Parenting Archive

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

Our Summer Snack Time Buddy: Lemon Square Power Pops!

Spell SUMMER! Busy days for me and fun days for the kids. The older boys spend most of their time with their playmates, card games on the morning, basketball in the afternoon. While the two younger kids attend summer classes to prepare them for the coming school year. And with their busy schedule, it’s hard for me to keep, on the snacking that is. For my younger kids, preparing their baon is a challenge. I need to give them something that’s easy to prepare, easy to eat, good tasting and of course something that has vitamins and minerals. We always try to stay away from chips but sometimes with my busy schedule, I have the tendency to grab whatever there is on the sari sari store near us. Good thing, I was asked to try out the newest snack time buddy from Lemon Square: Power Pops! And with the reaction I got from the kids, I think this will be their baon for the rest of their summer classes:

And for my older boys, this is going to be their basketball partner:

Alam nyo naman ang mga bagets pag busy maglaro, they tend to forget everything, even eating! Lemon Square Power Pops! will be their perfect snack buddy since it’s easy to bring, easy to open and easy to munch. With it’s packaging, kahit nasa labas sila ng bahay, they can snack on it easily. And since Power Pops is packed with Vitamin B2 (which helps in energy production), hindi ako mag- aalala na maubusan sila ng energy while playing their favorite game.

Other than Vitamin B2, Lemon Square Power Pops! Cereal Snack is also packed with Vitamin A for good eyesight, Vitamin C which boosts the immune system, Vitamin B9 which is important for metabolic process.

And with the SRP of P6, no need to have second thoughts on making this the perfect snack time buddy this summer!

Lemon Square Power Pops! Cereal Snacks comes in 3 variants:

Power Pops! Peanut Caramel with Bottom Chocolate Coating, an instant favorite! The two boxes given to us as sample didn’t last a day!

Power Pops! Champorado is a chewy choco crunch rice snack with real cocoa and milk. If you love Champorado, you’ll love this one too!

Power Pops! Milky Caramel with Cookie Bits is my favorite, I love this with coffee!

Have you tried Lemon Square Power Pops!? What’s your favorite variant?

P.S. Lemon Square Power Pops! is having an online promo:

Power Shop For PowerPops Moms Promo

Check out Lemon Square Power Pops! Facebook Page for details.

Baby On Board: Tips for Flying With A Baby

We love travelling but never tried flying, yet. I don’t think I can handle flying with 4 kids haha maybe a few more years from now,or maybe next year (*wink). For sure flying with an infant is a lot more difficult than flying with kids. So if you have plans on travelling by plane this summer or any time soon, this helpful tips from Mommy PRO can save you a lot! (Italics are my opinions)

1. Travel light.You’d be surprised at how laborious it will be to pass through security gates with a baby and heavy luggage in tow, especially if traveling without help. By packing lightly, your transitions from door-to-door or gate-to-gate can become breezier.

Travel light? with an infant? sound impossible no? When we travel, it helps that I am breastfeeding, we don’t have to bring cans of milk, feeding bottles and sterilizer. But for those on formula, limit your feeding bottle to 3 or 4, and use milk dispensers instead of bringing the whole. Bringing a few diaper change will also lessen your baggage, for sure you can more diapers to your area of destination.

2. Bring a travel and space-friendly baby stroller.Your top three considerations when buying one should be: portability, ease of folding, and storage space. If it ain’t all three, then re-consider bringing one.

My sister traveled with his a few years back, alone. I can’t imagine how she did it but she said that her portable and light weight stroller made it possible. I’d go for sling instead of stroller.

3. Always ask for help.Flight attendants are trained individuals and would be more than glad to help. Seeking assistance can range from having them help you with your hand-carry, grab something from your baby bag, or even carry/supervise your baby so you can take a bathroom break.

And ask nicely, having a cranky baby does not mean, you have a ticket to crankiness too.

3. Get breastfeeding information ahead.Inquire in advance on the breastfeeding policies of the airline you are taking. There never seems to be a consistent “policy” when it comes to breastfeeding even if it is generally allowed. Discussions remain torn on whether breastfeeding moms should apply full discretion or go about her nursing duties unabashedly. Wear clothes that make it extra easy for you to breastfeed (like buttoned or zipped blouses) or have a thin blanket to cover up if you are uncomfortable nursing in public.

Here’s a tip: Wear a tube inside your blouse, it makes breastfeeding easier without exposing too much (specially the tummy area).

4. Bring a pacifier.With the root word being “pacify,” they are perfect when it comes to avoiding that dreaded crying fit inside the plane. They minimize the pressure in the ears, too, which could be bothersome for infants (and we don’t want bothersome!) during take off and landing.

I don’t use pacifier, never tried using it but it works to some, so go ahead bring one (as I have mentioned before, I breastfeed, that’s a good “pacifier” too)

5. Choose front seats.You can request for front seats when you check-in at the airport. You and your baby might move a lot during the trip – shifting positions to be more comfortable, standing up to reach the overhead cabin, and rummaging through the baby bag. Having ample space to stir around will give you less stress during the flight.

I don’t know you can request for a front seat but I am sure when nicely asked, a airline attendant will gladly oblige.

Have you tried flying with an infant? How do you prepare for the flight? How was the flight? Please do share your expereince with us so we can learn a thing or two from you. 🙂

What Kind Of Parent Are You? Crunchy or Silky?

In my blog hopping activity, I encountered these two words: crunchy and silky. Well, these two words are the big thing when it comes to parenting styles. There are 4 styles of parenting; Authoritarian Parenting, Authoritative Parenting, Permissive Parenting, Uninvolved Parenting and you can read more about it HERE. And based on that link, I would like to believe that my parenting style is Authoritative Parenting:

Like authoritarian parents, those with an authoritative parenting style establish rules and guidelines that their children are expected to follow. However, this parenting style is much more democratic. Authoritative parents are responsive to their children and willing to listen to questions. When children fail to meet the expectations, these parents are more nurturing and forgiving rather than punishing. Baumrind suggests that these parents “monitor and impart clear standards for their children’s conduct. They are assertive, but not intrusive and restrictive. Their disciplinary methods are supportive, rather than punitive. They want their children to be assertive as well as socially responsible, and self-regulated as well as cooperative” (1991).

So where does being a crunchy or silky parent falls? Er, honestly, I have no idea! Well, based on this QUIZ, I am 70% silky, does it make make me a better mom? or a bad mom?

And still based on that quiz and this one, here’s my conclusion on what crunchy and silky parenting are:

I am a little crunchy because I breastfed my kids, actually still breastfeeding my youngest. We co-sleep and I baby wear. I think the result is very accurate, yes, I am more of a silky mom. I can’t leave the house without makeup! hahaha and I can’t live without disposable diapers. Another thing, I can’t live without contraceptives, because if I don’t use one, I’ll end having more kids than I can handle. We’re too compatible that even a touch from husband will make me pregnant! wahaha In all honesty, I do have high respect for people who were able to maintain being crunchy, that takes a lot time! And I have high respect for people who are silky mom like me. At the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter at all, crunchy and silky are just labels. In the end, it’s all about you and how happy and contented you are as a mom, of course happiness and contentment of your kids follows.

But I know, it’s fun to see what kind of mom you are no? So go ahead take the quiz but never let that label define you 🙂 Crunchy or Silky, I am sure, for your kids, you’re the BEST MOM in the world. Cheers to us all moms!