Posted in Langit Senja, Maternité, Thoughts

The Seventeenth Month

I didn’t remember being this late writing about Langit’s monthly post. Not because I am quite busy or do not have enough time, but I just have something that is quite disturbing which makes me a bit less spiritful to write.

So, in the beginning, I put a title The Seventeenth Month and Confidence Crisis for the post. But, I decided to take the second one out. Let the post month keep being all about my baby.

As the previous post said, she has been doing good on this month as usual. Alhamdulillah, she has been healthy, funny, and makes me raising my voice whenever she doesn’t chew and swallow her food for few minutes.

She starts joining a baby class every Sunday. I am thinking about writing this in a separate post, later. If I have the mood.

Well, guess I won’t write too much. You keep healthy and happy, little girl!:*

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Stylish (in pyjama)
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Sporty
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Musical
Posted in Past learning, Thoughts

Sekolah Musik Yayasan Pendidikan Musik (SM YPM)

I have a debate whether to write this post in Bahasa or English. The title seems telling you this one will be in Bahasa, while you’re currently reading an English post.

I can’t change the title because it’s a name of a place. And, I don’t intend to write any reviews here. You don’t do reviews to a place you called home.

It’s early morning and rainy outside. Last night was one of the sleepless nights I had because my mind was being occupied with something. Suddenly missing this place so much and couldn’t help thinking about this a whole night. Thinking how much I owe this place for so many things in my life.

I spent a continous 13 years in this place from 1990-2003. Attended every single grade, from the lowest to the very highest. Thirteen bloody years without a break. If you count right, it is almost similar time spent from kindergarten to the end of high school. Well, that was the case for me.

It has two branches now, Manggarai and Bintaro. Back then, it was only Manggarai. I went to Manggarai, for sure. It’s not a mere music school. It’s a real school which not only teaches music, but also educates you in every nice possible ways.

I once wrote about piano already. About what I had been going through there. This time, I want to give reasons why this one is worth the money spent for years.

Judging from its look, it might be just an ordinary building. I am talking about Manggarai branch here because this one is where I spent my time. The class was pretty small and only few of it have air-conditioner. The first eight years I learned there were spent in a non-air conditioner one. A standing fan was there for me.

This place is a real school where they have strict regulations about minimum age to enter, minimum points to pass, and an adequate manners for you to continue to the high level. They pushed the students to practice hard and much. They gave bulky of assignments, they gave enough pressure till we could say
the Darwinism was applied here. The one who said that only those who could adapt well, survived. Those who can’t, would be eliminated, or eliminated themselves.

Didn’t they care about losing student? Nope, they didn’t, don’t and never will do. They have an entrance test which is using for selecting students. Not only the students do the test, they give questions too for the parents. Back then, my mom even was directly interviewed. Now, they just give paper questions to the parents.

They consider how serious and how big the potential chance that the child will survive. That’s why they do interview to the parents also. The parents support play a big role for the survival chance.

I had been assigned to four different teachers during those 13 years. Four years with the first one, three years with the second, two years with the third, and another four with the last one. I was directly taught from the famous pianist Rudy Laban on my last four years in high level. May his soul is rest in peace.

To be honest, those thirteen years were not something that I could call enjoyable. As a little kid, my motivation to practice was as shallow as getting stickers on my notebook whenever I played well. More stickers, more better. In the other hand, I wasn’t a brilliant one also. Since the very beginning, piano was not something that I would claim as my best ability.

Then, so why does bother survive for 13 years?

I questioned myself and my mum too in the past. I cried asking my mum to allow me to quit. I couldn’t stand more of the teachers’ scolding in every lesson we had. I was afraid of performing in front of others. I was so weak in solfegio. Unlike school where I had always been in the top class, piano put me in the lower one. I hated being in some position where I had very least advantage. Invisible might be okay, but considered stupid, nah, that was another thing.

But, it wasn’t until few years after graduated, till I realized how those hard years toughen me. How those pressures made me stronger. How those high demand assignments showed me my true limit. Along with those pressures, they gave dedicated teachers beside you. Teachers who was always on time, well-dressed, patient, though they did enough scolding too, but, never, they gave up on their student.

This school has very strong culture. Maybe the strict rules classical music have surely give big influence. The ambience was pleasant, positive, and politeness was definitely everywhere. Once you were in the high level, with the smaller amounts of student, it gave stronger friendship. They compete soo smoothly. Really, I just realize this not long ago. Those who were the top students were sincerely friendly to each other. They were getting along comfortably while in the other hand, I knew for sure they practised so hard to beat each other.

What was more even incredible, those top students were not being proud at all until they were intimidating others. At least, for the lower rank like me, knowing I was just fairly good was enough pressure already. Feeling bullied or intentionally intimidated, never. What happen was, it gave me more courage to practise harder. Although I would never be as good as them, at least I wouldn’t embarrass myself in front of others.

What was even more pleasant, high level students tended to know each other despite what level they were in. Seniority wasn’t applicable there. Since it wasn’t a formal school, there were wide range of age differences among students in a level. For example, I was in my senior high when I was in high level, among my friends were junior high or even college students. We called each other by names.

I didn’t have lots of prizes there. Never been in any ranking concerts. I finished the highest grade at the same year I finished high school. When I finally made it, I told myself, so, this is it all? Thirteen years were finally having its end. No more pressures and sleepless nights of practising. I should be happy. But then, what had been those thirteen years actually doing to me other than giving me a piece of certificate stating I graduated the highest level with judisium B?

I found the answers right after I entered college. Those thirteen years started showing me its real impacts in the real life other than music. I saw how it made me slightly different above others. This was nothing about being proud. I signed a contract to be a teacher in one of the famous music school in the first years of college. I was 19.

Being unpopular students during my school years shocked me a bit when I suddenly became ‘quite popular’ during college. More pleasantly, I was known for my abilities first than the look,haha! I was known for one of those student who nailed the English proficiency test and scored enough to get a straight A without having to attend the class, and the one who played piano well enough to be a teacher in a music school, thus I was financially more independent than any others student.

I often felt didn’t believe myself for having so much advantages in my college years. All of those mostly thanks to the thirteen years I had been through in YPM. Hardwork, patience, persistence, the courage to strive the best and never give up no matter how low your position was, falling apart, dissapointments, and then stood up once again, I learned those all from there.

All the job interviews I had, I nailed it thanks to this place. Thirteen years doing music school was surely something for others. None of the interviews I had, left this music talking behind. It impressed those interviewers in whatever kind of job I applied. I even once being interviewed for almost two hours just because talking about the piano course. Even more, the first real talk with le husband also happened because of this.

I always have confidence in doing paper test. But, talking face to face was never be my favorite. Then I finally knew, those thirteen years happened for helping with this.

My dad had to spend some days waiting for me at the music school until midnight during my high level exam practise, or he sent me first at 7 pm then came back to fetch me at 12 am. Yes, 12 am. Either weekdays or weekend. My mum spent almost the whole through years sent me back and forth for my usual schedule.

Now, I spend my days taking care of my father for the past four years after my mum left. Thanks to this place, I am able to be present for my father in his old days, as well as my mother’s last days. The flexibility makes me able to do those things.

Amazing how it touched all things in my life, wasn’t it?

Phew, it’s quite a long story.

It is still raining outside and the traffic must be bad out there. Luckily, I am sitting comfortably at home with my baby. It is not because I have to. It’s more because I choose to. The thirteen years spent on that school allowed me to have the choice I choose right now.

Instead of working a whole day, a whole week in far away places from home, it gave me few hours working time, in some few days to my choices, in the nearest place one could afford. Like, five minutes walking from home, perhaps?

When people said I was so lucky, maybe I am. I was lucky enough to have all the support and chance to survive in that tough jungle.

If maybe there are some parents reading this, shall I suggest you to invest some money in this place when your child wants to learn music? It would be even better to support them all the way until they finish it. The road is surely rocky and bumpy, but the top view is worth all the pain. For a long time. Longer, better, and greater than you can imagine.

My mum once said :

” I am having hard times leaving you behind when we moved to another province outside Java while you were only a junior high school student. I often wondered whether it was worthy enough for a mere piano school. It turned out I did the right thing. It was one of my best decisions I made for you.”

I couldn’t agree more to everything she said. I owe this place for so many best things happened in my life.

I am beyond grateful for such great thirteen years journey and a chance to be once a part of its family.

Posted in Langit Senja, Maternité, Thoughts

On Baby’s Weight and Achievement

The title might sound unrelated, but let see how it goes.

So, I’ve been pretty anxious about the baby’s weight for the last two months. Actually, this weight stuff has been my constant concern since early days. I didn’t know back then that I will keep worrying about this until now.

I once wrote that Langit is more to height than weight. There were several times that I was really working hard to increase her weight. One of them was the last two months. I’ve been checking her weight on manual scale at home but it didn’t show any significant progress. Whenever I put her there, it showed the same spot. Then, after that, I kept increasing her meal portion, snack, in short, any intaked she could have.

Since we had no vaccine schedules for the last two months, so I didn’t do visit at all. Alhamdulillah, Langit has been healthy too. Along these seventeen months, never we visit pediatrician other than  for vaccine schedule. So for the last two months, I really had no idea how the weight was doing and it made me pretty anxious.

I intended to buy digital scale few days ago so we could have the exact number at home without having to visit the hospital. But, then I forgot. Until today, I have been planning this and that all night.

I called Century whether they had the digital device or not and they said they had it. I have checked it online, but I am not really keen on online shopping, so I didn’t buy it. I just needed to know the price. But, when I heard the price that Century had, it was pretty shocking since the number was almost ten times higher. I knew I wasn’t crazy enough to buy such expensive digital scale just because I was afraid to visit hospital.

I went for exercise then unusually went straight home. It was very fortunate that I decided to do grocery shopping yesterday. Arrived home, the baby was still sleeping so I had time to wash, had lunch, and prepare Langit’s too. When I finished those all, the baby woke up.

I still hesitated about the hospital visit until the very last minute. I wasn’t scared about the doctor nor the hospital. They were all very nice. It was the weight result that scared me most.

Anyone can think I am exaggerating. Anyone can think that weight is just a number and there are lots of other more important things than just worrying about weight. I myself  agree about that. I keep talking to myself that she is healthy in spite of her weight. She moves actively, eats well, sleeps well, good motoric skills, and so on. But,I can’t help worrying still.

I can’t ignore the WHO growth development. Whatever my opinion says, the curve won’t lie. It shows the real evidence about how actually the baby is doing in real numbers. Constant weight is something that I should be aware of.

A baby should at least achieve certain increasing number every month. It shows her health status. Whatever evidences I stated above will sound more like denials if I don’t pay attention to this.

Okay, back to the today’s scene. So, I checked on her crib, tidied it up, breastfed her and called the hospital for registration. When it’s done, I changed her clothes then mine, then I booked an online taxi. This online taxi app is such a big help. The hospital was close enough from my home, but I couldn’t drive by myself with the baby. So, this online taxi is really genius idea. It is comfortable, simple with reasonable price.

Arrived at the hospital, surprisingly we got a big number like 13. It was a bit unusual. Went to the first floor and the nurse asked to measure the baby’s weight, height, and head circumstances. My heart was beating fast when the baby stepped on the scale. Remembering exactly a month ago, my heart broke too bad after seeing the number this scale showed before polio vaccine. Remembering how it ruined a whole day and weekend for me.

I really couldn’t believe what I saw when the number stopped changing. Was it real? Really? Cincaaa??

It showed me 700 grams increase since last month!!!

She had polio shot on March 12, today is April 12. It is exactly a month. Above one year, a baby is expected to gain 200-250 grams per month ideally. We had 700 grams! Wohooooo!!

The time when I saw the new number, it felt like a really big burden lifted from my heart. It felt like every single thing that I have done was nicely paid. And, to be assured that this scale at our home is obviously broken.

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Never once I thought before that such simple thing can feel like a biggest achievement. Never thought before I could be this happy with just a mere 700 grams of a person weight. Feels like I have accomplished something so great. Whatever people say, this thing matters for me. Maybe some part of motherhood is about being happy about whatever your baby achieves. No matter how small it is.

I have been taking care the baby alone most of the time. From the time she wakes up until the very moment she asleeps. I prepared every single meals, snacks, feeding her for hours, clean everything after that, playing and doing things with her, all without any other human being help daily. So, I won’t be too ashamed to claim and say : this is my achievement. No one shall take credits for this.

I hope we will continue doing well and I won’t let myself loosen tou.much after this.

Ah, I also found out my review about the hospital on this blog was displayed nicely there.

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So happy to see this.

Today deserves a big shout of Alhamdulillah to thank everything happened. ALHAMDULILLAH!

Thank you for that bloody 700 grams which made my day.

Posted in Favorite things, Thoughts

Puasa Sunnah, Menyusui, dan Olahraga

Hm, seperti biasa, kalo mau nulis dalam bahasa Indonesia, yang paling pertama dilakukan adalah ketik hapus ketik hapus. Susah cari kalimat pertama yang pas. Sedangkan kalo versi Inggrisnya bisa kebayang beberapa kalimat. Aneh tapi nyata.

Ini bukan review, tapi kenapa dalam bahasa Indonesia? Semua tulisan saya yang dalam bahasa Indonesia itu karena satu hal : Pernah pengen tau (banget) tapi ngga ketemu. Makanya kenapa nulis review tentang melahirkan di Sam Marie, DSAnya, dan beberapa review lain.

Sama seperti orang lain, saya juga sering cari tau tentang hal yang mau saya pilih atau jalankan. Kalo seandainya sudah ada dan banyak, saya ngga merasa perlu untuk nulis, seperti resep MPASI, hehe. Semua review yang saya tulis jelas karena saya ngga ketemu satupun yang cerita tentang hal tersebut.

Sama halnya dengan judul di atas. Saya pernah obrak-abrik google dengan berbagai kata kunci tentang ibu menyusui yang tetap puasa sunnah, dan ditambah lagi juga olahraga. Mau tau seberapa besar pengaruh puasa dan olahraga, dimana yang satu tidak mengkonsumsi energi sedangkan yang lainnya mengeluarkan energi yang lumayan, terhadap proses menyusui. Kenapa puasa sunnah?

Tentang puasa Ramadhan jelas sudah banyak dibahas. Haditsnya pun ada. Bahwa ibu hamil dan menyusui memiliki keringanan untuk tidak berpuasa dan menggantinya dengan membayar fidyah. Tapi, banyak orang yang lupa, sepemahaman saya, dari belajar ngaji, untuk ibu hamil dan menyusui itu juga harus mengganti puasa Ramadhannya karena sifatnya wajib dan pada dasarnya mereka bukan orang tua yang lemah. Cuma, kayanya banyak yang beranggapan bahwa dengan bayar fidyah, hutang lunas. Tapi lagi, mungkin bisa jadi saya yang salah.

Tahun 2014, bulan Ramadhan jatuh di bulan Juli dan pada saat itu saya hamil lima bulan. Itu awal pertama saya cari-cari tentang puasa dan hamil. Ternyata cukup banyak yang bisa, tapi umumnya banyak yang menyarankan untuk tidak kalau masih trimester pertama karena biasanya ada mual, dan hal lain.

Alhamdulillah, saya pada saat itu ada di trimester dua, yang memang benar paling nyaman. Makan enak, badan belum bengkak, tidur masih nyenyak, kerja juga masih enak, bisa nyetir kemana2 sendiri dengan nyaman karena perut belum bersinggungan dengan setir. Pokoknya nyaman deh.

Dengan berbekal rasa nyaman itu, akhirnya saya mutusin bismillah puasa. Hasilnya? Alhamdulillah 30 hari tanpa bolong. Ngga bilang gampang juga sih, tapi jauh dari susah. Seperti tahun-tahun sebelumnya, keluarga saya cuma break sehari. Setelah itu langsung lanjut puasa Syawal, kalo ngga punya hutang. Oya, mungkin ada yang ikut pendapat puasa Syawal boleh duluan biarpun punya hutang puasa Ramadhan karena Syawal cuma bisa sebulan sedangkan ganti puasa Ramadhan bisa sepanjang tahun sampai Ramadhan berikutnya.

Keluarga saya dan beberapa ustad yang saya ikuti ngga sepakat dengan yang di atas. Bereskan dulu hutang yang wajib baru mulai yang sunnah. Jadi, kalau pas punya hutang, saya akan bayar hutang dulu baru puasa Syawal, yang berarti semua dilakukan di bulan Syawal.

Bisa menyelesaikan puasa Ramadhan 30 hari dalam keadaan hamil buat saya pengen lanjut ke puasa Syawal, seperti biasa. Alhamdulillah lagi, enam hari, tidak berturut-turut, selesai. Oya, sebelumnya, selama hamil saya juga tetap puasa sunnah senin kamis.

Pada akhirnya, kita harus juga tahu kapan harus berhenti. Ketika saya keluar flek di enam bulan kehamilan, saya memutuskan untuk berhenti dulu puasa senin-kamis.

Rencananya, setelah nifas selesai, saya berniat untuk memulai kembali puasa sunnah. Supaya ngga terlalu lama absen. Mulai kembali itu ngga mudah. Apalagi bukan wajib. Semakin lama absen, akan makin sulit untuk mulai lagi.

Tapi, yah, rencana tinggal rencana. Kenyataannya, saya dihadapkan sama berbagai hal yang menghalangi rencana tersebut. Dimulai dari Mbak Wi yang tiba-tiba keluar, ganti asisten baru, yang sangat berpengaruh bukan cuma ke saya tapi juga ke Langit yang berat badannya naik ngga sesuai chart. Ditambah Pak Dokter yang waktu itu harus dinas luar sebulan, dan masih banyak hal lain yang sudah saya tulis di post Ini. Saat itu akhirnya saya memutuskan buat mulai puasa lagi setelah Langit selesai ASIX.

Olahraga punya cerita lain. Sejak SMA saya biasa ikut kelas aerobik dan Body Language di salah satu tempat khusus perempuan. Awalnya diajak ibu dan lama-lama jadi suka banget karena selalu ngerasa happy abis olahraga. Biarpun cuma sejam, tapi buat saya sangat menyenangkan. Salah satu obat patah hati yang cukup manjur juga waktu masih ngga jelas sama pak dokter.
*lho?kok jadi curhat.

Biarpun sempat berenti mulai berenti mulai, tapi selalu balik kesana buat olahraga karena ngerasa paling cocok sama kelas ini. Saya ngga suka olahraga luar kaya lari, atau tempat yang rame kaya gym. Setelah nikah, sempet berhenti sebentar lalu mulai lagi, sampe akhirnya saya tahu kalo saya hamil. Awal-awal hamil masih olahraga. Makin gede, akhirnya berentin dulu.

Kalo puasa saya putusin untuk ditunda, olahraga tidak. Dua bulan abis melahirkan saya balik ke kelas lagi, seminggu sekali karena cuma itu waktu yang mungkin. Pertama kali masuk kelas lagi, agak horor liat badan yang kaya ikan paus. Celana olahraga yang biasa ngga muat. Duhh, seremmm. Ngga nyaman banget liatnya. Pengen nambah hari, tapi ngga memungkinkan. Sedangkan menyusui sangat bikin laper. Jadi, yah, seminggu sekali itu udah maksimal yang saya bisa usahain.
Ramadhan 2015 itu jatoh di awal Juli. Saya sudah mutusin puasa juga karena Langit sudah mulai MPASI biarpun masih awal. Saya pikir, hamil aja bisa 30 hari, insya Allah yang ini ngga akan lebih berat. Di Ramadhan ini juga saya break olahraga.

Ternyata, saya salah. Puasa sambil menyusui dan ngurus bayi sendiri  yang udah mulai makan itu jauhhh lebih berat. Di atas jam 12, saya sudah setengah kehausan sekali, dan waktu maghrib energi hampir ngga ada sisa. Karena Langit menyusui langsung secara intens, rasanya kalo udah di atas jam 12 jadi agak takut sendiri. Langitnya pun beneran agak rewel. ASI nya tetap keluar tapi mungkin ngga sederas biasa. Sempat kepikiran untuk batal, tapi saya ngga yakin. Bukan tega sama anak, atau egois, tapi saya ngerasa itu bukan solusi.

Alhamdulillah, saya dikasih break seminggu karena mens. Itu pertama kalinya saya mens lagi setelah melahirkan. Jadi, selama saya menyusui ASI eksklusif saya ngga mens sama sekali. Biasanya, saya agak sedih kalo mens pas Ramadhan, tapi ini saya agak bersyukur. Selesai Ramadhan, biasanya langsung Syawal. Tapi, karena punya hutang, jadi bayar hutang dulu bareng yang lain puasa Syawal.

Kalo di Ramadhan saya bilang puasa sambil menyusui itu cukup berat, bayar puasa wajib setelah Ramadhan itu ternyata jauhhh lebih berat. Mungkin bukan sekedar nyusuinnya ya, tapi karena Langit juga udah mulai makan yang mana persiapan makan, makannya sendiri, sangat menguras energi. Apalagi sehari tiga kali. Biasanya.saya nafsu banget nyelesain hutang puasa sesegera mungkin. Kali itu, abis sehari bayar saya langsung mutusin berenti dulu.

Ketika Syawal sudah setengah bulan, hutang saya masih tiga. Akhirnya saya milih untuk ikhlasin puasa Syawal tahun lalu setelah bertaun-taun ngga absen. Saya merasa ngga mampu nyelesain sembilan hari puasa dalam lima belas hari. Sedih.

Lebih sedih lagi, setelah Langit mulai makan, saya ngga bisa ikut kelas olahraga lagi. Ngga seperti gym yang kita bisa datang kapan saja, kelas yang saya ikuti ini punya jadwal tetap. Senin-sabtu pagi jam 08.00-09.00 dan sore jam 18.30-19.30. Hanya itu. Saya ngga mungkin ikut kelas sore karena ada maghrib. Kenapa pagi ngga bisa? Karena makan itu sangat mengkonsumsi waktu. Apalagi masih awal. Saya ngga bisa ngejar jam delapan semua sudah beres.

Saya hanya bisa pergi kalo Langit sudah rapi dan tidur. Karena ngga ada yang bantu ngurus. Kalo dia tidur, saya bisa titip ART yang pulang pergi sebentar. Dari bulan juni, saya resmi resign lagi dari kelas olahraga. Akibatnya, berat saya balik kaya abis melahirkan sebelum olahraga. Balik kaya paus. Nafsu makan pun sangat menggila.

Waktu Langit mendekati setahun, saya mulai gerah. Gerah liat badan, gerah tiap pake celana kok sempit banget bahkan harus beli baru dengan ukuran yang lebih besar. Lingkar pinggang sih ngga gede, tapi paha sama bokongnya ngga bisa nafas. Tiap ngaca juga pengen nangis liatnya.

Saya berniat, begitu Langit setahun, saya akan balik puasa senin- kamis. Olahraga masih ngga ngerti gimana biar bisa keburu. Tapi, yang jelas, puasa harus mulai. Apalagi hutang masih tiga. Belum pernah saya bayar hutang puasa nunda selama itu.

Ternyata, niat aja ngga cukup. Hati musti keras juga. Lewat dua tujuh November, saya tetap belum mulai puasa. Ada aja alesannya yang dibuat. Biarpun hati juga udah mulai terganggu. Mulai sering nyindir, ‘mana?katanya mau puasa?’ Payah ya, hehe.

Saya inget waktu itu ada libur di hari kamis merah, dan rabu malemnya saya niat besok ikut sahur. Bayar. Harus. Udah ngga boleh ditunda lagi. Dan, Alhamdulillah terlaksana. Leganya bukan main. Langkah pertama emang selalu paling berat. Setelah itu saya lunas hutang tiga hari, dan terus bisa lanjut puasa senin kamis sampai sekarang.

Di satu hari bulan desember tahun lalu, saya inget hari selasa, Langit sudah beres makan mandi berjemur dan tidur di jam 07.50. Ketika itu, dengan impulsifnya saya langsung buru-buru ganti baju dan siap-siap berangkat. Kemana? Olahraga. Biarpun tinggal 10 menit sebelum kelas mulai dan tau saya akan terlambat, saya tetap pergi.

Kadang-kadang, keputusan yang baik bisa jadi muncul dari suatu keadaan yang tidak terencana. Sama halnya dengan ini. Hari pertama saya balik ke kelas, senangnga bukan main. Setelah absen enam bulan, saya kangen banget. Pulang ke rumah, kata Mbak Wi, Langit ngga bangun sama sekali.

Di minggu yang sama, hari Jumat saya coba lagi peruntungan saya. Ternyata berhasil lagi. Bahkan saya ikut sejam penuh. Dari sini, saya mulai agak ‘serakah’. Saya pengen untuk seterusnya bisa.seminggu dua kali olahraga.

Tapi, saya ngga mau kalo olahraga buat saya ninggalin Langit gitu aja. Saya mau olahraga dengan tenang dan ngga bebanin orang lain. Akhirnya saya pelajari, Langit bisa tidur ketika sudah kenyang dan cukup cape. Satu lagi, waktu bangun paginya harus lebih awal, supaya dia sudah tidur lagi sebelum jam delapan.

Alhamdulillah sekali, bayi ini sangat pengertian. Dia seakan tau kalo saya mau olahraga. Hampir tiap selasa dan jumat dia bangun sebelum subuh. Untuk bisa keburu jam delapan ikut kelas, Langit harus mulai makan jam lima. Maksimal lima lewat sepuluh. Kok jauh banget? Iya, karena ritual sarapan dia panjang. Pertama, jus. Lalu nasi dan lauk. Selesai itu mandi sambil main di bak. Setelah itu main sebentar di teras sambil makan roti, lalu minum susu UHT 100ml, dan terakhir nyusu sampe tidur.

Saya ngga mau menghilangkan salah satu tahapan itu. Jadi, komprominya ya mulai lebih pagi. Saya ngga keberatan bangun lebih pagi lagi, selama saya bisa olahraga. Alhamdulillah, sampai sekarang, saya hampir ngga pernah absen seminggu dua kali.

Hari ini adalah Jumat tanggal merah karena Jumat agung. Saya.sudah galau dari awal bulan. Merasa sangat rugi sekali  karena Selasa dan Jumat hari saya olahraga. Tempat senam tutup di tanggal merah. Makin dekat hari ini makin ngga rela kalo cuma dapat sekali. Pilihannya tinggal rabu atau kamis. Dua-duanya ngga menguntungkan. Rabu saya kerja siang, kamis puasa. Biarpun hanya sejam, abis senam itu cukup cape dan ngantuk. Belum masih urus Langit lalu kerja sampe sore.

Rabu kemarin ternyata bukan rejeki saya. Hari selasanya internet rumah down yang buat saya makin cranky. Sibuk nelpon 147 berkali-kali. Minta supaya petugas segera dateng. Rabu paginya udah nelponin dari jam lima pagi. Dan, kebetulan Langit bangunnya juga ngga pas buat saya maksain olahraga. Alhamdulillah rabunya petugas dateng dan internetnya kembali lagi sebelum saya berangkat kerja.

Kamis pagi saya setengah niatin mau usahain senam. Langit bangun pas subuh. Agak telat kalo standar waktu yang biasa. Dia baru mulai makan jam 5.30 yang mana beda 20 menit itu sangat jauhh. Tapi, saya tetap niatin mau senam. Oya, saya juga tetap puasa.

Semakin dekat jam tujuh, saya makin liat kemungkinan untuk bisa senam. Makin besar juga kepengen saya. Udah setengah jalan, kalau sampe ngga jadi, kemungkinan saya agak kesel sendiri nantinya. Satu hal yang agak bikin ragu adalah, bisa ngga.ya ini puasa juga, nyusuin masih, dan satu lagi, kamis ini instrukturnya kelas berat. Makanya yang ikut banyakan yang masih muda dibanding ibu-ibu.

Jam 7.40 Langit tidur dan saya langsung siap-siap. Dan, sampe di sana tepat waktu. Ternyata, bisa ikut penuh. Saya skip satu part yang bagian dance karena ngga gitu suka. Lainnya, semua saya ikut sambil menyesuaikan diri juga.

Sisa hari yang saya jalanin sambil tetap puasa, dengan frekuensi menyusui yang biasa, ternyata cukup bisa dijalanin. Saya pun sekaligus mau tes untuk nanti Ramadhan. Alhamdulillah, kemarin saya sukses olahraga, menyusui, dan puasa sekaligus.

Kesimpulan?

Tiga hal judul di atas memungkinkan dilakukan bersamaan dengan berbagai kondisi yang bisa disesuaikan. Seperti misalnya, mau olahraga tapi tetap puasa, harus tau diri juga, jangan terlalu diforsir seperti pada saat ngga puasa. Sudah tau makanin ngga mudah, siapkan makanan yang gampang atau yang bayinya suka jadi ngga terlalu terbebani. Sudah tau ngga ada  yang bantu nyiapin ini itu ya diatur dengan baik supaya kerjaan ngga numpuk dekat waktu buka.

Satu hal yang paling jelas, niat adalah setengah porsi yang membuat segala hal jadi mungkin. Sisanya adalah seberapa besar usaha kita supaya genap menjadi kenyataan.

Selain itu, kalau dipikir, toh ketiganya semua ibadah bukan? Puasa, jelas. Menyusui, jelas juga. Olahraga sekalipun mungkin ngga selevel sama puasa atau menyusui, sehat itu sebagian iman kata hadits. Saya selalu percaya, niat baik dan ibadah itu pasti Allah bantu, tergantung seberapa besar keinginan kita untuk itu.

Ketika langkah pertama sudah diambil dan berhasil, langkah selanjutnya akan jauh lebih ringan (dan dimudahka).

Selamat dicoba!

Selamat libur panjang buat yang merayakan. Saya ngga. Besok kerja, pak dokter jaga sampe hari minggu

Oke, bayi sudah bangun dan ini sudah siang sekali. Semoga hari ini menyenangkan ya!

Posted in Maternité, Thoughts

(Not) Ready for Another Challenge

Life tends to be boring when we are staying too long in the comfort zone. Thus, we always need something new or, for some other things, renewed. As long as we breathe, it’s good to have something that make us feel alive.

Few days ago, little sister came up with pretty shocking yet exciting news. She is going to have another baby in the next few months insya Allah. For someone who just had a c-section for less than a year, she is surely brave. Brave in every way I could think of. But, knowing it is my sister, it is actually not really surprising.

My sister is everything that is totally my opposite. She is one of the most easy going persons I have known. She is truly the one who lives for today. While I am always the one with the long term.plan, she is the one with impulsive plans and flexible preferences. I once said that she enjoys life much more than I do. At least, I do see her like that.

If I almost stay all the time with the baby, except when I am working for few hours, three times a week, she is working full time from Monday-Friday, morning till evening. She has a house helper and a nanny to help her with the chores and babysit the baby. If others are even so hard to find a good one, she has two. Both are very good and kind. Thank God for this one, at least I have a part time house helper who have been with us for almost 20 years. Although I have no one to help me with Langit and the rest of house chores after the helper goes home, for now, it’s been enough.

About pregnancy, my sister had once an easy pregnancy, visited the obgyn happily every month, and even more, she didn’t seem like the one who had been pregnant. She stayed or at least looked as slender as before. Three things that I wasn’t lucky enough to have.

I obviously didn’t have an easy pregnancy. I had blooding once and been hospitalized, I had high d-dimer which made me had to bear the injection for some time, and I was surely anxious everytime I had obgyn’s appointment. Then, after delivery and breastfeeding, unlike most people, I lost weight too slowly.

About breastfeeding, it went the same too. I had been struggling with breastfeeding in the first two months and it had an impact to Langit’s weight. Had been working so hard to boost my breast-milk supply so Langit would survive without any other liquid and catched up her weight deficiency.

Au contraire de moi, my sister’s breastfeeding journey has been more smooth. Comparing the first time of breastfeeding, three hours pumping, I only could have 50 ml, while my sister got a full bottle of milk in less than thirty minutes. Full and bold. The first three months, my niece had almost three kilos more weight. She even once had 1,1 kg in a month.

If I list all the differences between us, it will be a very long and endless list. The point here is about her current state which is something that I have been asking questions myself for some time.

Taking care Langit alone for one and half years makes me think thousand times to have another baby. My days are surely not that hard since I still have time to watch korean drama daily, going exercise twice a week, and even working. But, it is also pretty far from easy.

If I remember how tense the days when I have exercise class or morning working time, it gives me a strong loud and clear voice to scream : this is crazy. Running here and there, doing this and that, just to make sure I haven’t left anything undone so I can leave peacefully. Since I have a lot to be taken care of, while the help is almost unavailable, the only thing I can do is being strict about schedule. It helps a lot so I still can breathe normally.

I can’t make it easier because I am someone who doesn’t let go easily. It means, I won’t use my exercise time as an excuse to cut some of Langit’s breakfast rituals or any of my religious rituals like sunnah prayer or qur’an tilawah. It’s nothing about showing off, but I always think if I want more good things on my hand, I have to use my brain to keep the old good things going.

I use that logic about the idea of having another baby. You don’t get rid the first one when you want to have another one, right? If I want  another one, I have to make sure the first one will be as well as before the second one comes. I can’t stand the thought of neglecting my first because I am busy with the second.

Spending time daily with Langit opens my eyes about how much things the baby needs to learn and mothering is surely one tough job. That is why I choose to be a part time teacher. Because I have signed up for a full time position as a mother, of one. I don’t feel I will be doing good to add more title to my jobs, for now.

Knowing that my sister is currently on the way to be a mother of two insya Allah, shaken me up, a little bit. Maybe this is the first time she goes through something earlier than I do. Feeling competitive? Maybe yes. She is younger yet she is courageous enough to face another new challenge.

One of my biggest fear is about the ticking clock. I am not getting any younger, and who knows for how much longer I can stay by my daughter side. Maybe I think too much, worry a lot, or plan too detailed until I let time just pass me by and left me without any progress. Then, without I realize, there comes the time when I will regret about thinking too much instead of executing, and I can’t go back. At all.

This thing will surely keep haunting me in the near future. But for now, I choose to play along with the questions until my heart says the decision. I don’t know when, but it’s pretty sure, the whole parts of my body and mind are surely not ready for another challenge in my life. More, I think we as a family, also are not ready for another new member. In every aspects. That’s a very strong and valid reason to say no.

Well, then let’s keep rolling until we hit the right time!

Posted in Thoughts

About Father

“A father is the first man you’ll know, the first one you’ll love. You have a good one and he’ll forever be the standard against which you will compare with very other man you will ever meet. You get a not so good one and you’ll find urself always either searching for what he never gave u, or running away from the memory of him.”
– A Leap of Faith (dimsumofallthings)

I obviously don’t talk about my father as much as my mother. Maybe because I was close to my mother more than to my father. The past relationship with my father was not as good as the one with my mom. I often felt that I was his least favorite from three of us. I remembered having some disagreements with him. Like my decision to become a teacher after graduate or took a master degree in education. I was always team mama than team papa.

Apart from those things, I really like him as a man. He is clever, handsome, goals oriented, detailed, compassionate, and hardworking. He was once a father we were afraid of during our childhood. But, as we were growing up he became very much softer.

My best relationship with him started since my mother went. Even better after my sister married and left home. Took care my mum during her last days intensely made me grew fonder of him. Thinking that he also deserves the best ones I did to my mom.

If someone asked one thing I want to follow from him is about financial. Since few years ago, I have set my long-term financial goal. I want to be as rich as him.

He doesn’t own any companies, nor lots of properties, nor blue chips stocks, nor the high position in government institutions. But, he is financially settled until the point of never ever he refuses even once, as far as I know, whenever someone asked his help for money. Whoever they are.

He just gave them easily. More admiringly, he even doesn’t bother to remember how much he has lent to them. Do you think it’s one or two millions? Nope. He once gave (lent) several of my mum relatives hundred millions to build up houses few years ago. Until today, he hasn’t received any single penny of return. Does he care? Not really.

Although he is retired now, he is still be able to travel here and there, goes to a lot of places, stays in good hotels, enjoys lots of good food. In short, giving a lot doesn’t stop him from enjoying the best thing money can do. He has prepared well for retirement and enough savings for it. I know for sure, he doesn’t have much worry for money for the rest of his life. I want to live like that.

I am lucky enough to be one who has been taking care of him for few these years back. Taking care of your parents in their old age is not a responsibility. It’s very much an honour.

Well, Happy Birthday, Papa! I wish you health and all the best thing for the rest of your life. I might seem not giving you much credits here, but, you won’t know how much grateful I have been to be born as your daughter. Thank your for your best effort raising three of us, providing all the best thing a child needs.

But,please, can you just stop eating durian too much so you can stop whining of having high blood pressure? Is it even corelated? I don’t know. But still, just stop it.

With much love,

Your fussy daughter.

Posted in Past learning, Thoughts

Real Life-Ready

Wednesday is a working day which I always go by walk since the workplace is only five minutes away from home. To have your source to earn money that close is such a luxury, knowing you live in one of the city with the worst traffic jam in the world.

My mind wandered whenever I walked home after work. Unlike the departure which I often do in a rush, going home was more relax. I took small and slow walks while looking at the sunset sky. Today’s topic was related to small conversations I had with my first student today.

Before lesson, she told me that she almost didn’t come for the lesson. When I asked why she answered because no one could escort her to the course place and her mom forbid her to walk alone. For additional informations, she was a six grader and her school was just three minutes walk from the course.

If I were not a mother when I heard her story, my first reaction would be, “seriously? You would miss the class JUST BECAUSE your mom didn’t allow you walked alone from your three minutes away school to this place?”
Then I would continue bashing here and there alone in my mind.

But, the reality is I am now a mother, so instead of saying those words above, my answered was, ” Ah, I see. So, how did you manage to get here?”. She said lucky there was a friend whose car could send her here so she didn’t miss today’s lesson.

I suddenly remembered my mother (again). Remembered what she did to me twenty until eightheen years ago. She left me with my grandmother when my dad was appointed to other province outside Java. She took the other two moved and left me here.

Reasons? I went to the best junior high school here which the way to be there was not easy at all, and another unexpected circumstance happened. I passed the grade six piano exam in YPM. Those two reasons were bold enough for my mum to left me here alone.

Was I happy? Not really. I had to move to my grandma’s house and had a very much further distance to school and the music school. It took about 15 minutes from home to my school and 20 minutes to the music school. Moved to my grandma’s house made the number almost four times bigger.

Not only the distance, the means of transportations were totally different. I used a pick up car to send me to and from the school before,while mostly my mom or dad sent me to the music school. Either by public transportation or by car. But, it didn’t matter. The route was easy.

When I lived in my grandma’s, I had to go an hour earlier to school so I could catch the bus before it was too crowded. I went with the bus from where it started until its last stop. Then, I should continue with another small bus to the school. I often had to stand all the way. It was hot and tired. Even more, for the next bus, I had to fight with lots of people to get a seat because it was office hours.

The bus driver prefered to take the workers than schoolers because of fare difference. I clearly remembered how I hated those morning routine. I arrived school with such exhausted state, full of sweat and absolutely with almost zero spirit. If only those eye-candy seniors didn’t exist, I didn’t know what else could improve my daily bad mood every morning.

So, I went to school facing those struggle, wouldn’t it be fair the back home trip was easier? Sadly, not.

The back home route was pretty different. It was a bit easier because it wasn’t office hour. BUT,the problem is there was only one bus who had direct route to my grandma’s area, and it came every AN HOUR. I had alternative choices, by taking small buses, but I had to change four times until I arrived in front of the gate.

I just realize where one of my golden rule came from. I chose the same thing about bus and man. No matter how long it would take, I prefered waiting for the one who took me directly to my destination. Although I had to wait longer, it didn’t matter because it was more comfortable with the air con and I could enjoy the big and spacey seat all by myself. Of course a bit pricey, but it was worth it. Changing from one to another was, is, and will never be my style.

I spent time sitting on the bus shelter while watching the cars passed by. No mobile phone with internet was available to make the waiting more enjoyable. I waited religiously, couldn’t help being so sleepy and even slept by sitting.

When the bus was already on my sight, I stood up and ran toward it, waved my hands hard to make sure I was visible enough for such a huge bus. I slept through all the way on the bus. Once missed the bus because the driver didn’t saw me coming, I was crying hard. Like a stupid person. Went back sitting on the bus shelter repeated the waiting for the next bus. For a fourteen years old girl, that time life felt so hard. And unfair.

The back home trip from the music school was nothing easy too. For me, I disliked it more than the morning trip to the school. It was because I had to go to terminal to get the bus home. It was a bit scary since I finished my lesson after maghrib. Even worse, this one bus was non air con and it walked soooo slowly because it didn’t have many passengers. So, it stopped every few meters to wait for passenger. Everytime it stopped, I really felt like crying thinking for how much longer until I would be really home. The piano lesson was already hard, this back home trip made it even harder.

If above the fourteen years old girl felt life was hard and unfair, here she would add two words : scary and frustrating. So, hard, unfair, scary, and frustrating, it was.

Things got a bit better when in one day I used my head and eyes to look at things during the morning trip to the school instead of sleeping. I realized that the bus passed an alternative route to my school, from the opposite direction. If I stopped in one of the shelter, I only had to walk few meters until I met that small bus to my school. It was the same bus, with opposite direction, which means, very very less passengers.
Even better, there were a lot of it! Since it came from the other direction, it didn’t stopped  exactly in front of the school. I had to use crossing bridge once more. But, who cares?

This new route invention totally changed my life, and my cousin. I went to school with my cousin brother together when he went for work. I was so excited waiting for tomorrow to try this new route. I

I went at the same time like usual, then took the bus. If before, it was a very long route, this time, I was only being in the bus not more than 15 minutes. Walked to the small bus stop where one of it was already waiting for me, then once I boarded, no more waiting. The traffic was very very nice. I stopped then I was crossing the bridge happily. If the old route it took me one and half an hour until I arrived at school, with this new one, it only took forty minutes. It reduced half time of the trip and tripled the happiness. I said goodbye to the sweaty, bad mood, exhausted girl in the morning. Those eye candy seniors even looked so much better.

—————————–

I reflected and compared how different parents these days with those old ones. While my student’s mom would not even allow her twelve years old daughter walk alone to such very close distance from her school, her teacher’s mom left a fourteen years old daughter alone, and let her conquered all part of the capital city by herself during her morning trip to the school. Before I found the new route, I started from the west Jakarta, passed the central, south, then east, and back to the south. North was only part that I missed. I went through it every morning.

I wondered a lot, how could my mother left her teenage-puberty age daughter alone, being parted hundred thousands kilometers away, just because some school and courses reason?

This question wasn’t asked in any cynical or harsh way. It was more in astonished way. How she could have such heart and boldness to do that. If I were her, I couldn’t imagine leaving Langit alone with le husband’s mother. Whatever it takes, I prefer her being close to me. Whenever I encounter this kind of question in my motherhood, I really wish she were here in person to answer this. I desperately want to know why and how.

Still during the walking yesterday, I tried to figure out any possible answers. One of them was maybe because it was me. She had the courage to do that because the child is me. I was a mature kid since elementary. Thanks to the three years in kindergarten, once I entered elementary, I was more than ready to study. I had played enough in kindy. I studied diligently at school and at home. I loved it. Once I went home, the first thing I did wad arranging tomorrow lessons books in my bag. I shared learning desk with my sister and one could really tell which was whose by looking at the the state of the desk. One messy part and one tidy part.

Unlike my sister who was more carefree, easy going, and rebelious, which I often viewed that she enjoyed life much better than me, I was serious, dicipline, and truly lived by the rules. Maybe that was the reason why my mom was brave enough to leave me here alone. She might knew I wouldn’t go here and there after school, she might be sure, although it was hard for me, I wouldn’t skip any piano lessons when she wasn’t there. She might believe I wouldn’t spend my monthly allowance carelessly knowing how much I liked saving, haha!

But then, she was right if she really thought all those things. I was what she had thought above.

I once visited my family during holiday and I was very surprise to see how different the life my siblings had with mine. As my father was a head of a government institution in that particular province, they lived very comfortably. The big house, two house assistants, one gardener, and a driver. My siblings went to school by car with the driver when their schools were just few minutes away from home. They left fifteen minutes before the school started. My sister once said, she even left five minutes before sometimes. They had their tennis lesson twice a week, went to the beach every week and enjoyed all those delicious saefood after swimming.

No wonder that fourteen years old girl considered life was unfair. While her brother and sister lived a fairy tale life like a little prince and princess, she lived the real life as an ordinary people.

Despite the hard times I had been going through, I really want my child(ren) to be a real-life ready person once they are coming of age. For who and what I am being good at now, full credit goes to my mother. Thanks to all her decisions on me and my life,  I proudly say I have been a real-life ready person since a very young age.

Thanks to her persistence, I earned my own money by working in a good music school since my first year of college. I paid my own phone bills, room rent, and more savings. Thanks to her boldness, I didn’t have any chance of nagging money to the parents experience, because I had earned more than enough on my own.

College was the highlight of my school years. All those hard times in junior and senior high school, and let’s not leave the thirteen years of music school behind, it were all truly paid off in my college years. I had the spotlight when I was more than mentally ready. It was good and it felt coming at the right time. It was the spotlight who found me, not because I was looking and trying hard to have it. It was a result of something.

I wondered if it is possible to have such result without going through those hardships and bad times for my baby.

I know the answer. But I just don’t have any idea if I could.

So many homeworks and hardworks to take, aren’t it?

I hope I am that real-life ready to make another human being even a better and tougher real-life ready person.

Because the world my child will live in later will probably be much harder, scarier, unfair, and more frustrating.

Being easy won’t help much. Some hardships will help her later to live easier, more fun, and enjoyable.

But, first thing first, I have to prepare myself to face those hard, scary, and frustrating life once again. This time, it will be harder since I had to deal with the one who has secret weapons to weaken my heart at any time in the name of love.

End of lesson.

Posted in Thoughts

A Letter to Birthday Mom

Chére Maman,

Comment-vas tu? Ça va? Je crois tu vas bien. Trés bien.

I just finished my subuh prayer after preparing breakfast. We were having your famous coffee shack and mbak wi’s crepes. Langit is still sleeping, oh well, she is up then, but still on her crib.

I am doing well, and no. Well enough to survive while not really well because I have been complaining (a lot) too. I often question my self for many things happen, even more for things that will happen. It’s quite hard to find someone who is suitable enough to talk about everything in my mind. I talked to my husband, but still, I need someone who has been once went through what I am currently going through.

Although I believe if you were still here we wouldn’t have a very smooth coversation, but at least I could hear what you say. Sometimes, it gives me headache questioning lots of things then self-finding the answers without any other’s insights. Beside, you were the one who was almost right, weren’t you?:)

I’d learn watching you and dad the fact that marriage wasn’t easy. Even when you’re married to someone you want and want you, it doesn’t make it easier. Remember there were times I asked you why we should be married? Why we had children? Even the younger me had been a bit scared of it.

Scared of what? Not because the marriage itself, but the fear of not having at least the one that you had. Dealing with these household and baby stuff daily, mostly alone, make me wonder a lot how you manage to survive with us three. More, how you did it very well.

I often yell to my baby, feel so worn out, frustrated, and hate myself for having so little patience. Having a child is surely a great blessing, but like the superman’s uncle said, with great blessing, comes a great responsibility. Okay, plural form. Responsibilities. It’s lots of works.

Sometimes, I feel so lazy waking up early in the morning, preparing breakfast for everyone, then preparing Langit’s stuff, dealing with feeding tasks all day (which I dislike, hm, much?), and so on until night. I miss the old days when I had finished breakfast, I could have more sleep, or just lazing around.

Sometimes, I wonder what if the wedding really cancelled when you were hospitalised just two weeks before the date. Do you remember? I told you I didn’t mind postponing it until you were well enough so you could attend. You know what, I was halfly sincere saying that. Other half wasn’t just because I was afraid that others would pity us and both of you and dad would be embraced. We kept going because you told us to proceed. One ‘no’ from you, I really stopped it, no matter what.

I have never been doing really well when it comes to relationship. One of the things I do badly is dealing with other’s feeling. I am lazy, you know. I am happy being with myself alone. Four years with a man that you once didn’t agree with and later you finally said yes since he was so persistent and determined, doesn’t erase those facts. There were times I felt so hard while doing this. Wonder if I could survive. Wonder how strong I will be to face things ahead.

I am writing this while watching my husband bathing Langit. One thing I am so grateful here, he’s very handy when it comes to the baby’s task. Bathing, feeding, babysitting, waking up at night, and others.

I wish I could be saying all of this while snuggling into your arm and hiding inside a blanket so you wouldn’t see my face whining.

I should be going now, continue doing the chores. You know what, korean drama are getting better and better these days. It’s my favorite me-time of the day. Thank you for teaching me that, haha. Send my kissess to neski, bapu, om eko, and kakek cawang.

Oh, and Happy Birthday. I miss you.

Posted in Maternité, Past learning, Thoughts

I Reap What She Had Sown

It’s Thursday night here and I just finished my daily shift after putting Langit to her bed. I have been replaying a scene in my head. Once again, it’s about my mother.

I can’t never get enough talking about her. While some people out there keep telling me something about her in any ways I couldn’t think of.

I was in a gas station few days ago and suddenly the man who helped me there asked me how was life. It took me by surprise and pretty confused. Didn’t feel knowing this person before. Answered him hesitantly, he then continued explaining something.

So, he said that he knew my mother since few years before she died. He said that he once helped my mother when she was donating food for ifthar to a mosque nearby his place. It ended up that my mom helped him too, but I didn’t ask furthermore. How did he know that I am my mom’s daughter? I was the one who drove my mom to the mosque.

As he spoke in a very kind manner about my mom’s kindness, I couldn’t help feeling so proud and admiring how she could do that until everyone seem to remember her this well. On the other side, it made me a bit sad too because she really made the standard became higher and higher.

What standard?

The one to be a great mother. As well as a person.

I didn’t say she was great just because she is my mother. Too many things prove that she was. The very first thing that proved the statement was what I saw during the day she died until the time she was buried.

Unlike my father who once had high position in government office, my mum was nothing like that. She was ‘just’ a teacher. A french teacher at France culture centre. But, on the day she died, the residence’s securities told my family that they were handling too many flower boards until they didn’t know where to put it. My house had been very crowded. People came and go and they didn’t just came and go. They sat next to her body and read yassin for her. My aunt said there hadn’t been any breaks that she was without companion who read yassin for her.

I once wrote about this in more details. So I won’t repeat. But, I want to say that I want to die like that. I want to live like that so I deserve to die like that. Like my mom.

After Langit came, I almost always replay back lots of things happened in the past with my mum. It was such a blessing that she was a very talkactive mother. It gave me vivid memories in my head since she often repeated lots if things she taught us.

I surely want that someday Langit will see me the way I see my mother. But I guess I really have to work so much harder than my mother. Why? Because Langit will never see the real situation between me and my mother.

It makes a big difference. I had  chances to see my mom and grandma’s interaction for 27 years. I knew my grandma in person very well, I saw how my mum treated her mom passionately, how my mum was so devoted to my grandma and so many things.

Sadly, Langit won’t have that chance. Actions always speak louder than words, but since it is impossible to have the real actions, writing this is the only way I could ever think of. Hoping that she could feel the way I felt about my mum.

For the past four years, I have been living with the help from those who had a good impression on my mother. This is so true. I often feel like I am receiving lots of returns from others’ investments.

Whenever I came or met someone who had known my mom, those person really made everything easier just because of my mom’s.action in the past. Her body might not be present, but her kindness stays and keep going through over the years.

It teaches me that the result of being a good parent is something beyond what eyes could see and brain could ever think of. I am not sure that my mom thought about her children whenever she did all those good things to others. I bet she also didn’t expect that her little actions brought so many advantages for her daughter in the future. Even after she was no longer here.

Her absence makes me often feel insecure. Not about me, but more about Langit. Wonder if Langit can really get enough good examples of great mother from (mostly) me alone.

I have been working hard for these past months after Langit came, doing and taking care almost everything alone, and still continue hardworking and hoping that one day, Langit will memorize what she sees and keep it for a long time. Then, there will be time when she will proudly say that she surely has a very good example from her mother.

You know what, that is one of my ultimate parenting goals. To have recognition from my own child(ren) that I have been doing well as (t)he(i)r mother.

I am working hard for it because I am paying something forward. I enjoy reaping things from every good deeds that my mother sowed. As I always believe there’s no such free lunch in this world, paying it forward seems to be a good payment.

It is surely a rocky journey. I might fall, feel tired, and really want to quit and let this goal gone by. But, I will keep looking back and cheer my self to keep going.

Motherhood is a journey worths all of your best efforts until the end.

I am 1000% into it.

Posted in Maternité, Thoughts

Before and After Motherhood

I was having breakfast this morning and suddenly laughed at myself. Laughing at the state I had my breakfast in the last one year compared to the old days. Then, felt like writing about some changes I have experienced before and after motherhood. A huffpost parent-ish one. (You wish).

Before motherhood, breakfast done peacefully. Sitting on the chair, sipping the hot tea slowly, enjoying every bite of my chocolate sprinkles bread. The tea must be hot. Hot as boiled. Not warm. I remade it if it was no longer boiled.

After motherhood, well, breakfast almost always done in rush . Standing while doing other chores. Sipping my almost cold tea (my standard of cold is like warm for others) and biting the chocolate sprinkles bread, all done while going back and forth preparing other’s breakfast.

Before motherhood, eating good food was all about myself. While after that, whenever I taste something good, the first thing came into my mind was the thought of my baby would like this one. Then if possible, I would cut the best part for her to eat later.

Before motherhood, after working shopping was done at least twice a month. Buying this and that for myself. Enjoying no matter how long it took then went home without any worries as if someone waited at home. I just simply told my mum that I went shopping first before went home.

After motherhood, alas, the last thirty minutes of working spent by looking non-stop at the watch. Couldn’t wait a minute longer and ran home in an instant. Felt like few seconds late would make so much differences. Sounds so exaggerate, but that was me during the first months of my motherhood.

On the shopping part, buying something for the baby now is giving much more happiness than buying for myself. Trying new pair jeans and suddenly staring at cute little shoes, then in the end, put back the jeans and went to the cashier with a pair of new baby shoes and some toys. Just like that. Surprisingly, felt no less happier.

Before motherhood, a small cute sling back was enough for me whenever I went out. A wallet, mobile phone, and praying dress were all I brought everywhere. No more no less.

After motherhood, having those three left at home won’t cause any panic attack more than leaving changing diapers and clothes, snacks, the meal, even a blender and the chair some days back then.

Before motherhood, the first thing to do once I arrived at home after work was resting and lazing around. Doing this and that slowly, or I just went sleep straightly.

Now? Put down the bag somewhere and transforming into the rabbit energizer battery. Preparing here and there, taking care this and that, changing clothes then proceed to the next tasks. Resting must wait. Unless you want to rest first and be even more tired later.

Before motherhood, I was a full time night sleeper. 9 pm – 4 am. Now, I am doing part time. Having night shift of breastfeeding is unavoidable. Adding more sleep hours? Possible, IF, there were at least one staying helper in this house. Were.

Do those above sound explaining how unpleasant motherhood is?

I don’t mean to. It just points out the truth behind motherhood. It’s not a mere role. It’s a battle that some women willingly choose to fight.

The occasional stress, fatigue, bad days, and any other similar things are surely undeniable. But, it also comes with the happy feeling being with the baby, being present every her waking time, witnessing how fast she grows, and witnessing your self-transformation.

It’s the change I’ve never thought I would become few years ago. The strength I didn’t knew exist inside of me. The limit I’ve never expected to endure until the worst condition came and I safely passed it. Sometimes, with flying colors.

When someone ask me whether I would like to go back to my carefree days, my answer will be very clear. No matter how good the past was, the present and future always seem a better deal for me.

Beside, trading Langit presence with those old good days? Are you kidding me? Hell, NO.

Well, that’s it for now.

Bonne journée, peuple!