Because the baby is not yet a lady

Wendy has been raring to “grow up” since time immemorial! I know she’s showing signs, like not wanting to be called baby, saying she can go the store alone because she’s now a little girl, and suddenly talking of boys or using lotions and make-up [my only consolation is she hasn’t mentioned fat burners yet], but let me tell you of  a warm moment we had last Sunday afternoon that shows that, somehow, this little girl is not that grown up she thinks she is.

Wendy had an assigment for her Filipino subject wherein she had to memorize a poem consisting of four stanzas, two of which she had already memorized. The remaining two, she said, she will memorize right after Wizards of Waverly Place and Hannah Montana [ending around 5 p.m.], so she had the whole afternoon to evening to memorize [it was all she had because the next day was Monday]. So I said, OK.

I fell asleep while she watched, and before I knew it, it was already 7 p.m. I awoke to someone crying and saw my little girl in tears. She was crying because it was already 7 p.m. and she hasn’t started memorizing yet. So I got up and comforted her, telling her that she need not cry and that she can still do it. I hugged her until she stopped crying and was reassured that she can still memorize the whole poem by that night. 

In the end, with my constant prodding and cheering, she memorized the poem in 1 hour [no easy feat, I tell you, beause Wendy hates memorizing].

She told me after: Kasi mama, when I saw you sleeping, nagpanic ako. I didn’t know what to do. Thanks for helping me. You’re the best mama in the whole world! Love you!

Aaaahhh..your kids do sure grow, but you will always be their savior, and no matter how they seem to go on their own path, the road will always lead back to you.

Empty-nest syndrome

Whew! What a weekend!

With my sister’s wedding last week, it has been a flurry of activities extending up to just this weekend! Since she and her husband left for their new “home,” my other sister and I have been busty exchanging and fixing our rooms, thowing what was not needed anymore, giving away what was still usable, and making sure our rooms were habitable.

When someone leaves the house, the house becomes spacier, the clutter lessens, and the room brightens because of the sudden increase in floor space. I’m realizing we don’t need a home alarm anymore since our appliances and furniture are down to a bare minimum!

On the other hand, our hearts are gloomier and it feels like a part of us has gone away. Even Wendy feels sad that “Tita Li will no longer be sleeping in our house.” Ours is really a happy family, and the departure of one leaves a hole in each one of us. Imagine, for 26 years, my sister has lived with us in the same house, and for 23 years, she and I [plus our other sister] have been sleeping in the same room! Now, wala na! Loneliness creeps in when we remember the funs and busy times! Minus 1 family member again…This is what they must call the empty-nest syndrome [although the “nest” is not yet empty]. I can see it in my sister’s eyes, in my daughter’s eyes, and in my mother’s eyes. Aaahhh…the downside ot a close-knit family.

But I guess I would have to deal with that. And besides, the newlyweds live just a village away! He! He!

King of computer-related stuff?

If there’s one more store [aside from baking and crafts stores] I avoid going to because I usually spend more than what I intend to, it’s CD-R King.

They sell so many computer- and techie-related stuff, from CDs to USBs to speakers to memory cards to keyboard protectors! They even have those digital frames! Kulang na lang desktops!

The best thing? Their products are cheap. The quality is not that great though, pero pwede na. Kaya naman when I go to their store and see all the stuff, ayun, napapabili na. I have to buy 5 pieces of blank CDs. But oohhh…I might as well buy that cute mouse, and why not add that laptop fan? Oh, and I have to change my memory card! Aaaarrghhh!

The worst thing? Their service is soooooo inefficient and slow! I don’t know if it’s deliberate, but everytime I go to their store, I have to wait 20 minutes to buy 5 pieces of CD! Hay naku!

In the end, though, whenever we need cheap computer products, CD-R King is where we go to!

Being proud of yourself

One fine evening, I saw Wendy fumbling over her crayons and pentel pens for a school homework, and this is what she did:

Sometimes, Wendy would tell me that she didn’t like to be fat [which, with all honesty, she isn’t] and she wants her skin to be lighter. I would tell her that she should love herself for what she is; this is the first step to happiness!

I asked her if she did love herself and if she was proud of her sel, she said yes.  This made me smile because at least, she realizes she doesn’t need ephedrine products or whitening lotions for her to love herself!

I am so loving that school homework! The school should do this often so that children would realize that whatever they are,  they should be proud of themselves.

Mini [as in mini] dolls

You won’t be needing a  Bob stroller for these babies!

When I first saw these pictures, I thought, those babies must be really premature! But how come they look healthy and thriving! It turns out that these are miniature dolls! So cute diba?!

So if you’re considering having baby but are not sure If you’re ready for one, you might opt to try these out first! He! He!

Stationery galore!

Before I was hooked into traveling (and spending my time looking for the best airline promos and searching for Outer Banks rentals), baking then (having failures and successes on the way), and photography (I love taking pictures and have thousands already), when I was a child, I remember being hooked on something: stationeries!

Oh, I remember how I would have so many plastic envelopes containing so many stationeries…stationeries of all sizes, shapes, and colors. Some had lines, some had none; some had envelopes, some were plain notepads. I remember treasuring this collection. I also remember “exchanging” stationeries with friends who also collected these! It was fun bartering!

I know that stationeries are meant to be written on, but I rarely used any of my collection for writing. If I ever did, I would choose the “ugliest” or “plainest” one.

As I grew up, though, I learned to use these stationeries for writing notes and letters to friends and family and building relationships in the process. And in contrast to when I was young, I would choose the prettiest stationery to write on.

Over the years that times have changed and electronic letters became more the norm [not to mention more efficient and easier], my collection gathered dust, so I started giving them away last year to younger ladies who appreciated them. And last week, I gave away the last pack left of my stationery collection. Bitterweet! But I could only smile when I remember how fun it was collect stationeries. Good times!

Earth insurance

These signs have been put up lately in our office restrooms:

Last year, Mordsith and I thought of asking the higher ups to put these signs. People in our office can be so wasteful when it comes to using tissues. And it’s not a good thing. We talked to our supervisor about it and she told us to give her the “words.” Unfortunately, the task sort of slipped out of our heads and we sort of forgot about it. So when these signs were put up last month, no need to say we were very happy [apparently, someone else in the office cared too]. A lot in our office need these constant reminders.

Taking care of our environment is like buying home insurance for our bigger home, the Earth, don’t you think? And we are all reponsible for it.  So let us all do our part, no matter how small, even if it is just using tissue paper appropriately.

LP: Imposible ba ito?

Imposible ba ito…

 Na makabili ako kahit isang kotse dito?

  Di naman siguro, basta lang manalo ako sa lotto or magtrabaho ako hanggang dumugo ilong ko para maka-ipon!

Sa ibang salita, medyo imposible nga! He! He!

Halina’t tingnan ang ibang lahok sa Litratong Pinoy sa linggong ito!

Maligayang Huwebes!

Cause for celebration

Will be gone for a couple of days to stay in Tagaytay over the weekend for a special occassion. My sister will be having most exciting thing happen in her life [besides perhaps the Europe trip]. Yes, she will be getting married!

It’s very exciting, of course! So many blessings have poured into our family. I’m so happy that my sister has found THE ONE for her. They have been together for 10 years, and it’s about time they settle down!

This moment is doubly special because my mother will witness it, which would have been improbable when we found out of her cancer 2 years ago. We’ve been praying that she will still be here this day, and she still is! [Oh, what prayer, family and friend support, and health insurance like  Blue Cross North Carolina can do!]. We are all so happy! And I bet my mother is doubly happy to see her daughter walk down the aisle when every day is a blessing!

So there. Will see you when I get back!

Groping for words

KG: Wendy, classmate mo si Gabriela diba? Is she smart?

Wendy: Hmmmm….ummmmm…..

KG: What?

Wendy: Wait! Ano, kasi, her smartness is complicated.

KG: Huh? What do you mean her smartness is complicated?

Wendy: She’s semi-smart. She’s smart but she’s noisy.

Ohhhhh…yun pala yun!

I guess for Wendy, looking for the right word is not as hard as looking for the best diet pills! Grabe! It’s so complicated!