Ramona Rahman Enjoys Family Life

Ramona Rahman has found a way to enjoy the best of family life and still have a career.

THE sun’s rays seemed to dance on the ripples of the cool, clear creek. It was blue skies and everything nice as Ramona Rahman and her two children, Maia, 4, and Brandon, 8, scooped sand into their plastic buckets and worried the fishes swimming around their toes.

“Look! Look!” cried the 42-year-old former actress excitedly as the fishes swam round her children. Maia and Brandon were, of course, duly impressed.

Suddenly, Maia let out a frightened squeal. A black dog had chosen to sun itself close to where they were playing.

“It’s all right, darling”, assured Ramona soothingly. Making soft “shooh shooh” noises, the protective mum gestured for the dog to leave them be and as if it understood, the dog moved away and settled itself on another grassy spot where it continued to bask in the sun.

Ramona’s jewels: Maia (left) and Brandon.

It is in such tranquil settings that Ramona, the managing director of Articulate TV, spends most of her Sundays.

The day, revealed Ramona, would begin with a hearty breakfast of hash browns, scrambled eggs and asparagus with sage and butter sauce which she would whip up for the family. Then, it’s sit-down time with the children to watch TV or play a round of board games.

“We have a mummy and Maia team and a daddy and Brandon team,” smiled Ramona delightedly.

The games would last till lunch time and the task of making the afternoon meal is undertaken by none other than Ramona’s lawyer husband, Bernard Lawrence, whom Ramona attests is the best chef in the universe!

“The food in our house is absolutely scrumptious because we love good food! I love the Eurasian style of cooking that he does where all the ingredients for his curries are freshly ground. He also makes great pastas and roasts,” said this doting wife.

Cooling off at a creek in the Taman Tun Dr Ismail park.

As for what comes after lunch, alternatives can range from a game of basketball at home, time spent with the kids at the Lake Club swimming pool or a picnic in the park, where Ramona would pack a picnic basket filled with goodies like sandwiches, grapes and homemade chicken nuggets.

“Sometimes, to get away from it all, the whole family would go on a back-to-basics trip to a chalet in Kuala Kubu Baru.

“It has no electricity, no TV and you can’t use your handphone there. The first time I went to that place, I was worried if my children and I would survive!” laughed Ramona.

Assuredly they did, and everyone had a good time.

Devoting her time to her children on Sundays is something Ramona cherishes. This wholesome family scene, said Ramona, is one way she inculcates her children with a healthy lifestyle. And yet, having an exciting Sunday is not always about “doing” things, she added.

“Sometimes, just sitting on a couch and watching TV is also a good way to spend time with the children. All that matters is that you are with them,” said Ramona.

At their age, Ramona revealed that her children were always fighting for ‘mama time’.

She would be cuddling with one on the couch and the other would tell the snug-sitting sibling to scoot.

As such Ramona ensures that she allocates individual time for her son and daughter.

“I go for lunches with Brandon, just the two of us, and for Maia, we go for her ballet classes.

“I feel that children should have this time with a parent. I want my children to know that they have me and that I will hear them,” she said.

“I love the role of being a parent but with this blessing, you really have to deliver,” said Ramona, the youngest of three siblings of German and Malay parentage.

And “delivering” for Ramona means setting an example for the children to learn from.

“I always tell my children to watch my husband and me in the hope that our actions will rub off on them.

“This in turn means that we will have to be on our best behaviour at all times or they will end up learning all the wrong things. So, that means no swearing ...” she said with a knowing look.

Juggling motherhood and the demands of a career, Ramona tries to take it all in her stride. And yes, like all mothers, there have been instances when she had lost her patience with the children.

“I realise that this usually happens when I am not able to properly switch off my work mode,” she admitted.

Ramona said it was very important not to tell your children that you were too busy for them.

“If you say this often enough, then there will be a day when they will not come to you. When I am with the children, I try not to spend time SMSing on the phone or going on the Internet because it defeats the purpose of being with them,” advised Ramona.

And while some may wonder how this is possible in today’s fast-paced working environment, Ramona said that in order to cope, it was important to live in the present.

“When you’re at work, think of work. When I walk out of the office, I don’t want to deal with that.

“Through time, I have learned that the ‘telepathic’ way (read worrying) when it comes to solving problems does not work. So, I have trained myself to focus on work in the workplace and to focus on the kids when I am at home,” said Ramona.