So I am at 39 weeks and 1 day pregnant. Am really at my last lap of my pregnancy but with no signs of labour yet.

Honestly, I am with more apprehensions this time than nervous for the delivery because it feels like many things are unsettled: One son having lots of school homework to handle, another son is still adjusting to new school life, and husband is still recovering from a viral infection. Last week, all 4 of us might have contracted Rotavirus which was a bad stomach flu bug when I vomited 7 times and diarrhea countless times. Husband got a fever and vomited and the 2 sons vomited as well.

It was quite bad and I was relieved there weren't signs of labour at all when I was busy recovering and taking care of the rest too.

Now that one week has passed... with still no signs, and my nurse was preparing me for a possible induction next week, I guess it is really coming then as I am not allowed for a post estimated due date delivery. If there is still no sign of labour, I will be scheduled to be induced on my edd. Well, with her two brothers also stayed comfortably in me till their edd, this is probably nothing too new for me.

Was very worried about the timing of things but I guess everything will fall into place if it happens next week as it coincides with a week of school holiday, so the husband can be relieved from the school driver duties though he has to be working to cover his colleague's absence to celebrate the Hari Raya festival.

Okay so here I am trying to enjoy my last few days as a mother of 2 before our 3rd little member of the family arrives. I am trying to have more exclusive times with each of my boys while also doing my last prep this week.

I am also trying to take more videos of the baby's movements in me and also photos of my last baby bump as I think this will be my last pregnancy.

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My Secondborn Teaching Me About Resilience

Anyway, I was hesitating if I want to share about my 2nd son this morning in my mini #wednesdaywalk. I did walk a bit but yes it is getting harder for me to walk this days yet I try not to be fully dormant. I think my son has really done me proud and impressed though there is some emotional struggle here and there.

He has started his 3rd week of school in kindergarten. Some days he is really excited to go but after a hiatus of not going for 3 days, it was difficult for him.

He started telling me he didn't want to go. The crying came and I told him it is always okay to cry. Those are real and valid emotions. He will never get penalized for feeling.

I stood firm with my stand though I was heartsick to see his crying face. On some days when I needed to go for pregnancy check appointment, his dad sends him and he would video call me. But the very very impressive thing about him is after he is done crying, he will go and do what he needs to do, the hard things.

I think this is how RESILIENCE looks like.

He can communicate very well even in the midst of crying. He can verbalize what he wants. He continues to talk to his teacher about things.

This was him showing his teacher and friends about a soft cube he brought from church. He could tell them clearly what it is while crying.

His favorite teacher offered him a hug. He went to her for the hug and continued crying.

Then he went to put his school bag in his designated cubicle. I could see he was trying to locate his name on the cubicles while crying too.

A friend walked by and saw him crying so she gave him a pat.

After that, he asked me to take a photo of his crying face to show his dad because his dad did not answer our video call.

I am very thankful to see he has so many friends amd teachers who would come to comfort him and offer him support when he cries. Then he could later tell his teacher that his grandma would be coming to pick him up later. He could converse while crying still. His teacher replied she never seen his grandma before and he could describe clearly how his grandma and grandpa wear glasses to his teacher.

After that he told me about a certain bench he likes me to sit with him while he cries. Then he went to the playground and asked me to stand there a while before he actually said goodbye and walked off.

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Later in the day, his Chinese teacher messaged me to show me how he learnt using the scissors in school. She said he is trying very hard. I showed him the video and he was so proud of himself and said he did it!

I told his teacher his response and the teacher says he is always responding full of love in school and he always self motivates himself after he is done with any assignment. Then he is very generous to praise and encourage his other friends too.

I mean I do know him as a great encourager at home. He always speaks very positive words when he sees us accomplish something or finish doing our tasks but I did not know he does it so naturally in school too.

Here he is, resisting his nap but wanting to self draw and assemble his planets around the solar system he drew.

I am really very impressed with his strength within. Am so proud to see how this boy is flourishing with his potentials. May even I do not be his hindrance as he unleashes them. I am truly enjoying my last few days to see this boy grow and being who he is. Treasuring our short breakfast time in the mornings after I sent his elder brother to school and before I sent him to his.

He has taught me so much about being okay with our emotions yet still being able to carry on to do the necessary hard things. We can cry when it is hard and we can do it after that. This was also so happened to be a topic I was listening to ober a radio broadcast this morning about do you still cry?

It is always okay to cry. We can move on after we cry or in Micah's term, after I finish crying.