Parenting Archive

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

A Merry Christmas House

Christmas is for kids. I don’t believe in that. I am an adult and I still enjoy Christmas. I do love buying gifts for my kids. I love decorating the house for my kids. I love sewing socks for my kids t hang on our stairs. OK, it seems that I enjoy Christmas because of my kids… so it really is true that Christmas is for kids.. waaah!

Christmas is a very special tradition here n our country and it is our responsibility as parent to teach our kids the importance of Christmas. We celebrate this time of the year as the day that Jesus was born. More than that, I believe that this is the time of the year that we look back on our year and reflect on our life. It is also the time of the year that our hearts melt, that we are more forgiving. I think that is what I want to teach to my kids, that Christmas is about GIVING. Giving something to your love ones and forGIVING people that mistreat you and also asking for forGIVEness to people that you wronged.

I also want to teach them that Christmas is about family. And I think the way we celebrate our Christmas is already a proof to them that this occasion should be spend with your family. Every year, it is a must that me,my siblings and my mom spend it together. This year, since we can’t travel (our car is still on the insurance company.. gathering rust and waiting for miracle), they will be here with us this Christmas!

and since my family is already here this coming holiday, we are planning to have Sati’s baptsimal on December 7.. so you better be ready guys..

Our Christmas Tradition

I grew up in a big family. We lived in my grandparents house. It was complicated but there were times that it was fun. I grew up learning that Christmas should be celebrated with the family. My aunts and uncles who lives somewhere else always make it a point to be there and eat noche buena together.

Here in our country, Christmas starts as early as September. When the ber months entered, radio stations beat each other in welcoming the yuletide season by playing a Christmas carol as the clock strikes 12. In most bargain stores and department stores, Christmas merchandises are starting to fill their racks. As December approaches, families start to decorate their house and start making plan on what’s the menu on Noche Buena.

December 16 is one the most awaited date during this season. This is the start of Simbang Gabi or Nine Mornings. From this day until Christmas, a mass is held everyday. In some church they have it on dawn and in some, they have it at night. In our place, it was held at dawn. This is one of my favorite Christmas tradition. I love dawn.. as simple as that.

December 24, every house hold are busy preparing their noche buena. Noche Buena is a traditional meal (which would never be complete without the ham and the cheese) to greet Christmas day. A feast that is celebrated after the mass on the eve of 25. Gift giving will soon follow this sumptuous meal.

December 25 and it is Christmas. Traditionally, kids would visit their godparents house and greet them a Merry Christmas and in return godparents give aguinaldo to them. Aguinaldo means gift (a Spanish term). Now, I am not quite sure if this tradition is still practiced.

Another tradition that I really like and we still practice is the hanging of socks, hoping that Santa would put something on it (although we don’t have a chimney, the stairs served as our hanging place). Of course, Santa is not real but it was really fun waking up on Christmas eve and discovering your socks full of goodies!

How about you? What is your favorite Christmas tradition?

Puzzle Made My Day!

A while ago, I said I am tired but all the things that I do. From site building to household chores. Now, I discovered that whenever I feel like I am not functioning I can take a time off and some puzzles. I find some free puzzle games online. I am liking it because it takes my mind off to the things all the things that I worry about. In a way, it gives me space for myself. I like playing Sudoko. I remember when the first time I played this game, I am not sure what to do. Now I can say that I good on playing that game.

Aside from playing my favorite Sudoku, the site offers a player to create your own brain games. I tried making my own game. I tried making a hangman game and it was so much fun! What you need to do is to create words that you someone will guess for you. Then the game starts. A player will guess the word and each time a wrong letter was chosen, a part of man will appear on the hanging rope. All in all, a player has 6 chances to guess and input a correct letter. I recommend you create a game and email it to your friends. It will be a lot of fun!