Celebrating My Kids' Individuality

Do you have kids?

As of today, I have two growing kids, one is 3 the other is almost six.

Seeing them slowly grow up and having the privilege of taking care of them myself, I can't help but observe some similarities but a lot of differences.

This morning I was faced with fear and worry as we celebrated Kuya's school achievement. I got a bit scared and worried a bit for my little Sam.

While we were all in high heavens celebrating Kuya's achievements I was trying my best not to let Sam feel jealous or left out. I wanted her to see that she is part of her Kuya's success. I wanted her to celebrate with us. This early on, I wouldn't want them to feel that there is a competition between the two of them for our love and attention. That each of them is receiving our full 100+% of love, time and support. I would not like for Sam to experience the "emotional battles" I had when I was growing up, just as so I can prove myself to my peers and my  parents.

Thankfully, at this stage, I can't sense any competition between the two of them. For me kasi,  I'd rather prevent than cure so I'm making myself informed.

My goodness! To think I only have two kids! How much more those parents who successfully managed to raise more kids!

I guess I'm at the receiving end this time. I suddenly missed my small chats with my veteran mommy friends back home. I miss hearing their stories and learning from them.

I'm now challenged to make sure that both my kids will feel and realise that we are equally happy and proud with their respective achievements regardless on what field they choose.

I will be  working on that and I know it will not be easy!

How about you, how do you cele
brate your children's individuality and cultivate their uniqueness? Tips, please :-)

Christmas Wishes (and Prayers)

Hmmm, who ever said Christmas wishes are only for kids? Well, if my Liam wants a toy piano this coming Christmas (which he will get), why can't I share my Christmas wishes as well? It's actually somewhere in between a Christmas wish and a Christmas prayer. As an adult, I do know that I may wish and pray all I want but I have no assurance that I will get all -- and I am very much okay with that. After all, it's free to wish, right?

So here it goes. I only want four things for Christmas:

First, a new job or an extension of my hubby's contract with BAT. His present contract expires on 19 December and there is a possibility that he will get another extension (as per our discussion last night), which we are both thankful for. If this thing does not push thru, there is another job offer waiting, still with a big and a well-established FMCG company, which is very near our place, unlike BAT. Now, whichever of the two will be given to us, we will be very thankful and grateful.

Second, another car for my family. Yes, the family is getting bigger and by the time Sam comes out, we won't fit in our car anymore. We are thinking of buying our first family car -- a seven-seater car -- which we can use with the Lolos and Lolas when they visit here. Of course, we'll still be keeping the first car that we have. It will be of great help to us, and to me especially, if I get to use any of the cars available, especially when my in-laws are back in Manila. A brand new car or a second-hand car? Does not really matter, it will all depend on God's (oh this is Christmas wishes right, so I better use Santa :D) answer or decision on wish number one.

Third, a new cam corder. Liam is fast growing up and Sam will soon join us. Yes, our mobile phones comes in very handy in documenting the milestones of our children during unguarded moments but I would want to document special occasions like school programs and the like using an appropriate equipment. Of course, Alvin wants a good quality of cam corder already which he can use with his hi-tech LCD TV. This area I leave it all to him, being a tech-ie guy. We can actually buy now, but we wouldn't want to touch on our savings, yet, until we have received a definite answer for wish number 1.

Lastly, a piece of jewelry for myself. I have invested a couple of pieces but everytime I see the catalogues, almost every week, I can't help but I wish I can buy one and add to my collection. I don't have much because even if they are a good investment, my heart tells me, in the end, I can't bring them all when I die. It might even be a cause of arguments or conflicts when I die. I would just like to add a piece or two on my collection for special occasions. Again, I can already buy one, but priorities will have to take place. And who knows, hubby might surprise me with one (but I doubt it, he is also not keen in investing on pieces of jewelry).

There you go, my four simple Christmas wishes. As you can see, wishes 2 to 4 all depend on wish number 1. If God grants wish number 1, there is a higher chance that I can also get the three other wishes. So bottomline, I hope Santa grants wish number 1! hehehe

Will I get all? Let's wait and see :D

Nature and Nurture

My husband and I were having one of our usual conversations when suddenly my son did an amusing thing which made us both laugh. I remember telling Alvin to look at what his son has been doing and he just told me "that's what you've prayed for right?" And true enough it was what we prayed for when Liam was still inside my tummy. We always prayed for gifts for our then unborn son, name it, we've prayed for it. Any parent would only want the best for his kids right? Intelligence, wisdom, good physical abilities, and a good heart. And after 18 months of being parents to him we're slowly seeing these gifts with him. We are thankful but we are also challenged. You see, being an Education graduate allowed me to cross paths with this "Nature and Nurture" thing with kids. I realized that having the gifts are not enough. Nurturing the gifts is as important as well. As a parent, you should by all means try in your best capacity to nurture these gifts. That is what Alvin and I will be working on. Seeing how Liam has developed over the last 18 months made us realize that God granted what we have asked of Him. The harder part is how we can nurture these gifts so Liam can grow up to be one person who has maximized all his potentials for the greater glory of his Creator. He is just 18 months and it's a long way for us.We just hope that by the time Liam is old enough to decide for himself, we have done our share of correctly nurturing all his God-given gifts. As for now, we are enjoying every bit of opportunity God has given us to marvel on this little creation He has made and has entrusted to us.