This post was drafted while I was watching #engkauyangkupanggilibu Ariani Mother's Day campaign.

I rarely take photos with my mum. But I do have many photos with her as a kid. I have always talk about my dad. But behind the scene, my mum is the person who make sure that everything in the house run smoothly. From preparing our meals to sending us to school. Everything has to be done by her. This is because my dad were not at home, due to work commitment that requires him to travel. So basically it was only me, my sister and mum. Mum has been managing everything on her own. Dari drive kereta to riding bike to send me to music school. Jatuh motor pun ade but nothing serious.

My mum  doesn't really give in, in arguments. I definitely took her trait too. Stubborn. So most of the time, her children and husband will have to give in. Despite all that, mum has been working real hard. To make sure that the household is managed properly. She makes sure that everything is in order, until today.

Even when I have a kid now, she would call to ask if there's any help needed. What her cucu eat, how's his nursery, has he bathed, etc.

We fought a lot during my teenage years. We couldn't really see eye to eye. It was so bad to a point that my dad has to come back to resolve the issue. I couldn't understand the things that my mum had to do or imposed on me because at that point, it felt like I was being tied down, not being able to have the freedom to express myself. Everything has to be done in a certain way.

It was then.... But today, I started to understand all the rules and regulations that my parents enforced on me. It was to make sure that I do not deter from my purpose and goal, being disciplined. I bet if it's not because of my parents being strict on me, I wouldn't be where I am today. I may or may not understand why, but one thing for sure, I'm so grateful for those beating I got from my parents, especially from Cik Timah :-)

You may not understand why you have curfews, why you can't go out with that hot dude from school, why you have to go extra tuition, why your pocket money can't be increase, why this and why that. But believe me, you'll thank your mum once you've grown up and have a family of your own. For now, just tahan je....

Happy Mother's Day, mummy....

I often forget that July is a special month for the 2 most important person in my life. It's the birthday of my dad and Juan. Last year, I forgot Juan's birthday and remembered only after about 2 weeks
 -___-' . He gave me a black face for the whole week and I had to hear him ungkit for the next few weeks after that. Gosh.

And today, I knew my dad's birthday when I saw a notification on my Skype. Goodness sake. Previously I never remember anyone's birthday except for my sister and myself. Don't ask me why but I just can't remember.

My dad is a very very very simple person and my sister and I often tell everything to my dad. From education, movies, politics, boys, we talk almost anything and everything with him. Although he travels most of his life and stays far away from the family, we never felt the distance cause he's constantly catching up on us.

This year is extra special cause my dad is celebrating his birthday as a first time grand dad. Hahahaha.

So here a shout out to the hero of my life. Happy Birthday daddy. Semoga panjang umur, murah rezeki and diberikan kesihatan yang baik untuk jaga cucu yang baru nak tumbuh gigi *laugh*

So I was invited by my Communication team in my company to contribute a short article on how is it like to be born and raised in a multicultural family background. To be honest, it was something that I have been waiting throughout my working experience to write something like this.

Well, growing up in a family of mix cultural background is no different with other families. The only thing different is that tolerant, understanding, respect, and patience are the key essentials. There are 2 different religion under one roof so logically you think that there'll be clash of interest or dispute on how should we celebrate Chinese New Year especially when it comes to reunion dinner. It wasn't an easy journey at first for my parents but patience was the only thing that came across my parent's mind at that time until I was born, everything changed. See, cucu can make a whole lot of different :-)

Simple. Previously we used to book halal restaurants or 8 course dining at hotels. As the price keeps increasing, we resulted in organizing our own bbq or hot pot at my uncles's place. Each bbq pit or hot pot will be divided into 2 parts. One is halal and another is non-halal. The halal part is definitely for me and my family, obviously kan. Duhhh. The ingredients were also halal. So it wasn't a problem for us.

I'm quite lucky compared to some families because my dad and his siblings were brought up in a Malay kampung. So understanding some of the basic dos and don'ts in Islam is not something we need to explain to them cause they already know. Even when there's death in the family, we visited too cause it was with pure intention because they're family regardless of which religion or race you come from.

A change of religion doesn't mean you disown your family. No, it's not. In my case, me and cousins were very close from young until most of us were married and have our own commitment but we still say Hi to each other once in a while or a family gathering during festive season. It's very interesting to have different culture in your family, you get to learn each other's culture especially when it comes to FOOD!

As I mentioned previously, RESPECT is important. Don't let your ego get in your way. I mean thinking that 'Why should I follow your way?'. It's about taking in the bad and the good. No one's perfect so best is to embrace and enjoy. It's a unique experience and I will definitely pass it down to my kids.

I was away a few weekends ago with my parents. We traveled down south to Muar to visit my sister cause my dad misses her *but he was in denial*. I had the chance to step into her college and had the experience of how it looks like to be in med school *grine*. I wanted to be a doctor since I was small and that ambition has never changed until today but man, why must people create Maths??? Why oh why. I hate Maths to death and irony now is, I deal with numbers, day in and day out. Karma huh.

Anyway, on the day that I was coming back from Muar, Juan texted me, asking me to inform him once I'm at the border of Penang. It was weird cause he never does that. So I asked him if he prepares a surprise for me since my birthday is around the corner or perhaps he bought my favorite kuih? Neither both. So the next thing I thought was 'Habisla my car, sure accident'. It was not that too. I was too impatience that I asked him to tell me the whole story over Whatsapp. HE GOT INTO ACCIDENT a day before I came back.

So ten of thousands of question were thrown at him. Luckily he was not badly hurt although it left him with wounds on his knee, hands, stomach, elbow and a dislocated right arm. But he can't move a lot and that means, all the house chores are transferred to me *cry a bucket*. At least he's safe and nothing that was serious.

The first thing that came into my thick skull was 'Oh no, all house chores will be on me'. It's true. I don't blame him cause it was an accident.

I'm currently heavily pregnant so the rate of me doing housework? Don't even bother to mention. Even sweeping the house took me like 30 minutes. Let alone washing the clothes, cleaning up the kitchen, etc.

I'm grateful that although he's in pain, he never neglects his responsibility. I know it's hard and I can see that he's trying his best to help me out given the condition I'm in now. I can;t imagine if something worst were to happen to him.

When you were young, you dream of someone as handsome as Brad Pitt to be the love of your life until you enter adulthood. Snap!!! By then you realize that handsome can't help you with the house chore, washing the dishes, do the laundry, cleaning your baby's poop. Well, looks are just fantasy we put our mind into. In real life, that doesn't help much especially in marriage.

Looks can change by time. Those man you see handsome will grow old someday and so will you. And then what? Plastic surgery to get back the shape you used to have? Don't think so.

Me and Juan spent our last weekend in Taiping. I've been to Taiping before, years ago but never really explore the place. Just a short getaway before the baby pops out. I needed a break and Juan just recovered from a 'bad' week. He was down with fever and swollen ankle. So I thought it would be a great thing to do. Since we can't travel long distance, this will do too. Just a 1 hour drive from Penang.

It was nice of Juan to bring me out for a brisk walk at the famous lake garden, an iconic place for Taiping residence. Clean, with LOTSA hawker food, children playing at the playground. But try to avoid night and late evening walks. The place can be a little dark with mosquitoes.

Small gesture like this makes me think of how bless I am to be married to a man who has so much patience, helpful (although sometimes he can be annoying), respectful and gave me some sense of freedom to do the things that I like. So I wouldn't be worried much to have someone to help me with the baby once she's/he's out. It takes 2 to make a marriage work, honestly. With both husband and wife working nowadays, the role of a husband does not stop at work place. It now extended to household too and women are not contained in the kitchen, it extend to the outside world. Both parties has their own role and responsibilities and it gets tougher with a baby on tow.

Which husband doesn't make his wife crawl up the ceiling at times? Well, those are the ups and downs that comes in a package when you're married. No marriage is perfect, if there is, I will find it first, don't worry. You want to grow old together NOT half way through the journey. My dad always advise us that PATIENCE is what it takes to make a marriage work. Cause I always wonder how can my dad married to a woman who always nag 24/7. My mum always has something to bring up even smallest thing like cutting the onion in an irregular sizes. Horror I tell you.

Find man who can accept you at your best and even at your worst. With this kind of man, you don't have to worry of waking up without your make up on. The one thing I kept thinking about was 'Will my husband still love me when I'm sick?' Sick in the sense that he still loves you even when you're laying down on your death bed. That was before I got married. But now, I know that my husband will always be there through sickness and health, anytime of the day. Just as my father was there for my mother:-)

Looks VS A Man Who Can Do Housework. You choose.

Well, at some point in life you think you've lost your best friend because you used to be on constant meet up and phone calls. But as you grow up, phone calls becomes lesser, let alone a message.

A real friend is never lost. When you need them, they'll appear. Just like fairy god mother. The definition of best friend is when you feel sad, you best friend comfort you and gives you pep talk. When you're in trouble, she gets into trouble TOGETHER with you. She doesn't judge you when the world seems to walk away from you. She stood by you through storm and rain. You both fought and make up. Best friends always seem to have something to talk about. Even when both are in silent mode, your body language does the talking.

I have a best fiend since high school and although we stay far from each other and rarely see each other, We've never actually lost in touch. Whenever I need her, she always there for me. Vice versa. She's the definition of a real bestie. We don't say 'I love you' in front of each other but through messages. Ego I guess or something that we're not used to. But what's important, I know that she's there when I need her.

It's hard to come by true friend nowadays. People are becoming more materialistic. They don't go the extra mile for a friend. They leave when things are hard.

Dear Alla,
Thank you for being a sister and family to me. Thank you for all the trouble we got together, all the wild night we had. Most importantly, thank you for being the best of friend to me when no one else did.

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