Weekend Love: Tribeca Playdates

I think my kid will forever associate the word TRIbeca with ultra fun playdates. It's only our 3rd time to join a playdate here but she already feels so at home. On our way home last night, she told me: "Next week ulit ha, Mommy? Gusto ko every weekend tayo sana nandito" Parang park lang sa paningin nya.

I do hope our gracious host Tricia will never get tired of inviting us over.

****p.s. all captions below were by Maia.

Yipee, hurrayyyyy! Weeeeeeee!!!!

Up, up to the slide!

Playtime!

Mommy, you want to taste my sand juice?

My Kid Does Not Have An iPad....

But she has a great imagination! Beats any expensive gadget, agree?

Little miss labored on this for about 30 minutes and later handed it to me proudly saying: "Mommy, mukhang matagal pa ako mabibili ni Lolo (referring to my dad) ng iPad kaya gagamitin ko na lang muna imagination ko!"

Side story, we are gadget/TV-free on school days. I was a policy we loosely imposed at first when the little miss started going to formal school (aka traditional school). We wanted to also limit our TV viewing and since we are a household where one rule applies to all, we thought that by imposing this rule to the kid we would effectively cut our TV/gadget exposure ourselves. And we did! The rule is still loose (we had to make room for exceptions especially when we have my parents over) but what helps is us delaying to get cable TV subscription as well. We hope to delay until the kid is 7. Wish us good luck, okay? 

Don't ask me how she is with gadgets on weekends though. Because those days really reminds me how tough parenting is. But we always compromise. And I do hope we keep to that till the kid reaches her teenage years.

Getting Ready For School On Her Own (and some mommy musings)

I was feeling under the weather (nah, make that terrible) this morning so I decided to just stay home and rest. The kid was ecstatic to have me linger in bed way past my usual 7am wake up call. We grabbed a quick breakfast with the hubs and went back to bed. I dozed off a little bit more while she grabbed a couple of pens and paper and doodled in bed while watching me sleep.

At around 9am, Ate Inday called out to her to get ready. I was shaken to full-awake mode when I saw her climbed the bed and grabbed a set of her school uniform from the cabinet beside our bed. I stealthily got up to check on where she's taking the uniform and grinned when I saw her place it gently on our sofa and started dressing up.

My 5 year old can now prepare for school on her own! I am one beaming (albeit silently as I do not want to startle her since she tends to be very self-conscious when caught doing something seemingly amazing) momma once again! I tried to recall how I was as a 5 year old and I don't even think I can match her skill set now. Although, growing up with both of my parents working, I learned to become independent at an early age as well. Looking back, I do not regret growing up in that environment. At an early age, I learned the value of hard work. And I think it was one of the values that are very, very important to teach to my kid. Learning the value of hard work also teaches you to be resilient. It teaches you honesty. It teaches you respect. It teaches you honor. 

Okay. I should stop now (I fear I might sound preach-y soon). Ending this post instead with this:

Dear Maia,

Watching you prepare your things for school today and dress up on your own was kind of surreal. I didn't think I will witness you do such things this early. But I'm really happy. (and a bit sad...but really more, more happy). You are growing up to be the little girl that I've always hoped you to be. You always tell me you understand if Mommy cannot take care of you the way she used to and now I see why. You are now learning to do things on your own!!! Amazing you! I love you to bits, my little miss!

Keep it up, Maia! Continue your pursuit to discover what other things you can start to do on your own beginning today. Me and daddy will always remain by your side to serve as your guide. May you always take inspiration on hardwork that is immensely valued in our family. May it teach you the virtues that it taught me growing up. Remember that there may be no shortcuts to success but hard work will always lead you to it. As long as you remain passionate.

We love you very much! We are lucky to be called your parents!

Daddy and Mommy

Milestone: Fieldtrip With No Chaperone

I've never been fond of fieldtrips. I've never witnessed a fieldtrip that was not rushed. Where kids don't spend too much time waiting on lines. I think kids don't learn much on fieldtrips. Yes, to be blunt about it, I think they were a waste of time and I've sort of scrapped that out of fun things my preschooler can experience while in school.

We did skip the fieldtrip when Maia was in Nursery. I didn't think she was ready. And they went to a place that she's already been to - Manila Ocean Park. Neither me nor the husband was willing to come back to MOP that soon yet.

But having the kid miss that field trip sort of made me feel guilty. I do not know why but yes, I felt guilty. So husband and I sat and talked about it. We realized the fun of fieldtrips for school kids is not really just about the places that they see but mostly in the "trip" itself. Just like us adults who would find delight on roadtrips, I guess the same goes for kids on a school fieldtrip. Nothing beats a day spent with your school buddies, share laughs about the silliest, most trivial things you come across, and getting more laughs reminiscing those silly things during recess. And if it's a trip you take without your parents on it, isn't that twice the fun? Hurt a bit -- but we both agreed the answer to that should be a resounding YES.

So come Kindergarten, we resolved to let her join the fieldtrip. What I wasn't really ready for was learning that they will have to go UN-chaperoned. I was ready to pass and so was the hubby but I thought we can still send Ate Inday to watch from the sidelines and yet give her the freedom to enjoy her time with her friends. But no, the memo was clear. No moms, no dads, no Ate Indays.

It was a scary thought. But I know I have to suck it up and let go. I tried not to think about it too much. The kid was after all over her head with excitement. And yes, she is not worried she's going on her own. The thought in fact seemed to excited her even more. I just took comfort from her stories about how her teacher would remind them what are the TO DOs and NOT TO DOs during the trip.

So come fieldtrip day, I woke up extra early to prepare everything she needed. I paid extra attention to her packed lunch and snacks. I went the extra mile and brought her to school myself so I could personally take her up to the bus. But guess what? When we arrived at her school, she told me "Mommy, hanggang gate ka lang ha? Okay na ako"

My kid. The obedient one. She was scared to let her classmates see me. She's scared I might give them the impression that I'm joining the field trip. E BAWAL NGA SABI NI TEACHER, REMEMBER MOMMY?

So me, the obedient mom, reluctantly bid her bye-bye. I did make sure I covered all bases though. I handed her this note before we had breakfast and asked her to read it. She understand every word, I guess, because she immediately planted a loving kiss on my cheeks and gave me a super tight hug. "I love you too, Mommy"

My sweet little baby is growing up so fast.

Mommy will always be here sweetie.Ready to hold your hand. ALWAYS.