A couple of minutes later, he knew what he had to do.
"My sculpture."
Showing posts with label children. Show all posts
Showing posts with label children. Show all posts
Monday, January 16, 2012
Big Toys for the Small Boy
A couple of minutes later, he knew what he had to do.
"My sculpture."
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Play Dough For Sale
Thanks to Tita Corinne who taught Elise how to make play dough from scratch, the kids now have a renewed interest in molding and sculpting. Elise tried to sell some in her school for P5 apiece but was gently told by Teacher that selling stuff in school is not permitted. Too bad, she had 13 orders pending. Her classmates' faces fell. So, she ended up "lending" them the play dough and Teacher said that if they lose it, they would have to pay for it. Too funny.
Meanwhile, Nacho enjoys them and makes waffles and pancakes for his three imaginary friends: Tatur, B.O. (don't ask me what they stand for, he said it doesn't stand for anything) and Baylon. This imaginary friend thing is in itself another story.
The last time we played with these things was during the tsunami scare in February right after the Chile earthquake. We had to stay indoors and so the kids made some pretend food for breakfast
Meanwhile, Nacho enjoys them and makes waffles and pancakes for his three imaginary friends: Tatur, B.O. (don't ask me what they stand for, he said it doesn't stand for anything) and Baylon. This imaginary friend thing is in itself another story.
The last time we played with these things was during the tsunami scare in February right after the Chile earthquake. We had to stay indoors and so the kids made some pretend food for breakfast
and a birthday cake for Annie (Elise's baby doll).
Super creative, huh? But we had some cheat sheets. Thanks to Tito Louie, who gave us three clay modeling books for kids.
They're called SMARTY Clay Modeling produced by Dolphin Books, published by Straight Lines International, Inc. located at Sterling Place, 2302 Pasong Tamo Ext., Makati City 1231, Philippines.
They're called SMARTY Clay Modeling produced by Dolphin Books, published by Straight Lines International, Inc. located at Sterling Place, 2302 Pasong Tamo Ext., Makati City 1231, Philippines.
This is not a paid advertisement. I am just so happy with the little paperback books that make our playtime much more fun!
Friday, May 14, 2010
Rain, Rain, Don't Go Away!
We were confined indoors on a very hot morning a few weeks ago. We could feel the fiery sun and could smell the humidity as we opened the balcony window. There was nothing to do outside, so we decided to paint some pictures.
It started to get cloudy very slowly, and the smell just became wetter and wetter. I called the kids to inhale and smell the approaching rain. In about ten minutes, the sky was gray and the drops fell loud and hard.
Nacho, still wearing his painting smock, was hypnotized by it all as he sat under an umbrella.
The rain was so strong and so refreshing that I wanted to go out with him too.
And why not? The three of us changed into our swimsuits, put on shirts and shorts on top, and with three umbrellas, walked around the beach and the lagoon, jumping on muddy puddles.
It started to get cloudy very slowly, and the smell just became wetter and wetter. I called the kids to inhale and smell the approaching rain. In about ten minutes, the sky was gray and the drops fell loud and hard.
Nacho, still wearing his painting smock, was hypnotized by it all as he sat under an umbrella.
The rain was so strong and so refreshing that I wanted to go out with him too.
And why not? The three of us changed into our swimsuits, put on shirts and shorts on top, and with three umbrellas, walked around the beach and the lagoon, jumping on muddy puddles.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Bad Eating Habits No More
It's been a tiring week.
Nacho had diarrhea since last Saturday and did his thing about three to four times a day. And one of those times always included a trip to the bathroom at about 2:00A.M. He also had low grade fever that I had to check regularly, so this meant less than three hours of sleep for me every night.
Just when his continuous fever disappeared on Tuesday night, it was Elise's turn. She had a severe stomachache and could not sleep since her 9:00a.m. bedtime. Then she finally let it all out on the bedroom floor, and the Jollibee spaghetti she ate at dinnertime looked like it had not been digested even after three hours. Just when we got everything cleaned up, Nacho had to go again, and he still had diarrhea.
The next day, we finally went to the pediatrician at Palawan Adventist Hospital. She had been out of town so she could vote in her hometown for the national elections and Wednesday afternoon was the earliest she could come. But she was constantly texting with me as I updated her on Nacho's condition. Since Nacho's fever did not go higher than 38.1, there was not any cause for alarm. He drank lots of water and did not get dehydrated.
Turned out Elise had indigestion and Nacho had a viral infection, as expected. They are now both on a soft diet with minimal dairy and no sweets. No iced tea, hardly any juice and no carbonated drinks. She prescribed Domperidone (Motilium) for Elise, which took effect immediately. Elise is now playing and is back to her cheerful self. We were also told to give Nacho some Bacillus Clausii (Erceflora), which is some live good bacteria for his tummy. After one dose, his diarrhea was also gone. So now, we are just continuing the medication and the treatment. Nacho lost some weight, but I am sure that he will regain it.
What was good about this pediatrician was that she took the time out to talk about things that were related to the stomach. She asked how Nacho eats, how long he eats, and his other eating habits. After I told her how, she labeled me a "Full Time Feeder." Yes, it takes Nacho about two hours to eat. By the time he finishes breakfast, it's already lunch time. And yes, he still drinks a lot of milk, about 50% of his diet. Yes, he is still a part-time bottle drinker. Yes, I end up giving him a lot of milk if he does not eat a lot of food. Yes, he brings toys to the table. Yes, I follow him around with a spoonful of food. Yes, of course, I feed him to speed up the process. Yes, he can feed himself. How much do I think he should eat? No, not a mugful, just a cup, about 250grams. Do we celebrate when he eats a lot, and tell him he is a good boy? Do we get upset with him when he does not finish his food?
Is the TV on when they eat? Yes, sometimes. Okay, most of the time. Okay, all the time. She said this was probably why Elise did not chew her food well too.
No excuses. I've done a lousy job helping my kids appreciate food on the table, three times a day, even more. I let this part slide. And because of it, their stomachs did not digest properly and will not be able to tell their brain what it needs or what it does not need. When they eat and give it their hundred percent attention, they know when to stop, when to drink, and when to get some more.
We were doing fine late last year. I did not go into details that when we were in Manila, they both ate properly. Nacho was even almost bottle-free. Our dining room was separate from the room with the TV. Since we moved, everything happens in one room. But this is not without a solution. The TV still has an OFF switch, and the toys can still be banned from the table.
I told the doctor that I think Nacho regressed a bit. She asked me if I have been focusing more on Elise..... Looking back, we were a bit too much into each other's faces when we were rushing her 3rd and 4th quarter grades. Yes, about that time, he slowly drank from the bottle more frequently, and only ate when I fed him.
So, all is well now.
Cut down the milk by 90%. Increased snacks. We've gone through three meals without any distractions - toys, books, TV. No more of the usual stuff. Shockingly, Nacho is eating properly and is eating adequate amounts. I just give him a little bit, and if he wants more, he gets more. No more fireworks and a marching band when he finishes his food. And if he can't eat it all, then he will just have to wait till the next meal... or snack. I shall quietly put the leftover away.
I am close to thanking God for letting Nacho get a mild viral infection, and for Elise's tummy to give up digesting that spaghetti the other night. Thank God for making their parents realize that things needed to change.
Nacho had diarrhea since last Saturday and did his thing about three to four times a day. And one of those times always included a trip to the bathroom at about 2:00A.M. He also had low grade fever that I had to check regularly, so this meant less than three hours of sleep for me every night.
Just when his continuous fever disappeared on Tuesday night, it was Elise's turn. She had a severe stomachache and could not sleep since her 9:00a.m. bedtime. Then she finally let it all out on the bedroom floor, and the Jollibee spaghetti she ate at dinnertime looked like it had not been digested even after three hours. Just when we got everything cleaned up, Nacho had to go again, and he still had diarrhea.
The next day, we finally went to the pediatrician at Palawan Adventist Hospital. She had been out of town so she could vote in her hometown for the national elections and Wednesday afternoon was the earliest she could come. But she was constantly texting with me as I updated her on Nacho's condition. Since Nacho's fever did not go higher than 38.1, there was not any cause for alarm. He drank lots of water and did not get dehydrated.
Turned out Elise had indigestion and Nacho had a viral infection, as expected. They are now both on a soft diet with minimal dairy and no sweets. No iced tea, hardly any juice and no carbonated drinks. She prescribed Domperidone (Motilium) for Elise, which took effect immediately. Elise is now playing and is back to her cheerful self. We were also told to give Nacho some Bacillus Clausii (Erceflora), which is some live good bacteria for his tummy. After one dose, his diarrhea was also gone. So now, we are just continuing the medication and the treatment. Nacho lost some weight, but I am sure that he will regain it.
What was good about this pediatrician was that she took the time out to talk about things that were related to the stomach. She asked how Nacho eats, how long he eats, and his other eating habits. After I told her how, she labeled me a "Full Time Feeder." Yes, it takes Nacho about two hours to eat. By the time he finishes breakfast, it's already lunch time. And yes, he still drinks a lot of milk, about 50% of his diet. Yes, he is still a part-time bottle drinker. Yes, I end up giving him a lot of milk if he does not eat a lot of food. Yes, he brings toys to the table. Yes, I follow him around with a spoonful of food. Yes, of course, I feed him to speed up the process. Yes, he can feed himself. How much do I think he should eat? No, not a mugful, just a cup, about 250grams. Do we celebrate when he eats a lot, and tell him he is a good boy? Do we get upset with him when he does not finish his food?
Is the TV on when they eat? Yes, sometimes. Okay, most of the time. Okay, all the time. She said this was probably why Elise did not chew her food well too.
No excuses. I've done a lousy job helping my kids appreciate food on the table, three times a day, even more. I let this part slide. And because of it, their stomachs did not digest properly and will not be able to tell their brain what it needs or what it does not need. When they eat and give it their hundred percent attention, they know when to stop, when to drink, and when to get some more.
We were doing fine late last year. I did not go into details that when we were in Manila, they both ate properly. Nacho was even almost bottle-free. Our dining room was separate from the room with the TV. Since we moved, everything happens in one room. But this is not without a solution. The TV still has an OFF switch, and the toys can still be banned from the table.
I told the doctor that I think Nacho regressed a bit. She asked me if I have been focusing more on Elise..... Looking back, we were a bit too much into each other's faces when we were rushing her 3rd and 4th quarter grades. Yes, about that time, he slowly drank from the bottle more frequently, and only ate when I fed him.
So, all is well now.
Cut down the milk by 90%. Increased snacks. We've gone through three meals without any distractions - toys, books, TV. No more of the usual stuff. Shockingly, Nacho is eating properly and is eating adequate amounts. I just give him a little bit, and if he wants more, he gets more. No more fireworks and a marching band when he finishes his food. And if he can't eat it all, then he will just have to wait till the next meal... or snack. I shall quietly put the leftover away.
I am close to thanking God for letting Nacho get a mild viral infection, and for Elise's tummy to give up digesting that spaghetti the other night. Thank God for making their parents realize that things needed to change.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Inspirations
Lolo Papa gave Elise a mobile phone before we left Manila.
He insisted to get her one so she could greet him "Good morning" everyday and so they could both keep in touch with each other as often as they want. Whenever we would sleep over at their house, she would gently knock on his door in the mornings and would happily greet him. This acknowledgment gave him so much joy and comfort. He helped her build her contact list and requested that she call him "G.P." for Grandpa in texts instead of Lolo Papa because it sounded better to his ears.
I was about to protest against giving her a phone because of all the potential trouble that it can sometimes cause. But Lolo Papa simply said,"Just give her rules, brief her of the dangers and let her have responsibility for taking care of it." Then he added,"You have to inspire them."
He also knew that having a phone would ease her forthcoming homesickness by making her loved ones only a text or a call away. Now, Elise texts and calls her titas and lolos and lolas whenever there is a special occasion. She has taken it upon herself to bring them news like when she learned how to bike, to swim and to snorkel! They call her when they miss her and she feels missed and loved and very special.
Last month, she met Father Jim, a visiting priest. He chatted with her for a while and she mentioned that she wants to be a chemist when she grows up. Now, Father Jim happens to be a Chemical Engineering graduate and he was quite happy to hear this. He started to reminisce about his high school days when he would play pranks on his friends by concocting mixtures that would make things explode. Elise was very impressed, and then Father Jim ended by saying,"You should make yourself a crystal garden." Then he turned to me and said,"Get her a chemistry set. If you can't find one, make her one."
We still have to shop around for flasks and test tubes and perhaps a bunsen burner. And we still have to get different kinds of salts for her crystal garden. At least Father Jim did not tell me to get some sulfuric acid to help her make a small bomb. But suffice it to say that she has been talking about being a chemist almost everyday. A few days ago, she said she really wants to discover a cure for cancer and dengue.... a biochemist...
I never used to let her touch my laptop for fear of it breaking - perhaps by vigorous tapping. I used to always worry that she might accidentally delete something or stumble upon some inappropriate stuff on the net while she is surfing for some Strawberry Shortcake videos.
But Rene said,"Let her learn. Just look over her shoulder. She needs to be resourceful and discover stuff on her own." I've since loosened up and let her explore in Glubble, where parents can regulate their kids' internet use. She is also doing her book report on Microsoft Word. We plan to do a family newsletter soon on Microsoft Publisher because there is so much to tell.
The other night, we both watched Episode 1 of Voltes V on You Tube. Then for her bedtime story, Rene had her hanging on to his every word as he narrated to her the whole saga till the last episode! And lately, she and Rene have been practicing the "butterfly return" for some serious combat!
It's never ending. We are constantly watching their little interests grow bigger. Some go away. But the ones that warm them inside and make them feel valued stay with them. And the ones that inspire them are the ones they pursue.
He insisted to get her one so she could greet him "Good morning" everyday and so they could both keep in touch with each other as often as they want. Whenever we would sleep over at their house, she would gently knock on his door in the mornings and would happily greet him. This acknowledgment gave him so much joy and comfort. He helped her build her contact list and requested that she call him "G.P." for Grandpa in texts instead of Lolo Papa because it sounded better to his ears.
I was about to protest against giving her a phone because of all the potential trouble that it can sometimes cause. But Lolo Papa simply said,"Just give her rules, brief her of the dangers and let her have responsibility for taking care of it." Then he added,"You have to inspire them."
He also knew that having a phone would ease her forthcoming homesickness by making her loved ones only a text or a call away. Now, Elise texts and calls her titas and lolos and lolas whenever there is a special occasion. She has taken it upon herself to bring them news like when she learned how to bike, to swim and to snorkel! They call her when they miss her and she feels missed and loved and very special.
Last month, she met Father Jim, a visiting priest. He chatted with her for a while and she mentioned that she wants to be a chemist when she grows up. Now, Father Jim happens to be a Chemical Engineering graduate and he was quite happy to hear this. He started to reminisce about his high school days when he would play pranks on his friends by concocting mixtures that would make things explode. Elise was very impressed, and then Father Jim ended by saying,"You should make yourself a crystal garden." Then he turned to me and said,"Get her a chemistry set. If you can't find one, make her one."
We still have to shop around for flasks and test tubes and perhaps a bunsen burner. And we still have to get different kinds of salts for her crystal garden. At least Father Jim did not tell me to get some sulfuric acid to help her make a small bomb. But suffice it to say that she has been talking about being a chemist almost everyday. A few days ago, she said she really wants to discover a cure for cancer and dengue.... a biochemist...
I never used to let her touch my laptop for fear of it breaking - perhaps by vigorous tapping. I used to always worry that she might accidentally delete something or stumble upon some inappropriate stuff on the net while she is surfing for some Strawberry Shortcake videos.
But Rene said,"Let her learn. Just look over her shoulder. She needs to be resourceful and discover stuff on her own." I've since loosened up and let her explore in Glubble, where parents can regulate their kids' internet use. She is also doing her book report on Microsoft Word. We plan to do a family newsletter soon on Microsoft Publisher because there is so much to tell.
The other night, we both watched Episode 1 of Voltes V on You Tube. Then for her bedtime story, Rene had her hanging on to his every word as he narrated to her the whole saga till the last episode! And lately, she and Rene have been practicing the "butterfly return" for some serious combat!
It's never ending. We are constantly watching their little interests grow bigger. Some go away. But the ones that warm them inside and make them feel valued stay with them. And the ones that inspire them are the ones they pursue.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)