I was having a chat with a fellow mother one day. She shared to me her struggles about her teenage daughter.  According to her, she could no longer control her daughter's rebellious attitude. She doesn't listen to her when warned about making friends with boys.  She was even thankful about this pandemic because her daughter was forced to stay at home. But then her daughter stayed late at night chatting with her friends.  Her fear was that her daughter might have a boyfriend already.  She just don't know what to do anymore. 

I could not really relate to her considering that my kids,  specifically,  my daughters are still on their primary years.  Then I just looked back to who I am as a teenager.  My Mom is really very strict. There were lot of things that we're not allowed to do: getting home late,  having boyfriend,  going anywhere with friends,  and a whole lot more.  I really could not understand my Mom back then.  I just thought that maybe she just doesn't want us to marry at an early age.  Well,  I  actually get that and I'm really scared too that's why I really don't have boyfriends in my teenage years. But making friends was a whole different story.  My classmates really find it difficult to bring me along with their getaways.  But I  learned not to stressed out my Mom considering the hardship that she has to go through just to send us to school.  However,  back then I wasn't able to enjoy my teenage years.  I'm not saying that I was being deprived by what life had to offer back then,  I just felt that I was missing something but I just couldn't identify what was that missing piece. 

Right now,  being married for a decade already, slowly it sinks to me how a mother really feels.  I have so many apprehensions for my kids.  But with what my fiend shared to me about her daughter,  I wasn't quite sure anymore if I'll follow the footsteps of my Mom in dealing with my own. I don't want them to feel being deprived but on the other hand, I don't want them to live their life based on how they think or feel.  And to be honest,  I'm quite scared about the future. I'm scared if I could tame them when they will be in the outside world,  when they will gain independence from me.  That's why it is my constant prayers that God will lead them to a group of friends who could be a good influence to them. Our world right now is totally different from what I grew up with.  With all those social media influences,  where almost everything is permissible,  i couldn't help but fear for my kid's future. 

As a Mom I know I'm not perfect. I still have lots of things to learn.  I'm just scared that someday,  I will  have the same sentiment with that Mom. 

Lord please guide me and enlighten my mind always in finding ways to tame my kids and ushered them to become the kind of people that they ought to be.  Amen

To my beloved nephew, aim higher but keep grounded. Being the eldest among your cousins, they will surely look up to you with pride. We love you so much!

Happy 21st!

This is one of the reasons why I so love August, so many birthday celebrations. However, unlike the old times, what we could only do now is a virtual celebrations. 

To my beloved Mom who immersed herself in the land of milk and honey, Happiest Birthday!

I truly blessed the day that God created you, we love you so much and hope to see you soon!

Teaching is a challenging job, much more this present day that we are embracing this new normal education. Honestly, I don't like this kind of scenario. I preferred face-to-face teaching. I believe that learners will learn more if you are just within their reach. But we are left with no choice other than to get used to the modular distance learning approach.

If you are a teacher of core subjects like Math, English, Science, and Filipino, teaching using the modular method would be great. However, if you are a teacher handling technical subjects like Drafting- then you're innovativeness and competence in computer manipulation are a must. 

But the real challenge is not really about how good we are at delivering our lessons. The real challenge is how our learners respond to our way of teaching. Truth be told, the majority of those who enrolled in public secondary schools are less fortunate, in fact, they could not even afford to buy a mobile phone. 

The previous school year was like a baptism of fire for both students and teachers. There are so many lessons being gained from that one academic year. Teachers tend to become too lenient for some students who failed to comply or complete all the requirements. 

The previous year was also the year where there are so many teachers who applied for that teacher exchange program with other countries. Whatever their reasons, one thing is uncertain- do they lost the joy in teaching here in the Philippines? 

Speaking of joy in teaching. I would admit that I am one of those teachers who planned to teach abroad, but not as early as now. Financially, emotionally, and technically I am not yet prepared. But mentally? Yes, I am somehow quite excited. But it's a tough decision considering that I have  3 younger kids who still need my care and attention.

I was really thinking that I have lost that passion, the passion to teach with all my heart. However, this pandemic taught me something else. When our city was classified to undergo Enhanced Community Quarantine in the mid of July, many have lost their jobs. One day, while passing by a fast-food chain, I was saddened by the fact that the hub that used to be so jampacked with diners suddenly becomes empty. Only those food panda riders were busy waiting outside to take orders. That scenario made me realized that no matter what, I should be grateful that I still have a job, that I should learn to love it all the more.

Many teachers might be losing that passion, many might have that urge as well to look for greener pasture, but hopefully, they will also realize the things that I did.

In just a span of 3 days, two scam stories were on my feeds and getting viral online and it has something to do with food businesses. Nevertheless, it made me wonder, how on Earth scammers do exist in this already aching world? I mean, how do they do that? Where did they get the guts to do such a thing?

Does poverty make them do it or they were just too bored that they love to prank people selfishly?

May their souls be forgiven.

This year will marks my two scores of existence if God permits. I still have more or less 70 days to grind before I will bid goodbye to 30's and yet I have manifested the signs of ageing already. 

First, I've started taking Losartan 50mg to regulate my blood pressure;

Second, I have so many things in mind that I I would like to do but got less energy to fulfill it;

Third, I easily get tired!;

Fourth, I'm easily get irritated;

Fifth, I am so (with emphasis) forgetful! 

And the lists could go on.

Was this only me or everyone else of my age got the same progress?

Please lift me up by sharing your thoughts below

#roadto40

#ageing