In Full Bloom

This is how I can describe the status of my career at present.

Another unexpected blessing came my way this afternoon. I accidentally cancelled the call because I was busy browsing my mobile. It was an unregistered number but I still decided to ring back as a courtesy to the caller.

To make the long conversation short I was given another opportunity to handle a class for two and a half weeks! I'll blog more on this later.

But aside from these opportunities, the comments and praises I have been receiving are just heart warming and inspiring.

Teachers who have planned absences actually request for me to handle their class! There was even one teacher who had an unplanned absence but still mentioned to the coordinator that she requested for me. Di ba nakakataba ng puso? I must be doing something right, right?

It is in times like these that I am affirmed that I chose to respond to the right vocation. That yes, I may not still be very well versed with the conversational language as an everyday thing, but inside the classroom I know I'm good. I know I'm good at what I do. I know that I teach well because of the talents and skills He has equipped me with. I know that this indeed is my calling. True enough, when you love what you do, it will reflect on the quality of your work.

I can only be thankful and grateful.

Tidbits on Parenting :-)

Yogies has a new way of informing us parents of the activities our kid/s did while under their care. They now e-mail it to us aside from the usual report posted on their board at school. Because of this, I get to read it ahead of time, even before I pick up Sam. I usually use their school activities as one of our points of conversation at night.

Yesterday, while giving her a bath, I told her that I saw that they learnt about the number 7 in school and that they chose a colour to paint their own number 7. This was how our conversation went:

Mama: I saw you had number seven today. Did you paint it?

Sam: Yes.

Mama: What colour did you choose?

Sam: Orange.

Mama: So, orange was your number?

Sam: (no break or pause) Orange is not a number!

Mama: (surprised but happy) Why, what is orange?

Sam: It's a colour! Funny Mama!

The other day, after she went to the toilet, I assisted her in putting on her panties:

Mama: O, come here na, put your leg here.

Sam: Yes, your majesty! (bowing to me before putting her leg on one of the holes)

I was just surprised because I think it was the first time I heard her use "majesty" on her own and in a correct context that it.

Truly, as soon as the kids hit 2, there's no stopping them from learning and using a lot of words! 

Last Monday, I attended a Staff Development Day in one of the schools I work for and we discussed about the different special learning needs/difficulties of students/kids. It was another opportunity for me to revisit my previous learnings being a Special Education major and to also update myself of the recent developments in the field. I am just thankful because admittedly, all these information I get are put to use not only inside my classroom but at home as well. I've been getting a lot of helpful tips and approaches waaaay back, and it did seem to work! :-) I shared the highlights of my day to hubby as he was eating dinner (isn't it awesome I get to share this kind of things with hubby?!) and I can't help but tell him that as I was listening to the speaker that day, I can't help but  be thankful that my kids are doing okay, especially after discussing the cases we had earlier that day. Fine, if before, I wanted my kids to be identified as "gifted" (yeah, right!) I am now VERY THANKFUL of what they have. Yes, they might not be super duper bright, but they're okay-- no special cases mentally even emotionally. They are coping, they are learning and they are enjoying. No red flags whatsoever. For that alone, I am very thankful.

Speaking of tips, I just wanted to share about one tip I heard (or was it read?) before...it's about kids being "stuck." Kids usually cry when they don't get what they want or we start losing it when we want them to do something and they don't follow us straight away. It now becomes a battle. The reason why they don't want to follow is not really because they want to test our patience or just wants to be stubborn. They are actually "stuck" on what they are doing and are not yet ready to move on to the next activity. We usually expect too much from our kids.If as adults, we can quickly change our focus and move on to the next activity, kids, especially toddlers are quite different. Sam is quite different from her Kuya in the sense that if she's doing something you cannot just interrupt her. Before, I used to get mad at her. Yes, big drama! But after reading this very helpful article, I tried it on her, and what do you know? It worked! It worked wonders. Example, we already need to leave the house and she is still busy playing in her room, I will tell her we need to go, she doesn't move or listen to me. Then I will tell her I'll give her 5 minutes and yes after that five minutes, she stands up by herself and is all set to go. The same thing happened when we're in the shops and she's playing with those kiddie rides. There was one occasion when I had to use the timer of my mobile because she really loved the Sesame St. ride. But still, no dramas. So when I see hubby being the one in-charge of Sammie and is slowly starting to lose it, I take over and give my Sam a time to get "unstucked." 

***

Liam brought home a note yesterday from his school about their forthcoming excursion. He is one very excited boy. Can't help but tell him the story when I was in elementary that there were times (a lot actually) when I was't able to join the excursion because we didn't have money to pay for it. I'd stay at home when almost all my classmates went on a field trip. As if it's not enough. everyone is expected to talk about it the following day, well, leaving me clueless. I remember in fifth grade, they went to Science Centrum. The following day, the teacher gave a quiz about the trip, without even considering people like me who were not able to join the trip :( I got of course a very low score on that quiz. Bagsak. And it wasn't good because I was running for honours. Anyway, I told Liam, Papa and I still need to discuss it because we need to see if we have money to pay for his excursion. Oh that look on his face! He's afraid of missing out the chance to ride on the bus and learning and being "independent" if ever we decide not to let him join. Of course, I was just testing him hehehe. But I just wanted to let him realize how lucky he is because we can now afford to let him join excursions like this.  

***

During our recent trip to Canberra/Snowy we chanced upon Australian National University and shared to Liam that it's one of the best universities in Australia and that we hope he and his sister gets to be accepted there when they go to Uni. We told them that Papa and Mama went into one of the best Uni schools in the Philippines -- one of the reasons why we have good jobs and we have a good life now. Liam was listening and trying to digest everything when Alvin suddenly told me:

Alvin: But Mama, when they go there, it means that they have to stay there while studying. They'll leave our home.

Me: Papa, isn't that our responsibility? We have to be ready for that day. We should ensure that our kids will have a good future, right? So if it means we have to let go of them, then by all means. We cannot just stop them from working for a good (or better) life in the future, right?

Alvin just kept quiet because we both know, I have a point. That time will come when both our kids will be ready to spread their wings and we cannot do anything about it, but just support them. Tough love...tough love indeed.

***

"They're growing up too fast, don't blink."

Snippets 2013

On the homestretch of our winter school holiday and getting myself ready for August.

***

Alvin has been sick for three days now. Eye infection :( Since Tuesday he has been working from home. Funny, before I always wanted him to work from home if he had the chance, well, it's not as easy as I thought it would. We had to practically be quiet the whole day because he had meetings lined up every day! It was hard because the kids are at home. It's the school holidays! Good thing yesterday and today Sam was on childcare so that's one major noise maker off the list. And I thought working from home can actually allow me to have more free time because he can help me with the house chores? Uhm, No. Work from home to the strictest level. No naps, only coffee break!

***

Hubby is actually getting worried because technically, this is just his third week at his new position. He is still in the probationary period and knowing him he'd move heaven and earth just as so he can report for work already. But, doctors haven't given him the clearance yet. I can sense that he is worried big time because he is unusually talkative the past three days now. I told him, I'm the worrier, not him. Can't believe I'd also tell him that maybe God wants him to stay put. Especially after he mentioned that their big project will already start next week. I told him that probably is  the reason. Maybe God wants you to spend more time with the kids because by next week, you'd be more than busy. I had to assure him as well that God is in control of everything.

***

I've started wrapping our Christmas pressies. OA? Well, that's just me :-) I don't like stressing myself by cramming. I'm thinking I might be busy come Christmas time, writing and finishing my accreditation requirements. So do it while I'm still not that very busy hehehe

***

Happy that we've already bought the kids' birthday and Christmas presents too :) I am so tempted to wrap them already but controlling myself. Liam might outsmart me and see that Santa's wrapper is the same as Mama's wrapper. I'd go buy a new wrapper for their gifts next week when both of them are back to school.

***

My parents are arriving next week! Yay! We can get to save on childcare which costs us $91 a day for Sammie. And they get to spend time again with their grandchildren. I'm just happy that with all their sacrifices and hardwork, both of them are now enjoying the fruits of their labour.

***

In two weeks' time my in-laws will be arriving too. I'm not sure how the next three months will go but I'm just  thankful that I'd be pretty busy not to be able to focus on the negatives, if you know what I mean. ;-P Will just focus on the positive things their visit here will bring for the kids, me and alvin too :)

***

Walang basagan ng trip...but  sometimes can't help but smile with the "selfies" and "throwback thursday" pictures flooding the social media...well, I'm also guilty at times, but hindi pa naman ako addict sa sarili ko...but i'm guilty with posting pics of food and almost everything that I buy hehehe Sensya na if at times you also feel "nauumay"...but I actually love that word, c/0 my friend Mitch, kasi pag Thursday nauumay ako sa dami ng TBT pictures!!!! hehehe :-) I'm guilty today because I posted my first TBT picture on insta...di pa kaya ng powers ko sa FB hehehe

***

We are now officially Aussies! We had our oath taking ceremony end of June :) Just thankful and grateful for the opportunities OZ has given our family. Oz has been good and continues to be good to us. Nothing really changed except now we should already vote come election and we get to have Aus passports already. I'm more excited with the passport privilege because it will make travelling to countries on my bucket list a lot easier (no need for us to apply for a visa)...pamasahe na lang kulang! hahaha

***

Speaking of which, Alvin and I visited our major projects for the year and made some changes. Most of them have been ticked off already but there are some major projects that needs to wait a bit ;-)

I was soooo eager to fly again...I want to fly again and travel even if super stressed it gives me a certain high being able to go to another place with my family...I come home happy and recharged....

Anyway, going back, I was so tempted to book in flights for my family, looking and researching the past couple of weeks...choice between NZ and Japan (ayan Mitch kasi ikaw hahahaha)...was thinking to fly during Sammie's birthday and since there were so many flight sales being offered around that time. But as usual, my hubby, who is not into travelling (more of the buying a house na tsk tsk tsk) told me not to think about travelling in the next six months. Mas hindi ko nakulit when his eye got infected and he had no choice but not to go to work. Six months? His probationary period is for six months. Baka maudlot pa daw. Oo nga naman, I'm already planning to spend on money na wala pa naman. I was just thinking to use my salary for the teaching block and my tax refund for that trip...anyway, we can just use my salary to pay off the balance of the car loan we had (we chose to have our car loan paid in one year)... Okay, point taken. But I'm not giving up so easily. After his sixth month and everything goes well I'll push thru with one major trip for the family! Kung ayaw niya kami ng mga anak ko aalis hahaha I was teasing him about it last night. I had a chat with his cousin and after the chat I told him what I and his cousin talked about and about my plan of when to travel...mukhang lumambot naman hehehe especially when I told him that what we spent last year to go home for his sister's wedding (and only staying there for 10 days!) e halos the same amount naman na (mas mahal ng a few hundred dollars) ng gagastusin namin if we push thru with that trip...i feel konting pangungulit na lang okay na :)

But I'm not keeping my hopes up. I'm hoping for the best, expecting for the worst. The chat caused me to be too excited that I wasn't able to sleep properly last night. I'd just continue to research about our destination while waiting and continue to have an open mind and  heart. Six months is quite long and anything can happen. Like I was telling BRO during our conversation last night, if He wills it, then go...I know that all will fall into place if He really wills it. Kung hindi matuloy then I know God has better and grander plans for us :)

For now, I'd just focus and enjoy our Snowy adventure! :)

Liam 5 .5

Kuya!!!!!

My dear Kuya! 2013 is half-way thru and it only means that you're now five and a half years old! I plan to continue writing letters to you and your sister every year. I am more excited knowing that you can already read a lot of words with ease and you can easily read now my letter for you.

Happy ka na no? You're too excited to turn six years old because you're excited to start losing your teeth-- your baby teeth, not for any other reason, but because you're eagerly awaiting what the Tooth Fairy will be giving you. How much the Tooth Fairy will be giving you!

Well, before you turn six years old, allow me again to write to you the highlights of the year as I remember them. I might miss some again, but hopefully I don't miss out on the big ones.

Early this year, we went to my friend's house with your Lolo and Lola. Unfortunately, their child who cannot still speak well was so "violent" when you guys played together. Nakita ko at ng mga Lolo at Lola mo, kung pano ka nagpigil kahit sinapok sapok ka na at sinakal nung batang kalaro mo. Ilang beses ka binatukan pero di mo siya pinatulan. Nagpigil din kami ni Papa. When I talked to you about it in the car, you told me: "Yes, I was about to cry Mama but I stopped myself. He is younger than me." You gained my respect that night, anak. I was very proud of you. Yes, he is the same age as your sister, but technically you are still a kid too, and you could've easily hurt him, grabbed the toys he grabbed from you or cried or tell him in to his parents every time he hit you. But you didn't. You totally controlled yourself. Bravo, anak!

This year, you started attending the big school and boy, did you like it! No, make that, LOVE it! You brought home your first Blue Award on the second day of school! Earned 15 Blue Awards for the first  two terms and earned an Assistant Principal's Award after one semester. You really do continue to make me and your Papa really proud. Your initial reading level is at Level 10 whereas most of my Kindy students can't even read Level 2 books! You were one of the students chosen by your teacher to read the longest parts during the Kindy assembly when your class was the host! Galing galing ng stage presence! And I saw how you tried to overcome reading and pronouncing the difficult words like "cooperative" until you mastered and perfected it. Good habits anak, keep it up!

You love to write and you eagerly share your story especially on Monday afternoons after you have written your Recount in school. Now on school holidays, I saw how interested you are in writing. Hindi na pwede i-claim ng Papa mo yang area na yan! Yung Math, fine sa kanya na, pero ang writing? Sa akin na yun! hehehe Keep it up anak. Continue to improve yourself on the things that you love to do.

Yes, initially we had little arguments as we tried to establish your study habits -- doing homework, etc. -- but by and by you got the hang of it. Now, you can pace yourself well, not doing a lot on day one and not being too relaxed too.

But I think I still need to follow up your skills in packing up your things especially after doing your homework. ;-)

There was one major event that happened early this year when I saw how high your EQ was. I was called at work to fetch you from school because you were ill. I was in a dilemma because it was my first day back at work after all the cancellations I made the week before. To make the long story short, when I arrived to finally pick you up, I was expecting you'd cry as soon as you see me or that you'd be panicking already after the long wait you did...but no. You were composed. You had grace under pressure. Ako pa nga yung na tense and naiyak. Ikaw pa yung concerned if I was okay to think ikaw yung may sakit. I wish I had the same anak.

You have become more independent and I am now assured wala akong magiging problema when your sister starts big school. Kasi ngayon pa lang, kaya mo na alagaan sarili mo e.

At home, you and your sister have your episodes, aso't pusa moments, but when you've had a good afternoon nap or night's rest, you willingly give way and spoil your sister. Yung requests and whims ng kapatid mo, pinagbibigyan mo. Pag bati kayo ng kapatid mo ang saya-saya namin ng Papa mo kasi grabe yung level ng kulitan niyo ni Sammie e! Wrestling, habulan, hay!

May mga cheeky moments ka rin. Like one time I caught you making faces and trying to imitate me while I was lecturing you about something! Lokong bata! Pero natawa kami ng Papa mo. Anak, please be patient with Mama and Papa when we lecture you and re-instill values we want you to grow up with. Mahaba-haba pa ang lalakbayin natin. You're only 5 years old!

Papa and I observed that for a time you were getting addicted to the gadgets at home. There was one incident when Papa told you during one of your silly moments that you MIGHT not be allowed to use the tablet or iPad anymore, we were surprised when you actually followed it and reminded me about it when we got home and I told you to use the iPad first so you won't be bored anymore. Your exact words: "Mama, Papa said I can't use the tablet or iPad." When I told the story to your Papa, pati siya nagulat kasi he was just using it para "umayos" ka...not really serious about it. But well, because of that you proved that we can trust you. Now, even after Papa and I decided that no gadgets, iPads or Xbox from Sunday night up until Thursday night, you have no BIG issues about it. Well, sometimes you do, but when we explain things, you follow kahit labag sa kalooban mo hehehe :) Anyway, sometimes you get exemptions especially after you did good in school or at home. :-)

Lunch orders were part of your prize for getting Blue Awards but one time, after you brought home one Blue Award after the other, I joked about having no money anymore for your lunch order. You know what your reply was? "Mama, it's okay. I won't have lunch order anymore." Syempre, natameme na naman ako. Na-guilty tuloy ako. Instead of buying my lunch at school I decided to just prepare my lunch at home. Kung ikaw nga nagtitipid, e di ako din.

Your personality is still evolving. Ngayon, ayaw mo na ako halikan sa harap ng mga schoolmates mo huhuhu dami mo ng tanong...you have the tendency to compare yourself or our family with others...it's something that we will be working on...it's something we will be praying for. Remember what I always tell you, you don't have to do or you don't have to have what other people do or what other people have. God will give you what you need and what is best for you. Speaking of which, around March or April of this year, you learned how to pray the Rosary. I am happy anak. When Ben was blessed by Fr. Ruben, he was surprised when he heard you recite the prayers with ease. Another new fan! :-)

When my left eye got injured, you were so concerned. You always reminded your sister that I was not well and willingly did errands one of which was being my guide everytime I moved around the house especially when I go up or down the stairs.

I hope that as you grow older and even if you see other kids doing things that your Papa and I do not permit you to do, you'd stick with our rules. I hope that you'll continue to mature in a responsible and good way. I hope too that you'd not grow up so fast! Don't wish to grow up and get old quickly, enjoy your childhood anak.

I know that we've told you a lot of times how lucky you are for having to enjoy a lot of things that your Papa and I only got to enjoy when we were working already! Kaya, appreciate everything that you have now anak.

Hopefully, as you get older, we can instill in you the value of hardwork, love for work,  giving your best and never giving up especially now na mas marami ka ng naiintindihan :-)

Thank you anak for being you.

Till my next love letter.

I love you Kuya!

Love,
Mama