My Mommy is Famous: A Book That Made Me Cry

I was in a bookstore and looking for a certain book that I wanted to buy for my kids. While going through the display of books, I saw this book (My Mommy is Famous) and immediately picked it up. I leafed through the pages quickly to see what it is all about. As soon as I got the gist of the story, I decided not to let it go. Yes, I bought it that day even though it was not part of my plan. I still found and bought the book I really wanted to buy. But I added this gem that I found because the story resonated with me.

When I first read the book to my kids aged 8, 5 and 2, there were parts when I could no longer read well because I could not help but cry. I could very much identify with the mom in the story. The other day, I read it again to my kids before their nap time, along with other books. Still, I could not help but break into tears. Well, not as much as the first time, but my eyes welled up fast just the same.

The book My Mommy is Famous and a calendar with Mama Mary in the cover. Mama Mary is one of my role models on motherhood.

Let me tell you why.

The mom in the story is a hands-on mom to her daughter. She did not get a nanny or yaya for her because she wanted to personally take care of her. She attends to her needs. Towards the end of the story, it was revealed that she left her prestigious and high-paying job to focus on motherhood. Her child, at first, did not understand this. She was wondering why she didn't have a yaya and was even envying her classmates who had nannies. But in the end, she realized that she is one blessed child for her mom chose her over her own career.

That's where I always get emotional. When the mom explains to her child why she doesn't have a yaya and when the child finally understands why and appreciates her mom for all that she does for her.

If you have been following my blog, you would know by now that we have a similar story. I also resigned from my prestigious and high-paying job so I can focus on my family. I made this decision a few months after I got married. When I tendered my resignation, I didn't know that I was already pregnant. Actually, it was also the beginning of February when I did that. Weeks after that, we found out that I was pregnant with our first child. I really felt led to make that decision because I was put on bedrest as soon as my pregnancy was confirmed.

Since then, I did not work outside the home anymore as an employee. I only accepted freelance projects or gigs mainly because I wanted to ensure that majority of my time is spent building our growing family and investing in my relationship with my husband and children. I wanted to build a strong foundation for my family and since we were newly married then and our firstborn was on the way, I concluded that that's the best decision to make.

Fast forward to several years later, I'm still working from home and doing home-based business for the same reasons. My kids are still young and need much attention. I want to be present to them most of the time during their formative years. I want to be part of their childhood memories. I want to take an active role in their values and character formation. I want to be the primary influence in their young and tender lives. I want to give them the best care and education we can afford. That meant I would be the primary caregiver and teacher.

One of my latest photos with my 3 kids, all boys.

I liked how the book helps kids understand the lesson in the story and the love and devotion that the mom has for her child. I liked that it helped me communicate and share with my own kids my own reason for choosing to be a hands-on mom to them. The other day, I also emphasized the advantages of having their own mom take care of them as opposed to having a yaya. We've had our own experience of having helpers at home. Their main job is to do household chores. Then, when I get tired taking care of my kids and when I need to work on my laptop in my home office, I let them watch over the boys while I do my job. But these maids proved to be unreliable even for a short while. I would find them just talking to each other and not really engaged in play with my kids or ignoring the kids.

One time, I was surprised to see my kids already climbing our gate while the two maids were chatting with each other. Good thing that I got curious when my kids' voices got a bit loud. This prompted me to look outside the window of my home office and I saw my boys up on our gate. I rushed downstairs and out into our garage and hurriedly put my boys down. I reprimanded the maids for not keeping the boys safe. Their excuse, the boys would not listen when they told them not to climb. Hello! Those are kids! They do no grasp yet the danger of what they were doing. That is why they need to be supervised by adults. That is why I asked the maids to watch over them because I wanted their eyes on them while my eyes were on my work. Sigh.

After several occasions of these maids not really being responsible either with household chores or with occasional child care, I fired them. Actually, even when we had maids, I still do almost everything for the kids. I feed them, breastfeed them, put them to sleep, read books to them, bathe them, teach them, etc. The maids simply assist in cutting their food, cleaning their toys and in watching over the other kids when I am attending to another.

So, these days, when I need to work and the kids are awake, I simply make them play near me where I could easily glance at them and hear them while they are busy playing. At least now I know that they are truly safe.

I don't know if we will ever find a reliable maid in the future. But one thing I'm sure of is that I love being a hands-on mom to my kids and I think I'm going to stick to this lifestyle as long as God permits. It's not easy, but it's surely rewarding. I think that as my kids grow older, they are beginning to understand and realize the value of my devotion and the sacrifices that I do for them. Maids come and go but I will always be here for them as long as I'm alive. Most of all, nothing can be compared to a mother's love and devotion for her children. I think it's the best kind of love next to God's love for us. Do you agree?

I highly recommend this to moms who have a similar story. Although the mom in the story had great achievements and was famous, I think ordinary moms can relate to her reason for choosing to leave her job to prioritize being a hands-on mother to her child. I'm glad that I found this book by Lampara Books. It's part of the Kuwentong Nanay Series. I plan to check out the other titles in the series, too.

Do you have other recommendations of good books about motherhood that can help us parents teach kids to value what their mothers do for them? Feel free to share with me in the comments. I would love to discover more wonderful books. Reading is one of my favorite bonding activities with my kids who are also bookworms like me.

Like Stars on Earth Movie Review

I first learned about this movie through a homeschool support group (on Facebook) that I'm a part of. One parent recommended this movie and shared that it was good. Another parent who already watched the movie left a comment saying that the movie can help more people understand giftedness. As soon as I read that comment, I clicked the link shared so I can check it out on YouTube. I searched Google for more information about the movie and after finding out from fellow parents that they also watched it with their kids who are almost the same age as mine, I told my husband that we will watch the movie as a family that same night. 

I'm so glad we did! It was an inspiring and moving film! 

Basically, it's about a twice exceptional kid (intelligent kid with a learning disability)  who was having problems in school. He was transferred to a boarding school by his Dad who was hoping that his school performance would improve after he is transferred. The boy's problem continued and he even got depressed because of the separation from his family. Things got better when a new art teacher met the boy and intervened; so that not only the boy's parents, but also the school teachers and principal would understand what's causing the boy's difficulty in school. 

Let me enumerate some of my reasons for liking this movie and why I would recommend it to all parents, whether they have gifted, twice exceptional or typical children.

1. It depicted many of the characteristics of gifted children in the child actor. My husband and I, together with our eldest son, were laughing at some point when we saw a series of scenes where the child in the movie was acting like our eldest son. The child in the movie had a very good imagination and he daydreams a lot of times, even while eating and during class. This makes him slow in finishing his meals. He also gets distracted by the things around him and some of these things trigger his imagination making him lose focus on what he is currently doing. In the movie, he was asked by the teacher to go out of the classroom because he was not paying attention. He was caught looking out of the window. 

Other characteristics of many gifted children like poor fine motor skills (manifested in poor handwriting), poor hand-eye coordination (shown in difficulty throwing the ball in the right direction), being prone to depression, tuning out and building a world of their own through their imagination and having difficulty fitting in were also shown .

2. It showed that parents need to be more understanding of their children's mistakes and seek to find out the possible causes of their difficulties in school and problematic behaviors. The parents of the boy were clueless to what was causing the child's poor performance in school. The mom was trying to help her son by spending time teaching him and helping him with school work when he gets home but the mom was also clueless on why his son's handwriting was terrible and why he was failing his exams. The dad was too harsh on both of his sons. He was usually saying bad words and demotivating words especially to his younger son who was failing in school. This contributed to the boy's poor self-image and self-esteem. 

It was only when the substitute art teacher, who happened to also teach in a school for kids with special needs, met the boy, looked into his case and intervened by talking to the boy's parents that they learned that their son has dyslexia.  

3. I liked how the teacher explained the boy's condition to his parents. The dad was blaming the boy for performing bad in school. The dad thinks that it's because of the boy's attitude and laziness. The teacher used a brilliant way to make the dad understand that it's not the boy's attitude that's causing the problem. He made the parents understand that their son needs help, support and understanding so he could get over his depression and perform better in school.

4. I loved what the teacher did to help the boy! He not only advocated for the boy to the school principal and his fellow teachers. He also spent extra hours teaching the boy to address his special needs. 

After the good art teacher invested time to help the boy, he performed better in school, which shocked his parents at the end of the term.

5. I liked that the movie showed how a child can blossom under the care and guidance of a good, loving and compassionate teacher/mentor. I wish more teachers and parents would be more accepting and supportive like this art teacher in the movie.

This is what I pray for... that we'd find good and loving mentors for my eldest son who is showing very good potential in becoming a talented musician.

6. I liked that the movie reminded those watching it that words have power to build or destroy. The negative words that the child often heard from those around him, including that of his parents, made him look down on himself and his abilities. 

This made me reflect and ask myself if I am also guilty of committing the same mistakes when dealing with my own children.

7. The movie reminds parents that the home should be a place where children feel loved, accepted and supported.

8. Last but not least, I liked that the school chose to accommodate a child with special needs and that the other teachers gave the child a chance after the art teacher volunteered to help the boy by tutoring him and enabling him to cope with the demands of the school.

The movie is in a foreign language but it has English subtitles so my husband and I, together with our eldest son were able to follow and understand it. The kids also enjoyed watching the movie. My kids are currently 6 and 3 years old.

It's a very inspiring and moving movie! Watch it even if your child does not have special needs! 

Click here so you can watch the movie in YouTube. Enjoy!

If you want to watch another film about a gifted child, I recommend that you check out my review of the movie Boses here.  

Click here to find more articles about giftedness in media.

World Breastfeeding Week in October and St. Patrick Baby Breastfeeding Statement Clothes (Plus Raffle)

World Breastfeeding Week in October

 

It's World Breastfeeding Week again! You might be surprised to read this but you read it right! 

 

The official date of World Breastfeeding Week is from August 1-7. Most countries, including the Philippines, celebrate in August. But there are countries like Canada, Ireland, Norway, the Netherlands, Switzerland and UK  who organize their breastfeeding campaign on the 40th week (in October) to increase public participation and media attention because most people are on holiday in August in these countries.

 

Canada adapts the theme for the year, BREASTFEEDING: A Winning Goal - For Life!, as it celebrates World Breastfeeding Week this week from October 1 to 7. This theme asserts the importance of increasing and sustaining the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding - in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) countdown, and beyond.

 

Photo source here.

In Ireland, the theme for their National Breastfeeding Week this October is Every Breastfeed Makes a Difference. This year's theme reminds moms that every breastfeeding session makes a difference in the health of the baby as well as the mom. It also reminds moms that every breastfeeding session brings a mom closer to the achievement of her breastfeeding goal. Isn't that beautiful? This message is close to my heart because that's what I advocate in my book BREASTFEEDING: A Journey Worth Taking.

 

HSE National Breastfeeding Coordinator Siobhan Hourigan  said:  "Support can really help mothers to get started with breastfeeding and to breastfeed for longer."

 

WABA, which stands for World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action, exhorts everyone to Protect, Promote and Support breastfeeding because it is a vital, life-saving goal!

 

Here's an infographic from the WHO website that tells us
how family members and friends can help support breastfeeding moms.

 

St. Patrick Baby Breastfeeding Statement Clothes

 

Aside from the celebration of World Breastfeeding Week in the countries mentioned above, October is also a special month for me and my family because it's the birth month of our eldest son, whom I breastfed for at least two years.

 

In line with these celebrations, I have partnered with St. Patrick Baby to run a raffle promo this October for all the buyers of the paperback edition of my book BREASTFEEDING: A Journey Worth Taking.

 

I first learned about these products by St. Patrick Baby last year in August through a Breastfeeding Group that I was a part of. Breastfeeding moms from our group ordered and bought these breastfeeding statement clothes for their breastfed babies. I wanted to order too but it was already too late when I found out. The stocks have ran out.

 

This year, I'm glad that I was able to get these breastfeeding statement clothes for my upcoming (3rd) baby. I'm excited to let him wear these clothes when he comes out sometime in late November or early December!

 

Early baby shower presents/Christmas gifts from St. Patrick Baby!

You may check out the photos and details of these nice baby clothes by clicking this link.

 

These products are also available at the following SM Department Store branches (infant section):

SM Megamall
SM Mall of Asia
SM North EDSA
SM Makati
SM Las Pinas
SM Aura
 

Let me share with you 3 main reasons why I like these products:

 

1. These baby clothes are 100% made from organic cotton. This means that the cotton used in these baby clothes were grown and harvested without the use of harmful chemicals. Thus, these baby clothes are gentle and are not a threat to our baby's delicate skin.
 

 

2. I love the illustrations and statements on the baby clothes that helps raise awareness on breastfeeding and its benefits. Through these clothes, breastfeeding moms and advocates can help promote breastfeeding in their own personal way.

 

3. Last but not least, since there were no chemicals used in the growing and harvesting of the cotton used for these baby clothes, these products help save/preserve Mother Earth. Supporting products and advocacies that protect and preserve the environment are also close to my heart.
 

 

As I've mentioned earlier, we will raffle off a St. Patrick Baby Statement product as part of our celebration this October. All buyers of my book's paperback edition who will purchase it directly through me (via email or the book's Facebook Page) will get a chance to win a singlet romper from St. Patrick Baby. Each paperback copy bought entitles the buyer one raffle entry.

 

 

 

If you do not have a copy of the paperback edition of BREASTFEEDING: A Journey Worth Taking, I encourage to buy your copy this month. If you already have one, I invite you to help other moms by giving away a copy of this book as a present to your pregnant or breastfeeding friends or relatives. You can also make this a wedding or bridal shower gift to future moms or a Christmas present.

 

The raffle promo will run from October 1 to 26, 2014 and is open to all residents in the Philippines. Also, please make sure that you have liked my book's Facebook Page to make your raffle entry valid.

 

Place your order now! Email me at teregmps@yahoo.com or teresa@fulllifecube.com or send me a PM through https://www.facebook.com/BreastfeedingJourneyWorthTaking.

Review of Space Book

One of my kids' current interests is the solar system. They are interested to learn about the planets and the other things that are related to these. So, my husband and I looked for books about space or the solar system one time when we were in the book store. We found several options. After checking out the contents of the books, we decided that this book is perfect for our kids who are 5 and 2 years old respectively.

 

My two-year-old boy loves this book!

Let me tell you why:

 

1. It has pop-up of the planets, the sun and the moon. My boys like to look at this while scrutinizing the planets and their positions/sequence from the sun. They also like singing the planet song while pointing at the planets. This pop-up is a wonderful illustration of how the planets revolve around the sun. It also shows the moon orbiting around the earth.

 

 

 

2.  We like the colorful illustrations of the different planets.

 

3. A spread is devoted to discuss facts about each planet, the sun and the moon.

 

  

4. There are also pull-outs for curious minds and little hands, which give more information about a planet, the sun or the moon.

 

 

5. There are questions at the end of the page to check if the child remembered any of the facts that he/she read from the book.

 

6. There is a discussion of basic terms to help kids understand the material presented. There are also additional information for kids who are extra curious like the birth and death of a star and the dwarf planets. Love these because my kids fall under the extra curious category! ;) 

 

7. Most of all, I'm happy that it's a board book so it's sturdy. Perfect for my boys!

 

8. Last but not least, it's budget-friendly. It was only P238.50. We bought it at one of National Bookstore's branches.

My kids and I had the following activities after we bought this book: drawing the planets by using coins and other round objects to help them draw circles, coloring the planets, learning a song about the planet and learning more about the earth by studying a globe.
 

If you are coming to the Manila International Book Fair (which is running from September 17-21) and you want to get a space book for your young kid, I recommend that you check National Book Store's booth to see if this book is available and on sale. (You may read my post about the Manila International Book Fair here. I shared links to free tickets, awesome finds and workshop schedules in this blog post.)

 

Hope this book helps your child enjoy learning about space!

 

Have you found other books about space or the solar system that are helpful and interesting? Feel free to share in the comments!

UPDATE!!!

You and your kids can watch free planetarium movies at the 35th MIBF through the Data Science and Technology Corporation booth. They have a special screening of the movie Touching the Edge of the Universe. They have set up a dome near the stage area. Just print this ticket and show it at the booth to have a chance to watch in their booth. The screening schedules are 11 AM, 1 PM, 3 PM and 5 PM daily until Sunday.  

 

The Rain is Here: A Book Review

“The rain is here!” my son would shout from our window as soon as he sees the dark clouds in the sky.

Then, he would ask our maid to bring in the newly-laundered clothes which are hanged in a clothes’ line at the back of our house.

“The rain is here!”

This line has become our favorite expression every time we notice that it’s about to rain. We got this from one of our favorite books THE RAIN IS HERE. This was written by Lina B. Diaz de Rivera (a retired English and Reading teacher) and illustrated by Maria Bernadette Solina-Wolf. This is one of the titles under Chikiting Books published by LG&M, the children’s book imprint of Vibal.

We found this at Vibal’s booth while we were at the Manila International Book Fair years ago and got it at a discounted price of only P56.00. You might want to check it out in the next Manila International Book Fair which will happen soon on September 17-21.

We liked it right away and it has become our favorite read during rainy days.

Since it has been raining more frequently in the past days, my kids and I brought this out once more to be one of our regular reads.

Let me enumerate the things that we like about this book.

1.    We love the book cover design. It shows different people trying to protect themselves from the getting wet while the rain pours. Most of them were holding umbrellas but there was also a boy and a man wearing a raincoat and another man using a salakot and the leaf of a local plant as raincoat. There’s also a man using a newspaper to cover his head and a woman who just finished the laundry covering her head with a basin. The kids and I found these amusing.

2.    We love the beautiful illustrations. The setting is in the province complete with a bahay kubo and local farm animals. The colors were bright making the pages look attractive. Even the pages where the rain was already pouring were illustrated brilliantly. They didn’t look gloomy. The illustrations were also clean and clear.

3.    Like in most children’s books that I liked, the text printed on every page was appropriate even for very young children. Short simple sentences were used. In some pages, there were just phrases. You’ll notice that the words used in the book were carefully chosen because although the sentences were short and simple, they communicate well the message that the book wanted to impart. Moreover, the text is placed strategically; thus, making it easy to read them. This also prevents the pages from looking cluttered. The font size used also facilitates easy reading.

4.    I liked the message conveyed by the illustrations. In one spread, you’ll see the little girl helping her mother hang the clothes, while one of her brothers watched and played with a younger brother. When it started to rain, you’ll see in the next pages all the kids helping out to bring the clothes inside the house. In another page, you’ll see the kids happily singing and entertaining themselves at home while it was raining outside. There were also pages where the kids decided to play in the rain. Lastly, there’s a page where the kids happily welcomed their father home after working in the field. I think that these illustrations depict good Filipino values that we should pass on to the next generation.

I’m happy that these illustrations support the values that I teach my kids at home. That helping out in household chores is a way of life and that they can have fun even inside the house while it rains. They need not be sad when it rains. Most importantly, I want them to show excitement and eagerness to welcome their Dad when he comes home from work.

5.    There’s also an activity page after the story where the kids can color pictures of items that can help protect us from the rain. These include not just an umbrella but also a banana leaf, a gabi leaf and an anahaw leaf. It’s a good way to introduce these local plants to our kids who mostly live in the city and are not familiar with these plants unless we bring them to the province.

I highly recommend this book to parents with young children. It’s a nice read aloud book that even kids who can already read would enjoy listening to. 

Some of the activities that my kids and I had after reading this book and other books about the rain are the following: drawing rain drops, drawing clouds and lightning, singing nursery songs about the rain, painting rainbows, making clouds using cotton and showing the kids how the clouds accumulate water using cotton also. 

If you're wondering if you should buy a copy of this book soon, check out Pag-asa's weather forecast for the month of September here.

What are some of your favorite books about the rain? Feel free to leave a comment. Would love to hear from you. Aside from this book, we also like reading The Cat in the Hat and Si Jepoy Dyip.

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.