From Dawn Till Dusk

Halloween is approaching in less than a week and I am panicking already thinking of a unique costume for Nico when he joins a Trick or Treat Activity at a Rotary function that we’re about to attend on 31 October. Nico’s Dada jokingly suggested a Dracula costume for the little tod. I wondered why, so I asked him. “What about the Dracula costume?” I said. “Simple lang. Look at his upper front teeth. Don’t they look like Dracula’s?” the Dada said. “Oh yeah, the teeth,” said me matched with a deep sigh.

A deep sigh because if there’s anything that I regret not having really focused on, it’s Nico upper front teeth. Oh yes, the four upper front teeth that continues to deteriorate since one of the upper front tooth cracked on 10 December 2005 (see, I even remember the day). The cracked tooth was the damage created by Nico’s accidental pagkadapa where his tooth was the one that hit a concrete floor. It was just a small crack and if someone will not look closely on the tooth, one wouldn’t notice there was a crack. Take for example this photo: Continue Reading »

That’s Nico holding his report card. It contained his grades for the first quarter. Though the lower portion of his face was partly hidden in the photo, still can be gleaned a happy Nico who seemed proud to show off his grades. Why?

Modesty aside, Nico’s grades for the first quarter were so impressive, and that puts him on top of his class. These said, it should have made me one proud Mom. In a sense, yes I am so proud of my son for such early achievements. Sino bang magulang ang hindi magiging proud? However too, being a Mom, it worries me that such high grades are giving too much pressure to my little preschooler to maintain his high grades for the next three quarters. Continue Reading »

To live independently and quite far away from our respective families was the set-up that Hubby and I envisioned the moment we got married. Not that we have issues on living with parents. It’s just that we believe being separated from them is the best way to start a new life as husband and wife so we can learn and prove our selves that we can stand on our feet and raise our own family. Thankfully, it was a plan that materialized on the very day we got married. We rented an apartment for a while then we had our very own home built after two years. And though the pains of living alone were often there, it won’t equate enough to the feeling of fulfillment it brought us because it was a dream come true. Privacy and freedom were two things that made living alone justifiable.

But like all good things, there are times too I just wished it was the other way around. These are those times when loneliness of living alone kicks in, when depression strikes, or simply when boredom makes me go wacky over no one to speak with. It feels like I just wanted to have my original family to turn to, a Dad to consult with, a Mom to comfort me, or simply have my brothers and sister to hang out with. Continue Reading »

Today’s supposed to be just like any ordinary day. Thursday–a workday for me (well, sort of) and Hubby, school day for Nico. A typical day that’s anticipated to be as hectic and as busy just like the usual days.

Buy hey, a makulit na preschooler woke me up early with lots hugs and kisses, and utters of I Love Yous and singing of a jolly song. I wondered why.

And the Hubby, whose not-at-all romantic, behaved unusual early today as he surprised me with a bunch of flowers (not that expensive though, it’s from Dangwa he confessed, nyahaha) and a gift that he said also serves as both for today and our 7th wedding anniversary come December (kuripot talaga!).

And when I checked my mobile phone that’s been on silent mode for the last 12 hours, lots and lots of text messages and missed calls confronted me. The mobile phone, an old-rotten Nokie 3300, if only it could speak, it seemed wanting to say: “Tama na please, message memory almost full, I’ll be on low-batt, stop calling!” “What’s all the fuzz?” I said to myself. And when I started checking and retrieving the messages, the thought of what this day was all about started to sink in my mind. Text messages and missed calls were from families, friends and loved ones which were not at all surprising, except for one text message from someone whose not really close to me but afforded to send a heart-warming message: Continue Reading »

No doubt about so many claims that the Internet is indeed a dangerous place. For most of us who utilizes the Internet for so many varying purposes, I’m pretty sure we’ve all had our share of viruses, spyware, phishing and spam emails. If one is not wise on availing certain technologies to reduce the risk of being online, an affair with the Internet may lead to invasion of privacy, threat on security, or worst, financial loss.

Back when the Internet was still novel to me, Mom and Dad never failed to remind me to use the technology wisely and with all caution. Mom particularly was afraid of the thought that I might get too addicted like what happened to a cousin who was hooked with the technology so much that cyberfriendships through chatrooms led to her getting pregnant out of wedlock. Of course, it was an eye opener for me and siblings and it certainly changed the way we perceived and utilized the Internet back then.

Fast forward to discovering Blogging fairly recently (recently, I mean 2006), my attitude towards the danger of disclosing personal stuff over the World Wide Web dramatically changed. From an aloof and closed-minded attitude towards mingling with people online, Blogging has certainly changed my views on the dangers Internet may cause me. Subconscious it may seem, but Blogging had led to me building friendships online. Friendships that started from stumbling a common interest with a Blogger, to sharing my thoughts, to exchanging points of views had gone a long way. Online or may it be offline, in my subconscious self, I’d like to believe that they my friends comforts and hugs me (and whom I comfort and hug back), especially at times when I feel down.

Thoughtful gestures I received recently were buttons and icons below from Nice, Kelly and Rachelle—whom I sincerely thank from the bottom of my heart. Continue Reading »

It was past midnight when Hubby woke up hearing me complain of menstrual cramps…

Me: Ay grabe, ang sakit, parang magkaka-dysmenorrhea yata ako.
Hubby: (got up from deep slumber with eyes all glowing) Bakit, hindi pa ba time of the month? Di ba dapat last week pa yan? Baka naman pregnant ka na?
Me: (paused for a while, raised eyebrows matched with a sarcastic face to Hubby) Hoy, hindi po ako pregnant at siguro baka next year na lang tayo dapat magka-baby, ok! Agree or disagree?
Hubby: (seemed not interested anymore, and went back to sleep quick) Whatever!

Above was one of the many brief conversations that Hubby and I usually have these past months–to have or not yet have another addition to the family. We thought we’ve already resolved that long dilemma back in March. Fact is, it even prodded me to survey among Mommies whether a Chinese lunar calendar is accurate or not in planning/predicting a baby’s gender. But the dilemma went on until now. There were times we’ve been trying to conceive but then there were times too we’ve thought to shelve our plans for a little while especially when worries on bringing up Nico is laid for discussion. In short, ours was a sort of on-and-off plans. Continue Reading »

Brother and I were quickly glancing on some photos that I took of Nico and my niece Chesca while the two were playing basketball at our garage on a weekend when out of nowhere, brother requested me to review back to some photos slowly as he noticed something of Nico (daw). “Ate, teka, balik mo nga dun. Tingnan mo oh, parang bading si Nico sa mga photos,” brother jokingly said but with sense of sarcasm. “Hmm, oo nga ano. Pero teka, uy hindi ha! Hindi bading ang anak ko,” said me with much objection matched with rising eyebrows.

Fast forward to the night of Saturday, I told Hubby of brother’s comment and showed him the photos. Hubby wasn’t bothered at all seeing the photos and thought they were cute. Tactless me however insisted talking about brother’s comment and threw my favorite “What if?” question so as we may discuss. Continue Reading »

I use to worry about Nico’s lack of interest to write over the last few months. My worry was so intense than usual that I panicked too much. Not even the reassurance from Blogfriends stopped me from worrying, would you believe? In between work and family chores, I did some research too, get advices from Moms alike (I even bought Nico a huge white board with all the blue and red lines in it, just as was Rach advised!), compare my son’s milestones with kids of his age, and even pondered on pursuing a consultation with a specialist, etcetera–were to name a few of the most ridiculous moves that I did.

Hubby wasn’t aware of such overrated moves I did but the moment he discovered I scheduled an appointment with a doctor (thanks to Nico’s Neonatologist who broke the news to him), I was doomed! He was quite upset but fairly holding on to his temper, ever understanding Hubby begged that I stop as he said I was just overreacting and only paranoid about simple things. It took me a while to follow though but I stopped. Continue Reading »