Femme Power

Archive for the ‘Family and Parenting’ Category

Still reeling from the wounds left by Typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng last year, here comes another threat to us as announced by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) - a series of strong typhoons to hit us in the coming months.

Some of our neighbors stranded on the roof of a 1-story house during the onslaught of Typhoon Ondoy last year. (Marikina City, Philippines)

Yesterday, classes in pre-school and kindergarten were suspended here in Metro Manila as Super-Typhoon Juan was expected to make a landfall within the day. However, the elementary school nearby decided to send the kids home when only a few teachers and students showed up.  After all, this entire neighborhood has learned so much from the Ondoy tragedy last year when murky flood water submerged houses and families were painfully separated from each other as they scampered away to safety.   There was this kid who sought refuge in our apartment while his mom waddled off to a nearby school, his dad was at work, and his sister’s whereabouts were unsure.  They were all separated by a torrent of murky water that rose so fast, it engulfed their 1-story house across the street in so little time. Looking out from our roof deck, we couldn’t anymore see the roof of the kid’s house. What else could be more frightening to a 10-year old boy than this?

Last night while I was at work, I could clearly hear the roaring thunder and the incessant pounding of the heavy rain.  It’s been raining for more than 14 hours now since last night.  But thank God, until now as I write, the streets are clear of flood water, at least not the type that I’ve seen last Sept. 26, 2009 during the onslaught of Ondoy.

News reports now say that Super-Typhoon Juan is weakening and is on its way out to the South China Sea.  Be that as it may, reports say that it damaged more than P1 billion worth of properties especially agricultural products in Northern Luzon and claimed at least four lives.  It may be a far cry from Ondoy which claimed more than 300 lives and damaged as much as P11 billion in agriculture and infrastructure. But it’s just one of the five typhoons that PAGASA warned us about until December of this year.  Four more to go. Please, not another Ondoy tragedy.

Bianca (3rd from left) and her groupmates strumming their guitars on stage together with their trainor.

These kids are not pros but they certainly played the hits “Can’t help Falling In Love” and “Sway” like experienced musicians.   Yes, this group of elementary students surpassed our expectations during their recital yesterday and I’m proud to say that my daughter Bianca was part of this performing group.   Much to the delight of the audience in IVC Elementary School, the group also played the Filipino folk song “Bahay Kubo” and the Christmas carol “Jingle Bells” among others.

Bianca has developed the love for guitar music since we enlisted her to her school’s Rondalla class a few months ago.   Now she can read notes and even teaches me how to strum.  So instead of sitting in front of the TV for long hours when there are no classes, Bianca now plays her guitar and forces makes me her avid fan.  It’s an easy thing to do for a stage mom like me, lol!

Bianca and the rest of her groupmates have one thing in common - a pair of supportive parents.   It may take a few bucks off our family budget and it may steal a few hours of our time each week to get our kids involved in a music class…but the fruit of all this is priceless.  Our kids not only learn to play and love music but they also get to meet more friends.

At home, my daughter and I would go online together and scour for video tutorials on guitar playing.  It helps that I love music too and I get to influence Bianca in appreciating any genre.   For an 8-year old like her, it’s quite unusual that she likes the music of Elvis Presley, Steely Dan, Randy Newman, Robbie Dupree, and Corey Hart.  In turn, she’s my major influence in appreciating Lady Gaga and Katy Perry.

By the way, Bianca and her classmates also made a group presentation about the story of Christmas wherein each of them had a few lines to say in the middle of the stage.  Though well-rehearsed, two of her classmates forgot their lines, perhaps due to stage fright.  If we adults get the fear of public speaking sometimes, what more the little kids?  It was a good thing though that nobody laughed.  Clearly, the schoolkids’ discipline and respect for fellow students prevailed.

And lastly, since it’s only eight days to go before Christmas, my daughter’s school had its simultaneous Christmas parties this morning.  Let me share with you some photos below.

What’s with weddings that they make you cry however hard you try to fight back the tears?

I’m finally back from Mindanao after attending my big brother’s wedding.   Unlike my own wedding nine years ago which was full of bloopers, my kuya’s wedding was awesome, well-budgeted, well-planned, and well-prepared.  I and my cousin Rouan had our hands full in hosting the program at the wedding reception so we barely enjoyed the food.

The event was instrumental in gathering our immediate family and relatives after a long time.  We had the chance to catch up with each other even as we lost our way to a resort in Bukidnon and blew up our planned adventure after the wedding.  I had a serious talk with my younger brothers and my daughter had a short but quality bonding time with her cousins.

But looking back at kuya’s wedding, I failed to stop myself from weeping while looking at him who was then waiting for the ceremonies to start.  He was finally having a family of his own.  I felt like I was being dethroned as his little princess, me being his only sister.  Even during the reception, I failed to hold back my tears in front of the guests when I gave the acceptance speech on behalf of my parents.  My kuya… Did I just lose my kuya?  Did the marriage mean that he abandoned me and our family for his new family?   No, of course not.  I should know better, I married nine years ahead of him.  But why was I crying?  I was happy to see him happy.  I was happy that he finally met his woman, and a woman of good character at that.  But still, I was crying. Maybe for the possibility that he wouldn’t have as much time and attention for me anymore like when he was single.  If that’s so, then it’s so selfish of me.

Like I said in my acceptance speech, I wouldn’t be like Kris Aquino to her brother Noynoy when it comes to this.  I wouldn’t rob my brother of his happiness.  I’m still my kuya’s princess.  Only now, he has a queen.

I was flipping over the pages of the Philippine Daily Inquirer today and this business headline caught my attention - “RP kids’ spending power now at P47B.”   Wow.  We hardly realize it but the kids are becoming a strong force in driving the local economy.   Not only are they influential in the family’s purchasing decisions but they also have spending powers themselves out of their pocket money and gift money.

According to the article written by Daxim Lucas, Filipino children from age seven to 14 have increased their economic power over the last two years, from P37 billion in 2007 to P42 billion in 2008 and 2009.   The figures, taken from a Cartoon Network survey results, revealed that “3.7 million kids in Metro Manila, Cebu, and Davao - the country’s three largest and most economically powerful cities - will hold a combined stash of pocket amounting to P34.7 billion for the entire year.”  The report further says that Filipino children “hold an estimated P47 billion in spending power.”

With all this money, what do these kids spend on?

My 8-year-old daughter, just like any other kids, receives cash gifts too as well as pocket money to school but we closely monitor her expenses.  As much as possible, we don’t let her touch her savings unless necessary. She keeps a Savings Account in Banco de Oro (BDO) and a few days ago, she was happy (but I was happier) that she received a BDO Rewards Card. *BDO individual clients with a Savings or Checking Account with a required minimum month-to-date average daily balance of P50,000 are automatically enrolled in the BDO Rewards Program.  With this, we can earn points on our purchases and online transactions, even when paying bills using Bianca’s BDO cards.  How’s that for both convenience and perks?

How do you teach your kids to save and spend wisely?

It’s not uncommon to read about articles citing good things about playing using the imagination instead of just relying on toys.   Imagining stimulates your child’s young mind.  It hones his or her creativity and resourcefulness.   In my daughter’s case, she creates stories in her mind and tells me about them like I’m part of an audience in a theater, thus developing her language skills.  Sometimes she makes paper foldings to use as hats and wallets and pretends to be a grown-up donning those accessories.  Like any other kids, her mind is so rich with imagination even if what she has could only be pen and paper.

I don’t buy my daughter a PSP nor a Game Boy because I’ve seen her get hooked on them when she borrowed those gadgets from friends.  She got too hooked, she wouldn’t interact with us anymore.  She lost her appetite to create things in her mind and even stopped drawing and making art pieces.  She stopped using her imagination.   Those gadgets may be fine but controlling our child’s playing habits was a little harder than we thought.  While those gadgets could work on some kids, they’re actually sort of addictive for my daughter, making her miss out on other important things like reading and interacting with others.  That’s why I still prefer interactive board games as well as stuffed toys, dolls, playhouses, toy cooking sets, and the likes that she can play pretend with.

By the way, speaking of playing with imagination, the thought of Myrtle Beach Hotel hasn’t totally gone out of my mind. I envy those lucky people in or near South Carolina where they can enjoy the holiday perks on Myrtle Beach Accommodations.

Looking at their website, they have a promo going on wherein you can register online for a chance to win a four-night stay in a two-bedroom condo!  Use your imagination how it would be like, getting a free Myrtle Beach Accommodation with an overlooking view of the Atlantic Ocean, watching beautiful sunrises and sunsets.  Imagine being in a tranquil place where you can frolic and relax with your family.

Imagine.

Feeding my child often takes a lot of arguing and arm-wrestling on the dining table before a small serving of rice and viand gets even touched.   Of course, that’s a little exaggeration but my daughter, Bianca, is one of those kids you’ll find so challenging to feed.   She doesn’t run out of excuses to escape from having a decent meal so it takes a lot of convincing prowess and exemplary cooking and presentation skills to get her to eat.   Such is one of my biggest challenges being a mom - to give my daughter proper nutrition especially now that she’s in her formative years.  How can I do that if all she wants to eat are french fries and ice cream? 

I’d be lying to say I’m good in the kitchen but I’m definitely trying my best to master the art of cooking and food presentation in my own little way so my daughter would touch her meals.   So far, my daughter has been praising my progress.   She makes my day when she empties her plate and even asks for another serving.  I can say I’m doing better everyday, basing on my daughter’s remarks and my hubby’s dwindling criticisms, lol!   Thanks to healthy online recipes and to Del Monte Quick and Easy.   Apart from that, I don’t fail to give my daughter food supplements and three glasses of milk everyday.   She used to say no to this much milk but lately, she’s getting the hang of it.

One thing I’ve also learned is to make meal time an enjoyable bonding time with the family.  I’ve noticed that when the family is complete, my daughter likes eating more than when she’s alone.   I also learned that meal time isn’t the perfect time to reprimand the child for things she’s done or failed to do.   It’ll further lessen her appetite to eat and she could view meal time as “sermon time.”  So instead of fighting with my daughter over dinner, I sometimes tell stories about a train (that’s a spoonful of food) going into a cave (that’s her mouth) until she enjoys it and finishes up her plate.

But despite my dedication to the kitchen these days, we still love to dine outside on most weekends.   It gives me a break (and my family too, teehee!).

It remains a big challenge for me how to make my child love eating more without me having to play trains and airplanes.   But I can live with that.   It’s a challenge that teaches me to be more creative and extra patient.

Is your child a picky eater?

Moms get sick too.  And when we do, it poses a problem not only for us but for the rest of the family in the house, especially if they’re so accustomed to mom doing almost everything for them or in my case, hubby is busy with work and daughter is too young for most of the chores.   So what happens when we, moms, stop doing household chores when we’re ill, or whatever reason there is?

1. Unwashed dishes

2. Overflowing trash bin

3. Late dinners (and often unhealthy)

4. Empty water bottles inside the fridge

5. Empty food packaging inside the fridge.

6. Unclean dining table and kitchen tops

7. Unswept and unmopped floors

8. Dirty clothes outside the hamper

9. Unbrushed bathroom tiles

10. A house that looks like a play pen

Can you add more?  I’ve figured it out several times already and I’m afraid I’m gonna deal with all this again now that I’m under the weather.   Oh crap.