Errands

I like taking Ozzy out to do errands. I feel like I'm teaching him life skills.

Can't be a great mom without great friends!!!

Gymboree. Thank you Chino [karen's husband] for taking the picture!

Karen got me to organize Ozzy's toys and eventually had him packing away which was brilliant for our housekeeping. Gaye got me into potty training and reading books! I really strongly believe you can't go into mothering alone.

Brown Outs

Last night’s typhoon brown out reminded me of my childhood. Ozzy and I spent the day with no electricity. No technology. We spent the morning watching the strong winds make the trees bow violently towards the street … we did that for a long while. Then we played with his toys. Then we did puzzles. Although, most of his toys didn’t need electricity, he missed his walks and outside play. No t.v. By 5:00 pm we were bouncing off the walls, and I was singing to occupy myself.

Last night reminded me of my childhood and how my parents occupied five children during brown outs. My dad usually took out his guitar and we would sing with him on candle light. Our favorite line up: “Our house”, “If I had my way,” and all sorts of Peter, Paul, and Mary songs. My dad sang some of them during my wedding. I was lucky to have a dad who knew how to play a guitar. It makes me think I should brush up on my guitar playing for Ozzy.

I think that was how my siblings and I learned to love music and group singing altogether. I think those brown out episodes made our childhood meaningful.

I’m so overjoyed by the idea of not having school tomorrow that I have decided to blog. Not because I have nothing more important to do, but because my thoughts are racing through too many aspects of life that I’m having difficulty focusing on one thing. They say writing helps. Therapy does too, but that’s expensive. Hehe… Let me share some pictures…

These pictures remind me that life is good. I am blessed.

Ozzy with My dad when he turned 1. I made his shirt .

Ozzy a month old with his father

my grandparents with ozzy on his first birthday

A Pleasant Surprise!

A pleasant surprise came to me out of nowhere one afternoon while I was making my way through a hallway of highschool students to get to my class. A graduating student exclaims, "Ms.! Bakit ngayon ka lang bumalik?! Wala tuloy kaming IKAW!!!" Arms stretched towards me emphasizing "ikaw".

I could only express a unknowing grin and was speechless. I didn't see it in that perspective before and was caught off guard. But truly, I felt joy that that student appreciated me for who I was. It's hard to read students most of the time, especially when you're giving them work that could possibly interfere with their social life.

making theater sets together

She came from my first batch of students. I met them when they were in second grade and have had them under me on intervals during their elementary and high school years. They weren't angels all the time, but I loved them. Little do they know, more than the professors in the College of Education, they were the ones who taught me how to teach.

Thomas the Train

My son's newest toy! A Thomas the Train track. I've always thought of myself of being able to put together anything. I was a Lego kid so I knew parts and how they fit. But for the life of me, I just couldn't figure out how to put together a train track. I was helpless one morning trying to put it together and ended up with an O. My son watched it for five seconds and left. Finally, something that only his father can do.

Mommy Lessons

            I think the greatest concern I have about life is how to raise my little boy. I am keeping house for my husband and have a demanding teaching job, but if there is anything I want to be able to do well, it is to be a good “mom”—or “mommy” which my son has decided on calling me now.  I want to be a good mom.

I thought instinct should take over and that I should trust every gut feel I get. But life is not as easy as that. And my instincts are as good as the next tree trunk.
            I had a lot of help. Some lessons, I learned from my mommy friends. Some were taught by my son himself. Here’s what two years of parenting have taught me so far:

1.      Children should take their time.

2.    “No” may not always mean “no” after ten minutes. It helps to keep repeating your request.

3.    You can teach them to pack away.

4.     Potty training isn’t conditioning. You just present the option.

5.     Reading books are the best bonding time. (Not meals, coz we’re just too busy getting it done.)