Teaching Kids about Gender

These days, I have been facing a dilemma on how to separate my children's toys. I have two daughters, 4 and 3 years old, and a son who just turned one. I have been constantly reminding my girls to 'pack away', yes that's the term I use when I want them to arrange their things, their girlie stuff like clips and headbands.The other day, I've noticed my son getting her sister's headband and trying it on, and I got a bit worried. I've realized that this early, I should start teaching my children about their gender. And I got worried again. Teaching it to kids under 5 would be a challenge because their minds are too young to understand things. Well, I should wait no further, I taught my two girls a rule: Never put their hair clips, headbands and hairbrushes near or within their brother's reach. So far, they've remembered it because I could hear them talking about it when their brother is around. I guess so far, so good.

Today, my girls decided to play with their dolls. I asked them to just go up in their room and play there so that their brother would not be interested to see what they're playing with. So I just played on Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol and started watching it with my son. After several minutes, my two daughters decided to join us.

My situation may seem easy but it's really tough. I never imagined that I would be teaching my kids about gender this early on. It's a challenge because they're too young. They ask too many questions. I'm not sure if I'm worrying too much, but I'm hoping I'm doing the right thing.

Of Birthdays and Getting Old

When I was 16, I remembered my sister waking me up early in the morning to greet me 'happy birthday'. Now at 34, my sister, who is already in the United States, sent me an advanced birthday message that hit me and almost made me cry. Why? Because her message made me realize all my shortcomings: how selfish I was and how I did not care about our family before. Her message did not directly say those things. Her message was so heartfelt that it made me think about the past. With that, I began to reflect what I have become. I was sad, instead of being happy. But it was Ok because all these years I have been in denial. I used to be so idealistic, just being happy with what was given to me. I was happy when I got what I want. I didn't care about the real situation around me. Sometimes it is painful to think of the past and all that we can do is just reflect and learn from it.

I love my life now, happier and more content, not because of the material things, but because I have my husband and kids to fill in the emptiness. I used to think that having a lot of friends would make me happy. Now, I have come to realize that what I needed are true friends. I don't have a lot, as a matter of fact, I have very few. But it is better. Before, I have lots of free time and nothing to do. Now, I can't even find time for myself. Taking care of my children has become my 24-hour 'job' and I'm loving it! So I guess my life has become better. 

My Best Doctor

Last Friday, I ended up travelling 3 hours just to bring my eldest daughter to her former pediatrician, Dr. Mejia. He is a 65 year old man, although he looks younger than his age. The great thing about this doctor, aside from being our family's most trusted pediatrician for more than 10 years, is that he does not hesitate to give free samples of medicines. When I brought my daughter for a checkup (she coughs a lot only at night for 7 days already), he told me that my daughter's lungs were clear and he gave me samples of the 14 Montelukast 4mg chewable tablets that he prescribed together with Alnix (an antihistamine). He even looked in his cabinets for the other medicines while we were conversing. Compared with other pediatricians that I have consulted, Dr. Mejia, does not mind being asked a lot of questions. He explains things casually that a child's parent would not hesitate to ask more questions. I think this is the main reason why a patient may last as long as 30 minutes during a consultation. I also learned from his secretary that patients from other nearby provinces also go back to him.

Here's his contact number:

Dr. Wifredo Mejia

643-8043