Mommy's Break

As I was doing my early morning routine, I was surprised to see my eldest daughter woke up early one day. I saw that she was holding her "pooh" backpack. I told her that she was too early to be up and about. I asked her where she was going with her backpack. To my amazement, she answered, "Skul!" And so I asked her what's the contents of her backpack. I found her Jollibee stuff toy, blow-horn, toy car and stickers. So I asked her if she was going to school where was her pen and paper. She replied with an innocent grin, "I know!" To translate it, it means she doesn't know.

My daughter, who is just 3 years old, is already excited in going to school. Some told me that I shouldn't enter her early into school because she might lose interest right away. But I couldn't resist everytime I see the delight in her eyes whenever she sees girls her age in uniforms and when she watches the video of her cousins
interpreting a song through actions, which she mimics with full of enthusiasm. Mind you! She already knows her nursery rhymes by heart, not that perfect though but at least she knows how to sing and sway to the music. And that's what preschool is about - Playing and learning.

Earlier, I was contemplating on entering her into homeschool. This offer was our best option since my husband and I works and takes care of the kids at the same time. I know you must be confused. Me too. How in the world did we manage it? Only parents of the same situation as ours will understand. But now, since we already have someone to help us out in the household chores, I've decided to enter her into a regular school because I can see it in her personality that she likes mingling and relating to other kids, even older than she is. Homeschool wouldn't be appropriate for her. Although, the homeschool I'm referring to have some activities that would require her to socialize with other homeschoolers, still it was on a weekly basis and I'm not yet sure if the system will fit our daughter. Eventually, I will think about it especially if the tuition fee rises above our income bracket. But for now, I'm really excited for my kid's first step to preschool. Hopefully, I won't be having problems of leaving her in school. But the school requires first one week supervision by the parents. By the way, the preschool that I'd be enrolling her was the same preschool I went to when I was just her age. :)

My mother always sends toys to my children. However, there was a time when news broke out about toys which was being recalled in the U.S. by their manufacturers (some of them came from China) because some of it have high contents of lead which can make a child sick and lose their appetite. Unfortunately, one of them was included in my mother's package. It was a dora doll, which was the most favorite toy of my youngest. Immediately, I discarded the toy. But up to now it's still kept in the cabinet. I intended to burn it.

How do you tell if a toy is appropriate for your child? Here are some of the tips I've gotten from several sources:

First thing to consider is SAFETY:

1. You should pick toys that doesn't have sharp or hard edges and sides that could hurt your child.

2. Pick toys that don't have strong smell of plastic because there is a higher possibility that it has harsh or toxic chemicals especially if your child is in a teething stage or when she is in a stage where she usually put objects into her mouth.

3. Choose toys that will not smother your child like huge stuff toys or will not cause your child to get tied or strangled in the neck.

4. Usually toys have a warning on them which tells you that it has some small parts. So keep your children away from them because it could choke them to death.

It's also important to note that you should throw those plastics or boxes away after opening their toys.

Next thing is for your child's DEVELOPMENT:

1. Choose toys that are not used for violence like guns or any other weapons. You'll just be wasting your money buying something that will not give your child anything positive.

2. Prefer to buy those that are colorful. This will help your child develop her cognitive skills.

3. Invest on toys that nurture your child's motor skills or anything that they can manipulate their hands to improve their coordination skills.

4. Pick toys that will help develop their thinking skills and language skills. Big puzzles, stacking toys and shape sorters are a good buy.

5. Prefer those that will help you're child exercise their little muscles a bit like a toy dog that she can pull while playing around and bike for your bigger kids. Ball is a great toy too. Someone told me that child usually is amazed with the dynamics of a ball.

Better yet find some internet resources on which toys are safe or non-toxic for your kids. Like this link [LINK=http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/250-lead-free-toys-501101]Really Long Link[/LINK]. Watch out also for cheap toys you never know what it's made from that's why it has a low price.

Labels: safe toys, toddlers, toys

Being a parent is a huge task. You will never know it unless you become one. Right now, I'm really confused as to what kind of discipline should I give to my three-year-old kid. Is it too early to discipline her or is it just right to begin punishing her for her mistakes? Does she already know what's right from wrong? So many advices from relatives and friends. One even told me to consult a child psychologist. Ultimately I think, I will be the one to know, as a Mother, what techniques are best suited for my child. Because each child is unique. One system could work for a child but will not work for other children. I've found this [LINK=http://www.parentingtoddlers.com/toddlerdiscipline.html]link[/LINK] once when I was finding the answers, not again, in the internet.

I'm praising my mother now for raising me and my brother, gracefully. I think. Because it is a really a tall task. Now I know why my mother always say to me when she was in the middle of scolding us that when the time comes that we become a parent, we will understand how hard it is to raise a child. I thought to myself, I will get a maid to help me. I thought it was that easy. But it's not. Even if I did had one, it didn't make it anyway easier. Because the most IMPORTANT thing that I've learned from my mom is the BOND that we had as a mother and child. The CONNECTION that will never falter what happens. The LOVE that no experts or child psychologist could beat in child therapy. Because whenever you establish that connection to your child, it will be second-nature to you to understand her needs or wants, to know her whims or caprices and as a result to be able to give her the right discipline that will soon shape her as she matures. Having a maid or having someone in the middle to do that for you isn't really helping at all.

I'm still struggling at this point in parenting, understandably, because I'm a first-time mother. But I know that it's never too late to be in touch with my kids and to know them deeply. One of my friend who became a mother herself, congratulated me because she was amazed at how I was able to manage having a kid and having two for that matter, while my mother was away and was not there to guide me. That's why the Lord is so great because He knows what to do. He created mother's instincts. ;)

Labels: discipline, parent pressures, parenting, parenting pressures, toddler

BFAD have already released all the list of products that are safe from Melamine. You can check this site for the updated list. But there are some supermarkets, because of their greed, have the guts, to still keep these products on their shelves. But if found, they could be sanctioned by the authorities. I remember the time when Fisher Price, a known manufacturer of toys, have recalled some of their products for possible lead contamination. Turned out some of their products were China-made. I was scared because my mother sent exactly the same toy which was one of those banned, which is a Dora doll. It was the favorite toy of my youngest because she likes Dora very much. For a time she had lost her appetite for food and became sick. Recently, our previous maid have re-arranged our cabinets and retrieved the already-hidden doll. I was mad at her for removing it from our cabinets so I said to her to burn the doll. There was also a time when my husband was fond of buying candies wrapped in foils from China, on which I vehemently disagreed because I'm just not OK with it.

Since this Melamine Scare, I'm quite aware or should I say paranoid? Of the food that goes into my daughter's mouth. I think it's safe to say that fruits and veggies are enough to feed them. But heck even those have chemical fertilizers in them.

Labels: China milk products contaminated by melamine, Melamine content of China-made milk products, Melamine in milk and dairy products, Updated List of Milk Products With Melamine

From now on, this would be my new home. ;) I've had my own blog (www.parentramble.com). It was nice having that blog but I didn't get to have so much freedom editing its html as much as I have here in blogger.com. Probably, they have their own reasons like they wanted to protect their websites from hackers etcetera but now, I found my new home. Where I could belt out all of my thoughts, rants and musings on my own two toddlers. Yes, I have two toddlers. Definitely, I'm blessed for having both of them. (Are you sensing some sarcasm?) But you see taking care both of them is really a roller-coaster ride for both of us parents (all moms out there, I know you are feeling me on this). Luckily, I have a partner, who is also hands-on when taking care of our tots. He helps me out in settling them down whenever they have their own "shining drama" moments. Still,I think we need another one to help us out even if we're two on two still it's not enough.

So what to do? I created a blog which serves as an outlet for me whenever I've had "enough". Sometimes MOMMIES need a BREAK or at least need something or someone to break away and recharge and go back again to reality.