Sunday, January 16, 2011

There's always a way.

Change is good.

What makes life so beautiful is the random things that take us wholly- the sporadic moments that occupy a lifetime shelf-life. One moment it was just this and the next thing, it's already something else. Something good, something beautiful.

A few nights back, me and little one had a serious talk. About me and my work, her thoughts about my job and our short-term future of school, goals, and various plans. This little girl who gave me pieces of advise is raising a mother.

Mommie: C, I'm thinking of going back to school.

C: But you have your bank job.

Mommie: I know, so it's going to be after work. It would mean, I'll be coming home later than usual.

C: Oh, I can manage eating dinner alone.

Mommie: Okay, I'm not gonna push through with after work school. (Eating dinners alone is so heart-breaking)

C: Do you really want to be a ... mom?

Mommie: Yes.. for the longest time. But it's okay, mom can always write.

C: Then we can always have late dinners.

AND yes, this little girl doesn't just hold my hand, she guides the way. Sometimes, I feel like she's older than me- wiser, more perceptive, more loving. I have been struggling with my dream, always putting it aside because of other urgent matters.

Other excuses.

But I guess, when the right time comes, you just know it. You just feel it. And with this little girl by my side, I feel like the change we all wanted to happen has finally arrived.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Faith.Trust. AND Pixie Dust

I've been quiet for some time.

Apart from the almost too busy schedule, I wanted to savor the silence in me and the quietness that I feel around. But to keep mum about a lot of things and to not write down my thoughts for stretches of time seem to me a little strange. And to go on not writing about any thing seems a become more difficult as days go by.

Lately, I have been spending more time with little girl. Yes, at times I wish it could be like this every single day, if only I can work and take her with me along is possible... Yaya Inday has also taken an extended vacation, and I have been little girl's nanny and all around household help for the long holiday.

I remember how difficult it used to be for me. Like pushing a truck in an uphill and winding road, juggling chores, nanny duty, writing and office work always left me drained and exhausted.

But recently, I find it better. Not a breeze but much easier than before! As if I am born to do all things all at once and alone too. lolz I'm not so sure if lil girl and I have gotten past the stage of terrible twos and threes (though she's still, as she puts it: "three goyng fouh"), but she and I haven't been clashing head on for some time now. AND it IS GREAT!

She listens when I tell her so. Keeps quiet when silence is required; she manages to stow away her toys at the end of the day; she doesn't scream on top of her lungs when she doesn't get what she wants; she even remembers to brush her teeth and say her prayers, without me having to remind her all the time.

Suddenly, mommiehood is not soooo difficult. As if the whole universe has conspired to give me a break :D

Maybe because I have learned that in order to make things work:

1. I need to sleep early and wake up early to make time and energy for everything.

2. Practice a Coco and Mommie time and keep it on a daily basis. And we never fail to pray together.

3. Establish an effective communication channel with my daughter, that involves asking her opinion about things and listening to her observations- no matter how mundane.

4. Realize that by not giving in to her every whim and demand is possible and is actually good for the both of us!

5. Give her small roles: lil one is in charge of clearing out the table after meals and in straightening her bed before sleep. Making her part of the chores and tasks that I need to do entails me not having to keep on hollering "sit down", "behave" and "later"

6. Value the little moments when we can squeeze in fun and laughter.

7. Follow my own rules so lil one listens when I reiterate the house rules.

8. Injected the nice phrases like please, thank you and you're welcome every chance I get.

9. That in order to get my point across, never sugar-coat or scream. Tried logic, and everytime I get to answer her whys, she believes and does not give me a hard time.

10 And lastsly, a mother will always be the best nanny a child will ever have.

I am technically still a newbie to this motherhood thing. AND it is a learning process. As the days go by, I take in words of wisdom from different mommies out there, single or otherwise. But I think I can say I have adjusted beautifully :D Lil one is just amazing. She never fails to make me feel like a superstar.

So this 2011, we didn't really make resolutions. We mapped out dreams and plans instead. This year, we're going to spend a lot of time together travelling. And eternalize milestones by hanging the moments in our wall of love :D We both promised to be kind to each other when tantrums and mood swings set in (lolz) and to always remember that we are the best partners in crime in the history of mankind.

On NYE, little one asked me if we can ever find the "daddy" for the both of us. AND honestly, I wasn't to give her a decent answer. Cuz frankly, mommie doesn't know everything- this particularly! lolz Maybe I can get back to her in about five NYEs time.

You know, if our world is this quiet, this seemingly perfect, why would we need to rock our boat by adding someone in? Both of us get sea sick easy.

Anyhow.. as we quietly started the first few days of this year, we both spent it playing with her toys, reading her books and watching tinkerbelle over and over. We made cakes and cooked stews and made salads together too.

And yes, found a new weekend date in her too: Starbux and a movie with little one is the best. :)

Saturday, January 1, 2011

The Year that Was

It was a beautiful year.

Filled with much love.
travel.
laughter.
friends.
family.

What more can we ask for?



Corie and Ting and Titin would have completed this portrait. ♥























































































We missed you this year, Lot. But what's an FB away? :D

Oh, 2010 was great.
And 2011 will be better!

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