I'm a Mom...

Far from being perfect...

A work in progress...

But coping and trying harder to become one.

Happy Mother's Day to everyone!

My Lola

My only Mother

My sisters

My sisters-in-law

My aunties

My cousins

My Mom nieces

My Ninangs

My female Mom colleagues

My female Mom teachers

My female Mom church mates

My female Mom friends

My female Mom acquaintances

My female Mom students

My female Mom neighbors

Even to InaTays

and all the mother women reading this! 

The world would be a whole lot different without us! 

You can't even imagine it 😉

    I can't stand looking at the news of a pile of bodies being cremated or burned in India and the number is increasing every day. Indeed, the new strain of Covid 19 is worst than before. Also, in our nearby town, a priest was infected but been to a congregational meeting thus infecting others, as of now, that priest died after battling Covid 19 in the ICU then one of those who got infected through him died as well.

    A good friend of mine was grieving as well after losing his only son to Covid just recently. Then some of my churchmates who went to the same company and the same office were quarantined because one of their colleagues got infected. That is how alarming Covid is right now. The rate was already more or less 2% of the total world population. We could only expect that it will increase with the regular establishment operation. Most people are still too relax to consider the real score about COVID, some are even hesitant to get the vaccine because they do not trust it.

    

    People are slowly forgetting the essence of life by living carelessly. Or maybe they are just trying to make the most out of their life. However, COVID is contagious. We must not forget the fact that not all people have the same perception about life. If one happened to live their life in "come what may" status and won't mind if they will get an infection or not- how about those people whom they will possibly get infected with? Indeed, it is disheartening to see somebody grieving because of the untimely death of a dearly beloved.

    Let us not allow ourselves to be the cause of the desperation of others. Let us be mindful and extra careful.

    Let us be responsible!

#COVIDisReal

I posted this yesterday on my FB Wall:

Yes, we just celebrated our 10th year Wedding Anniversary yesterday. I am very vocal when it comes to my feelings and opinion. I speak what's on my mind and what I wrote on my wall is absolutely true! If I have to assess our marriage, it is very far from perfect. That reality versus expectation scheme did really happen to me. I expected a lot from my husband when we are still not married but things didn't go as I thought. However, that was just from an idealistic persona of me. I do love him and it takes authentic patience to accept the whole of him. But he is not bad, he just doesn't meet my expectations. 

On the other note, I realized as well, am I perfect for him? Did I also meet his expectations of me? If we based our relationship on each other's expectations then maybe, just maybe, 10 years is too long for both of us. The truth is, we're both imperfect. Our zodiac even tells us that our compatibility is up to 15% only. Funny, but the good thing is that we don't rely on the zodiac or any astrological predictions. we based our marriage relationship on God's will on His perfect plan for both of us. We are like two individuals with different views in life, but somehow we complement each other. He is actually the exact opposite of me. But Science proves that opposite poles attract each other. But seriously, we both believe that God destined us for each other.

Anyway, thanks for cheering with us to forever!

    

Everyday is a miracle, I should say. With the increasing cases of COVID 19 infection in our locality, life becomes uncertain that is why I am thankful to God for the day that me and my family is spared from it. My heart goes to those who were in the hospitals struggling to fight the virus as well as for their families. My Mom and brother in-law who are currently residing in Iowa, USA were once infected but I'm thankful to God that there is no complication. 

The only way to prevent ourselves from infection is by taking good care of ourselves and following the protocols mandated by our government agencies. For a working Mom like me, it is really very difficult to maintain social distancing though I'm on mask most of the time. Past few weeks ago my asthma was triggered thus I'm into hard cough, runny nose and headache for more than a week, good thing I can still smell and taste. But during that time I was totally panicking, fearing that I I might have the virus and I'm with my kids and family. I've reassured myself by conditioning my mind that it was just my asthma hitting me again. And yes, it really was coz by now I'm already okay.

Panicking is a normal reaction but our instinct must be stronger than our emotion.

Living in uncertainties? Trust God then your instinct.

Happy Sunday!

Family is life, having both parents upon growing up is life!

Well, I honestly admired all husbands who stand by their wives through thick and thin. And a hand salute to all the wives who remain faithful to their husbands amidst adversaries that their family life has encountered.

The common reason why family falls apart or why marriages have shattered is because of infidelity. Me, being a product of a broken family knows how it feels to have a shattered home. I know how it felt to grow up without a father, and believe me it's not really easy.

The sad thing about having a broken family is that not all kids have the same way of coping with the situation. Not all kids have the courage to accept the fact positively. There are those who became lost and became a problem themselves. I have seen a lot of young ones slowly ruining their lives believing that their life is already trash after all and there is no future waiting for them. As a teacher, it becomes a burden to me. I wish I could explain to them that there is still a brighter future waiting for them if they won't allow their situation to overwhelm them. However, I cannot just control their actions as well as their perspective in life. There are those who tried to but still fail because they have less or no parental support. My heart truly bleeds for them.

I wish to convey this message to my fellow parents out there, especially to those mothers like me. If you think your marriage is in doom, and no means left to aid the situation and you thought of ending the relationship- please make sure that you don't abandon your responsibility as a mother. Do not neglect your duty as a parent. Explain to your children why there is a need to end the relationship because even the kids can feel the toxicity and eventually will understand your decision. But never ever abandon them for another man to be with, that is totally a horrible decision. 

Our situations may vary but we could come up with the same solution- holding on to our role as a parent. Our children don't necessarily have to become a casualty of our failed marriages, they should not suffer because we made the bad decision. Let's not add insult to injury. Let us be sensible enough no matter what.

Bottom line, let our conscience, our common sense, and our faith in God be our ultimate guide in rearing our children.

The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) never failed to remind us about the protocols that we must all follow in order to minimize the cases of COVID 19 infections. Social distancing, wearing of mask and face shield should be strictly followed. However, with the normal operation of malls and other establishments right now, keeping the social distancing protocol become a real challenge, much more with the "Community Pantry" that became trending nowadays.

Personally, I have nothing against Community Pantry because it revives the Bayanihan Spirit of every Filipino. However, if the crowd cannot be controlled anymore, that is where the problem might start. But with proper coordination of the organizer, maybe the situation can be regulated.

It just need a little understanding and greater discipline among the benificiaries.

Yes, indeed! Stay positive, not with COVID 19 but with our perspective in life. Honestly, it's quite difficult to live calmly when you know that there's an ongoing threat around us like an enemy who's gonna attack us anytime they want it. Most of us right now are living in fear, in anxiety, and in confusion as to what awaits our future with this global pandemic. Though things seem lighter than before with most of those establishments going back to business, obviously not because it's safer but because our economy is so down already, still, the COVID threat is stopping us to live our life the way it should be. 

Personally, as a teacher, I never felt as drained as what I'm feeling right now with all those pile of works, paperworks, that tries to prove that yes we're still doing our job amidst pandemic. My kids back home misses going to school. My daughter even told me that she's playing a "pretending I'm in school" game and I just let her be because I, as a mother, understood the boredom that they have to go through. Just imagine they are not allowed to go out or go to the malls. I'm just glad we could still go to the church then some beaches because that's there only means of outdoor getaway. It's more than a year already so no wonder heartbreaking news of suicides can still be heard on the radio or TV news. People with less support from others will likely to commit such painful act maybe because they could not contain the depression and the changes that they have to overcome.

That is why it is really so important to stay positive, to view life as precious up to the last breath. We cannot change the situation but we can choose our reaction towards the situation. Moreover, when things seems so low, LOOK UP. Let us draw our strength from the Almighty.

God bless everyone!

This is one of the most often asked question and yet some could still not comprehend the meaning of this cliché.

To some, having everything you need and want in life is a guarantee that you could really live your life to the fullest! Well, I beg to disagree because there are those who have less in life yet was able to make a great impact to the universe, if I may exaggerate.

Living life to the fullest does not depend solely on your possessions, it's more on your position in life- not the literal one but much deeper than what we think. When I say position it means differently.

Position of your priorities. Are you on the right track? Are your priorities carefully planned by you or you're just among those who live in "come what may" mindset?

Position of your giftings or your talents. What did you do about your talents? Are you making use of them for others or you just keep it to yourself? 

Position of your attitude- or most likely, position of your heart. Is your heart okay. There might be some negativity that's trying to pull you down. Are you holding grudges against someone? Are you having inferiority complex? Insecurities? Our emotion plays a vital role in our daily existence. What we feel often resonates with how we behave and how we treat others.

We cannot live our Life to the fullest when we do not reconcile with our very own self. When we could not overcome our shortcomings, and when we could not ease up the burdens in our heart. 

Dealing lots of life's issues? Look up and cast all your burdens to God.

 Be blessed.

    Dominant as I am, I always speak what's on my mind. Perhaps, being a teacher also influence the way I express myself. My hubby always relies on me when it comes to decision-making because according to him, I am more practical compared to him. Well, he is absolutely right. In our school, I also have an influence when it comes to decision making as to what's good and what's not to purchase. Influencing others with what you believe is a real challenge for a typical blogger like me. This is what prompts me to create a blog way back in 2008.  

    For more than a decade of blogging, I am truly overwhelmed with how I was able to influence others. As a Mom blogger, I am fond of blogging about family issues, family concerns, parenting, and the like. I love to share what I found to be worth sharing when it comes to child-rearing. My experience also taught me a lot of things that is why I am confident enough on what to share on my blog. Indeed, blogging becomes an outlet for me when I want to address my thoughts to a bigger audience. Blogging also taught me to write things that bother me or excites me! What excites me the most is when I am getting feedback, comments from my readers. I also get the chance to meet my fellow bloggers and befriend them and was able to join a blogging community who are willing to support one another by giving helpful ideas about blogging especially for an ordinary blogger like me. I may not be a famous blogger but at least I am able to share my thoughts with the world.

    When I got married barely 10 years ago, the first two years were what I could consider as the peak of my blogging career with so many opportunities coming from different sponsors. Indeed, blogging at that time became a good source of income. I was able to pay rent and buy groceries. However, during my second pregnancy which was eight months after I had my first child, I barely got opportunities because I seldom update my blog. From three blog accounts, I gave up my two other blogs because I cannot manage them anymore due to my motherhood roles while working at the same time. Then I was assigned to teach Educational Technology among students taking up Education. My passion for blogging was revived thus I inspired and encouraged my students to create their own blog too. It was a great fulfillment for me to see some of my students pursuing blogs and having them among my followers. I even have one student who was really very good at writing which remains a blogger up to now. I felt so rewarded when they sent me messages retelling the good experiences they enjoyed upon blogging.

    

    Right now, I am slowly encouraging myself to go back to my first love, which is writing. And I am all the more encourage to blog because of some opportunities which I could consider as a real blessing for me. Before I used to have one sponsor that gave me at least three per month opportunities before but since the pandemic started, it was stopped and I could never blame them. I am just so glad that I stumbled upon the work of Lindsay Detwiler, the famous blogger, and I was totally inspired by her passion as a blogger. Her work influenced me to push further and rekindle my passion for writing. Indeed, she is a very effective influencer for giving me such inspiration. Now I have all the reasons to revive my blog and have my ideas be shared with the whole world!

I might be a late bloomer but I've just downloaded and installed the Tiktok App. The initial intention was just for compliance actually to the requirements of one of my sponsors. But as I browsed through different posts, I was amazed with those tutorial posts, mostly technical one like computer manipulation. Mind you, I've tried each of those tips they gave and it actually works! There's also this fitness coach that posted easy  to follow exercises, isn't it a good app after all?

Be the judge!

If you are looking for a place to spend your summer with even just for a day, I highly recommend the Alibuag Beach Resorts  at Sugbongcogon, Misamis Oriental. I was with my colleague and her family, and that was my second time to go there. I am more excited with my second trip there because I was with my whole family. We also fetched my best friend in Balingasag. The kids truly enjoy their time, they love to swim after all.

How about you, where you gonna spend your summer?