Mga Tanong ng Bata, atbp.

   Mabilis lumaki ang mga bata. Pahirap ng pahirap ang mga tanong nila. Sana nga math problem na lang ang pinapa-solve sa akin, baka kayanin ko pa. Pero nitong mga nagdaang mga araw, nagugulat ako dahil madalas, hindi ko alam kung paano uumpisahang sagutin ang mga tanong nila. Akala ko na kapag nasa ganoong sitwasyon na ang isang magulang, madali na dapat sagutin. Hindi pala. Minsan, hindi lang mga tanong nila ang dapat mahirap sagutin, pati yung mga katuwiran nila. Sa totoo lang, napapaisip na lang ako bigla, sabay sabi sa sarili na, 'oo nga no'.

1. Tanong: 'Bakit kailangang maniwala kay God?'

    Kumakain kame nito ng hapunan at ang panganay ko ang nagtanong. Sa totoo lang, nagulat ako at nagmadali mag-isip ng sagot. Ayoko kase isipin ng anak ko na ang tagal kong sumagot at baka bigla na lang syang hindi na magka-interes dito. Ayokong ring mahalata niya na nahihirapan ako, hahaha.

    Sagot: 'Kailangang maniwala kay God kase ito ang 'mag-guide' sa behavior at actions mo sa buhay. Kung wala kang paniniwalaan, kanino ka maniniwala, sa ibang tao?' 

2. Sitwasyon: Tinuturuan ko ang pangalawa kong anak tungkol sa mga kulay. Sa libro, tinanong ko sa kanya ang kulay ng abokado. Sabi niya, 'violet'. Sabi ko, 'pwedeng green o brown'. Kase sa totoo lang, nalito rin ako, hahaha. 

3. Tanong: 'Paano kinukuha ang baby sa tiyan pag nanganganak?'

  Eto, hirap na hirap ako dito. Dahil talagang sinabi ko sa anak ko mula ng saksakan ako ng anesthesia hanggang sa paggising ko. Di naman niya sinabi sa akin na di niya naintindihan, pero di na sya nag-'follow-up question'. Hahaha.

4. Tanong: 'Saan galing ang mga regalo ni Santa Claus?'

    Eto talaga, sinabi ko ang totoo. Ang mga regalo ni Santa Claus ay galing sa mga magulang, ninong at ninang, hahaha. Na ang totoong Santa Claus ay nasa North Pole 'ata', ang yung mga napapanood sa tv ay kathang-isip lamang. 

5. Tanong: 'Bakit naghihiwalay ang mag-asawa?'

    Sinabi ko sa anak ko na nangyayari yun kapag di na masolusyonan ang pag-aaway at mas marami pang dahilan. Sabi ko magpasalamat sya na wala kame sa ganuong sitwasyon at totoong nangyayari yuon sa ibang tao.

    Sinusubukan kong hindi magsinungaling sa mga anak ko kase ayokong magkaroon sila ng perpektong ideya sa mga nasa paligid nila. Marami pang susunod. Salamat.

    

Teaching Kids about Faith and Death

Kids ask anything, and everything. It is sometimes exhausting to answer all their questions, that I usually end up and is also guilty of saying, 'You'll understand it more when you grow up'. As much as I want to explain everything, one answer leads to another question, and another, and another. Questions such as 'Why is Jesus dead?', 'Is Jesus dead?', "Who is God?", 'Where does a baby come from?', "Where is Granny 1 (my mother) and why did she die?' have been asked to me by my eldest daughter. It was not easy for me to answer her because I do not even know how to simplify the answer. 

A few months ago, in a book sale, I found this book that costs less than a hundred. The title of the book is I Know He Is There. The book aims to teach kids about faith. It became handy for me because I usually end up explaining questions about faith and death through this book. The main point of this book is that as long as a child believes in something, it is still present in his heart even if he doesn't see it. Below is an excerpt: 

  'When I fold my arms, and bow my head to pray, I can't see Heavenly Father, but I know He is there.

   I can't hear Him, but I know He hears me thanking Him for all my blessings.

   I can't see Him, but I know He sees me, and watches over me.

    I can't touch Him, but I know He is there....'

Written by: Rebecca Gundersen Thornley

What I Need to Do

Christmas is fast approaching. When one has kids, it becomes the most anticipated event of the year. I now have this sense of urgency to plan something special for the kids. They're expecting Santa Claus to come for their gifts. And somehow I've realized to do these things soon:

1. Decorate the house. We only have a small Christmas tree, but despite that, I think I should add more decorations for the home. Kids are happy to see decors in different forms and colors. I am actually thinking of DIY project for the kids. Sounds exciting.

2. De-clutter. I think one of the most important things to do before the holidays is to get rid of clutter. Kids will soon have new toys and books, and old toys will soon be ignored. Easier said than done! But i'll try:)

3. Prioritize. It's cliche to include 'SAVE UP' in my list. During Christmas, expenses double and no matter how hard we compute it, it'll end up most probably negative. I think parents should learn to prioritize. It is already a given for kids to ask for anything they want, plus the fact that we also want something for the house or for ourselves. Nevertheless, I think prioritizing what we need to buy over what we like or want for now would make a big difference in our wallets.

What are your plans for the coming weeks? Goodluck!

Safety at Home

Parents will always protect their children. Having three kids meant divided time and attention. However, I make sure that I don't compromise their safety. But then there are days when we, parents, thought we've done our best to guard our children. When I recently encountered an 'unsafe entity' outside my house, I became disappointed with myself. I even asked myself, 'why wasn't I able to stop it?'. I got depressed and just kept on blaming myself. After that, life moves on and I didn't have any choice but to protect them even more. Here's what I do to ensure safety at home:

1. I don't sleep. Yes, I still watch my children sleep. Ever since I started having a child, I was deprived of sleep. I only have an average of 5 hours of sleep everyday. I seldom have naps, but when I do, it's just for 20 minutes. One will never know when trouble comes, so I choose to be awake.

2. I lock the doors and the gate. Strangers, sometimes, have their own creative ways of letting themselves in other people's houses. I make sure I lock the gate of my house all day. It prevents my kids from going out. I still allow them to run around outside, but not all the time.

3. I set rules. I always remind my kids of the rules that I always want them to remember. They should be inside the house at 5pm. They should inform me of anything suspicious. They should not talk or go with other children to other places. Yes, a lot of 'shoulds'. But despite that, I make sure I explain everything to them.

4. I trust my kids. Although I set a lot of rules at home, I sometimes allow my kids to do what they want, checking whether they apply my reminders or not. I want to give them a little independence and a sense of responsibility. I want to see if they will still do the right thing even if I'm not looking.

5. I talk to my kids. One of the most important things in a child-parent relationship is communication. Kids have a lot of questions in their minds, specially when there are rules and limitations to adhere to. One of the best thing a parent can do is to spare time explaining what might happen if their kids break the rules. Also, be honest to your kids, so that they would reciprocate. Do not sugar coat things to the point of missing out on reality. Remember, when your kids grow up, the lessons you taught them will make them ready to face the world.

My Typical Day

                                           Source: imnmarketer.com

What is your typical day like? As a mother of 3 kids, with no nanny, and a lot of house chores to do, I end up lacking energy all the time. Did I mention that I also work? I have realized that ever since I had a child, I have never had a complete 8-hour sleep. I could only have at most 5 hours of sleep everyday. Let me give you a list of what goes on everyday.

4:15am -Wake up and prepare for my 4:30am class
4:30am-6:20am- Online classes
6:20-6:40am- Prepare kirsten for school
6:40-7:00- Breakfast
7-7:40- Do laundry
7:40-7:50- Bathe kurt
7:50-8:00- Prepare for a one-hour online class, do the dishes, etc
8:00-9:00 Online classes
9:00-9:40 Prepare kylie for school, do the laundry in between, prepare what will be cooked for lunch
9:40-10:00 Send kylie to school, fetch kirsten *with kurt in tow
10:00-10:20 Check kirsten's homeworks, check for subjects to review, do the laundry
10:20-11:30 Prepare and cook lunch, wait for kylie to arrive, put kurt for a nap
11:30-12:00 Lunch, do the dishes, etc.
3:00-5:00pm Clean the house, do more dishes, review the kids' lessons, prepare and cook dinner
5:30 Dinner
6:00-6:30 Bathe the kids
from 7:00pm Check my night classes, emails, writing jobs
7:30 Put the kids to sleep
9:00-10:00pm Online classes
----------------------------------------------------------

I could only take a nap in the afternoon, but most of the times I couldn't because I got used to watching them sleep. I would often complain about this schedule but I am more than thankful for the physical and emotional strength everyday. I also break down in tears sometimes, specially when kids become uncontrollable and they just won't listen. I've thought before of going back to work outside, but just an hour of being away and not seeing my kids become unbearable already. I've learned to appreciate the hardship of doing everything everyday and find something positive about it. The kids' smiles, words of appreciation and warm hugs compensate for everything.

How to make a child ready for school

                                                             Source: pyambr.com

A child is no longer a baby when he/she starts schooling. I have two preschool girls that just started their classes last week. The eldest's schedule is from 7:00am-10:00am, while the other is from 10:00am-12:00nn. I consider myself lucky because my kids never cried or threw a tantrum on their first day of school. I guess it is still normal for kids to be fearful of a new environment, specially on their own. This is why I understand the difficulty of other parents and children who cry in schools. My kids have already adjusted to their morning schedule. They usually wake up at around 5:00am because of my work, have breakfast, brush teeth and take a bath. It's been a breeze so far because I remind them every night of what they should do in the morning. These are only some of the reasons why I think my children are ready for school. Let me share more of my observations:

1. Kids should be taught how to be responsible.

Going to school for the first time is a big adjustment for both parents and children. In my case, early on, I've been constantly reminding my children that since we have no helper to depend on, they have got to understand the importance of being responsible. It's not an easy task in the beginning. There even came a point when I have to keep on repeating my reminders everyday, getting blank reactions from them. Others may think that I may be expecting a lot from my kids, but I have always believed how kids are intelligent in understanding and seeing the difficulties around them. 

2. Kids should be taught the value of time.

It is never easy to wake up in the morning, specially for kids. Kids love to play even until way past their bedtimes. However, it is important for parents to instill the importance of time and being on time by cultivating the things that their kids need to do during specific times of the day. When a child gets used to doing something on a regular basis, it becomes a habit. Later on, the child would then initiate doing what he needs to do even if he is not reminded. 

3, Kids should be taught the value of learning.

Kids are naturally inquisitive. They may ask anything they see on tv, outside of their houses, or just anything in their wonderful minds. I believe that learning should be nurtured more by giving utmost attention to our children. When we listen to them, they feel that they are given importance. Whatever their stories may be, their little minds really have a lot going inside. When kids are exposed to songs, nursery rhymes, reading and playing, parents may discuss how similar activities can also be experienced in school, with new found friends. With this, a kid understands that similar activities are not only confined to the colorful walls of their houses, but can also be enjoyed in schools.

How was your child's first day of school?:)

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.

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

Lessons I learned from my kids

The lessons we learn everyday shape us. Ever since my daughter started schooling a couple of months ago, I see a lot of improvements on her behavior. She's not the grumpy little kid anymore. She started caring about her siblings, and have become helpful. She may have become more talkative also. But what I am happy about are the things that she shares with me. Let me share two of those things:

1. Prayer before eating

I grew up not praying before eating. My family has never done that. My parents never taught us. So when we were having lunch one day, my daughter told me that they pray in school. And somehow, I felt ashamed. I also felt guilty for not setting a good example to my children. From then on, we would pray before eating. We would wait for everyone to be complete at the table before starting. With the food set and the family complete, my daughter starts the prayer. I am teary-eyed every now and then. I am just so happy how my little kid started one simple, yet very great change to our family. The best thing about it is how my other kids are imitating their sister. 

2. Being careful with my heart

With three kids and tons of never-ending household chores, my patience is usually short. Disciplining my children have become a great challenge because I once felt guilty of being hard on my kids. I am guilty of showing my anger when frustration hits me. One day, while being angry and almost crying because of my kids, my daughter tells me, "Ma, ang puso mo" (Mom, your heart)--she said it to me while forming a heart using her fingers. She then said that the heart gets broken when I get mad. Right there and then, it hit me. And again, I felt ashamed. I realized how my feelings tend to affect a lot of things, and my children, most specially. It's never easy to contain anger. But these days, I'm trying my best not to be that hard anymore.