chats with my driver

Well I have some great very open conversations with my driver, I am very inquisitive of a lot of things that I don’t understand.

Fridays is a HUGE deal here, it prey day, and if there is one thing you can do for your staff on Friday’s is let them go prey at 12.30. All the offices have extended lunch breaks and it is imperative that they go and prey.

So it occurred to me one day I only see men go to prey on Fridays, my maid never had asked to go, so I ask my driver, "why doesn’t my maid every want to go prey on Fridays?" he replies "because only men prey on Fridays Mrs." immediate response was "why" well he had no idea why, and it seem to me that a lot of what Muslims do regarding religion is just because that’s how and what they have been taught, they don’t know why and they don’t care.

So another thing I asked him was, "how does the community look at woman that don’t act the way they should?" His reply was amazing "we don’t judge Mrs., god will do that later" pretty much summed it up for me, if you believe in god any god doesn’t matter, then you shouldn’t judge people, God is the only one who has seen what they have been threw and the path they have walked, so it’s not up to anyone else to think they know.

My driver once said to me "Mrs. I notice you are always respectful to the Indonesia culture" he continues " you never wear short clothes and are covered up respectfully" well this is a HUGE compliment coming from a Muslim who's wife wears the burker, it made me feel really good that someone had noticed that I was and will always dress respectfully when I go out in the community!
I also try to speak quietly when around them and speak positively. BECAUSE WHEN IN ROME......

Pampering Gone wrong ...well then right

Ok so last week I "think" I found some grey hair, and I had not died my hair since being here in Indonesia, so I say to Zed "right that’s it I’m going to try to colour my hair" I have had several friends have theirs cut and coloured and it was a disaster, only because they don’t work with westerners hair, they have such different hair to us and they are great with that!

So a friend said to me I had a cut at majesties and he was good. By good she ment she didn’t end up with a very short mullet cut as one of our other mums did. SO off I went ok ill have it coloured just medium brown how hard could that be??? hmmmm

So I walk in and there is 2 parts to the salon the main salon where I was, then there is a door way going threw to another one for woman that wear burkers 9not sure of the spelling) and such, I thought how good is that that people accept difference that well...???

First the cut AWESOME just what I wanted, then on went the colour, then off came the colour and started drying it "oh no, I’m multi coloured" the first 4 inches was orangish, and then the bottom was exactly the colour I wanted..... And in his defense I know why this happened was because I had die in the bottom of my hair and the top was "new" hair... but all good he said come back I fix for free.

Ok so went back in and he wasn’t there, oh he will be 30 mins ok well ill treat myself to a mani and pedi while I wait...... nice!

So he came in and re coloured now it’s pretty close to perfect (as close as I think I’ll get here)

BAD MOTHERS GUIDE TO RAISING BOYS: POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS FOR KIDS :)

BAD MOTHERS GUIDE TO RAISING BOYS: POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS FOR KIDS :): Positive Affirmations for Kids: I feel joy in every corner of my body. I am happy. I am healthy. I am good at _____. I cho...

BAD MOTHERS GUIDE TO RAISING BOYS: BEING A WOMAN - SUCKS SOMETIMES-caution may offend...

BAD MOTHERS GUIDE TO RAISING BOYS: BEING A WOMAN - SUCKS SOMETIMES-caution may offend...: Ok so being a woman has its perks, we get to experience a baby growing in our bellies (mean while loosing our bodies), and we have a bond ...

BEING A WOMAN - SUCKS SOMETIMES-caution may offend some readers

Ok so being a woman has its perks, we get to experience a baby growing in our bellies (mean while loosing our bodies), and we have a bond with our child that can never be matched by anything.... BUT sometimes the bad things seriously out way the good.

I had to go to the doctor the other day to get a depo shot in my butt (contraception) and had been being pestered by y mum to have a pap smear as I haven’t had one since the twins were born and as you know they are nearly 6 whoops!

So the doctors had this special "think pink" 850,000 RP you got a pap smear, a mammogram, an internal examination. So I had a talk to the doctor as I had some irregularities in my cycle and she suggested having the "THINK PINK". So I had to come back at 3pm for an ultra sound (breast implants cannot go in the mammogram press) then had a pap smear. So after the very uncomfortable procedures I’m done. The doctor says because of my family history I should have Pap smear every year.... WHAT???

OK OK yes iv had children naturally, and I had like 10 people looking at me while having the twins you think I’d be over being embarrassed about someone looking at my cervix but NO it never gets any more comfortable. I must say but the blood test I had I hardly felt the Indonesians are so gentle, the ultrasound lady all I could think was "is she just making conversation with me cause she is uncomfortable" lol and the doctor that did the pap smear was gentle as well BUT it doesn’t make me feel better.

I don’t see everyone telling any men that I know that they have to go get their testicles checked every year, and even if they did that is nowhere near as intrusive as what we have to deal with.

So tell me who should get "fixed" man or woman?

Now I’ve looked at this in a very unbiased manor and I believe us woman have put up with enough embarrassing moments and been violated enough and it is very safe for men to get "the snip" these days just a lunch time procedure. ;)

Well thats my little vent about that hahaha.
Tash x

MEAL TIMES AND KIDS

I think every parent can relate to this one.

I thought I was so lucky, the twins use to eat so well and quickly, and then BOOM all of a sudden we have to nag, and it takes like hours to finish a meal, you know they should eat it, and you know they haven’t had enough......BUT seriously how far do you have to go?

 

I came across this website today www.neat2eat.com.au, it’s a site that shows you how you can make your kids food fun.

They also sell things to help you achieve this like shaped cutters that you can use for sandwiches, fruit, vegetables, cheese, and moulds for boiled eggs. Lunch boxes you get the idea.

Ok so I’m a pretty TOUGH mum, when it comes to eating and health being from back ground of fitness this makes sense. if I make something good for the kids to eat they eat it, I don’t fart around and try and make it fun or “play” with food, they eat what I put in front of them and all of it, I wouldn’t give them more than they needed and I wouldn’t give them something gross. So is this bad parenting, is it too tough?

I believe that that is why my kids aren’t picky, I have let them leave the table without finishing but that means nothing more to eat or drink that night and no treats, junk or fizzy the following day.

I feel so sorry for the mothers that have really picky children, I am not sure I could cope. But hopefully some of you will get some help on kids lunches from http://www.neat2eat.com.au/.

We have friends of ours that little boys would only eat sausages and chips pretty much, oh and strawberry milk. This went on for A LONG time then they started dishing him up other foods (little bits) and if he didn’t try it or eat it they would put it in the fridge and if he got hungry later that’s what he would be offered NOTHING else, I have heard of this a couple times before and it seems to have worked for him. YAY!

So when I saw this website today www.neat2eat.com.au my first thought was OMG who has the time? Then my second thought was shouldn’t kids just eat because their hungry and know the importance of good food? Then I thought oh how cool is that I want to do that!!! Ha ha ha

 I do know mothers out there that would do this every day, so I hope some of you are reading my blog!!!!

Since moving to Indonesia (as you know if you have read my blog previously) its very hard to get certain foods here, bread, eggs are not the greatest, yogurt, wholemeal or wholegrain is not available :(

So its been really hard to do the boys lunches, i a very fussy when it comes to everyday eating for the children, so i will be using some of these ideas for the next term of school.

Then on the other hand i can imagine that some children would get use to it everyday and not eat normal or plain food.

I’d like you to share your children’s eating habits and problems and how you fixed them with us, comment below, can’t wait to read some J

WHATEVER WORKS AND MAKES YOUR JOB AS A PARENT EASIER IS THE WAY TO GO :)

HOW DO WE KNOW WHAT IS THE RIGHT CHOICES FOR OUR CHILDREN?

About 2+ years ago "zed" got a great opportunity to work in Indonesia on a 5 week on and 2 week off roster, we were happy with this as a short term arrangement until he was sure he liked his job and it was SAFE for boof, master T and I to all join him.

I went to where he was for a visit they had given him a house for all of us to live and all of these arrangement were being made for us to join him.  We had discussed the benefits for the WHOLE family, the twin would see amazing things and learn a culture that they ordinarily wouldn't have the option too.

We had been trying to have a baby for a few months but with zed away so often it wasn't working for us, so we had forgotten about it and kind of put it to the side........ When I became ill..... Yep that's right pregnant!!!! WHAT TIMING!!!!

I was very very ill with the twin and it was going that way again. Put in hospital a few time and the doctor said YOU ARE NOT MOVING TO INDONESIA!!!!!

Everyone at the site zed was at said the same thing "if you want a healthy wife and baby not a good idea to move there"

Because we couldn't be apart zed found a job back home and we stayed. We decided for the health of our baby that it was the best thing not to move and we have a beautiful baby boy "Buddha" that we may have not had if we moved.

So "Buddha" is nearly one when zed gets a call from a guy he knows that was asking him if he would be interested to move to Indonesia again with the family for a wonderful job option in a main city there. So we talked and talked about the good points and bad, the sacrifices we ALL would have to make and the benefits we would ALL receive. so we decided after having a family meeting that it would be great to get ahead then zed could work in town when we came back and be home every night with the family and we wouldn't have so many bills etc.

So if you have read my blogs you would know that in November we made the move and it has been interesting and sometimes difficult but it’s been basically good! EXCEPT with the Australian dollar we are not getting paid anywhere near what we thought we would and we have had greater outlays to what we thought we would. So we are just cruising basically.

So our first Holiday home, and we have caught up with all our friends and family, and been doing what we use to, and life was pretty good except zed being away 4 nights out of 8. But all in all it was pretty good we have a nice house, a nice car, and a boat.

OK so Buddha had no idea who anyone was, grandma, both Nana's, friends no one. The boys missed family and their best mate K.O.! So we are home for a few days and get "mum and daddy do we have to go back to Indonesia?" "we like Australia much more better" so with that you feel as a parent that you made the wrong choice, but when they are in Indonesia they love it, they are growing as little people, they are a lot more educated on different things and they can now speak Indonesia.

I know I'm a good mum, and make decisions usually based on the kids and whets best for them and I know when we do return to Indonesia in less than a week they will catch up with their friends and start back at school and will be fine! :)

I think all parents could agree that sometimes it’s difficult to think that certain choices could affect their whole life and you as parents are solely responsible for that .....

Take care keep smiling and hugging those beautiful children.

PS sorry it’s been so long between blogs but we had no Internet for 3 weeks before we left Indonesia and then travelling BUT I'm hoping that when we return our net will be fixed !!!!!