Showing posts with label parenting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label parenting. Show all posts

Monday, June 18, 2018

Back to drinking milk

Yey, TanTan is back into drinking milk! Mommy Ces is so happy!


The past five months na nasa Pinas kami, hindi talaga siya nag-milk. I never expected na magkakaproblema ako sa gatas kasi the last time na umuwi kami (he was 2 years old), Anchor Full Cream Milk ang dinedede niya. Pero nitong huling uwi namin, ayaw niya. Iba daw ang lasa (from the fresh milk that he was drinking here in Canada). Marami kaming sinubakang brands ng fresh milk pero ayaw niya talaga. So he ended up not drinking milk at all.

May ok din namang nadulot ang hindi niya pag-inom ng milk kasi natuto siyang kumain ng solids (no choice kasi magugutom siya). Bago kasi kami umuwi kasi, halos 80% ng diet niya ay milk. Ni hindi siya nagra-rice. Konting fried chicken at fruits lang tapos puro dede na. Busog na kasi sa milk pero ayaw naman paawat.

Sa Pinas, in lieu of milk, Zest-O ang ipinalit niyang liquid. Alam naming bad kasi nga matamis yun pero I am telling you, when your child is a picky-eater, ipagpapasalamat mo na lang kung meron siyang ibang magugustuhang kainin o inumin. Buti na rin nga at natuto na siyang magrice at kumain ng more biscuits and fruits. Pero syempre worried kami, lalo na ang lola niya, kasi nga too young pa raw si Tan to not drink milk. I assured her na pagbalik na pagbalik namin sa Canada, paiinumin ko uli ng gatas.

And that's exactly what we did. On our second night here, talagang hinainan na namin siya ng milk. My husband was hesitant in giving him milk on the bottle kasi nga babalik na naman daw sa pagdede, eh nasanay na nga na hindi. But the mom in me was desperate, I don't care kahit magdede siya uli, basta uminom lang uli siya ng gatas. I reasoned to my husband that when I was young, I never drank milk on glass kasi iba kako ang lasa. Nagdedede ako hanggang grade 2 (about 8 years old). Sabi ko maiibahan sya ng lasa kung hindi sa bote at baka ayawan agad. I won.

I was so shocked though that when I handed him a bottle of milk, he was clueless on what to do. Sabi ko isubo niya yung nipple and that's what he did, pero hindi siya sinisipsip. "Turuan mo ako, Mommy," he told me.

Really? In just five months, nakalimutan na niyang dumede? Pwede pala yun! Akala ko very natural ang pagdede sa bata, na parang instinct lang talaga. I was totally surprised.

At dahil wala siyang masipsip (ayaw niya kasing i-suck nang maayos), we suggested that he use a drinking store. Pumayag naman but he kept saying "iba lasa." It took him so long to almost finish his milk. Pero good sign iyon kasi pinipilit niyang inumin talaga. Yung iba kasing pagkain o inumin sobra ang resistance niya, ni ayaw tikman man lang.

After a day, we tried giving him milk on a sippy cup naman. Medyo nahirapan siya so sabi namin inumin na niya directly. At ayun nga, jackpot! Umiinom na siya uli ng milk! Bonus pa na hindi na thru bottle/dede.

Unti-unti, na-socialize na sa dila niya ang lasa ng milk. So now, 9 days after we arrived, sanay na sanay na uli siyang uminom ng milk. Saka sa gabi na lang, bago matulog. In fact, siya na mismo ang nagsasabing iinom na siya ng milk before he goes to bed. Ang bilis din tuloy niyang makatulog after.

Basta super saya ko lang kaya nag-blog pa talaga ako about this haha!

Ooops, dapat pala twice a day siya mag-gatas, one in the morning and one at night. Pero sa ngayon kasi dahil late siyang gumising, halos lunch na ang unang nagiging meal of the day niya. Pero gagawan ko ng paraan in the coming days na makadalawang baso siya. Pramis!

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

High EQ

I would like my son to take after his father. Objectively, sa aming dalawa, he's the better person kasi. He's simple, generous, and kind. Maganda rin ang disposisyon niya sa buhay, walang angst. At ang taas ng EQ (emotional quotient) ha, which is my exact opposite.

I am glad that at a very early age, nakikitaan ko na rin si TanTan ng traits ng tatay niya. Parang mataas din ang EQ.

When we saw this newly-released Paw Patrol lookout toy last August, syempre gusto niya. Palagi ba naman niyang napapanood sa mga toy reviews sa Youtube eh. Since then, whenever we would go to Walmart, Toys R Us or Superstore, talagang pupuntahan niya yan.

Basta ang palagi naming sinasabi: "Sige, sa birthday mo, gift namin sa iyo iyan."

Surprisingly, never siya nag-insist na bilhin namin yun agad. He just kept on saying, "Sa birthday." We were really impressed kasi talagang he was very willing to wait. Kung ako yan, matagal na akong nagmaktol haha.

Maraming beses na nga kaming na-tempt na bilhin yan. Haha naaawa kasi kami kapag nakikita naming nilalaro niya yan sa store (kami pa yata ang low EQ lol). Pero sige pinangatawanan na namin na ibigay yan sa birthday niya. He was happy na naman just looking at the toy eh.


And good things come to those who wait! Here's our finale gift for the birthday boy!


Haha, imagine how excited he was when dad was assembling it! Nagtatatalon sa tuwa. Ford and I were so happy just seeing his reaction...


... never mind that we were asar-talo for the price that we paid for it. Waaah!

You see, the original price of this toy was $150 (plus 12% tax). After a few weeks, nakita namin na nag-sale ito sa Superstore ng $120 kaya binili na namin. So happy na kami. Kaso after a month, nag-sale din ito sa Walmart ng $90! Kainis talaga! Oh well, lesson learned. Kagaya nga ng nasabi ko on this post, we just need TO WAIT first before buying toys (or kahit ano) kasi tiyak magse-sale. Taasan ang EQ haha!

*************

For Christmas, ito namang Fisher Price na barnyard set "main" request niya. Haha, matagal na namin itong nabili and we couldn't wait to give it to him!


Hay, sana anak ma-maintain mo yang ganyang attitude. Sana high EQ palagi ha. =)

Monday, October 23, 2017

TanTan: Ang Masayahing Bata

Yesterday afternoon before we left for the mall, I asked Ford a question.

CES -- Kung bibigyan ka ng chance, papalitan mo ba si TanTan bilang anak mo?

Of course, I was expecting a "no" answer. I was just curious on his reason.

FORD -- No. Eh kasi hindi siya malungkutin. Tingnan mo palagi siyang masaya, palaging nakangiti. 

Haha, natawa talaga ako! Ayaw pala niya ng malungkuting bata lol!


But seriously, I love it that my son is one happy boy. Nakangiti ang default face niya (unlike me na nakasimangot). Palagi siyang humahalaklak, palaging bumubungisngis. Born comedian pa. Naiisip ko talaga, kanino ba ito nagmana? Mas sa tatay niya definitely.

My wish is for him to stay that way. Hope he continues to be a ray of sunshine not just to us his parents but to others as well.

Ang hirap magpalaki ng bata, pero kung ganito ba naman ka-cute at ka-bibo ang aalagaan mo, sulit! #proudmomlangpo

Friday, September 29, 2017

On buying toys for Nathan

I've been reviewing our expenses for the past three months (I started making a list since July 1) and was shocked to realize that we've spent quite a lot on Nathan's toys. Around $300 na, hindi pa included yung mga happy meal toys and other educational materials.

At ang dami pa naming naka-line up na bilhin for his birthday and Christmas ha.


I honestly have no idea kung normal ba yun o we are going overboard na. How often should we buy new toys ba?


Now that Nathan is exposed with toy reviews in Youtube, ayun panay na ang request. And mind you, very expensive toys yun ha. Dati-dati kahit isama namin siya sa Toys R Us eh wala lang, ngayon talagang may mga specific toys na siyang gusto.

Mataas pa rin naman ang EQ niya. He's willing to wait. He's expecting us to gift him with a huge Paw Patrol Lookout on his birthday and an animal farm toy set for Christmas. Puwera pa yung requests niyang Peppa Pig House from Lola Lucy and "big" hotwheels from Grandpa. Tapos me batman ang spiderman pa na nadagdag, nakakaloka!

For Christmas, I am planning to wrap at least five toy gifts for him. Para marami siyang bubuksan kasi wala naman ibang magbibigay sa kanya dito. Ngayon pa lang iniisip ko na kung anu-ano ang mga yun at kung magkano ang budget haha.

FORD: "Kaya pala maraming toys si Oliver (his cousin) noong bata. Tingnan mo mukha ng anak mo."

The challenge really is how to control ourselves from buying toys for him. I know that there are many other parents really who spoil their children, but Ford and I grew up in simple families kaya hindi kami sanay sa maraming toys.

Here are the reasons why we keep on buying toys:

  • Nathan has no other playmate. I need things to help me entertain him.
  • Nathan now appreciates toys. He knows na what he wants. Ford made a promise to him when he was a baby that he will buy him toys pag naglalaro na talaga siya (ayan tuloy, napasubo siya).
  • Kahit kami ni Ford, natutuwa sa toys. Dahil nga ba fixated din kami? Katulad sa microwave na ito, ako ang aliw na aliw. And Ford couldn't wait na mas lumaki pa si Nathan para mabilhan niya ng toy soldiers at yung lumilipad na helicopter.
  • Toys are relatively cheaper here in Canada kumpara sa Pinas. I am a sucker for great deals, kapag nakakita talaga ako ng mura eh nanghihinayang akong hindi bilhin.
  • Because it's hard to say no to your child when you can afford naman yung pinapabili.

Siguro yung last reason ang talagang struggle. Sinabi ko nga yun sa mother ko dati, na mahirap tumanggi sa anak lalo na at may pambili ka naman. Lalo na dito sa Canada na maliit ang denomination ng pera at hindi thousands lol. Parang ang mura-mura lang tuloy ng $49.95 na toy haha.

When I was a kid, I got used to my mom's saying "no" whenever I would ask her to buy me a toy from the market (oo sa palengke na nga lang olats pa rin). Ok lang naman because I knew na wala nga yun sa budget. Hindi naman ako bitter. Kaya nga noong lumaki ako eh saka na lang ako nagbibili ng toys ko. Seriously.

So now that I have a son, ONLY SON mind you, syempre gusto kong malaro niya lahat ng gusto nyang laruin. Isip-isip ko, minsan lang naman siya bata. Saka kinikita naman (ng asawa ko lol) ang pera, ang saya sa mukha ng bata, priceless talaga.


I am thankful though kasi nga hindi pa naman dumarating sa point na nagi-iiyak o nagwawala siya kapag ayaw naming bilhan ng toy (except for the toy vacuum when he was one year old kasi gustung-gusto niyang gayahin ang daddy niya kapag nagva-vacuum). Napapaliwanagan pa namin siya na hindi palaging pwedeng bumili ng toy agad agad and that he has to wait kung may gusto siya. So far, happy na siyang makapag-ikot-ikot lang sa Toys R Us or Disney Store.

Hope he maintains that attitude. I would like to believe that he has his dad's Ilocano blood, matiisiin at matipid haha, kasi pag nagkataon, mapupunta talaga sa kanya ang malaking bulk ng budget namin. Sabi ko naman sa inyo, hindi ko yan matitiis. #BadParenting, I know.

Monday, June 8, 2015

#Grateful

I will be going home in the Philippines next month and I am taking Nathan with me (Ford only has two weeks vacation so he'll just follow us in November).  But I am glad that we're be taking him back with us when we return here in Canada.

Nasabi ko ito kasi may kakilala akong taga-dito (she's a receptionist in a clinic who eventually became my FB friend) na nasa Pilipinas ngayon dala ang dalawang anak (ages 3 and 11 months). I really thought umuwi lang sila para magbakasyon. But then I saw in FB this morning na nag-start ng mag-aral ang panganay niya sa daycare. She told me iiwan muna niya ang mga bata temporarily. Oo nga pala, kasi her one-year maternity leave is almost over and she has to go back to work. Walang mag-aalaga sa mga anak niya kasi may trabaho rin ang asawa niya.

It's a common situation actually sa mga nasa Canada. The cost of daycare or having a nanny is so high that only high-paying people could afford it. Kung average lang ang salary mo, better to just quit your job and personally take full time care of your children.

But then again, mahirap mabuhay sa Canada ang isang pamilya na isa lang ang nagtatrabaho. Kaya normal na na iniiwan muna sa Pilipinas ng ilang magulang ang mga anak nila para makapagtrabaho. Kukunin na lang uli kapag medyo malaki na at hindi na gaanong alagain.

Just after I gave birth, my brother in the Philippines suggested na iwanan na lang muna namin sa kanila si Nathan so that I can work here. They know me, they know that I am not domesticated (and motherly?) enough to survive here given na may anak na ako. They know that I want to work, na ayaw kong matali lang sa bahay.

Syempre hindi papayag si Ford. Kahit ako din naman. The moment I learned that I am pregnant, I began to condition myself na sa bahay lang ako in the next few years. No choice eh.

I admit that every now and then, nabuburyo rin ako. I never dreamt of being a stay-at-home wife and mom. Modesty aside, I was an academic achiever. I always saw myself working and earning.

But this day, I am choosing to be grateful. Grateful that I have a husband who provides well for us, na hindi na namin kailangan pang iuwi sa Pinas si Nathan.


I am thankful because I won't miss any milestone in my child's life. Just last Saturday, Nathan began sitting on his own. I wanted to cry. Kung nagtatrabaho ako, hindi ko maeexperience ang kakaibang saya na naramdaman ko nung araw na yun.

My cousin and her husband, who works in UAE, are also in the Philippines now. Umuwi sila para iwanan din ang dalawang anak nila. They reasoned that they want to save up and they couldn't do that when their children are with them. Sa taas ba naman ng cost of living. School age na yung panganay nila at sobrang mahal ng tuition fee. I am not sure kung makakayanan ng pinsan ko na mawalay sa mga anak niya. I myself couldn't imagine being away from my son. Ikamamatay ko yata.

We are living a very simple life here in Edmonton. Simple yet comfortable. Again, I want to thank my husband for giving us a good life. For giving me the chance to be always there for Nathan. Not every one is as privileged as me.