The Adoptive Capshaw

Angelina Jolie has become the poster Mom in Hollywood for motherly love but I have always believed that it should be Kate Capshaw, Steven Spielberg's wife who he raised seven kids with. In the mix are previous kids from previous marriages, their own biological children and adopted ones.

I like that she's grounded, low-key and seems to be a really loving, no-gimmicks Mom. She could have used her husband to make her career thrive but she put premium on raising kids. And here is a recent pic to show she looks marvelous and happy about her choices.

Long Drives

We went out with our son very early. In fact, he came with us to Lipa just ten days after I gave birth to him. I was worried about road accidents then and car breakdowns. But it was just out of the question to leave him behind.

Many times since then, i've found us driving along the lonely stretch of Star Tollway which covers many Batangas towns. One thing that kept me at peace was knowing they ha an efficient roadside assistance that we could turn to in times of need. I also look for the same during our trips to other provinces (like that frightfully long drive to Nueva Vizcaya amidst fog at night), whether it's Holy Week or not.

Don't you just appreciate those phones at NCLEX which you can use to call for assistance? I just hope those really work!

MANILA INTERNATIONAL STORYTELLING FESTIVAL 2009

as received in e-mail
=============================

A two-day festival of storytelling workshops and compelling performances by world-renowned storytellers.

August 28, 2009 | AIM Conference Center
August 29, 2009 | De La Salle Zobel


"Welcome to the Magical World of Story Telling where legends and myths of pirates and princesses, tales and chronicles of fairies and fantasy will come alive in Manila!"


This is your invitation to be part of a 2-day festival filled with exciting storytelling performances and workshops. Be spellbound by mythical tales, and learn about empowerment through storytelling with the arrival of a star-studded cast of international storytellers in Manila's inaugural International Storytelling Festival 2009.

The Manila International Storytelling Festival, organized in conjunction with the Singapore International Storytelling Festival brings to you cherished fables and legendary tales that come alive at the Showcase! Renowned international storytellers such as Randel McGee(US), Bobby Norfolk (US), Sherry Norfolk (US), and Eth-Noh-Tec
(US) together with their Filipino counterparts, Melody Remorca and JK Anicoche, will present a variety of intriguing and delightful stories.

Your 6 "Take-Aways" when you attend this event:

1. See the best of international storytelling joining their Filipino counterparts in showcasing their art through live storytelling perfomances.

2. Discover the craft of storytelling specifically for educators, parents, librarians, social workers and other professionals.

3. Enhance your imagination through the worlds woven into existence through words by an exciting cast of globe-trotting storytellers!

4. Gain the knowledge and skills in the art of storytelling for use in various environments and situations.

5. Learn why storytelling is a recognized art form that plays a significant part in lifelong learning.

6. Find out why storytelling is a fabulous tool to develop the listening and concentration of special needs children; as well as to engage and draw their attention in a way that is enjoyable and less stressful for them.


We invite you to scroll down below and see more what the festival is all about.

See you there!


Ardy Roberto
CEO
Salt and Light Ventures


P.S. For more inquiries, kindly contact:
Ms. Abby Bacani, Event Manager
Tel:(632) 812 6288 � Fax:(632) 819 3752 � Email: abbybacani@oiceventsasia
.com


FESTIVAL DETAILS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Manila Storytellers Showcase
28 - 29 Aug 09, 4:30pm & 7:00pm (1.5 hrs per show)
Friday Aug 28 in MAKATI @ AIM-Acceed SGV Hall
Saturday Aug 29 in ALABANG @ De La Salle Zobel - Debbie Decena
Auditorium


Cherished fables and legendary tales come alive at the Showcase! Renowned international storytellers such as Randel McGee(US), Bobby Norfolk (US), Sherry Norfolk (US), and Eth-Noh-Tec (US) together with their Filipino counterparts, Melody Remorca and JK Anicoche, will present a variety of intriguing and delightful stories.

Imagine listening to stories of adventure and excitement. Hear stories of a time that used to be and of distant lands. Memories spun into tales that make you laugh and cry.

This is the only time of the year where outstanding international storytellers gather here in Manila to celebrate story telling - bringing to life tales old and new: folk tales, family stories, fables, tall tales, fairy tales, and classic stories from diverse cultures.


Manila Storytelling Seminars
28-29 Aug 09, 9:00 am to 12:00 noon (3 hrs per seminar)
Three concurrent seminars per day
Friday Aug 28 in MAKATI @ AIM-Acceed Seminar Rooms
Saturday Aug 29 in ALABANG @ De La Salle Zobel AV Rooms 1 & 2

(For personal and professional development targeted at parents, educators, librarians, social workers and other professionals.)

Take away with you the knowledge and skills in the art of storytelling for use in various environments and situations. We offer a diverse range of half-day seminars for personal and professional development targeted at parents, educators, librarians, social workers and other professionals.

Storytelling is a recognized art form that plays a significant part in lifelong learning. A good story not only entertains but is capable of imparting important concepts, attitudes and skills. Storytelling is also a fabulous tool to develop the listening and concentration of special needs children; as well as to engage and draw their attention in a way that is enjoyable and less stressful for them.


SCHEDULES
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

LOOK! Customized (In-house) Workshops

A limited number of in house workshops are available for schools. These are for 2 hours at Pesos 55,000 per workshop with one storyteller. 28-29 Aug 2009, 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm (2hrs per workshop)
Friday Aug 28 in MAKATI
Saturday Aug 29 in ALABANG

Details available on www.manilainternationalstorytellingfestival.com
Contact Jasmine De Guzman at Tel. 812-6289 to inquire about topics and
schedules.

REGISTRATION FORM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
source: Salvi-MISF-August 28-29, announce 0825

YES! Please reserve a seat for me. I am interested to attend:

August 28, 2009 - AIM Conference Center, Makati City
1. Performances: P 250/Adult, P180/Child
__ Matinee (4:30pm - 6:00pm)
__ Evening (7:00pm - 8:30pm)

2. Seminars: P 1,800/head/seminar (9:00am-12:00pm)
__ A - Character Education through Storytelling (Randel McGee)
__ B - Helping Struggling Readers: How Storytelling Can Make
a Difference (Bobby or Sherry Norfolk)
__ C - Using Asian Music, Mask, and Myth in the Classroom
(Eth-Noh-Tec)
___________________________________________________________

August 29, 2009 - De La Salle Zobel School, Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa
City
1. Performances: P 250/Adult, P180/Child
__ Matinee (4:30pm - 6:00pm)
__ Evening (7:00pm - 8:30pm)

2. Seminars: P 1,800/head/seminar (9:00am-12:00pm)
__ A - Storytelling with Paper and Scissors! (Randel McGee)
__ B - Reaching and Teaching Children with Special Needs with
Stories
(Bobby or Sherry Norfolk)
__ C - Tell it! Move it! : Adding Fun and Movements to Your
Storytelling (Eth-Noh-Tec)
___________________________________________________________


COMPANY/SCHOOL DETAILS

NAME OF COMPANY/ORGANIZATION/SCHOOL


ADDRESS

_________________________________________________________________________
TELEPHONE # FAX #

_________________________________________________________________________

EMAIL ADDRESS WEBSITE


RESERVING OFFICER'S NAME DESIGNATION


RESERVING OFFICER'S CONTACT# EMAIL ADDRESS


PRODUCT/SERVICES/ OFFERED COMPANY/
ORGANIZATION TIN#





PARTICIPANT 1 [ ] MR [ ] MS [ ] MRS [ ]
DR [ ] PROF

NAME


NICK NAME
DESIGNATION


TELEPHONE # FAX #


MOBILE # EMAIL
ADDRESS




PARTICIPANT 2 [ ] MR [ ] MS [ ] MRS [ ]
DR [ ] PROF

NAME


NICK NAME
DESIGNATION


TELEPHONE # FAX #


MOBILE # EMAIL
ADDRESS

__________________________________________________________________________



* For more than 2 pax, kindly add more. Thank you.

* Mobile# is optional but important in case we need to confirm or
inform delegates of urgent, last minute changes in case of emergencies
(ie. weather, speaker changes, etc).



source: Salvi-MISF -August 28-29, announce 0825

Cooking and Baking

Brought up the possibility of me taking baking lessons with hubs. Eventhough I still don't have a little girl, I still hold onto the dream that someday, i'd be fussing in the kitchen with my own kids.

Hubs suggested I take up cooking classes though, since we already have a stove and do not have an oven. But I think I much prefer the science of baking rather than the art of cooking. And yes, I know baking has an art side to it too, but you know what I mean. Baking is more exact than cooking.

Anyway, baked cookies with SIL at my in laws. I really can't wait to have my own kitchen, complete with its own stainless steel backsplash, big oven, every pot and pan i'd need and my own pantry and oh, at least two sinks (with that side-bowl thingie for washing veggies). In my own home, of course.

But am in no hurry to be that comfortable... because it would also mean that my toddler won't be a toddler anymore and i'm still enjoying him, snot and all.

Two Boys, One Pair of Slippers

We're middle class. So my son enjoys a lot of good things.

So when he's outgrown some of his clothes and stuff, I really have no problem giving them away. Actually, the really used ones, I feel embarassed about giving away but my cousin still gets them for their neighbors in Bicol, my mother's hometown. After all, they ARe clean... just really used (so some are forever stained by vitamins or some food my son ate).

The good, not so used ones, I pass on to my cousin whose son is younger than Yakee by a year. Some I also give to my SIL so my nephew can use it.

Now, I also gave away A LOT of shoes. My cousin got this pair of slippers for her godson who she says was almost two years older than my son but was really small, with this huge belly. Yes, that little boy is malnourished. And he's going around barefoot. I think their father died and there were many of them and the mother couldn't cope. Anyway, the little boy was happy with my son's slippers.

He was given it last May. This August, that little boy died.

Because of poverty, the little boy became neglected more and more. He contracted Hepatitis B and his stomach was just so full of worms. I'm not sure if nothing could be done for him or nothing was done for him. They were poor. We all have an idea how their stories go.

My heart aches for the little boy. And it's kinda creepy that someone who wore my son's slippers is now dead.

Two boys whose feet slipped into the same pair had two very different lives. One continues to thrive now while the other one is gone. One continues to be showered by love and attention, the other soon forgotten by his family. One gets invited to homes and birthday parties, the other became a reason for other homes in the barrio to close their doors to kids like him for fear of having their own kids catch diseases. One continues owning pairs of shoes and slippers... and the other, I don't even know how he was garbed in burial.

And yet, in God's eyes, they're one and the same. His own.

Why Baby Sign Language?

Many times, I have already said that I advocate this. My reason is that it takes away the pressure from a baby to be VERBAL but it lets both parent and baby COMMUNICATE. Being verbal and being able to communicate are two different things, and it is actually appalling that most parents put more premium on a child's verbal development than building a relationship where communication is two-way.

I admit, if I was given a choice, i'd have preferred a child who talked earlier than one who walked earlier. But my reason was because I wanted the child to be able to communicate with me. So imagine the eureka moment when I realized that baby sign language could get that happening without the need for actual words. After all, my son's use of hands were far advanced than his tongue's flexibility. Besides, it was a fun bonding and learning activity for us to be signing and learning signs together.

At 22 months, my son's vocabulary is advanced, in my opinion. And he may not know the names of certain stuff in English and Tagalog but he generally knows a lot by sign (and sometimes even sound). And though we still don't understand him as much as we'd like, it hasn't stopped him from interacting with the world.

Wait... does sign language delay speech development? It may if all you do is sign and not talk to your child anymore. But teaching baby sign language to healthy babies actually require vocalizing the words so it really shouldn't impede speech development.

They say that kids growing up in bilingual families or surroundings may take a little later to talk, but that's because their brains are preparing two different language pathways. But 'a little later' does not mean 'delay'. And studies have actually shown that kids growing up in bilingual homes learn more languages faster when they grow up. And sign language IS a type of language. It never hopes to put a stop to speech development for the healthy child. And for the special needs child, it can be a liberating gift.

There is no expert opinion or study stating or proving that sign language impedes speech development. And in fact, experts are quick to remind parents that though there are childhood development guides (like, a child of two should at least have a vocabulary of 50 words), they are just mere guides. Like what I always remind others who get pressured (partly because of annoying questions from well-meaning relatives and friends), Einstein first spoke at age 4. And he wasn't special needs at all. And yes, there is also no study stating or proving that early speech correlates with success, a love of learning, brilliance, etc in later life.

So am I saying parents with kids who don't talk yet at age two should not be concerned? Of course they should. But I am saying that they shouldn't be worried yet till they've consulted an expert who will tell them if there is anything wrong with their child. Besides, an intentional parent will know if the inability to speak is frustrating the child so much that it's also affecting other developments. A child who wants to speak but cannot will let you know in so many ways that he needs help. But that is a different case from the child who can already interact with his environment to some degree and just isn't ready to speak just yet.

And really, that's where sign language comes in. It's giving your child an alternate way to 'speak' to you, to be more understood, and for faster reaction time. Those with toddlers like me are sure to have spent so many precious minutes wondering what the child is saying leading to more upset from the child. And in the midst of tantrums or sleepiness, a child is less likely to be coherent anyway. And in a crowd where you may not be heard, a quick sign can make a difference even from a distance. Just like a smile, only more specific.

Like what I said, I only wanted to be able to respond to my child which is why I taught him sign language. It was while teaching and learning it that I realized there were more benefits. Sign language requires a lot of eye contact. It taught me and my son to always look at each other (and yeah, we've learned to hold each others' faces when we're not getting the attention we want). Sign language is physical learning, which is how most babies start to learn (why else would they touch and taste everything that arouses their curiosity?), and which, when they find it rewarding, makes them enthusiastic about learning (my son adored his signing videos when he realized that there are so many things he knows that has signs). Sign language makes teachers out of parents, and thus we get imaginative and resourceful on how to help the child make the connection or association (my son learned the concept of dog in 4 ways: through appearance, word, sign and sound). Sign language helps a child to be more specific (how many one year olds can really say words like cereal and crackers and grapes and vegetables?). And sign language creates a sense of intimacy within the family (especially if no one else you know signs).

And then of course, there is the fact that special needs kids get to communicate even with their limitations. So really, how can people scoff at sign language?

Am I saying everyone should learn it? Nope. It takes vigilance to learn, teach and make it work for you. But I am saying that it's a great tool for parents to be more intentional in their parenting.

And what of the videos and seminars that are expensive? I haven't attended a seminar yet but I think the most it will do is empower and challenge parents. But videos can really be beneficial because learning and using signs do not happen overnight. If you can afford other instructional videos or Lamaze classes, why not this, when it's really more beneficial to the here and now? And how about foregoing luxuries like Starbucks frappes for a while? And then again, if you have the internet, you can just learn signs from the instructional videos and literature... and then maybe watch some fun signed songs in Youtube. Sign language really need not be expensive. It's up to you how far you want to take it (am thinking of enrolling in a class and hoping to get Yakee into the Kindermusik Sign & Sing Program).

From all the studies conducted in this field the benefits of introducing your baby to sign language are vast. Baby sign language:

* Can empower your baby to communicate with those around them before they are able to speak. This means that your baby may be able to communicate what they want when they want it. It may also enable them to initiate a conversation about topics that interest them. Furthermore it bridges the gap between no language and spoken language.

* Can reduce frustration for both you and your baby. Sign language may allow your baby to tell you what they want, what’s wrong or what hurts. Therefore your baby may experience less frustration, tantrums and crying. If your baby is able to communicate their basic needs to you, it means you do not have to try and interpret their cries. Sign language can help reduce those tear-filled frustrated moments.

* Can enrich the parent-child relationship. By introducing baby sign language into your home, you are enhancing the bond with your baby. The nature of Baby sign communication leads you and your baby towards responding to each other in turn and this is a really valuable skill. Signing involves daily interactions with your baby that will eventually lead to a two-way conversation.

* Can provide an insight into your baby’s mind and who they really are. Baby sign language allows your baby to initiate a conversation with you about what they are interested in. It allows you to see what they are thinking, what they are interested in and what the world looks like from their view. All this before your baby can talk!

* Can stimulate intellectual development and improve memory. Children are fascinated with sign language and often pay greater attention to what is being taught when it is involved. It has also been shown that when children learn a word in conjunction with the sign, they are more likely to remember the meaning of the word.

* Can accelerate the speech process. Research has shown that children who use sign language may acquire spoken language faster than non-signing children.

* Can enhance a baby’s confidence, self-esteem and self-expression. Due to a baby’s ability to communicate their needs, wants and interests through signing, a baby may become more confident.

* Baby sign language can stimulate brain development and potentially increase your baby’s I.Q. Teaching sign language can stimulate your baby’s brain development. Research has illustrated that signing babies achieve higher scores on future I.Q. tests (up to 12 I.Q. points higher) than children who learn to speak in the traditional manner. Signing can stimulate brain development as when learning sign language you use both the right and left hemisphere of the brain compared to learning a spoken language, which only uses the brain’s left hemisphere. This use of both hemispheres results in the brain building more synapses.

* Children who keep up sign language are effectively bilingual. By introducing your baby to signs from Australian Baby Hands, you are introducing your baby to a second language. Brain research suggests that language skills are acquired best in the first years of a baby’s life. Also, by introducing Auslan to your baby and continuing to use this wonderful language after they can speak, you are giving your child the gift to communicate with the Australian deaf and hard of hearing community in sign language.

Baby Sign Language - The Research and Benefits

Communication is communication. The sooner it is established and nurtured, the more likelihood of a rewarding relationship.

Recent Constant Struggle

I have yet to check if the "terrible two's" phase includes a drive for tots to keep on nursing even while they've fallen asleep. See, i've already gotten to a place where my son was okay with letting go of the breast after he's fallen asleep... but now, we're struggling again. No matter how deeply he's already fallen asleep, he'd really wake up and start throwing tantrums if he's not latched onto the breast.

And i've always been unable to sleep in the side lying breastfeeding position.

And of course I want to have my body back after each nursing.

And my son keeps waking up again if am not there beside him as he sleeps. I thought that radar has broken already for good, but now it's back and its causing both of us stress. Because I can't have ME time when he's awake and engaging me in play, but he also refuses to allow me some ME time while he sleeps. Sigh.

And even hubs is getting stressed from lack of sleep.

Baby and Vegetables

Yakee doesn't eat all the vegetables in the planet. But he loves a lot of them enough for me to know that I need never go searching for a colon cleanse review for tots because he really eats and prefers homecooked meals with lots of broth, veggies and fish.

Actually, he really only gets meat from the broth or if I puree it with the squash.

But weird though, he now also doesn't eat as much string and baguio beans. His main veggie is sayote (chayote) and squash and I was concerned if sayote had a lot of nutritional value. Good thing that I found out it was actually rich in Vitamin C and amino acids and that the fruit and its leaves have diuretic, cardiovascular and anti-inflammatory properties.

So now am scouting supermarkets for its leaves, because it's great sauteed with the fruit and some ground pork and onions.

Exercise, Mommy, Exercise

I actually am a little ahead of the game. We already have an exercise equipment here at home, in the form of a treadmill. And am pretty near a plaza where I can go running, and Baywalk if I wanted a longer stretch.

Plus, I generally eat good, homecooked meals.

So there's really no reason for me to be getting heavier and heavier. I think, aside from breastfeeding, it's also the reason why am not getting pregnant. And now my back is already complaining, my hips too, over any slightly strenuous activity (like carrying my son).

I should exercise! I need to lose weight. The news that a friend (who is a healthier person than I am) is requiring emergency CS now for her pregnancy (of seven months) has got me scared. I already had a difficult pregnancy. I don't want my second one, which will happen to an older body, to be more difficult because Yakee is already here to depend on me too.

Exercise, Mommy, exercise!

Baby No More

You know your baby is not a baby anymore when you lean in close to him to bite his ear or cheek and you think you may just really bite him... where before, you always felt as if you're going to 'eat' the baby up.

My son is a baby no more.

Everything Is Online

I let my son play with colors online (jacksonpollock.org). I am now spending lots of time on Ebay buying books and forcing my family in the U.S. to wait for those to be shipped.

Hubs and I also get a lot of educational materials online. Some are even very interactive. And should I even point out that our lives are documented heavily via our blogs and galleries?

I wonder what's next? Perhaps online life insurance for the family? Hehe.

It's so easy to do everything just sitting here, which is why it's such a challenge to provide my son activities to really move and be outdoors. But do that I must. Too much sitting isn't healthy at all! Maybe that's also why am depressed. I need to be out.

The Ber Months Are Coming

Already, it's middle of August. The BER months are coming and before I know it, i'd have to be trimming the Christmas tree already for my son while other people will be sending out Christmas party invitations. Oh and I have actually already started saving one-peso coins for Christmas carollers which are sure to entertain my son again.

I also have to save up for a new guitar for my son because I accidentally sat on his coco-shell guitar (the one we bought in Boracay). Lost my balance when he pushed me while I was squat-dancing with him yesterday. I really feel awful whenever he picks it up and starts making those mewling, crying noises as if he's very, very sad. Sigh.

And I have started planning our itinerary for the birthday celeb we'd have this October (my 32nd and Yakee's 2nd). And am also wondering where to get money for an anniversary trip come January (because hubs cannot go on leave this December). Yes, so many trips, so little money. Hehe. And we have four months to really go through with our plan to purchase our own property.

The BER months are coming and this year will end soon. I try not to dwell on whether I was productive this year or not, but I know I have been blessed with so much.

Breastmilk for Adults

Lactating ladies nurses adults in a Kabukicho Milk Bar where people (most probably, all men) can order a shot glass of freshly-expressed milk for 3,000 Yen or get it directly (as in suckle) from the source for 5,000 Yen.

I get the appeal... how it can prove kinky and erotic for men. But every inch of me cries foul at this because it sexualizes and objectifies something that is very beautiful and sacred. Plus, considering all the babies dying from lack of nourishment and formula feeding, this is just really, really atrocious and in poor taste.

Ugh.

Breastfeeding and Yoga

August is Breastfeeding Month... I still haven't uploaded pics of the Milk Code Forum I attended yesterday but here's something a friend sent to me that really, really made me laugh.

Instead of "why Moms Can't do Yoga", I prefer instead to entitle this one, "Breastfeeding and Yoga" because as you can see, breastfeeding can be done even while you're doing yoga :D

I'm not sure how to embed the video properly so am just leaving the link. Promise, it's so cute!

Baby Names, My PMS Coping Mechanism

Like clockwork, my appetite becomes unmanageable and I start feeling really sad, and I start scouring the net for baby names when I hit that week when hormones peak just before a period.

Sigh. I believe the name hunting is a coping mechanism my body uses as it unconsciously tells me that I am not pregnant again yet, no matter how much I want to be.

Anyway, we started out with Spanish names but are now leaning towards Greek and Hebrew names. And at least I am not daydreaming triplets this month :D

Someday, Hopefully

My sister just recently spent a week in Florida. She texted me about wishing she can go to Disneyland with me someday. She told me about going to different fun parks every day and swimming in Florida waters wearing a tank top and shorts because she didn't dare do as the locals did, and that is wear next to nothing on the beach.

Of course I was a wee bit envious. But such is one of the perks she will enjoy forevermore as being the only one who got to fly to the U.S. when our parents' petition was approved. In two or three years time, my brother may be able to vacation with her. And me? Who knows if i'd ever even go to the U.S.

True, there is some sadness but it's just a feeling. It doesn't really matter in the great scheme of things.

But I do hope that when my Yakee gets to first visit any Disneyland, it would be with us, his parents, and his other siblings. Some places, you really need to have family with you to enjoy. And am sure, Florida vacations someday for us would include the Harry Potter Theme Park :)

Learning Styles Seminar

I attended a Learning Styles seminar for parents last Friday, held by TMA Homeschool (mostly for those enrolled with them). The turnout was really huge and it was super great to see at least 15 kids brought by their parents who were homeschooled and doing their schoolwork there and then. Certainly one of the advantages of homeschooling. And talking to the parents who are homeschooling couldn't help but also make me look forward to the time i'd be doing the same.

Nobody said there weren't struggles, but they also all really like it. And those who had kids attending traditional schools all say their kids prefer their current setup. :)

Anyway, here are salient points that the speaker Ms. Maria Luisa Adviento (professor of Multiple Inteliggences in Ateneo) imparted:

~ There are many learning styles and there is usually one or two that works best for each person
~ Before we can be sensitive to our child's learning styles, we have to know our own first so we we can separate it from our child's
~ Recognize your child's strengths and interests first before exposing them to other opportunities or before developing their other learning styles
~ The important thing is for your child to learn how to learn, so that they would enjoy doing so even after growing up
~ Each learning style has age-appropriate strategies (e.g. don't explain in paragraphs to a verbal toddler or pre-schooler)
~ Suspend your expectations and let your child tell you how he wants to learn
~ Your house is either a museum or a learning center, you decide
~ Early on, separate your own opinions from your child's
~ We will never be special in God's eyes if we insist on being like everybody else
~ Our child/children do not stress us. It is our desire to control them that stresses us.

It was only now that I made the connection why sign language worked for my son. He seems to be physical, verbal and auditory generally (while I am solitary, social and verbal). So now I know that i really have to be creative with our play and that he'd probably learn more if we learn new things doing physical stuff (like counting steps instead of pictures).

The really amazing thing for me about this is the fact that somehow, you already know these things about you or your child... but certain tools can help you really understand things enough for you to do something about them.

A Newborn's Conversation with God

A baby asked God, "They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow, but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?"

God said, "Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you."

The child further inquired, "But tell me, here in heaven I don't have to do anything but sing and smile to be happy."

God said, "Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you. And you will feel your angel's love and be very happy."

Again the small child asked, "And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me if I don't know the language?"

God said, "Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak."

"And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?"

God said, "Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray."

"Who will protect me?"

God said, "Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life."

"But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore."

God said, "Your angel will always talk to you about Me and will teach you the way to come back to Me, even though I will always be next to you."

At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from Earth could be heard and the child hurriedly asked, "God, if I am to leave now, please tell me my angel's name."

God said, You will simply call her, "Mom."

Received this in my -email many times already... but it's only now that I realized how really important it is for me to teach my child about heaven, and make him remember.

August is Breastfeeding Month

I am one super duper excited Mom!

Pondering The Next Baby

As I dream and wish and hope for another baby with my husband, I also can't help but feel bittersweet about all the things that will be different.

First of all, for sure, the anticipation won't be the same. After all, that's always gone to the first child. And though we'd love to have a girl next time, it isn't that big a deal that we'd have more and more just to have one.

And then there's Yakee, a demanding, hyper toddler who is still breastfeeding from me. Sometimes, I ache for the possibility of having to turn him away because a preggy me is nauseous, or can't breastfeed anymore. Sometimes, I wonder if all the breastfeeding and the rough play are preventing me to conceive. But the point still is, Yakee will be there to demand time and care. What will I do if I am pregnant but Yakee gets sick enough to require hospitalization?

Actually, I already had an answer to these questions. Go with the younger one or the one who needs me the most. After all, the older one has already enjoyed me, now it's the younger one's turn. But both will be my child and regardless of whether one of them needs me more, it doesn't erase the fact that am needed and wanted.

So yeah, I salute the parents who have lots of kids and manage to make each child feel loved. And certainly, it is the heart that gets divided or torn apart, not the love.