If the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach then one of the way to this woman’s heart has to be through the various electrical items in her household that break down at the most inconvenient time!

Of course women can fix things too!

But surely you had one of those lazy weekend and you were about to prepare lunch when the water pressure was low but the water pump was not cooperating AND the children declared that they are starving?

Wasn’t it wonderful to just holler and then watch as he carries his box of tools filled with the likes of slide hammer puller or maybe just a regular hammer, ready to coax the offending item into working – at least until lunch is ready?

Now if I could only make sure that any electrical items that decide to break down, will do so on lazy weekends when he is home – life will be perfect.

A video recorder is one item that any parents could not do without.

The brief recorded moments in a growing child’s life would always be entertaining to watch, when they are all grown-up and no longer talk, behave and look like they used to do.

It will be nostalgic to remember the times when they were mere toddlers sitting on our laps, feeling happy to just sing rhymes understood by only them (and us).

Pictures can only say so much and it is videos which will immortalized their movements, voices and change of expressions – that is if equipments such as Sony Recorders can last the fast changing pace of technology.

So, who is the dedicated videographer in your family?

On weekends, we often come across groups of big bikers on their way up or down Belait district.

If we met them on the highway, it is interesting to note the different kinds of motorcycles whilst trying to imagine who and how these bikers look like behind their HJC IS-Max BT and the likes, helmets.

Perhaps it’s one of those fierce, no-nonsense government officers who could stop wannabe-crime-offenders with just one look – or maybe, it’s an officer who are so friendly and mellow, you’d never believe he is into loud noises and mean-looking machines.

Perhaps it’s one of those aggressive women who could outtalk anyone with their loud and boisterous manner – or maybe, it’s a sweet and demure lady with tudong who favors quiet ladylike chats with delicate pastries and tea in dainty cups before riding astride a machine that roars and continues to roar until it switches off.

Whoever they are behind their helmets, the bikers make our road trips interesting – at least when I take the time to imagine who they may be in real life.

Living in Brunei, we are thankfully not affected by the Indonesian maid supply situation that has been plaguing Malaysian households for two years.

I sympathise with the affected households but as this article puts it, “Maybe the time has come for us to put family first and everything else, career included, a distant second.“

Perhaps it is time to consider having one spouse as a full-time stay-at-home parent?

Understandably, this is a terrifying thought to many career-minded individuals who also happen to be parents.

But unless the extra income is really necessary, why shouldn’t one parent stay home?

Speaking only for myself, my being a full time stay at home mother is crucial to my family unit. Because I stayed home, my husband can fully concentrate on his career and our children can always count on me to be there for them for anything – guidance, love, affection, discipline and entertainment.

And I give them all these without strands of my hair turning grey every day from the stress of keeping on top of the demands of a job and the needs of my family.

Because I stayed home, our domestic life is easy.

Of course I wondered too at times, what it’s like to have an “important” and brag-worthy life; managing the family while being a part of a team in charge of departmental budget, which is what I could be doing had I stayed working.

At the end of the day, it all boils down to how complicated I want my life to be.

Sure, the compromise is huge. With only one income coming into the family fund, our dream home with a wraparound porch and laminate floors or the trip around the world staying five-stars all the way will take longer to achieve (and near-impossible in the case of the latter) – and these are just the inconsequential things.

But I am blessed to have the option to choose and I chose the uncomplicated life while I still can.

What about you?