Parenting Archive

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

Online Shopping and Shipping

I love online shopping. Since I started earning online, most of my income goes to shopping. I frequent bidding online stores, I frequent children’s clothes stores, I even visit hardware stores. I enjoy looking through sites and finding the best bargain. I enjoy shopping for my kids the most. Like last year, I spend a hundred dollars for Sati’s clothes, good thing I found some coupon codes, I paid less because of the discount. I really can’t resist when ever I see something that I know will look good on my only princess. Hubby says I have been spending too much for our girl.

I must admit, I am really spoiling the little girl. Aside from the clothes I shopped last year (and none of them fits now), we are also waiting for a box from the US, a box full of her clothes, yes, her clothes again. I bought it on the same store and I was sad that I can no longer avail their discount promo codes, where in I can get as much as $10 off on my purchase. The site says, I can only use it once. I am a bit disappointed but still, that did not stop me from buying more clothes for her. We had it shipped last February 3 and have to wait for 4 to 6 weeks before we can see our purchase. That is how I managed to maximize discount codes that I found on online stores. I would buy items and apply the coupons and have it shipped on a relative in California. Then I would wait for more sales and discounts until the package box is full. When the box is full, the relative will call the courier service and have it shipped here.

We have been practicing that for almost two years now. The box that I am waiting will be our third since we started it and I hope it would take 3 to 6 months more before we begin our online shopping hobby. I have to stop buying more Sati’s clothes.

More On Future Plan

Remember my article about my future plans? About living on my own and without asking much helps from my offspring? Well, in one of blog hopping activity, I learned about assisted living communities. Assisted living community is a place for people that needs assistance in their daily activities or which is known as ADL/ Activity for Daily Living. These are people who needs help but still wants to love life independently.

In assisted living facilities, they offer help with ADLs such as bathing, dressing and eating. They also give out help on doing the laundry, housekeeping and medications. The care given in assisted living is not as intensive as it is in the nursing home. Each individual resident that enrolls in assisted living are given a unique service plan. The service plan detailed the needs of the resident. The plan is also upgraded regularly as to meet the needs of the resident.

There is a big difference between nursing home and senior independent living. As we all know, in nursing homes, the residents are mostly frail and needs to be taken care of. They have greater needs and they cannot take care of themselves. Unlike in assisted living, the residents here are those who can manage simple activities such as walking on their own.

Maybe if hubby and I are older, we might consider living in in this kind of community as I learned that on average, there are 20 to 23 residents in each community. That would be a good number to socialize with, don’t you think?

Post Valentine

And because a special someone, remembered me on VDAY and sent me the lovely ensembles below, I have to explain to the boys who is that special someone.

Mommy: The flowers and the wine (and the choco) comes from Sati’s ninang, her name is Tita Seiko and she lives in Japan.

Kayil: wow! pano napunta dito ung kotse nila? e ang layo ng Japan ah! ang galing naman ni Tita Seiko!

comes a lengthy explanation on who Dondon is, the one who made Sati’s baptismal more festive (joke lang, opkors you all knew who made it more festive)..and so speaking of Sati’s baptismal, comes the remember who quiz contest..

Mommy: Natatandaan mo na nung binyag ni Sati? Sati has a lot of ninang, another one is Ninang Niko.

Kayil: Kilala ko sya! Sya ung nagbigay ng higaan na may bunny face. Tapos si Tita Fedhz naman sya ang nagbibigay ng Polvoron.

Mommy: How about Tita Yami and Tita Kaye?

Kayil: Si Tita Kaye ung nagbigay ng strawberry jam at si Tita Yami may dala ng gift na kikulit kong buksan.

Mommy: Kurek, may iba pang Ninang si Sati, si Ninang Jade na nasa Singapore, ung nagbigay ng artwork na may kamay.

Kayil: hala! ang galing naman nya! paano nya naibigay un e di ba ang layo ng Singapore!

Mommy: explain.. explain.. then told them about Ninang Gene, Ninang Mye, Ninang Chris (the one who visited us) and Ninang Liz who is the US.

Kayil: Mommy san ang US? ay alam ko na di ba nagpunta dun si Daddy? (happened last 2006) at ang umiyak pa kame noon at ang ubong nya sa amin ay… (enumerates all)

Mommy: yup! meron pang ibang ninang si Sati, si Doc Malen at ninong nya si DOc Ernie..

Kayil: Pede ko ba maging ninang si Doc Malen (my OB)

Mommy: bakit

Kayil: mahirap sabihin eh…

Mommy: sige na, pag di mo sinabi di na natin pag uusapan ang mga ninang

Kayil: mahirap nga eh

Mommy: sige na nga

Kayil: silence… e di pag nag ka asawa na ako, ipa pa check up ko asawa ko sa kanya

toinks! akala nyo tapos na?

Kayil: Mommy si Tita Seiko ba parang si Ninong G (Mico’s Ninong, Kayil asked him if he can be his ninong too)?

Mommy: patay na.. kakatawa..

I always make it a point to remind them who are their godparents. From time to time we go on lengthy talks on where are their godparents now and how they got to be their godparents and so on. I really want to them to know their godparents because I did not chose them out of anything but only because I am assured that they would look after my kids if I can’t.

And since I can’t thank you personally, I hope this can do:

Muah! Muah! Thanks for making my VDAY uber special! It was my first time to receive a flower. I was frantic haha.. I almost called Niko to ask what should I do with the flowers, will I let it as it is and let it wither or should I put in the vase?

I decided to put in the vase and put it in our kitchen counter since I spend most of time in the kitchen. It will remind me always that beyond geographical differences friendship will survive.