Toddlers Never Cease to Overwhelm Themselves

It’s amazing how toddlers challenge themselves in getting involved with adult matters. According to the developmental stages of Erik Erickson, toddlers (kids between ages 18 months to 3 years) focus on independence. This means that the child has to rebel against their parents’ wishes to gain independence. They resist parental demands, rather they are fond of giving orders. We usually hear them say “NO,” that is why toddler years are being referred to as the Terrible Two’s. During this stage of development, toddlers are very self-centered, possessive, often negative and frustrated, no ability to choose between alternatives, and they are resistive to change. It is a time for them to gain more control over their bodies and acquire new skills. Being able to perform activities by themselves and learning right from wrong gives them the opportunity to build self-esteem and autonomy. Temper tantrums are common, that’s why it is important for parents to be consistent in their discipline and set limits on the child’s acceptable and unacceptable behaviors.

Here are some parenting guidelines in dealing with toddlers:

· As parents, we must behave how we want our kids to behave because they copy parents’ actions. According to research, toddlers engage in so-called “emotional eavesdropping”, a term used when kids listen and watch emotional reactions directed by one adult to another and use this emotional observation and information to profile their own behavior. Yelling, spanking, being angered easily, and impatience may be imitated and instilled in their minds.
· Putting stress on appropriate versus inappropriate behavior is important. Positive behaviors should be recognized and rewarded. Setting limits and time-out should be initiated for negative behaviors.
· Teach them the concepts of thank you, sorry, please, sharing with others, and respect for others, young or old.
· Play with them; be their friends.
· Engage with activities like problem-solving, social skills, and creativity. This will enhance their gift.
· Listen to music together and sing with them.
· Read books and watch educational movies together. Have fun!

what is LOVE?

L O V E ...

is patient and kind;

it does not envy;

it does not boast;

it is not proud;

it is not rude;

it is not self-seeking;

it is not easily angered and keeps no record of wrongs;

it does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth;

it always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Avocado Fruit

Have you ever thought of a part of a man’s body that resembles the fruit avocado? An edible fruit with a distinct taste, avocado is derived from the Nahuati word ‘ahuacati’ or in Spanish, ‘aguacate’ meaning ‘testicle.’ Indeed, it is shaped like a testicle, a male reproductive organ that produces and stores millions of tiny sperm cells. Avocado has an oval shape with an elongated neck and a seed inside. But more than the shape, avocado is considered one of the most nutritious fruits in the Philippines. It contains vitamins good for our body such as Vitamin A, B, C, E, and K. It also has the necessary minerals like potassium, sodium, calcium, folic acid, and dietary fibers. Avocado is a good antioxidant and it can be used as treatment of skin disorders. It’s the best source to beautify ourselves, isn’t it? It may not be as famous as mangoes, apple or banana, since its taste is not so sweet, I still find avocado a fruit worth trying for. You can prepare it in different ways. It can be eaten with milk and sugar, a flavor of your ice cream, ice candy and shake, can be mixed with your vegetable salad, or just put some mayonnaise and shrimps on top of it!

My Angels

Eight years ago, our family was blessed with a cute, pretty little angel named Charlize Bianca. She’s the daughter of my elder brother. Everybody just loved her deep, tantalizing eyes, especially everytime they go big whenever we are talking and playing with her. As she grew up, we became fonder of her because of how witty and smart she is. She would make funny remarks like an old person, and she loves acting like she’s a TV personality. She was always the light of the family. Whenever I got home and saw a cute, small pair of slippers, I automatically become elated because I know that our angel is home. We would read stories, eat together and sleep together. I really treated and loved her like my own daughter. Time came when I finally got pregnant. Bianca was so excited with the baby inside my womb. I told her that my baby would be named Beatriz, derived from the word ‘beatitude’ which means happiness. She would always talk to Beatriz and say “I love you Bea”, and I would also tell her that Beatriz answered back and said “I love you too Ate Bianca.” I can really see the delight in her face and asks me why I know what Bea is telling her. I used to answer Bianca that I know what’s inside Bea’s mind and heart because I am her mother, just like how her mom feels about her, and she would accept it, pleased and gratified. On the day that I was about to deliver Beatriz, I remember that we were reading stories while I was waiting for my sister to get done in the bathroom. When it was my turn, I saw signs that it was already time for Beatriz to come out. I hurriedly told my sister about it, and my sister told Bianca that she must behave because Beatriz is gonna come out soon. To our surprise, she jumped and jumped on the bed shouting, “Beatriz is coming out! Beatriz is coming out!”, excited and overjoyed.

Another angel is now in the family, another light. There’s somebody again who brings joy to us, whom we look forward to when we go home.

Now that Beatriz is already two years old, and Bianca is going eight years old, they may not have the luxury of time to play and grow up together (since Bianca is already in Manila and Bea is in Davao), but everytime they see each other, they are still the loving cousins who treat each other like sisters and play together without the boundary of time and distance. These two little girls will always be my angels. And more to come…

“God has given us two hands – one to receive with and the other to give with. We are not cisterns made for hoarding; we are channels made for giving.”

Billy Grahan

“Our greatest glory consists not in never falling but rising everytime we fall.”

Oliver Goldsmith

“Wisdom is knowing what to do next; skill is knowing how to do it, and virtue is doing it.”

David Starr Jordan

Bonding Moments

A lot of people would say that the best thing we could give to our children aside from material things is quality time. This is one great way where we can show our love and care for them. And there are many different ways to spend our time with them. Some would prefer to go to shopping malls, eat ice cream at kiddie restaurants, go swimming, watch a movie, or go to parks. But for me, the best place that I can spend quality time with my daughter is inside the room, on our bed. No amount of food, shopping, or swimming can replace the feeling of being able to huddle and cuddle, kiss and embrace, play and tickle, and hear my little angel laugh and shout of excitement. She can even have her carousel ride, I being her human carousel. It’s also a place where I can tell her stories and teach her ABCs and 123s. And on that bed, we create memories, happy and meaningful memories. And come to think of it, what an inexpensive way to share bonding moments with my angel!
We may have distinct and unique ideas on how to have quality time with our kids. It doesn’t matter how or where. What’s important is we are able to impart to them how much we care.

Dengue Fever

I got a text message from my sister-in-law yesterday. It said that her three-year-old niece is diagnosed with dengue fever, and that her platelet count is going down. As a nurse, having witnessed and known how this disease attack and kill people, I really felt worried and scared. I can't imagine an innocent child suffer this kind of illness, because I, too, was once a victim of this. Experiencing abdominal pain, dizziness, weakness, and high fever is not easy. I told my sister-in-law to have her niece drink "tawa-tawa", a boiled herbal plant known to raise one's platelet. What is this illness that endangers one's life?
Dengue fever, or sometimes called, Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever, is an acute infectious disease transmitted by Aedes aegypti, a day-biting mosquito. They lay eggs in stagnant water found at homes and nearby places, such as flower vases, water drums, old rubber tires, and canals. Symptoms are manifested by a high fever, abdominal pain, weakness, skin rashes or petechiae (red tiny spots on the skin), vomiting, and dark tarry stools. Sad to say, there is no specific treatment for dengue fever. Patients are just advised to have adequate rest and drink plenty of fluids. It is essential to replace lost fluids for the patient to restore health, and in severe cases, transfusions are needed to control bleeding.

For now, there is nothing I can do for the three-year-old child but wait for their update. I just have to hope and pray that everything will turn out well and good.