I became a mum 8 years ago

Today is the birthday of my eldest boy, Jonathan. The reason I think today is especially memorable for me is because I became a mother exactly 8 years ago. One thing I never thought about in my younger single days and early marriage days was that I would become a mother. Parenting was NOT my thing. Taking care of another needy human being was not my cup of tea. Learning to take care of a fragile baby was simply not done. Waking up in the middle of the night to calm a crying baby was NOT something I would consider. And yet, that was what I did. I had become a mother, not just in giving birth to him, but in cherishing my role as his main protector and care-giver, as someone who would risk everything to give him the best. Those of you who do not think you can ever be maternal, come talk to me. I assure you, you build up maternal instincts when the time is right.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAREST JONATHAN LOH KAH HOONG!

Relationships

Everything I do, it is about relationship. People work, rather than paper work. The QM group is one I am terribly possessive of. For so many years, I have been pushing and pulling them. To me, the QMs have always been a group that deserved recognition for the hard work and diligence they have shown in their duties. In the 7 years or so that I have been a QM advisor, I have invested my time and energy for them, as a group and individually. Each of them is a gem, some truly unpolished and just waiting to be processed into fine diamonds. When many thought of them as workers ... coolies ... that was far from what I thought of them. That's why I endeavoured to put them on a pedestal, to let others appreciate them the way I do. When people see how close I have been to my QMs, they wonder why. Sometimes I, too, wonder why. But I do know this : I have put my heart and soul into building up this relationship. And this is making it very difficult for me to not be their advisor anymore. Part of me aches the way a mother aches to let her child go. But I know this ... it is time to let go. I am not gone from their lives. Just officially I have to let go. Time for someone else to build a relationship with them. And time for me to move on and build another relationship ... Cheer Club. So people of Cheer Club, be forewarned! I can be quite a smothering mum. If I am getting too suffocating, tell me. It's just that I sometimes work with my heart, not my brain.

I will miss you QMs

My BABY, the QMs will no longer be mine. I have always been protective of the QMs. It took me years to build them up to a level recognised as a major contributor to the school. The last 2 years have been a little more difficult but I still loved them. From this year, I will no longer be their mother. And all I ask of the existing QMs is to embrace the new teacher who will be their mother. Do not feel that I have abandoned you. I have not. I am around and will be available to you.

Updates about school - for Evelyn's sake !!!

Two days have gone by since school reopened. Things have been a little crazy as can be expected every year, at the beginning of the school semester. I am teaching English Forms 2 and 3, and PJK Form 4 (6 classes!). I have met 2A, 2D, 4SE so far.

What has been happening .... the usual really but here goes :

• Someone stepped on the principal's toes when she was confronted about the streaming of Form 4 classes. Apparently someone felt that their daughter was unfairly placed in a particular class and she actually got straight As. HELLO .... 4SA, SB, SC, SD are pretty much equal in most ways. I think there are straight As students in each of the class. Sigh. If only people can stop branding that SA is the top and SB, SC, SD are inferior (which they are NOT).
• Looks like an A in BM is now a major requirement to be in the Pure Science stream. I don't think this is a requirement nationwide. If it is, then it is pure idiocy!
• The Form 1 students are ... too many. We have maxed out our quota of students for Form 1 so the enrolment for each class is exceeding 35. Can those people who live FAR, FAR AWAY please take their daughters away from here?
• Kelab Pelancongan - don't ask. I don't know what it is all about except who the advisors are.
• English Literature - The Eng Lit class will be held on Thursday 2:30 - 4:30, handled by our favourite English teacher!
• The drama / musical production will soon commence with a clinic for acting, I think. The audition will be held soon after. The scheduled date for performances (2 shows) is somewhere in June. Ex-Sri Amanians please come and support!
• The sports department is headed by Pn Norinda and now supported by Ms Foo and Cik Ernie. I am currently still in QM, though this might be my last year.

I guess that's it for now. I hope to work well within the English Panel, especially now that I am out of the Sports Department. I have more time to focus on English ... which happens to be a BIG and heavy resposibility. Read the head of the English Panel's blog and you can visualize it.

Oh btw, I will soon be starting another blog - online English homework blog ... for FORM 3 only. Hahaha! I can hear some people falling to the ground, fainting. Yeah, evil Pn C is BACK!

Schedules

For the benefit of those of you who need to arrange your various times according to your activities, here are the schedules that might be helpful :

Monday
3:10 - 4:30
Week 1 & 3

Kebajikan
Interact
Komputer
Murid Islam
Pencegah Jenayah
Rukunegara

Pelancongan

Tuesday
3:10 - 4:30
Week 1 & 3

Orchestra, Choir & Dratari
Christian & Catholics
YE
Pelaburan Bijak PNB
Pengguna

Thursday
3:10 - 4:30
Week 1 & 3
Badminton (Gr 1)
Bola Baling
Bola Jaring
Tennis (Gr 1)

Thursday
3:10 - 4:30

Week 2 & 4

Badminton (Gr 2)
Hoki
Sofbol
Cheer (??)
Tennis (Gr 2)

Uniform Units : All units meet on Wednesday from 3:10 - 4:30 On weeks 1, 3 and 5)

House practice : Monday Red and Yellow; Tuesday Blue and Green (4:30 - 6:00)

In case some of you are wondering who my co-advisor for Cheerleaders Club is, she is Cik Mashitah. I will no longer be Pen. S/u sukan 1. That duty is now taken over by a new teacher.