School daze » Hip to be Mom

19 going on 30

Mar 102011

So Steev was just talking to me about signing up for some online business degree classes and working part-time in the summer. Summer school has always been in his plans. We’ve talked about it at length and it’s something he really wants to do.

Yeah Mom, he goes, gotta get through this and get out there and starting making some serious money! You know what, it doesn’t surprise me at all, this wanting to get out there to the real world sooner. Steev’s my 19 year old going on 30 and I think that’s really cute .

The two amigos

Posted by Clairity 2 Responses »

Feb 212011

When Steev and I went apartment-hunting, my biggest concern was what kind of roommate he would end up with. But I am so glad things worked out the way they did because he and Roomie are the perfect match.

Just within a short time of Steev moving in to their 2-room apartment, the two have become fast friends sharing the cooking sometimes, going out for the occasional burger, watching movies, playing computer games, talking about girls and joking about everything under the sun.

Recently on Valentine’s Day, he and Roomie even got together and played a prank on a mutual friend by presenting the poor unsuspecting guy with a gift of a male enhancement product from an imaginary “secret admirer”! OMG, what will these 2 guys get up to next?

Missing in action

Posted by Clairity 4 Responses »

Jan 192011

This is only the third day of school this year for Skye since we just got back from Hometown last weekend. She was thrilled about getting to miss school for an entire 2 weeks while we were away. The ongoing joke was that she might return to find she’s been kicked out of school to which her reaction was always, I hope so, I really don’t mind .

As usual, we had some well-meaning family members telling us that we really shouldn’t let her miss school since this is the year of her major school exam. So what? It’s only 2 weeks and it’s not like she won’t be able to catch up, just like that!

Today she’s supposed to be staying back in school till 4pm for extracurricular activities but since she’s running some rashes due to the dehumidifier effect of the cold, dry winter, I went to pick her up early from school.

You should’ve seen the grin on her face. It was priceless!

Pulling out the food stops

Posted by Clairity 4 Responses »

Nov 292010

My kids know that come major school exam time, Mom will (usually) pull out all the stops and say yes to all of their food requests. It’s Raine’s turn to call the shots this year. The other day, she has requested for pancakes (for now). I went out the very next day and got all the ingredients to make pancakes for 2 pancake breakfasts.

This is the time I make sure we have plenty of snacks and fun food around the house. Rocking the books can really work up an enormous appetite and every now and then, someone will sneak down to the kitchen to rummage for something to eat!

My philosophy is – feed the tummy and you feed the brain. So whatever Raine wants to eat, I’ll cook it or bake it, by hook or by crook. During exams, we try to stay off outside food because I don’t trust the cleanliness and hygiene of our food here, no offense!

Digging through my pantry for food ideas, I stumbled upon a packet of orange and poppy seed muffin mix that had expired last month. No big deal!

Remember those good old days when stuff didn’t come with expiry dates and we happily ate up everything in sight without a thought for those pesky use-by dates. Well, I decided to bake the muffins and eat them anyway.

Skye, my trusty sous chef, was on hand to help me with these. They turned out great and use-by dates aside, we’re still here to rave about them !

Next on the list of requests are Buffalo Wings, baked potato, cookies, um, anything else you’d like to grace your royal palate, O Fair Princess?

Stress, what stress?

Posted by Clairity Comments Off

Nov 252010

Yes, we’re smack in the middle of major exam week here and Raine’s head is in her books. She’s giving it her best but it’s not as stressful as you may think. We all sleep early the nights before exams, wake up early and enjoy yummy, homecooked meals from Mom’s kitchen.

I’m not into cracking the whip so much that my kids need the best natural acne treatment. I’m not dangling any carrots in front of their noses either. Only good food but that’s a post for another day.

At the same time, I expect them to do whatever’s necessary to give the exams their best shot. If they do well, they get praises, hugs and kisses from me, and� usually a nice eat-out dinner. Not an iPhone, not money. So there, what is there to stress about ?

Another one done with high school

Posted by Clairity 1 Response »

Nov 132010

Yesterday was the last day of high school for Raine. Well, it’s the unofficial study break before the big exam later this month.

So she and her classmates were back at school today arranging the exam tables, picking up their graduation photos and saying their goodbyes and good lucks.

So technically, I have another teen out of high school and going to college after we get back from CA. Strangely enough, up till very recently, Raine couldn’t wait to get out of school. But of late, she’s been saying when she gets out of high school, she’ll be “old” and she doesn’t want to be old.

I remember feeling a little emotional myself in the days before I finished high school. It’s hard to leave behind those carefree days when you’re footloose and crazy without the pressures of “real life”, you know.

But now with college looming in the near future, all her friends have been on about what to major in and where to go to college, and I guess that can be a little scary for someone about to take their first step into the big big world outside.

As for me, I think I will miss my taxi runs with her and I’m a little nostalgic about my princess finishing school. At the same time, I’m so excited for her as she gets ready to pursue her dreams. Well, okay, she still hasn’t really decided what to major in but she will and I’m going to be there to cheer her on .