they like eating, lucky that they have a lot of toys and gadgets, lucky that they have nice clothes, lucky that they get to go to.......click to learn what next.

Malaysians being Malaysians……

Posted on December 14, 2011 by Mamapumpkin

This week, I was unfortunate enough to have had to be in a queue that lasted 1.5 hours with a hungry, cranky toddler. T2 and I, we were out and about since 9am and finally got home at 3pm and throughout that whole time, did not have breakfast.......click to learn what next.

Life Challenges

Posted on November 30, 2011November 30, 2011 by Mamapumpkin

I love life. It has always been challenging but that is exactly why I love it. It gives me a hallucinating high. This year has almost come to an end and my challenges were and still are:- 1. Starting full time work after a 10 year hiatus being.......click to learn what next.

Keeping FIT and HEALTHY during pregnancy

Posted on November 29, 2011November 29, 2011 by Mamapumpkin

No. I am not pregnant. But everyone around me seems to be! I'm not in the least bit jealous, I swear, as I had the most awful pregnancies. I don't miss being pregnant AT ALL. Some women love being pregnant and I can appreciate that but I promise,.......click to learn what next.

Girls playing with Boy Toys

Posted on November 22, 2011November 15, 2011 by Mamapumpkin

Some parents are very sensitive when it comes to their children playing with the stereotype gendered toys. I think it's silly. Girls can play with boy toys and boys can play with girl toys! It is completely FINE. As children, kids need to explore everything, try out everything,.......click to learn what next.

The Bond of Sisters

Posted on November 19, 2011November 15, 2011 by Mamapumpkin

I've always wanted a sister, always wished and wished. I have the most wonderful 2 brothers, but still a sister would be different. So I am truly glad that T1 and T2 have each other. And grateful that we have 2 girls, because girls always come home even.......click to learn what next.

Losing Control……

Posted on November 17, 2011 by Mamapumpkin

Have you ever had that feeling that you're spinning a downward spiral into the abyss, and the deeper you get sucked in, the crazier the turbulence, as your hair starts hitting your face painfully and you lose your glasses and control of your limbs, and suddenly you have.......click to learn what next.

Children are a reflection of their Parents

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Mamapumpkin

Don't you think so? More often than not anyway. After all, who is it that the child spends the most time with? Who do they emulate, imitate and follow? Who do they learn from? When a child is born, he is born pure, like a single white clean.......click to learn what next.

Childhood friends

Posted on October 4, 2011September 29, 2011 by Mamapumpkin

Who is your longest childhood friend? Is she/he your best-est friend? I'm a sentimental old fart when it comes to friendship and have picked up many friends along the way. However, I've also lost many and wished that I'd been taught how to stay in touch at a.......click to learn what next.

The rearing of technology kids

Posted on September 28, 2011September 26, 2011 by Mamapumpkin

Our world has changed. Oh, how our world has changed. Kids are smarter, brighter and a heck of a lot more advanced than we ever were. And how we miss those good old days! But changing with the times ain't a bad thing. The key in life is.......click to learn what next.

What parent are you?

Posted on September 21, 2011 by Mamapumpkin

OK, filler post time. Can't remember who I stole this from but it was silly fun! Describe your parenting style in one word: My own Style. Favourite TV family of all time (real or fictional)? The Cosby Show What's always in your refrigerator? Chocolate......*gulp* - OK GUILTY! Last.......click to learn what next.

Customer Service Call Centres in Malaysia

Posted on September 8, 2011September 8, 2011 by Mamapumpkin

I'm sure you've been there. You make a phone call and a robot answers the phone using a script. And when you try to sway him or her, he/she still continues reading the script. How annoying is that? How are the bulk of Malaysian customer service trainers not.......click to learn what next.

When your husband has an affair…….

Posted on September 2, 2011September 23, 2011 by Mamapumpkin

Have you ever wondered what you would do if that were to happen? It could happen to anyone in the most unexpected cases. It could really happen to you. Yes, you!!! No matter how 'good' your husband is, never underestimate the perils of temptation. Men are weak. Period........click to learn what next.

Working from Home

Posted on August 25, 2011 by Mamapumpkin

The good thing about working from home is that I don't have to waste time sitting in traffic jams (believe me, if you work in KL, you waste a LOT of time sitting in traffic jams!!! 2-3 hours per day!!!!), I don't have to waste time putting on.......click to learn what next.

Miss Universe 2011

Posted on August 21, 2011August 21, 2011 by Mamapumpkin

Yo-Yo! You may or may not be interested in Miss Universe 2011 but this year, for the first time ever, Malaysia has sent a former Miss Malaysia to represent us AGAIN!!! Yes!!! Deborah Henry was our Malaysian Miss Universe representative in 2007, now 4 years later with amassed.......click to learn what next.

Amanah Saham Bumiputera for Eurasians

Posted on August 18, 2011November 24, 2011 by Mamapumpkin

I found out yesterday that I am a Eurasian. Yes, really! My great-grandmother was Portuguese. And then I found out that as a Eurasian, I am entitled to invest in the ASB, which is the glorified savings account that offers MUCH better interest rates than our lousy fixed.......click to learn what next.