Archive for the ‘Parenting’ Category:
I remember my son telling me to withdraw in my ATM every time he asks for money. For him my bank was a bottomless pit that I could get whenever I want. With a smile, it was then that I realized I had to teach my kids the value of saving up.
From then on I started, to give them their own piggy bank so they can put in their extra allowance with the promise that I would double up their saving come December. It was something they look forward to.
Growing up I was never really educated on the value of saving up. Probably because family was not that well-off and the money coming in was just enough for our daily expenses however, I came to realize that a person do not need to be rich to save up. In fact, your investment will bring you more cash flow than your regular income.
Cash flow and income may be profound terminologies for my children to understand so a simple piggy bank is the best way to start. I am a believer that children who learn to save at an early age will have a greater advantage in managing their finances when they grow up.
Aside from saving up, I also try to teach them to look for ways to get a good bargain when they buy their stuff. Like when they need to purchase a new pair of shoes, we try to look for scheduled “sale” or even gather coupons that offer a percentage off on any purchase.
It is never too early to teach kids the value of saving up, I know this will greatly help them when they grow up.
As my children grow, I have realized that our household expenses actually grow with them. As parents, hubs and I make an effort to give our children a better life than what we have experienced. So far, so good and we are very proud of this achievement. Although this is a daily struggle, our rewards come from the fact that our children are growing to be smart, healthy and active kids.
Life is a bliss and that is what I want to believe. Keeping a positive attitude helps me carry out the arduous but noble job of being a mother. Probably, the most important learning I have learned (and is continuously learning) is being a practical mom. Let’s face it, times are not that easy compared to the days when we were growing up. The practical side of me always go for things which can give the best value for whatever purchase I will make be it goods or services. Stingy? Kinda. However, I make sure that quality will never be sacrificed.
For instance, in giving proper nourishment to your kids, although one may find processed foods to be very affordable, this is one thing you cannot sacrifice. Because it is a fact that in the long run, eating processed foods will give you more problems.
I apply my being practical mom by looking at bargains, sale items, buying wholesale rather than the smaller packages. I believe these things give me more value for my money. Plus I refrain from being brand conscious, I get quality clothes and try to do investment dressing, where you can mix and match different clothing that can give you a different look each time.
In choosing household furniture and appliances, I try to buy them at a zero percent interest wherein I can pay monthly without being charged extra. Oh yes, how I wish I can buy design furniture but this is not feasible at this point in time. Maybe soon… trying to be positive at all times.
“Don’t wait until everything is just right. It will never be perfect. There will always be challenges, obstacles and less than perfect conditions. So what. Get started now. With each step you take, you will grow stronger and stronger, more and more skilled, more and more self-confident and more and more successful.” – Mark Victor Hansen
I was so happy when I got a text message from my daughter the other day, the message goes, “I want to bake.” My immediate reply was. “Go, go, go! What else do you need?” Knowing that I still have some ingredients at home and all I needed was butter and eggs, I asked her to buy the needed ingredients and promise to just pay her when I get home.
As a mom, it gives me so much joy to know that my daughter is taking after my love for baking. I never had any formal culinary studies but for me having an interest in cooking is enough to make you want to concoct delicious meals that satisfies your palate. Well, of course, with the love for cooking comes the passion for food. A “foodie” is what I think I am. I love to experiment and taste different kinds of cuisines which make it harder for me to avoid gaining extra weight.
Just like when my daughter finished baking her chocolate chip cookies, I had to take a bite. Yummy! Especially when its fresh from the oven, I can’t help but get another one and another…. Oh, well there goes my diet.
Maybe it’s time for me to check out diet supplements at www.bestfatburningsupplement.com.
In these day and age, a lot of married couple tend to limit the size of their family to a minimum of two or three kids mainly because of financial considerations. Probably true, especially with the high cost of living nowadays. However, for me and my hubs we have always opted to have a big family but we were only blessed with two. Not that I am complaining, I have been gifted with two wonderful and talented kids and it is enough to be thankful for but I guess what I am trying to say is that it would be a lot fun if there were more kids at home –both of us love children!
I have seen the downside of having lots of children but for me it outweighs the benefits of having a big family. More siblings mean having more people to love, a lot more people you can depend on and a lot more people to connect and interact with during family gatherings and holidays. I have seen this magic happen with my husband’s family. I obviously haven’t met the rest of their relatives but we seem to have never ending reunions on his side of the family unlike on my end.
It’s lots of fun although you have to contend with different personalities but I actually consider it more of an advantage because it teaches you how to deal with a variety of individuals which strengthens your character and makes you work hard at being a team player.
Have I been blessed with lots of kids, I would probably opt to have baby accessories which will allow me to mix and match such as the multi-functional Baby jogger city select stroller. It’s functional and economical, perfect for expanding families.
Being a parent, the number of children is not the issue, it’s the quality of love and attention you give to your children that matters most.
It’s a fact that child obesity has come to an alarming rate especially in the US. I have seen and known friends who have nurtured an obese child. Little do these parents know of the psychological effects of obesity among children. Obese children are most likely to grow up with low self-esteem.
I am fortunate that my kids have become aware of the effects of obesity not only from us, parents, but media also has a lot to do with it. Admittedly, kids are so into junk foods and loves fast food but as a mom, I discourage these kinds of food – maybe once in a while but not on a regular basis.
As much as possible, I want them to eat home cooked food and encourage them to devour in fiber rich food such as fruits, cereals, oatmeal and vegetables. I am so glad that I did not have a hard time letting them eat these kinds of foods. Fiber is not only good older people but it is very beneficial for children too. Since it is very filling, children tend to feel full after eating which discourages overeating. In addition, with proper fluid intake, fiber promotes regularity of bowel movement and prevents constipation.
Kids who will continue to have fiber rich diet will definitely have a healthy lifestyle. It does not only reduce the risk of heart diseases, you’re also assured that you won’t have to look for the best hemorrhoid treatment for your hemmorrhiod problems 
Now that school is back, I am also back to enforcing the “No TV Weekdays”.
I need to be strict in enforcing this rule so that kids can focus more on studying. The boob tube is only one of the many distraction for students nowadays. Don’t get me wrong, I do not totally hate TV — the TV can also be a good source of education and entertainment. My kids learned a lot watching those interactive shows however like everything else, everything should be in moderation.
Controlling the use of the television is a way of teaching kids that you need to have occasional fun and entertainment. My hubby and I constantly remind them that there is always a time for everything — a time for school, for studying, for play and recreation. When they understand this, you would not have a hard time coping up and try to frequently break the rule.
I am personally not a TV person except during night time when I try to put myself to sleep and of course, during DVD time with the family. Now that high definition is a new craze, I’d love to get an LCD TV.
Between my son and my daughter, mu daughter has always been the sporty type. Since I am not into sports, I guess she takes after her dad.
Even her wardrobe, you can see the sporty gears and not the “girlie” stuff. She just loves rubber shoes, she’s completely my exact opposite. I can with only a pair of rubber shoes or even none.
Now that she’s about to celebrate her birthday, one of her birthday wishes was to have her Nike training shoes. Fortunately there was a Nike and Adidas Clearance Sale and I bought a pair training shoes for her. It’s 50% off, isn’t it fab? She loved it so much.
As for me, I am glad to have scored a good bargain once again. Being a practical mom, I see to it that even if I give in to retail therapy, I am always a smart shopper.
Happy Birthday, my dear daughter!
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Getting pregnant again?
Yes, I have thought of it a lot of times. But after three miscarriages, I think the chance of a safe delivery is very slim for me. I don’t want to dwell on the details, it only makes me sad. However my ob-gyn has suggested that if we really want to try and have another baby, we need to have a work-up –both of us.
Yet, we still have not done so… why? Mostly because it entails a lot of expense without a guarantee, and we both have agreed that it’s God’s will besides we have two beautiful children already.
But yes, that thought is still at the back of my mind.
That every time I see a baby, I want to cuddle them and imagine the child to be my own. That every time I see a pregnant woman, I remember how it used to feel carrying a baby in your womb, being careful about what you eat and reminding yourself to take those prenatal vitamins even though you can’t seem to swallow them. Pregnancy was never easy for me but the thought of having your newborn baby afterwards is enough to erase all those pains away.
If and when, I’ll be able to conceive again… God only knows. Another bundle of joy in the house is a welcome idea.
Photo: “8 Months” by marabuchi on Flickr. Some Rights Reserved.
Every day I wake up and wish that I could stay longer in bed. Who wouldn’t want to? The idea of just lazily lying around and relax instead of getting up and doing the things that you have to do. But that’s not what we are designed for besides I could not live like that my whole life. I have always believed that everyone has a purpose in life and one has to work for it.
What motivates me to get up?
The driving force behind my will to pull myself up and get things done would be my family, most especially my kids. To achieve the goal of giving them a better future is reason enough to push me to work and achieve this goal. Simply put, to go after the life you want cannot be achieved by just lazily lying around your house. Even though, I am a stay at home mom, I find opportunities to earn. Right now, aside from my online earning opportunities, I am taking care of our small business that will hopefully expand soon.
Opportunities do not come easy, so sometimes you need to create them. Staying inside the house will definitely not give you opportunity, so I try to expand my network and together with my hubby we try to make the best out of the resources laid upon us. My husband and I are firm believers that nothing happens by accident, everything has its reason. So if you meet someone, maybe the Lord is trying to tell you something. Open your heart and mind, so you can hear the message.
I wouldn’t want to sound preachy but it’s my personal relationship with the Lord motivates me to become a better person and achieve the goals that I have set in life.
Have faith, believe in yourself and you can do everything that you mind has set out to do. You may stumble upon a lot of obstacles along the way but if you are focused, you will succeed. Wouldn’t victory be sweeter if you know that you have worked hard for it?
Just like losing weight…. No pain, no gain!
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Photo: “Jah’s Rays” by C-Ali on Flickr. Some Rights Reserved.
Three days and four nights in a hotel? I guess it sound fabulous! However, it does not really work for me. Don’t get me wrong I am not a couch potato, I love going out and mingling with people but at the end of the day, I want to go home to my own comfy bed and eating home cooked food.
If not for the kids, I would not have given in besides it’s a complimentary stay courtesy of my brother, who could ever resist that? I want my kids to enjoy the last days of summer since we didn’t have much travel during the summer break.
I was like this since I can I was young. I remember my mom placed me in a dormitory when I was in first year college only to find myself going home every other day. The owner of the dorm would call my mom and check if I am with her and she’ll reassure the owner. My mom decided to discontinue the dorm life after a month. My reason was the food, it’s bland, it’s cold and it does not look appealing at all. It’s the Foodie in me.
Maybe if it’s a serviced residence where you have a kitchen and provisions for you to cook, it would probably work for me. But hotel food? Aside from the fact, that it’s expensive I cannot seem to appreciate it on a daily basis. Maybe once in a while, I can indulge. Good thing our hotel is connected to a mall so we can choose from the different restaurants there but still, it’s not home-cooked.
Now with all the pigging out we did for the last three days and the rest of the summer, I really need to exercise and look for diets that work.
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