The 'Girls'

left to right: Anita, Mona, Me, Fera, Titie, Oki

I've been friends with these girls..*ehm*..I mean, ladies..since we were 20 years younger..hahaha..that's how old we are..
We took the same major in university..Architecture
There are actually 7 of us..
Me, Fera, Oki, Mona, Titie, Anita, and Shita.
3 out of  7 , Me - Titie - Mona, are married to our uni sweethearts...cieee..hahahaha..
Who also took Architecture..
And have been dating them since we were in uni
The others, though they got married with someone they dated after we graduated,
they blend in with us smoothly..as we are such a nice bunch of ladies.. :P

So, we always keep in contact..
Though after graduation, we went our own ways..
Some stayed in Bandung, the others went to Jakarta..for a while
Today, everyone, except for Shita who lives in Bali, lives in Jakarta, though one further than others..
Anita lives in East of Jakarta, while the others live in South Jakarta.
And  it's more difficult to meet up when you live far apart in Jakarta than when you live in different cities!

I got married first, have 4 kids
I think no one's gonna top me on that one.. :P
Then Titie, Mona, Shita, and Anita..
Titie have 1, Mona - Shita - Anita have 2.
After that, a long pause..then Fera got married..
then, a slightly longer pause..Oki completed it..
Both of them haven't got kids yet..

We have our own activities as well..

Oki, is obviously the busiest one, office work wise..
There's always meetings, presentations, business trips..

Fera has been working in a bank for forever..
So she has her hectic times as well..

Titie and Mona once worked in offices as well, Interior Design..
They both now have their own business from home..
Titie in clothing and Mona in chocolate & cookies..
So, they supposedly would be the ones who are more adjustable in time..
But with all the routines with the kids, it's another whole story..

Shita has her own business as well in Design Consultant, in Bali

Anita just recently, 3 months ago, quit her job as an architect..
And now she's a full time mommy..

Me?
Long story..and you can always check my profile anyway

Oki and Anita's  husband, Nakup

left to right: Titie, Mona's husband - Iif, Anita

With all that, we still try to keep in touch..
We definitely went to each other weddings and make color coordinated clothes for those weddings..
We try to come every time any of us gave birth..
We come to big birthday parties of each other's kids.

Before, we always get together whenever it's someone's birthday..
Then, due to each busyness, we gathered the ones who has birthday close to another..
But lately, even that was too difficult to do..

Back then, when we talk about meeting up, we always wanted it to be complete.
But then, there will always be 2 or 3 of us that couldn't make it..then, it's canceled..


Well, I've been bit annoyed by that..
OK, a lot..

So, I decided to meet up anyway..a not-complete member..
Sometimes only 5, 4, 3..even only 2 of us..
And it doesn't have to be for a certain occasion..

Around 2 months ago,
We've been planning to meet up..all of us..
But there would always be someone or more that couldn't make it..
Due to work or family things..

I've had it..
And I came up with the idea to get together at my place
Saturday. Complete. With all of our husbands and kids.
And it happened! Yeay!
Well, except for Shita, that's been missing from our bbm group for quite a while..
And anyway, she is in Bali..so it wouldn't have been possible.

It was fun. We had a blast..
Catching up on stories, teasing each other, talking about the kids..
While eating and reminiscing..
Because it was at  my place, there was no time limit..
It was from 11ish up until maghrib..hahahaha..

So, we decided to do this regularly..
Like once in a month or two..
Moving to each other houses every time..

*Yeah..right..I doubt it.. :P We'd just better enjoy it when it happens..

With the kids

Retro?

What's New?
Definitely not my kitchen..
Haven't renovated my kitchen yet...since the last time I blogged about my dreams on how I'm gonna design it..
And for the don't know how many times..I've got more ideas!!

Well, It started with a very good friend of mine since university, Mona, bought a new house in my part of the town. She and her husband, Iif, who is also a friend of mine, have been doing some repairing to the house ever since and planning to move in at a couple of these months forward.

So, a couple of days ago, we went to look for drapes and curtains for the house.
We went by the house to put some stuffs first. The house is still being repaired here and there, and some furniture are still scattered around the house.
We came in through the kitchen. That's when I saw that huge teal green refrigerator and the gigantic stove and oven....haa!!! Retro to the core!!!!...
When I was in amazement,  my friend kept on whining of how her mother kept on giving unused furniture from her old house to fill in my friends' house, in the time being.
Mona was so annoyed with my excitement..hahahaha..and she told how even her son complained about the color of the fridge..green..

hugsandkeepsakes.blogspot.com

When we got to the living room...there it was an enormous 3 seater sofa!!

That's when I started insisting my friend to do Retro as the concept for her house's interior design.
She's got the big ticket furniture that have already shouted  Retro anyway..
The small furniture and other interior elements could just go with the flow and don't have to be so retro.
Probably just go with the color scheme, but with a more simple modern look.
She still thought I'm setting her up with something bad..

When we got to the drapes & curtains shop..
I can't believe that we found this!! hahahaha..
a bright colored floral pattern drapes!!
I kept saying to her that it was a sign...hahahaha..

flickr.com

Actually, I know that she won't buy the Retro idea..

That's why I kept on laughing out loud whenever I come up with my bizarre ideas and she kept turning that idea around as if I'm telling a big joke.

Mona has been friends with me when we studied Architecture. Her husband too..

I know exactly how her style is. And it's everything else, but Retro.

Mona said she's gonna get rid off of the gigantic furniture gradually when they have enough money to buy furniture for their own.

She knows exactly that I was the one who has always been the experimental type when coming to designing..hahaha..

I've let her know, that I would gladly take those stuff if her mom doesn't want to take them back whenever it's time.

Come On..
How cool will it be..
From doing it totally retro, with the checked flooring, either black and white or better yet red and canary yellow!
With all the metallic lining and back-splash..

furniture.lovetoknow.com

diynetwork.com

The turquoise or teal green laminated cabinets...

minisites.contentthatworks.com

green-living-made-easy.com

rethinkthesink.com

Or..
make it modern retro..

homedesigninterior.com

Awesoooommmmeee....

My Analysis

I always see it as "analyzing people"

And when I say "people", it means almost everyone..

From a member of a family, an old friend or acquaintances, until someone that I just knew for quite some time, or briefly, even someone that's hanging around just long enough to be analyzed.

But off course the people who are being "analyzed" look at it differently..

Some of them don't care, some don't realize it, but most of them.. get annoyed.. :P

People will see it as being nosy,  

But then, I think there's a big difference between nosy and what I'm doing..

I do it unpretentiously..without any reason at all..

I just find it amazing how different people are..what kind of characteristics that they have, and with their characteristics facing the problems and come up with different solutions for them..

I do this to my family all the time, since forever..
Back when I was still in school,
My objects are my friends, my fellow students and teachers/lecturers..
When I got married,
They are my husband, my new family, my kids..
At the place I work..
Off course, my boss, my colleagues, the clients..

And lately, as a teacher and lecturer, my favorite objects of analyzing are..
You've probably guessed it..My Students!!

It's different though when I analyzed them..
If before I do it unpretentiously,
Now, it's somehow useful because their characteristic really shows up in their work,
How they do their work, how they face and solve problems..
So, it's an advantage to have known them better when 'teaching' them..

Some of the first students that come to my attention are off course the ones with issues..
Them who come late so many times or miss a lot of meetings, always late on submission and come up with poor result..the ones with minimum effort..
Usually, in the beginning I would listen on how their friends think of them..
Have they got problems outside school, with their family, their health, their love life..
Then, when they're around, I would start analyzing..
Some of them, really got potential to be better or even great..
But are just not motivated enough or mistakenly motivated..
Being their lecturer and old enough, I always think that they're repairable..they're all still so young..

On the way, during all the teaching process, I'll get interested in the ones who are in class physically but their mind is wandering everywhere but in class..
Some of them, just needed a wake up call..to be reminded of the reason they're doing what they're doing and the consequences of their action..

The ones that sometimes slip away are the ones that are really good in the beginning and the process,
but then when it comes to the end merely survived..or worst, doesn't survived..
These cases are such a pity..they've been doing so well and getting so close..
These, usually, are technical..managing, prioritizing..

But when I say everyone is under my radar..I mean everyone, each and every one of them..
Even the good ones and the best one..
Curious on how they did it..what did they have to 'sacrifice', what motivated them to have pushed it to that point..

Each and every case then become a lesson for everyone..
To know and understand themselves better..
To do better in the future..
Me, included..

Creatively Done Kids!

My 4 boys are getting bigger and smarter..
But some things just remain the same..
The quarrels, the fights, the teasing..the mocking..
And every time they do any of those or other similar things, I never jump in too fast..
The right parenting reason is to let them try to solve things between them by themselves..
But actually, the fun part is, I noticed that they get more creative in teasing each other..
And I try not to laugh when this happens..

They always when going down or up the stairs, or getting in or out from the car, entering the house,..
Everything that involves queuing, taking turns..they'll fight over it..
I've reached that place where I just don't wanna even hear them fighting about this..
So, whenever it happens..I would just let them take their time..
And then one morning going to school, that usual moment when getting in the car..
The young ones start to fight over getting in the car first,

then kakak said..
Ladies first..
and gave way for them..

Off course, no one then didn't want to get in..hihihihi..
It took time after then, waiting for them to finally get in the car..but it was worth the wait..hahaha..

Going to the mall is still a big challenge for me confronting the twins..
They will still nag for things..toys, books, whatever..
My last reaction is just to ignore them..
It takes time, but eventually they'll stop nagging..
Turns out the older ones are starting to get annoyed,

and they came up with..
Little boy, do you want to buy this toy..
with an exaggerated sweet voice and gesture as if they're talking to a very young little kid..

And off course, the twins don't want to be called little anymore or treated like one..
They'll just stop! Just like that..hahaha..

And these things are contagious..
hahahaha.. Maybe the idea definitely came from the older ones..
But now, every now and then, the young ones will say the same thing to their older brothers..
And that..is even more hilarious..

Save the Best for Last..

The twins are in elementary school this year..
Hard..hard..hard work for me..
After the experience of graduating my eldest from elementary school and Raihan, my second son in 4th grade..
I thought it's gonna be easier..
Nope! Not even close..

It's not about giving them less attention because they're my last kids,
It's about financially, now, with 3 boys in elementary and 1 in junior high school, I just can't afford the luxury of giving them basic courses that I had easily given the older ones
Back then, giving the older boys reading and writing course, English course, Kumon course when they were still in preschool was so taken for granted.
I easily thought, I was just not patient enough to teach them the basics.
So, when Rizqi and Raihan first entered elementary, they were all prepared.
No worries.

But with the twins now,
Without any courses, I've got so many things to do!
OK! the basic of the basic: Reading
I bought that learning how to read in 30 or 40 or 60 something hours books.
And I don't have any ideas, which book is good..
I just run through the books briefly before buying them or checking out the title with the less hours taken to learn..hehehe..
and I also like compare the price..but then because I'm such a graphic person, I look for the ones which are visually good. So long for don't judge the book by its cover..
But then, between the much time taken to pick a book or two, I thought..come on! so what if I didn't buy the best book..It's reading! How difficult can that be? 
Yeah..Now, you tell me...It's breathtakingly difficult..

And I don't want to make excuses, but them being twins has taken difficult to a doubled higher level..
Seriously, I'm not blowing this out of proportion..hehehe..
Well, it's not as easily saying because there are 2 of them..
But these two are twins. Who extremely compete with one another. Extremely.
At first, I taught them together at one time. Wrong first move.
Obviously, one is going to be faster than the other.
Then the slower one, would have just gave up and started acting up.
I literally had to use different books for the two them just because they don't want to be compared with one other.

Owkaayy,
One by one, it is.
That turned out just fine after fighting over who's going first. Not to mention, the one who went second distracting the first one or the other way around, the first one being a smarty pants when it's the second one's turn.

I'm older (by 3 minutes), so I get to go first...Why am I always the last just because I'm younger...
When one of them was in the middle of trying to read something, than the other will give the face..I know! I know!..it's sooo easy..how could you not know this..

I think I was just a bit rusty and went through a bumpy start..Off course..we have to set the rules first!
So, we came up with a fair schedule that includes taking turns, time slot, and no distractions of any kind..

Pffiiuuuhh..One subject covered..

But then, I kept on being behind schedule with the twins..
I knew they had trouble in English, later after they had their school work given back to them..with bad scores..
That was a bit embarrassment for me as an English teacher. Not because they got bad scores but the fact that it pictures how I didn't give them the attention needed.

Not like their older brothers, which I made them going to courses before they even know what they wanted, the twins asked to go to courses..Reading, Kumon, and English..and swimming..and taekwondo..and drums..
So, between trying to keep up with the budget and not to look too stingy in front of the twins :p, I gave them the luxury to go to Kumon course.
At last..everyone's happy!
The twins finally could go to a course..
and I'm the happiest..off the hook!

I'm loving it..

This term I was handed-over classes that at first I thought wasn't my thing.

Construction. Seriously?..

Well, someone gotta get up there and do it..

And I guess, I kinda feel tickled of how some of the students are still clueless or aren't confident enough about those construction thingy..

After all, the lecturer before..my dear colleague whose having her maternal leave, is such a well prepared-well organized type of lecturer..

So when I started to take a quick look on the material.. I felt, it'll be OK!..hopefully..hahaha..

OK..OK.. so I have my doubts of myself in the beginning..

So, when the classes started..I prepared for the worst..

I'm just gonna go through the lecture and brief the assessments, as I am supposed to..

My plan was: make them understand and make them do the assessments. Nothing more..

So not-me at all, I sorta feel a bit pessimistic about whether the students gonna find this class interesting or dead boring..

The terms before, I had some of the interesting classes..

At least, I felt excited teaching them..so, it was a piece of cake making the students to feel the same thing..

Unlikely with Construction classes, when at times, me myself don't feel interested enough..and then I have to make the students understand in an interesting way?..hmmm..

But surprisingly..I owe it all to the students..

They're such an uplifting type of persons..

I just love it, when they ask, discuss, consult, and everything..

They're so interested in the lesson!!..Isn't that the most amazing feeling that a teacher can get from her students..

At times, I still don't have as big confident as I do, not teaching construction..

Those are the times when they're absent with no particular reason, or when one or two of them don't submit their assessment, or just a simple didn't do as they're expected on their process, or doing other stuff -either more important or more interesting- and not concentrating in class..

Those thing are such downers for me..

And I just can't shake it out of my head sometimes..and you just started thinking..I should've done something differently, I could've done it more interestingly, I would've done it from a more fun side..over and over..

But somehow, the uplifting moments are just so much more then the downers..

How they still ask of your opinion outside the class..

How they're willing to stretch the class finishing time just to understand more..

How they go through they're unnecessary overtime doing the assessment..

How they prioritize your class from others..

However rare those uplifting moments are,

Or however rather a small portion of students from the whole class do them..

They're still such a booster for me..soul, body, and mind!

Thanks for making the class a more fun place to be!

Nice to Meet You!

My first day as a lecturer..

Excited..big time

Nervous..a bit..

I was all well prepared with the material though..

So, I wasn't that worried with the lesson..

I'd managed..

The students were the ones that I couldn't predict yet..

And there they were, already inside the classroom..well, 3 out of 4 of them..All girls!

One of them sat on the first row, right in front of my desk..

Looked like she's in her full attention for a new lecturer, keeping her eyes on..Me!

The other two behind her..giving looks to each other and softly speaking, almost whispering, to each other..My thoughts then was, they're comparing opinions with each other..about Me!

I know!!..Come On!! How paranoid was I!!

I'm the type of person who can block my feelings whenever needed though..

OK.. Let's Just do this!

Though, I was feeling rather awkward, with a small number of students in a rather small class..Yet, we don't know a thing about each other..

So, I introduce myself and asked them to introduce to themselves..

I was all open, and talked about a brief of everything..

And they were all giving this short sentenced, almost sounded unwilling, information about themselves..

I forgot the exact moment, but then came the last student, a boy..late

So, We discussed about the attendance rules a bit because of that..

But he was definitely my fresh air for that morning..

He got into class, still all distracted and preoccupied about stuffs while apologizing of his lateness..and kept on blabbing..

Thank God! Someone was willingly having a natural conversation with me!

Then, being me, I open up my lecture by eliciting them..getting answers from them and putting down the answers on the board

Just to live up the class, and to know their knowledge..

'Front row' girl and the boy were the only one who showed interest..

By then, I labelled the girl as the serious one there..

Concentrating and so getting into the lesson..nodding her head, giving answers, asking questions, and all

I made them to do design exercises just to know their capability..

The process of the first exercise were all different..

'Whispering' girls were doing it insincerely..looked like it..

'Serious' girl was all out..

And the boy was babbling along while doing his exercise..

Because the first exercise turned out good, I was tickled to do an extra exercise just right before I gave them the exact assessment..

When 'whispering' girls franticly talk to each other (a bar louder volume) and included 'serious' girl..

Then 'serious' girl as if she's the spokesperson of the girls asked me to skip it and go directly to the assessment..

By that, 'serious' girl turned into 'bossy' girl!!

Their label was stuck on them for almost the whole 4 first weeks..

Then gradually from there, they started to show their real skin..

After that came.. I know you and you know me, so what?..still keeping the distance

Then came..I want to know you better..opening up..

And so on..

And as they say, the rest is history!

Now, I would say, we're at the point of ..I know you so well!!..appreciating and respecting each other..

There are no more..Whispering girls, front row/serious/bossy girl, the boy..

they became:

'Laid back-most of the time clueless or late on information-super talented/black box' girl..

'Simple-know what she wants-consistent' girl..

'Well organized-open for critics-super confident' girl..

'Humble or Arrogant/confused-speak up his opinion-practical' boy..

OK! Wrapping it up, guys..

What else can I say..They're Great!

Take a bow, y'all..

Special Ones..

I try my best not to play favorites on people..

As a mom, I don't have a favorite kid..

As a teacher and lecturer, I don't have a favorite student..

It doesn't mean that there are no one special..

It somehow means the opposite..every each and one of them are special..

That sounded so cliche, so corny, so cheesy..hahaha..ok! got it!

yet that's the truth!

I spend my forever with my kids..

Special moments with special feelings happens now and then..

No timing at all..

No matter how small or big the moments are..

No matter how often or rarely it happens..

When it happens, it just does

Whether you're prepared for it or not..

and I'm the type of person that doesn't look at a special moment to have to be a good moment

Bad moments, are also special moments..

All of those moments shows process..learning process, growing process..

And each of those moments, strengthen their personality and reminds you how special they are..

It's a bit hard when you're dealing with course's students..

You meet them on such brief of moment..

You gotta catch the moment right away..

The longer you've been teaching, the more you're experienced to getting to know these kids..

And it's amazing, how most of these kids are so open to you..

Trust you with things, not holding back..

Well, the younger are more trusting then others..

Preteens and teenagers are a bit tricky..

Yet in my (old) age with a preteen home myself, I have tricks of my own..

My college students are different stories..

You also got to deal them right away, with their work..

But as they've reached that certain age, as an adult, they keep their distance..

The first few meetings when you first know them, you'll get the first impression of them..

I try not to put a label right away..

You've gotta earn their trust in the process..

The learning process then is the moment that you'll get to know them the best..

By then, I am forced to put label on them..

At this point, some people see it as playing favorite..

But in fact, it shows you and also pointing out to them how special they are

and with doing that, I know how to deal with each and every one of them..personality per personality!

They are different..and because of that, they have to be treated differently..

There are limitations..there are rules and requirements, there's also a standard achievement..

That's why I'm so into wanting to be involve in the process..

that's where all the hard work happens, make use of their weaknesses and strengthen their strong points..

and you can aim the result from there on..

Everyone's special..

In their own and special way..

It's a pleasure to have known and be a part of these special people..

My "Kids"

It started when I started working again..

And I'm working as a teacher,

The first time, with students from the age range of 6 years old up until teenagers.

Though I have kids with the same age range of some of them..

Still teaching your own kids and teaching other people's kids is a totally different..

My 4 boys are used to me..

They know me so well!!

I am, most of the time, a laid back person

Fun, kid around, silly..

They know when to fool around..

But I am also a strict freak on some things..

Being polite to people, respecting older people, saying the truth, responsibility..

So, they know when not to, and just do it!

They don't wanna mess up with Ibu!

The students..later, they'll know me too..

I'm not a faking type of person, that's nice in front of the students..but actually hate their guts..

It's too much of a hard work, keeping up to fake it up..

But I don't wanna scare them away from the beginning..

And I'm not scary..at all..

I just have my values..

I'm actually a bit loose with these guys..

I know how my kids are so loosen up when they're joining a course..

They don't take them as seriously as school..not at all..

I also know how kids nowadays are so swamp up with school..

And yet, they still have to go to courses afterwards..

So, learning in a fun way it is!

And, a fun teacher is how you get there..yeay!

I'm one of the game-y teacher..

The standard, is doing games on the beginning and end of the lesson..so 2 games per lesson..

My class has minimum 3 times games..and I rarely do the minimum..

If the class is to rowdy, I'll do fun projects!!

Usually I do projects that involves all the students to work together..

I try my best to be a fun teacher!

But, there are always somethings..

Things that annoys me the most are behavior..

The 'whatever' type..

The 'look at me' type..

On my good days, I'll ignore them..

But when it starts to effect the others who were paying attention to the class..

That's when it becomes bad..

No more Mrs. Nice Teacher..

I stop doing anything..no talking, no teaching, no nothing..and just stare at the person..

I use my deeper but louder tone of voice and call that person name..

I threw a white board eraser to the person once..

I cut their score if I have to..

But, that hardly ever happens..

At some point, they'll know me so well too!

I'm a very fun person if you don't mess around!

Then I started teaching college students..

It's a new story all over again..

Some of these guys are the most hardworking young people that I have ever met..

With all of their assessments and classes..with limited time, yet..seriously done, wanting to know more, doing their best..

Overtime, sleepless night, literary cut and blistered fingers,..

I appreciate them..

Even the weaker ones and the lazier ones, I encourage them the most..

And it is still a universal mystery of how the young minds work, I guess..

Because there are always cases,

when on one time someone that is so hardworking..suddenly lost interest or just broke down..

That's when I have to be seemed not panicking, calm..and try to approach them in the way that won't make them even going further away..

And talking to them, being a part of them and know their progress and problems, is my way to deal with it..

So, I'm thankful to have all of them as a part of my life now..

Giving all the colors in life..

The Past..

I have never agreed with the saying,

Don’t look back to the past

Just look to the future ahead you..

Every now and then, I always look back to the past..

The good ones..

Just for the nice feeling you’ll get inside..

The bad ones..

To evaluate..

What could I have done better

What could I have avoided

Not for regreting it..

But to learn from it..

Don’t get to carried away by it..

Don’t get distracted by it..

Just take a good glimpse..

And move forward..

It's a Mom thing..

Maybe I’m just an easy person to pleased..

Maybe I’m just being a mommy..

But simple things..
When it involves my boys..
just gets to me..
Easily..

Proud..
That’s for sure..
Overwhelmed..
Sometimes happens..

And I’m feeling this,
Just because I’d been taking my boys report books for 2 days..
and talking to their teacher about them..
Not all good things..not so good things as well..
but for me..
I just love to watch them grow..
even the most little improvement is good..
Can you imagine, how I feel..
If they achieve something great..

LOL..
How silly is that..
It’s soooo a mommy’s thing..

A piece of the bitterness of life for my kids..

It’s hard being a kid..

Their cruel..
I remember my days back then as a kid..
I’m this overweight, not that smart, not that pretty girl..
Girls talk behind your back..
Boys shout it out at their friends all around you..
Horrible..

But maybe, since a kid I have always been able to block my emotion..my feeling..
Not ignorant..
because, deep down inside..it hurts..
but, from the outside..
It looked as if I didn’t care..

It’s just the way it is..I guess.
Rizqi, my oldest, 11 years old, have always had problems about this..

The difference from me is..
Rizqi is such an emotional person..
He blows up..erupts for exact.. whenever he hits this..
And those kids..will just looove when this happens..and do even worse..
He’ll shout, cries of frustration, and the worst time was when he took down the kid..punched him..

But more than that..
He’s a smart, well manered, well behave kid..
And that even make things worse..

Because I’ve always felt that it’s just the way it is..
I have never tried to change the situation..
And that’s the thought that I’m passing to my kids..
There will always be people like that..
There always have been..and there always will be..
Even when you get older..it’ll be the same..or worse..
You can’t control it..
What you can do is..
Do the right thing!
Ignore them first..
Stand up for yourself..but don’t lower yourself to their level..
Just be cool..

The talk with him ended nicely..
Everyone shared similar stories and how they handled them..
Me, my husband, Raihan my second son, 7 years old..and even my 4 years old twins, Tama and Dika..
So, it made it clearer that he wasn’t the problem..
that everyone had experienced similar stories..

It takes time to change the world..
I’ll just have to prepare my kids to face it..for now
GREAT FAMILY TIME!!

Favourite Things..

I just love to explore what my sons love to do..

What they’re interested in..

My first son, Rizqi, he’s 11, loves to follow instructions and explore..
That’s why, his favourites are

Lego..because he can follow the instruction step by step..
but then, he can take it apart again and make different things..
you can modified it, combine it with other lego..

Browsing the internet..because he can explore whatever he wants to find anything that he wanted to know.

Mathematics..because it involves exploring as well to get the answer.

Raihan, my second son, he’s 7, loves interacting with others

That’s why, his favourites are..
Playing with other kids..tag, hide and seek, and others

he’s got more friends compare to all his brothers’ put in together..

Even the twins, they’re 4, are different one from the other..
Tama, he’s a little bit like Rizqi, serious when doing things..

He’s good in competing..
anything that involves racing..

He’s good in his fine motoric..
he’s fantastic in drawing..

Dika, he’s into performing..
He loves to sing, move his body..
He loves to wear costumes and do roleplays..
his favourite character changes from time to time..
But his favourites are Spiderman (he knows Peter Parker story and

all) and Wolverine (he insist to collect his figurine..and still dreaming of the wolverine arm thingy..)

He’s also into the stories behind it..
He loves to listen to stories..
his favourite now is Peter Pan..
but any stories will do..

It’s always fun to know
all of them are different..
yet all, very interesting..

Though off course they have something in common..

That runs in the blood..

Reading and drawing..

And I’m really into things that my sons are into..
So, having 4 sons with different interest are a bit confusing..yet fun..

How Do You Wake Up 4 Kids for School in the Morning..

1. Turn of the AC..

2. Pull their blankets..
3. Open the curtains and windows.

.

4. Greet them..Morniiiing Boooysss!!
5. Encourage them..
Are you ready for your school project today!! (which he’s been waiting for a couple of days now..)
or..
Don’t forget to bring your soccer uniform..today’s soccer day!! (he loves soccer..)
or simpler things for my twins..
Who’s number 1 to wake up!!
Who’s sitting up front in the car today!!

*up until all this effort, usually 1 out of 4, will wake up..*

6. Kiss them..
7. Tickle them..

*1 more will wake up..2 up 2 to go..*

8. Warnings!!
We’re gonna be late!!
We’re gonna be caught in traffic!!

*The third will wake up..last one..*

9. Last attempt..Promises..
After school, who wants to go to the minimarket to buy some candies..
Let’s look out for that new magazine after school.

.

*Finally..all of them are up…
Next..make them to take their bath, eat breakfast, get into the car,……..and still a long list to go*