PERSONAL NARRATIVES, MOMMY TIPS, AND THRILLING DISCOVERIES TO MAKE DAILY LIFE THE HAPPIEST
Sa dami ba ng pag-iri at bilang ng anak na niluwal sa mundo? O sa kung ilang beses umakyat sa entablado ang anak upang sabitan ng mga gintong medalya? Maaari ring sa estado ng kanyang mga supling matapos ang maraming taong pakikipagbuno sa paaralan.
Advantages of Teaching Your Baby Sign Language
Your baby wants to communicate with you. He just can’t articulate himself, thus he screams and cries. There is, however, a way to talk with your child in a rather calm and loving way. Through sign language, you and your baby can speak to each other long before he discovers how to talk. From first-hand experience, I can tell you that learning sign language with my Firstborn was beneficial, and reduced a little bit of the stress that comes with being a new parent.
It was morning. I noticed my Firstborn without his eyeglasses on. I asked him to wear it, and he timidly said he accidentally dropped his glasses in a canal yesterday afternoon when I asked him to buy turon.
I am a stay-at-home mom, and many would assume I’ve got plenty of 15 minutes for everything. Reality is, I always end up running against time and retiring for the day too tired to even have dinner. But when I look back to the day I had, the house was a mess, the laundry was close to a mountain of dirty clothes, and the bed was still unmade.
For a mom who balances work and household chores plus family, time is essential. Every minute counts because it is in her nature to see everything in order. As she does her tasks, she feels a sense of fulfillment. Perhaps, her love language is service. But when it comes to her children, she can always accommodate, adjust, and even leave everything. She can still squeeze even a 15-minute break for her little one or perhaps a dozen 15 minutes until she lost count of the time.
Especially this time that we can’t leave the house because of the unpredictable weather, we often spend our time at home. It is just surprising that there are a lot of home activities a mom and her kid can do in 15 minutes. And often, it is that very time that becomes a quality bonding moment that all the more strengthens the relationship between them. Momi Berlin shares a few of her quality time ideas with her little ones.
15-Minute Bonding Ideas with your Kids
This is perhaps one activity we consistently do. 15 minutes is all it takes to visit a different world and meet new characters through the pages of a book. My two boys love it best when I change my voice to mimic the role of the hero or the villain.
We do this especially before bedtime. We read one book only in one sitting as my boys would easily be distracted and sometimes bored with long stories. But they love it best when there are great images that accompany our story reading. Sometimes, we end up not reading but identifying the pictures.
After the two boys’ bath, this mother massages their body. I love putting lotion on them just like how they love the feeling of my palm slowly gliding through their belly, arms, and legs. I usually do the “I love you” massage. It takes us about 15 minutes because I would always end up kissing their armpit, feet, belly button, and anywhere their little hands can’t cover.
I often tell my friends that my boys have extraordinary power. They would seem to wake up, too, every time I leave the bed. Especially in the morning when I prepare school food for their three older brothers, my little ones will join me in the kitchen.
As I prepare sandwiches, for instance, my toddler would begin to munch on the cheese or the ham or the egg. The little one-year-old will also reach for the ingredients and often, we end up with a messy kitchen countertop. I would sometimes feel frustrated but then, end up thanking God for the moment. This mother loves hearing their giggles and seeing their naughty smiles. I know such an opportunity will not last as a few years from now, they will not even care about waking up early to join me in the food preparation. They will be tweens then teenagers who will have their way to make fun.
Our three-year-old loves to sing nursery rhymes. Every time he sings, our little one-year-old joins the fun. So we always have a sing and dance moment anytime anywhere.
We will sing “Itsy Bitsy Spider,” “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,” and “Old McDonald” nonstop. They also love to hug their mom in between the singing and dancing.
Even putting all the toys or folded clothes in the cabinet is a fun chore when with my little ones. Sometimes, I end up folding the same shirt thrice because the little one would keep on grabbing it. But I learned to laugh and be in love with the whole idea. I like how playful they can be and how energetic they are. They seem not to get tired of messing around. But I love best the smile they give to me. It’s the smile of sincere happiness and gratitude. There is no fear in their eyes but the joy of being accepted and understood.
15-Minute Bonding Ideas with your Kids
The special bonding we have with our kids are sometimes cut short when they get sick. Thus, it is also vital that especially this season when the youngsters are vulnerable to a cough, colds, and fever, we have our trusted brand with us.
Just like how a quick 15-minute bonding time with kids can do wonders with a mom-child relationship, Paracetamol (Calpol) also offers fast and efficient fever relief in 15 minutes. Its suspension formula starts to work on fever in 15 minutes (at 15m/kg dosing). This helps moms like me to recover the lost time and missed chance to spend time with their kids who just had fever. I love it too that Paracetamol (Calpol) is gentle on any child’s tummy.
I appreciate how the makers of Calpol considered that 15-minute fever relief to dismiss any missed time with the little ones. Though in reality, us moms give more than 15 minutes of our time for our kids. Just like yesterday, I wasn’t able to wash the dishes and do the laundry on time because again, I spent my first 15 minutes with my boys until it extended and I lost count anymore.
Momi Berlin Directory
Before an appointment with our pediatrician, we dropped by the nearest convenience store to buy a bottle of water (I forgot to bring my water tumbler!). I was so thirsty after having breastfed two boys while on our way to the clinic. At the counter of the convenience store, I saw the familiar egg-shaped chocolate treats, Kinder Joy, that my toddler loves very much. We grabbed five of them.
Are you happy with your life?I asked this to myself one time. It was a year after I resigned from work. I didn’t know what I would want in my life. Or I just denied myself from knowing. All along, everything was clear. I just needed to accept and live the life met for me.
But how would I Know it is the right path?
Having four boys before our SumoSam, this mother learns that play is any child’s natural way to learn. Now at 10 months old, our fifth child loves to play even right after waking up. He also enjoys his bathtime during which he plays pop the bubbles.
I find playing the best motivation for any baby to move around. Plus playing and running around are great ways for family members to connect with a youngster. These two activities are also opportunities to boost a child’s confidence with constant praises and encouragement. Aside from that, babies are able to strengthen their muscles by playing and moving around.
Our SumoSam loves to crawl a lot, sit up by himself, and hold on to anything within reach just to stand up. Given these milestones my son could do, we adjust and incorporate some in his day-to-day activities.
Let me share with you a few play ideas SumoSam and I often indulge at home.
I know a brand which becomes a successful business not merely because of its stunning offerings. A lot of moms and even dads are seen wearing this brand because its purpose is seen and felt beyond its beauty and exquisiteness. I am talking about the Shadrach’s Collection.
I own two pieces of Shadrach’s Collection. One is a ring sling and the other one is a wrap. Both are beautiful, breathable, and created with excellent quality. The color is vibrant too and surely, anyone who sees one wearing any of them would be impressed.
A lot has been said about families sharing meals together. Many attest that family dinners contribute to the overall well-being of both the adults and youngsters. It is at lunchtime or dinner time that manners are learned, life moments are celebrated, and affections are shared. No doubt then that connecting with family members over mealtime is one habit worth nurturing.
Studies have it, too, that children who regularly share the dining table with their family are more likely to do good at school. The same manner that teenagers who eat with their parents are less likely to use alcohol and drugs.
This momi shares ways to make family mealtime an exciting affair and something everyone looks forward to doing. I have seen the enthusiasm and decisive effect it brought in our small house.
Our SumoSam is now 10 months old. From his first day till now, it’s not much of a struggle to take care of him. He is such a good and charming boy that almost every day with him is pure bliss.
He now has a set of activities that he regularly goes through every day and most of the time, he shares them with me – from quiet slumber to unstoppable babbles, irresistible smiles, funny games, and smooth diaper changes.
Every day, I take his cues and in response, we adjust our activities. I must say we have a pretty manageable and predictable life, but that doesn’t make it boring at all.Continue Reading