Make Your Mama Proud

Mothers (and fathers) are always proud of their kids. Let them be…

How time flies… Yesterday you were just a tot struggling to toddle steadily. Yesterday you were a pre-schooler kid wanting everybody’s attention. Yesterday you were a sixth-grader beaming with your achievements…

Now, you are a budding beauty silently walking tall. Please understand the pride that I cannot help but show. Please understand that I look at you as unbelievably pretty and that you make you Mama proud.

(Kay was chosen to be the model for their graduation picture. Digiprints Designs Corporation won the bid.) …

Make Your Mama Proud

Mothers (and fathers) are always proud of their kids. Let them be…

How time flies… Yesterday you were just a tot struggling to toddle steadily. Yesterday you were a pre-schooler kid wanting everybody’s attention. Yesterday you were a sixth-grader beaming with your achievements…

Now, you are a budding beauty silently walking tall. Please understand the pride that I cannot help but show. Please understand that I look at you as unbelievably pretty and that you make you Mama proud.

(Kay was chosen to be the model for their graduation picture. Digiprints Designs Corporation won the bid.) …

Make Your Mama Proud

Mothers (and fathers) are always proud of their kids. Let them be…

How time flies… Yesterday you were just a tot struggling to toddle steadily. Yesterday you were a pre-schooler kid wanting everybody’s attention. Yesterday you were a sixth-grader beaming with your achievements…

Now, you are a budding beauty silently walking tall. Please understand the pride that I cannot help but show. Please understand that I look at you as unbelievably pretty and that you make you Mama proud.

(Kay was chosen to be the model for their graduation picture. Digiprints Designs Corporation won the bid.) …

Make Your Mama Proud

Mothers (and fathers) are always proud of their kids. Let them be…

How time flies… Yesterday you were just a tot struggling to toddle steadily. Yesterday you were a pre-schooler kid wanting everybody’s attention. Yesterday you were a sixth-grader beaming with your achievements…

Now, you are a budding beauty silently walking tall. Please understand the pride that I cannot help but show. Please understand that I look at you as unbelievably pretty and that you make you Mama proud.

(Kay was chosen to be the model for their graduation picture. Digiprints Designs Corporation won the bid.) …

Will You Spare a Rod?

(photo from Microsoft Encarta Reference Library 2004)

Disciplining a child comes in many forms. Parental strategies to discipline a child affect a child’s well-being – that we should bear in our minds.

Not every parent agrees using force as disciplinary approach. Spanking, or “punishing with a rod” (figuratively speaking), is a big no-no to some. Such approach is disgraceful, upsetting or unnecessary. But children grow and develop their sense of self. They start to negotiate, compromise, resist and assert what they want. And because of the emotional attachment of children to their parents, they use this to demand more than what is needed. As children grow, the folly within grows, too, knowing that their parents cannot say ‘no’ to their wishes. They learn to be manipulative, too.

Children’s early personality growth varies, too, depending on their relationship with their parents or whoever is the caregiver, depending on the values imbued in them, or depending on the environ where they participate. In any case, children have the tendency to mess up the favor and free will afforded to them. Being still very young is one main reason.

“Punishing with a rod” does not necessarily mean that parents should beat their children black-and-blue. Using force, like a light slap or a few slaps on the buttocks, to communicate a parent’s authority can do. Serious physical punishment like making them kneel on grains or salt will make them angry and frustrated, especially when they are driven to do such acts just because of petty misdeeds.

Disciplining a young child can be very frustrating at times especially if the child is strong-willed. Our emotions should not overwhelm reason that the child is still immature to understand fully. We should take a deep breath, or count to ten, or drink a glass of water before exercising our power and authority. The child may comply when serious physical punishment is applied but can become angry inside and be defiant in the absence of the parent.

Some helpful tips for parents:*

• emphasize firm and consistent expectations and rationale
• listen receptively to the child’s views
• foster the child’s cooperation and a more harmonious parent-child relationship

*Microsoft Encarta Reference Libraryy 2004

Now, will you spare a rod and bear the little child’s folly?

Will You Spare a Rod?

(photo from Microsoft Encarta Reference Library 2004)

Disciplining a child comes in many forms. Parental strategies to discipline a child affect a child’s well-being – that we should bear in our minds.

Not every parent agrees using force as disciplinary approach. Spanking, or “punishing with a rod” (figuratively speaking), is a big no-no to some. Such approach is disgraceful, upsetting or unnecessary. But children grow and develop their sense of self. They start to negotiate, compromise, resist and assert what they want. And because of the emotional attachment of children to their parents, they use this to demand more than what is needed. As children grow, the folly within grows, too, knowing that their parents cannot say ‘no’ to their wishes. They learn to be manipulative, too.

Children’s early personality growth varies, too, depending on their relationship with their parents or whoever is the caregiver, depending on the values imbued in them, or depending on the environ where they participate. In any case, children have the tendency to mess up the favor and free will afforded to them. Being still very young is one main reason.

“Punishing with a rod” does not necessarily mean that parents should beat their children black-and-blue. Using force, like a light slap or a few slaps on the buttocks, to communicate a parent’s authority can do. Serious physical punishment like making them kneel on grains or salt will make them angry and frustrated, especially when they are driven to do such acts just because of petty misdeeds.

Disciplining a young child can be very frustrating at times especially if the child is strong-willed. Our emotions should not overwhelm reason that the child is still immature to understand fully. We should take a deep breath, or count to ten, or drink a glass of water before exercising our power and authority. The child may comply when serious physical punishment is applied but can become angry inside and be defiant in the absence of the parent.

Some helpful tips for parents:*

• emphasize firm and consistent expectations and rationale
• listen receptively to the child’s views
• foster the child’s cooperation and a more harmonious parent-child relationship

*Microsoft Encarta Reference Libraryy 2004

Now, will you spare a rod and bear the little child’s folly?

Will You Spare a Rod?

(photo from Microsoft Encarta Reference Library 2004)

Disciplining a child comes in many forms. Parental strategies to discipline a child affect a child’s well-being – that we should bear in our minds.

Not every parent agrees using force as disciplinary approach. Spanking, or “punishing with a rod” (figuratively speaking), is a big no-no to some. Such approach is disgraceful, upsetting or unnecessary. But children grow and develop their sense of self. They start to negotiate, compromise, resist and assert what they want. And because of the emotional attachment of children to their parents, they use this to demand more than what is needed. As children grow, the folly within grows, too, knowing that their parents cannot say ‘no’ to their wishes. They learn to be manipulative, too.

Children’s early personality growth varies, too, depending on their relationship with their parents or whoever is the caregiver, depending on the values imbued in them, or depending on the environ where they participate. In any case, children have the tendency to mess up the favor and free will afforded to them. Being still very young is one main reason.

“Punishing with a rod” does not necessarily mean that parents should beat their children black-and-blue. Using force, like a light slap or a few slaps on the buttocks, to communicate a parent’s authority can do. Serious physical punishment like making them kneel on grains or salt will make them angry and frustrated, especially when they are driven to do such acts just because of petty misdeeds.

Disciplining a young child can be very frustrating at times especially if the child is strong-willed. Our emotions should not overwhelm reason that the child is still immature to understand fully. We should take a deep breath, or count to ten, or drink a glass of water before exercising our power and authority. The child may comply when serious physical punishment is applied but can become angry inside and be defiant in the absence of the parent.

Some helpful tips for parents:*

• emphasize firm and consistent expectations and rationale
• listen receptively to the child’s views
• foster the child’s cooperation and a more harmonious parent-child relationship

*Microsoft Encarta Reference Libraryy 2004

Now, will you spare a rod and bear the little child’s folly?

You Don’t Know What You’re Saying

This is a reiteration.

Would you mind shutting up if you see me bloated after not seeing each other for months, or years? Would you mind telling me that I look nice or radiant (even without the words ‘pretty’ or ‘beautiful’)? After all, I am happy and that probably shows. Would you mind telling me that you miss me because it is such a long time we have not seen each other?

Would you want to receive the same remark or worse, a shoddier salutation that your dress does not fit your swollen belly? Or better, would you want to hear that your fashion taste is very poor? Or even better, you look more like a coke in can?

I had enough of these people. How could some people greet you in such a nasty way when they look worse than you, or shabbier than anyone else? How could words blurt out from their vile mouths when they are in a way oozing with plainness or a run-of-the-mill stance?

I could have greeted her with “Your hairdo fits you!” just to make her feel good all throughout the day. But I was not able to do so. Her unnecessary remarks just dampened the warmth.

“You don’t know what you’re saying!” shouted my mind. I would want to do the same but that would not be me. “Civility costs nothing and buys everything.”* Besides, I should have accepted the fact that she is not alone. A lot of people do not know what they are saying.

*Mary Wortley Montagu (1689 – 1762)
British writer.

You Don’t Know What You’re Saying

This is a reiteration.

Would you mind shutting up if you see me bloated after not seeing each other for months, or years? Would you mind telling me that I look nice or radiant (even without the words ‘pretty’ or ‘beautiful’)? After all, I am happy and that probably shows. Would you mind telling me that you miss me because it is such a long time we have not seen each other?

Would you want to receive the same remark or worse, a shoddier salutation that your dress does not fit your swollen belly? Or better, would you want to hear that your fashion taste is very poor? Or even better, you look more like a coke in can?

I had enough of these people. How could some people greet you in such a nasty way when they look worse than you, or shabbier than anyone else? How could words blurt out from their vile mouths when they are in a way oozing with plainness or a run-of-the-mill stance?

I could have greeted her with “Your hairdo fits you!” just to make her feel good all throughout the day. But I was not able to do so. Her unnecessary remarks just dampened the warmth.

“You don’t know what you’re saying!” shouted my mind. I would want to do the same but that would not be me. “Civility costs nothing and buys everything.”* Besides, I should have accepted the fact that she is not alone. A lot of people do not know what they are saying.

*Mary Wortley Montagu (1689 – 1762)
British writer.

You Don’t Know What You’re Saying

This is a reiteration.Would you mind shutting up if you see me bloated after not seeing each other for months, or years? Would you mind telling me that I look nice or radiant (even without the words ‘pretty’ or ‘beautiful’)? After all, I am happy and that probably shows. Would you mind telling me that you miss me because it is such a long time we have not seen each other?

Would you want to receive the same remark or worse, a shoddier salutation that your dress does not fit your swollen belly? Or better, would you want to hear that your fashion taste is very poor? Or even better, you look more like a coke in can?

I had enough of these people. How could some people greet you in such a nasty way when they look worse than you, or shabbier than anyone else? How could words blurt out from their vile mouths when they are in a way oozing with plainness or a run-of-the-mill stance?

I could have greeted her with “Your hairdo fits you!” just to make her feel good all throughout the day. But I was not able to do so. Her unnecessary remarks just dampened the warmth.

“You don’t know what you’re saying!” shouted my mind. I would want to do the same but that would not be me. “Civility costs nothing and buys everything.”* Besides, I should have accepted the fact that she is not alone. A lot of people do not know what they are saying.

*Mary Wortley Montagu (1689 – 1762)
British writer.

What is Food to One Man is Bitter Poison to Others*

*Lucretius (94? BC – 55? BC)

The taste of tuyo and sinangag for breakfasts is always heavenly to me, coupled with white vinegar (with minced garlic and a little salt). I could also put some vinegar on the fried egg cooked sunny side up. Weird? Nah. As I have mentioned, it is heavenly. It is the opposite of hubby’s and kid’s taste for food during breakfasts. They like sauteed corned beef and fried egg more. There were times separate viands were prepared on breakfasts just to give in to each other whims.

While some deprived families dream of having this bounty for breakfast, I (or we) sometimes dream of a hotel’s luxurious service. At this point, it is me (us) who dream. How lucky some people are, we would think aloud. And who knows if those people at times get tired of the lavishness, and the taste of cured ham is bitter (not better) than fried tuyo?

You see we always compare. We either think we are superior to the others, or inferior at times. We think we are prettier, or more handsome, or more intelligent, or more talented, or richer, etc, etc. When we tend to be negative, we think we are uglier, or more stupid, or with only a few talents, or poorer, etc, etc. Both ways does not help.

Clinging to this bad habit of never-ending comparison of one’s self to others creates a monster in us. We end up in envy or jealousy. We end up hating others. We do unreasonable or inhumane things that hurt or harm. Or we end up believing we are the best, that nobody can beat us. We end up lonely and not satisfied.

I know some people who have this demanding attitude because of feeling that others are always on the lead or that they are better or at a higher level in life. With this, they demand, directly or indirectly, that they have to be given an extra ALWAYS because others are receiving more. They have to be understood though they are unbelievably detestable. They have to be special always because they are lacking in life. Funny? They exist, believe me.

Comparison is not bad if intended for a worthy cause. If it is for self-assessment to better one’s self, compare. If it is for progress or improvement, compare. “We should never compare ourselves to others. We may end up believing that we are better or lesser than the others. In either case, we are wrong,” goes one text message.

What is Food to One Man is Bitter Poison to Others*

*Lucretius (94? BC – 55? BC)

The taste of tuyo and sinangag for breakfasts is always heavenly to me, coupled with white vinegar (with minced garlic and a little salt). I could also put some vinegar on the fried egg cooked sunny side up. Weird? Nah. As I have mentioned, it is heavenly. It is the opposite of hubby’s and kid’s taste for food during breakfasts. They like sauteed corned beef and fried egg more. There were times separate viands were prepared on breakfasts just to give in to each other whims.

While some deprived families dream of having this bounty for breakfast, I (or we) sometimes dream of a hotel’s luxurious service. At this point, it is me (us) who dream. How lucky some people are, we would think aloud. And who knows if those people at times get tired of the lavishness, and the taste of cured ham is bitter (not better) than fried tuyo?

You see we always compare. We either think we are superior to the others, or inferior at times. We think we are prettier, or more handsome, or more intelligent, or more talented, or richer, etc, etc. When we tend to be negative, we think we are uglier, or more stupid, or with only a few talents, or poorer, etc, etc. Both ways does not help.

Clinging to this bad habit of never-ending comparison of one’s self to others creates a monster in us. We end up in envy or jealousy. We end up hating others. We do unreasonable or inhumane things that hurt or harm. Or we end up believing we are the best, that nobody can beat us. We end up lonely and not satisfied.

I know some people who have this demanding attitude because of feeling that others are always on the lead or that they are better or at a higher level in life. With this, they demand, directly or indirectly, that they have to be given an extra ALWAYS because others are receiving more. They have to be understood though they are unbelievably detestable. They have to be special always because they are lacking in life. Funny? They exist, believe me.

Comparison is not bad if intended for a worthy cause. If it is for self-assessment to better one’s self, compare. If it is for progress or improvement, compare. “We should never compare ourselves to others. We may end up believing that we are better or lesser than the others. In either case, we are wrong,” goes one text message.

What is Food to One Man is Bitter Poison to Others*

*Lucretius (94? BC – 55? BC)

The taste of tuyo and sinangag for breakfasts is always heavenly to me, coupled with white vinegar (with minced garlic and a little salt). I could also put some vinegar on the fried egg cooked sunny side up. Weird? Nah. As I have mentioned, it is heavenly. It is the opposite of hubby’s and kid’s taste for food during breakfasts. They like sauteed corned beef and fried egg more. There were times separate viands were prepared on breakfasts just to give in to each other whims.

While some deprived families dream of having this bounty for breakfast, I (or we) sometimes dream of a hotel’s luxurious service. At this point, it is me (us) who dream. How lucky some people are, we would think aloud. And who knows if those people at times get tired of the lavishness, and the taste of cured ham is bitter (not better) than fried tuyo?

You see we always compare. We either think we are superior to the others, or inferior at times. We think we are prettier, or more handsome, or more intelligent, or more talented, or richer, etc, etc. When we tend to be negative, we think we are uglier, or more stupid, or with only a few talents, or poorer, etc, etc. Both ways does not help.

Clinging to this bad habit of never-ending comparison of one’s self to others creates a monster in us. We end up in envy or jealousy. We end up hating others. We do unreasonable or inhumane things that hurt or harm. Or we end up believing we are the best, that nobody can beat us. We end up lonely and not satisfied.

I know some people who have this demanding attitude because of feeling that others are always on the lead or that they are better or at a higher level in life. With this, they demand, directly or indirectly, that they have to be given an extra ALWAYS because others are receiving more. They have to be understood though they are unbelievably detestable. They have to be special always because they are lacking in life. Funny? They exist, believe me.

Comparison is not bad if intended for a worthy cause. If it is for self-assessment to better one’s self, compare. If it is for progress or improvement, compare. “We should never compare ourselves to others. We may end up believing that we are better or lesser than the others. In either case, we are wrong,” goes one text message.

Bagong Hairdo

Matagal nang umuungot si Kay na magpagupit ng buhok. Ayaw ko noong pumayag dahil nanghihinayang ako na paiksiin ang mahaba niyang buhok. Isa pa, baka mahirapang magpahaba uli.

Pinayagan ko na rin sa wakas (tutal siya naman daw ang magbabayad ha ha ha). ‘Layered’ ang buhok niya ngayon at hanggang balikat na lang. Hindi naman kataasan ang layers. Mabuti din iyon para hindi mahirap pahabain kung magdesisyon na siyang pahabain. Bumagay naman sa kanya. Sabagay, bumabagay naman ang halos lahat ng gupit sa kanya dahil sa hugis ng mukha niya.

Noong maliit si Kay, sobrang bagsak ang buhok niya at nadudulas ang mga ipit. Hindi itim ang kulay. Parang matingkad na moreno ang kulay. Nagtaka ako na nang siya ay papunta na sa pagkadalaginding, nawala ang pagkabagsak at parang may mga kulot sa hairline. Nalaman ko na ito pala ay depende sa polikulo ng buhok (hair follicle). Ang mga polikulo ng mga Afrikano ay may baluktot (curved) na polikulo kaya sila ay kulot. Ang kanilang buhok ay may patag (flat o tapelike) na bahaging paputol (cross section). Ang buhok ng mga Tsino o Hapon ay tuwid, at halos itim lahat. Ito ay tumubo sa tuwid na poliuko na may bilog na bahaging paputol. Ang mga buhok ng mga taga Europe ay maraming alon, at may tendesiyang kumulot. Ito ay may bilohabang bahaging paputol. Ang tipo ng polikulo ang nagsasabi ng mga katangian ng buhok. Ang mga ito rin ay namamana.

Katulad ko rin si Kay na may alon ang ibang parte ng buhok.

Bagong Hairdo

Matagal nang umuungot si Kay na magpagupit ng buhok. Ayaw ko noong pumayag dahil nanghihinayang ako na paiksiin ang mahaba niyang buhok. Isa pa, baka mahirapang magpahaba uli.

Pinayagan ko na rin sa wakas (tutal siya naman daw ang magbabayad ha ha ha). ‘Layered’ ang buhok niya ngayon at hanggang balikat na lang. Hindi naman kataasan ang layers. Mabuti din iyon para hindi mahirap pahabain kung magdesisyon na siyang pahabain. Bumagay naman sa kanya. Sabagay, bumabagay naman ang halos lahat ng gupit sa kanya dahil sa hugis ng mukha niya.

Noong maliit si Kay, sobrang bagsak ang buhok niya at nadudulas ang mga ipit. Hindi itim ang kulay. Parang matingkad na moreno ang kulay. Nagtaka ako na nang siya ay papunta na sa pagkadalaginding, nawala ang pagkabagsak at parang may mga kulot sa hairline. Nalaman ko na ito pala ay depende sa polikulo ng buhok (hair follicle). Ang mga polikulo ng mga Afrikano ay may baluktot (curved) na polikulo kaya sila ay kulot. Ang kanilang buhok ay may patag (flat o tapelike) na bahaging paputol (cross section). Ang buhok ng mga Tsino o Hapon ay tuwid, at halos itim lahat. Ito ay tumubo sa tuwid na poliuko na may bilog na bahaging paputol. Ang mga buhok ng mga taga Europe ay maraming alon, at may tendesiyang kumulot. Ito ay may bilohabang bahaging paputol. Ang tipo ng polikulo ang nagsasabi ng mga katangian ng buhok. Ang mga ito rin ay namamana.

Katulad ko rin si Kay na may alon ang ibang parte ng buhok.