2012. New Year. Leap Year.

I wasn’t aware that today’s year is leap year until I read it at WIKIPEDIA. This means, there’s an extra day for February – 29. So today’s year is not a common year.

I guess 2012 will be my year, too, for my professional growth as WAHM. I just purchased (Free Order) a domain from my hosting. It’s a beautiful gift at the start of this year. I will work on that new domain over the next few days prior to releasing it on my 3rd year as WAHM. How time flies. I still remember that fateful day of Jan 2009 when I vowed to never work for anyone else anymore. I am not closing my door for my dream job (international field). But for now, I feel blessed. I am blooming where I am planted. I just feel grateful that I can spend much time with my kids but lately though I have been busy with my deadlines at work.But at least, my kids get to see me most of the time – at home.

I have to catch up with my readings, too. I want to devote an hour everyday to finish my readings. I also would like to start, really start sewing my kids’ dresses (from scratch). I have so much to do but I need not overwhelm myself. Looking back over the past years, especially the year 2011 that has just recently passed, I realized how important time is. It just passes through so quickly, and if we’re not aware of how we peruse our time, we’d end up wasting most of it.

I haven’t prepared much for my goal setting for 2012 because I was beating a deadline on the eve of New Year. But, I didn’t let Dec31 pass without drafting a general goal for 2012. I was able to cover almost all aspects of my life in my goals for 2012, but I have yet to simplify them and make them more specific and attainable given the time frame of one year.

It’s important at the onset of the new year to have a clear path to tackle throughout the year. As much as possible, it should be on a daily plan scale and also should include a large scale – say plan for the whole year on what to achieve and how to achieve them. And if you have toddlers or children who will study a few years from the current year, it’s important to incorporate them as well. I still am battling with the dilemma on where should we really be living two years from now. It’s because two years from now, my 1st born will enter school. She’ll be 5 then, and I want her to have a good start at school. This year, I should (rather my hubby and I) be able to finally know where to settle — here or there. It’s just a matter of proper timing and execution.

Today’s the 4th of Jan. 2012. So far, so good.  The first three days of this month have been productive for me. I accomplished much, and worked so hard that last night (actually at 3am), I decided to declare Wednesday as my day off. This is the good thing of working for oneself. You can declare your own day offs without asking for anyone’s approval.

Happy New Year, everyone!  I hope to post frequently here.

I saw this picture while browsing the Web, and this just summarizes what I am currently doing.

…except that I don’t have a job. I have a WAHM career, something that gives me a lifestyle of freedom – while taking good care of my 1st born, and while waiting for my new baby.

I still care for a title.

I want to be called a millionaire MOM, a work-from-home-mom.

This is a bit private part of my life, but, I’d allow you to have a sneak preview of what’s in a WAHM’s bag.

I can't wait to use Mac. It's recently shipped to hubby via Aramex. I hope to sell my Dell XPS although I am having second thoughts because it's one of my childbirth gifts from hubby. During my delivery of our 1st baby, I received a notebook (which my 23-month old baby is using; and this Dell XPS.

This is my gold mini notebook where I write important notes, accounts. I bought this for KD 1.650 from The Sultan Center. The mini ballpen costs KD0.600. I so love these items!

Ballpen from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - a souvenir I bought during our SouthEast Asia tour in 2010

I always bring this anywhere. My family loves to eat outside home. It's a must to sanitize before we put something in our mouth!

I lurve my Iphone4!

I was planning to upload the individual photos of the contents of my WAHM bag, but, it’s kinda tasking. I have yet to prepare — hubby and I will have my SIM card converted to microsim, and buy veggies in Kuwait City. So, I am uploading here the overall picture of my WAHM bag: what’s lacking in the photo — my Iphone headset and USB cable, my comb, my lip liner. I don’t wear make up when I go out; just a shimmer of lip gloss and a little touch of eye liner.

what's lacking in the photo -- my Iphone headset and USB cable, my comb, my lip liner...

This is all for now. The content of my WAHM bag varies every now and then, depending on my mood, on what I want to read, and on what I want to bring. But basically, the stuffs above are common in my WAHM bag. Usually, I prefer to work (outside home) on malls with free WIFI since my ‘work’ is ONLINE. But, there are cases wherein no WIFI is offered. I have yet to activate the Zain USB WIFI. Photo to be added soon.

Honestly, I never imagined that I’d be working at home or from home. In the past, I was one of those who yearned for recognition/merits at the workplace. I got further studies to augment my knowledge. I was on top of the class both in my tertiary education and graduate studies. Working from home then was a farfetched idea!

When we went overseas, I worked for two years, and finally decided that having a baby and finally settling in at home was and is the best option.

I’m still a career woman, only that, working outside home is no longer my option. I’m still here overseas, and I’ve pioneered the WAHM career in Kuwait. More about this soon.

When I learned that my first baby’s a girl in 2008, and that a baby girl’s brain development happens for the first two years of her life, that’s when I told myself that working outside should not be an option. Another thing, we didn’t have a nanny then to take good care of my baby. I was afraid of bringing my baby to babysitters. I also didn’t want to be apart from my baby by bringing her to my home country. And now, my first baby is 22 months, and is way ahead in her mental development. I am also currently pregnant with my 2nd baby, and she’s a baby girl, too.

Why do moms work at home?  For me, having a WAHM career is just so timely. It gives me more freedom and a lifestyle I wouldn’t trade of. I get to see my baby 24×7, and I’m almost always there every step of her way. I also enjoy what I am doing in my WAHM career.

For other working moms (who work outside home), circumstances, sometimes, for them to quit work and their careers. Top reason is about having a househelp. Yes just like this Malaysian mom who’s thinking of quitting work because there’s a shortage in foreign domestic help. Previously, we didn’t have a househelp here overseas. When our househelp came, I was already “forced” to quit working outside. But, the result is just awesome! I’d reiterate, I’m blessed to have both – a career at home, and that of taking care of my baby, and another one on the way.

I couldn’t ask for more. As I write this post, (after doing some online work), my baby is beside me – she’s watching youtube videos of her favorite singer, Justin Bieber. She has her own laptop, by the way.

Would you like to learn on how to start your WAHM career? It’s just easy. Let’s talk.