Mrs Kong's Banana Tea Cake

Fresh out of the oven just an hour ago..

There is something very comforting about the smell of a cake in the oven. Especially when it is your own oven! We have not baked in ages and finally (with the support of Mr Kong and Popo in minding JW), the above turns up in our oven just an hour ago. It still smells lovely downstairs, and hopefully will taste just as good tomorrow morning for breakfast.

Its always handy to have a banana cake recipe on hand to use up all those over ripe left over bananas. This one involved honey, which Mrs Kong thought sounded a little too much initially but is a little more luxurious than plain old sugar. In line with the Kong household "Kempen Jangan Membazir" we have used up 4 very ripe almost transparent bananas, soon to expire flour and some of the orang asli honey we bought from Cameron Highlands (don't ask us when). All local ingredients - so does this count as environmentally friendly as well?

Picture of the Day

Mrs Kong's boys

A Mother's Well Being

They say the maternal instinct kicks in as one becomes a mother. The urge to care for young infant or child is so strong that very few can deny such an instinct. It is an emotion so strong that "self sacrifice" is often mentioned to described this infinite love of a mother for her child.

Right ... self sacrifice.

Lying in the shadows of the mother's 'sacrifices for her child' is a mother's well being. Or does this even exist anymore after tending 24/7 to your child? The Mother's Book of Well Being, by Lisa Groen Brauner, stresses the importance of caring for one's self to be able to care for one's child (albeit an infant - it does apply to all mothers and not those of infants only).

This is the central theme of this book, and though this message begins to sound repetitive after awhile, it does hold a truth so commonly denied by many mothers out there: that their own happiness is just as important thing for their children as food and love.

To share an excerpt from The Mother's Book of Well Being (page 55):

"Our children are directly affected by us, and indirectly affected about how well we care for ourselves. When we are healthy, our interactions with them are healthy. When we are troubled - with relationships, work, or otherwise - we are not the only ones who endure it. Becoming a mother causes us to think beyond ourselves, but we cannot forget ourselves in the process. It is not in the best interest of our children to deny our own needs. The act of self nurturing is not selfish; it is essential to us and to the health of our families."

Hence, in our child centric'/ 'put-the-needs-of-the-ones-you-love-first' society, it is important to remember one's own needs. As a mother, remember the importance of your own needs and do not deny them - and it will indeed do wonders for your family.

Mother's Day and Mrs Kong's mother's day present

JW at Mother's Day lunch. They ran out of spoons for kids..

A hectic day for restaurants and shops selling all Mother's Day it was. JW, Mr Kong, Mrs Kong and po po braved the crowds for a mother's day brunch at Oriental in Jaya 33. The restaurant floor was extended out towards the escalators and still there was a queue for tables after we arrived. Although we were lucky enough to get a table without much fuss, we soon encountered another problem - the shortage of dim sum - kid you not.

Nevertheless, it has been a great Mother's Day weekend, Mrs Kong would like to report; catching up on lost sleep, time for R&R and just breathing space - all for Mrs Kong that is. Mr Kong voluntereed his services as nanny, maid and driver! (pretty sure Mr Kong is now ready for Father's Day)

As for Mrs Kong's mother's day pressie for the day it has to be the little wave goodbye from JW as he hopped and skipped out of the house at 8am with his father to check out the digger at the end of our street. No fuss, just a quick turn around and wave ... "bye bye mummy". He hesitates and looks back as he hears the words "Bye bye JW, I love you", as if to say 'I will miss you' but quickly turns back to his father as the digger awaits!

Our little boy is growing up - happy, healthy and strong. Best mother's day present ever.

Happy mother's day, mummies out there!

Last week of Freedom?

Its been 4 months of joy and happiness - being "help" less. Our last helper left in December 2009 and Mrs Kong has been spending her days alone with JW. It has seemed longer than 4 months, but it has been good overall.

Over the last 4 months, we have seen a very unsteady JW (on his feet) to a little toddler who rarely sits still. He has learned a whole lot more independence and self reliance. He has also learned how to load and start the washing machine, though his effectiveness still needs working on. He seems to be developing in the direction we want him to be. He has learned that there are times when he will have to entertain himself (though he does not necessarily do so all the time). As a family, we are more spontaneous and candid. We have had so many more laughs, just the three of us.

All that aside, it is time now to consider additional domestic help. Mrs Kong cannot help but wonder how this will affect our family and JW's development. How will things change? Or do we already know. ...