Things I Said I Would Never Do As A Parent ... & Did Anyways

They say children change you. It's true. You may not believe it, but you'll eventually realise that you're no longer the same person you were prior to children. I told myself I would be the exception ... I wouldn't let children change me.

Oh, how wrong was I? The "changes" that happens when you become a parent happens to all parents in varying degrees. Here are a few things I know that has changed about me since having children:

Review of Jen Orchard Gateway Singapore

The first place we stayed at during our trip to Singapore was Jen Orchard Gateway near Orchard Road.

Being our first trip to Singapore we decided to stay close to a main area in the city that was easily accessible by public transport and close to places we can purchase necessities.

There are plenty of accommodation options in Singapore, it really is a matter of taste and budget. Initially, I was looking for a self-contained apartment style room since we were a family of four, but the costs were a little too much for us.

Things to do in Singapore with Children

We recently travelled to Singapore with the boys. Why Singapore you ask, why not Singapore? I've heard it's such a clean place, and that's a rare reputation for an Asian country. Honestly, the reason why we decided on Singapore was based on a promotion on cheap flights.

We decided to spend a decent amount of time there, not having been there ourselves before, and wanting to really experience the place. Plus travelling with young children we accept we need to add some "contingency days" to any overseas holiday we go on. And one of my best friends lives there now so any excuse to hang out with her is an added bonus.

March In Review

Oh Hi! How are you? Long time no ... post.

I draft so many unfinished posts which I never get around to finishing so I'm hardly ever posting. If you follow my Instagram account (@genymum) I'm more active there.

It's been awhile since I've done one of these, and I realise March is a little late. But I had drafted this post a few weeks ago and I want to actually publish something, it's been over a month since I did. 

So here's my March in review

I love spending time with my boys. Yes I am at home with them but when you're so focused on trying to run a business from home it's so easy to ... be distracted. Sometimes I think, 'They don't notice I'm on my phone' but they do. I'm always reminding myself to enjoy them as they are now, cause they won't always be this little and sweet.

I entered the CrossFit Opens again this year. I was hesitant entering because I haven't been in the best form the past few weeks. I'm still going to the box 2-3 times a week but I haven't been pushing myself, I'm just turning up to get a workout. I was sharing this sentiment with the owner of the box I go to and he was saying it's totally understandable. When you start up a new business so you're so focused on that right now that everything else takes a bit of a back seat, even he can relate. Every year as he takes on opportunities to grow the box, it takes up his time to be in the box, as a result he has become less fitter ... which is ironic. It was reassuring to hear that it's human not to be the best at everything you do all the time. Overall I think I did okay in the Opens. There were a few open workouts I think I could have gotten better results if I reattempted it before the cut off times, but that's the problem with always doing them on Monday instead of the weekend before.

The annual Easter hat parade at the boy's daycare centre. Last year was our first experience of this whole hat parade business, and what we learnt was the effort of the hat itself is not really a big deal. So this year I let the boys create their hats themselves. I purchased decorations to create the hat but I let them put it together themselves. It was actually a really stressful process for someone like me who has control issues. Firstly the mess, it was out of control within 3 minutes. There were fluffy balls, feathers, and paper everywhere. Secondly because I am not an arts and crafts person I don't have three pairs of everything, so defusing fights over the glue, scissors and who wanted the purple fluffy ball over the 100 other purple fluffy balls, was enough driving me nuts. Lastly, it took a lot of self control to stop myself from taking over and creating the hats myself. I had to physically move away ... I just couldn't deal.

March was full of celebrations for us. There's my nephew's 1st birthday, my God-son's 2nd birthday, a wedding and of course Easter.

We headed to Singapore for a family holiday. More on that in a future post ..

All these images are from my Instagram account, are you on Instagram? What's your handle name, comment below. I like stalking, I mean following new people.

Linking up with Jess

Review of The Sebel Kiama Harbourside

A few weeks ago my family and I stayed at The Sebel Harbourside in Kiama. It was a last minute decision to go away, so accommodation options were kinda limited because the dates we wanted to go away fell on the Australia Day weekend. We were allocated room 314 and here's my review of the hotel. 

The Positives

• The hotel is located in a great spot of the little quaint seaside town of Kiama. There was various cafes, shops, restaurants, the rockpools, and the famous blowhole within walking distance from the hotel. 
• There was a lovely note from the hotel wishing us a happy anniversary to greet us, as I mentioned this upon booking. 
• Rooms were spacious with ample space for me and my family of four. Our room only had a bed, a table, and a small couch, but we could move around without feeling like we were walking over each other. Even the bathroom was huge.
• Rooms were clean and serviced every day if you require it. I notice plenty of staff all over the hotel.
• The gym at the basement level was amazing. They've advertised it as a world class gym, and it's pretty impressive. It was stocked with the usual cardio equipment but there were also free weights, bars, racks, functional training machines, kettle bells, medicine balls, ropes, bands - it did have everything. The gym is used by non-hotel members so depending on when you go it may be crowded. 
• Each room had a fridge and stocked with drinks and sweets which are obviously not free. 
• Each room had a balcony with a table and chairs.

The Negatives

• The shower was a little moldy. 
• Bathroom basin was so small. For such a big room I don't understand why they installed such a tiny basin. 
• No safe in the room.
• Air conditioning was not ducted but a reverse system unit which did keep the room cool. 
• Our room view was of the street, which was fine as streets were quiet. However, I'm sure a water view room would be nicer.
• We did find two cockroaches in our room twice. 

Overall it was a pleasant 3 night stay at the Kiama. I would come back to this town again for a holiday as it's very family friendly location. There are many playgrounds and outdoor activities to do, many of the cafe's we visited were delicious, and it's close to other places down south to visit such as Kangeroo Valley, Shoalhaven, Berry, and Jamberoo.

Linking up with Jess. 

2016 So Far

Ok, when did it February start cause I'm still thinking it's January. 

Posts have been infrequent on this blog lately. I wish it wasn't so. I do enjoy blogging, and because I do take pride in my little online space I only want to publish stuff I'm completely happy with. So because I want quality posts that reflect me, I don't like to rush posts just for the sake of having regular content.  

Life has been a little busier and challenging. Firstly the boys, who are both constantly surprising me with their growth and their personalities. There's Kai who's in the "terrible twos" stage, therefore testing his limits, being unruly and defiant at times. Kai's determined personality makes it hard to discipline him. Kai will yell and scream until he gets his way, and shows signs of aggressive behaviour when he's in situations he's not happy about. Eli has also changed. He's becoming more and more like a little boy and less of a toddler. He's into little boy things, likes to play a little more roughly, and knows what he likes and doesn't like. Making it a little harder to keep him entertained or pleased. He also questions more and very much well aware of what's going on around him, sometimes it's a juggling act trying to figure out how much detail or truth does he need to know. 

We started Kai in daycare this month, attending the same days as his Eli. Naturally he's still adjusting to his new environment, so that means lots of tears ... for Kai. Don't get me wrong all children take time to adjust to going to daycare, but there's definitely a difference in adjustment between Kai and Eli. Kai cries hysterically almost throughout the car ride to the centre. Trying to reason out why he shouldn't go. However since Kai started daycare, Eli has really stepped up to the kuya (tagalog for big brother) role. To help calm Kai down, Eli will tell him "It's okay Kai I'm just next door", or he'll agree to stay with Kai until he calms down, and apparently Eli looks for Kai at the playground during play times they're together. 

Their changing personalities haven't all been challenging. They're also even more hilarious now that we can all communicate and understand each other. Kai has always been cheeky and he knows when to turn it up for a laugh and Eli joins in or plays his own jokes now.  

Me, towards the end of 2015 I felt like I was putting a lot of pressure on myself and trying to put 100% into everything I was doing. As a result, I was starting to put a strain on myself and everything I was doing. I felt like a sh!t STHP cause I wasn't fostering my kids development as much, or cause the house was never cleaned. I felt like a sh!t business owner cause I was always chasing my tail on tasks. I felt like I wasn't looking after my body cause I had put on 4kgs, not eating well and started feeling like going to the box was a chore. I was easily irritable and not really responsive to people in general, even to my husband. I was shutting him out cause I was focusing so hard, and felt I had no time to take it easy.

Two months on and .... it hasn't really changed hahaa ... but I'm slowly trying to be more aware, since this week. I'm trying to eat at meal times instead of when I feel like I have time to, sleeping more even if it means napping with the boys, not force myself to go to the box cause it'll be a waste of money if I don't, slowly get back into prioritising a clean home, and just stop putting pressure on myself to be great at everything.

I've also been educated on the impact all this pressure has on the body internally. How lack of sleep, food and self-pressure impacts various internal systems, and as I get older I'm aware it's the internal health I need to look after as much as the external. 

So that's where Gen-Y Mum is at right now. I also celebrated 7 years of marriage a few weeks ago, registered for the CrossFit Opens which starts in a few days, the business has plateaued a little bit, but that's okay and starting to look at kindy for Eli. 

Life is busy, but I'm grateful and open to more. 

How have you been? I know we all have a million things going on so at times we like to use a blanket response like "Yeh good, same old." Hope things are looking bright for you regardless of what may be going on your life. 

That Time I Put My Kid in Danger

We went away the other weekend. We just went to Kiama, about 1.5hrs south of Sydney. We were celebrating hubby and I's seven year wedding anniversary and I was in charge of planning our celebrations, so I decided to go away this year. We took the boys with us cause our regular babysitters (grandparents) all had other plans too. This is one of the annual issues faced when your wedding anniversary is the same or a day apart from your parents and inlaws.