Parenting Archive

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

2 Weekends in Tagaytay and Batangas

for a big family like mine, it was really hard to look for travel deals that will suit our needs.. more often, deals would offer accommodation for 2 (and 2 kids free) and not for 4 kids and 2 adults.. my option would always be a accomodation for 4 (plus 2 kids free), yan saktong sakto sa amin ang mga ganyang deal.. so when Ensogo offered an overnight stay at Chateau Royale good for 4, I did not hesitate and bought not just one but 2 vouchers. That’s overnight stay + dinner and breakfast for 4 for 3000+ Php, swak na swak! And we can choose a room with two queen sized beds..para sa amin talaga ung deal na un! What’s the best part is, Chateau Royale has a playground, a swimming pool and horseback riding (plus rock climbing!).. if you ask me, it’s a perfect resort for a family with kidsss (stress on the s haha)

Cinnamon bites + blueberry cheesecake from Bag of Beans

First weekend we went there, we had breakfast at Bag of Beans (wala na silang cinnamon roll ahuhu) then straight to the resort.. maulan nun pero keri lang.. (may baon akong sandamakmak na vitamin c at paracetamol just in case haha)..

The kids had so much fun.. err but not so much for me.. pagoda coldwave lotion ako to the point na nilagnat ako pag uwi namin dito.. it was our first time to travel without my mom or my sisters. Just imagine how stressful and tiring it was for me.. pero masaya naman kids kaya OK na rin.

Our second time to the resort, my 3rd boy requested for my ate to be with us (ay ako din naman gusto ko kasama sya haha) and the weekend trip also served as my first born’s birthday celebration (although his birthday falls on the 24th)..

too much of Bag of Beans so we decided to eat brunch somewhere else.. good thing a blogger mentioned about Molave Market that serves the freshest bulalo.. it’s waay cheaper compare to known bulaluhan in Batangas.. but still a little pricey considering the location..carinderia type with a not so carinderia kin of price 🙂 but yes, the beef is fresh!

But before having our lunch at Molave Market, we dropped by at Residence Inn for some animals sight seeing..unfortunately, by the time we were to feed the tiger and the lion, it rained so hard.. but we had a blast watching the show at the inn:

off to Chateau Royale after lunch.. the sun is showing a bit that weekend, the kids were able to enjoy the pool unlike the first time we were there… pero not for my younger kids.. hehe gininaw agad!

the next morning, me and the older boys strolled around the fog (with their cozy jacket.. the one I bought at Walmart.. in fairness cozy talaga!)

our second time was better than our first (though the food was better the last time we were there).. hindi masyadong maulan eh, so the kids had more fun at ako naman nagkaroon ng “me” time because ate was there.. I even tried rock climbing 🙂

We had lunch at Claw Daddy (Nuvali) on our way home (that’s another story)..

That’s two weekends of fun, fun and fun! at gusto nila ulit bumalik sa Chateau Royale with my mom and my other sisters and my nephews.. aba suki! In fairness, though the resort is not that classy, I’m quite happy with the service and our accommodation.

School Ready Mommy!

not that I am going to school anytime soon.. but again this post will serve as a reminder to me, like my post on educational material stuff.

notebooks.. pencils.. crayons..

We tend to buy all those stuff weeks before the school year starts, right? I am sure some moms even bought terno bag and notebooks and pencils.. oh I guess when my 3rd son starts going to school.. it will be cars 2 everywhere! and Hello Kitty everywhere for the little girl.

And with the terno bag and notebooks and pencils and even lunch box, you think you’re all set for the coming school year? I thought I was! I though that was all I need.. and mid school year, I realized ekk! I did not even bought half of what my school boys need! So this blog post will serve as my check list.. you can use this too!

Let’s start with clothes.. you know, school years happens with Nutrition Month, Linggo ng Wika, United Nations, Halloween Party, English Month and so on.. It’s hard for a mom like me to look for costumes for the said occasions.. so next year, as I troop down to the bargain capital of the country, I will include this on my must buy school items:

Barong Tagalog and black pants for my 2 boys (or 3 as my 3rd son will be a pre schooler next year) > Ang esensya ng barong tagalog at black pants.. bow.
Filipino Costume, aside from Barong Tagalog
Costume for Halloween or yards of tela in case my creativity strikes in

Now the props!

sombrero for the nutrition month, complete with plastic fruits on top
posters and picture of national heroes/ pambansang sagisag
flags for United Nation
mask for Halloween party

For the projects:

family printed photos
child’s solo picture, printed (in different sizes, 1×1, 2×2 etc)
plastic envelope, brown envelop, folders
cartolina (different colors but more white) / manila paper / card board
maps
magazines (now I should attend more events on summer and will require PRs to include magazines on the loot bag LOL)
more art materials.. as in more na more

Yan lang muna but I’m sure, I’ll add more to this.. kailangan pati so mommy matuto at maging school ready!

Must Have Educational Materials

Having 4 kids of different ages, my living room looks more like a classroom than a living room. No fancy decors, no lamps, no carpets, just posters of Alphabets, numbers and the likes. I still feel that it lacks the basic educational materials that my kids can use. So I made this post to remind me as well as to share with you some basics or must have educational materials on your home.

For kids ages 1- 3 years old:

Simple Alphabet Chart. Look for charts with colorful illustration but refrain from buying charts with unfamiliar words/ objects. Also if you can find charts with pictures only and now words, that would be better. I know we want our kids to learn how to read early, but words may just confuse the early learners or they would resort to memorized reading.
Primary and Secondary Colors Chart. It would be better if shapes are integrated on the chart 🙂 I don’t buy color charts, instead I create mine, like making a yellow triangle, red circle and so on..

Simple 1-10 Number Chart. Your goal is not for them to learn counting by age of 3 but more on to familiarize them with counting and numbers. Choose a chart with familiar objects on them. Or you can make your own chart too.
Board Books. Based on experience, this is the only kind of books that can tolerate the chews and what not of a toddler.
Crayons and Pencils and some papers. Though they won’t be learning to write too soon (there’s a proper age to teach the kids to write)

For kids ages 4-6 years old:

Alphabet Chart with more complex images as well as with words/name of the image
Number Charts from 1-100. It will expose them more to counting but make sure that your kid already knows how to count to 20 and slowly with the help of the chart, they will learn how to count to 100.
Color Chart in complex objects. It would be better if you have objects with different colors on it, it will help their eye coordination as well as their sense of comparison.
Comparing objects chart. Buy charts with small and big, short and long and so on.
Paper book.. yes by this age, I am sure they already know what to chew and what not to chew. Buy them simple story books and more alphabet book as well as simple text books.
Paper, Crayons, Pencils, Scissors and other art materials.
Days of the week chart. This chart will give them the idea of time and as the days go, you can also add a clock on your educational materials
Simple Puzzles

For kids 7 and up:

More complex Math charts (Roman Numerals, Multiplication Table). This charts will be very helpful since this is what was taught in their school.
Maps and Globe. Kids at this age are very inquisitive of places and location, make your life easier by having a ready map and a globe in your home.
Dictionary. Also at this age, they start to learn new words and would often ask their parents what’s the meaning of it. Teach them how to use the dictionary. It will also help increase their vocabulary
Books, pocket books, almanacs and the likes.
Art and Crafts materials.
Board Games/ Puzzles

Now, as I go through my check list, I still have to buy a lot! Starting off with the map.. I have an obsession with locations eh.. and I think my kids are as curious as I am.. It will also make travelling more fun!