"Syiok" & "Shock"

Gosh, being First time Parent is a tough call. First the "Syiok" then the "Shock". (*Syiok in the local slang means "exciting & enjoyable exhilaration")

It was really something, to know that you are becoming a father, the feeling is just immense. However, soon after, the reality sets in and the Syiok becomes Shock (well, not in a bad way, so Honey, don't get me wrong).

So, there's all sort of stuffs to study, it's like I'd just enrolled onto a new course in Uni, and the exam is once every week! =) 40 exams for a full course to graduate as Daddy.

It's already week 5 when we found out about the pregnancy, so, 5 exams to be taken in one shot.

First of, to understand the anatomy of the pregnancy, the weeks, the terms, the trimester, the nutrition, the foods, the supplemental diets, the "Gu-Leng-Hun" for mums (literal translation : "Cow-Milk-Powder", basically formulated milk powder), the "pangtang-larang" (meaning custom & taboo practices), the gynecologist, the periodic checkups, the "Klinik Ibu & Anak", the scans & the untrasounds, the labor locality, the confinement month, the confinement month helper lady, the diapers, the baby formulated milk powder, all the "A"s in the world (DHA, EFA, AA, SA, GA..... my old uni mate whose a straight A student did not have so many "A"s too... I wonder do they have PGA or FIFA or even FIA, RIAA, PIA.. hahaha). Wait, there's more, still have to look into maternity wear, baby carrying sling (and yes, you'll see me walking in the Spring with my precious baby strap in front of me), the baby cot (which is a very good hands-me-down from my uncle, thanks uncle Kia), baby toys, baby clothes, baby names, baby care, baby education, nursery, play school, the language to be taught as the first language, the primary education, the friends that my baby is going to make, the secondary school, the curfew and agreements with the kid on when to get into romantic relationships, the university, the graduation, the work-in-the-society, the kid's marriage arrangement...

Well, that's the feat ahead, but for now, let's focus.