The Evolution of my Warrior Princess Mehrnaz Zahra

My 2^nd born Mehrnaz was born a premie, very sick and at that time doctors gave her only a 50% chance of survival within 48 hours.   

 With ALLAH’s will, prayers from family and friends, our endless support and obviously medical staff from East Shore Hospital as well as KKH, our warrior princess Mehrnaz pulled through. She spent 10 days in Isolation Room at the NICU and another about 20 days in the High dependency ward before being discharged. I spent everyday day in the hospital with her from morning to night. At night, I woke up every 2-3 hours to express milk for her supply in the hospital. And this goes on for the whole month. My mom helped me watch over Neelu on some days and on other days, she goes the daycare centre at the same hospital, since I used to work in KKH too.

During her first 3 years of life, Mehrnaz is one tough cookie. She has always been very temperamental and very hot tempered. At times, I just lost it! I am very sure the teachers at her daycare can vouch for it. She looks so sweet and innocent BUT she is a very tough kid. She loves to hang out more with the boys. She climbs the window panels like a SPIDERMAN with the lil boys in the infant room.

Once she moved to the Toddler class, she displays a very strong character, I call that STUBBORN!

Thankfully the teachers at Learning Vision @ KKH during those years are wonderful and very patient. They tolerated her and eventually managed to calm her lil more. As time goes by, she became less hot tempered and temperamental.

When she was around 4 years old, I quit my job and became a SAHM. She therefore has to be transferred to a PCF Kindergarten near my home. This move saw another change in her; she became more reserved and anti-social. She refused to participate in class activities and play with only selected friends. I am not sure if it has anything to do with that school. About a year later, we moved to Pasir Ris and she attends another PCF Kindergarten nearby our new home, and in this school I can see her change for the better.

She still has that strong character and very straight forwards with her views, however, she made more friends now, participate in class activities and most importantly will never ever want to miss a day of school. She loves going to school. She also surprised me when she expressed her desire to take part in pageants like how Neelu always did. Previously, when I sign Neelu up for pageants, Mehr will not want. She does not like the attention, so I do not want to force her. I always want them to do things they enjoy.

Since this time she wants to join, I signed both of them up for this particular pageant. Hmmmm….. But sadly I feel that was the biggest mistake I made for Mehrnaz!

That was our first time joining this type of big scale pageants, so I did not know that is a “BUY YOUR OWN TIARA” kind of pageant. The more u spent in the pageant, the higher your chance of getting crowned. Honestly, I have heard if such things in pageants involving adults but with KIDS, that’s my first encounter and definitely the last!

Mehr started off being very shy during the first few rehearsals but gradually she transformed to this girl who is more confident. She did the Q & A, the beachwear and also performed a talent show.

Sadly, during the final she is the only kid in that category that did not get anything. In fact, there are only 4 of them in that category. One kid refused to do it at the last minute and left 3. It was quite shocking to see them crown 2 winners for that same category for the same title. One of the girls surely deserves it, she speaks, talks and walks very well, but the other kid, her parent spent a BOMB and that we know! 

Honestly, she really did not do well but from what I heard later, they got to crown her coz he parent spent a lot on the pageant. Pffft!!! And that not only pisses me off, it hurts Mehr’s pride very badly. Since then she took another turn and became very negative. She always believes that she cannot do well. 

After that event, for the 1^st time Mehr broke down, she told me that they are so unfair. In her words “But that girl never walk properly, only bang anyhow on the drum set for talent and they give her a crown! I hate them!” That breaks my heart and I told myself never will I ever put any of my kids thru these kind of things!

So yeah, that brought her down again, but we never gave up on her! Soon, she got offered a role for Ollie and Friends Season 2 and many more TVCs etc... I told her then,” See, if you have real talent, it takes real people to recognize you, and that particular girl do not even get the chance to do things like you are doing now” It made her feel a lil better but still not so confident yet.

Finally, this year after her Throwback: Balik Kampong adventure, and also encouragement from her school principal for her to give a speech in school, my warrior princess emerged again! She came back one day telling me that she wants to take part in her school story telling competition. I let her tried it out; she auditioned for it and got selected to represent her class. And she surprised us even more on stage when she spoke so fluently and with full confidence. 

She even got a 2^nd prize for that competition.

And since then, I see her positive side again and now she takes pride in all her work. She even got nominated as a Model Pupil this month.

Anyway, what prompted me to write this lengthy post was today’s episode of Throwback: Balik Kampong. I wasn’t there when the kids were doing the drawing and what Rozz said is very true, if nothing is done about her being so negative about herself, it’s going to be a problem later for her in life J

 http://video.toggle.sg/en/series/throwback-balik-kampong/ep6/327822

Anyway, each kid is different. Each of them has their own strength and weakness. You got to spend as much time as possible with them to notice their changes and guide them along the way. Childhood comes once in your kids’ lifetime, so don’t miss it.

All the above is just my personal honest opinion through my own experience,

Hope you have enjoyed watching all the episodes of 

Throwback : Balik Kampong so far.

Don't forget to cast your votes for your favourite family and here is how you do it :-

Ø Download "Togglenow" App

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Voting will be closed on 14th April 10pm Singapore Time !!!!

How we spent our days in the Kampong

A usual day for us in the kampong start as early as 7am and that’s not a problem for the kids as they are “morning people”. Even back at our own home, the kids wake up as early as 6:15am on school days and 7:30am on weekends!! (So, now you know we seldom get to sleep in even on WEEKENDS!)

First, I’ll get the kids to brush their teeth while I get their breakfast ready. After breakfast, I’ve got to quickly shower them (especially for Mehr & Shona), get them changed and plaid their hair. Coz we normally start our challenges early in the morning and end not later than 10pm, therefore, I make sure I do their hair properly coz it’s so HOT anyway! Oh yeah, in the morning my girls do not wash their hair coz we do not have any hair dryers to blow dry them. They will normally shower again at night after finish filming, even if it’s after 10pm! Coz my girls can’t sleep without a good shower, and since at night we do not have to rush, I can give them a good body and hair wash!

Anyway, after doing their hair in the morning, I will make sure they have mosquito repellent sprayed all over them (Thank God! It’s those orange scented mosquito repellent or else they going to smell like SHELTOX!)

Then off we go for our tasks / challenges. The first few days we were so busy adapting to the tight schedules that the girls do not even have time for afternoon naps. We will have lunch break for about 2 hours, that’s when I’ll feed the two younger ones and then wipe them up with wet towels and re-do their hair if need to. Neelu’s hair normally stays quite neat the whole day, but for Mehr & Shona, keeping their hair neat is ANOTHER CHALLENGE TOTALLY!!!! Arrrggghhhhh!!!

 

And at the same time, there will be the normal squabbles/complains/fighting between Mehr and Shona mostly and at times even Neelu. Hmmm… so another role for me, REFREEING! But I am sure, those who know me personally will know how I “DISCIPLINE SILENTLY” Hahahaha!

During our “free periods”, the kids will be playing together most of the time and amazingly, they dun feel tired! 

But the parents, I think we took a longer time to adapt to the tiredness! So while the kids play, the parents will find a shady area to sit and chit chat.

And our main topic of discussion will always be counting the number of days left! And at times even trying to come up with plans like how to do an escape like “jail break”, but if it happened ours will be “KAMPONG BREAK!”

Anyway, slowly the days passed and we survived each day eventually. Oh yeah, we also sometimes secretly pray for RAIN! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA and that’s definitely something the production do not want coz it will affect their schedules but for us it will mean more time to laze! Anyway, our prayers were not really answered coz if I remember correctly it rained only for less than 3 days during our whole stay there! Pfft!!!

No matter how bad our days were there, today that I am back at home, I sometimes wish we are still at the Kampong where the day goes by much slower and the air is sooooooo FRESH! 

If only we have FANS and lights, better toilets and NO cats visiting me, I would gladly stay there longer!

Oh well, now let’s sit in front of your TV set coz THROWBACK: BALIK KAMPONG EPISODE 6 starting in 5 minutes on Channel 5!!!

Getting used to the Kampong

Now that decision has been made and we have been convinced that ALL IZZZ WELL!

Before we left for the adventure, we were given a medical check-up for insurance purpose.

On the day of medical check-up, we met the Awads for the first time and that was when I realized that we are DEFINITELY going to be at a disadvantage as our family consists of 1 ADULT and 3 young girls! 

From that day on, I started talking to the girls and start to prepare them mentally, I told them that Winning is not a MUST, most importantly for us is to enjoy this experience, have FUN and be safe :) 

A few days later, all the 3 families are gathered for a meeting, That was our first time meeting the TANS and I am honestly glad to know that they have kids as young as mine, and that also assured me that my girls, especially Shona will have loads of fun as she have friends to play with.

During the short meeting, the kids get to know each other better. Neelu and Mehr enjoyed Hannah's company.

After the meeting ended, I felt a sense of assurance that we will be fine coz I know that in times of need, I am able to get help from the other two families. 

Before we know it, the day came and off we go.

One thing for sure, I never ever thought filming for a reality show can be sooooo TOUGH!

On the first day of shoot, we spent a couple of hours just doing the walking into the Kampong scene. 

Yes, it look really nice on TV to see us walk in a group with our suitcases down the road and into the Kampong BUT the sweat we shed just for that scene is MADNESS!! I was very sure we have started losing some weight from the 1st shoot itself! 


The kids especially the Tans and mine deserve a big pat on their back for the patience and effort doing the same scene repeatedly. NOT ALL KIDS can tolerate that I tell you! And these kids are not even 10 years old!

Anyway, since we are there, we just got to move on!

On the first day, our bags were taken away from us and we were given a NEW SET OF CLOTHING, Kampong clothing. It’s not so bad for me but for my girls the outfits they got were really uncomfortable, you know how thick saree material is and with the very hot weather, I really feel bad for them. But we do not have any other choice. I am glad my girls have been very understanding and adapted to the drastic changes quite well. Of course there have been some moments and complaints from them at times but after some explanations, they did as told.

 Next, is the hidden challenge that we were obviously not aware of! The first hut we were told to share was purposely left with broken walls, doors, windows etc.

We were actually expected to do the repair works together. Obviously, the men started working on the repair works as much as they can. As for me, being the only team without a MAN in my family, watched over my kids instead, together with the other 2 mommies. After all, this is a new place and I have to make sure none of my kids got lost somewhere in the kampong.

After sometime, the hosts came back and told us that we were actually judged on how much work we did to repair the broken hut, and the WINNER of this hidden challenge will be given the 1^st chance to choose their “new home”.

Therefore, for very obvious reasons the Azimullah team/girls got the last place! So we were supposed to take whichever home was left.

That’s the beginning of us failing in all challenges, but the TANS showed us there is still kindness after all! They actually gave up their chance to pick one out of the 2 homes left! I am definitely very touched by their action and kindness. So, we picked the 2^nd house which was situated very near the base camp and in between the other 2 houses. 

The TANS gesture gave me the opportunity to assure my girls that winning is NOT everything and losing doesn't mean it’s the end.

                                        

With the subsequent challenges thrown at us, we got used to LOSING and not getting upset about it all! We have come to terms that being able to complete the challenges and not backing out is already an achievement for our family.

                         

Life is short, so just be HAPPY and enjoy the moments since we are already there!

Till the next blog post, goodbye and lots of love from the AZIMULLAH Sisters

We are THROWNBACK TO 1960s!!!! - How it all happened!

As most of you would have known by now, we the Azimullah Family are currently on Channel 5 every Sunday at 9:30pm for Singapore's 1st ever Family Reality Show called "THROWBACK : BALIK KAMPONG"

Anyway, in today's post, I will try to summarize our experience there at the kampong and try to answer some of the questions asked.

It all started somewhere in September 2014, I received a phone call from the production house asking if we would like to join in this experience together as family. The moment they mentioned KAMPONG, I said NO!

Although it sounds really fun and definitely a good learning experience for my girls, just the thought of living in a kampong surrounded by so many animals like CATS, DOGS, and CHICKENS and knows what else freaked me out. I have been very afraid of cats since young, so I know it’s IMPOSSIBLE for us to live in a KAMPONG! I don't even patronize hawker centres because of cats! Even when we travelled to Malaysia, whenever there are stop overs at their "makan" joints, I will volunteer to be the "caretaker" of our car. I will gladly settle for a Ramly Burger and a can of Coke, and have my "ME" time alone in the car while everyone else will enjoy food like seafood, satay etc...

Back to this story again, however, the people at the production house still feels that we will be good for that show and continued calling me again and tried to convince me that everything will be fine and I still remember one of them promised me that they will make sure CATS will not come into my house in the kampong. With that, I somehow feel a lil safe and knowing that since my Hubby will be around it should not be that bad after all. I finally agreed.

Soon enough, another setback surfaced! On those dates that we are required to do the filming, Hubby cannot take leave and that means him NOT JOINING US!!!! It’s impossible for him to be away from office again coz he have applied for 2 weeks leave during the end of December for our trip to Dubai and that definitely cannot be cancelled nor postponed. So I thought that should settle this issue now. Hubby not around and we can't go without him.

However, the guys from the production house felt that I should still give it a try, just at least audition for it with the girls.

Finally, after further discussion with my hubby and the kids, we agreed to let them audition us. The guys from the production house are so nice that they came to audition us at home instead. (Audition is mandatory to get approval from MediaCorp).

Before the audition, I really do not think we will get selected at all coz we do not have the complete family, however, after the audition ended, I started to have sleepless nights.

I was really in two minds! Part of me tells me that I should do it coz the girls are so excited about the kampong adventure! The other side of me is so worried coz how am I supposed to do it without my hubby around in an unknown place! So yeah, almost every night I can't sleep coz I don’t know if I should hope that we get selected or NOT!

I think like 3 days later, I got the call and YES we are selected!!! For some reason, MediaCorp also felt that we are game (in my word INSANE) enough to be part of this show. It was really a moment of mixed feelings. I remembered telling the staff that called me, "I really don’t know if I should be HAPPY about this or NOT"

And so yeah, from the day of that phone call, we have like about 3 weeks to prepare. And for me it was really a MAD RUSH!

I've got to prepare for:-

• purchasing of kids school books / uniforms / shoes etc
• wrapping and labelling of their school books (3 sets)
• stitching of name tags on uniforms (2 sets)
• preparing our luggages for the Dubai Trip (4 bags)
• and also our basic needs for the kampong stay

All the above have to be done on my own (except for the purchasing part) and to be completed in 3 weeks, coz a few days after the kampong trip , we will be heading to Dubai and will return from Dubai on the 3rd day of school!

Anyway, with help from my 2 elder daughters, Neelu and Mehr, we DID it!

Finally the day came, and knowing that I'll be alone with the kids most of the time, we travelled really light!

We packed only the very necessary items and left with 1 BIG SUITCASE!

Anyway, above is a picture of the girls on the morning of our departure to the kampong. 

And below is a picture of them after a week in the KAMPONG!

Okie, now it’s time for me to fetch the girls from school, will continue with the next segment about our first few days in the kampong, in my next post.

Till then, if have missed any of the episodes or just felt like watching them again, you can find them in the link below:-

http://tv.toggle.sg/en/channel5/shows/throwback-balik-kampong/episodes

Stay tuned for more updates from the AZIMULLAH family!!!

Its about the past & the future , the Children & Grandchildren

Today, just like almost every other Singaporean, we too paid our tribute to the late MM Mr Lee Kuan Yew. Its impossible for us to go over to the Parliament House with 3 kids and waiting for so many hours, therefore, the next best thing we can do is to head down to Pasir Ris East CC.

Shona went with her schoolmates on Friday and have since been telling us about how the late MM Mr Lee Kuan Yew contributed to the modern Singapore. She is able to relate to the stories about old Singapore very well and appreciate all the conveniences we have now and all thanks to our experience staying in the kampong during the filming of THROWBACK : BALIK KAMPONG.

So to be fair, today Neelu and Mehr went to pay their tributes and got to pen down their thoughts as well. A very solemn moment in the hall as everyone paid their respect and write down their thoughts.

  

As we walked home, we talked about how lucky we are now that we have water directly from our taps and not getting from the well anymore. How fortunate we are now with the comfort of fans, AC and lights at home, unlike those days in the kampong when we have to use oil lamps for lighting and "satay" fans to keep cool.

Anyway, back at home, after our usual hug and kiss routine, the girls went to bed. However, since I was quite bored, I went over to my baby Shona who is sleeping and start whispering to her and telling her how much I love them and how much I miss my babies now that they are all grown up. Suddenly I got a response from her! Shona said with her eyes still closed, "Nevermind Mommy, when I grow up you can play with my children." WHAT?!!! and so this "evil mommy" probe further.

Mommy : Your children?! How many children will you have?
Shona : I dunno
Mommy : How many do you want to have?
Shona : Three Only
Mommy : Oh okie, but what if your children are like u ? They don't want to stay with me, they want to go home with their Mommy and Papa
Shona : Okie, then you can go to my house and play with them
Mommy : What? So when u grow up, you are going to leave me and Papa alone in this house?
Shona : (By now a lil irritated) But you always say you and Papa want to spend time together right? So now I give you chance!

That just got me burst out laughing at her but I dun think Shona find that funny at all!. With a very unhappy face, she said "Can I sleep now Mommy?" and off she went back to sleep hugging the bolster!

However, that got me thinking. Has she really planned that far ahead or is she just entertaining me hoping that I will shut up and let her sleep. Haiz.....

Why do the kids grow up so fast?!