A Hands-On Mom's Thoughts on Mother's Day

There was a time when I wasn't sure if I could conceive and bear a child. A doctor once told me that I might have difficulty getting pregnant due to my medical condition. Although her words cast a shadow on the beautiful future I hoped for, I did not give up my dream of one day having my own children.

I chose to believe that the God who planted a desire in my heart to have a family of my own can and will plant the seed of life in my womb one day.

And so it happened that my dream was fulfilled. God caused the miracle of life to grow inside my womb... not just once, but three times!

It has been almost seven years now since I first became a mother. I now have three children. My eldest child will celebrate his seventh birthday this year. My second child (also a boy) will celebrate his fourth birthday and my third child (another boy) will celebrate his first birthday.

I learned in this short span of time that motherhood is not for the faint of heart. That if a mom would take her responsibility to her child/children seriously, motherhood would not be a walk in the park.

When I was still single, I dreamed that I would be a hands-on mom. I dreamed that caring for my kids would be my primary duty and that I would not be required to work.

Thank God that dream has been fulfilled!

I praise and thank God for the gift of being a mother to these children!

But there are lessons that I also learned about motherhood. 

I learned that motherhood entails sacrificial love. Motherhood means prioritizing the needs of your children over your own. Motherhood means pouring out your life to give life to another.

The above sentences are pretty loaded. Let me make them more specific by sharing how these sentences translate in the life of a mom with young children like me.

Sacrificial love for me means sacrificing my personal goals and preferences (like travelling and pursuing another course) so I can fulfill my God-given role and destiny to raise my kids. Allowing my personal dreams that are in conflict with my role as mom to die at Jesus' feet. Prioritizing the needs of my children over my own means preparing their food first before I eat my meals. Breastfeeding my hungry baby at night or during the wee hours of the morning even though my body screams for rest and sleep. Pouring my life out for my kids means spending my energy and time mainly to care for my children, to educate them and to raise them to be the persons that God wants them to be.

These are just some examples of what a hands-on mom with young children like me do every day. 

Motherhood is not a glamorous job. It's a very demanding and fast-paced job. A job that does not allow me to take day offs or vacations (even on Mother's day) because my young children are still very dependent on me. On days when I don't have a helper/maid and my husband is in the office, I could hardly go to the toilet or bathroom. I could hardly eat (even with my husband around because remember we have three children). With three children, there is always at least one child who needs my attention, my listening ear, my help and my touch.

It's a draining job to be a mother. But I've come to realize also in the past years that it's the most fulfilling job I've ever had! 

I've been a manager, a writer, a trainer, a speaker, a coach, a counselor and an author of books. I found a lot of fulfillment doing these jobs that I'm passionate for. Witnessing growth and transformation in the people I worked with in these roles/jobs of mine filled my heart with much gratitude for the opportunity to make a difference in other people's lives. 

Yet, I discovered that being a mother, being an instrument of God in bringing a child into the world, nurturing that child, raising that child to live out his purpose in life... I could hardly find the words to describe what an honor it is to be able to do this. Motherhood is both humbling and rewarding.   

I love the words of Elisabeth Elliot quoted in my desk calendar today. It says, "The process of shaping the child shapes also the mother herself. Reverence for her sacred burden calls her to all that is pure and good, that she may teach primarily by her own humble, daily example."

It's so true that as I mold my kids' hearts and minds, God is molding me as well. I'm not the only one teaching my kids how to be patient and loving. As I mother them, God is teaching me too! He reminds me daily that in as much as my sons are works in progress, so am I. That more than speaking words of instructions to them, I need to model good behavior, good values to them. 

So, today on Mother's Day, I pray that God would give me grace always to speak with wisdom and that faithful instruction would be on my tongue. That I would not eat the bread of idleness or that I would become too busy with extra curricular matters. Instead, I pray that I would be faithful in living out my God-ordained role to be a mother to my children.   

And if you are a mother who longs to make being a mother your priority over making money, I invite you to check out my newly-launched online coaching program called iHOPE. It's a three-step success system that will help parents become hands-on with their kids while earning money for their families. I created this program because I want to help families by enabling parents through this program to be involved in their children's lives while contributing to the family income.

Click here to learn more about this program.

I strongly believe that God called mothers to have a special role in the lives of their children especially when they are still young. This program is my gift to moms! Read more about it here and email me if you have questions about it. 

Happy Mother's Day to all the hardworking and self-sacrificing moms around the world! May we all be thankful for the gift of motherhood. May we reap the rewards of our sacrificial love. May we have a glimpse of the fruits of our labor in our children's lives. 

What are your thoughts on motherhood? Feel free to share them with me in the comments!

'Nay, magpapasukan na!

Here's an article that I wrote a couple of years ago to honor my mom. I'm reposting it here on Mother's Day for I will always be grateful for the positive influences she had in my life.

 

 

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“'Nay, masikip na ang palda ko. Hindi na kasya sa baywang saka sagad na ang tahi sa laylayan. Paano ‘yan? Magpapatahi na ba tayo ng bago kong palda sa pasukan?”

 

“Pwede pa ‘yan. Pagagawan natin ng paraan sa mananahi,” sagot ni Nanay.

 

Ha? Ano pa kayang paraan ang naiisip ni Nanay para magamit pa uli sa pasukan ang pinagkaliitan ko nang palda. Nagsimula itong may malapad na tupi sa laylayan noong bagong tahi pa. Taon-taon, inuurong ang tupi dahil tumatangkad ako. Pero, katulad nga ng sabi ko, ngayon ay wala nang tuping pwedeng tastasin.

 

Kinuha ni Nanay ang aking palda at itinabi para dalhin sa kapitbahay naming mananahi. Pagkatapos ay sinimulan na namin ang isa sa aming mga tradisyon tuwing bago magpasukan.
 

Tiningnan namin isa-isa ang mga kwaderno (o notebook) na ginamit ko at ng nakababata kong kapatid noong nakaraang pasukan. Maingat naming tinanggal ang mga alambre (o spring). Hiniwalay ang mga may sulat sa mga wala pang sulat. Pagkatapos pinagsama-sama namin ang mga natirang mga pahina para bumuo ng mga bagong kwaderno. Tinatahi ni Nanay isa-isa ang mga bagong kwaderno mula sa mga hindi nagamit noong nakaraang pasukan. Tapos binabalutan ko naman ito ng mga pambalot ng regalo at plastik para magmukhang bago at hindi madaling madumihan o masira.
 

Bago rin magpasukan, iniinspekyon namin ang mga dati naming sapatos. Kadalasan, wala kaming sapat na pera para bumili ng bago taun-taon. Kaya ang ginagawa ni Nanay dati, pinapapalitan lang niya ang suwelas o ilalim dahil iyon naman ang madalas na unang nasisira. Pinapalitan na lang ang sapatos namin kapag nasira na ang itaas, halimbawa ay nabiyak na o nabutas. Kaya palagi naming nililinis at pinakikintab ang sapatos namin para hindi madaling masira agad ang balat.

 

Isa pang paraan ng pagtitipid na ginagawa ni Nanay tuwing bago magpasukan noong elementarya pa kami ay maghanap ng mga lumang libro o secondhand books mula sa mga mas nakatatandang estudyante sa aming paaralan, sa mga kapitbahay namin na mas nakatatanda o sa mga tindahan sa Recto. Hangga’t maaari hindi kami bumibili ng bagong textbook kung mayroon naman kaming mahihiraman o mabibiling luma para mas makatipid. Iyong mga workbook lang ang binibili ng bago dahil kailangan itong sagutan.
 

Mahigit dalawang dekada na ang nakaraan mula ng magtapos ako sa elementarya ngunit sariwang-sariwa pa rin sa aking alaala ang mga ginagawa naming paghahanda noong bata pa ako tuwing malapit na magpasukan. Hindi ko mapigil na mangiti at matawa lalo na nang maalala ko kung paano ginawan ng paraan ni Nanay at ng kapitbahay naming mananahi ang akala ko ay hindi ko na maisusuot na palda.
 

Dahil wala na ngang remedyong magagawa sa laylayan at sagad na ang tahi, dinugtungan ng mananahi sa baywang ang luma kong palda. Ginawan niya ng bagong paha at dinugtungan ng halos kakulay na tela. Iyong dating nasa baywang ay binawasan nang bahagya at napunta na sa may bandang balakang dahil sa ginawang dugtong. Hindi naman daw halata kasi mahaba ang aking blusa!
 

Nakakabilib talaga si Nanay! Katulad ng maraming ina, tunay siyang maparaan!
 

Buti na lang maabilidad at maparaan si Nanay! Dahil sa katangian niyang ito, nakapagtapos ako ng elementarya sa isang pribadong paaralan. Ang kanyang halimbawa ng pagpupursige at sipag ay naging inspirasyon ko upang maging isang masikap, masipag at responsableng mag-aaral. Tinuruan niya akong maniwala na hindi hadlang ang kahirapan upang makamit ang iyong mga pangarap. Gaya nga ng sabi sa kasabihan, nasa Diyos ang awa, nasa tao ang gawa. Ginawa ng aking mga magulang ang lahat ng kanilang makakaya upang mapagtapos ako ng pag-aaral. Hindi naging madali para sa aming lahat ang mga taong iyon na nag-aaral pa ako. Maraming sinakripisyo ang aking mga magulang para matupad ang aming pangarap pero sulit naman lahat ng iyon tuwing aakyat kami sa entablado taun-taon para tanggapin ko ang aking medalya bilang Top 1 at nang magtapos akong valedictorian sa elementarya, nang ako’y makapagtapos sa high school sa isang paaralang ekslusibo para sa mga babae, at higit sa lahat nang ako’y magtapos sa kolehiyo sa Pamantasan ng Pilipinas sa Diliman.
 

Magpapasukan na naman. Hindi ko mapigil na hindi maalala ang mga magaganda at masasayang alaala ng aking pagkabata at buhay estudyante lalo na noong ako’y nasa elementarya pa. Masaya ako noon kahit mulat ang aking mga mata sa kahirapan ng aming pamilya. Masaya ako dahil itinataguyod ako ng aking mga magulang para magkaroon ng magandang kinabukasan sa pamamagitan ng magandang edukasyon. Masaya ako dahil mayroon akong mga kaibigan noon na hindi pansin kung bago ba o luma ang aking uniporme at sapatos. Masaya ako noon dahil may mga guro akong naniniwala sa aking talino at kakayahan kahit na ako’y mahirap lang.
 

Pero mas masaya na ako ngayon dahil sa aking pagtityaga, disiplina, suporta ng mga taong nakapaligid sa akin at sa tulong ng Diyos, naabot ko ang bawat pangarap na pinangarap ko simula nang una akong natutong mangarap.
 

Magpapasukan na! Dalangin kong mas marami pang batang mahirap ang matutong mangarap at mabiyayaan ng mga magulang na tulad ng mga magulang ko… lalo na ng tulad ng Nanay ko! Happy Mother’s Day, 'Nay!
 

* This was originally published in Buhay Pinoy of the Philippine Online Chronicles.

Mother's Day Activities for Kids

Mother's Day is just around the corner. Do you already have plans on how you'll celebrate this day with your family?

 

I just discovered some activities from one of my favorite sites, Christian Preschool Printables and I'd like to share them with you in case you are still thinking of what your kids can do on Mother's Day.

 

I have actually printed three sheets/printables already. My eldest who is four years old is now busy working on it.

 

The first one I printed is a coloring page with a picture of a woman and a basket of flowers. Below the picture is one of my favorite Bible verses. It's from 31:29. It says, "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." Click here to view the image and download.

Here's my eldest son proudly posing with his work of art for me.

 

 

The next one I printed is page where the kids can trace the sentence Happy Mother's Day. Kids who are still practicing their handwriting skills can do this. On top of this greeting is a space where the kid or kids can trace or press their hand print. Let your kids choose what paint colors to use on their hands. Click here to view and download if you want your child/children to do this activity.

 

The last one I printed is something the young kids can do with the help of Dad. Or if your kids are older, you can let them answer this and allow yourself to be surprised. It's a fill in the blanks type of greeting card for Mom. Click here to view it and to download.

 

Check out the other activities enumerated here at Christian Preschool Printables and here at PreschoolMom.com. I chose these three because my kids are still very young.

 

I plan to share these activities to the servants in our community's Kids Ministry so they can prepare them and use them either tonight or on Sunday.

 

Aside from these activities, one of the ways I plan to celebrate Mother's Day with my kids is to have a pictorial with them this weekend. I'm thinking of doing this tomorrow afternoon. I hope this plan of mine will push through. :) I also plan to go to the salon tomorrow before our pictorial. I hope my trip to the salon would make me feel more relaxed and ready to flash a beautiful smile come photoshoot time.

 

Of course, our Mother's Day celebration would not be complete without our favorite bonding activity - reading. Here's a list of books I recommend that you read with your tots on Sunday.

And by the way, I got myself an advance present. Read more about it here.

Cheers to all moms!

 

Advance Happy Mother's Day!

 

What are your plans for the weekend? Share them with me by leaving a comment.



My Early Mother's Day Present: Ohrelle Shoes

I got myself an early Mother's Day gift last weekend. It's a new pair of shoes from Ohrelle and I wore it for the first time last night as I shared my story at The Feast in SM City, Sucat.

 

I bought my shoes at Cash and Carry Mall in Filmore, Makati. I wanted to buy a new pair of black shoes initially but the designs that I liked no longer had stocks for my size last weekend. I think it was a blessing in disguise actually because I considered other colors when I learned that I could not buy a black pair of shoes that day.

 

I was very happy to find a cream-colored wedge shoes that had my size. I was delighted even more when I realized that it's almost the same color as the two cream-colored bags I usually use these days. Talk about perfect find and perfect timing! Truly, sometimes "failures" are redirections to better things in store. That day or that weekend, my failure to find a new pair of black shoes for my shoe size led to a better blessing -- a cream-colored pair of shoes to match my two cream-colored bags!

 

Let me share two more reasons why I love the new pair of shoes I found:

 

1. It's open-toed. I'm not fond of closed shoes. They make my toes feel suffocated! ;) I love wearing open-toed shoes because they let my toes breathe.  I find these kind of shoes life-savers especially on very hot days.

 

2. It has wedge heels. I love shoes with wedge heels. I don't like wearing shoes with heels that are very thin and high for long periods. They are not only unhealthy to my calves and back, they also give me a lot of pain. I only wear heels for short periods of time. I'm not the stiletto type of girl. When I need to wear shoes with heels, I look for shoes with wedge heels. A wedge heel runs under the foot, from the back of the shoe to the middle or front. I love these kinds of shoes because they let me enjoy wearing high heels without sacrificing comfort. My calves are well supported with this kind of heels. These are the kinds of shoes I love wearing when I need to stand over long periods like when I conduct trainings and workshops.

 

So, that weekend, I really felt I have found a perfect Mother's Day gift for myself when I found this pair of shoes. :)

 

 

 

There are more designs to choose from actually in the Ohrelle boutique that I went to. But it was already late and the kids needed to rest already. There were also a lot of pairs that were on sale. Some were at 50% off. I was thinking of coming back to their store or check out their other branches in the next days to look for potential designs that I can give to my mom.

 

While preparing to write this post, I found out that Ohrelle shoes and bags are proudly Philippine-made. I read in an article that they were awarded in 2011 as  one of the staunchest supporters of the Marikina shoe industry.  This was done in SM Marikina.  Linda Salonga-Pastoral, the mompreneur behind Ohrelle shoes and bags, said in an interview in 2011, “We have been selling only made-in-Marikina shoes. Indeed, we are extremely proud of supporting the local shoe industry for the past 40 years.”

 

She also said during the dedication of their SM City North Edsa shop that she dedicates that shop to God and that all their success comes from God. You may read more about her inspiring mompreneur story here and here. 

 

I already felt good about my purchase upon realizing that I have a bag to match my new shoes; but learning more about Ohrelle and the woman behind this successful business made me feel even better. I admired Linda Salonga-Pastoral's courage, passion and faith in God. I think many aspiring mompreneurs like me can learn from her example.

 

So, if you are still thinking of what gift to give yourself this Mother's Day or if you're thinking of buying something for your Mom or other Mommy friends this coming Mother's Day, I recommend that you get them a pair of Ohrelle shoes or an Ohrelle bag! You'll not only make them happy but you will also support our local shoe industry and a local business.

 

 

 

I also recommend that you buy and use their GCs (gift certificates) which are now offered at a 20% discount to purchase Ohrelle products from their stores. Their GCs are available at P500 denominations. When you buy two P500 worth of Ohrelle GCs, you only pay P800. Thus you save P200 right away. You can use that to purchase a pair of shoes or two pairs of shoes depending on the shoes or sandals that you'd choose. I bought mine using two GCs. I just added P140  since the shoes I bought cost more than a thousand pesos.

 

You can find Ohrelle at Cash and Carry in Filmore, Makati, The Landmark, Shoe Center in Ali Mall, Robinson’s Malls and in Metro Gaisano at the Market Market, Global City in Taguig City.   

Do you want to buy Ohrelle GCs that you can use or give away as gifts to other Moms for Mother's Day or this month of May? Leave a comment in this post or email me at teregmps@yahoo.com.

 

Advance Happy Mother's Day!

 

 

Disclosure: I was given two Ohrelle GCs to write this post. However, I only write and endorse products that I believe in and I'm happy to use and support. Ohrelle is one of them. I would also get a small commission when you buy Ohrelle GCs through me.