What is Your Child Most Grateful For?

I came across a Facebook post of a friend and thought that it's an interesting read. Since my eldest son and I are already finished with our homeschool lessons and he was already playing with his toy cars, I thought of asking him at least the first question in case he's in the mood to answer.

He was hesitant to answer the first question at first. Then, he would whisper his answers into my ear. I encouraged him to say them out loud but he just laughed. 

Anyway, he seemed game. So, I proceeded in asking him as many questions as he was willing to answer. I copied and pasted the questions on a Word file and typed in his answers. I wanted to remember his answers to these questions at this time of his life. He's currently six years old.

His answers gave me a lot of insight to what was going on in his mind and more importantly in his heart.

I believe that it was a wonderful way to cap our afternoon after completing our homeschool lessons. But little did I know that his answers to a couple of questions, particularly question number 8, would bring happy tears to my eyes.

As I've mentioned earlier, while he was playing with his toys, I was asking him questions. He was relaxed and in a good mood. I wanted to seize the opportunity to know him more through these questions. I just kept asking and typing answers as he blurts them out.

But there was one question that made me stop and ask him to come near me so I could kiss and embrace him.

It was this question.

"What are you most grateful for?"

Without batting an eyelash or looking anywhere, he said these words while looking at me...

"Being with you!"

Wow! I was speechless. I just felt the tears roll down my cheeks. Then, I drew him close, kissed him and embraced him. I told him, in my broken voice, that his answer made me very happy. I also added that being with him is one of the things I am most grateful for in my life.

Three words. Three powerful but loaded words from a six-year-old. Suddenly, I felt overwhelming joy for making the choices I have made in the past 7 years of my married life. I'm so grateful too that my eldest son appreciates my decision to be present to him and to his brothers, that it makes him happy and grateful, that he likes me to be with him. Wouldn't all parents want to hear that from their children? I think parents would want to hear that from their children regardless of their ages.

He was and still is one of the reasons I have chosen to work from home and to prioritize my Mommy duties over my work duties. I sometimes get frustrated when I don't meet my personal deadlines or when I am not able to do certain things I am passionate about because there are still MANY things that I need to attend to as a wife and as a mom. Yesterday, however, all those frustrations simply melted away. I felt like I was just handed a BIG REWARD that no amount of money can buy. 

I don't know about you but when I became a parent, so many things in my life changed. It was like my life was overhauled. I personally chose to stay home with my kids most of the time. I prioritized spending time with them over spending time with other people including my friends because my kids are still very young. I thought that my true friends would understand my new priorities and if they are parents themselves, the more that they would understand why it is extra challenging to go out of the house with small kids or a baby in tow, especially when you don't have a helper or nanny to help you out and you don't know how to drive.

So my days were mostly spent being with my kids... Attending to their needs, singing to them, listening to their stories and songs, reading to them, teaching them many things, praying with them, playing with them, cuddling with them, eating with them, etc.

Being a hands-on parent is no easy job. It's exhausting especially if you have more than one child to attend to. But it is also very rewarding like what I experienced yesterday. 

I was grateful that I took the time to ask those questions to my child and that I patiently waited for him to answer. I got to know him more. I gained insight into how he sees himself, what makes him happy, what makes him sad, what his dreams and plans are, what he wants to teach other people and many more.

There was another question that he answered that made feel really loved by my son. 

I asked: "If you can help one person today, who will that person be? And what will you do to help that person?"

He answered, "You! I will help you by playing with Geordan. (Geordan is his baby brother.)"

Isn't that sweet? 

Pondering on his answers confirmed what I have read many times in numerous articles and books. Children want our presence more than our presents. I'm glad that yesterday, my eldest son proved that to me to be true. He did not mention any toy I gave him or any play center that we visited. I'm grateful that my son has learnd a valuable lesson from the choices I have consistently made over the years and that is: People are more important than material things. 

Yesterday, I discovered that my son values my presence more than the toys that he likes to have or the places he wants to visit. I'm delighted to know that something as simple as being with a parent can make him happiest and most grateful.

Photo source here.

How about you? Do you know what your child is most grateful for? I encourage you to take some time to ask. You might want to use the same list of questions I used. Who knows, you might also get a very wonderful surprise like what happened to me! Here is the link to the article I was referring to in this post.

If you want to be with your child more often and you are dreaming of working from home or having a home-based business but are not sure how to transition to this kind of lifestyle or what you need to do to make it happen, I can help you through my coaching program called iHOPE. You can read more about it here.

On Learning New Things for the Ones We Love and Last Call for the H.O.P.E. Summit

My eldest son loves to play the piano. He taught himself to play the piano. He could play by ear once he becomes familiar with a tune or a song. He started doing this when he was 5 years old. Just before his sixth birthday last year, he accomplished his goal of learning how to play the songs usually sang in the daily Masses in our parish. His dream is to one day serve as pianist in our parish so that there will always be music during daily Masses. It makes him sad when there is no musician who can accompany the choir or congregation in the singing of songs.

Aside from playing Mass songs in the piano, he has also learned other songs... classical music, worship songs, nursery songs, the Philippine National Anthem and recently Brahm's lullaby.

He learned how to play nursery songs in the piano even though he was no longer fond of singing these songs because he wanted to teach these songs to his younger brother Mateo who is a toddler. He learned to play the minuet by Bach and Brahm's lullaby because he wanted to play soft music that can lull his baby brother Geordan to sleep.

For my 40th birthday celebration at home, I planned to have a time of prayer and worship with my closest friends. I asked him if he can learn to play a worship song for me so that he can accompany us during the prayer meeting. Days before my party, he started learning it. Then, he played it during the actual celebration. He amazed not just me and his Dad but even our guests!

This boy is consumed with passion in learning the pieces that he needs to learn to accomplish his goals. He sometimes spends hours just tinkering with our piano and watching YouTube videos just to become familiar with the songs he wants to learn. He keeps on trying and practicing until he learns the piece.

This boy is passionate to learn new things because of the people he loves: God, his brothers, his parents.

When I became a mother, I realized that many of the things I used to do and love doing are things that I can no longer do often. One of these things is conducting trainings and workshops. So I searched for other ways to express and practice what I love doing, which is sharing my knowledge and expertise to help people grow and reach their goals and dreams.

I learned new skills also like blogging, publishing, internet marketing, social media management and marketing, running an online business and e-commerce.

I spent countless hours reading as much material as I could lay my hands or eyes on and watching webinars and videos that enable me to learn and grow in these areas.

Just like my eldest son, I was passionate to learn in these areas and to acquire these new skills because of the ones I love... my children and my husband.

I knew that learning these new skills would enable me to spend more time at home with them while still contributing to the family income.

Learning new things is not easy. It's challenging. It can be frustrating sometimes.

But it's also fulfilling especially when you start practicing or using the new skills that you've learned.

I love seeing the look on my eldest son's face whenever he tells me that he has learned a new piece.

He proudly plays his new piece to us and he would do it repeatedly demonstrating his new skill with greater confidence each time. He is so full of joy as he plays the songs that he has mastered for the object of his affections.

I am also filled with joy whenever I learn a new skill and I am able to use it to accomplish tasks faster or I am able to earn through them.

Do you also want to learn new things and acquire new skills so that you can become more hands-on with your children and have more time to bond with them while earning money for your family?

I invite you to JOIN US on August 8 from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM at the AVR of Teltech Building, Boni Avenue, in Mandaluyong for the Hands-On Parents while Earning or H.O.P.E. Summit. Click here to join the event and to get updates on what to expect. It's a whole day workshop where you can learn new things and skills that can help you to become a better parent and move closer to your financial goals without sacrificing your relationship with your kids.

It will be a day of learning and networking with other parents who have the same goals and who have been successful in their chosen niches.

You can even bring your kids with you since we will have a kids' room during the event. All my kids are coming with me actually.

There will be booths where you can shop for books, toys and other learning materials.

You can win exciting prizes also during our raffle. There are also freebies for all workshop participants!

It's exactly a week to the H.O.P.E. Summit! You can still buy your ticket to attend this life-changing event! Hurry! We only have limited seats because of the capacity of the venue.

REGISTER HERE. 

BUY YOUR TICKET HERE.

See you at the H.O.P.E. Summit on August 8! Together, let's learn new things and grow for the ones we love!

Will You Choose to Give Joy to Your Child?

It's touching how your presence is your baby's main source of joy.

I just stepped out of our bedroom to get my devotional from the altar. I put my baby in his crib before doing so. He cried as soon as he saw me step out of the room even though I told him that I will be back right away. 

As soon as I went back inside and picked him up, he smiled instantly. Then, as I carried and walked with him to my home office, he kept on laughing and giggling as if saying that he was delighted to be carried by me.

Your baby will only be small and needy for around 2 years. After that, your baby will become less dependent on you and would desire (and sometimes insist) to try new things on his own. Your baby will need you less. But while you are your baby's main source of joy, would you choose to give him joy? Would you choose to fill your baby's love tank by being present to him?

I thank God for the grace He has given me to choose to bring joy to my babies' hearts. I thank Him that He has helped me make the decision to prioritize my babies over my career and money. I thank Him for the precious smiles and laughter I have witnessed all because I was present to them while they were still babies. No amount of money or achievement can compare to the priceless experience of being there for my children when I meant the world to them.

If you are a parent or a mom like me and your baby/child's cry tugs at your heart too whenever you need to leave for work, I invite you to the Hands-On Parents while Earning (H.O.P.E.) Summit on August 8, a whole day workshop that can change the course of your family's life. In this workshop, parents will learn hands-on parenting and working smart in the new millennium and how they can marry hands-on parenting with earning for the family.



Being able to work with a lot of flexibility has been one of the biggest blessings I have received in life. I was able to witness all my children’s milestones, personally take care of them and breastfeed them because I am home almost all the time. I am able to shape my children’s character and educate them while pursuing my passions and earning through these passions. I want to share what I have learned through the years to my fellow parents so that they too can spend ample time with their children while contributing to the family income. This is my way of helping families grow and remain intact.


Below are my objectives in organizing this workshop for parents:

• to enable parents to discover their big why in aspiring to be Hands-On Parents while Earning (HOPE).
• to enable parents to come up with a clear and compelling vision for their children and for themselves as parents and as earning individuals.
• to help parents to come up with a list of new habits that they can easily and consistently implement after the workshop so they can be more involved in their children’s lives.
• to help parents discover ways to work smarter so they can free up more time in their schedules to bond with their children.
• to inspire moms and dads to be hands-on even while earning for their families and to learn tips and strategies on how to be successful in their careers/businesses through the stories of the featured moms and dads (guests) in the iHOPE Summit.
• to introduce different earning options for parents while being actively involved in their children’s lives.
• to give parents an opportunity to meet and interact with other parents who also want to become H.O.P.E. (Hands-On Parents while Earning).

I will be the main speaker and facilitator of the workshop. The other speakers in the summit include Martine de Luna, Jomar Hilario and Ginger Arboleda. Martine is a work-at-home advocate, award winning blogger and blog coach. Jomar is the Philippines’ Internet Marketing Guru who teaches individuals how to be virtual professionals and online business owners. Ginger is a serial entrepreneur, business coach and blogger.


Guest panelists who are successful Hands-On Parents while Earning themselves will be part of the summit also. These include Denise Bernardo of Indigobaby, Angeli Del Rosario of The Beadlady, Katrina Ambion of Mommyfide PH, Chef Jonathan Chua of Magsaysay Institute of Hospitality and Culinary Arts  and Jay and Cherry Castillo of Foreclosure Philippines.

The workshop is valued at P3,500 per head at least; but I want to help as many families as I can, so I found a way to make the workshop more affordable to parents. Thus, attendees get a 43% discounted rate even as they pay the regular rate of P2,000 per head. Couples are encouraged to attend together through the couple rate of P3,000 only. Moreover, we will raffle off prizes to couples who will be present during the workshop. Click here to read more details about the summit and to register to this life-changing event.

The H.O.P.E. Summit is co-presented by Full Life Cube Publishing and Events Services, Sun Life Financial and PLDT Home Telpad. Participants of the summit will get a chance to win exciting prizes during the raffle from its sponsors which include Indigobaby, The Beadlady, Mommyfide PH, Bert Lozada Swim School, Gymboree Play and Music Philippines and Halo Philippines. One of the prizes to be raffled off is a free annual membership to Gymboree Play and Music Philippines worth P2,000! Winning this will not only translate into savings but many precious bonding moments for the lucky parent and child. Participants will also receive freebies like P500 gift certificates from Lozada Swim School, copies of Mustard magazine for kids and so much more.   

We will also have a kids' room for parents who want to bring their kids with them. We will raffle off storybooks for the kids who will use our kids' room too.


For updates about the H.O.P.E. Summit, please like and visit https://www.facebook.com/events/419373114931304/.

Earning While Homeschooling

We just had our first field trip for the school year! It's our way of kicking off the start of a brand new year in our homeschool adventure. 

We even bought Philippine-designed shirts for our field trip outfits! 

We gently began our school year last week by reviewing what the kids learned in the past year. Although we homeschool year-round, we officially start our school year in June. It's that time of the year when I (their main teacher) start becoming more intentional with our homeschool activities. I take into consideration where we left off before our summer activities, the kids' current interests and their respective levels. Together with my husband, we discuss and plan our learning goals for the year for each of our kids.  

But before we get serious, I thought that it would be a wonderful way to start our school year with a fun activity. This is one of the things I love about homeschooling. We design our schedule based on our goals, availability, resources, and the topics that we want to learn and cover. 

Since there are two major historical events that Filipinos celebrate in June (Independence Day on June 12 and Jose Rizal's birthday on June 19), I've decided to plan a field trip for our family this month. I initially planned to go to Jose Rizal's house and hometown in Calamba, Laguna and Fort Santiago in Manila where the Rizal Shrine is located to celebrate our National Hero's birthday. But I found out that the Rizal Shrine in Laguna is under renovation so we postponed our field trip there. We still went to Fort Santiago and Rizal Shrine in Intramuros last Sunday. Then, we went to Kawit, Cavite to see the house where the Philippines' independence was proclaimed. This was inspired by the news articles (this and this) I read about the video mapping done in the house as one of the ways to celebrate our Independence Day this year. 

Mga batang Rizal walking in the footsteps of
Jose Rizal at Fort Santiago. ;)

We had fun exploring Fort Santiago! It was the kids' first time to go there. It wasn't my first time there but I still learned new things and relearned old lessons while at the Rizal Shrine. It was also a memorable experience for us to all go to the Aguinaldo Shrine for the first time.

It was in this balcony that General Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed
the independence of the Philippines from Spanish rule.

That's another beauty of homeschooling. Parents get to learn with their children while providing them with lots of opportunities to bond with each other.

Is homeschooling something that you want to do with your kids or feel that the Lord is calling you to do but you are afraid of the impact of your decision on your finances? Are you wondering if you can homeschool and still contribute to the family income? 

I have good news for you! I'm organizing a parenting summit called Hands-On Parents while Working on August 8, 2015. It's a whole day workshop on hands-on parenting and working smart in the new millenium where you can learn how to marry hands-on parenting with earning for the family.   

Click here to read more about the event and its speakers.

During the workshop, I will help you uncover your greatest motivation in wanting to become a hands-on parent. I will also help you come up with a clear and compelling vision for your kids and yourself. I will share tips that you can apply right away after you leave the event. I will share my 3-Step Success System that can enable you to be a H.O.P.E., a Hands-On Parent while Earning. 

Aside from these, you'll have an opportunity to learn from other speakers and guests. Some of our speakers are parents who also homeschool their kids. You can learn from the interactions and group discussions with other parents too.

I invite you to invest your time on this life-changing event! 

I encourage you to sign up now while you can still avail of the early bird rate. You also have a chance to win a free gift certificate from Kindermusik with Teacher Suzette and Friends if you are one of the first 10 parents to sign up and satisfy the requirements of our Facebook Contest.

You can find the mechanics here.

Click here to sign up now and be a step closer to fulfilling your dream of homeschooling your kids while earning! Join us also at the event's Facebook Page so you'd get updates about the event. See you on August 8!

WAHM Lessons From Pope Francis' Visit to the Philippines (#PopeFrancisPH)

I thought that I would be able to accomplish a lot of work-related tasks during Pope Francis' visit to the Philippines because of the long holiday/weekend. I planned to make significant progress in moving forward in reaching my work goals. But my plan did not materialize... at all.

 

Two days after the Pope arrived in the Philippines, I was tempted to wallow in disappointment. Still, I thought that maybe I could squeeze in some work in between what I had been doing in the past two days. After the Pope's third day in the country, I've decided to abandon all plans of working over the long weekend. Not because I was giving in to frustration or because I'm giving up on my work goals this early in the year, but because I was happy that things did not turn out as I planned.

 

Let me share three lessons from Pope Francis that I think are applicable to WAHMs (work-at-home moms) like me.

 

1. TAKE TIME TO REST. - I know many moms who have workaholic tendencies. Ha! I'm one of them! Seriously, work-at-home moms have the tendency to overlook time for rest and recreation because we manage our households and care for our children on top of our work-at-home jobs or home-based businesses. Many WAHMs work after everyone in their household is in bed and is in dreamland. I honestly like working late into the night or early in the morning because that's when the house is quiet and I could think well. Unlike during daytime when I could hardly hear myself above the noise of my active little boys.

 

So when I heard Pope Francis exhort families to take time to rest in his message during his meeting with families at the MOA Arena, I felt that God was speaking to me through him. I felt that God was giving me permission to rest, especially now that I'm still on maternity leave (technically). I felt God telling me to go slow in going back to work mode and to prioritize my health and recovery.

 

Aside from reminding families of the importance of rest to our bodies, he also told families that rest is important for our souls. The Pope  said that God can speak to us even while we sleep. He even shared that he sometimes writes his concerns on a piece of paper and puts them under the statue of a sleeping St. Joseph. He said that since God spoke to St. Joseph through St. Joseph's dreams, he was asking for the saint's intercession so that God would speak to him as well  about his concerns while he's sleeping.

 

Photo source here.

 

When I heard Pope Francis say these words last Friday, I let go of the guilt I initially felt for sleeping in the afternoons and at night instead of working on items on my to-do list in the past days.

 

What could take me "40 years" to finish, God could help me finish in a split second if He wills it. So I will take my sweet time during my maternity leave to get as much rest and sleep as I possibly can hoping that like St. Joseph, God would speak to me in my sleep/dreams. And like Mary and Jesus, I hope and pray that I would rise to carry out the mission God has entrusted to me both at home and outside my home.

 

I will rest in the Lord following God's prompting. This will be my way of expressing my trust in Him that He will take care of all my needs.

 

2. PROTECT THE FAMILY. - This second lesson was not as  obvious to me as the first. But as I spent more time meditating on the Pope's messages in the past days, I realized that by sticking to my priorities, I am actually protecting my family.

 

What did I do in the past days? I watched the coverage of the Pope's visit with my family. I shared stories with my husband and kids about my experience during World Youth Day 1995. I meditated on the messages of the Pope. I prepared and did homeschool activities with my kids to teach them more about our Catholic faith, the papacy and Pope Francis. I read inspiring materials and slept in between nursing sessions with my newborn baby, homeschool activities with my two older children and managing our household.

 

I initially felt disappointed when I found it hard to stay awake and do some work-related tasks. Thankfully, God granted me wisdom through Pope Francis' message that what I was doing in the past days was reason for rejoicing. I was living out my priorities! And by doing this, I am protecting my family!

 

My family in front of the Nativity scene of our church last Christmas.
One of our recent family pictures.

 

God, family and self are among my top three priorities in life. I was simply sticking to my priorities by spending my time on the activities I mentioned above.  

 

I remember one interview with Pope Francis wherein he asked parents: "Do you play with your children? Do you waste time with your children?" He further said, "The free gift of a parent's time is so important."

 

It is so easy for a work-at-home mom to forget that she works from home because she wants to spend more time with her family. Since we work at home, the boundaries are sometimes blurred and unless we become deliberate in moving forward in WAHMing or doing our home-based businesses, we can make the mistake of letting our work load take over our family activities, which actually defeats the purpose of us working at home.

 

Nourishing one's self is also important. I cannot give what I do not have. I cannot take care of my family if I am not well. I need time for solitude so that I can commune with my God and be filled with the necessary graces that only He can give. If I do not make time for my relationship with God, I would be tempted to demand from my family members what only God can give me. Expecting from my family what can only come from God would put unnecessary strain on my relationships with them.

 

Read the full text of Pope Francis' message to families here.

 

3. LET GOD SURPRISE YOU. - God reminded me through Pope Francis yesterday through his encounter with the youth at UST that He is a God of surprises and that He surprises us because He loves us.

 

I was reminded of the many times God surprised me in my WAHM adventure. It was a delight to receive and enjoy God's unexpected favors!

 

I admit that I like to make sure that I have all things covered, including in my projects as a work-at-home mom, consultant and business-mom. My natural tendency is to be uneasy (to say the least) when faced with uncertainties. I like to be in control. I like making plans and making sure I execute my plans as perfectly as I can. But God likes to surprise me. Pope Francis said, "They shake the ground beneath our feet and make us insecure, but they move us forward in the right direction." It's true! Not knowing exactly what would happen next makes us insecure and afraid. But a lot of times, based on my personal experiences, those times when God surprised me are also times of great favors and miracles. It was during those times when I felt most loved by Him.

Who would have imagined a Pope celebrating Mass in a yellow raincoat?
Who would expect this kind of smile from a Pope
who has just celebrated Mass in the rain?
But God is a God of surprises indeed as shown by this photo of our #DearPopeFrancis. Photo source here.

 

I believe that this is a very timely reminder at the start of the year when I (many of us) usually make plans for our personal lives and our careers/businesses. It's good to make plans but we should also make space for God's surprises and miracles in our lives. In truth, I do hope that God would surprise me again big time this year! I hope and pray that He would surprise me by blessing me beyond what I deserve and beyond what I expect my efforts and hard work would yield.

 

Read the full text of Pope Francis' message to the youth in UST here.

 

These are just some of the lessons I learned/relearned while watching Pope Francis' activities during his papal visit here in the Philippines and meditating on his message to us Filipinos.

 

Did you also follow the Pope either physically or through the tv, internet and other forms of media? What lessons did you learn from his visit? Feel free to share in the comments.

An Interview with a Hands-on Mom: Mommy Kat of Mommyfide PH

I first learned about her through a Facebook group that I was a part of. One of the members in the group mentioned her and her business. I was also in the process of finishing the e-book version of BREASTFEEDING: A Journey Worth Taking and I made a mental note to get in touch with her in case she's interested to have her breastfeeding-related business listed in my e-book.

 

My e-book has been launched and has become an Amazon bestseller and I'm thankful to the many people who in one way or another helped make this book project possible. Among them is Mommy Kat of Mommyfide PH.

 

Then, I thought of running a Facebook contest last month in celebration of National Breastfeeding Awareness Month. Mommy Kat was also among my generous sponsors. So, I thought of interviewing her to get to know more the wonderful woman behind this talked about nursing wear brand.

 

I was happy to meet her for the first time last Saturday at the Breastfeeding Forum at Asian Hospital where there was also a Moms and Babies Fair. Mommy Kat and I were among the mompreneurs who joined the bazaar.

Mommy Kat and Mommy TG at the Moms and Babies Fair, Asian Hospital.

 

Let me share with you my interview with Mommy Kat of Mommyfide PH.

 

Mommy TG: What was your work before you started your own business?

Mommy Kat: Before I was “Mommy Kat”, I wore all sorts of hats. First I helped manage our family business, Planet Exchange, a one stop fashion shop in SM City Cebu, then I tried doing the boutique business myself and then I worked for my uncle to manage his mini grocery in Ormoc and then I worked at PAGCOR as a card dealer and then at Citibank for a short period of time as an insurance specialist. I was quite restless and young and could not figure out what I really wanted. Nothing really fulfilled me.

 

Mommy TG: What/who inspired you to start your own business?

 

Mommy Kat: Liane Girl. When I look at my daughter, I just want to be the best version of myself, my supportive husband, R whose passion for people and integrity inspires me and my mom whose influence in business and fashion ever since I was little; it is actually as if she prepared me for this.

 

Mommy Kat with her inspirations.

 

Mommy TG: How and when did you start your business?

 

Mommy Kat: December 2013. I started with only 10 pieces of 2 Flow Pastel Tops which surprisingly sold out within minutes.

Mommy TG: How/Why did you choose Mommyfide PH as your business/brand name?

Mommy Kat: Originally, it was Mommyfied—because I was so inspired to transform ordinary clothes into Mommywear. My love for comfortable fashion and having a closet full of clothes I could not wear really encouraged me to pursue it thinking how many young moms like me are having a hard time choosing an outfit that is breastfeeding friendly and at the same time, still feel good with herself.

Mommyfide is derived from “bona fide” or original Mommywear.

 

Mommy TG:  How do you come up with the designs of your products?

Mommy Kat: Honestly, I think about it. I imagine it. I have a prototype made. We put them to the test before I have them mass produced. The truth is our tops and dresses have evolved so much in the year that has passed!

 

Mommy TG:  Who makes your nursing tops and clothes?

Mommy Kat: I am proud to say they are all Philippine made.

 

Mommy TG:  What are your bestselling designs/products?

Mommy Kat: FLOW Collection: tops, dresses, rompers and jumpsuits, Mommy-OH Tops and GO Collection Tops

 

Mommy TG: What do you consider your biggest business lessons so far?

Mommy Kat: The most valuable lesson I learned is that Mommyfide is founded in love and advocacy. The love for my baby, the love for breastfeeding, in turn, this love has driven me to share it to moms and babies to make their breastfeeding journey easier, pleasurable and comfortable by providing affordable, quality and fashionable clothes.

 

Mommy TG: What does your typical day as hands-on mom and mompreneur look like?

Mommy Kat: Liane always comes first. My day is tailor fit around her needs. I meet suppliers with her. We eat, read and play together. When she naps, it is when I do things for myself. It also helps that L has always had a schedule. At 8PM she is sound asleep, which gives me time to upload new items once a week or watch something together with my husband. A reliable nanny is also a huge help. Although L is always with me, an extra pair of hands assisting me in the other room or looking after L when we’re in a meeting allows me to do more things without having to worry that she’s bored or something.

Mommy TG: What do you think are the advantages of having a home-based business?

Mommy Kat: The best thing about it is being able to fulfill personal goals, earn, save, meet new moms, share my experience and advocacy, doing what I love while being able to spend time with the most important people in my life, my little family.

 

Mommy Kat with her husband and daughter, Liane.

 

If you are pregnant and you plan to breastfeed or if you are already breastfeeding and wants to invest on nursing clothes, I suggest that you head to Mommyfide PH's Facebook Page and check out their products.

Here's a sneak peek to their new designs.

Photo source here.

 

Flow nursing tee in my favorite color.
Perfect for denim pants or slacks.
Photo source here.

I was happy to have my own Mommyfide PH nursing tops last Saturday! Her nursing clothes can also fit pregnant women. This makes them good investments for moms who plan to breastfeed eventually when they give birth. I'm excited to wear the white Flow top I got together with my black blazer and slacks this coming Saturday when conduct a team building workshop for one of my clients.

   

What I plan to wear this Saturday
with my black blazer and slacks.
Photo source here.