eHomemakers Malaysia

International Women's Day is here once more. Some celebrated it. Some feel should not as a celebration of womanhood should be everyday. To me, these days can be served as a reminder to us.  We can be preoccupied with our responsibilities, activities, our families and of life that we sometimes even forget our own birthday.  Today I reflected on the women who have impacted me. Because of these women, they inspired me to write a woman song in 2018. Women Song sang on 8 March 2020, dedicated to all  women readers here. I wrote it in 2018.  There are so many women out there who made a big impact on me over the years since a teenager until today. Let me list them whom I can remember offhand:- 1) Anne Subashini - founder of The Inclusive Outdoor Classroom . I have the privilege to get to know her since drum circle days. Her passion is infectious. Her faith, her belief that there should be no division between children no matter of their backgrounds, no matter o...

"I'm still standing...yeah, yeah, yeahhh..." "I'm still standing..." His high chirpy voice reaches my ears as Patrick swayed his body slightly while singing. Eyes sparkling, his body wriggling like a worm moving on the ground. His lips parted in a smile while he kept on going "I'm still standing." It is the latest song he likes. His favourite songs can be seasonal. At one time it was Baa Baa Black Sheep. Then another phase he had was Five Little Monkeys. Another time it was Humpty Dumpty. It is cute seeing him in this state; full of excitement, wonder of Life. Sometimes he can spontaneously laughed or dance on the spot if he hears any song he likes. Today it has been 7 months since his liver transplant  last year. Eileyn has observed the big changes in Patrick before and after the transplant in her recent blog post . Her blog also made me reflect on this young child who is suffering from liver failure. He is two years old n...

This is my first post for 2020. How have the year been for you? Since 1 January 2020,  I have been baking, stitching sock dolls, writing and singing. I would never imagine my creativity can go beyond poetry writing. I used to have a rather fixed mindset on who I am; what I am capable of and what I am not.  Handsewn up to 70 sock dolls since 1 January 2020. I have gifted most of them to hospital children during Patrick's regular medical appointment in January 2020 & to Ronald McDonald House Charities for cancer kids in HUKM.  A few friends shared they could not see me as a sock doll maker or a baker. I could not vision myself as that too. I considered myself an inept cook. I do not consider myself much of a cook and a baker. I have no interest to learn too. Because of Patrick, I encouraged myself to make some attempts.  My initial failed attempts in baking muffin, cookies and chocolate cake. Cooking meals and soup for the family. ...

Last day of 2019 have arrived. Much have happened in my life; mentally, emotionally, physically, in my relationships especially in my family. I have been in reflective mode since Christmas Day. Moments which awakens me to the best of humanity. Moments that were worrisome when Patrick appearing to have symptoms which at first were not positive during his new liver transitioning stage. I finally took part in a workshop that unleash the creative expression in me after a long absence from experiencing and experimenting with the creative side of me. On the month of November and December 2019, an NGO invited me to  conduct doll-making workshops  whose major work involved hospital patients and sickly children. I have amazing encounters  and moments with Nature’s creatures.  My first witness of the birth of a ladybird coming  out from its cocoon.  This  happened in my garden.  Ladybird interacting with me after I off...

For a long time, I preferred certainty. To have precise plans. I know what I want for myself for the day. I make my choice for lunch before the actual lunch hour. I know where I am going in my life. What I want for myself. I know my likes and dislikes. I want to be in control of my life and my emotions. If I became emotional due stresses of life circumstances, I usually be hard on myself by saying these words to myself, "enough is enough. Time to stop this. Don't complain. Move forward." And onward I go, believing this was the way to be without processing my emotions especially if I considered them to be of negativity and unproductive. And then...life happens. In time I learned no matter how planned I try to make my life to be, something plan may end up nothing. And nothing planned may end up to something. Let me give you an example. Look at the doll below. Olaf doll I made in early December 2019 I made this doll out of socks. If you tell me in my 20s and 30...

The moon, stars and clouds accompanied our usual night walks. Occasionally we get to see neighbours walking on the streets. There would be a few who walked their dogs.  A couple always brisked walking at night. When they see us, they would say hello with a wave of their hands. Patrick would respond with an enthusiastic "hi!". I would point out the trees, bushes and flowers on the side of the road to Patrick.  I would take this opportunity to teach him what they are. He would sometimes observed with interest. Occasionally he wished to touch them. Mother and son walking on the streets  On the night of 8 December 2019, something else accompanied us. Something different. "What is that?" My finger pointed on the road. On a wet patch on the road. Earlier it had rained.  Patrick's eyes stared steadily. "Heart".    Patrick identifying Heart on the road. Before that Heart shape on the ground, I was pondering on the earlier...

It has been almost half a year since my last blog. There were many moments we have experienced as  a family. The good times, the worrying times. The blessings and gratitude.  We reached Renji Hospital, Shanghai, China in the middle of June 2019. We stayed for almost 6 weeks; from preparation for the liver transplant surgery, surgery, ICU and recovery stage.  Patrick's surgery scheduled on 2 July 2019. The surgery was successful with no complications. Immediately after the surgery, they send him to ICU. After almost a week, he was  discharged to normal ward.  We get to observe his progress in the ICU by the doctors' daily photo taking to us. Seeing his face made us feel comforted. There were moments I am concerned Patrick will get scared to where he was and that he may have thoughts we abandon him. I prayed for his safe recovery in ICU, hoping it would not be too long. I have heard there was one baby after his liver ...

This blog would not have happened without Ms Chong Sheau Ching 's instigation. We have met many years ago at a writer's event in MPH at One Utama Shopping Mall. I think it was in 2005. At that time I got to know a teenaged girl by the name of Yvonne Foong . She wanted to embark on the path of writing her autobiography.  At the time I was not a professional writer. I have no knowledge on how publishing worked. What need to be done to get a book published and so forth.  Yvonne placed so much faith in me that I felt maybe she could be misguided to do so. For I did not publish a book then. (Today I have done so) I do not have any publishing contacts. I did not know what steps to become a book. Because of the promise I made to Yvonne that I would be with her all the way until her book  ( I'm Not Sick, Just A Bit Unwell: Life With Neurofibromatosis ) is published, both of us went onto an adventure of meeting writers, publishers and attending writing events. I...