by rossanahead | Jun 14, 2011 | career, children, family, Karen Galarpe, parenting, woman
By Karen Galarpe
About a year ago, I was trying to schedule a lunch date with two of my classmates back in high school. We were all working for the same company, and I figured we should have a mini-reunion right in our neck of the woods.
It should have been easy to set a date then, I thought, but it proved otherwise. MG had to pick up her daughter from a tutorial center and bring her home, right around her lunch break. MC had to make a run to her sons’ school to pick them up and bring them home, before returning to work. Every day.
Finally, we found a common free lunch hour (after weeks of scheduling). After talking about high school and work, we got to talk about our lives as career moms.
True, it may be difficult, but bringing our kids to and from school is a joy in itself, we agreed. The extra time to bond with our kids is priceless as we get to talk about the serious and not so serious stuff while on the road.
We hear it first from our kids what happened in school, what project they need to do, and what they did with their friends.
We learn more about their world at the exact time they feel like talking about their day. More often than not, they’re kinda tired by the time we get home from work that they’re not in the mood for much talk.
I know not many moms have the privilege of driving their kids to and from school every day, but should you have the chance, take it. Kids grow up fast; make time to be with them.
by rossanahead | Jun 7, 2011 | children, family, parenting, Ruth M. Floresca, woman
By Ruth Manimtim-Floresca
It was humid last night and my skin felt sticky. Hubby opted to spread a mattress on the living room floor to escape the heat from our bedroom. As I remained in bed to keep an eye on our child with special needs, who was watching TV, my youngest son jumped on the bed and snuggled against me.
“It’s hot anak, we’re both going to sweat more if you hug me like that,” I admonished.
My 12-year-old, the one who’s the smartest aleck of all my sons, didn’t let go. Instead, he softly replied, “You know Mom, when I’m all grown up and working in a faraway place, you won’t get as many chances to have me by your side. By then, we’ll just get to talk and see each other on Skype.” So much for guilt trips; I was the one who got hit, hard.
“Fine,” I said grudgingly, suppressing a smile. When I tried to move a little and get more comfortable, my not-so-little boy tightened his hold and whispered in a singsong voice, “Chance.”
As we watched TV, I said a silent prayer of thanks for having such a sweet boy who has this ability to utter retorts that sound way beyond his years.
Five minutes or so later, my son got up. I guess he also realized he can’t stand the heat. “What about the chance?!” I protested. He smiled his mischievous smile and said, “It will come again tomorrow night.”
Every day, I am constantly amazed at what my kids are capable of, in a good way. I just hope that I remain observant of those precious moments especially the ones that pass by only once. Happily, I got one of those chances last night.
by rossanahead | Jun 4, 2011 | children, family, parenting, Rossana Llenado, woman
By Rossana Llenado
What I like about traveling is that I get to discover so many things. And by that, I don’t just mean all the unique characteristics of a particular destination, but all those charming characteristics that travel brings out in my children.
Last week, we were finally able to take a trip to Korea. We’ve wanted to go for the longest time, but work and my kids’ equally hectic schedule interfered with our plans.
For four glorious days, we found ourselves in the land of kimchi and cherry blossoms. Incheon Airport did not disappoint. One of the most efficient airports in the world, it is state-of-the-art serving some 15 million passengers every year. So efficient is this airport that we were able to get out of there in just 15 minutes! How’s that for a good first impression?
We did a lot of walking during those four days, which wasn’t such a hassle as their sidewalks were not only wide, they were also pretty! The sidewalks were landscaped so there were many flowers and trees and greens, very picturesque.
I am so happy that my kids like the museums and parks more than the malls and amusement parks. The garden outside the National Museum of Korea had all these sculptures and benches. There was also a beautiful playground with exercise equipments all around. We ended up trying all of them. It was fun!
We also visited the six-acre Biwon (Secret Garden), which is located inside the Changdeokgung Palace. It was a magnificent garden filled with woodland paths, lotus ponds, and pleasure pavilions. We just walked and walked and walked, taking in the scenery and the fresh air.
I love it as well that my kids were adventurous when it came time to eat. We ate Korean food every day. We couldn’t get enough of it!
That’s why I love taking my Nicolo, Paolo, Darla, and Meg on trips abroad. They make for the best travel companions because they’re always open to new adventures and experiences. Till the next trip, kiddos!
by rossanahead | Jun 2, 2011 | children, family, Karen Galarpe, parenting, woman
By Karen Galarpe
As I write this, my mom is intently watching a teleserye, squinting through her glasses. At the next commercial break, I know what she’ll do: pick up her crochet kit and resume crocheting something–a bag, a coaster, or a tablecloth–until the teleserye comes back on TV.
Every night, she would do this for as far back as I can remember.
Sometimes I would ask her what crochet project she’s working on. And so she would tell me. But at other times she herself doesn’t know what would come out of it. She’d continue crocheting just the same, much like an abstract artist would continue painting with no idea where it would lead, and be thrilled (or dismayed) at the end result.
I have always wondered why I never took to doing crochet. Just looking at the repetitive motions seems to bore me, and really, I would just rather read, or watch NatGeo or the news.
In the same way, I have always wondered why I never liked mahjong, which my mom has been playing almost every day since I was old enough to go to preschool. I remember playing patintero and tumbang preso at someone’s front yard or backyard while our moms were inside the house, playing their own game.
While my mom follows every teleserye on her favorite TV channel, I can’t stand watching Pinoy drama on TV. After a day of working hard, I really prefer to relax and not delve into the problems of some drama princess on TV.
Clearly, my mom and I are so different.
But we are also so alike.
We both like to eat out, are both morning persons, and like fried rice and salted dried fish for breakfast. We both enjoy sweets and coffee, and like discovering new places. We’re not good swimmers and neither are we good cooks. But we both like Michael Buble, and strongly believe family should always come first.
Some years back, my mom and I would take turns picking up my son from school. Rain or shine, she would be there to make sure my son sees a familiar face at dismissal time on days I’m tied up with work.
Last month, she turned 80. Those years of making sundo from school are long past, with my son in high school and her gait not as strong as before. Her hands may tremble a bit while working on her current crochet project, but she’d continue just the same.
She’s still the same mom I’ve known all these years.
Moms are God’s blessings, don’t you agree?
by rossanahead | May 26, 2011 | children, parenting, Ruth M. Floresca, woman
By Ruth Manimtim-Floresca
For the past couple of days, I have encountered several ungentlemanly men who seem to have no regard whatsoever for women. For instance, I rode a service van provided for event attendees by a very considerate PR company. After most of the passengers have gotten off, the last guy left forcefully “suggested” to the driver to drop him off at his office first despite the place being farther than my destination.
When he got out, he immediately walked away and left the van door open for me to close. I had to laugh when the driver said, “Buti sana kung gwapo, pwede pa sigurong maging bastos. Kaso, hindi!” It may be a little thing to some, not worthy of attention, but the action spoke volumes about the guy’s character. And I haven’t even told you the other things he did that irritated other passengers earlier.
Then there’s the waiter who kept serving food and drinks first to my male friend who’s seated beside me at a media event. There we were, two women at the table, and we had to wait for five minutes or more before the waiter came back to serve us.
It’s also sad to see women giving up their seats on a bus so that a pregnant lady, a mom with a small child, someone with a disability, or a really old person could sit while dozens of uncaring men stay put, pretending not to notice.
On the other hand, the past two days also found me in the company of considerate guys who opened doors for me, assisted me in getting on and off a boat, and insisted I get in line first at the buffet table. Those are the kind of men I want my sons to be like when they grow up! The kind of man their dad is to women he interacts with every day.
I hope that the good examples they see and the frequent reminders they’re given on practicing gentlemanly ways all the time will stick in my boys’ heads. I pray that those would help mold them into men whom women would be proud to know.
Chivalry is not yet dead. There are still a handful of boys and men who know how to pay respect to women. I just wish there are more of them.
by rossanahead | May 24, 2011 | career, children, Education, Karen Galarpe, parenting
By Karen Galarpe
It never fails to amuse people when they hear my reply when they ask me what course I took in college. Sometimes I make them guess. At other times, I blurt the truth out to save time.
“Commerce. Accounting,” I would say. And always there would be a split second of shock, before I hear laughter.
“Then what are you doing in journalism?”
And so I would tell them how I really wanted to be a writer since grade school, nurtured the dream in high school and even joined the school paper, before ending up at the College of Commerce.
My dad wanted me to be a lawyer since he wanted to be one too. He wasn’t able to finish his law course though since he got married early and started a family. Since my three elder siblings didn’t fancy law, he put his hopes on me, the youngest, to fulfill his dream.
The accounting course was in preparation for a career as a CPA-lawyer. I did the whole course and even passed the board exam. After 2 years as an auditor, however, I felt I would grow old by 10 years in a year’s time. I would really rather write stories that could help other people than trace transactions and prepare financial statements.
I share this because in a few months, many senior high school students would be applying for college, and I am sure, a lot of them aren’t sure of what course they want to take.
Parents, I believe, should not relive their dreams through their kids. Instead they should help them find their passion and encourage them to go that way.
When one has passion in what he does, he’ll no doubt excel in his field and will have a zest for life every day. That’s in stark contrast to the man just trudging along, slaving away at a job he doesn’t like, waiting for the clock to signal the end of a working day.
Your child will show signs of his interests and passion which are gifts from God. Be keen in observing them. These may be different from your own gifts and passion, but that just goes to show you your child is his own person. Then be your child’s cheerleader and egg him on to enrol in a college course that could prepare him to pursue his dreams.
My dad couldn’t do anything when I told him I resigned from my auditor job many, many years ago and was enrolling in graduate school for a master’s degree in journalism. He realized this is my passion, and has given me the leeway to pursue my dreams.
And that’s why I’ve been writing and why you’re reading this.
