Ben's final year at Explorations

I recently had my last PTC with Ben at Explorations.  It was bitter sweet because he had come a long way since he started school and I will miss these opportunities of the school setting aside one hour to talk about your child. Over the years, Ben has learned to regulate his emotions better, be more sensitive to others and find creative ways to solve problems.  I hope these skills will help him do well as he moves on to big school next year.

I must admit, I was not a very "diligent" mom when I was scouting schools for Ben.  I mean, I didn't visit a lot of schools, but narrowed my choices only to a select few then relied on feedback from my mommy friends.  There no regrets, however :)  Explorations has become Ben's second home and I appreciated not only the things he learned from school but the genuine concern the teachers and staff have for its students.  I have grown and evolved as a parent because of the things I've learned from the people at school.  More importantly, with each chat with a teacher, I had come to know Ben better.  The same goes with the girls.  They really try to treat them individually even if they are twins.  I also like that they see teaching kids as a collaborative effort between school and the home.  One of the things I surely will miss about Explorations are the regular updates on how Ben is doing.

I admit, I am very nervous about Ben moving up to Xavier.  But at same time, Ben and I move up to big school with a grateful heart for everything Explorations has done for us.  Enjoy the rest of the school year, my little man!

(Photos by Lawrence del Mundo)

Thankful for "kid-friendly" stores :)

I went shopping with Ben at Shangrila yesterday.  I was thinking of buying a new pair of shoes for the weddings we will be attending in the coming weeks.  This is not easy when I have an active pre-schooler along with me.  I was about to go inside one of the first stores I saw when the guard of that store signaled that we couldn't bring along the food that Ben was eating. I respected the store's rule and walked further along. We came across another store where I saw a pair of shoes that I was interested in. The store was playing Rihanna's Diamonds which was a song familiar to Ben so he went inside.  The clerk was quite accomodating.  He didn't mind that Ben was eating.  He even gave in to Ben's request to play Diamonds again (for about 4 times) so that he can sing along with the song.  That way, I was able to shop properly for a few minutes.  Thankfully, the pair of shoes that I liked had my size and was able to buy them.

What made me happy giving that store a sale was the way the clerk handled Ben.  They didn't sell items for kids but I appreciated the way he was patient with him.  It was the mommy break I needed during an overwhelming day.

Ben and DASH Chinese Summer Camp

This summer, I enrolled Ben in the DASH Chinese Summer Camp to keep him busy while he waits for the summer program in Explorations to start.  I was both excited and nervous.  I've been wanting him to try DASH out since last year.  I was not sure how he'll deal with being in a new school but my goal this summer was to give him more exposure to the Chinese language so I went ahead with it.

The DASH Chinese Summer Camp program is scheduled in two-week intervals.  It's Mondays-Fridays, 9am-12nn, with a combination of learning Chinese conversations, cultural activities, and arts & crafts / cooking.  The teachers use mandarin as their main mode of instruction.  They call the students by their Chinese names (if they have them) but the yayas who assist the teachers would talk to the kids in Tagalog and English.  I think this set-up is okay.  At first, Ben didn't like me dropping him of to school.  He didn't like the idea that the other students were bigger than him.  (The program is for ages 4-7 so he was one of the youngest.  He would also tell me that he does not understand what the teachers are saying.  However, I find him not wanting to leave the school whenever I pick him up which I take as a good sign.  I think it's good that he gets to interact with older kids and try to adjust to new surroundings since he will be moving on to big school next year.  

I promised Ben that they will learn to make dumplings at class.  That was what got him going to class during the first few days.  Finally, during their second week , they go to cook them,  Yehey!  I like that they have arts and crafts every day and they brought it home with them.  It made me feel that they did something productive during the day.  Also, during one of those days when I was asking myself if Ben actually getting more familiar with the language, he got a blue cup and said "lan se".  It made my day!!!!  

It was (and  still) an effort to bring Ben to school,  Since DASH's main branch is in New Manila (the only one that offers this kind of camp),  we had to adjust his schedule.  I'm glad I decided to enroll him though :)  I'm just a bit sad that some of the friends he made during the past two weeks aren't around for the next two weeks because they had other plans (which means another adjustment for Ben, sigh).  Anyways, I'm now thinking how we can be more consistent in making him familiar with the Chinese language throughout the next school year and most especially at home, wish us luck!.

For more information about DASH Chinese School.  go to their website.

How about you? What are your summer plans? :) 

Daddy Bry and Mommy Nats cook with Ben's class

Sharing with everyone some photos of Bry and I cooking with Ben's classmates.  Bry prepared polvoron while I prepared fruit salad with the kids.  We are happy that Ben is in a school where there are opportunities for the parents to be involved.  Our activities were quite simple, just pouring and mixing, but we still got nervous doing them.  I really appreciate Bry  for taking time out from his busy schedule at work to do this with the kids.  It may not be a big deal but I am sure Ben will look back at the photos with fondness and realize how much effort it took for his papa to join him in class.  Thanks to teacher Karen for the photos.  Here we go... :)

We had containers so the kids can take home what we made together.  The finished products turned out quite well (yehey), not bad considering we are not really experts in the kitchen.  Hope everyone had a good month.  Ben will surely miss school when the school year ends in a couple of weeks.  

Happy Birthday, Ben-Ben!

How time flies!!!! Thank you to family, friends, teachers, coaches and doctors who have been part of Ben's first 3 years.  We look forward to more adventures with our little master.  Here are some of our favorite highlights over the past year

1. "Mastery" of colors and shapes
2. Counting until 20
3. "Why?" "Where am I going?" "What am I going to do?" "Play tayo!"
4. Tells us about what happened during class
5. Knows how to swim backstroke
6. Can do a forward roll and swing on the bars on his own
7. Semi potty-trained (except during his sleep)
8. Identifying emotions (I'm happy, I'm sad, I'm mad)
9. Can say his bedtime prayers on his own (if he is in the mood to sleep)
10. "I love you, papa" "I love you, mama"

Halfway there ... :)

25 weeks and counting, thank you Lord for watching over us as we go through this pregnancy.

It has been quite an interesting journey so far. As we enter the 6th month, I am suppose to feel my best at this stage of the pregnancy. I guess in a way it is true. I look pregnant enough for family and friends to offer their congratulations but not big enough that I find it super hard to move about. There's not much morning sickness so I am able to enjoy my meals but I do easily feel tired. Sometimes, even going up a flight of stairs can be a chore, and my back-pain is keeping me up at night, not that I am really complaining. I'm okay as long as the twins are okay :)

Family and friends often ask if this pregnancy is harder because it's twins. My emotions are a wreck since I have double the hormones of a regular pregnancy (yeah, excuses, excuses .. but I do have blood tests to prove it, haha!). I do feel the girls kicking, one on the left, one on the right, though not at the same time (yup, we'll be blessed by two ladies, so good luck to Bry during the teenage years, hehe). But for me, the biggest difference of all is not because it is twins but more because it is the second pregnancy. When you have a 3 year old, you can't just stop and rest anytime you please. You wonder how things will change for him once the new babies are out and how you'll be able to give each child the proper attention they deserve. This keeps me awake at nights more than my backache.

My favorite part of the pregnancy is whenever Ben kisses my tummy and says "I love you, babies!". Hearing that is like God reassuring me through Ben that everything will be alright, and if this is a preview of how he will be as a big brother, then we are truly blessed. :)

Arts and Crafts over the Christmas Break PLUS Ben's Birthday Giveaway!

During Ben's recent parent teacher conference, we (Ben's teachers and I) agreed that it would be a good idea to expose him to some arts and crafts activities during the break.  Thankfully, we had some opportunities to do that over the holidays.  Kudos to daddy Bry for being open to trying out some new activities with Ben.  To be perfectly honest, we're not really the artistic types but I am glad that we were able to encourage Ben to try out new experiences.  After all, arts and crafts (and cooking) with kids is not much about the end product but more for the stimulation of their senses.  Here are some snapshots:

working hard on his play-doh

arts and crafts santa at Little Gym

The finish product, smile!

Thanks Auntie Elyse for the DIY Gingerbread House Kit, here's daddy and Ben mixing the icing

Mama and Ben decorating the house panels

Tada! The finished product, hahaha! It is the effort that counts, right? Thanks to Ama, Angkong, A-tsiak and Diko for
helping out and not minding the mess we made! Thanks also to Tai-kong for letting us bring it to his house.

Now on to the fun part! It's time for another giveaway again!!!! Nothing fancy :) Just something simple to honor Ben's love for Play-Doh.  After all, it is his birthday month.  Can't believe he is turning 3 soon!  Anyway, we love Play-Doh because it's very easy to mold and doesn't dry up quickly.  It's easy to clean, too!  So for this month, we'll be giving away Play-Doh clays to a lucky reader.  Simply follow the steps below :

1. Leave a comment "HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEN!" either on this blog entry or Facebook link

2. Share who will you play your Play-Doh with just in case you are the lucky winner

3. Leave your full name and email address so we can contact you properly

4.  Entries will be accepted until Feb 14, 2013 (since I am a romantic!, haha)

Good Luck!

Ben's Christmas Program at School

Delayed post but still in time for the season .. :)

Sharing some simple photos from Ben's Christmas program at school last week.  The programs were done by class to give the families of the students quality time with each other.  The one for Ben's class was short and quite intimate, just right for their age group.  I'm proud not just of Ben but of the other kids as well.  It's brave of them to stand up in front of a group of adults.  Good job, Teachers Karen, Esther, Tere and Yaya Lalaine.  Yes, it took four adults to prepare a program for six kids, hehe!

The photos are from the MWF batch of Ben's class.  The TTH class did well, too!  It was nice meeting the other parents and sharing stories about how our kids talk about each other outside class at home.

The kids clapped, tapped and danced to the Christmas songs

They took turns playing instruments , too!

All together, now!!

And .. bow!!! Yehey!!!

Hope everyone is having a fun and relaxing holiday break .. :) Ben sends his love to all!

Confessions of an Insecure Mommy

Ben is almost 3 years old and I must confess that until now I still feel quite insecure about my skills as a mom.  Even if I am with Ben almost all the time, I still find myself affected with even the slightest comments about how he is raised.  My mind tells me to take everything I hear constructively and objectively see what can be done to improve things, but my heart breaks every time I am made to feel that I am not doing a good job.  I wish I'm able to just listen on one ear and let it go on the other, but I can't.  I guess it is part of my personality.  Ever since I was young I'm already easily affected by what people say and do around me.  Over time, I learned to somehow set it aside and be my own person.  However, once you become a parent, a person in charge of someone so precious, you want to be perfect and make as few mistakes as possible.  This drive to become the best mom I can be for Ben can be a good thing, but also renewed my tendencies to be insecure and sensitive.

I try to be fair, pleasant, and choose my words carefully with those around me, hoping they would do the same. I do not expect praises, just a little understanding and compassion when it comes to talking about the most important job in the world to me.  But of course, you cannot control the actions of others, only how you react to them.  I remind myself to be smart, mature, and realize that as long as my child is generally happy and healthy, I am doing an okay job.  It's easier said than done and I am work in progress.  I am far from perfect but I am doing my very best and I'm giving Ben all the love and care I have in my heart.

Drama ba? :) These thoughts have been stressing me for quite some time now and I hope that by sharing, some newbie mom out there who feels the same way would realize that she isn't alone.  More power to all of us mommies and daddies.   May we always be reminded that despite all the craziness, we are doing a fine job!

Ben's Trick or Treat at school

This post is delayed but I wanted to share some pics from Ben's trick or treat at school. Our little master wanted to be Thor for a day. It was fun seeing the kids in costumes and we're very fortunate that Bry was around to take pictures. It was also nice that even the teachers took the time to put on costumes, too!

I think Ben enjoyed the simple program the school prepared for them. He patiently waited until we reached home to explore his loot bag. There's supposed to be another program during the last day before sem-break started but classes got suspended because of the weather =( They're rescheduling it once classes resume. I hope the kids will still enjoy it even if it was delayed.

Now that the long weekend is over, Ben and I will miss having daddy Bry around the whole day. At least we have school and swimming classes to keep us busy.

Wishing everyone a great month ahead :)

Goodbye Little Gym?

This semester is Ben's last one as a Little Gym superbeast, and after thinking about it, Bry and I are leaning towards not enrolling Ben for the next term.  The main reason being the schedule.  The classes for Ben's age next year are in conflict with our family lunches and his nap time.  I feel sad because I know he enjoys it there, and it will finally be a student-teacher class instead of a parent-child one, but I guess it would be good for us for get some rest during the weekends.

We've been happy with Little Gym and will surely miss it once we move on.  I love seeing Ben do his forward roll and hang on the bars swinging all by himself.  We still have until December (yehey)  if we will push through with our plan.

I wonder what will be our next adventure... :)  Any suggestions? :)

Happy Mooncake Festival!

I am proud to be Filipino-Chinese.  One of the reasons being the traditions Filipino-Chinese families share.  While some (like the ge-lai for moms who just gave birth) are a challenge to follow through, most are fun and interesting.  One of my favorite Chinese traditions is eating misua during birthdays and the mooncake festival game.

Little Master eating misua with chopsticks! His dad is very proud :)

It seems like out little master is a fan of misua and the mooncake game too.  We usually play the mooncke dice game twice a year, one with each side of our families.  It's also wonderful that we get to celebrate the birthday of Ben's great grandfather on the same night we played with the Tans.

Anyway, since we are planning another round of the mooncake game with friends, I thought I'd refresh my memory on how it all started.  Thank you Wikipedia!

image taken from http://www.chinahighlights.com

The Mooncake Festival is celebrated every 15th of the 8th month of the Chinese Calendar.  This year, its exact date is today, Sept 30.  It is said to be the time of year when the moon is at it's fullest and brightest.  It's legend features the story of an immortal named Houyi and his wife Chang'e who were banished from the heavens to live here on Earth.  The other immortals were jealous of Houyi so they told lies about him to the Jade Emperor who believed and punished them.  Houyi became a skilled and famous archer here on Earth.  His skills were recognized by the Chinese Emperor Yao who asked Houyi to shoot down 9 of the 10 suns to keep the Earth from burning.  The Chinese Emperor rewarded Houyi with a pill that will grant him eternal life but advised him to fast and pray for a year before swallowing it.  Houyi hid the pill but his wife Chang'e found the pill, became curious and ate it.  Chang'e soon realized that the pill gave her an ability to fly and the strong winds carried her as far as the moon.  Some legends say Chang'e is alone there making another pill so she can come back to Earth while other say that a rabbit is helping her which is why the black spots of the moon are shaped as such.  Meanwhile, Houyi built himself a palace in the sun to be close to her.  This was said to be how the concept of Yin and Yang came about.  Once a year, on the night of the Lunar festival, Houyi visits his wife.  This is way the moon is exceptionally beautiful during this time.

Folk Tales also say that the mooncake festival also celebrates the rebellion of the Chinese against the Mongol rule under the Yuan Dynasty.  The Chinese were banned from meeting in groups and since they knew that the Mongols do not eat mooncake, they used them to spread the word among the rebels to attack on the 15th day of the 8th month.  The end of the Mongol rule became the start of the Ming Dynasty and the festival being celebrated throughout China.

As for the dice game itself, they were started 1500 years ago by imperial scholars wishing for luck in the upcoming exams.  Scholar ranks were given as titles depending on the prize you receive.  The highest winner is believe to receive good luck for one whole year.  Koxinga officers then adapted the game to entertain soldiers while Qing Dynasty records show that game became popular even to the Taiwanese folks.  Nowadays, you'll find the game being enjoyed not only by those of Taiwanese and Southern Fujian background, but all among overseas Chinese with origins from the Xiamen area.  The prizes have beloved from mooncake / flourcakes to more practical items such as toiletries and kitchen utensils.


The rules of the game are quite simple.  Aside from the prizes, all you need is  big bowl and 6 dice. The following are the rankings:

All 6 of the dices show 4 red dots - traditionally the person who throws this gets all of the prices, including the ones that have been won by others but in the recent games, most players opt to hand over only the first prize

For first prize, you have to throw:
a) five of a kind with the remaining die as the kicker (having 5 red four dots is the highest, the rest are rank according to numerical value)
b) four dice with 4 red dots with the remaining 2 dice as kicker

For the second prize (2 pcs)
a) straight dice - the six dice showing one of each number
b)  two set of trios - 2 sets of three dice of the same kind (expect with four dots)

For the third price (4pcs)
four of the same kind of die except the one with four dots

For the fourth price (8pcs)
three pcs of dice with four dots

For the fifth price (16pcs)
2 pcs of dice with four dots

For the sixth price (32pcs)
1 pc of die with 4 dots

Since this game is played annually as a tradition, an agreement must be set among players with regard to each person's contribution to the game.  In my side of the family, the winner gets to buy all of the prizes for next year's game.  In Bry's side of the family, the winner gets to sponsor the winning prize next year while every one chips in for the remaining prizes.  With our friends, our plan is to divide the costs of all the prizees equally among ourselves.

Happy Mooncake Festival, everyone!

Scrapbook Tips for the Non- Artsy Mommy

One of the things I like about Ben's school is its strong home-school connection program. As part of this, the teachers and parents would work together to make a personalized scrapbook for each child. I am not very artistic, but good thing Ben's lovely teachers shared with us some tips on how to make the scrapbook pages. Hopefully, they'll help you, too:)

PHOTOS, PHOTOS, PHOTOS
Nothing makes a scrapbook more personal than photos of you and your little one.  You can make the picture the center of your scrapbook page and work around it.  Thank goodness for colored printers!


PROTECT YOUR PAGES and MAKE ROOM FOR NEW ONES
Consider plastic covers (like in a clear-book  to protect your pages.  You can also try using silver ring binders to put the pages together so it is easier to add new ones.

FLAUNT YOUR PENMANSHIP
I always imagined scrapbooks to have script personal handwriting.  Why not write your own descriptions and messages to make your collection of memories more intimate?

COLLECT SMALL SOUVENIRS
Keep receipts, tickets, invitations and other trinkets that remind you of special events.  I wished I kept Ben's hospital bracelet when he was a newborn.

RE-SIZE BIG ITEMS
Ben's teachers last year scanned some of his artworks so that they can become part of his scrapbook.  I thought it was a very cool idea

HAVE A VARIETY OF THEMES
Ben's teachers would suggest a lot of themes for us to work on.  From family, favorite food, and even things that make him happy vs. sad..  A scrapbook is not just a great way of treasuring precious moments but also for getting to know your little one better

Disney Live in Manila!

We took Ben to his first concert last weekend. We got tickets to the Disney Live : Mickey's Rockin' Road Show last Friday . I found out about it because they were giving 20% discount to citibank card holders. I was the first one to actually buy tickeys from the SM megamall business center. I was sure because the ticket agent in charge was not yet given an official memo to apply the discount and I had to call Ticketnet so they can coordinate with SM. I was about 5 minutes late in fetching Ben that day but it was worth it.

Anyway, I can't remember the last time I was in Araneta so the first thing that I noticed was the carpark building they built right beside the venue. This was a good move since I remember how much Bry and I dreaded parking the last time we were there.

Now on to the show proper, I thought it was really good. The performers were very engaging and they really encourage the kids to participate. The length was just about right and they had quite a variety of characters (wish there were more, though :) ) Ben especially loved watching Woody, Buzz and the soldiers. At first I thought that having the actual mascots of the Toy Story Characters would have better but then again they wouldn't be able to do the stunts the actors did. And where were Daisy, Pluto, Chip and Dale?  All in all, the performers were quite talented and the visual effects adequately stimulating for the kids. I think Ben had a great time and we'll definitely do it again next time.

I am glad Ben is now at a stage when we can take him to live shows like this. I miss watching concerts and stage plays which Bry and I used to do a lot before we had Ben. Who knows, he might be ready for a live band concert next time Maroon 5 performs here in Manila, hehe

Ben at Explorations (year 2), What's new?

It has been a month since Ben started his second year at Explorations and I am happy to say that his transition was a smooth one. This is not a surprise since Ben was enrolled in the summer program. I was a bit concerned about how he will adjust to his new teachers and yaya but was pleasantly surprised that within a few days, he already knew their names. I even heard him calling them in his sleep, probably dreaming of what he did at class.

He's more social now but favors a classmate who has been with him since last year. He still took his time warming up to his new classmates and has to be reminded to use his gentle hands and gentle voice most especially since he's one of the oldest boys in class. I think we are making progress since their teachers shared with me that Ben comforted one of his classmates when he saw her crying.

The good news is he's very comfortable with the class routine. I find joy in listening to him sing songs he learned at class. He'd also tell me about what he did inside the classroom and who helped him with his tasks. I am also glad that the teachers are being firm with him to slowly prepare him for a more structured schedule and eventually big school.

Bry and I look forward to observing his progress as we go through the rest of the school year.  Thanks, teacher Karen for these lovely photos of our little master at work.

Potty training Ben Ben

As requested by some mommy friends, I'm writing an entry about potty training our little Master. At 2.5 years Ben is about 50% (?) potty trained. We let him wear diapers only outdoors and during bedtime/nap time. It's not much, but progress nonetheless.

It helped that we try to establish a consistent potty routine for him in the morning before bath time. We've been trying this for some time now but only got a real system going during summer break from school.  I bought him several pairs of cheap briefs and shorts so we won't stress about having to catch up on laundry.  I think he actually prefers not wearing any diapers since it's more comfy.  He would now tell us if he wants to poo or pee, tell us if he's finished, and flush afterwards.  We're still in the stage when we have to act really fast once he says he needs to go to the bathroom in order to prevent accidents.  And true to his nature of being pilyo and maharot, he finds a way to make potty time interesting, like telling us to close our eyes until he's done and playing with the bidet hose. It's still a lot of work but we've come a long way since trying to chase him around to change his dirty nappy.

I'm grateful of the progress we have made so far.  I still don't know when we'll be able to go without diapers during naps and bedtime, I've read that it's best to watch out for signs and not to rush into it.  I try to get him to pee almost every hour whenever he's awake so I'm not sure how to go about lasting the whole night.  I'd love to hear the potty training stories of other parents and learn from them.

Sharing Ben's first and only potty pic for way back when he was less than a year old.  I don't have any new photos since he now becoming a little self conscious during potty time, hmm... kids grow up so fast, huh? :)

Have a happy and safe weekend everyone!

Feeding Ben - What I've learned about toddler nutrition

Ben just came from his monthly check-up the other day and we are happy to report that his doctor is satisfied with his weight and height.  This is a victory for me, Bry and Yaya.  Ever since I had Ben, my target is that he becomes heavier and grows taller each month.  Thankfully, with hard work and prayers, we're usually successful.  Most friends and family members are quite amazed with Ben's appetite whenever we eat with them.  He eats a lot, has just the right built, and more importantly not sickly.

I had a lot of help in getting Ben to be fed right, and I still have a lot to learn.  I try to research, learn from experiences of other moms as well as consult with pediatricians to confirm if my instincts are correct.  Here are some of the things I've learned that might be helpful in feeding a toddler:

(1) Target your toddler to get most of his nutrition on solid foods.
This is a tough one since your child is used to a liquid diet as a baby.  However, part of being a healthy is being able to get your nutrition from a well balanced diet.  Let your toddler get the majority of his daily calories from fish, meat, vegetables, fruits and wheat.  It will teach him to be adventurous as well as identify which type of foods are healthy for him

(2) Consume milk wisely
Milk can be a good thing, but as a child grows older its role in a child's nutrition shifts.  From being the sole source of food, milk should eventually become a complimentary part of a child's diet.  It is recommended that your child consumes only 2-3 glasses of milk as he becomes a toddler.  This is because if your child gets most of his calories from milk, either of the two things will happen (1) the excess calories may lead him to become overweight or (2) he'd become so full with milk that he won't have an appetite for solids anymore.  This is especially the case with formula milk that's sweeter and more filling.

(3) Get other non-dairy source of DHA and calcium
We hear a lot about the importance of DHA/RHA for brain development.  This is true, especially for infants, and the best source of this at the start of a child's life is breastmilk.  Same goes for calcium.  Now, what happens when you eventually wean your child?   If you stop breastfeeding during a stage that your child is eating well, he can get DHA by eating fish 2-3 times a week.  Also, do you know that vegetables can be a source of calcium as well? These solid foods have nutrients that are easily absorbed by the body compared to the synthetic ones in formula milk.

(4) Snacks are important
If you can't get your toddler to sit down for a long time in the dining table, why not offer snacks in between meals so he gets to eat more.  Sliced fruits are a popular choice.

(5) Relax, Be Patient and Have Fun!
Easy to say, hard to do.  It really is a challenge when to be firm and when to let go when it comes to feeding your child.  I usually want Ben to finish everything that's in his plate and would use all types of distractions to get him to it.  But when it's the weekend, we're pressed for time and I know he has eaten a lot, I TRY (hehe) not to sweat it.  Eating is suppose to be fun and not a chore, and it's important that a child has a positive attitude towards it.

Ben having Magnum Ice Cream for dessert after he finishes his meal

Ben's first year at school: A Review

Dated  March 15 (but posted later to accommodate photos)

Today was Ben's last day for the school year.  I remember his child observation day like it was yesterday.  I was so nervous for him, like he was going to an entrance exam or something.  I was also quite concerned if we made the right choice sending him to school at such a young age.  Now, after a year at Explorations, I can say that I have no regrets enrolling him there.  I have seen the progress he has made over the past year and I know that going to school has a lot to do with it.

It's not the big milestones but rather the little things that make me  appreciate how much Ben has learned at school.  My favorites are the following:

* learning to say "no" and "stop" when he doesn't want something or someone to come near him ( as oppose to hitting)

* how he's motivated to pack away when he hears the "clean-up" song, which we also sing at home to get him to put away his toys.

* he sings nursery rhymes out of the blue

* knows how to do praying hands

* knows that he has to wash hands before and after meals (and wipe with a towel, too)

* can carry a conversation, answers when asked what he did at school today and who he played with.  He now knows a lot of words and likes to identify shapes and colors.

These little "big boy" moments and many others make me grateful that I have entrusted Ben to such caring, patient and very capable group of women at school.  Thanks Teachers Giselle and Jinky, and Yaya Mel!

Honestly, was I (too) masungit?

Okay, I don't usually rant and I really try to be pleasant with everyone , but allow me to share with you guys what happened with me at Ace Water Spa yesterday, and tell me if I was way out of line or something.

It's the third time that we swam there for a video shoot, so I basically know their rules.  I also know that it was quite a long walk from the locker room towards the pool side, therefore I really prefer not to give Ben a shower at the locker room before swimming because I know he'll just feel cold and there is a chance that the coach will not call us to go down the swimming pool as soon as we get there.

Now, the locker attendant was insistent that I give Ben a shower, I explained my reasons and refused.  "Baka magkasakit lang ang bata", she insisted again but I really stood my ground.  Finally, she said that only I took a shower instead.  Annoyingly, I agreed, then Ben and I went towards the pool side.

As expected, we were asked to wait for our turn by the bench at the pool side.  Had Ben been given a shower, he would have felt cold  and I would have had to wipe him dry.  Good thing I didn't allowed it. (Since I took a shower, I got cold and felt the sniffles.)  Then it just so happens that the same attendant went down the poolside where we were sitting.  Since I was still annoyed by what happened, I called her attention and said " See, we are still here waiting for our turn to swim.  This is what I meant when I didn't want to give my child a shower before leaving the locker room.  There is a shower area here by the pool side, that would be a better place for kids to take a shower before swimming if you really want to be strict about it"  She didn't say anything anymore but the lifeguard that was with her said he understood and will bring it up to management.

I didn't know what came over me, why I had to call the attendant's attention when I saw her again by the pool side.  I guess I wanted to explain  my side further.  I was a frustrated because I've been doing my best to follow their rules but I really couldn't let this one go.  It didn't really help that she wasn't pleasant in the first place.  I was actually tempted to tell her that if I did give Ben a shower and he catches a cold, would you pay  for his meds? Would you take care of him at night when he'd have a hard time breathing?

Anyway, I feel a little guilty being "mean" or "aggressive", I am not really the confrontational type.  I guess I felt strongly about this because (1) I've been swimming practically all my life ( in a lot of places) and this is the only place where the attendants are not only unpleasant, but would even argue with a customer, and (2) I am a mom.  I am responsible for Ben.  Therefore I should be the one making decisions about these things because I am answerable if he gets sick, and I'm the one end up most worried and stressed if he is not feeling well.

So now, a day after the whole incident, I'm still thinking about it, whether or not I was too harsh or something.  I just hope those I talked to think don't think that I wanted to give them a hard time.  I know they're just doing their job but they have to understand I am just doing mine as well.

Sharing my favorite breastfeeding advice

"Welcome to the Milk Mama Diaries Carnival (February). For this month, we focus on back to basics. Participants will share advices - either the best breastfeeding advice they received OR/AND the best breastfeeding advice they can give to new moms.  Please scroll down to the end of the post to see the list of carnival entries."

I've received and given quite a number of breastfeeding advice over the past two years.  For this month's Milk Mama Diaries Carnival, allow me to share with you my two favorites ones

BEST ADVICE I RECEIVED: HANG IN THERE, IT GETS BETTER!!!

Ben and I @ Day 1: a 6 pound boy that makes mommy panic all the time!

When Ben was a newborn, he cried a lot!!! He was basically crying if he wasn't being fed or asleep.  The only break I had was to go to the bathroom.  That was how things were the first time I met Maricel of Medela Mom who told me that she went through the same thing and that she was only able to somehow enjoy breastfeeding after doing it for 3 months.  It comforted me that I wasn't the one with the breastfeeding blues and true enough, things did get a little better after a couple of months.

BEST ADVICE I CAN OFFER: BE INFORMED!!!

2 years later: 24 lbs heavier, a little wiser :)

For me, there is nothing that can motivate a mom to breastfeed that being aware of it's benefits.  Also, know how your body works when it comes to producing milk so you don't feel so anxious about your supply.  Being informed also means busting breastfeeding myths (like breastfeeding after 1 year is not beneficial or that breastfed children don't ever get sick).  I wouldn't be breastfeeding until now if I'm not part of a network of moms who share breastfeeding resources to validate our choice.

Read what my fellow mommy bloggers have to say and share your own stories, too!

SoLovelyn's My Breastfeeding Blessings

The Articulate Pen's Breastfeeding needs Patience

Diapers and Stethoscope's Back to Basic

My Mommyology's What I've Learned About Breastfeeding

Ms. Masungit's From One Mom To Another

The Odyssey of Dinna's Breastfeeding Words of Wisdom

Mrs. Bry126's We're All in this Together

I Am Clarice's Paying it Forward

Planet Marsy's Better Than None

Mommy {T} Coach's Saved by the Nursing Mommas

Mama Drama's Patience and Breast-friends

Adventures on Planet Mom's Stubborn Me! Sure Glad I didn't give up

Nanaystrip's Eat Malunggay, Say "I Have Milk" and Love your Baby

Starting at Twenty-Five's My Husband's Best Breastfeeding Advice

Nanay *Loves* Purple's Why Attend Breastfeeding Class/Seminars

Truly Rich Mom's My Top 5 Breastfeeding Tips for New Moms

Legally Mama's Take it from the non-expert!

Mommy Mama Rat's My Breastfeeding Mantra

Mr. Jacob's Mom's Breastfeeding Tips from a Non-Breastfed Mommy

Hybrid Rasta Mama's Breastfeeding Lists, Advice, Links and More

Apples and Dumplings' One Word of Breastfeeding Advice

Touring Kitty's Just Do It

EthanMama's Only the Best for My Baby

the canDIshhh tales' My Breastfeeding Advice

Mec as Mom's Enough is Enough

Chronicles of a Nursing Mom's On Breastfeeding Number Two - Redux