The Maestro and the Orchestra

It has been only a couple of months since the first grandchild was born in the family, but I am sure it has felt like an eternity for the newly minted parents.

Even before the inaugural date of conception, the work of raising a human being was already in full gear. Getting through nine months of enabling a healthy foetus to flourish is no walk in the park. It was not just one person’s lifestyle and dietary habits that had to shift - overnight, if you have to be rid of bubble tea and late-night nibbles after an intense day, that is simply another hurdle to jump over.

Most significantly, it was about what the bystanders could do. You learn very early on, once your adult children hit their twenties, that they are their own person - and so as a to-be granny, the first thing one does is to seal thy lips and just listen.

Listening and observing are both very formidable skills. They make caregivers of any generation emotionally attuned to their recipients of care.

Some memories still linger: posting a link about men’s mental health, to increase awareness that a new father and husband also needed attention; sharing an excerpt from Caring for Your Baby and Child on the family chat so that everyone was on the same page for infant development; purchasing a few books for self-education and guidance, used by a family of multigenerational carers.

Best ‘picture’ book (uses less brain width which one will need for 101 other things going on)

Narrowed to just one authoritative book on childcare and birth to age 5 development for the adult parents and me. It is written clearly and a reassuring and friendly manner which will encourage new parents. Really appreciated the informative index of early childhood symptoms located behind the book

I used this when I did not know how to cook as a newly minted mother. Many years on, I still feel this is a great book for our Singaporean culture for those preparing to transition the baby to solids. Specific measurements are given in the recipes and this supports new parents

The array of recipes is truly ‘masak-masak’  and reflects our local culture in Singapore. It helps that it contains the favourite foods of modern parents. If they are ‘hands-on’, they can use this book to begin preparing simple meals. Meal planning and prepping organically from home increases a heightened appreciation of food and culture.

During this period, I felt like a maestro conducting an orchestra - pacing, directing, drawing attention to depleted reserves, and watching everyone play in synchrony.

I am just glad we got this far, with the little one being healthy, smiley, and farting a lot. It is a joy to be part of a journey of raising future carers.