Parenting Archive

My thoughts on parenthood, and what it's like to be a mom in the Philippines.

5 Pinoy Phrases We Should Stop Using

Manonood na ako ng Ang Probinsyano eh (tapos Panagako Sa’yo… tapos On The Wings of Love).. sabi ko ilipat ang TV sa Channel 2.. DEADMA ang mga bagets! Napa litanya tuloy ako..

Ang sabi ko ilipat na ninyo sa Channel 2 ang TV! Bakit ba ayaw ninyo akong sundin?!? Para akong sirang plaka dito kasasabi sa inyo ng mga dapat at hindi nyo dapat gawin. Pagod na pagod na ako! Baka akala ninyo.. may gatas pa kayo sa labi. Alam na alam ko ang mga ginagawa ninyo. Papunta pa lang kayo, pabalik na ako… Sige subukan ninyo.. subukan ninyo ako.

Eh lalo akong hindi pinansin at nakatingin lang sa akin na parang walang naintindihan sa mga sinabi ko..

Maya- maya, eto na si panganay…

[tweetthis]Sirang Plaka? Tengang Kawali? Here are some Pinoy Phrases Moms should STOP using! [/tweetthis]

“My, ano ba ang plaka?”

AY JUSMIYOOOOOO! ANO DAW?!? Wala ngang naintindihan sa mga pinagsasabi ko! Sumakit lang lalamunan ko kaka litanya!

And that’s the story behind this blog post. GENERATION GAP! huhu

Some of the things that my lola and lolo used to tell me is no longer comprehensible for the youths today. I am saying that not just from my “litanya”experiences. When I explained to my boys what Plaka is all about.. that’s the only time they realized what it means when someone says “para akong sirang plaka.” My first born said that most of their teachers used that term but no one in the class really knows what it really means.

It makes me wonder, maybe the kids nowadays is really not that stubborn, we’re just assuming they understood what we are saying when in fact they don’t have a slight idea about it. Based on our experience, here are the 5 Filipino Phrases that we (specially us mommies!) should stop using or explain it before using it on our kids.

5 Pinoy Phrase We Should Stop Using

Pinoy Phrase # 1: Para akong sirang plaka

They don’t even know what PLAKA is! Not unless you really have a cool household that still owns an old record player and still keeps vinyl records. Orienting the kids about vinyl and how it sound when broken can be challenging. Next time, if you feel the need to tell them na para kayong sirang plaka at paulit ulit na lang sa mga sinasabi nyo, try using the term “UNLIMITED”

Pinoy Phrase # 2: May gatas pa kayo sa labi

In a nutshell, may gatas pa kayo sa labi means young. Back then, only the kids got to drink milk.. pero sa panahon ngayon when even milk for the oldest of the oldest is being marketed, hindi na applicable and phrase na ito. Kahit si Lolo at Lola may gatas pa sa labi eh! Try using the phrase, “Town Hall 2 pa lang kayo.”

Pinoy Phrase # 3: Papunta pa lang kayo, pabalik na ako

They’ll never get what this phrase means… do you know what it means? been there..done that.. The most effective way to try to inculcate to your kids that you are far more experienced than them.. use their language.

“Hindi mo na pa download ang COC, town hall 10 na ako!”

Pinoy Phrase # 4: Sige, Subukan mo

Never dare.. huwag na huwag mong susubukan. That’s what this phrase is to me. The kids nowadays, it only means one thing, they would really do it. If you want to tell them don’t do it, say it. Napansin ko lang, ang mga kabataan ngayon, they take things as it is.

Pinoy Phrase #5: Ilipat mo na sa Channel 7 0 sa Channel 2 ang TV

Lastly, kung saan nagsimula ang post na ito.. Noong kabataan ko, dalawa lang ang channel na kilala ko.. Channel 7 (GMA) and Channel 2 (ABSCBN). Nowadays, may Channel 100 na rin yata! I still say that though, “nak lipat mo na sa Channel 2 and funny how only my little girl knows what TV channel I am talking about. Get a hold of that damn remote in order to prevent this kind of confusion from happening again.. or re orient yourself with the channels now.

Making Team Spirit a Family Activity

Team spirit can bind a family together like no other shared passion. Families who cheer on their favorite teams are more likely to spend time together and feel closer to each other. When parents want to get their littlest family members in on the act, they can select items like St Louis Cardinals baby clothes and other accessories in which to dress their children. Dressed in their gear, kids can join their parents and older siblings in cheering on their family’s favorite team.

Sports clothing for children is available throughout the year. When parents have a passion for football, basketball, baseball, and other sports, they can shop online at their convenience to find shirts, pants, socks, and other gear for their kids to wear. For babies, parents can find onesies, matching headbands, and other infant-safe clothing. For older children, parents can find jerseys, shirts, pants, socks, and other clothing essentials that will keep their kids well-dressed and emblazoned with the family’s favorite sports logos and colors.

Along with clothing, parents can also find accessories like hats, pacifiers, and more for their babies and children. These accessories serve a practical purpose, but at the same time show the family’s favor of their sports team. Depending on the time of year during which they shop, parents may also find some of the items that they want or need on sale.

They can use the links at the top of the page to filter their search. If they want to look for teams that play in the NCAA, for example, they can click on the words Baseball or Football. If they want to find things on sale, they click on the word Clearance. Some items are on sale for charities. The charity link lets them shop for items from which the proceeds go to the family’s favorite listed charity.

If parents need to get in contact with anyone from the company, they can use the social media plugins at the top of the page. The company is on social media like Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus. People can also contact the company by using the listed phone number on the website. If it is a matter of tracking their order, people can use the order tracking link at the top of the page. Ordering sports gear for children online is possible with this website and its links.

Two Steps to a Better Family Vacation

Everyone has been on a family vacation that encompasses a long drive and a less than stellar vacation. As a whole the experience tends to stick out as how not to have a good time. However, there a few steps that can be taken to ensure that the annual family event is a great experience for everyone. Planning and researching are the two factors that separate the average family vacation from one that keeps everyone talking for years to come. In the end, doing a bit of homework and digging beneath the surface can be deciding factors that produce the kinds of activities that everyone in the house can enjoy.

Research
Online travel guides, like Hipmunk, can be great assets in the research process. From uncovering affordable hotels in Orlando to locating the perfect backpacking spot at the Grand Canyon, online guides are loaded with information that can inspire anyone looking to ramp up the enjoyment of the trip. After all, theme parks and other major attractions are just the surface of many destinations. Cities and towns have a number of activities that lurk just off the radar begging to be discovered, and without digging a little deeper families will never know these great times and businesses exist.

Planning
Perhaps the biggest factor facing family vacations is time. Time is a perishable commodity, which makes maximizing the fun factor extremely important. Taking a few hours before the trip to plan a short itinerary, along with a brief back up plan for inclement weather, can help keep the focus of the trip where it belongs—having a good time. The entire trip does not have to be scheduled down to the minute, but daily activities and meal schedules can help make sure that everyone gets to do what they desire and try the things that were uncovered during the research process.

In the end, research and planning are important steps to a better family vacation. Plus, everyone can get involved with both tasks, which spreads responsibility out a bit among the family members. Having an idea of what to expect once the destination is reached helps increase the anticipation factor and also aides in finalizing the budget for the trip. Daily checklists and goals keep the trip on track and make sure that everyone is talking about the vacation for years to come for all the right reasons.