Of Resolutions and the Future

A very Happy New Year to everyone.

Now that we are coming to the end of the first week of 2011, realities of the new year would be setting in and everyone getting back into usual routines. 

We came back from holidays a couple of days ago. It was good to be out of Jakarta but we were rained on both in Bali and Singapore. Not to mention the ridiculous crowd in Singapore. It was a feat in itself maneuvering around the sea of people at the lobby of Marina Bay Sands hotel and along Orchard. The queues for shopping, food and taxis were a test to our patience and lil P. Note to self, never visit Bali during monsoon season and never Singapore during festive season!

I'm generally one of those who reflect on the past year and use it as a base to write up resolutions. However, this year I have yet to come up with any or even look back on 2010. Which got me thinking how a small little person can cause a huge shift in our lives. Instead of wondering if I fared well in 2010 and listing out resolutions I find myself looking much further into the future. Among the questions that have been swirling around my head are.

1. Will P grow up in Jakarta?
2. How long will we live in Jakarta and when will we move back to Sydney?
3. How will Jakarta's culture affect Ps upbringing?
4. How Indonesian will I allow P to be?
5. When will I be able to go back to work?
6. Are we ready for a second child?

Although I do not mind living in Jakarta, this city sorely lacks outdoors activities, parks, playgrounds, clean air and even clean water. I yearn for P to grow up rolling on the grass, having picnics, exploring the great outdoors, going for walks and learning various sports instead of being a confined to indoor playgrounds or visiting malls day in day out.

Growing up in Kuala Lumpur, I was blessed to have a maid majority of my life only because both parents were working and they needed someone at home with us. However, my parents did a great job in making sure we knew our place. A task and feat I would need to go through now that we have ample help in Jakarta where the average household has not 1 but 2 maids.

Although I do not have a nanny, we do have 2 wonderful maids at home and I do not want P growing up thinking he can just leave the dining table without clearing his plates, make a mess while playing and not pack up, most of all I do not want him to not be able to say please and thank you. I have seen too many children who run amok at malls, be rude to their nannies, not know how to respect others and I shudder to think P may grow up to be like them.

I remember when I was little, Dad used to tell me about the "Unsung Heroes" such as the street cleaners, the garbage collectors. Honestly, I never did give it much thought till Dad pointed it out and I have carried that lesson right up to adulthood.

Will I be able to instill values and mannerisms into P that isn't influenced by the cultures of Jakarta? Perhaps my resolution for 2011 would be to decipher my childhood and remember lessons taught by my parents so that I will be able to pass it on to P. Cause hey, it's tried and tested and I believe I have grown up to be a decent human being! (I have haven't I? hehe....)