Being A Stay-At-Home-Mum

While leaving the work force has never been the aim of my life, I have very little choice now that I'm in Melbourne, not Kuala Lumpur where you can easily hire a domestic maid or get your parents to help out with babysitting chores.

Well, no siree. Only the rich can afford domestic maids in this country. As a result, most mothers (and a few fathers) stay home to look after the kids and manage the house. Most mums here are terrific multi-taskers - they play various roles in the household - housekeeper, child minder, cook, garderner, dentist, doctor, hairdresser, driver, etc. It's a wonder some of these superwomen haven't had any nervous breakdown!

And some of these women are truly, really superwomen. I know some mums at Joshua's school who have 4 kids. One of them is mum to Joshua's classmate, Angus. Angus is the oldest kid and he has 3 younger siblings that his mum sometimes brings along when she sends him to school or picks him up.

I only have 2 kids and after doing my daily chores I barely have time for myself but I have no regrets. I knew what was in store for me before coming over here. I didn't and still don't mind all this. I've had enough of the rat race in the corporate world. So here I am playing multiple roles for my husband and kids.

It's hard work running the household without much help from my significant other but it sure beats staying in the same house with his parents! At least I'm now queen of the house. I can do whatever I want, discipline my kids in any manner that I see fit without interference from maddling in-laws, cook dishes my way and watch my favourite movies or TV programmes after the kids have gone to sleep.

The only drawback is the lack of regular income. No "real" work, no pay. Well, you win some, you lose some. Perhaps, later, when both the kids are at school, I'll have time to go out and do some casual work. Yep, I think this will work out wonderfully.