Parenting Archive

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

Throw Away the GTA

My kids are not allowed to use the computer as much as possible.. we only allow them for about an hour once a week and sometimes once a month.. aside from the fact that if I allow them to use it, they would mess my work place, I just do no not like the idea of them being exposed to computer at this early age. Yes, this age is all about computers but I still do believe that my kids can have a normal life without being exposed to computer at an early age. There is always the right time for everything.. after all they already have their computer subject in their school.. there is no sense being techy if your kids are unhealthy.

So for Mommy Moments this week where in the theme is techy tips, I only have one.. never ever leave your child alone in the PC.. and as much as possible do not expose them to it.. The right age, I think is 7 years old. My first born is now allowed to have his FB account given the fact that I monitor his friend and all the people he interact with.. OK wait, I said I only have one techy tip.. that’s another one.. always monitor your child’s internet actions..

During the Parentin.TV 2nd anniversary, one of the topics discussed was Internet Addiction and it’s quite alarming how a child can learn a lot on the internet. And because of that I am getting more careful with the kids and the internet.. even on gadgets.. they no longer play with an Ipod or any gaming console and if ever I will buy an Iphone, I will have it an iphone 3g cases that the kids can’t open.. well except for playing on PS3 from time to time.. but yeah my tip is still the same.. never ever leave yuor kids unattended..

And oh, please do throw away ny of your GTA (Gran Theft Auto) games.. it’s the most disturbing game I ever heard.

ParenTIN.TV 2nd Anniversary: 1st Blogger’s Day

Last September 10, 2011, select Mommy Bloggers joined Miss Tintin Bersola-Babao in the celebration of ParenTIN.TV 2nd anniversary and first ever Blogger’s Day.

The day started with a sumptuous buffet lunch from Richmonde hotel prepared by Chef Bienvendo B. Chavez.

Miss Tin-tin Bersola- Babao hosted the event. She updated us what’s new on ParenTIN. TV. She shared 3 exciting news that you all should check out:

More Episodes on www.parentin.tv and Knowledge Channel
Families all over the Philippines can now watch Parentin.tv episodes on Knowledge Channel, Skycable Ch. 42. The schedule of airing:
Sundays 8 PM
Monday 7:20 PM
Wednesdays 8:40 PM
Saturdays 9 AM, 2 PM and 9 PM

Search For Teen Bloggers
ParenTIN.TV wish to know, see and hear the feelings of teenagers. Teen bloggers out there can just send in their articles to hello@parentin.tv

Xmas Booth Promo
An online promo that gives enterprising moms out there an opportunity t win a free booth at The Grand International Importers And Exporters Christmas Bazaar. For more information or inquiries, email t.bersola-babao@parentin.tv

Winners of Parentin.tv Toddler contest were also awarded.. Vince Crispaul Salinas (who was not present) and Harrich Jean Agbisit… Here’s her winning pose:

Winners for the Online Quiz was also given their respective prize..Bedalyn Aguas (one of the mommy bloggers) and Aileen Lumbang. After some photo ops with Miss Tintin the program continued with the first guest speaker. Miss Vanessa Garon of Golden Values School and Nazareth Formation House (Bob Garon Rehab Center). Together with the two residents from the Center, they gave us a glimpse of Addiction that can start from early childhood.

Vanessa first talked about Internet Addiction, how it differs from Internet Dependency and how the addiction is diagnosed. What makes her talk more interesting is the fact that one of the resident from the center is an actual case of internet addiction. Most of the moms were teary eyed when the talk ends. I am pretty sure if Tintin allowed us, we would be hugging and extending our love to the resident. We can feel the struggle… the weight of what she was talking about and the implication of it. I believe all the slides that was shown to us deserves another blog post. I am still encoding the slides shown to us.

Even Miss Tintin admits that whenever she hears that story, it never fails to make her cry.. but before we all end up crying a river.. Robbie Rabbit bags were given away to lucky moms.. and yours truly won a very violet bag perfect for my little girl..It was also during this time that me and Joy presented the greeting cards that the mommy bloggers prepared for Tintin and ParenTIN.TV for their 2nd year anniversary.

Miss Vanessa continued about Aggresive behavior. It was defined to us and just the same as Internet Addiction, one of the resident gave us a glimpse on his life having an aggressive behavior. I will also be posting in a separate blog entry the slides that was shown to us. But over the course of the talk, it was very clear to us that we as moms has a very big role on preventing this things to happen. And I am very glad and very thankful to Miss Tintin for inviting us to this talk. The talk was very inspiring. It was also an eye opener to us.

One of the member of Parentin.tv surprised Tintin with a very touching (and entertaining) rendition of Only Hope.

After that, Zonito Torevillas- Tamase talked about Healthier Foods and Alkalinity. She talked about the health risks when the body’s pH goes acidic. She also explored on why our body needs water and the benefits that we can get from drinking enough amount of water every day. Salt was another subject that was discussed and how healing salt can be. Miss Tamase also talked about some foods and what effect it has on the pH level of our body.

Miss Zonito Torevillas- Tamase prepared a fruit shake sweetened and flavored using Malunggay powder. You know by now that I am a Malunggay user that in fact we use the leaves to feed the kids with Malungay rice. It’s one of the best plant out there.. it is a good source of calcium.The Malunggay powder is heaven sent to me.

Tintin then introduced to us to her newest discovery, Smart Steps baby cleaning products. The product line includes Baby Laundry Detergent, mild and safe, no dyes, no bleach and no optical brightness. It also includes Baby Fabric Softener (mild and safe, fresh linen scent and no artificial colorant) and Baby Bottle Cleanser (easy rinse formula, no phosphate and no dyes).

Then we had a tour of the hotel, Richmonde. I believe this hotel is fairly new, because when I first heard the venue, I thought it would be in Ortigas.. it was a fun tour, and we squeezed ourselves in the elevator (surprisingly it only took us 2 rides LOL). We got a glimpse of the different rooms offered in Richmonde Hotel as well as their gym. We was supposed to take a look on their pool but it was raining hard.

We had another taste of the food prepared by Chef Bienvendo B. Chavez and as we finish our food, we were asked to take a look under our chair and we found piece of paper with an M or a P. Then we had some photo ops to be uploaded to Parentin.TV website.. some serious, some wacky, some even showed off their diamond rings. Later, the P and the M, we learned, stands for Pillow and Mattress.. we each got a pillow or a mattress to take home! yay! And to end the event, each one of us greeted ParenTIN.Tv for their 2 years of succes and giving inspiration to us moms and parents.. and again, Congratulations Miss Tintin and ParenTIN.tv!!

photo of Chef with Tintin and photo of moms in wacky pose courtesy of Gene

“Wala Ba Kayong TV?”

Year 2004:
“Wala ba kayong TV?”
“meron no, perong walang cable.”

Year 2007:
“wala pa rin kayong TV?”
“meron nga, meron na rin cable, pero.. ”

Year 2009:
“di ba may TV naman kayo?”
“hehehehe LCD pa nga.. ang sarap manood ng..”

And that’s what our family planning is all about. bow.

Would you believe if I tell you that we lived together for 3 years before I got pregnant? And that my pregnancy was a planned one? Of course we were doing it, hey we were doing it even before we had our 2nd monthsary. But we know what we were doing. I never got pregnant during those years. It was only in 2003 that we decided it’s about time. See? we know family planning even before we start a family.. and that’s what we thought.

October 2003 and I was the happiest mommy. I gave birth to my first born child. During my pregnancy, all I can think about is the excitement of being a mother. We never even discussed our child spacing. And when I gave birth, the pain, the trauma and the finances told us not to have another child in the next 3 years. Four years sounds reasonable to me. So it was set, 4 years.. 4 years.. 4 years..

I’m breastfeeding.. so it’s safe. Oh wait! who told us that? OK we assumed that since I am breastfeeding, I will not get pregnant. But hey, remember our TV has no cable? By the time that my first born is celebrating his first birthday, I was already 4 months pregnant with our second child.

Giving birth was not easy. It was the most traumatic and painful thing that ever happened to me and here I am again, like time bomb waiting to explode. I can’t remember how I was able to battle the 9 months wait without feeling nauseated with the thought of having to go through labor again.. having to go through post partum again.. and having to go through the finances again. I was always nauseated that time but that’s because of morning sickness not the thought of the above mentioned.

But I did! I waited for 9 months and gave birth to another baby boy. And that’s the end of it. I said no more babies (for now). I do not know what birth control method to use, I am clueless and afraid to try anything. When we brought our second child for his BCG at the Branggay Health Center, they told me to use Injectibles (in a not so nice way I tell you), so I did. It was very cheap, only 100 Pesos and it will last for 3 months, then I have to be back again for another shot. It was very convenient but it massacred our sex life, and it introduced me to high blood. After 18 months of using it, I stopped.

My OB Gyne suggested IUD but I was afraid, so I end up with pills. That’s in 2007. Two months and more than 4 missed pills, I stopped and we relied on ryhtm method. By September of 2007, I was pregnant again. And as if history is repeating itself, by the time that our third son is celebrating his first birthday, I was already pregnant with our 4th baby, only I was on my 3rd month then, not 4th.

It’s very amusing how we end up with four kids. We both know when it is safe to do it and not. I know my cycle, I have a regular cycle. Funny that even though we were armed with that knowledge, 3 out 4 of my pregnancies were unplanned. And it is as if we never learned from each of it.. oh well except for the last one. I am not saying I regret having 4 kids, I actually feel I am the luckiest mom in the whole world for having these adorable babies, but It just made me realize that if unplanned pregnancy can happen to people who knows something about reproduction, cycle and birth control, what more to the people who don’t know a thing about it?

What more to those people na wala talagang TV?