Mommy Pehpot, Author at Mommy Pehpot

How To Handle Sibling Rivalry

Sibling rivalry is very normal. My kids fight more than ten times a day. And yet they also cuddle more than ten times a day. One minute, they are best of friends, the other minute they are enemies. Sometimes a simple play pretend will turn our house into a World War zone. The reasons why they fight are very simple. They fight because of toys, on who is to become who. They fight because someone teases the other. They fight on to who is gonna use the computer first. I am beginning to think that even fight on who can annoy me first. That is really annoying and frustrating to watch. My head seems to blow when I hear them fight or argue over simple things.

It is hard to avoid this situation. Kids are kids, and they can always find a reason to fight. Now, what I do when their fighting escalates? At first, I ignore them, but when it seems that the other one is already harming the other, I step in. I talk to them (OK sometimes scream) to let go of each other and separate. When they see me like I am as raging as a bull, they stopped and started saying sorry to each other. When every body’s calm, we make up to it by thinking of a compromise that will work for both of them.

Yes you can never avoid siblings fighting over little things, but you can minimize the fight. My kids fight but I believe that it was just petty fights. They get along really well amidst all that. When they are both not in fighting mood, it so nice to hear them converse and watch them play. They never get jealous with each other. They never get jealous with their youngest baby too, even though Mommy is giving Chico more attention. They seem to understand that they are individual with each special needs.

How do we do it?

Oh well, we employ FAVORITISM.

Yes we have a favorite. Silly? Oh no not. I tell you this is very effective way to ensure the kids that they are being loved equally.. HOW? well we have our favorite first born (or kuya on our language) and we have our favorite second baby (Dico in the Philippines) and we have our favorite youngest baby (or bunso on our language). You try it and tell me how it will affect the kids.

Or you have some advise regarding siblings rivalry? Share it with me 🙂

Babies at 9 Months

Today, Chico is 9 months old. Yes, we do have some spaghetti for the day, you know the tale when they says you need to at least cook something special every month.. thanking that the baby is healthy.

Chico is having some separation anxiety now, which is very normal at his age. He never likes it when Mommy is out of sight. During sleep time, he only knows Mommy. I can’t even cook with out him crying or crawling to me. Now this would be little harder for me, I can not leave him without him wailing like a siren. Aside from that, he already know how to use the angry tone. Just a while ago as I am finishing some post here, he cried and screamed at me.. he is growing up faster. I am also amazed that he is now aware of object permanence. Like hide and seek.. he loves playing peek a boo. And even i I put the remote under the pillow, he knows how to find it.. such a smart baby.

I also observed that he understands more now. He knows that there are things he is not allowed to. He cannot chew on papers, he should not climb on the sofa and he should not chew on the bed frame or remote control. And every time he had the chance to do those things, he giggles so hard. I really find him adorable when he does that. Instead of me getting angry at him, I just end up laughing with his naughtiness.. I cannot say no to his smile and laughs.. and now he knows ho to use it against me..

Physically, he now cruises around the house. I would start typing an article and Chico is playing on the mat, the next thing I knew, he is beside me or under the dinning table. He also can stand alone for a time( 2 to 5 seconds). He is a very active baby.

He also enjoys clapping his hands or slapping anything with it.. I am glad I bought this toy, he is now very fond of it.

The only ting I am worried about is his speech development, he seems late on his age. he can”t even say mama or dada.. just plain babababab bababa.. I wish he could at least mumble mama.. but I know he tries sometimes.. he even imitates my mouth when I am speaking. But he tries as much to communicate, specially with Daddy. He likes to chat with Daddy. I don’t hwy but he is very animated when he and daddy talks. It was as if he is telling something very exciting to Daddy (or maybe he just know that Daddy will buy him a lot of toys)

La Union Beach

This is my favorite shot.. Chico and Dylan are still both in their respective Mom’s tummy during this time 🙂

My hubby never fails to mention La Union as one of his favorite destination, actually, it is his only destination. He talks about it as if it is his sanctuary. Some of his happy memories are encrypted in the shore of Bauang, La Union. Last 2007, as a celebration of my three siblings birthdays, we decided to visit La Union. It is mere coincidence that the place we rented was just a walk away to the place my mom stayed when she was young. Although my mother talked about her childhood (and mostly sad)and mentions La Union, we never thought that this could be the same province she and my hubby talks about. We really have no idea, but she seems happy that she is going back there. So we had a convoy, us coming here in Pasig and them from Nueva Ecija. We agreed to meet on the place. The place we rented was located in the boundary of San Juan and Bacnotan (where Holcim factory is located). It was a long trip but it was worth it.

We stayed in Normi2’s Resort (they have a website before) and since it was off peak season, they gave us a discount for our stay. The resort is big and friendly, not posh, just laid back. It has a lot of accommodation. There’s a cottage for two, fan room(which faced the adult pool), then there is a building for the air conditoned rooms. There’s also an economy cottages that can house up to three person per room but I think the bathroom and comfort room is shared. Then the one we stayed in is a two room cottage with cooking facility. It is a big advantage that you get an accommodation that allows you to cook, saves a lot on food.

The resort has two swimming pools, one for kids and the other one is for adults. Some meters away is the shore of South China Sea.

The staffs were really nice and the resort was tidy.. and they have this cool electric fan made out of big native fans (dried leaves I think). The only thing that I did not like about the place was it was too big.. I mean the pools are not side by side. If you are to swim and you have kids, there is no way that you can both enjoy it. It is either you go swim with the kids on the baby pool or the kids don’t and you enjoy a splash. The pools per se, I have no complaints. The beach.. oh well do I really have the right to complain at nature? LOL

Since we were in that area, we manage to town hop. Our first stop was in Balaoan,where my first cousin lives. On the way there, we pass by a road that seems like a scene from one of our PS2 games. The road is windy and covered with trees and my the road is so good, so tire friendly.. no holes or bumps. The off to Banggar to check out some blankets. Then on the way back, instead of going again to the windy mountain road, we checked out Luna beach. According to my sister, Luan is known for its pebbles. Unfortunately we were not able to find a good shore to collect pebbles, but we manage to see some really huge pear shells! And though the road is not as green as on the other side, the trip is just as heavenly (minus the part that we were lost)

I forgot to mention that in San Juan, potteries are all over the road. They sell really cheap pots and vases and art works.. If only I still have some of my shot.. This was taken from my friendster account.. and was shot last March 2008 (oh yeah, we came back)

And this weekend, you know where we are heading, so I better start taking some free lessons on how to maximize my cam and bring home some really good pics for your eyes..