Where in the world do you live? And, are you from there?
I live in Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia. I was born and raised in Ipoh, a smaller city about 135 miles north of KL (as it is affectionately known to locals).
What language(s) do you speak?
I speak English, Malay and Cantonese. I understand a smattering of Arabic, courtesy of my in laws who are originally from Libya.
When did you first become a mother?
In 2009, when I was 33.
Are you a stay-at-home mom or do you work?
However, as I continued to blog, I found that I had a lot more to say than just show the products I love. I started enjoying writing again. And as my son is growing and able to be more independently playing, taking longer naps and going to bed at a regular time, I have found myself with some time to myself. And I take that time to blog and write about everything from motherhood, parenting, blogging, food and other topics that come to mind.
How would you say that you are different from other mothers?
In Malaysia, it’s fairly common for households to employ nannies or helpers as they are commonly known. It depends on the family, but most helpers are not just housekeepers, they are also looking after the children. I think I am different because I am one of very few mothers (that I know of) who does not have a helper, nor do I intend to ever employ one, even if I have two children (which I hope to some day soon).
What do you view as the challenges of raising a child in today’s world?
Our world is becoming more and more technologically advanced. One of the challenges as I see it is to achieve the balance I wrote about in one WMB article. The world is also becoming more frightening – you read about violence and crime, not just in society in general, but in places you’d think would be safe, like school. We as parents can only do so much protecting, we can’t keep them in our arms, at home, forever.
How did you find World Moms Blog?
I believe I came across WMB on Bloggy Moms in the International Moms category. I was looking for blogs to read and was intrigued. I loved it so much, when I saw that WMB was looking for writers, I wrote to the Editor and Founder, Jennifer, immediately.
What do you like best about writing for World Moms Blog?
I like the challenge to come up with an interesting and relevant topic for World Moms Blog. I also write in a different style for WMB compared to my own blog, and I find that it makes me a better writer. Being a writer for WMB has also allowed me to be a part of this amazing community of international writers whom I’ve learned so much from.
Alison
Alison is a former PR professional turned stay-at-home mother to two boys. Growing up in a small city of Ipoh, Malaysia, Alison left home at 17 to pursue her studies in the big city of Kuala Lumpur. At 19, she headed to University of Leeds in England and graduated with a degree in Communications. Returning home to Malaysia in 1999, she began a 10-year career in public relations, event planning, and marketing, working for various PR agencies and one of the world's biggest sports brands. After a decade of launch parties and product launches, concerts and award shows, international press junkets and world travel, Alison traded all that in for a life as a first time mother in 2009, and has not looked back since. Aside from writing for her blog, Writing, Wishing, Alison is the Founder and chief social media strategist for Little Love Media.
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You have been a real asset to the blog, Alison. I appreciate the ideas you’ve provided to grow our readership. It helps having someone with your marketing experience on board!
That’s interesting what you wrote about most mothers in Malaysia employing helpers. Why have you decided not to?
Your language skills make me motivated to pick up language classes again! 🙂
Jen 🙂
Thank you for your kind words, Jennifer!
We decided even before our son came along, to not employ a helper, for several reasons. One of them is that we’re not comfortable with the idea of sharing our living space with a complete stranger. Secondly, I want to be the one to raise my son, and not hand him off to someone else, which is why I decided to leave my career. Thirdly, I have my wonderful in laws just down the road who are always happy to lend a hand with looking after him for a few hours, if I need the time to myself.
You should pursue those language classes Jen!
You’re so welcome, Alison. 🙂
And, thanks for answering my question. I was curious! 🙂
Jen 🙂
Alison,
You are a wonderful writer. Your style is all your own and I look forward to reading your posts all the time. It’s great that you are involved at World Moms Blog and get to contribute globally!
Your background is amazing and I absolutely bow down to you for “leaving it all behind” to stay home and focus all your time, energy, and talents for your son. You are an awesome mother!
-Janice
Janice, thank you so much for reading and commenting. And thank you for saying I’m a wonderful writer – too often, we don’t really think of ourselves that way!
Leaving my career was easy – I wouldn’t want to miss a thing 🙂
I loved reading your interview. I had no idea that it was the norm for people to hire someone to help them, where you live. People do it here, too, but I don’t think it is as common as it is by you. How interesting! This is one of the things that I love about this blog…we get to learn about each other. 🙂
Yes, WMB is great! Thank you for your comment Maggie.
My family spent two years in the Philippines when I was very young. My parents had a nanny/house keeper, a gardener, and a tennis coach. I guess they didn’t have any problems employing help! I do wonder if it was a big adjustment for my mom when we got back to the states. She loved being a mom, but I think she loved the extra help. But I’m with you. Actually, I’d feel kind of freaky having someone else in the house all the time, taking care of my kids.
It’s pretty common in Asia to have a household full of help, at least from my experience. If I had a huge house it’d be less weird to have someone in the house, but not in my tiny apartment 🙂
Yay! I love this. I feel like I got to know so much more about you and your culture. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for reading Natalie!
I loved getting to know more about you.
I left my career too because I could not come to terms with someone else other than family caring for my son.
It’s the best job anyway, being a mother!
Agree so much 🙂
Alison! So much fun to learn more about you here! I adore you, girl! XO
Thank you sweet friend! xo
I have a confession – yours is the first interview I’ve read since WMB started doing two a week. Life has been crazy busy lately and I haven’t been reading the interviews because I felt like I knew most of you from your posts on WMB.
Wrong! I read this post and discovered heaps more about you, so now I’m going to have to go back over the other interviews and read about what I assumed I already knew about eveyone else. 🙂
I agree with the bit about wriing differently for WMB to your own blog and that it strengthens your writing. I feel the same.
I love this comment Fiona! lol! 🙂
Jen
I’m so glad you took time to read 🙂
Great interview Alison.
I like learning more about you!!
I was 33 when I first became a Mum too, Alison. It was great to read this and get to know a little more about you.