Into Confinement

Cheryl has entered her maternity leave and moved to her parents place today. The Chinese community is very family oriented. Married children live with their parents, till they can afford their own flat. The elder live with their children to be cared for. Many sick and old are nursed by their own families. Many Asian countries have no or lack in the social welfare system, as known in the western countries and rely on their own families. It has pros and cons. The con was today: when I picked up the hospital bill!


It is very common for a daughter, during the first month of her maternity leave, to stay with their mother or mother-in-law. The newly promoted mother will enjoy the home cooked food and both Mum and baby will be pampered by the experienced mother, who will help the baby to nurse, cook special confinement food for Mum's fast recovery. (more on this later as and when I learn about it myself)

This morning we checked out of our “hotel” aka Mount Alvernia Hospital and were driven by one of our friends to Zoé’s new temporary home. She liked the drive and slept throughout. ha! ... I must admit this is partly due because Marsli, our ‘driver’ treated all of us like a special convoy and did not exceed the 60 Km mark (which by the way, is on most roads the max speed here!)

Eventhough I did not stay overnight in the hospital, tonight is a night without wife and baby. I miss them dearly, ... both. The last 2 days, I enjoyed being with my daughter alone…just me and her…gazing upon her beauty…she gently smiling a few times, but also pulling some less pretty faces. ( I guess she was either trying to pass some wind or maybe some other less fragrant stuff!)

At one of those moments, I realized something revealing. As I was looking at her, suddenly a sense of love came over me, a few tears rolled …
and felt God inspiring me that this is the way how He looks at me all the time as His child and how much He loves me. Now I understand even more…

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