Right. First off, I was supposed to post this several hours ago. But like almost every single day of my life, I can’t seem to get my act together to ensure that everything happens the way I want it to. I’m just going to ramble on and put in some pictures (from our annual photo shoot with Steph Tan) that are almost totally unrelated to the post and hope that no one notices.

Morning. Utter chaos. I wake up at 6am. I used to take the firstborn to school and she would have a nervous breakdown and sit outside my room and cry if we didn’t leave the house by 6.30am. These days, she’s decided that Daddy should drive her so I take it easy and leave the house about 6.45am to go to work. Then the husband comes back home and takes the boys to childcare and kindy.

Mid-morning to late afternoon. I work my butt off. I’m a teacher and I enjoy my job. Of course there are angsty moments but I wouldn’t give it up. While working, I also have to ensure that the kids are alive and in the correct locations and deal with various administrative issues that never fail to pop up. We have forgotten to pick children or they have been missed from the school bus on certain occasions. Not proud of it but it has happened and will keep happening.

Also, at any time, I’m in about 10 different Whatsapp chat groups dealing with various aspects of the kids’ lives (class group, enrichment class group, swimming class group, birthday party group, after school care group, etc.). The husband is not in any of these groups. Sometimes I take a kid to enrichment class in the afternoon. Thanks to a whole village support system (consisting of parents, in-laws, aunts, siblings, friends), we get quite a bit of help with the ferrying around for various things and when work gets in the way.

Evening. We collect the kids from various locations and get home for dinner. Sometimes I go for bootcamp or rollerblade or even head out with friends. This is quite a recent development now that the baby is a lot more independent. The husband has tennis on some evenings. There’s almost always one of us around to read the kids a bedtime story and put them to bed. After they are asleep is when I catch up with work or blogging.

The thing about being a FTWM (at least from my personal experience and IMHO) is that I am always tired, I never get enough sleep, I constantly feel like I’m forgetting something or other, and there is an incredible amount of stress when something falls through the cracks. And so many things fall through the cracks. The sheer amount of mummy guilt associated with being a working mum is so insurmountable that I’ve chosen to ignore it altogether and I refuse to feel guilty about my chosen path.

So here’s hoping that all those articles about children of working mums turning out well, that daughters of working mums are more successful and sons more caring, are true. And I can’t emphasise this enough: whether you choose to work full-time, part-time, from home, or not at all, whatever works for your family and keeps you sane is the best decision you can make. Cheers to mothers everywhere.

Next up is Debs G from Owls Well whose day in a life is all about teaching her youngest kid how to toddler. Debs is a Sunda Scops Owl who married a nice British Barn Owl and is raising a trio of hungry young owlets in a highrise tree in Singapore. Debs is a trained medical professional who is currently training to be A Parent. Debs also blogs about her adventures abroad at Owl Fly Away. Occasionally, she posts pictures on her Instagram account at @4owlswell

Thank you for hopping on board this blog train hosted by the inspirational Justina of Mum in the Making. Click on Day in a Life blog train to take a peek into a day in the life of other mummies!

It’s October and we all know what that means. No, not Oktoberfest and the accompanying beer and sausages. We’re looking forward to Octoburst! at the Esplanade! There’s a whole range of ticketed and free performances and activities and here are some of the ones that caught our eye.

1. Little Red Riding Hood

Retrace Little Red Riding Hood’s path in the woods with two little ones as they play a game of ‘what-if’ and pretend! Join the duo as they turn the pages in a light-hearted story filled with new discoveries at every turn. Enter the belly of the wolf and experience the tale of Little Red Riding Hood like never before.

Little Red Riding Hood

Octoburst! Drawing Competition and Colouring Fun

3. Tumbling Tower and Giant Bowling

How high can you stack the blocks before they tumble to the ground? How many giant pins can you knock down with just one roll of the bowling ball? Will it be a strike? From 11am to 7pm at Courtyard Green.

Tumbling Tower and Giant Bowling

4. The Secret Life of Suitcases

Larry works in an office and he likes it very much. He likes sorting and tidying and generally putting things in order – everything in its place, a place for everything.

But one day, a suitcase suddenly appears at his door…A suitcase with a tiny label and a tiny label with Larry’s name on it. And this suitcase has a mission.

Join Larry in The Secret Life of Suitcases as his world gets turned upside down by a fantastical flying suitcase, taking him further than he ever thought possible. Follow Larry’s journey as he discovers the thrill of adventure and the joy of coming home again.

7 Oct 2016: 2pm & 5pm; 8 Oct 2016: 11am & 2pm; 9 Oct 2016: 11am & 2pm
For ages 4 and up. Buy tickets at $20 each here.

The Secret Life of Suitcases

5. Octopost

Here’s your chance to send someone you love a handwritten postcard. Grab a postcard, design it any way you like and pen your message down. Don’t forget to drop your completed postcard into the Octopost post box, especially created by visual artist, Budi Agung Kuswara.

Octopost

6. Draw me a Story

Through storytelling and illustrations, Chen Zhao Jin, a familiar name to many, brings laughter and fun to the whole family with entertaining tales. Performed in Mandarin with English synopsis provided. 7 – 9 Oct, 3.15pm, library@Esplanade

Draw Me a Story《说说画画》

7. Parent-Child Workshop: Animate-a-Story!

Tell a story through animation! Learn the basics of animation in a fun artist-led workshop.. Find out how you can use brainstorming and storyboarding techniques to weave  a story, before drawing and colouring in your illustrations. After the workshop, the artist will use the illustrations to create a short animated clip which will be sent to you.

Parent-Child Workshop: Animate-a-Story!

8. A Pipe-Ful Play Garden

This is the perfect place to have some fun in the sun! Back again this year, this activity is about constructing an ever-growing pipe-maze that everyone can participate and play in. Don’t miss this interactive community artwork that encourages teamwork, learning and family bonding through play! From 11am to 7pm at Courtyard Green.

A Pipe-Ful Play Garden

9. Book Stop

Bring along a pre-loved children’s book to exchange for a new read at the Book Stop. Spend some quiet time reading your new treasure or pick a book to bring it back home with you. 7 Oct, 2 – 6pm; 8 & 9 Oct, 11am – 6pm, TributeSG Corner

Book Stop!

10. Ants

The ants go marching one by one…but not for long! These giant ants mean business as they scurry around, gather a colony of worker kid-ants and go into nooks and crannies searching for crumbs!

Join the task-focused insects in Ants, an exciting and interactive roving act that brings children together as they discover, play and collaborate.

Ants

Are you excited yet? We are! See you there!

When Wicked played in Singapore in 5 years ago, we enjoyed the award-winning production so much that missing the 2016 production was out of the question. We simply had to watch it again. And after catching Wicked last Friday, we have not stopped listening to the amazing songs on the soundtrack.

Wicked brings to life the untold story of the unlikely friendship between two girls who first meet as sorcery students at Shiz University: the blonde and very popular Glinda and the misunderstood (and green) Elphaba. Following an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in the Emerald City, their friendship reaches a crossroads and their lives take very different paths. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfil their destinies as Glinda The Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.

Wicked has won 100 international awards, including three Tony Awards on Broadway and two Olivier Awards in London’s West End and it’s not hard to see why! This unforgettable stage musical features incredible technical wizardry, stunning costumes and powerful songs by three-time Academy Award winner Stephen Schwartz. You definitely don’t want to miss this.

the students at Shiz University

Dr Dillamond, the only Animal professor

Emerald City

Glinda and Elphaba clash

I think I’ll try defying gravity!

SEASON & TICKETING DETAILS

WICKED
Season: From 29 Sep – 20 Nov 2016
Venue: Grand Theatre, MasterCard Theatres at Marina Bay Sands
Performance times: Tue – Fri: 8pm; Sat – 2 & 8pm; Sun – 1 & 6pm
Ticket price: From S$55 (Excludes the booking fee of SGD$4 per ticket)
Internet:  www.MarinaBaySands.com/ticketing or www.sistic.com.sg
Phone:   +65 6688 8826
In Person At: Marina Bay Sands Box Offices (Museum, Theatres, SkyPark, Retail Mall and Hotel Tower 1 Lobby).

Disclaimer: We received two complimentary tickets to watch this performance. All opinions are my own. All photos used are from Wicked the Musical.