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Thea August 31st, 2010

This September isn’t like typical previous September. For me it’s special, a month when I am officially quitting from my job at one of cellular company in Indonesia. My decision shocked many people, starting from my manager, my GM, my colleague and of course, my parents. Well, frankly speaking, it wasn’t an easy decision. Not a few say that I must be crazy letting go this job, which every body pursues. However, this is a firm decision.

I had considered many things before coming to this point, ever since I was pregnant. My wish to stay at home with the kid and run the job from is very compelling.  Having discussed with my hubby, I decided to resign and proposed my resignation letter to my manager on July. She was surprised and offered me an unpaid leave just in case I wanted to join the company again. However, I declined that.

For me this is not a regretful decision. On the contrary, this is a liberating one. I am just lucky that I am dare to take this step. Quitting a settled job is hard, you know. however, I believe I will get the pay-off. Being closer to Avicena, my son, is the ultimate thing. While nursing the kid, I can focus to my new business (pssstt….I am a newbie of entrepreneur now) and sharpen my other skills. For the later I manage to take some short courses.

To sum up, I’d like to quote what Michelle Obama said about her decision…..

The career doesn’t define me. What I am doing defines me. I am a mother and wife

May Allah show his ways and makes everything easy for me:)

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Thea July 2nd, 2010

It’s been so long that I haven’t written anything down in this blog. Well…i was quite inundated with new-mommy-related chores for the last several months. Yeaahh I am mommy now.

Thanks to Allah that finally i could deliver my baby boy in the world. After struggling for more or less sixteen hours..yeap sixteen hours, my baby was born in the world in spontaneous labor. I can’t be happier. I really really enjoy my life phase, being single, married and now happy with a very cute boy:p

It’s not easy for the first time nurturing the baby. First, I didn’t get my resilience back after laboring, so staying awake until late of night was very hard for me. However, my love for my baby is bigger than any reluctance of my eyes to open. Yes my bay is so adorable. His name is Ogilvy Aksara Avicena. I call him Cena.
Another important thing for Cena, and for baby around the world is breast milk. Since the  very first time, I have insisted to breastfeed Cena exclusively for about six months. Nothing is much better for babies than breast milk during their first six months. Neither formula nor additional food. As a working mommy, this is becoming a big challenge. Long before entering to the office, I expressed the milk and kept them in the refrigerator. This is for back up in any case the milk that I express when I am in the office isn’t sufficient. But Alhamdulillah, the milk that I get every time I am at the office is enough for my baby.

And now, Cena is getting closer to six months old. I am so excited. The next step is preparing the additional food for him. I will tell you the story later.

Okay…enough for now. See you in the next posting:)

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Thea July 9th, 2009

Many things indeed open my eyes that happiness can’t be bought by money. No matter how rich we are, at the end it’s nothing if we can’t give love and happiness to people around us.

Last night, again, I got an important lesson-learned from a movie I watched with my hubby. The title is The Nanny Diaries. It’s about a fresh graduate who happens to be a nanny of a rich little boy. The The Nanny named Annie and the boy is Grayer. Grayer is the only son of the wealthy couple who lives in upper east side of New York. He’s just the typical of upper east side clan boy, who goes to the best school and of course accompanied by a nanny. His life is so lonely, despite the nanny with him, because he never gets any attention from his parents. Slow but sure, he loves his nanny than his own parents. Sad..sad..sad!!

His parents want the best thing for him. They work until late and therefore rarely spend time only to take Grayer to the park or museum. To my sadness, the parents dispose what they want to Grayer. I can even figure out why Annie must read financial times or other scientific journal to Grayer, who’s only under five-age minor. When Grayer is sick with a very high temperature, Annie can’t reach his mother who is still at spa.

I wonder, if children like Grayer are scattered around us. From a sharing with a friend, she told me the similar thing experienced by her boss, a career woman and CEO of multinational company. At the end, she refused to be posted in other country and other kinda promotions and chose to quit and build her own company. Why? because she wanted to be focus taking care of her teenage-daughter, who’s in trouble. Although the daughter is already 17 years old, it’s never too late to be close to the daughter as she knows all of her career and wealth she’s been earning can’t compensate the happiness she gave to her daughter.

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Thea May 3rd, 2009

What a husband can do for his pregnant woman? Many things. I remind husbands everywhere just in case you read this blog, any kind of courage and support for your wife during her pregnancy, even it’s small thing, indeed very matters.

The support can be in many kind of forms. My hubby for example, he never forgets warning me to have milk intake three times a day, paying attention to my menu or reminding me if I have had the folat acid or not. He takes me to he office and picks me up when it;s already after hour. If we pass the “wavy” road, he always slows down the speed to minimize the shocking to my lower tummy, where our baby sleeps in.

When we are on bed , he talks to our baby because we believe that the communication link between us and the baby has existed. That just makes me happy to have supportive husband like him. Then, he always updates me with any kind of information about the pregancy. Pregancy sites now become his fave.

Ever since we knew that we’re going to have a baby, his attention to me has been dwendling. And that makes me very happy for any support from him is very important.

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Thea April 8th, 2009

I love cooking. That passion has been growing since I was a little girl and continues clinging to my heart until now. During my teenage, my mum always asked my hand on the kitchen. In the process of assisting my mum, I learned step by step the basic skill of cooking. Slicing, frying, peeling etc.
My mum loves cooking, which skill she inherits from my granny. Because of her wide networking, she knows many people form different backgrounds. Then she sharpens her cooking skill and develops her knowledge on recipes from other provinces. That’s why since I was a child, I have been used to eat food which is relatively different from other friends. My mum is an expert on cooking bubur manado, ayam rica, botok, pepes aceh, rendang, rawon, ayam bakar bumbu rujak and many others food I can’t list.

Besides learning from my mum, now I love googling to find unique recipes. I enjoy preparing the menu for my hubby and cooking her fave dishes, such as bebek goreng, ayam penyet, tuna fettucine, shabu-shabu, tahu telur, or pecel. Technology is undoubtedly very helpful in this case. It takes no time to find recipe of green tea frappucino, my hubby’s fave beverage. From googling, I know how to make strawberry mousse that I will be cooking in the near time. However, what my mum has taught to me is the principal thing as that’s why I can cook and apply all recipes I take from google.

My mum keeps dreaming to run a restaurant where she can pour her passion on cooking fully. I know that she never has that chance unless she resigns from her current job. Mum is a very hard-working woman that she won’t feel enough of retiring her self after her tenure.Because of that, I guess she will seize her dream and make it true.

What about me? Now I start compiling all recipes which have been practiced so that in the future I have a capital to start my own business. My hubby supports my idea a lot. He wishes that we could manage a unique food place at Jogja. Both of us have worked on the concept of the restaurant. Just wait for the right time to launch it.

I see the similarity of interest between me and my mum. We both love cooking and dream to have our own restaurant. Maybe next, I will share this passion as well to my children:)

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Thea March 30th, 2009

What children wear is disposed by the parents. That statement impressed me upon my reading on an article in national newspaper last week. It enlightens the phenomenon nowadays where children fashion becomes a business, particularly in big cities such as Jakarta. Popular brands, previously working on only adult market, now are embracing new field, accordingly children market. Not to mention the name of the brands, I am sure that they are well known.

Children, of course, don’t know if the apparel they are wearing is branded or not. Parents who know exactly about it. They don’t have any right to decide what is suitable for them and sometimes parents think they know what’s the best for their children. In such condition, they can’t explore what they want. When parents give more spaces for their children to explore what they want to choose and wear, it will give an opportunity for children to trigger their creativity.

Well, it’s just an intermezzo. Principally I haven’t had any idea how to be a mother as I’ve never been there. And I am afraid that I will be one of them, parents who under utilize children’s creativity.

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Thea November 14th, 2008

Being raised by a mother, who’s a career woman, as a daughter I wanted to follow what my mum was doing. I was dreaming as a career woman as well. I think it’s a natural because I was living in an environment where I looked up my mum as a role model.

Building pathway there, I studied hard while keeping choose the career option suitable for me. I found what I wanted to be when I was in a senior high school. Diplomat, i thought, was cool after reading  a story about an Indonesia ambassador.

Okay, the fact that I am not becoming a diplomat didn’t make my parents disappointed. Instead they could really understand that finally I indeed never wanted to be there. Many considerations why I never applied to that institution. And now I am working in telco company, a new field for me which doesn’t make me inferior but on the contrary gives challenges for me.

Before entering a real work-world, I never paid attention about career option in non-formal path, being an enterpriser, for example. I have several friends who build successfully their business. And even I get envy with my husband who has more flexible time than me.

Chatting with a friend several days ago, she gave me an enlightenment about working as enterpeneur.  She elaborated several advantages working at home (she owns an online boutique). The best advantage is having much more time with children at home, which is the most precious one.

I share similar idea with her. Looking the condition I am facing now, the time I have with my husband is limited due to my work thingies. Even it’s only 8-5, we think it doesn’t really worth except for weekend. Just can’t imagine how much time I can devote to my children later, if I remain working this way:((.

My husband keeps encouraging me to start up a business. It’s not easy for that who has a labor-mentality like me:D. I have to learn with him and my other friends who are in their way to build a business and dare to leave their nicely-paid job.

What about you, my deary fellas???

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Thea November 10th, 2008

It’s been more than one year my dad has been being assigned at Bandung, but he’s still blind-route.

One and half year ago, not long after he moved to Bandung, we (my mum, my brother, my granny and I, visited him for the first time. Enthusiastically he took us around Bandung. At that time his knowledge about that cool city wasn’t  much. He had to rely with some instructions from his friends at office. However, we did understand as he’s just knew barely about Bandung and its confusing routes:D.

Several months ago, again I visited my dad. With my mum, we had several itineraries there for my wedding preparations. We hunted clothes material and souvenir for siraman. Still, my dad’s knowledge didn’t improve. It took several loops to leave Pasar Baru Bandung to his favorite restaurant. He drove while keep wondering if it was the correct route he took. My mum and I just laughed at a man we both loved. My dad didn’t change. He is still a nice man even when getting lost:D.

Last weekend, for the first time after married, my husband and I came to see he again. He was so happy and overwhelmed knowing that his daddy’s girl would be visiting him. He promised to take us wherever we wanted. His offer of course was irresistible, too good to be ignored. Lucky us to have him because Bandung was rainy almost all day. And the similar thing did happen again. We got lost with dad. Many people to ask for direction to train station. When taking us to the flowery hill at Lembang, he took wrong turn. Ugghhh.

in car, he said this to me and my hubby

I never go anywhere. I go to the office in the morning and back to home after five.After that, i choose staying at house rather than going out.

That’s how he defended his poor knowledge on the route. it’s reasonable as it only takes a minute for him to go to the office. He resides at home in one neighborhood with the office. And he is often accompanied by a driver once going anywhere.

Afterall, my dad is a nice companion for us. He drove along the way without hesitation. He didn’t mind taking us to FO for shopping. Sometimes he still insisted us treating us for lunch and didn’t mind at all if we wanted to spoil him.

Next time again….jangan kapok ya Dad:)

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Thea October 11th, 2008

Everybody knows what mothers in the world go through when they deliver baby. More or less nine months before, mothers struggle to raise the baby in their comfortable womb, feeding them through nutritious food. Once delivering us to the world, it isn’t painless. It’s believed they are close with the death. However, my mum said that her hurt gone when seeing the little baby close to hear and feeling my heartbeat.

The story of a mother then goes to nurturing the sweet little baby. Children are always nice when they below five. “See when they grow up after five. They can turn to little rascals who provoke your emotion.” It’s my mum’s confession. Is what she said an “empirical-based experience” when she faced the naughty me and my younger bro??…Hhmmm could be:D

No matter how the children can grow as “b*****d, mum will always their savior. Their lovely-caring nature is an oasis where we can always rest. For their children’s sake, they become unbelievable heroine. In my home at Jogja, we employ a local as helper. Her name is Lik Sus. She’s a widow with two, the youngest one is at third grade, elementary school. Lik Sus said to my grandma that she always supplies one egg for her children at least once a day. For that, she’s more than willing to eat only with sambel (chili sauce). She wants her children get nutritious food. In the mid day, she picks her youngest with bicycle from school, regardless the hot sun exposure.

A story of Woo Kap Sun who never stops encouraging and being extraordinary companion of her daughter maybe inspiring for us. Her children, Hee Ah Lee, was born with congenital deformity. Since the very beginning, Woo Kap Sun rejected the idea of giving her baby to orphanage. Instead, she took care of her baby with love. She poured care and passion to the little daughter. Ah Lee, for her, is magnificent gift God gives to her. When Ah Lee went six, Kap Sun taught her to play piano. It took extra patience to teach a daughter who only has two fingers at each hand. Kap Sun’s patience is fruitful. Ah Lee becomes a pianist with a great performance. She’s now a famous-talented pianist with world-class quality. What can Kap Sun say more other than thanking God for giving such gift?

There are lot of story about great mothers, and I am sure you have your own story. A mum….an angel God sends to the world.

Dedicated to my lovely mother who celebrates her birthday on Oct 12, 2008. I love u always Mum:-*

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Thea October 6th, 2008

Ever since I live apart from my family, going home is my favorite activity, especially when it comes to ramadhan then continues to Eidl Fitr. In Eidl Fitr, everything turns more special as all of familiy members gather and it’s the moment when we can meet each other and forgive each other. Being at home with family is a priceless moment, especially for me. I am used to live apart from my family since several years a go. I live at Jakarta, my mum is signed at Cirebon, previously at Semarang, and my dad is at Bandung, before he’s at Yogyakarta. My grandma and my younger brother stay at Yogya. Thus, I couldn’t say there’s anything more precious than having them near with me. I am more than sure that it’s also why poeple do “mudik” every year.

A missing feeling of a place to call home. It’s the ground of that action. Mudik isn’t merely a ritual or an activity done year by year. It’s a time when poeple going home and finding their true life after going to the battlehill, earning cent by cent to survive life. City is the place where they look for material, and going home is their sanctuary where they find the divine spirit.

It also drives people more than willing to stand in queue for hours to get ticket. It’s also why people put their life at risk by clinging only to a part of locomotive(which is very far from safe). And it’s also why people don’t mind drowned in crowd of economy-class passengers or sleep at train station, wishing they can get one or two available seats the day after. Every body just wants to be home.

My dad didn’t mind at all to drive from Cirebon since the 5 AM until 4 PM to arrive safely at Jogja. Though he knew i took much longer than usual trip. Neither did my Mum. As for me, I never counted the price I should pay for seeing them at our lovely home. I could meet my family and my new family, accordingly my husband and his big family.

We’re united at one, at place called home.

And they are too….people who miss their home badly:)

ps: for us who are in struggle to build our own home- sweet-home:). Jiayou!!!

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