It Never Ends!

Today, I came home to two bickering siblings. One was complaining that his sister was making faces at him (and he was whining to no end), and the other? Well, she was making sure to irk her brother, waiting to see if she could make him cry. And so the little one starts picking on his sister - kicking her, poking her, touching her things, etc. And then the sister cries (pikon din pala). It becomes a crazy cycle! Kulang nalang talaga mag-wresting sila! Kaloka!

I've written about this before. It can be very frustrating when you get involved. Today, I decided to be Spectator Momma. I let them be, and watched them 'til they got tired. Eventually, A went up to sleep. And I finally got some peace. RL's disposition immediately changed - you'd think someone switched on his happy light (if there is such a thing).

I've been told that they will outgrow this phase. And I tell you, I cannot wait 'til that day comes.

Don't get me wrong. I don't want them to grow up just yet. I just pray that the kids learn to get along. The little boy loves and adores his older sister, but A sure loves to pick on her little brother. Did I ever do that to my younger siblings? I asked my brothers and they remember how I used to exert superiority (being the older sister) when we were playing with our Lego sets. "You used to get all the nice pieces to build your village. You had mansions, tapos yung sa amin, squatter!"

Okay, okay, I get it. I was a bully, too.

Two weeks ago, I started a new reading plan on my Bible app - Parenting By Design. I have made it my mission to make sure I pray for my children everyday. There are things out of my control, but it comforts me to know that I can pray for my kids, and that God is very much in control of any situation they find themselves in.

Parenting by Design Daily Devotional.

I love the reading plan because it is a good supplement to my 365 Days Bible in One Year reading plan. Plus, the daily devotions aren't long. I can spend more time praying after. If you want to try it out, you can download the Bible app by YouVersion and search their reading plans for it.

Here's today's devotional:

Each devotional comes with a verse for you to reflect on. I love how the Bible is also a great instruction manual on parenting. I'd be lost without it!

Meanwhile, I pray my kids get out of this season of fighting soon. I am getting old playing the referee! Seriously, you should see all my gray hair. Ack!

~~~ * ~~~

As I've mentioned in my post yesterday, I've had to move this week's scheduled giveaway to next week. The sponsor had asked to move it. Timely, too, because what better thing to giveaway than this...

WWE Rumblers Rampage Devastadium Playset - retails for $25 - $30 in the US!

Yes, win this WWE Rumblers Rampage Devastadium Playset! Can't believe I'm actually giving this away. Okay, it's not an expensive gadget, but it's still a nice prize, right? Hehe. Plus, it's brand new, original and imported.

You know what to do. This week's giveaway will run until Wednesday night, next week. You must have a Philippine address to join. You must also use a valid email address, so I can notify you properly should you win.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What do you do when your kids fight?

Starting Them Young

RL and I have revived book reading time at night. I don't know what happened, but I got too busy the past year - so much so that it seems I hardly get to catch him awake on a school night. Well, anyway, that definitely had to change. So as a resolution, we promised each other we'd make time for books. That also means, Momma has to come home early from work!

My little book reader.

Anyway, I have resolved to read him at least 3 books a night. Two weeks ago, we decided we were going to include the Bible. Permanently. That means, he can get at least two other books, but the Bible stays in the book list every night.

When my siblings and I were kids, we were encouraged to read the Bible everyday. We would sit together as a family, and my dad would conduct family devotions. I would want to emulate that. And although we haven't had the chance to have devotions together regularly, I am happy to say we've made leaps with RL's Bible and book reading. You can see how he has changed especially with his prayers. 

Yesterday, while ironing out 2014 plans for my blog, my friends and I thought it would be cool to launch a year's worth of giveaways. Yes, you read that right! A giveaway every week until the end of the year. The catch is, the giveaways won't be announced. They come discreetly within a post (like this one), so I am sure only my regular readers get to join the giveaways! But then of course, if your friends join because you shared the post, that would be great, too. Hehe.

So anyway, to start off this year of generosity, here's that first - oh wait, second giveaway for 2014!

WIN THIS! A book of godly virtues to include in your kid's book list!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

That's it! Just follow the steps on Rafflecopter and you're in! I shall draw and announce the winner next week! This giveaway starts at midnight tonight and will run until 11:59pm, Sunday, February 9. I will ship the prize to the winner, so make sure you use a valid email address when logging into Rafflecopter.

Note: THIS GIVEAWAY IS OPEN TO ANYONE WITH A PHILIPPINE ADDRESS. THE PRIZE WILL BE SHIPPED LOCALLY. NO INTERNATIONAL ADDRESSES PLEASE.

| Prize sponsor: My brother KM. Hehe. He gave us two of these - one for RL and one to giveaway. How sweet!

What He Doesn't Know...

You know how they say "What you don't know won't hurt you"? Well, I've been thinking about RL and what he doesn't know.

RL's been obsessed with having a dad lately. And well, the first 3 years of his life, he was okay with not knowing (or actively having) one.

First and only photo of father and son. Until RL turned 3.

Taken early 2012, during one of his visits to Manila. 

When R came home unexpectedly over the Christmas holidays, we were surprised to see how RL took to his dad immediately. He wasn't even shy, nor did he need warming up to R. In fact, he stayed up past 2am to watch his dad unpack. The very next day, he went out to the courtyard and announced proudly to our neighbors how he now has a daddy.

It bites. This innocent, little boy knows nothing of his father's sins.

And I write about this today because RL has been calling his dad a lot, sometimes more than 3x a week. I caught A discouraging the little boy Monday night, "Don't call daddy na, he will not answer" (and there are days when he doesn't, leaving RL calling and calling until I catch him and tell him his dad's probably asleep or busy). But RL is persistent and waits until R picks up, and he rattles off about school and how he wants to go to Jollibee and the palengke, plus all the usual stuff a boy normally tells his dad. I leave the room because I don't want R to think this was my doing. I've actually given up on him. It's true. I hardly ever answer his calls, and if I do, I make sure it's a minute long, tops (don't ask; let's just say this broken heart's tired).

A tells me later that their dad promised he'd be home by end-June. Ah, yes! Another promise waiting to be broken. The last time he spoke to RL about coming home, he did say "next week", which was over two months ago. And the last time I had a decent conversation with him, he mentioned he was busy and had to postpone coming home.

So anyway, here we were with another promise - a promise the little boy is holding on to. He says he's going "driving" with his dad - an activity that thrills him to no end. And yet, it is a promise that holds no promise (do you get what I mean)? It may not happen. Again.

Driving with daddy! The little boy's favorite Father and Son activity!

I am sure you are doing a "tsk, tsk" and are probably thinking - "K naman, you of little faith". Let me say it again. I am tired.

But RL knows nothing. He probably has no concept of time, aside from what happened yesterday and what happens later today and tomorrow. I know he'll most likely forget that his dad gave him a timeline. All he knows is that his dad is coming home, and that he isn't home yet.

So what happens tomorrow when he finally realizes the truth? Or when he finally sees that the basket he's holding is brimming with empty and broken promises?

Sigh.

In other news, A told me the other day that she thinks she doesn't want her Father's Day post published on the blog. I skimmed through her notes and see how she's gone from adoring and very forgiving daughter to an obviously bitter and hurting one. She's eleven now, and I guess it has finally dawned on her. It's funny how a few years back, she had the same unconditional admiration. Her dad was her hero, and like RL, nothing could deter her from feeling anything but adoration for R.

Right now, his dad is his hero.

So tell me, should I intervene? I promised myself once that I will not allow RL to go through what A has gone through. And yet, here we are - at similar crossroads - weighing the consequences.

What RL doesn't know will eventually hurt him. But I don't have the heart to take what little he has of his dad away from him. In the meantime, I guess, we stay still, pray, and wait.

New Doc on the Block!

If you've been a reader for quite some time, then you would know that our living room telly is on Disney Junior all the time - well, unless of course, the little boy is asleep or playing outdoors, and A takes advantage of it to catch her favorite shows.

RL is a Disney Junior addict. Please don't give me the lecture on kids being couch potatoes, because my son does have other activities aside from sitting in front of the television. But whenever he does get his turn in front of the boob tube, it's Channel 49* (or four-nine as RL would put it) or nothing.

My little boy loves all the shows on Disney Junior - Special Agent Oso, Jake and the Neverland Pirates, Timmy Time, Handy Manny, Chuggington, Tayo, Chiro, Pororo, etc. His favorite of the month is the new animated Bananas in Pyjamas series. So when Momma got an invite to catch Disney Junior's media launch for their newest show, Doc McStuffins, RL was most excited!

If you haven't caught any of the previews and commercials on Disney Junior, then let me introduce you to Dottie "Doc" McStuffins - a 6-year old "toy doctor" with a compassionate heart and a knack for "healing" toys and stuffed animals around her neighborhood.

Dottie aka Doc McStuffins, the 6-year old toy doctor of Disney Junior's newest TV show!

Dottie and her toy friends - Stuffy,
Lambie, Hallie and Chilly!

RL loves the idea that Doc McStuffins has the ability to talk to her toys (he's been secretly wishing his toys could talk back to him as well, LOL!). Dottie's magical world comes to life when she puts on her stethoscope! Her playhouse becomes her doctor's clinic for toys, and she is assisted by her trusted toy friends - Stuffy, an overly proud stuffed dragon; Lambie, a stuffed lamb who loves to cuddle; Hallie, a jolly hippo receptionist; and Chilly, a hypochondriac stuffed snowman.

I love the concept of Doc McStuffins! The creator - Emmy-winning writer and producer, Chris Nee (Blues Clues, Little Bill, Gaspard and Lisa, Higglytown Heroes, Johnny and the Sprites and many more!), says the show came about when she finally became a mom. Her son had asthma and had to take many trips to see the doctor. Having worked for Children's Television for the past 15 years, Nee realized she had the power to create a TV show to help her son feel a little more at ease when taking those trips to the doctor. Thus, Doc McStuffins was born.

Now on its second season in the US, Doc McStuffins finally premieres on Disney Junior Asia (and the Philippines!) on July 9! The show puts an animated, kid-friendly twist to visiting the doctor and having check-ups. It also puts emphasis on healthy living and encourages young ones to practice simple hygiene habits.

The Doc is in! Doc McStuffins makes visiting the doctor fun and safe!

Each episode of Doc McStuffins includes original songs sung by the characters. Doc also gives health advice to viewers at the end of each show. This new Disney Junior original series will teach young kids important values, such as compassion for others and lending a helping hand to anyone who needs it.

My kids and I are excited that Doc McStuffins will finally air on Disney Junior Asia. So mark your calendars! Doc McStuffins. July 9. 9:30am. Only on Disney Junior.

www.disneyjunior-asia.com

On Facebook: Disney Junior Asia

*Disney Junior airs on Channel 49 on Global Destiny Cable.

Congratulations, Babe!

My not-so-little girl transferred to her big, all-girls school last year. And although it was a huge change for her (having studied in a small school from the age of 4), she managed very well. I really have no problems with A when it comes to going to school. She LOVES school. She hates holidays and summer vacay, and gets pretty bored at home. She loves everything about her new school - the fact that she now has new friends, over a dozen new teachers, busmates, a school library, clubs, activities, a huge cafeteria, etc.

Remember when I blogged about final exams and how I felt I was pushing A too hard? Well our hard work has paid off! When I went to her school Friday morning, her homeroom teacher told me how A has blossomed in class, so much so that they don't even remember she's a new student. And yay, because A made it to her school's Honor Assembly! With a cool O average, too! That's O for 'Outstanding' and not O for 'Ows?!!', Dugong! LOL!

Can't tell you just how proud I am of my daughter. She's mighty proud of her achievement, too! So maybe I did push her just right.

Congratulations, Babe! Congratulations to us! Yay!

I Have a 3rd Grader, Right?

That was one hell-of-a-week! Can't say I didn't get stressed. Thank goodness we had a reprieve Thursday (not that we reviewed extra hours, more like we took in more snooze). Who's happy that school is finally out?

Not A. Nope. She's bummed with the idea that she's "gonna get really, really bored at home with the babies (babies meaning RL and our neighbors, cousins A2 and C)." So Friday, after her last test, I took her with me to the office - which wasn't really cool with A, given that I made her skip her busmates' "Summer is Here!" (that's what she wrote on the poster she made for this event) party. I wasn't at all surprised to learn that my A was half the brains to this whole shindig at her friend P's house. She's really into planning this and that; why, she's probably planned more "parties", garage sales, you-get-the-picture events than I have. I caught her writing her "Things to bring" list Monday evening, when she was supposed to be deep in books for Tuesday's Science and Language exams. 

I have a 3rd Grader, right?

A, getting a haircut at One on One.
D, who's been cutting my hair since I was 12, is amused
with A's unwillingness to chop her hair off.

So why is this 3rd Grader planning parties with her friends? When I took her for a haircut Saturday afternoon, she was insisting we keep her hair the way it is, saying she waited so long for her hair to grow (we had it cut really short before the school year had started). And she had her way with our stylist, who cut off barely an inch from her locks (not worth the money I paid, I tell ya). Am I losing my grip on my daughter? She's hardly 10, but already too strong-willed and acts like a teen.

My mom says that kids will usually have us pay for the problems we gave our own parents. And let me tell you, I am dreading the day my daughter becomes an adolescent. In my eyes, she is still a child. Which she is, but you get my point.

And I thought I'd explain it well to her how "mommy only wants what's best" but she always says "why is YOUR best not the same as what MY best is?" I am merely trying to protect her. And I know I can't prevent her from making mistakes in the future, nor can I keep her on a leash. I can only pray that I guide her well enough to keep her head on right into adulthood. Lord, I need your grace to do this the right way, to break the curse of my sins and have her love you more than anything else.

In the meantime, I only have a few more years to hold on to my child and make sure she grows up to be a godly, God-loving, God-fearing adult. And if in the process, she gets "hurt", and if I have to face more "drama", I shall endure it knowing that one day, she will eventually choose to do what she sees fit, and no longer what "mom says".

Thank goodness, I only have a 3rd Grader.

Ok, A says she'll be a 4th Grader this school year, so yea, no longer a 3rd Grader. I stand corrected.