How Being a Cabin Crew Had Made Me An Even Better Person.

We have heard it all, " Cabin crew seems to be a glamorous job but it's actually not the case!". Cabin crew hopefuls whom I came across with said that too. Many have claimed that we are "stewardess" by name but are actually one person with many roles at work. A babysitter, maid, toilet cleaner, safety officer etc. Yet there are still so many hopefuls attending airlines' recruitments. Why is that so? My guess (I might be wrong) for the top reason is that cabin crews get to travel worldwide for free. That is one attractive perk isn't it? You get to travel all over the world at no cost and immerse in the countries' cultures, eat authentic cuisines, be lost in their beautiful cities and sceneries etc.

I used to think that way too until I became a cabin attendant in JAL (Japan Airlines), that was just before I settled down and became a stay home mom. There were so much to learn as a crew and I've gained much insight (not weight :p) from my flying days..

Gaining Confidence

I was someone who feared to speak to strangers, it was so bad I could stutter through the entire conversation. Being a crew requires one to communicate extensively with passengers from all over the world. And the fact that I worked for a Japanese company, I had to listen and speak Japanese most of the time. I wasn't shy to speak the language even if I got my sentence structures or words wrong because fellow Japanese colleagues would correct me just like I corrected some of their English. We were all learning together. That made us less fearful and more confident.

Finding happiness

At work, I was required to be of many job roles. I certainly did not like toilet cleaning, but I like to keep my galley clean and tidy at all time. I did not like to arrange newspapers before boarding, but I enjoyed doing nice food plating for my passengers. I disliked storing hefty baggages in the overhead compartments but I loved babysitting children when their parents need some rest. In fact, there were more likes than dislikes. Today, when I feel unhappy to work on a particular task, I would then look for another thing that I like to do so it pretty much will balance up. I am happy at the end of the day. Happiness is in our own hands and cabin crew job had taught me how I can do to be happy each day. 

Cherishing the time spent with family

Crews are not home for all occasions, we are bound to miss a few. Festive seasons, celebrations or even to bid farewell to loved ones for the last time. Both my grandpas passed away while I was in overseas. I received a text from Dad upon arrival to another country that my paternal grandpa had left us. Months later, cousin texted me with an equally devastating news, my maternal grandpa had passed on too, I was going to return home the next day. :( I was not able to bid farewell to any of them. It pained me to know that I will never hear from them anymore. And because of these, it made me realised the importance of spending time with my loved ones.  I cherish every single moment that I get to be with them. Even for a simple dinner, or just a call for a short chat. Don't wait to express our love to our loved ones because before we know it, they might be gone and we will never see them again..

There are more character building opportunities than just simply traveling for free and I'm thankful that I was once a trolley dolley. Flying had made me become an even better person.. (:

Done with One Child.

Baby Liv was born about a year ago in December and she has already brought abundance of joy to the family. Friends and relatives have begun asking when will we plan for a second baby too. The truth is, we are good with just one child. Liv is growing up fast and as much as possible, we want to be there for her as she reaches her milestones. We are enjoying the moment very much now.

To top it off, living in Singapore is similar to living in a big rat race where it can sometimes be too stressful to juggle with work and child at the same time. S is working and I will eventually rejoin the workforce. We are not sure if we can still spend as much time with her if another baby comes along too. And the fact that the standard of living here is high, more kids equal to more expenses. We feel that we should not be stretched too thin financially. It may sound practical but this is reality: the more we own, the more we need to maintain. It applies to having more children too.

Insufficient sleep for months had took a toll on my overall mental and physical health. I was always tired and moody. Liv never slept before 2am and woke after 830am when she was a newborn. She took cat naps which never lasted more than fifteen minutes and she would wake the moment we placed her down.  As she approaches her first birthday, things get easier, she has her sleep routine figured out and has stopped waking for night feeds. Bygone are those sleep deprived days! I am finally getting a full eight hours uninterrupted snooze that I longed for and would appreciate it to stay this way. True that every babies differ, baby number 2 may be a great sleeper but as long as there is a baby in the house, parents generally have less sleep.

Aside from all I have mentioned, the main reason I am good with one child is because I'm afraid of going through pregnancy again. I naturally overthink during my pregnant days. "Is my baby growing well?","Healthy?", "In good position for birthing yet?", the list just went on and on. Not many people, probably only S and my close kins and friends knew of this. I had a detailed ultrasound scan when I was five months pregnant with Liv. That day was unforgettable. It was a Tuesday, S and I woke up before our alarm could wake us. We were both excited and looking forward to see our little one's growth progress. The scan result came as a surprise to us, it was not something that we would have expected. Our gynae had made an abnormal finding in Liv's tiny heart. She was found with aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA), where the ARSA was not seen in the normal position, it was seen crossing behind the trachea, towards her right arm, arising as a fourth branch of the aortic arch. Here's a picture for better understanding:

Left diagram shows a normal structure of a heart. Right diagram shows one with ARSA. (Picture credits to sonoworld.com )

Gynae explained that ARSA is found in about 1.4% of the normal population but a higher rate of ARSA is observed in foetuses with Down Syndrome. He suggested that I get an Amniocentesis (withdraw small amount of amniotic fluid from the sac that is surrounding the baby) done to check for any chromosomal abnormalities. It took two weeks for the precise results to be out but it felt like years. Thank God all went well, Liv was okay. But Gynae added that even if baby is normal, there is a possibility that the condition can cause respiratory and feeding difficulty. Our worry was not over until Liv was born, until she could drink milk and eat solids with no problem. Sigh of relief, I knew I was done riding the emotional roller coaster.

See! Liv is more than just healthy, she is very healthy!

True enough, by having Liv only will shortchange her of the chance to have an important relationship, a relationship with her sibling(s). But we wouldn't be worried that our little girl will feel lonely because she has mums and babies meet-ups, play dates and soon, preschool. She will learn how to navigate relationship struggles and resolve conflicts as she socialises extensively with other children. It may not be necessary to have siblings to pick up these abilities.

Fearlessly explore the world that awaits you because Mom and Dad is here to guide you..

S and I believe it is more important to focus and nurture our children, making them successful and useful to the society rather than merely boosting the population of the nation. Of course, we would not dismiss any possibilities of having another baby in years to come. Thinking may change over time and future is unpredictable. But as for now, we have decided not to multi-task and to focus on one child, placing our full attention and undivided love on her. The best part of having one child? We managed to strike a balance between work, family and life. We are overall a happier person. (:

Plentiful of hugs and kisses for our girl!

This post is solely on our personal views and decision. Parents have their own opinions on children which differ from other parents. Let's not judge and respect one another's choice in life. (: