For a long time now, I have been wondering how to get back to writing regularly. I think about it… think again… and think some more… Procrastination being the easiest solution. Around the same time, I also wondered, how can I chronicle my life as a new mom… Motherhood is such a blessing, but it has its challenges too. While wanting to share the challenges I faced with all the other moms out there, in separate, more lengthy articles, I decided to keep this space upbeat, with regular small snippets on our lives and what I learn every day from my children. Like an open diary… For memories may fade… but digital ink doesn’t… And so, as the years roll by, I would like to be able to look back, read these stories and embrace myself with some of the most cherished moments of our lives.

On that note… Here’s my first tale…

Recently during the Chinese New Year holidays, we took a short break to Bintan, an Indonesian island just off the coast of Singapore. On our first morning at the resort, we went down for breakfast. It was the usual, large spread, with several different counters offering Asian, Western and local cuisine. For the children, I had asked my helpers to prepare some breakfast in our rooms, buttered toast for Miki, and oats cereal for Riki.

While they fed the children, Rahul and I did our usual rounds, collecting all our favourites, omelet, toast, fruits, fresh juice and some local vegetarian delicacies, hot fritters… Back to our seats, we dove into our food, sharing a few titbits with Miki to get him to taste new things.

Suddenly he shouted, “Red butter! Red butter! Mama! Red butter!”

We froze. Red butter?

I hesitated, still not comfortable with him having sugar, then shrugged. He deserved a treat for his amazing deduction. Whatever goes on the bread, must be some form of butter!

Henceforth, jam is going to be called Red Butter in our family!