Parenting Archive

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

Our New Sleeping Arrangement

boys’ bedroom

My two older boys is now sleeping on their own room. Yes! After so many months (or even years) of contemplating and planning, they finally agreed to sleep on a different room. I am happy with this new arrangement but a part of me was sad.. in fact, the first few days that they are sleeping in their bedroom, I’d check on them 2-3x every night. Nakakalungkot din.. ang laki na nila.. akala ko the first few nights eh lilipat sa kwarto namin.. hindeee..ako pala ang hindi makakatulog hahaha

I told them they can sleep in our room during weekends (akala nila para sa kanila un, di nila alam that’s for me! haha). I miss looking at them sleeping peacefully. That’s my favorite part of my night..staring at them, teary eyed and thanking heavens I have them (opo madrama akong nanay). Pero aminin ninyo mommies, you love staring at your kids when they are asleep di ba? Parang it takes all the worries and stress you had during the day.

Speaking of sleeping peacefully, of all our kids, it was Sati who got my “sleeping pattern”. She’s the one who gets really cranky in the morning when she didn’t have a good night sleep. And hubby would tease me on that, sa lahat daw ng mamana sa akin eh iyon pa (wahaha). Eh totoo naman di ba? pag kulang ka sa tulog or hindi ka nakatulog ng maayos, nakakainis. But more than that, sleep is vital for babies and kids. According to Mother and Child Nurses Association of the Philippines President Alicia Estiller, Sleep deprivation is associated with stunted growth, weight problems, low attention span, delayed learning and behavioral problems.”

Dr Luci Wiggs, an infant sleep expert at Oxford Brookes University in the UK, commented, “Sleep is vital for the healthy cognitive, behavioural and physical development of your baby. External influences such as hunger, discomfort, noise and other disturbances can all affect a baby’s sleep and bring them into a heightened state arousal (disrupted sleep) even if they don’t fully wake up.”

Number one reason for Sati waking up at night or for her not having a good night sleep is discomfort. Kapag mainit, naku hirap na hirap matulog! Kapag malamig, masarap ang tulog niya but I have to make sure that she’s on diaper or else pagising gising din kase naiihi. Thank goodness for diapers talaga.. kahit si Chico, he still wears diaper at night.

Back to my older boys, with this new arrangement I got to bond with them more. Kase nga namimiss ko sila sa gabi, I always make sure to have a few moments with them before they sleep. And I know having their own bedroom will also teach them to be more responsible.

Holiday Fun on a Budget

Having a family is very expensive, but it can be quite disheartening to have to forgo life’s little luxuries because the cost of day to day living is just too high. It is nice to be able to afford a few little extras like the odd day out, a holiday every few years, meals out every now and again, or treats for your little ones. One of the biggest luxury expenses is the family holiday, and it is something that more and more people have to go without. There is no need to cut it out all-together though. De-stress with one of these budget friendly holiday ideas.

Holiday Park

For an all round family fun break why not head to one of the UK’s fantastic holiday parks. They have everything you need for a great family holiday all in one location. Kids will love trying out all the fun activities and watching all the great entertainment and adults can join in too, or simply relax while the children play. You can win a Butlins family holiday with special packs of Cushelle at the moment so try your luck and you might just save yourself a packet.

Staycation

There are several different definitions of the staycation. Most take it to mean a stay at home holiday. Instead of forking out on accommodation, take some time off work, stay at home with your family and plan day trips and adventures close to where you live. You get all the excitement of the activities during the day, but can return home to your own bed cutting out the bulk of the cost.

Camping

Family camping is so much fun and you do not need to be a boy scout to do it. Whether you rock up to a campsite and pitch your tent, or opt for camping in the garden, there is something very exciting to children about sleeping underneath a canopy. Campsites are very reasonable in price, and the average cost of a pitch per night is just ten pounds.

Whatever type of holiday you decide to have, plan your budget wisely and it won’t get in the way of you having a wonderful time with your family. The last thing you want is to spend the whole time worrying about whether you can or can’t afford it, so try a cheaper option this summer. Great fun, for less.

Making the Most of Philadelphia When Traveling for Business

When it comes to finding a hotel in Philadelphia, you have options. Lots of them. According to the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, there are a whopping 3,600 hotel rooms within a 2-minute walk from the Pennsylvania Convention Center, making the downtown area – the Center City – one of the most-packed areas in the nation in terms of lodging options. There are about 6,400 hotel rooms within a 10-minute walk, 8,500 hotels within a 15-minute walk and an eye-opening 17,200-plus hotel rooms within a 30-minute drive of there, according to the PHLCVB. That, of course, is good news for business travelers.

Meeting Your Business Needs

However, you don’t always have time to see the sites while traveling for business. If that’s the case, consider staying at a hotel close to the airport. According to Airport Hotel Guide’s website, there are more than 20 hotels within five miles of the Philadelphia International Airport. Most airport hotels come with the usual fare: on-site restaurant and/or dining, bars, etc. Some come with workout rooms, and most will have at least one pool. Make sure, though, that your hotel also has high-speed Internet access and/or Wi-Fi.

The beauty of staying at one of the Philadelphia airport hotels, though, is that you’re still relatively close to several major tourist attractions. The Liberty Bell, for example, is a short 15-minute drive. The City Center (downtown) is also about 15 minutes away. Philadelphia also comes with plenty of business-traveler transportation options, aside from renting a car or taking a taxi. The Southeast Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) has everything from buses to commuter rail to rapid transit. SEPTA also operates a trolley system along with a trolleybus system. The main rail station, 30^th Street Station, is about a 15-minute drive from the airport.

Remember, too, that airport hotels cater specifically to business travelers. They should have all the information you need about the local restaurants, tourist spots and entertainment districts, if time allows.

Great Cost and Convenience

Another benefit of staying close to the airport is the cost. Generally speaking, the close to downtown you are, the more expensive your hotel room will cost. Airport hotels, though, are typically less expensive, including Philadelphia. You’re still getting all the same amenities and accommodations that you’d get at a hotel close to the City Center, you’re just getting it at what’s often a fraction of the cost. Even after you factor in potential travel expenses, like taking a taxi, you’re still getting a better deal than you would closer to downtown.

Book Well in Advance

However, if you don’t book your hotel room well in advance, you might wind up paying much more. Worse yet, if you wait until the last minute, you might not be able to book a room at your first choice. Booking a hotel room isn’t that much different from booking a plane flight: rates change, sometimes daily. Look around at the various travel sites and respective hotel websites for deals and discounts, and when you find something you like, book it as soon as possible.