I'm a full-time mummy

I get annoyed with what my MIL does sometimes. Before you go on saying that I should respect the older folks and just be patience and let them say and do what they want, well, I did that. MANY TIMES. But it keeps coming. In fact, I think it made her feel braver to continue picking on me! Read: Jude 1:16 (NIV)

I'm so tired of being picked on. She just can't stop boasting about all the good traits in Ben are from her side of the family.

Don't you know it is a sin to do this? Read: James 3:5 (NIV), James 4:16 (NIV)

Whenever she noticed Ben misbehaving, I'll get to hear the famous sentence "Your hubby never does that when he's young. In fact, none of my 5 children does that too. Ben must have gotten the bad habit from you or your side of family". *Speechless*

Just today, she saw Ben banging his head on the floor (his usual habit of throwing tantrums) and of course, immediately this ensues:

MIL: "Is your dad a very hot tempered person?"

Me: "No"

MIL: "He doesn't throw tantrums or easily angered?"

Me: "No" (I have no recollections of my dad bursting in tantrums at all throughout my life)

MIL: "How about your mum?"

Me: "No" (Same case, my parents have got to be the most quiet and peaceful individuals you've ever seen!)

MIL: "Then your brother?"

Me: "Nope"

MIL: "Cannot be. Why is Ben banging his head on the floor? Look at his tantrums! My 5 kids never behaved like that when they were young so it definitely must be from your side of the family!"

Sigh... Why must the bad habits be from my family? And what gives her the right to say that? What makes her think she knows my family well enough to say that?

This is just so unfair!

(*Image taken from Google search)

Maybe it's easy for me to be blamed on since my parents are no longer around on this planet to help me defend and prove her wrong. But hello, she can't even remember what happened days ago, and yet she can remember what happened when all her 5 kids were young? Like ermmm... over 4 decades ago? The crappiest part is of course, the good traits are all from her side of the family.

And there's no mention about where Ben gets his quietness and reserved self, his generosity and his fast learning ability. All these traits which doesn't seem to be coming from her side of the family just wasn't mentioned at all. Don't even get me started about Ben's facial and body features. Which riles me up even more. Oh puh-lease get real...

But seriously, why compare and take sides? Read: 2 Corinthians 10:12

Regardless my side of family or her side of family,

aren't we all in the same side of the family now?

Shouldn't we be focusing on nurturing and loving the young ones and of course, showing good examples in our everyday actions instead of picking, comparing and boasting about all this? Read: 1 Corinthians 13:4 (NIV)

Of course when I mentioned about how we should not be comparing or saying this or that is from yours or my family, she immediately changes the topic before I could counsel her longer. Sigh...

Have you experienced this before? What do you do if you're in my shoes?

Just want to share some pictures taken during our recent family outing to a shopping mall where we saw tons of lantern decorations in view of the coming Mid-Autumn Festival on today's date. FYI, these decorations were displayed all around the mall for a contest held (the theme this year is underwater) and the rule is the lanterns and decorations must be made from recycled products. I think it is a good idea!

Closer look shows that the 'fish' are actually made from recycled plastic bottles.

Here's another one which impressed us quite a bit... Look at the 'scales' of the 'fish'!

It's made of those aluminium cans' tabs.

We liked this one, it's made of rubber foam. Looks real huh?

And here's Nemo and his dad!

And here's a shot of Ben checking out the lanterns deco with daddy.

To those celebrating this festival,

Happy Mid Autumn Festival!

Note to self: This is a reminder and lesson for me to think before doing something to Ben in the future... even if it is originally meant as a joke... or to entertain Ben...

You see, one fine day in the car, Ben was playing with his craft work from Sunday school. It was this 'fish' made from a paper plate with round stickers on the 'fish body' which is meant to be the scales. Ben was getting fussy and I decided to peel off one of the stickers and stuck it on his hand. He smiled. And then I peeled another and stuck it on his face. And then he cheered up and all the fuss is forgotten.

Last week, during a trip to visit hubby's friend, Ben played with the 'fish' craftwork again...

and see what he does to himself...

(** Note: I have nothing to do with it cos I was busy laughing at what Ben did )...

Sigh... Jenny, Jenny... Look at what you've done to Ben!

No more next time okay?