Parenting Archive

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

Travel Focus: the Holy Land

Who isn’t fascinated with visiting the Holy Land ? History would tell us that both Christians and Muslims would love to go there. Both look forward to go on a pilgrimage tour there, but with a different focus.

For Christians, the desire to go there is primarily motivated by the desire to walk on the places where Jesus Christ and other Biblical characters or saints have walked on. These would include: Golgotha (or Calvary), the city of Bethlehem, Sea of Galilee, Mount Tabor (the site of the Transfiguration of Jesus), Jacob’s well in Nablus (said to be the site where Jesus had an encounter with a Samaritan woman). These are just but part of a list. As for Muslims, Jerusalem (along with Mecca and Medina ) is considered a holy site in Sunni Islamic tradition. According to Islamic traditions, their prophets are associated with Jerusalem including Muhammad, the Islamic prophet.

One good news about going on a tour to the Holy Land these days is that travellers there can now have the option of staying in Luxury Apartments Tel aviv. This is especially great for families and even couples travelling there together for the first time.

If you wish to check out more information about these Tel Aviv luxury apartments available in the Holy Land , one can also do online. While there are also hotels to choose from, you may just opt for the more familiar feeling of having your own apartment while touring the place. It’s like having a home away from home.

So if you’re up for a trip to the Holy Land , get yourself and your loved ones ready. Prepare the budget; book the flights and the apartment (you may choose to do this with a travel agency). Enjoy experiencing the Holy Land while you are there. And come back refreshed, changed J

Teaching Your Kids NOT To Be Shy

My second born went home last Monday, beaming with pride. He said his kuya was the one who lead the Alma mater song during the flag ceremony. Oh! I was overwhelmed, I almost cry. I have been telling them to participate in school and not to be shy.

As a kid, I was a very shy girl and I was an easy target to bullies. I do not want that to happen to my kids. I want them to be sociable and of course be the best they can be academically. My first born is now in Grade 3 and we have been telling him to always participate in school activities since he was in Grade 1 and now, he’s starting to pick up.

I think as parents, that’s the best thing we can do, push and support our kids. Let them know that we are here in every decision they made. Let me share with you some of the things we have been through to overcome shyness:

MTAP Seminars. I always let them join MTAP seminars every Saturday. I think being with their classmates for another day, beside the Monday- Friday schedule lets them enjoy socializing. And because of that, they kinda form a bond with their classmates, making them more confident with their social skills.

School Council Officers. Few weeks ago, I was busy preparing campaign paraphernalia for my first born. He run for P.R.O for the school council and of course we need to show our support even if it means not sleeping for 2 days. He lost but since I already explained to him that it’s the experience that counts, he’s happy with the result. In fact he was glad he run for P.R.O because he met new friends from upper grade level.

Canteen and Break time. I use to bring them food during lunch break but I realized, I can give them a break and let them eat with their classmates. Two days a week, they eat lunch at the school canteen with their friends.

In a way, I am lucky they love socializing too. They are not that super shy kind of kids unlike my third born. Third born will be in school next year and as early as now, I have been thinking of ways to make it easier for him:

Be at the school early, earlier than the the other students. Too many people overwhelms my third born and arriving in a school full of kids will scare him.
Assure him that I will be waiting for him outside. Oh yes, I think I have to stay on the school ground and wait for him. It is very important, specially for shy kids, that we do not break their trust. So I need to be there when he said I should be there waiting for him.
Talk to the teacher often. Let him know that me and his teacher are friends and that he can relax at the classroom.
Know the name of his classmates and ask him about them. It will challenge him to interact with his classmates so that he can tell something about them to mommy (talk about kids pleasing their parents).

So far, that’s what included on my strategy on how to over come shyness. I hope I can think of more ways and fun ways to help my third born overcome his shyness. I bet some moms at Seriously Fun Moms have something to say. If you have a shy kid, go check out the page to learn other ways in overcoming shyness.

Fun Parenting Tips On Early Healthy Habits

We cut down on our groceries and the first one to go was the biscuits, specially those with sweet fillings. Now, I have nothing against biscuits, but I would prefer a healthier snacks for my kids. I realized that whatever I give to them will affect their health not only today but as well as in the future.

And with that in mind, I realized, I am responsible in ensuring that my child will be healthy and will live a healthy lifestyle. I am sharing with you some of the things that we’re trying to adopt in the house and how we are doing it to build healthy habits and in the end develop a healthy lifestyle for the kids.

Eating the right food. Give your kids healthy food, introduce them to vegetables and as much as possible stay away from foods that is not healthy.

How to make it fun: include them in the grocery shopping, let them put the food in the basket. Also let them choose what they want and explaining to them why you will buy it and why you will not. Include them in the preparation of the food, for younger kids, let them do the washing, if you can trust your kid with a knife, let him do the cutting. It is also fun to take a peak of what’s cooking. I do that sometimes specially to my little girl who’s very curios of what’s happening on the kitchen. She loves helping mommy cook!

Let’s get physical! It is very important that you teach your kids the importance of exercising. Introduce them to physical activities, to making muscles be stronger and to activities that will make them move.

How to make it fun: Join Fun Runs together or play basketball with your kid. I do that, once every month. Or you can go to the park and play tag! My kids, they love running with me, so when time permits, we’d go to Rain Forest and run and have breakfast there. It doubles as a healthy activity and as well as bonding activity.

Supply your kid with supplements. While you make it a point to give them healthy food, supplements are still needed. Give them supplements to make sure they get all the nutrients and vitamins requirement they need.

How to make it fun: my kids.. there are times that the do not like taking supplements.. so what I do is alternate their supplements from time to time (will publish an article on how to choose the right supplement for your kid soon) and as much as possible, I make drinking time a super fun time. Take my 3rd and 4th babies, they do not like taking supplements, so what I did is label the supplements according to their favorite activity. There’s a supplement to improve their running and there’s one for jumping higher! And with that, they would drink it with much enthusiasm! and will show how much they improve on running on jumping.

Take a bath daily and of course brush teeth every after meal. A good hygiene is a part of being healthy so you really have to take time instilling to your kid how important good hygiene is. Develop a routine so they would not forget brushing their teeth and taking a bath. Of course good hygiene is not just about bathing and brushing the teeth. Trim their nails regularly, comb their hair, have their hair cut and so on. This activity will teach your kid that these are needed to be done on their body and in the long run they will develop the attitude of making sure they are clean and neat.

How to make it more fun: when taking a bath, I always make it a point that I am in not hurrying mood. We take our time as I bathe them. I sing to them, I play with them and make them feel special through bathing. I always made sure that bathing is fun. Same goes with brushing,we sing and count while brushing and always end it with a kiss from my mommy!

All of these, of course will never be effective if you will not lead by example. Our kids look after us and they love imitation what they do. Instilling a healthy lifestyle with them will be easy if they see you as a good example.