Summer Is Near!!!

Yakee is already talking a lot about swimming. And for sure, my SILs and I will be padding MIL's garage flooring on weekends again, to let the kids take a dip at will.

I have also been scouting for new swimming trunks for my little boy. I'm thinking of buying him a suit so his back will be covered but I also feel that some sun on his torso is good for him. Classes at the Bert Lozada Baby and Me Class are usually held before 10 AM anyway and only lasts for 30 minutes, and my MIL's garage is covered enough by this big mango tree.

Summer is near but I am in no hurry for the heat. Thank God that despite the really bright sun, the air and water are still cool enough. But am sure, by end of February, things will already start to go humid in every possible way.

Yesterday at Serendra

I was sitting with friends at the fountain area near Serendra yesterday while waiting for hubs. Two toddlers who couldn't have been more than a year and half years old decided to break away from their Moms. They looked Hispanic. One of the tots tumbled down and instead of coming to her boy, the Mom just called him and proceeded to return to the stroller she was pushing.

I commented about it to my new friend, saying that Indians are the same with their kids, whereas Filipino moms hover and clutch and hold onto their kids. We tend to run after them, run along with them and fall all over them scolding and comforting them when they get hurt. It's that hovering that makes Filipino kids clingy and scared to strike out on their own.

Needless to say, despite the tumble, the tot didn't cry.

Fast forward to around ten minutes later. Same tot was crying and his mother was trying to carry him as she was laughing fit to bursting. Why? It seems the toddler missed his footing and fell backwards into the fountain. He was dripping from head to foot and his Mom couldn't stop from laughing. I didn't think he was hurt, most probably it was the surprisd of falling and the cold water that got him crying.

The Mom just changed him without fussing over him. Soon enough, he did stop crying but decided to stay in his stroller instead. Cool mom eh? :)

Proud About Yakee's Teeth

First of all, I think he got our teeth... which is mostly straight.

And then there's the fact that I breastfed him, so I know his teeth are strong and healthy and not exposed to sugar.

And I was really strict with offering sweets. I let Yakee have chocolate once in a while, and ice cream and cake when we have them, but candies are only allowed when we're in a party somewhere.

And I have been relatively vigilant about brushing ever since he got his teeth at four months.

So yes, the dentist saying his teeth are just fine and wonderful was validation of my efforts!!! I am really happy and proud. Hopefully, I can raise him taking care of his teeth. I don't want him ending up like me!

But well, points go to Yakee as well for not having a sweet tooth. Hehe.

Entrepreneuring Moms Need Laptops

BIL just bought SIL a laptop of her own so that she can pursue her entrepreneurial endeavors even as she stays home. I know other moms are either buying or getting their own spouses to consider hp laptops or netbooks as business investments as more and more moms I know go into paid blogging and work-from-home ventures like transcribing and virtual assisting.

The same goes for me. I was gifted with an MSI U200 (?) last December by hubby. And now, I am learning more Photoshop so that I can join my friend in her party planning business as invite/tarp layout artist. :)

More opportunities await those who have connectivity at their fingertips!

Giving Timeouts Another Try

Before, timeouts worked with my child. And then he started just throwing more tantrums there and I guess I got more busy so spanking was it. On good days, I could warn him that spanking will be a consequence... on bad, I go from zero to ten in tolerance and patience.

I spanked him twice going to Enchanted Kingdom last Saturday because he kept being naughty at the back of the car (and I was with him there!) and kept on kicking me. After the second spanking, he did settle down and managed to sleep in the makeshift bed we made for him. Hopefully, this is the beginning of us getting him to sit properly there...

But today I gave timeout another go. So far, so good (to think I lack sleep!). Heaven bless me with great love to do the right things by him.

Booksale Madness

I was really bent on either getting a massage or body scrub this afternoon but I happened to pass by Booksale at Rob Malate. And there I remained for over an hour. Sigh. Plus, I also spent the same amount of time at National Bookstore, comparing book prices and wondering if I could find the same books at Booksale.

Sigh.

I ended up buying three books there. I swear, you can visit the store everyday and find daily deals. But what I do is visit different branches so that i'd be sure to find great finds. Have I said that I found Quidditch Through the Ages in one, in mint condition, for only P40? :)

I did resist in buying this Maiasaura storybook :D I don't want to overwhelm Yakee with dinosaur stuff, lest he loses interest. Three books for now is enough.

Marlene Aguilar Is A Mom

Marlene Aguilar is a mom. But for the life of me, I cannot sympathize with her just now.

I've always remembered this mother before in the panel being interviewed by Mel and Jay at the height of the Vizconde Massacre/Webb Trial who admitted to probably also hiding her son and sparing him from a life in prison. That, I actually understand. A parent doesn't have to be in denial of her child's crime for her to want to protect said child.

But Marlene not only kept her son from facing up to his crimes, she armed him and ended up harming him more. I seriously doubt NBI folks would have opened fire that much if Ivler was unarmed. But Ivler was armed and he 'defended' himself by shooting at law enforcers. How is that not a recipe for disaster?

And now I see Marlene detailing the many injuries he got from the shootout and all I can think of is, she armed her son. The same son who ended the lives of other people. Worse, she compromised her other children's lives because she was protecting this one. The others could have been easily home and hurt... and the trauma alone is more than an average kid can handle.

Seems like a classic case of a mother knowing/believing she failed a child and making up for it in any way possible, while invoking motherly love.

I don't have an enabling bone in my body and I've always felt that you can't say you're a mother if you can't be a mother to other creations. Being a Mom is a title that not everyone fully deserve.