The M Ways

Balancing Work and Family: my first 2012 resolution

MW — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 13:41:01 +0000

Its been raining almost all day today. I sat in front of my laptop while Ratih does her homework (yeah, even a Kindergaten student have a homework these days).
This is the final day in 2011 and like the years before I don’t have any particular plan. Instead my head wanders through the year that have passed…
It seems that my main concern throughout 2011 remains how to balance between family and work. It has been a tough challenge, but I intend to overcome it I am thankful that both my children is growing beautifully. Ratih becomes more and more girly (she starts combing her own her, choose her pink attire and even playing with my make up ). She has taken piano lessons and always jump at every chance of performing. She has also started writing and just this month she began to spell and read simple words. Her strong point has always been her communication skill. She can tell a complete story with great length and detail. She can also understand and speak English
Hita celebrates her First birthday in May and since then has grown a lot. She walks, runs and talks a lot. Even more than Ratih. Every words that she utters make me laugh…But she also starts throwing temper tantrum Especially with regard to her older sister. She has the tendency of wanting and grabbing whatever her older sister has in hand..But, whenever they are apart they miss each other really Girls, later when you are able read this, Mom and Dad are so happy and thankful to have you both as our daughters.

So, my first New Year resolution goes like this:
I hope that in 2012 I can manage my family and work better.

Don’t know how yet, and I am quite confident that the year ahead is going to be more challenging. Just this month I was given additional obligation at work. A position that I reluctantly accepted. But, I cant let down those who have entrusted me…

I guess I just have to figure out, how to achieve this resolution as I go a long

Last Week of 2011

MW — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 23:27:39 +0000

May it be a productive and fun week!

Confession of a working mom: Riding on two horses at the same time

MW — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 01:59:41 +0000

Seems like another random and incoherent post. But, that is exactly how I felt these days.
Ever imagine if you have to ride two horses at the same time? Your first question might be, why horse? Well, its really similar like straddling over two boats on water while they are floating down a river. But, boat is a “thing” that really really depend on you. What I have to manage is more like a “being” that you can control, but also has its own will and characteristics that are out of my controls. Hence, the horse analogy.
The next question would be, why two? One horse is challenging enough, let alone two. The chance that you get to the finish line sooner is perhaps higher when you only ride one horse. When you ride two horses, you can’t let one horse run faster than the other or you will end up on the ground.
But, how do you ensure that both horses run in the same pace?
The easy way would be to choose one horse and leave the other. Clearly you will have your preference over the two. The one that truly important to you and you just cant live without. In fact, I have my clear priority too. But, it does not mean that I can just leave the other. It is also part of me and I feel a sense of obligation to carry that horse too. Plus, sometimes I think that it’s actually a privilige and even a bless to have both horses. Some people does not even have one.
So, what to do? The best that I can do to balance their pace. I realized that in order to do so, I need the agility to keep dividing my attention between both horses. First making sure that my priority horse is doing well. Then, switch to the second one and snap it so it wont trail too far. It will be tiring and frustrating at time. Most of the time I feel that I am not doing anything right with any of them.
But imagine if I can ride them both to the finish line. Must be twice the glory and happiness.
With that in mind, I hope I have the strength, agility and fortitude to do so.

Nice “In Love” Quote

MW — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 00:43:52 +0000

I have heard so many quotes about love and being in love
But, none is more striking to me than the one that I came across yesterday.
I received a wedding invitation. It looks more like an album rather than an invitation. I spend almost five minutes just perusing the design..
I was more amazed as I opened the invitation to see the quote in the front page…
It read…

You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep
Because reality is finally better than your dreams
- Dr. Seuss -

The lines say it all

10 October 2011

MW — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 12:00:24 +0000

There are so many things that I want to say to you, there are so many things that I wanna share with you.
You are my teacher. You are the one that path my ways. I am what I am now because of you.
October is never the same without you.
I wish that you are looking down on me from up there.
Miss you so much my beloved Dad

The Lord of The Rings vs. Doing a Ph.D

MW — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 00:40:11 +0000

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy definitely are some of my favorite movies of all time. I remembered I watched the first installment of the Trilogy, The Fellowship of the Ring back in 2001 when I was still doing my Ph.D. I was so amazed by the spectacular sceneries, the actions, the characters (especially Aragorn!) that I spent quite sometime to learn about the book, Tolkien etc.
I am not going into detail about the movie itself, as I think much have been said about that…
During the periods of the trilogy conquering the cinema, a friend of mine, who is also doing a Ph.D study sent me a joke that the TLOTR story actually really resemble what we are doing as a PhD student!! I remembered that the joke was really funny
So, as I watched the movie again on TV yesterday I cant help but wanting to read that joke again…and I found it!
Here is the link if you want to have a read for yourself:

http://danny.oz.au/danny/humour/phd_lotr.html

Hari Pertama Ratih di TK

MW — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 13:56:54 +0000

Ratih dengan Seragam TK nya

Posting ini adalah yang pertama dalam Bahasa Indonesia. Bukannya tidak cinta Bahasa Indonesia, tetapi awalnya bikin blog karena emang pengen menjaga supaya Bahasa Inggrisnya ga lupa
Tapi kali ini ceritanya menyangkut sebuah lagu dalam bahasa Indonesia, jadi rasanya lucu kalo diterjemahkan.
Ceritanya begini, hari ini Ratih masuk TK pertama kali. Hiks hiks, terharu sekali, ternyata anak saya sudah besar..dan untungnya hari ini saya BISA mengantarkannya. Maklum, pertama masuk TK masih ragu juga kira2 nanti aktivitas dia apa aja, perlu bawa bekal apa engga dan lain-lain.
Jadi jam 6.30 masih setengah ngantuk dia udah saya bangunin. Sarapan roti dan susu, mandi, syukurlah jam 7 kami udah di TK nya. Sebenarnya sih dia udah berani ditinggal, yang buat saya itu merupakan suatu langkah maju. Karena duluuu saat saya TK dulu masih ditemenin Ibu…kalo mau berargumen saya dulu masuknya terlalu kecil (bukan alasan yaa).
Anyway, balik ke Ratih…
Acara pertama di halaman, nyanyi dikit sambil olah raga. Tapi ga lama karena gerimis, jadi anak2 masuk ke kelas. Setelah di kelas mulai deh muncul percakapan-percakapan lucu…yang paling lucu dan khas Ratih adalah ketika mereka menyanyi bersama…
Bu Guru: Ayo anak2 kita menyanyi Satu Satu Aku Sayang Ibu
Anak2: Satu Satu Aku Sayang Mama Dua Dua Juga Sayang Papa
Bu Guru: Lho… Mama dan Papa memang sama dengan Ibu dan Ayah tapi dalam lagu ini pake Ibu dan Ayah yaa…
Anak2: Iya Buu
Bu Guru: Selain sayang Ayah Ibu sayang siapa lagi???
Anak2: Adik Kakaaakk…
Bu Guru: Iya betuuul Adik Kakak
Ratih: Bu Guru Bu Guru…Atih ga punya Kakak..
Bu Guru: Ohhhh iyaaa…
Hehehe Ratih, Ratih, semoga Ratih bisa menikmati masa-masa di TK A

American Idol Finale: Anticlimax?

MW — Wed, 25 May 2011 14:46:25 +0000

In a truly rare opportunity, Hita went to sleep early this evening and I get to watched American Idol Finale! I must say, what an anticlimax it was. First, I am not a big fan of both Lauren and Scotty. I quite like Lauren Alaina when I first saw her during the audition. But, thats more to do with her bubbly personality and the fact that she was singing I dont Wanna Miss a Thing I thought that she has a good voice and she is really likeable. But then throughout the competition, although I didnt watch much of the elimination round, I found her performance a bit boring. and Scotty, my of my, I have to really really try to like him. But i just DONT. It was fun at the beginning to listen to his deep voice, and sometime when he sang a good song, I quite like it. But then again, I wasnt that impressed. Mind you I dont dislike Country Music. I love Shania Twain, I love I’ll Be from Edwin MacCain, I even love some of Taylor Swift’s song. I think its just the combination of the singer and the song really.
In fact, I lost interest in the competition as soon as Paul McDonald was voted off. He was the only 1 among the top 10 that I found original. There was something in his voice that is so interesting. Some of the song that he sang was unknown, but he sang it so well that I go and check them out. Everybody kept mentioning Pia should go further. Yup the girl can sing, but again kind of boring haha…I am being harsh, but thats how I feel. Jacob, oh my my, I think he over done (is that the right word) every song that he sings. then James. Its unfair to compare him to Adam Lambert. While they both really know how to scream. Adam always scream in sync, in tunes and in control. James on the other hand, scream only because he wants to scream and make me scream too. Though, I feel sorry seeing him cry when he was voted off.
Back to the finale, I dont think that both Scotty and Lauren deliver their best performance. Especially Scotty’s last song. I think its too subdued for the big Gong.
But then again, this is just my opinion. I guess it is afterall my fault. This is a singing competition not a judging competition. I was hooked because of Steven Tyler’s antics. But, as the competition close to the end, he lost his wittiness.
Anyway, whoever win, I wish them well. But to me, the best Americal Idol, is still the one and only…Chris Daughtry. Peace Out.

Hita’s 1st Milestone

MW — Wed, 25 May 2011 09:51:33 +0000

Birthday Girl Hita and Big sister Ratih on Hita's BDay

Earlier last week Hita celebrated her first Birthday. How time really flies. Feels like yesterday that she was born and now she’s grown so much. She can now utter a few words. Unlike Ratih who’s first word is “Lampu” (Light in Indonesian), Hita’s first word was Mmm mmm Maaa…but then after a while it changed to “Maem” (Eat in Indonesian) hehe…what a useful first word eventhough she cant differentiate yet between eating or drinking. She uses the same words for both She has also started to walk a few steps
I was not planning to celebrate her birthday. Afterall, she’s too young to understand it anyway. But, as many children at her age, Ratih loves to have any reason for a party. She kept saying that October is too long. So she was more than excited to throw a birthday party for her little sister. In the end we decorated the living room with some balloons, invited Ratih’s friend and have a birthday cake (well more a Birthday Pudding actually) As I help Hita blow her only candle I made this wish:
Happy BDay my baby, may you’ll have a wonderful life ahead of you
and though I may not always be there for you I hope one day you’ll know how much I love you

What do you say after a long blog-comma?

MW — Sun, 15 May 2011 12:40:09 +0000

Well Helloo My long suffering blog?!!!???!!!
It certainly has been a while since I posted here.
and if I have to tell you why this has been the case I would blame it to some changes in my personal life that is too complex to mention here. Even if I try to explain it, it would come across as an excuse. Afterall, I started blogging because I wanna share my thoughts. So does it mean that I have NOT been thinking? NO, but I do find it hard to find time to write and thruthfully, I feel like I dont have anything worth writing.
so why have I decided to write again…certainly because there are some things that I am just dying to tell you about…something to do with my personal life, a little music and of course movie!
What is it then, you just have to wait and see that If you and I dont suddenly loose interest again