Keeping Up With This 40ish Mom

Second Friday of the month:  Personal / Motherhood

My lifestyle has evolved in a major way as I hit 40. It's only now that I took notice and appreciated all these changes in my life as a forty-three-year-old wife, and mother of the boy and the girl. I'm not going to turn serious here ha, but rather finding humor in the simple joys and pleasures that I've been experiencing lately, thanks to a change in perspective and channeling the law of attraction. Good vibes only, okay. It really works!

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Family Friday: My Chaotic Summer

Second Friday of the month:  Home Life / Kids / Parenting

First, I have to thank Mommy Mundo for including this quote in their 2013 planner, and making this special poster.

Okay, I was trying to be humorous when I said that.  But I am also serious about it.  This summer proved that sentiment even more.

In my previous posts here and here, I shared how I dealt with having no househelp for months, and then posting this photo on Instagram when our yaya (nanny) left for her vacation last April 30.

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Family Friday: Housekeeping Blues

Second Friday of the month: Home Life 

I'm tired.  I just wanna be in bed the whole day! Please bear with me, my brain is currently re-wiring.

We've been without help since the first day of the year, which I shared here previously.  She left without notice and it's all because of the matters of the heart (damn boyfriends!).  I am still hopeful that we can find one like our last helper, or even better.  We're still looking (and waiting for referrals).  Why is it so hard to find good help these days?!  

My trusty SWIFFER!

The first month has not been much of a hassle.  Our nanny took on some of the washing and cleaning, and everything that concerns the kids.  The in-laws tend to their own needs and clean their own room.  J and the kids also took on some of the load whenever they can.  Everyone is helping out.  But this has been going on for too long!

For the past 112 days, I've been rotating my chores:

• House cleaning (yes, some parts of the house only!)
• Light laundry (as in light load - hand-wash, the rest go to the laundry/cleaners)
• Ironing (as needed)
• Cooking (if I'm in the mood) 

Yes, I can hack it.  I can do it all if I really want to (and if my 40-year-old body won't give up on me).  I have to thank my mother for teaching me some domestic "skills".  I know I CAN, but I DON'T LIKE to.  Who would, right? 

When I was younger, we've been without help for three years, I think. I don't know how my parents did it then.  Now that I am managing a 3-story house, a household of 6 adults (including driver and nanny) and 2 children, it's a different story altogether.  It's just that I have no choice at the moment.  That's is why I salute all of you who have been managing, and doing everything with little or no help.  It's hard work!

The sad part of doing chores is that it takes away time from doing some real (income-generating) work, and being with the kids.  I find solace in my blogging and social media friends -- always within reach and keeping me entertained (Instagram is my best friend) while I'm home, in between house work, business stuff, and going with the kids to wherever they needed to be.  You can't imagine the work backlog.  I'll be honest, I'm getting more lazy each passing day!

In the event I don't find one before the end of this month, I may resort to a one-time professional cleaning service.

I have to mention these two products 'coz they were sent to me at a perfect time.  Since we don't have help (and no washing machine), I hand-wash our delicates, socks, and face towels, and was able to try them out personally.

Human Nature Tough Love

I like that it's non-drying on the hands, non-toxic, biodegradable, and free from harmful chemicals. This liquid detergent has a light citrus scent, cleans effectively, and rinses off easily.  It comes in a 950ml jug at less than PhP300.

Messy Bessy's All-Natural Liquid Detergent

As the name says, it's all-natural, and is milky white in color.  I especially love the lavender scent of this one, and is very gentle on my hands.  It softens fabrics too.  Messy Bessy comes out cheaper though, at less than PhP200 for 1.05 liters.

This May will be another challenging month - my nanny of 6 years will take her first, well-deserved, month-long vacation!  I don't want to entertain the thought of being with the kids 24/7 yet.  There goes the summer break!

God help me!

So how's your summer going?

Related post:

Aside from blogging, see what I do in between chores here.

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Family Friday: Yes, I'm A Stay-At-Home Mom & I Am Busy!

Second Friday of the month:  Mothering / Parenthood / Home

Stay-at-home mom. Work-at-home mom. Full-time homemaker. Domestic diva.  Whatever you call us, we're all the same potato. For this post, we'll stick with the term stay-at-home mom, or SAHM for short.

Before I continue, let me just say I have nothing against working moms because I WAS a working mom before.  I've been there and it was one of the most gratifying experiences I've had which helped me become who I am today.  I believe that being a SAHM is a privilege and a choice.  I have friends who can well afford to just 'stay home and do nothing', live like a doña, but they still choose to work.

I guess what I want to share with you in this particular post is that, as a mom, the choice we make on what we want to do, and to be, has it's own rewards and sacrifices.  A stay-at-home mom is not any better, or any less, than a working mom and vice versa. Each has it's own challenges and rewads. Let's learn to respect each other's choices since all mothers are, in fact, super women! ;)

My first photo with the kids on this blog

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Women's Favorite E-mail of The Year

Allow me a humor break for today's post before I get into my three-part series on a recently concluded parenting seminar at my boy's school. I found myself grinning from ear to ear as I read this message from my inbox sent by one of my mom-friends. Maybe some of you have already received one yourself.


For sure, most women out there, especially stay-at-home-moms, could relate to this and may find the story quite amusing and vindicating.

I am posting the email here, verbatim, so hope this puts a smile on your face as well.

A man was sick and tired of going to work every day while his wife stayed home. He wanted her to see what he went through so he prayed: 

"'Dear Lord,
I go to work every day and put in 8 hours while my wife merely stays at home. I want her to know what I go through. So, please allow her body to switch with mine for a day."
God, in his infinite wisdom, granted the man's wish.

The next morning, sure enough, the man awoke as a woman...
He arose, cooked breakfast for his mate, awakened the kids, set out their school clothes, fed them breakfast, packed their lunches, drove them to school, came home and picked up the dry cleaning, took it to the cleaners and stopped at the bank to make a deposit, went grocery shopping, then drove home to put away the groceries, paid the bills and balanced the check book. He cleaned the cat's litter box and bathed the dog.

 

Then, it was already 1 P.M. And he hurried to make the beds, do the laundry, vacuum, dust, and sweep and mop the kitchen floor. Ran to the school to pick up the kids and got into an argument with them on the way home. Set out milk and cookies and got the kids organized to do their homework. Then, set up the ironing board and watched TV while he did the ironing.

At 4:30 he began peeling potatoes and washing vegetables for salad, breaded the chicken and snapped fresh beans for supper. After supper, he cleaned the kitchen, ran the dishwasher, folded laundry, bathed the kids, and put them to bed. 

At 9 P.M. he was exhausted and, though his daily chores weren't finished, he went to bed where he was expected to make love, which he managed to get through without complaint. 

The next morning, he awoke and immediately knelt by the bed and said:
"Lord, I don't know what I was thinking. I was so wrong to envy my wife's being able to stay home all day. Please! Oh please, let us trade back. Amen!" 

The Lord, in his infinite wisdom, replied:
"My son, I feel you have learned your lesson and I will be happy to change things back to the way they were. You'll just have to wait nine months, though. You got pregnant last night."

This has been voted Women's Favorite E-mail of the Year!  If you agree, send it to all your friends who would enjoy this!

(",)  As I typed and read this again, memories run through my mind of what I have been doing for the past few years as a homemaker.  In this country, we are much fortunate to have helpers at home to share in the daily grind. Nevertheless, the "job" as a SAHM is a tall order and not every woman is cut out to be one. But being one is a great blessing, and which I consider more of a privilege. So guys, dads, don't complain!

Cheers to all moms out there who strive to provide a better quality of life for your families.

Time to take a break, and have an awesome weekend!

Note: All photos taken from Corbis Images 

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