Oct - a month of new beginnings!

October - a month of new beginnings!

Firstly, we've moved. It's been some tiring 2 weeks leading up to the move, packing, supervising the final touches of reno & delivery of goods, but at last we are rather settled in now. We're loving the new home mainly because it's much more quiet and peaceful here. Isabelle sleeps so well here, she continues to laze around in bed after her naps and each morning (which she never used to in the old home)! The neighbours we've met have been mostly friendly, and they are mainly young families with children. Our neighbour jsut next door have 4 children, age 8, 5 and 11 months (twins)and they are a Catholic family too. So it's really good that Isabelle has many kids her age to play with.

Secondly - Isabelle starts school next week. I'm both excited and nervous. I pray that Isabelle will be able to adapt to school well, that she will enjoy her time with teachers and other children. Making the decision to start Isabelle in school early (especially a full day playgroup) has been one of the toughest decision and one made with mixed feelings. However, due to our family size and lack of interaction with more family members at home, and a helper who is slowly loosing interest in her work and does not communicate much with Isabelle, we noticed that Isabelle is rather slow in her speech. Even the paed felt that we should start Isabelle in school early, and especially since she has a pretty good health record to date.

I'm rather worried if Isabelle will adapt well in school. I'm worried if the teachers would be able to spoon feed her milk feed. But so far, they have reassured me that she is not the 1st child they've met with this unique requirement. ANother boy of her age recently had the same habit and is half way converted to drinking directly from the cup after 2-3 weeks. I'm hopefully, but at the same time anxious. My other worry is whether I would be able to pick Isabelle on time everyday. It's almost a mathematical challenge, I found myself staring at the clock once 5.30pm approaches. I have to step out of the office at 6pm sharp, take the MRT back, pick up the car from the HDB carpark (I'm going to do a Park & RIde) and then rush to the school, of which I target to reach by 6.45pm. I just pray, no MRT breakdowns please!!!

And if all goes well, then in Nov, my next challenge starts. I plan to be a FTWM with no helper. GULP! A scary thought not because I think I am not capable of it. But it just means full discipline on my part to plan out my day well, no hiccups, get dinner pre-prepared every morning so that it's a quick job once we get home and so that I do not starve Isabelle, then put her to bed hopefully before 9pm, before catching up on office work again! Gosh, that was a long sentence indeed and DOUBLE GULP for a big challenge. I'm praying that I will be able to cope and manage this well, and more importantly not sacrifice Isabelle's best interest in the process. I'm praying each day that I can be that super mum, that I can maintain my calm when things do not work out the way I plan it to be, that I have the energy to spend quality time with my precious. I'm praying for strength and wisdom to do my very best. SOme people have commented that I may be crazy to consider giving up a helper, but anyone who knows what I'm going thru will understand. It's not funny baby-sitting your helper! I simply cannot afford going thru this stress anymore, and it's not cheap too.

So anyway, wish me luck and praying for new and better beginnings!