Happiness Over Poop

It sounds crazy but it's true. My son's poop spells my happiness somewhat. And since i'm a SAHM, I know my son's constitution very much.

It was end of May when Yakee started being constipated. His poop just wasn't what it used to be eventhough there wasn't a big change in his diet. We still mostly ate homecooked meals and he drinks lots of milk. Then we bought some apples last Wednesday and he became constipated big time after that. Enough to really be straining and only pooping small pieces at a time.

I was so stressed. Since I was constipated as a kid, I knew how terrible it is to strain. So it broke my heart when my son would strain and nothing will come out, when he didn't even have to really strain before. Sigh. I go for hours just thinking about his poop.

I have been close to force-feeding him yogurt and probiotic drinks everyday. And after lunch today, he pooped without noticeable strain. My heart started singing again. No more apples for him and certainly, more papaya shakes!

If You Have A Son

Read This: Teachers Don't Like Boys, Mom.

"Boys want to get their feet wet and their hands dirty. They want to build things and take them apart, trap small animals and climb tall trees. Or jump up and touch whatever they can. "

I am guilty of this disservice sometimes... or most times. I hate it when my son creates a mess. I hate it when he gets dirty. I am creeped out by the fact that he chases frogs and lizards and cockroaches and eats moths.

I forget that he is a child exploring his world. I forget that he is a boy who learns with his body, not just his mind.

Shopping with Baby

Despite the rain and threat of Swine Flu, I decided to chance things and bring my son and cousin along with me to the land where products do not pass barcode scanners when you buy them: Divisoria.

Because my son likes music instruments so much, I decided to give in and spoil him a little by buying him a trumpet and drum set, as well as a true-blue harmonica. The Anding's building was filled with so many toys that I can't help but wonder when i'd have a reason to go there again to shop for party favors. See, i've already vowed to give books for Christmas and that I wouldn't give away candies anymore.

Good thing Yakee mostly slept during the commute. And he loved the Divisoria Mall foodcourt so much!

Bad Trip Kate

What a b!tch right? She's all excited and whatever over the interview and denied her girl water (when it's her kids that actually made them famous anyway) while she had some!

And the laughable thing is that she and OctoMom are sniping at each other when they're really both crazy! In a bad, mean way.

A Mommy Challenged

SIL was hormonal (PMS).

And we had a long day previosuly, one where none of the kids ate meals on time and they binged on sugar (ice cream, meringue, etc.)

And it was her birthday.

So I couldn't blame her if she felt that for brunch, her daughter had to eat a proper meal of rice and viand. And I also couldn't blame her for thinking her daughter would love the lechon paksiw because it was really delicious.

So when her daughter refused to eat, and kept on ignoring her to watch TV... and later on ran around the dining table while making sure everyone was watching her mother running after her, I also couldn't blame my SIL for bringing her upstairs where they 'talked'. Mostly, my niece howled. If she was spanked, am sure she didn't get much of it. But she howled and threw a tantrum and they struggled over the food for hours.

Remember, SIL had PMS and it was her birthday. And they were at my in laws, where every daughter or son-in-law would be naturally defensive.

I sort of saw myself having a similar episode with Yakee in the future. Yikes.

Later on, I shared with SIL what I learned from a parenting book and a parenting seminar:
1) Opt instead for a week of generally satisfactory meals for a child, instead of getting anxious daily. Just don't offer unhealthy alternatives (meaning, don't make EATING the lesson, but EATING WELL). Us adults have off days too.
2) For the can afford, no child has died of hunger yet. So if a child doesn't want to eat, do not make in into a power struggle. Een if you win, you lose, because the child would hae only eaten because he/she felt forced or controlled.
3) Opt for small snacks every 2 hours or so (especially for smaller children) instead of the three main meals. Just keep the unhealthy stuff at a minimum.

But I shared those things with her, not to correct or judge her, but to help her be less anxious. Because as a fellow Mom, I know how it feels sometimes as if it's crucial that our child finishes a bowl of food... like our life depended on it. But i've also really learned that in relaxing my attitude about feeding my son, I got more positive results.

Happy birthday SIL. Like what I told you, good luck to us in parenting our kids because it's really, really tough.

Starting A Family - Lifeworks Series

Know about pregnancy myths and facts and basic tips of taking a newborn.

Learn about how to take care of yourself, and the fashion that best fits a new mother.

Learn tips on how to parent children 0-6 years old, practical tips for their health and nutrition and the basic rules on proper parenting.

Attend Working Mom's Starting A Family Seminar at Fully Booked Top Shelf, 5th level, Bonifacio High Street from 1:00 - 5:30 PM on June 28, 2009. Pre-registration is a must so click on the picture for details.

Hammock Fancy

These are hammocks at the Arugaan Creche run by a serious lactivist that i've grown to admire, Nanay Innes. She's a grandmother with a mission, to make breastfeeding the norm, two breasts at a time, and to protect the Filipino culture and health through the consumption of organic food. She's a vegan who always appeals to her audience to patronize local produce and support our Filipino farmers.

Anyway, she had these custom-made in Nueva Ecija, I think. They can accommodate babies up to three years and are supported by low, wooden structures. It's actually a very wise design, for in the event a child falls off the crib, he wouldn't have that far to fall from. Same reason why some setup their hammocks right over the family bed: sleeping parents can swing it while half-asleep, mommies need not get up to get to a hungry baby, and babies won't fall from a high place in case they get too wriggly in the hammock (usually made from a blanket).

I've told hubs I want one like this for our next child. Hopefully, we'd have the space for it (maybe some plastic chests can go).

Yakee's didn't really work for us eh.