Allthingspurple tagged me to tell her the world whether I’d prefer to be a stay-at-home-mom (SAHM) or full-time-working-mom (FTWM). Well.. I’m a FTWD … err… boring. Not a boring existence. Just a boring post. Since 99% of dads are FTWDs anyway. So there’s not much to actually talk about.

Perhaps I can relate something original by talking about whether I’m MOM or DAD to my son. Or both

DAD

Papa does most of the fathering, but Kong-kong and Sok-sok are great too!

1. Biologically, I’m a dad. You know the motions of getting to become a dad, right? I went thru that and a DAD I am. ’nuff said.

2. Socio-economically, I’m a DAD. I bring home the bread. I know that doesn’t define a dad but that’s what most dads do, right? Papa.. I want to sell some of my toys to buy the Optimus Prime helmet. Oops. OK.. you get the idea. I’m the wallet.

3. Discipline!! I’m a dad with a “D” for Discipline. He knows he’s in trouble if he’s naughty and I find out about it. Well, most of the time it’s just a long talk or deprivation of privaleges, rather than the “rotan”. Whatever works for the situation, I guess. Mom or Dad could do this but usually it’s a DAD’s domain, eh?

4. Tough coach cum trainer cum rough games “facilitator” … I’m a DAD! Hey, he loves the rough and tough tumbles and flips. And so do I. Gets a scratch or a knock? “Is it bleeding? Is it broken?”. “Nope” … and he goes right back into the action. I let him get wet playing water guns in the garden. Gets sweaty playing shooting goals at futsal. Gets dirty playing with sand in the .. err.. anywhere there’s sand. We go watch Transformers together.

5. The “encyclopaedia”, ahem! … go ask your Papa… err… actually, he’ll be the one TELLING me what dinosaur this is and that is. Whether it’s a herbivore or carnivore… this sound is the heart beating… honda civic can go faster than iswara… whether optimus prime is still alive… etc. etc. etc. The point is… we talk GUY talk. OK, I’m a DAD.

I teach him how to get online and get the webcam on. How to play Spider-man 2 and Shrek 2. DAD? Yes!

MOM

The grandma does most of the mothering. But Papa does some.

1. Pampering!! Is this the mom’s role? Joseph can shower and dress himself, but he loves being pampered in the shower, toweling down and while dressing. He loves to be fed dinner in front of the TV. I guess I could be MOM too.

2. What about tender talk? Is that mom’s role? At bedtime, he’d sometimes hold his little bunny and suck his thumb and look at the ceiling or the window, deep in thought. That’s the best time to ask, “What are you thinking about?” That’s the time that he’s thinking of things of life, school, ah ma, ah kong, Papa, ***, etc. Anything that needs processing, anything that happened during the day… he’ll be thinking of them before he drops of to sleep. That’s the best time to talk about what’s bothering him and what’s important to him. I definitely could be MOM.

3. Nagging. That’s mom department, eh? Or not (don’t lynch me). “Wash you hands.” “Pick up your toys.” “Turn off the TV, do your homework.” “Finish your vege.” “Go to bed.” That’s not my strong point…. not that I don’t nag, but I guess not that much. I could STILL be MOM.

4. Helping with the homework.. I guess most moms would be doing that, right? He does most of them in the afternoon, with Ah Ma’s supervision. Only the Chinese homework needs me to supervise him ‘cos grandma can’t help with that. So, I could be a MOM, eh?

5. Hey I prepare the milk in a bottle for him. He still likes it in a bottle before he sleeps. Does that count as a MOM?

BOTH

We pray together at bedtime. Counts for both right? Haha. OK I know I’m not the best mom or dad, but I try.

~~~Instructions~~~
Here’s how it works:
1. So easy peasy, if you were given a choice, would you be a SAHM or FTWM? Just provide 3 good reasons.
2. Include your post link to the list below and Finally,
3. Tag other mommies

List:
1. Immomsdaughter prefers to be a SAHM
2. Miche prefers to be a SAHM too.
3. SweetPea is happy being a PTWM
4. AllThingsPurple choose to be a WAHM
5. Dr. Bernard Chan is both Mom and Dad.

OK… let me hand the soap-box over to …..

1. Annie in Seattle
2. HijackQueen is a FTWM
3. Lilian Chan, the 5xmom wants the best of both worlds.

Mine is a bit different but you can go to the preceeding blogs to see how they’ve done it.

See what happened yesterday?

Saturday is Boys’ Brigade Day… and today, Joseph’s wearing his new complete Juniors’ uniform…

I stumbled upon this one on Youtube while uploading the video and can’t resist putting it on from dano2607:

Joseph took to horseback-riding lessons with gusto! He’s was started on a pony called “Annalese”. She’s pregnant!

The school holidays is a popular season for weddings, particularly Malay weddings. Joseph turns wedding photographer for an evening.

Here are some wedding photos (from the perspective of Joseph.)

So… what do you think? Can the Chan Kid be the next Kid Chan?