Will I Have A Friend

I borrowed this book from the library two weeks ago. As soon as Alvin read it to Liam, he fell in love with the book.

Maybe because he saw himself in the main character.

Liam wanted to keep the book.

I told him he can't keep it because we had to return it to the library.

He got sad but didn't act up. He followed me.

He realy wanted the book.

And since the story was about a boy who was about to go to the big school, I decided to buy one for him.

I placed the order last week, and today, on the last day of his Kindy transition, the book was delivered.

I call it perfect timing :)

I reccommend this book to parents whose kids might be going to the big school or a new school. It somewhat verbalizes one of their fear and reassures them that they will find friends in school.

I hope that through this book, he will continue with his blossoming relationship with reading :

A Time for Everything

I told you I will have the time for all the things that I plan to do, one of which is to write another blog entry ;)

This week has been quite busy since I worked for four days. I had to let go of some things in favour of the more important ones. I had my first two-week teaching block and I can say that it was an affirmation that indeed, I am cut for teaching.

Monday was a bit chaotic but I got to get back on track as soon as I figured out and settled the things that needed to be settled. It was a chance for me to see that I haven't lost my magic inside the classroom ;) One week down, one more to go.

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Sammie has been a bit clingy to me the past two days. I have been leaving her for two extra days at Yogies. I know that it was a change from our usual routine of swimming lessons every Mondays  and Gymbaroo lessons every Tuesdays. I thank her for her understanding. She has grown over the past weeks and has achieved a lot of developmental milestones. Her vocabulary continues to improve, she can now answer us in complete sentences and even give remarks like "hurry up mama."  Her present addiction is watching Hi5 and Despicable Me.

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Liam started with his Kindy transition classes today, Friday. He was had some apprehensions at the beginning, asking me a lot of questions, but he was okay with me leaving him at the room with the other kids. When I came back to pick him up, the first thing that he told me:"Mama, I like this!" Happy that he seems to enjoy going to school. Speaking of which, his reading has greatly improved over the weeks. His Math skills as well has improved a lot. He can now add single digit numbers without regrouping. He started with his tennis lessons again and his coach has started teaching him to do service. He needs to work double time on his service hehehe.

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Funny how you can overlook the mess at home and choose the mess you will fix if you are really busy with more pressing things like, work and catching up with the kids.
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Weeee! I called my mom this afternoon and she told me that the results of their visa application will be delivered today. Need I say more? I'm so happy and excited because our family will be complete after almost 8 years!,,, happy, very happy Christmas!

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Sammie's party is all ready to go! Thankful that I finished most of the preps over the school holidays. Food has been ordered and plan has been given to the venue coordinator ;) now we wait :)

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All is set too with our holidays. I haven't started packing clothes but with the IT and tickets, all have already been purchased. I'd allot more time with this after Sammie's party ;)

There are still so many things to write about but I have to save it for now because it might take me forever to finish!

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Happy weekend everyone!

mums need to be tough

It is no surprise.

Last Wednesday when I left my kids at the care of my friend because I needed to go to work, both of them cried.

It was much better to see them just cry but seeing them trying to not to cry at all and put on a brave front, was much harder for me.

It was too much for me to bear.

It got thru me.

On the way back to the parking, I cried.

What else can I do?

This is life.

I realized that I need to be tough, for them.

I realized that I can teach them to be tough and face life's adversities by being tough myself.

I can only pray that my son can really understand all the reasons we have been telling him, as to why we leave them on childcare.

I pray and hope that this experience will not cause any harmful effects when he grows up.

I hope that I can be as tough as I need to be.

Simple fact: Mums need to be tough.

I am a mum, so I NEED to be tough.

Boredom and Cooking

I am looking for a new passion.

I have been a teacher for a decade now and I thought that it was my calling. Well, I think it still is. I know that I am good at it but at present, I have to still land a permanent or temporary full-time or part-time teaching position. I think it's still not in His immediate plans for me to be back in the teaching field, the way I want to and the way I used to.

Admittedly, I miss teaching.

It is actually the reason why I have been down the past few days.

Don't get me wrong, I still love and enjoy every minute spent with my growing kids. But since they are both growing up (so fast), their routine is quite predictable and I don't have to be tutok with them, unlike before. As a result, I have more time now ( as I would like to think). I still have plenty of things to-do at home, sometimes doing hubby's chores, when both kids are in daycare and I don't have substitution calls. I guess time- management is not really a problem for me. :)

I would have loved to spend the entire "free" days in front of the computer, but suprisingly, I have been able to avoid that. The last four days, I only sat in front of the computer for only an hour, an hour and a half at the most.

Needless to say, I am starting to get bored. I am not a TV fan, so watching TV is out of the list. I get a migraine if I watch too much TV.

What to do now? The past days I have been thinking and reflecting on what to do with my (extra?)free time. I considered home-schooling my children, but after reading a couple of articles about it and looking at the requirements at the NSW Board of Studies, I dropped the idea. LOL :) I'm not yet ready for that BIG challenge. And with the looks of it, I think I can't be an effective teacher with my kids because we just might end up arguing and getting mad with each other. I'll just continue to give Liam extra exercises at home, one step/level higher than his present level.

I also considered going back to school. Yep, another degree. I still have 4 years before I work on my Professional Competence accreditation with NSW Institute of Teachers, so I guess I can still squeeze it in. I did look for Open Universities here, but sadly, the course that I want is not available online. I have to attend to the classes in the campus, which I think is impossible as of the moment. Oh well. I was actually up for it.

My list is getting shorter.

Then it hit me. I'll just cook.

Yeah. Cook.

Hubby seems to be supportive and appreciates the meals (yummy meals according to him) I prepare for them. So, why not? :)

I have yet to experiment and create my own signature dish, but I have started cooking some meals I have been reading in magazines. I'm not focusing on desserts this time because I have a problem with design (LOL) or presentation. I am focusing on entrees and mains.

I already have a short list of mains that I plan to cook this week.

I know that hubby will be my critic, but I'm still excited to see his reaction and my kids' reaction when I start cooking new meals. Their reaction takes the blues away.

For the meantime, I am taking a break from the usual Pinoy ulam and start whipping up new dishes for my family.

Who knows, one day, I might take cooking really seriously :) Who knows, cooking might be my newest calling ;)

Just thankful that I found a new outlet for me to use my skills, creativity and energy :)

Time to Write Again

Next week, my two kids will starting going to childcare, twice a week, since I will be back to work thrice a week (still on-call though).

Part of my preparation was to write the routine of my youngest. That list included her likes and dislikes. I really had to spend time to sit down in peace so I won't miss anything. I felt with everything I have written, it's time to write a letter for my daughtet. It was a wonderful time to recall everything with her. Her milestones and her developing personality. And what a coincidence, one e-group I am a member of, had a new message thread about letters of parents to kids.

It has been more than 6 months since I wrote a letter to Liam and I really haven't had a letter for my sweetie, Sam.

I write to them so I have something to remind them of how they were as kids. I don't know how they will be in the future, but I'm loving what they are now. I will forever cherish these times and if writing is the only way I can preserve those memories, then I will take the time to do it.

When hubby and I are much older, these are the things that I'm pretty sure, we will not get tired of doing. Reading and watching (our videos of kids, which hubby thinks he'll be able to edit, arrange, file properly when he is retired na!) anything about our kids :)

Sam and Liam, Mama will write to you both soon :)

Another Perspective

My cousin's daughter was baptized last Sunday.

I liked what the priest shared during the Homily.

"Your babies play with your stuff because they want to become like Mommy or Daddy. They play with Mom's bag or shoes even if they have their own shoes, because they like to become like Mama. The same thing with little boys. They play with Daddy's belt, shoes or act like Daddy because he wants to become like Daddy. So you should be role models for your children."

I really never looked it that way when I see Sam or Liam playing with our stuff. I always thought it was just "cute" when they play with those things, not thinking that they are actually playing with it because they want to be US.

What a challenge! Now I am challenged!

Small Sweet Boy

Yesterday was a school day for Liam. After school, I dropped him off at his cousins' home so they can play.

It was a crazy day for me yesterday. Aside from the usual grind in the morning I did the following-- Gymbaroo class for Sam --> did some errands like buying stuff for the home and a smaller pram that would fit at the back of Mickie--> went home for a bit to do some chores, rest a bit --> went to Plumpton to have Mickie blessed by our friend priest --> went home and cooked dinner --> picked up the kids from school --> dropped them off at Acacia Gardens.

Night time, was still multi-tasking, putting the folded clothes to our respective cabinets (after ironing ok?). Liam who at that time was playing with his Papa, went up.

He told me this: "Mama, you know when I am in school, I really, really missed you."

I replied and told him I missed him too.

Then he told me something I wasn't really paying attention to. All I heard was "really very sorry."

After two minutes and I finally finshed everything I sat down and asked him.

"Why were you saying sorry to Mama?"

Looking very sorry again, he answered me:

"Mama, I'm really very sorry because you might be getting really tired doing everything."

My heart melted. All the tiredness gone in a flash! All I could do was hug him.

I told him I was ok doing everything for him, Sam and his Papa.

I felt guilty and remebered the times I ranted because of doing so many things at home. For being tired.

Liam is such a sweet boy. He knows how to show and say his appreciation. I hope he grows up with it.

I love you Kuya Liam!