Preparing for Primary One

Assalammualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

As a mother of two daughters and one of them is a 6-year-old, I wonder how early do parents plan and decide on the educational route their children will be taking? There are so many considerations to factor. For someone who went through the secular education in Singapore, I never thought that I would consider a madrasah education for my child.

Firstly, it is because both my husband and I do not know what to expect since we did not go through a madrasah education. Of course, we were sent to part-time madrasah classes as children but this is a full-time madrasah that we are talking about here. A child in primary school will be juggling eight subjects instead of four subjects like those who are in government schools. Are we equipped to support our child through this journey?

When our firstborn, Azeen was turning three, I knew that I wanted her to go to a kindergarten with an Islamic environment as I believe that habits need to be cultivated from young. I had slowly built up her vocabulary in English, Malay and Arabic from the moment she could start talking at 2 years old.

When she was three, she progressed to memorising daily duaas and surahs.
When she was four, I started finding out more about the requirements to enter Madrasah by speaking to other parents and researching online.

For parents who are keen to start educating your child in Arabic language, even if you are not planning to enrol them for a full-time madrasah education, I highly recommend that you visit this website to get educational resources and worksheets. Websites like this, YouTube Videos on islamic stories, apps like Miraj Stories are some of the useful tools to cultivate the love of Allah and Rasul in young children. It is also helpful that there is an increasing number of learning resources that supports Islamic learning available readily in online stores now.

Here are some online shops in Singapore that sells Islamic educational resources and materials:
- Hayyan Kids
- By Little Ms Rainbow
- Swing by Suhaim
- Buat Si Manja
- Eva Fun Learning

I have always loved enrolling both girls in literacy programs or programs on arts or science that integrate Islamic values. I religiously follow instagram accounts like @ourgreatatfal, @littlefikra, @littlequrankids @zazuartz for updates on short workshops for the girls to play and learn.

Anyway, back to my story... Last year when Azeen turns five, I asked her if she wants to go to a madrasah or national school. I explained to her the pros and cons and her response made me more certain than ever that I want to enrol her in a madrasah. We worked hard together, printing worksheets, practising penmanship, reading, memorising but of course we played hard too. I stopped taking freelance projects from November last year until her test in April this year to focus on her preparation for the Madrasah Entrance Test that all madrasah hopefuls need to go through.

We made lots of supplications and whenever it rains, Azeen will run to me and remind me to make a specific duaa together with her for her to enter Al-Ma'arif. Aaah.. this brings us to another topic. Now that we know that we want to enrol her in a madrasah, which one will it be?

For primary school, there are 4 madrasahs that we can apply for: Al-Ma'arif, Wak Tanjong, Alsagoff and Al-Irsyad.

So... what is the difference?
Basically, the difference lies in the school's mission, location, number of intake and the gender of students. Al-Ma'arif and Alsagoff are girls' schools while Wak Tanjong and Al-Irsyad are mixed-gender schools. The highest number of student intake will be Al-Irsyad as the school is bigger compared to the others. We attended open houses and forums to have a better understanding so that we are able to make an informed choice. You can also follow @sgmadrasah on Instagram to learn more on the different madrasahs.

I prefer for my girls to be in a girls' school for a number of reasons. Coming from a girls' school myself, I feel that the absence of boys contributes to increased confidence in girls and they are not shy to speak up. There are more reasons for this but this will just make me digress further.

Once we had decided on the school, we had to wait for the information on when to apply. It is a short window period to apply and we were stalking the school's website and social media almost daily when the period was drawing near. Sometime in April, we had to submit an online application. Some of the questions really made me pause and ponder e.g. what do I want my child to work as, which route do I want her to take at tertiary level, which university that I want her to go etc

We had to wait for around two weeks and once shortlisted, we received an invite for the Madrasah Entrance Test. The test that we have all been anxious about. It is time for tawakkal and lots of duaa since we have already done our part in investing much time and effort to prepare ourselves and our children. The test for the children has both written and oral components. For English, Malay, Mathematics and Arabic, they are required to do written papers. The questions are actually basic questions that they would have studied for in kindergarten but there are some parts that would have required advance learning. For oral, they are tested on the memorisation of surahs and short duaas.
Parents are also needed to attend an interview session so that the school can assess if the values and mission are aligned. Due to the high demand, the schools need to have all these in place to filter accordingly. This is also to manage expectations and to ensure that both children and parents do not have skewed expectations of a madrasah education system. Most madrasahs are oversubscribed twice the available capacity. e.g. intake is 70 but there are 150 applicants

A madrasah is a private institution and therefore do not have as much funding as a government school.
In addition, a madrasah student needs to juggle more subjects and thus, there would be certain values and discipline level to adhere to in order to excel. Honestly, I feel that the number of subjects is not a major cause of concern for me as it is comparable to students in secular schools who have to attend enrichment classes, piano lessons, swimming lessons after school.

Now, some of you may ask... how to prepare?
We are lucky now that there are centres like As-Souq Arabic Centre that designs P1-Preparatory Programs to alleviate the stress for parents. The program is structured and the students get to be prepared on all 4 subjects under one roof. There are also some parents who hire private tutors for a personal session in the comforts of their own home.

For Azeen, I prepared her on my own through consistent practice. There was much discipline needed on my end to keep to the routine. There were times that I falter and times that I question myself if I was doing enough. I was tremendously fortunate that Allah bless me with Azeen who loves to consume new knowledge and has a good attention span. Occasionally, I will sign her up for programs to excite her further on learning. The key word is consistency. Being self-employed allows me to plan my schedule and cater to the kids' learning accordingly. Honestly, she memorises more surahs than me and whenever I am teaching her a new surah, it gives me the opportunity to memorise together with her and it became an enriching parent-bonding activity as we go through line-by-line analysing the meaning and reading the tafseer together.

Alhamdulillah, we got the results for the application in May and Azeen will be starting her journey in Al-Ma'arif in 2020. There is an 8-weeks preparatory course that is compulsory for the students so that it will be a smooth transition to Primary One. Parents can also sign-up for an optional Arabic workshop organised by the school with the intention of guiding parents to assist their children in their homework. Education is really a partnership between the school and parents.

It did cross my mind on the what-if(s). What if we were not successful?
We had prepared ourselves mentally and talked to Azeen that even if she were to go to a secular school, we will still strive to practise the habits that have been cultivated since young. In Iman Kindergarten, she is used to reading the daily duaas, Yassin, Asmaul-Husna during assembly and  naturally it was a concern for us that the daily routine and good habits will be affected.

I believe that with the right intentions and lots of supplications, Allah knows what is best for all us and we just need to trust in Allah's plans for us. I hope that this sharing will not be taken out of context. My primary intention is to share with other parents who might have little or no idea on what to expect if you are keen to try your child out for a full-time madrasah education. No one school is better than the other. Every parent wants the best for our child and may we be guided to always be on the righteous path.

And those who say: “Our Lord! Bestow on us from our spouses & our offspring the coolness of our eyes & make us leaders of the God-fearing.”

{Surat Al-Furqan 25: 74}

Below are some video clips of the Azeen's progress over the years that I managed to document.






Now, it is time to prepare playful Ayra for her entrance test next year. Her learning style is very different from Azeen and I am still figuring out the best way to cater to her learning style. Parenting is a lot on figuring things out as we go along, isn't it? Please make duaa for us.

Magic! Magic! Magic!

Nowadays, there are many seemingly harmless cartoons on free-to-air TV or cable TV such as Shimmer & Shine, Vampirina, Ben & Holly and many others. The characters in these programs make magic seem cool and if we are not careful, our children may grow to rely on making wishes and turning to magic as a means of problem-solving instead of having Allah Al-Fattaah The Ultimate Judge, The Opener of All Portals, the Victory Giver. as the only One that we should turn to for anything. These characters look so adorable that it is easy for kids to relate to and be attracted to them.

I make it a point to sit with my kids as they watch cartoons and take my time to reflect and explain to them on the learning points. I feel that as parents, we should guide them in this journey instead of just banning them from watching totally. As they grow and slowly fly out of the nest, they will be exposed to many things in this world. It is not possible for parents to sanitise the world or keep our kids in a bubble so the next best thing would be to equip them with the power of knowledge and hone their analytical skills.

I will usually bring them back to basics and analyse with them first on who the creators of the animation series are. At times, we will go through the credit roll and try to guess from the names if they are Muslims or not although sometimes it might not be outrightly obvious from the names if they are. Non-Muslims might not understand the principles of our faith and therefore genuinely have created those characters without intending to lead a Muslim astray. In fact, we must be careful even when watching shows produced by Muslims as there are some shows that might influence akhlak and aqidah or promote non-ideal moral values. We should always reflect and analyse the ideologies revolving around the show we are watching and focus on the learning points.

An example is when a genie grants someone his or her wish, I will probe the girls had it been them, who would they ask from and why? Then I would ask them on what they think on how genies look like in real life? 

Next, we can relate back to instances when magic was used according to stories in the Quran. One that is popular with the children would be when the Jews cast a magic spell on the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.). By virtue of the divine protection given to him, no magic could refrain  or divert him from discharging his duties as a Prophet. However, the spell cast by the Jew made him to suffer from some disease. On that occasion, the two surahs Al-Falaq and An-Nas were revealed, and the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) was directed to recite them, after which he was freed from the influence of the witchcraft. Then the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) used to recite them every night before going to sleep. I take this opportunity to remind them to practise the Sunnah and recite these surahs before they sleep every night and rub all over their body after blowing into their palms.

We can focus on the values taught in these shows like friendship and loyalty and teach our children to be conscious on ideas that can be caught in their sub conscience should they be not careful in taking charge of external factors that shapes our thoughts. 

Even as adults, most of us are still struggling to battle our nafs and to be conscious of our thoughts and actions. If we train our children from young to filter their thoughts accordingly and while at it, we  remind ourselves too, I am sure insya'allah we will work towards building a better ummah. والله أعلمُ بالـصـواب

Heart Attack!

Picture snapped the day before when sending off my brother, Syazwan & family off to Korea at Changi Airport

We had a scare on 1st Dec 2017 when Papa complained of chest pains and broke out in cold sweat after a short exercise to Punggol Park with Mama. Prior to that, he had been complaining of giddiness for about a week plus. Thankfully, my youngest brother was at home and insisted for him to go to the hospital. Usually, his routine is to continue driving (he is an Uber driver) after fetching Mama from work but on that particular day, he insisted on going for an exercise and to only drive after Magrib. Allah knows best!

I was at home in Yishun when Mama called and immediately got everyone ready to rush to the hospital. At that moment, I knew little of the situation.

Everything happened so fast at the hospital. We didn’t know it was so serious and only realised the severity when informed that he was confirmed to have experienced a heart attack and has been wheeled into the lab for an emergency ballooning and stenting procedure.

Alhamdulillah the procedure went well and the clogged arteries were unblocked. The fact that Papa was conscious and did not fall flat like in the movies when anyone has a heart attack taught me something new. It is to never take any symptoms lightly. I was horrified when I learnt of the statistics surrounding the case.

Basically, the middle artery was 100% blocked for quite a while as new blood vessels has formed for the blood to continue flowing. The right artery was 20% blocked so the medical team do not do anything about that as procedures will only be done for blockage of 70% and above. The opening of his left artery was 80% blocked, middle part had blood clots and the end part was 100% blocked. 

4-year old Azeen and 3-year old Ayra asked me what had happened and I told them that we were rushing to the hospital because Apah was suspected to have a heart attack and their innocent response was “Macam  Cerita 6X7?”. For those who don't know, 6X7 is a must-watch drama series on Suria that educates the public on cases surrounding bathing of dead bodies in Islam.

Only Allah knows how hard my heart was thumping. Being the eldest child, I always have to act as the cool and strong one under all circumstances. Although placed in the Critical Care Unit (CCU) as his heart just went through a shock and there have been cases of the heartbeat getting irregular or suddenly stop, he could still horse around with Azeen and Ayra, showing the tubes in his nose.

He was so determined to get discharged because it was just a few days to my mum's trip to Umrah (mini-pilgrimage). He was discharged two days before my mum's trip and he wasn't feeling to well in the morning but he kept quiet about it. After sending my mum off at the airport, we went home and in the evening after Magrib prayers, we were supposed to head to Yishun (my place) but Papa said he was feeling light-headed. My brother and I gave him an hour to rest and alert us if he is still not feeling any better. Around midnight, he woke Yayan, who was sleeping beside him, up and then we proceeded to rush him to SGH. Thankfully, my sister-in-law was around to help look after the sleeping kids. He was admitted again but it was not as serious as the first round.

We didn't want Mama to worry while she's on her Umrah so we did not tell her about the situation. We only told her when she got back. Thakfully, she had bad internet connection while in Media and when her internet connection improved as she got to Mecca, my father was discharged and we were safely video-calling from home.

Fast-forward to now, Alhamdulillah  he is off clexane (this horrible medication that he has to inject himself and causes bruises all over his tummy) but he is still on a very controlled diet and of course, medication. He has stopped smoking completely. He is more disciplined in his meal times and slightly more obedient to advice than before. Lol.

Let's not take our health for granted and only start panicking when we are faced with a calamity!
Let's all start now and take preventive measures while we are healthy. Insha-Allah.

I would also like to remind you not to take symptoms lightly. If my youngest brother had not been at home and insisted for my parents to go to the hospital immediately, there was a high chance they wanted to wait for things to blow over first.

Signs of A Heart Attack That Papa Faced

1. A week of giddiness --> his arteries were blocked and is body was actually screaming for oxygen
2. Breathlessness and chest pain --> especially when he forced himself to exercise cos he thought he needed to sweat it out and it was worse! He made his oxygen-deprived body pump his heart harder for more oxygen
3. Cold sweat --> when he reached home after he told my mum that he did not feel so well and need to stop exercising

I would also like to share with you 7 Great Food for the HEART that can help to unclog arteries naturally! (do Google up the benefits yourself ok? )

1. Black Seed Oil --> got mine from Nigel Herbs

2. Grante Pomegrante Juice  --> you can get from Halal Food Hub, Al-Barakah, Holland & Barrette or direct from Nigel Herbs (main distributor)

3. Garlic every morning --> have it raw or roasted - you can slice thinly and add to your sandwich if you want

4. Avocados

5. Asparagus

6. Spirulina --> easily found in pharmacies but I got mine from Elken

7. Cinnamon

May Allah grant my Mama and Papa great health and ease all their affairs. Ameen.

Making Quran and Seerah Come ALIVE in Homes!

How do we make Quran and Seerah come ALIVE in our homes? Sometimes, we forget that Allah s.w.t. loves us so much that HE has provided a manual of life for us through the Quran and yet, we neglect and fail to optimize this Guidebook.

Wouldn't we want to achieve a harmonious family with young children who are polite and receptive to new information introduced? There are a million tips and guidelines that can extracted and simplified from the Quran for us to apply in our daily lives and therewith, guide our young ones.

Growing up in secular Singapore can be quite trying for a regular Muslim as the system moulds us to treat Islam as a part of life as though it is a separate body when in reality, Islam is THE way of life. Some parents tend to relinquish their responsibilities unintentionally and unknowingly as they develop this mindset that they have done their part when they have sent their children to madrasah, be it part-time or full time, or if they have sent their children to learn how to recite the Quran but truth be told, is that enough?

When we build God-conscious minds from young through proper methods and not simply by threats or instilling fear, values will form the foundation and if God wills, all will fall into place. This would be further made possible through constant supplications to Allah, undivided faith and consistent effort.

I had the opportunity to attend the 3Is Workshop conducted by IQRAsaurus on Monday, 31st October 2016, along with other parents and educators. IQRAsaurus is the brainchild of Sister Ziehan and her husband, Brother Iqram. It was easy to relate to their sharing session on integration as they were so casual and behaved just like any other ordinary couple, openly acknowledging that they err and are still actively continuously seeking knowledge without a 'holier than thou' persona. They were honest and genuine throughout the session and displayed no hint of any hidden agenda. It was even more beautiful when their children joined in the session. It was a live testimony of 'a mother is the first madrasah' as they mirror certain characteristics of their mother. It was too apparent for us to turn a blind eye to. 

Brother Iqram conducting the session with his toddler on his shoulders

Their 10-year-old daughter, Najwa presenting one of the books she wrote and aspires to publish: A Pig's Prayer

Nazirul Husna, Yours Truly, Sister Ziehan & children, Ustazah Su'aidah and daughter (From left to right)

I was so thankful that Allah willed me to attend the workshop and meet other like-minded individuals.

I felt so inspired and motivated. This is exactly what I strive to achieve. Insya'allah.
To have children of God-conscious minds.
To guide my children onto the straight path ~ sirattul mustaqeem.
To be reunited with my loved ones in the Gardens of Paradise.

Some Knowledge Takeaways from the workshop:

1. We must 'walk the talk'. If we want our children to behave a certain way, we must model the practices e.g. if we want to emulate Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. and teach our children not to eat while walking, then we must remember not to do that ourselves
2. Our ideas belong to Allah. Allah gave us the idea and triggered our minds to develop the ideas.
3. Parenting is a journey. We are not perfect nor always right. There are times our children can correct and remind us. Acknowledge that we err and thank our children for the reminders.
4. Display patience and self-control if we want our children to learn patience and self-control. Our children are a reflection of us, especially when they are young as we are their immediate source of learning.
5. Quran has outlined the ISO in our lives so specifically and holistically. Embrace it.
6. Allah swt is our leaning pillar. When in doubt or overwhelmed with challenges, consult HIM.

There are many more learning points derived from that single workshop which lasted for 4 hours. The wealth of knowledge acquired was just a tip of the iceberg. I have renewed excitement as I start planning on the integration levels I can start on Azeen and Ayra and looking forward to the upcoming ChiChi LaLa: Chasing Rainbows on 19th November at d'Pelangi Ballroom, Novotel Clarke Quay. I can't wait for the sharing session by IQRA'saurus on Quran 'hacks' in creating an ideal Islamic environment at home.

Of course, I am also as excited for the other stage programmes such as:

❤️️Kinesthetic techniques on memorizing the Quran by Ustazah Su'aidah Salim
❤️️Instilling Love of Reading by PlayDate
❤️️Interactive segment adapted from the Asmaul' Husna Series by Homely Hammocks
❤️️Islamic Art by Little Fikra and more!

For parents who are like-minded in raising children of God-conscious minds, do come for ChiChi LaLa: Chasing Rainbows with your family. Apart from the interactive stage programmes and booths, there is also an all-you-can-eat high tea buffet catered from d'Pelangi!
To get your tickets, click here.

Perhiasan Kaca by Teater Kami: A Tale of Broken Dreams

‘Perhiasan Kaya’ is adapted from a classic play ‘The Glass Menagerie’ by Tennessee Williams. ‘The Glass Menagerie’ is a four-character memory play by Tennessee Williams that premiered in 1944 and catapulted Williams from obscurity to fame. The play has strong autobiographical elements, featuring characters based on Williams himself, his histrionic mother, and his mentally fragile sister Rose. In writing the play, Williams drew on an earlier short story, as well as a screenplay he had written under the title of ‘The Gentleman Caller’.

The original work had been translated by Asrul Sani, an Indonesian dramatist. It was later adapted in Malaysia by Mustafa Noor for the theatre group, Drama Centre, Kuala Lumpur in the 80s. Teater Kami first staged 'Perhiasan Kaca' at Teater Kami Black Box (Singapore) in 2007. This 2nd staging is directed by Ms Atin Amat at Drama Centre Black Box from 2-3 Sep 2016. 

Although the original manuscript was produced in 1944, the issues raised are universal and relevant until today. One of the issues brought up was the need to continuously upgrade our skills and knowledge so that we can keep moving forward.

Farhana M Noor’s first debut in Malay theatre is nothing short of outstanding. Having been a familiar face on Suria, especially since she clinched the ‘Best Supporting Actress’ and ‘Most Promising Actress’ award during Suria’s 13th Pesta Perdana, it was a delight to see how versatile she is as an actress. She was very convincing as Zahara, a girl with an inferiority complex due to a slight limp on her left leg. It wasn’t made easier for her character to learn and gather strength to overcome her low self-esteem as her mother was constantly doing everything for her, not even allowing her to do her own dishes. Zahara was slowly coaxed out of her comfort zone during the later part of the play and the audience is then treated to another layer of her character who can get excited and passionate when sharing about her hobby.

My favourite scene was when Aminah, played by Dalifah Shahril was having a tiff with her son, Taufik, played by Md Suhailmi Ruslan or more commonly known as Amy Kecik. The chemistry between them is needless to say. Their constant bantering was a joy to watch and I believe many of us would be able to relate as we have such conversations with our sensitive elderly mothers who are authoritative and can be quite fickle-minded at times. One moment, Aminah was furious at Taufik and before you know it, the very next moment, she was trying to cajole Taufik into matchmaking his sister with his colleague at the factory where he was working at.

Another memorable scene would be when Aminah got all excited at preparing the house for the coming of a potential suitor for Zahara, Johan, played by Norisham Osman. It was hilarious when Aminah stuffed handkerchiefs into Zahara's bosoms to make her look more alluring. Zahara almost fainted at the anxiety of realizing her potential suitor was in fact her old crush at school. Johan, the unsuspecting gentleman had no idea that he had been invited by Taufik for dinner only to be introduced to Zahara, his sister. Johan’s character was meant to be a charming young man who is a seemingly good catch as a prospective husband. The scene where he was left alone with Zahara in the room to chat and get to know each other better could have been better developed to lead the audience to feel as crushed as Zahara towards the end of the play when Johan declared that he was actually already engaged and getting married soon. The climax when Johan dropped the bomb that he was actually engaged did not really hit the correct note due to the flat tone in delivering the line. However, many in the audience definitely agreed that Johan played the role of leading Zahara on very well as I hear people cringing that their hairs were standing when Johan was staring into Zahara’s eyes intently and romancing her through his dance moves.

The audience sympathises with the broken dreams of Aminah to see her only daughter wed, being the only solution she could identify for Zahara to have a better future after she had failed to continue her typewriting lessons. Aminah and Zahara were left to fend for themselves as Taufik went off to be a sailor and chased his dreams, just like his father.

Aside from the storyline, the strength of the play is definitely in the language and delivery of lines. The script is so beautifully worded to make us appreciate Bahasa Melayu. I love the display of customs in the family’s daily routine as it educates members of the audience on the values of a family unit. The set design allows us, the audience to empathise and understand Aminah’s willful desire to break out of her poverty cycle.

I look forward to the next play by Teater Kami! It is a children’s play entitled ‘Buaya Buas’ or ‘Wild Crocodile’, directed by Saiful Amri Ahmad Elahi at Teater Kami Black Box from 26-29 Oct 2016. Check out Teater Kami’s FB page for more info!

Aminah cajoling Taufik to introduce his colleague to Zahara

Zahara crawling out of her comfort zone

Johan teaching Zahara dance moves

Set Design

Laki Bini #3: Growing Old Together

True to the 'warning' issued to fellow patrons on their FB Page, KreatiV OutBox opened their doors at 7.40pm and the show started promptly at 8pm. There were some baffled audience as they had expected the usual 'janji Melayu' traits of plays which usually almost never start on time.

The show had me laughing right from the beginning as Cik Zakaria, played by Norman Ishak was singing and dancing to the song 'Cek Mek Molek' by M Daud Kilau. With his awkward movements and out-of-tune singing, he was believable as an elderly man who loves to joke around with his equally elderly wife, Cik Rahimah played by Izyan Mellyna.

For someone who was a first-time performer for theatre, it was a job well done for Norman Ishak. There were just a few faltering moments when there was mild inconsistency in his characterisation. When he got too excited, he sometimes went back to being himself and not Cik Zakaria but this was just for a few fleeting seconds before he realised it and then he will start transforming back to Cik Zakaria again.

If not for Laki Bini #3, many would not have known that Izyan Mellyna has such an powerful and beautiful singing voice. Now that we know, I look forward to seeing her in a musical next! Her comic timing throughout the show was too perfect. If you ever need someone for an anti-climax moment, she should be your first choice!

Hafidz Rahman who is most commonly known for his online persona, Bonda Bedah, played multiple characters in the show. His primary character was Hasif, the adopted son of Zakaria and Rahimah. He plays his multiple roles very distinctly and it was especially heartwarming during the scene when Hasif was in a tense argument with his father but when his father suffered a heart attack, he immediately dropped everything and rushed to get a glass of plain water and medicine for him. The unconditional love of a son towards his father despite being in the tense situation reminds us to be respectful of our parents no matter the circumstances.

After downloading the programme booklet through scanning the QR code on their publicity flyer, I realised that Hafidz Rahman was also the playwright for the show. I love how issues such as dementia and Alzheimer's Disease are discussed in the play. The set includes having post-it-notes around the house to remind Rahimah on simple routine activities that she might forget, such as turning off the stove when she is done cooking. The climax was when Rahimah went missing one day and Zakaria frantically searches for his wife. It was then that he opened up to his son regarding his biggest fear. He prayed that if they were to leave this world, may they leave it together as he cannot bear going through life without her or wondering how she was going to go through life without him. There would be no one to accompany him for his weekly dialysis sessions if she were to leave this world before him. And if he were to die first, there will be no one to look after her well-being and bear with her forgetfulness.

The play presents the reality of life as an elderly couple who has to support one another while struggling with their health issues. It is a story of growing old together and the never-ending ups and downs of family life. It also touches lightly on sensitive issues like infertility, homosexuality, interracial dating and civil marriage.

The light design by M Fadlin M Saffri was also beautiful. The lights added dimension and feel to the show as the space transformed into a fantasy concert for Cik Rahimah and then back to their simple home. Another element that had me captivated throughout the show was the live music and sound effects by the live band stationed at the back centre stage. The sounds of Rahimah cooking in her kitchen or accidentally dropping her pots and pans were made live by Musicians of Orkestra Sri Temasek and brings the audience closer to the show as if we were right there in their home, witnessing the episodes in their lives.

Laki Bini #3 has a nice blend of laughter, tears and tension. I dare to say that this is the best one in the Laki Bini series. Thank you Izad Omar, Noor Rahim and the production team of Laki Bini #3 for producing theatre plays that appeal to the masses. It is no wonder that both shows were completely sold out! I look forward to the next production by KreatiV OutBox.

Zakaria comforting Rahimah as she gets upset about her infertility issues Photo Credits: KreatiV OutBoX

Post-it-notes to remind Rahimah Photo Credits: KreatiV OutBoX

Rahimah in her fantasy solo performance concert Photo Credits: KreatiV OutBoX

SAHM VS Working Mum

Before anyone thinks this is another one of those posts where people debate on which is better: SAHM or Working Mum... Pause...

For it is not.

It all started when I decided to resume driving lessons after a 3-years hiatus. I had failed my Traffic Police practical driving test at least 5 times before my final theory expired in 2012. I had passed my Basic Theory Test when I turned 18 but I had no money to continue with practical lessons then. When I grew older, it was always a matter of 'got time, no money' or 'got money, no time' and when 'got time, got money', the preferred slots for practical lessons were always full and my lessons were inconsistent. It was ridiculous to be constantly monitoring the slots while at work or to keep taking leave for practical lessons especially when I had to apply for leave at least 3 months in advance for my workplace at that point.

I used to be under ComfortDelGro Driving Centre - Kovan Branch. When I failed my practical test the 12345th time and my final theory expired, I had to put my dreams of getting a driving license to a stall as my wedding was impending. After the wedding though, we were busy with our home renovations.We got our keys a week before our wedding, you see. My first born was conceived after 2 months of marriage and so, we need to prioritise our spendings for the pregnancy check-ups and delivery. Blah, blah, blah... it has been 3 years and I finally decided that there is no more putting off getting a license and I MUST get down to it already.

Since my husband is the sole breadwinner, I suggested for me to take up a temporary job stint so that the household budget will not be affected and driving lessons are not exactly cheap. We agreed for the temporary job arrangement to be around 1 to 3 months and see how it goes. I started  driving lessons towards the end of Sep and this time round, I took up lessons from a private driving instructor recommended from one of my FB contacts. He was a garang uncle who used to be the chief training instructor at SSDC and is now a retiree. I failed AGAIN for the first practical test and was fairly disheartened but when I got a test date for the week after, I was more determined to pass. On a blessed Friday the 13th of November 2015, I finally obtained my driving license. I was the last one to enter the room and when the tester was going through with me the results, my mind was racing and all I was thinking was whether I passed or failed. I was tearing and thanking him profusely when he finally smiled and said, "Congratulations, you PASSED." So drama. I know. Lol.

I thanked my driving instructor who was waiting patiently for me at his car and cried again while telling him I passed. I didn't expect getting a driving license to be this emotional. It was more stressful than taking my GCE 'O' Level results. I proceeded to take a photo at the instant photo booth and waited for my turn to get my temporary license. For those who are learning, I suggest for you to prepare a decent Passport/NRIC photo in your wallet before you go for your practical tests. The product from instant photo booths can be quite unflattering.

For those who are keen to book a private instructor from the North!

For those who are wondering, my temporary child care arrangement for my two girls was to place them under the care of my mother and my mother-in-law. We had to trial-and-error the best arrangement for everybody. Initially, we will wake up extra early and carry the girls to Khatib where my parents-in-laws stay before leaving for work. We placed Azeen on the stroller and Ayra on the carrier and walked through the park. We also tried just carrying them and taking the feeder bus but the bus was always very crowded and it was not easy balancing while carrying children and bags. It was challenging initially as they will wake up when we carry them and both or at least one will be crying for Mummy not to leave them. It was truly heartbreaking.

I was very concerned for Little Miss Clingy Ayra but it turns out that she can actually survive a day without Mummy and behaves herself. The moment she seems me at the doorstep, she will start her clingy mode back on. My mother decided to sleepover at my place for a few days so that I can get ready without crying children and for the children to sleep through as I leave for work. I can understand the guilt that working mothers go through as they hear the cries of their children wailing and wanting their mummies.

After trying out for a few days, we decided on the arrangement that will affect the children the least. It is just a temporary arrangement so we wouldn't want to disrupt their routine too much. Every Monday, the girls will be placed at my in-laws and after work on Mondays, I fetched them and send the girls to Hougang. I leave for work from Hougang the next day. I slept at Hougang on alternate days and fetch the girls on Fridays. The alternate days that I return to Yishun, I will be rushing on the household chores, especially the laundry. Sometimes, my mother will send the girls over to Yishun on Fridays so that I wouldn't need to rush to Hougang from work and then back to Yishun. Mothers are really super human beings. Even at 30 with two children, my mother still pampers me and wants the best for me. She doesn't want me to be struggling and whatever she can do within her means to help me out, she will. The power of a mother's love is truly limitless.

I have been a SAHM for the girls since they were born so when I started working, as much as I miss my routine, I found myself enjoying time to myself. I could eat with two hands without anyone climbing over my back. I can chat with friends and do some window-shopping during lunch. It was freedom on a whole new level! I was not on Mummy's duty for 25 hours a day. I did not expect myself to love my temporary workplace and the people there as my intention had been to just earn money for my driving lessons and probably some extras for self-pampering. I felt truly blessed and had new friendships forged within the short span of three months.

A tiny part of me was reluctant to go back to life as a SAHM but then I think of the real challenges a working mother has to face and concluded that both have equal challenges to overcome and I should be contented with my lifestyle for now. During that short period, there were incidents that made me understand why some working parents choose to place their children in childcare centres instead of under the care of their own parents or in-laws. Plus, there were those times that I had to control my tongue not to voice out certain conflicting ideas to avoid any misunderstandings. I just kept reminding myself that it is a short-term arrangement and I can reprogram or uninstall any unwanted software once I regain 'control' of our preferred parenting style. When I leave for work in the morning, I see other parents struggling with their young children still groggy and yet needs to be left at the childcare centre before their parents rush off to work. After work, these parents rush to fetch their children and once they reach home, it is a mad rush to have dinner, do household chores and prepare for the next morning. 

Now that I am back as a SAHM, my routine is to prepare breakfast for the girls before bathing them, rushing off to do any chores I can before Ayra's nap time and then do my Zohor prayers before getting Azeen ready for school and then to send Azeen off to school which is only for 1.5 hours. I will have a breather while Azeen is away in school and it will be 'me' time with Ayra while waiting for her elder sister. I feel very 'aunty' now that I start making friends with other Mummies who are waiting for their child to end school. I hang out with another Mummy for drinks and desserts, exchanging stories of our children or just anything under the sun. When I pick Azeen up, it will be time to prepare or buy dinner, do some more household chores, bathe the girls, do Asar prayers and then Daddy will reach home. It will be time for Magrib prayers, dinner and a little bit of TV before reading time for the girls. Last itinerary will be performing Isya' prayers and putting the girls to sleep. Once they are asleep, I will do my packing of orders and to prepare them for mailing. Somewhere in between my daily activities, I will manage to reply queries and orders for MifSha Kids customers. While sleeping, Ayra will be climbing all over me for her free flow of milk before deciding to sleep across my body to ensure that I cannot go to the toilet or leave her side without her knowledge. Up till today, during Subuh prayers, I will have to do my prayers while listening to her wailing for Mummy throughout the 2 raka'ats despite having her Daddy pacifying her. It all sounds like such a calm experience when I type it out but it is quite chaotic in reality. Lol.

SAHMs or working mums have different roles and responsibilities to juggle. All mothers are superwomen and want the best for their children. I am thankful to get a taste of both worlds. For now, I shall just constantly remind myself that it is a joy to witness and experience the daily mayhem until both girls are bigger. How much bigger? I have no idea.