That Mom Of Four

*Media Drop*  As we approach the end of the holidays and prepare our little ones for the new school term, one of the important things we need to gear them up with is their backpack.  . Thank you @moonrockbags.sg for this ergonomic backpack for Miss LaLa! She tried it yesterday and really liked how the convenient magnetic sternum lock and hip belt help keep her bag from slipping and swinging around while she walking or running. And in this humid climate, the breathable hollow chamber foam allowed for active air flow and ventilation around her back. She got really excited when it started drizzling and I used the protective cover that came along with the bag to wrap and shield it. . As a parent I really appreciate some of the unique features of the backpack such as the 5-point support and O-Ring multi-angle strap that provides comprehensive protection for her growing spine. The spinal-shaped ergonomic aluminum allow bar fitted inside the school bag also provides support and ...

As we approach the tail end of the year, I’m sure many like myself will take some time to reflect back on the happenings and learnings from the past year. And 2017 has been an extremely significant one for me since the opening of Trium Fitness and finding a way to manage my family and the business while my husband is stationed overseas. From the time we opened the studio’s doors till this day, I’ve learnt so much and it’s not just about running a business, but also managing relationships and expectations, about handling major stress and anxiety, and understanding the importance of connection.  All too often we’re communicating, but are you truly connecting? As a teacher, I do make an effort to get to know my students and connect with them so they feel comfortable enough to tell me more about themselves and allow me to guide them through their fitness journey more successfully once I know where their weaknesses and strengths lie. As a working mother of four girls, I don’t just call ...

*Media drop* Thank you @honestbeesg for the surprise this afternoon right afternoon my lunchtime class! And you gave me just what I needed to refuel 💪🏻. The freshness of the fruit in the hamper was very much appreciated too!  . As a mother of four and business owner my time is very precious. So the fact that honestbee can now deliver my groceries as fast as the next hour or on the same day, it truly is a very welcome convenience for me.  . Fresh by honestbee is the newest addition to the the honestbee family and was just launched islandwide.  . Download their app to your phone or visit their website at www.honestbee.sg to purchase from Fresh. . #honestbee #freshnyhonestbee #thatmomoffour #fresh #groceryshopping #convenience #bloggermom #sgblogger #sgbloggers #smile #instagood 

Bringing up an army of girls and toughening them up ain’t an easy feat. As a parent I teach them to be hardy and have grit, but I also nurture them to have kindness and love for others in their hearts.  This school holiday I’ve taken them along with me to several charity initiatives where they’ve had to carry heavy groceries and deliver them door to door to the elderly and drop off bags of necessities to the Boy’s Brigade. And today they  got involved in an initiative #bethegift where the wishes of the less privileged children to gift something to their caregiver is fulfilled.   All these involvements open their eyes and hearts to something bigger and I can only hope that they will continue to benefit and bring love and care to the less fortunate when they’re adults. ❤️. #girlarmy #dawnsgirlarmy #girlsquad #daughtersrock

Some of the enchanting things about Christmas include the snow and seeing how our little ones try to catch them before it lands on the ground. There’s also the stories about Christmas and how it came about. Not forgetting the wonderment of telling Santa your wish for this season and seeing the smiles on loved ones when you make their wish come true. Traveling somewhere this season to experience all this may not be possible for some of us but there are still ways to experience all this wonderment and see the faces and spirits of your little ones light up brighter than the lights on a Christmas tree. When we visited the Magical Realm at Velocity, not only did my babies get to listen to Father Christmas and Jack Frost share about the stories of Christmas, the little ones were treated with popcorn and candy floss and they also got to sit in a carriage and take some pictures with a life-size Christmas themed carousel.  What was most special about the visit here was the massive snow glob...

What is your biggest source of purpose for what you do? Is it family, religion or even your work. When we have meaning in what we do it buffers us against burnout and exhaustion.  As a working mother, on most days I only get 4 to 6 hours of sleep but getting to do what I love and having a meaningful impact on those I interact and deal with just energizes me and I feel better able to handle the difficult stuff. And it harder for me while my other half is stationed for years overseas for work. There is more than one way to look at a situation but when you give meaning to what you do, notice how everything changes. No matter how tired I am, the thought of heading out to play with these guys and making memories just works better than 4 cups of espresso. Family is definitely one of my main source of purpose. ❤️

In between taking care of the 4 of them, teaching classes, managing my clients and running a business, there’s not very much time left for myself but at the end of the end of the day I always feel like the luckiest girl on earth. The four of them have taught me so much about life and love and given me so much joy that I could burst. No matter how tired I am there is always enough energy to do stuff together, even if it means I have to be the sofa for the baby. Yes my hands are full and some days I literally crash into bed, but my heart is also filled with so much love and gratitude. And I wouldn’t want it any other way ❤️

This is the first year we got involved in the charity fundraising event Operation Broken Wing which benefits youth across the region through fitness. These youngsters may come from dysfunctional families, have no support to receive schooling or have anti social behaviors.  It was heartwarming indeed to see not just grown ups but also many teens and young kids including my second little girl taking part in #fightforhope , the workout in this movement to help raise funds for the cause. Not only was it inspiring to watch the athletes strive to raise as much funds as possible through the repetitions and weights that they completed and lifted, but the atmosphere with all the supporters cheering on made my heart swell. I’m a proud momma for sure and if the event happens again next year, I’ll be sure to join in too!

Let's face it, long distance relationships are tough to maintain especially when the time difference makes it hard to connect on phone calls and video calls at convenient timings for both parties. And in our case with both of us working as well as our four little ones who go to school and come home at various timings, you can imagine how challenging it can be to get everyone together at the same time to video chat. Nevertheless we've made it work over the years whenever the daddyman or I have to travel overseas for work for weeks, months and in our current situation.... years.  And none of this would have been possible without the help and support from our loved ones especially my mum and dad ❤️. Thank you grandma and grandpa!  They say it takes a village to raise a child and I wouldn't contest that, but with four kids to raise I am nothing short of grateful for the unconditional love and support from our loved ones who have played such an important role in being such great...

What would be the toughest part of this near month-long holiday to see their dad in the USA? Apart from handling the kids alone while flying and transiting....it really was when we had to say goodbye to the man who took such good care of us these past few weeks and pampered us like we were princesses (and a queen).    From the moment I knew we were making this trip to visit their dad in the United States, I already started to worry about how I would manage the four kids alone. Yes a lot of prep work had to be done especially in enrolling the older girls to help with the baby and the luggages. And it's really no joke having to collect our checked-in luggages upon arrival at LA, going through customs, finding our way to the domestic terminal from the international terminal in order to check-in these luggages again and then catching another domestic flight to Idaho. The trip back to Singapore is much of a hassle too but this is was all so worth it considering the memories and exp...

This is the third year that International Yoga Day will be celebrated since its inception in 2015. This day was declared by the United Nations General Assembly and what's so significant about the 21st of June which was chosen as Yoga Day is the fact that it's the longest day of the year. This special signifies Global Peace, Harmony and Health, and celebrates the practice of yoga as well as spreading the awareness and benefits of the practice. It's doesn't matter what physical limitations we have, what age we're at and what style of the practice speaks more to us. Everyone can can benefit from incorporating Yoga into their lifestyle, even if it's just starting off with a small component of it. It doesn't have to be all or nothing :) And what better way to start off International Yoga Day than a practice with my girl army? Yes, puppy included! ❤      

Back home in Singapore I always make the time to recharge myself at some of my favorite spots at the beach. Sinking my feet in the sand and letting the waves lap at my legs..... breathing in the sea spray or just standing on the cool grass just beyond the shoreline, all these make me feel more alive and rejuvenated and I always leave the beach with a smile on my face and my heart ❤️. For the past week while we drove to Las Vegas and Los Angeles and spent time in the theme parks and the city..... I didn't have much of a chance to get that recharging that I needed, so it felt extremely satisfying this afternoon when we got to stop by the Parganagat National Wildlife Refuge.  I shared with my kids about how taking the time to just be quiet and alone in nature brings about such a positive effect on me and I can only hope they appreciate it as much as I do.     

I remember when I came to Disneyland the first time when I was a kid, the second time just after getting married, the third time after having 2 kids and now this fourth time we're back here again with 4 kids. And it never gets old ❤ Disneyland is for kids and the inner child in all adults.  This time though the older kids are definitely enjoying the rides more and although the lines can sometimes put our bladders to the test..... seeing the faces of our kiddos light up makes it totally worth it.  And I'm so grateful that the hubs booked a hotel for us that's just a short walk away from Disneyland and Adventure Land so we can easily walk over to the theme parks for the next 3 days. Thank you Daddyman! Xoxo         

I've lost count how many times the hubs and I have been to Las Vegas, but over the years since 2001 after we got married till now, we've travelled here numerous times as a couple, with two very young children, while I was pregnant with Number 3 and now with 4 kids. And each time the experience is a little different.  Timing pee stops is definitely something we have to do while on this sort of road trip 😂 and obviously managing our shopping because otherwise we would just go stark crazy and end up not having leg room left in the MPV (yes it's happened before).  One thing I appreciate about #thatdadoffour is how he would make sure the kids have entertainment in the car during the long drives. Games, music, riddles...... Yes it's way better than in-flight entertainment. Ha! Visiting Vegas with babies does limit what we can do and the types of shows we can watch for sure. And it also means we often walk around with a sleeping child or in our current case..... sleeping chil...

So it's been almost 6 years since the hubs and I embarked on a road trip with the kids. The last time we drove across the different states was when we only had two kids and a baby in my belly. Now there's four of them aged between 10 and 1 so it's definitely a very different experience. Well for one thing, the number of bags we have to pack along and the size of the cooler box have to be upsized! Spending hours on the road also means keeping entertained in the car. And I must say the older kids have been nothing but helpful when it comes to the caring of the baby and being amazing travel companions.      Though we've been to several of the pit stops below multiple times, the kids have obviously forgotten many of them and are seeing these places with a fresh set of eyes again. And it makes my heart sing to see them being so happy looking at snow capped mountains...... herds of cows grazing and canyons. Can't wait till we get to Vegas and bring them to see the Grand C...