Splish Splash Splash

I am not an atheletic person and so is my husband. Because of this we decided or promised for that matter, that when we get to have kids, we'll do everything to make them physicaly active. Given the chance, we would allow them to get involved in sports.

When we moved here in Sydney, I realized that it will not be hard to make our son join sports activities because there are a lot of sports made available to parents and kids.

Since I and my husband are frustrated swimmers, and it seems that swimming here is a big thing, we decided to enrol my son in swimming lessons. We thought that we will not have a hard time sending him to school since when we got out swimming, he does enjoy the water. But I was wrong, the formal lessons are different with leisure swimming.

This is my son's 4th week already and it was only this week that I didn't have to go with him in the pool. The first week was a trying week because he cried so loud when his teacher was giving the lessons. It was a big cry indeed! I was sad and thought that I might be pressuring my son too much. Some friends even told me that swimming might not be his sports. Well, I did consider that but I think giving up on the first week is not really a good idea. I was not ready to give up yet.

With the help of his cousins, I asked him to swim with me again and his cousins on another day. No teachers were present. At first he was showing the same signs he showed during his first day of swimming lessons. But thankfully, he didn't give a loud cry. Still, I knew that his 2nd week will still be a hard one for me.

True enough, when the 2nd week came, he still cried, but this time, it wasn't as loud and it was not an attention-seeking cry. I came to realize that maybe the trick that I did was indeed effective. I decided to have another lesiure swimming with my son and his cousins but due to unforseen events, we were not able to push thru with it. So on the day of his swimming lesson on Week 3, we went to the school early for us to have leisure swimming first just before his classes. It did not help that there were kids who were screaming and crying. I think seeing them made him remember his fears. But I still did not give up. I did everything to distract him.

Now on his 4th week, I didn't have to take a dip in the pool anymore! There was no crying and screaming. I was happy to see that finally, he was able to enjoy his swimming lessons. He follows the instructions of the teacher and plays on his own while waiting for his turn. I was able to see how my son was able to overcome his fears. And I am happy because I was finally able to document it! I hope this experience taught him something about patience, perseverance and overcoming one's fears -- courage. Hopefully, he'll get to use it when he grows up. I am happy because I felt that I myself learned another lesson in this experience. Like what I've said or written before, our kids and our experiences with them teaches us to become better persons without even trying -- this time, I am thanking swimming. ;)

Classifying 101

I am taking a break from my wedding supplier reviews because I was inspired to hit the keyboards to share my newest experience with my two-year-old boy.

Thankful is the best word that can describe my feeling for the well-established early-childhood programs available here in Sydney. From playgroups, to early childhood classes (like my son's Gymbaroo and Kindermusik classes), to sports lessons for little ones, all of them are easily available for parents. Some require us to pay but there are some resources for parents that are available as well free of charge.

I chanced upon these early childhood literacy and numeracy cards. These cards were sent by the government to big families. It is an aid for stay-home mums in teaching some of the early skills to their children needed when they already have to go to the big school. I only have one kid but I thought of e-mailing the department to see if I can have one as well. I think it is a very useful tool to parents like me. After a few days I got a response, after some exchanges of emails and within one week, I had with me a complete package (cds, manuals and the cards), all for free.

On one of the literacy cards, it was mentioned that parents can aready teach their kids early on the skill of grouping together things. Looking for similarities or differences on the appearance of certain objects, describing them, and then putting them together in their correct groupings. This will teach them to classify things later on. Classification, as what was mentioned, is needed in literacy and numeracy later on.

Sometimes, as parents, we end up looking for the correct teaching aids in shops, especially in the kids sections -- the toys sections. There is really no harm in spending for educational toys. But in my case I didn'thave to spend a single centavo because the tools that I used to teach and later on test my son's classification skills are very much available at home. Yes, at home.

The first time we did this activity, we made use of hangers. I was busy folding some clean clothes and my son was with me in the room. There were three sets of hangers with three different colors. The blue and green ones were smaller than the silver ones. Feeling that it was a teachable moment, I asked him to sit beside me. I started showing him the hangers and described it. Of course he was excited because it was a new "game" he will be playing with mum. I showed him the hangers, gave him an example and told him to do it himself -- to put the hanger mum will give to the correct pile.

At first, he tried to put the blue hanger on top of the green hanger. It was then that I described again the two hangers and asked him if the one he'll be putting is the same as the one on the pile. I think he got the idea and so to make the long story short, he was able to put together the hangers in the correct groupings. Of course, I was there to give him prompts. But after two or three tries, minimal prompts were given. And so, it was play for him. But actually, he was learning from it already.

The second one was just this morning. A friends of ours gave him last night one bag full of old toys. One of which was a bag of color pencils. The color pencils are quite a number and all were scattered on the floor when he started playing with it! Just before packing it away I remembered our hangers activity and tried to do it this time with the color pencils. This time I was able to hit two birds with one stone, having our classification/grouping activity at the same time teaching him about colors. And so, one by one I gave the name of each color, asked him to repeat the name, and when he was ready I started getting one color pencil at a time asking him to put it to the correct group. I think he remembered our hangers activity because he knew what to do already. After 20 or more color pencils, he lost his focus and started coloring again. Of course, I didn't ask him to stop coloring. I think the few minutes we spent grouping the colors was more than enough for the day. We can do it again, on some other time.

These are just two activities that we can do at home with our kids. Simple and easy. It seems like we are just playing with them but we're actually teaching them already. But the important thing here is, we should be there to play with them, to give them prompts, to guide them. Becuase if we all leave it to them, how do we expect them to learn?

Look around your house, I am pretty sure, you'll also find a lot of things you can use to teach your little one. =D

Wedding Supplier Review - Church

I have been married for more than three years now and I realized that I really haven't gotten over the experience of preparing for my wedding! The thrill is still there! And because it's still there I decided to write (in installments), my wedding supplier reviews on that very special day!

Church: Shrine of Jesus,The Way, The Truth and The Life
Reclamation Area, Pasay City
Peso Power: Php 20, 000
Inlcusions: Flower arrangements

The church is known as a strict chruch, but based on experience, we didn't encounter any problems. They were even so accomodating when 3 days before our wedding, we had to change priests because our main celebrant, passed away due to a heart attack =C sad...but on the wedding day, I think our friend priest made his presence felt, because as I was walking down the aisle, a butterfly was with me althroughout =D

I remember the day before the wedding, I was still trying to contact the church florist because I really wanted lilies as the flowers to be used on the church than the mums. For me, it looks more elegant. Good thing, they accomodated our request. =D

Two days before the wedding, I had a major problem. When I submitted our new officiating priest's details and requirements to the church admin, I saw or rather HEARD, this monstrous noise created by the people digging and putting building foundations just across the church! Yes, it is now where SMX now stands! At that time it posed a big problem because when I asked the church secretaries, they said they have raised the problem already but up to that day, they haven't received any actions yet. That leaves me and my fiance' the big dilemma of what will happen during our ceremony?! The place being almost at the end of the Reclamation area in Pasay City makes the loudest noise (or echo) with tiniest noise made. So what do you expect with big machines digging and drilling?! Up to the day of the wedding I was actually praying for a miracle. And it did happen! My groom, arriving early at the church site, went to the construction site and personally requested whoever was in-charge if they can stop the drilling while we're having our ceremony! Thank goodness for that angel, whoever she was, because even is she and her team were already behind from schedule, they stopped all the drilling and all the noise that they created. They stopped for an hour. We can remember that as soon as the priest told my husband "You may now kiss the bride" the drilling and all the noise that went with it, started again! BUt that was just fine with us!

I didn't mind anymore during the picture taking. I don't know if the music created by another supplier (JJS Entertainment) can still be heard, but I was enjoying everything that was happening to even notice it.

Looking back, if I knew that SMX would be built around that time maybe, we looked for another church. It was a good thing that SM Mall of Asia delayed their opening, or else I would have had bigger problems! Traffic and all! Knowing Filipinos, they would all troop down the mall, especially that it was summer and it was the newest and biggest mall in town at that time!

All in all, I was still happy because our pictures looked excellent and the church was really elegant. I think it is just sad that SM was built just beside it. I think, in a way, it lost or the drama of being the only church on that very remote area, was lessened.

By the way, we thought the pictures that went with the package were a bit few so we decided to put more flowers in front of the altar by another supplier (Flowers of May). It added beauty and put more life in the ceremony.

My Work As A Substitute

The phone will ring early in the morning and it is not an unexpected call. I need to report to work because I need to substitute for someone who is not able to go to work today. Before I hang up the phone, I ask what year I will be teaching for this day. As I hang up the phone, I go to my study room, look at my book collection and get the appropriate books I need for the day.

As a substitute teacher, I am already used to having the calls early in the morning and facing the challenge of preparing ample activities that I can give to my students for the day. When I started as a substitute teacher, I thought I wouldn’t get the hang of it knowing myself as to being more relaxed when my activities are set on a routine. The first few weeks were really hard for me. Imagine preparing and dropping off my little boy in child care before proceeding for work. When I get to work, I have to study and look at the plans of the teachers’ I am relieving (if there is any) for the day. I wouldn’t want to short-change the kids, just because I am just the substitute. Sometimes, I ask myself, “where is the fun in all of these?”
Well, the answers came in one after the other. Being a substitute teacher is fun after all! After getting the hang of it, I saw the beauty of becoming a substitute teacher. First, the job is challenging. It is not easy to go to work without knowing where you’ll be picking up from where the kids have left off.

Next, it has more variety. Let us admit it, sometimes having a routine day in and day out can be a bit tiring or boring in the long run. Well, you will definitely not have that when you are a substitute teacher because each substitution is unique, it is different.

Third, it is less stressful and less demanding. When you report for work and luckily the teacher you are relieving has a prepared plan, then you will not need to come up with your own plan, all you have to do is prepare the materials needed (that is if it is still not prepared) and execute the plan. Your day starts at around 8:30 am and ends up around 3pm. No lesson plans, no demands to make quizzes, to demands to attend meetings as well.

Lastly, it is mother-friendly. Because you don’t get tied up with all the after school academic and non-academic workload, you have more time for your family. Because you are not stressed big time, you tend to serve and care for your family better.

Yes, it is fun after all!

Teaching Responsibility to My Toddler

Growing up to be a responsible person is not like a piece of apple picked on a tree. It takes time. You have to grow up with it to live it. Many parents don’t realize it but as young as 2 or even younger-- when you can see that your child can comprehend what you are talking about, they can already teach their kids the value of responsibility.

Parents are quite apprehensive to give their kids house chores thinking what other people might say. In this case, we have toddlers. Let me just emphasize that as parents, we should be sensible enough to the kind of chore you are giving your little tot. You wouldn’t ask your toddler to prepare or wash dishes, would you? Of course, parents should do some reading and try to sell which chores can already be assigned to their toddlers. To make it simpler, look for chores that are age-appropriate.

I am a mother of a two year old boy and I am just amazed on how quick my son learns just by observing the things around him. I realized that I should make the most of this opportunity to teach him some “chores” since he is still in that age where his mind acts like a sponge.

Start early. Bend the tree while still young. These are some of the famous lines my parents and parents-in-law share with me as I raise my toddler. And true enough I am already starting to reap some fruits of starting early. What do I mean?

At age two, the most that you can do for my little one is to teach him to pack away his toys after he plays with it. During my first few tries, I had to be consistent. I had to remind and show him that I am checking his room after he plays to check if everything is on the proper place. When I see some toys not properly packed away, I remind and show him again how to do it. I take it one step at a time. After a few more tries, I can now say that every time he finishes playing, all I have to do is just tell him to pack away, and I know that he’ll do. I am pleased when I see that he has learned his lesson.

Another story I would like to share is that, when my little one sees me cleaning the house, wiping the tables, walls, or even sweeping the floor, he now volunteers to help. There was even an instance where I asked him to just watch TV or play with his toys, but he said, “No Mama I want to clean.” And so I let him. Of course, this time, I don’t expect him to clean like a grown up! I just wanted to let him feel good knowing that he was helping mum with the chores. And I wanted him to feel that he was acting responsibly. Never mind if I had to do a second round of cleaning after he felt bored already with the activity. At least in my mind, I know that we’re making progress.

I believe it wouldn’t hurt if we give them chores every now and then to teach them how it is to be responsible. When you praise them after a job well done, their self-confidence is boosted as well. Is my strategy effective? I don’t know. Only time can tell. In a few years I will know. But as for now, I will continue to hone and teach him some more skills and instilling values along the way.

The Importance of Competition

Competing is never easy. School is not easy either. Imagine what you will have when you combine both.

Competitions are part of our journey. We may not have experienced competing formally but one way or another, we have competed in some form – be it for attention, for time, for a better job, for a better future.

We send our kids to school because we hope that these institutions can better equipped our children when they face the real world. And since schools are faced with this great task of preparing the kids to the real world, they see to it that they give our kids opportunities, opportunities like competitions.

Competition is healthy because it does not only develop the fighting spirit of our children. It develops sportsmanship as well. It teaches our kids how to prepare prior a competition – making them more responsible. It teaches our kids to have faith and to have hope. It may even teach our kids teamwork and cooperation. It teaches our kids to be brave, to face problems or tasks with courage. Competitions are not bounded by sport events, or quiz bees, or talent shows. We may not realize it but our kids become better individuals every after a competition. If he won, then he becomes more self-confident. If he loses, then he becomes a better person in that he now learned the value of accepting defeat gracefully.

Competitions are our children’s stepping stones. If we remove it from them, we remove a lot of opportunities to grow as an individual. Yes, they might get hurt along the way, and as a parent, I would not want that as well. But we have to realize also, that they will all grow up. And that they will not forever be ours. So we have to do our share and let them experience it themselves. I am quite assured that the opportunities that the schools give the kids are healthy in nature. Teachers go out of their way to process an activity when things don’t turn out the way they wanted to.

Schools are there for a reason. They do not just give competitions just because they need to. Teachers after all, are like our kids’ second parents. So lay down all your fears now and let us be the first examples on how to make competitions work for us and not the other way around. Let our children be and let them learn.

V-day Everyday

Romance is definitely in the air! With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, who wouldn’t get love sick? Let’s admit it, a few weeks before the V-day; most couples are busy preparing for their exchange of gifts. Most if not all, are thinking how to make this special day more special. Some propose for marriage, some have romantic dinners; some even go out of town, just as so they can say that they celebrated the V day with their loved one.

Some single men and women try to have a date before the special day. Who would want to be alone on this special day? When couples become more thoughtful to one another, when couples become sweeter to one another, when everyone around you looks so much in love?
It is a sad fact that most people, well, sometimes, including me, become a “victim” of this “feast” I think that Valentine’s day and the way we celebrate it has been exaggerated over the years. Talk about consumerism. I believe that each day should be Valentine’s Day. Don’t you think that the quality of relationships we have will be much better if we think as such?

It just occurred to me, that we can make an effort to make Valentine’s Day more special, each day, and not just on February 14. Why will we wait for this day for us to write a letter that expresses our deepest appreciation and love to our partner, spouse, parents or even kids? When all throughout the year, we can make even a very simple note on the post-it to write the three magical words -- I Love you? Why will we wait for February 14 to send our loved ones a single rose or a bouquet of flowers when you can surprise him or her with the same act any day of the week? You can even just pick a flower in your garden and write a simple note when you give it to her. You can even leave it some place in the house, where you’ll know he’ll definitely see it when she gets back from work, or after bringing the kids to school. Believe me you can save a lot as well! Why will we wait for V-day to hug or to kiss our loved ones, when you can do that everyday! As for romantic dinners? You can avoid the long queue outside those five-star hotels or expensive restaurants if you can surprise your loved ones on a special dinner treat on an “ordinary day” to celebrate your love for one another. You can even cook the dinner by yourself!

Well, most people might not agree with me. Some would probably argue that the feeling is still different if you receive the flowers or go out on a date on the actual Valentine’s Day. Probably yes, but you have a choice. But I bet, that if you do the things I have just mentioned a habit, meaning, you do it not just on Valentine’s day, most probably than not, you wouldn’t join the trend of the millions of people trying to make just this one day out of the 365 days that we have in a year, more special for their loved ones!
Again, every day should be Valentine’s Day.