by | Mar 9, 2011 | Education, parenting, woman
By Bubbles Salvador
The day I first brought home my baby boy from the hospital felt like the first day of classes.
When I was still single, I helped my sister, who is a single mom, raise all three of her kids. But I had no idea what to do with the baby whom I had willingly and lovingly brought into this world. What if he cried all night? What if he got hungry and I couldn’t breastfeed?
Fast forward to two years later: I am still no expert, and there are days that feel like it’s the first day of classes all over again. I have only been a mom for all of two years, but I know that raising a child is no easy feat. (Hats off to those who’ve been moms for longer.) I grapple with issues like discipline and TV time and toilet training and lola’s spoiling. Did I mention that I still have no idea if I’m doing it right?
The thing about being a parent is that there doesn’t seem to be any right or wrong answer to anything. Yes, you can rely on what books and experts say, but what seems to work perfectly for one mom may not work for me and my son. I think that’s when it starts to feel like the first day of school – I am constantly running to “beat the bell,” looking for the “right classroom,” and trying to “belong.”
But oh, I tell you, my life has never been this exciting. Every day I am amazed at how Luis is growing and learning things. (Of late, it is his ability to string words together to form a sentence that makes me go “Awww.”) Being in first-day-of-school mode can be scary, but I like it because the excitement doesn’t ever wear out.
I can’t wait for more amazing experiences to come.
Photo by freestocks on Unsplash
by rossanahead | Mar 8, 2011 | children, family, parenting, Ruth M. Floresca, woman
My name is Ruth Manimtim-Floresca, a work-at-home mom who contributes articles to Philippine print and online publications. I feel blessed that I am able to earn from what I enjoy doing and which come with flexible work hours. This allows me to spend more time with my family and primarily care for my son with special needs.
I have four boys aged 12, 13, 15, and 17. Daniel, my youngest, is in fifth grade; Joshua, my second son, is a high school junior; and Geffrey, our firstborn is a college freshman taking up Digital Media Arts. James, my third child, has spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy. He can’t talk or walk but he has already taught our family so much about love, patience, and faith for the past 13 years, and counting.
Although our household can be noisy at times, they are mostly happy sounds. Sure, the three boys argue over computer schedules and who’s going to wash the dishes or feed the dog every now and then. But when we ask them to take care of their brother while their dad and I go out to do errands, buy groceries, or attend meetings and media events, they can be trusted to do that job well.
We have been maid- and yaya-free for the past three years and we’re doing fine. Honestly, I feel more confident now when leaving the house with only the kids there than having someone else look after them. I believe our circumstances have taught my boys to be more resilient and independent. Like their dad, whom I so appreciate for being hands-on, I hope our kids would also become thoughtful husbands someday who won’t expect their wives to do everything around the house.
I may feel overwhelmed and utterly exhausted with house chores and writing deadlines most of the time, but I wouldn’t trade places with anyone else. I am grateful for where, and who, I am now.–Ruth Manimtim-Floresca
Photo by Joshua Harris on Unsplash
