My Mom-Friday is 4 - Happy Mother's Day!

The poem that started this blog.  My very first blog entry here.

The inspiration behind My Mom-Friday posted 4 years ago on May 9, 2009.

Thank you dear readers and friends, for a wonderful, exciting, and fulfilling four years of My Mom-Friday.  I will try to keep this up as long as I can and hope to continue to entertain, inform, and inspire you.

To all the women with the best and hardest "job" in the world, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

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Family Friday: Babies No More

Second Friday of the month:  Parenthood / Kids

Growth spurt.  I think the boy and the girl are in this phase right now as I found myself shopping for more footwear and bottoms for them lately.  It's like their clothes and shoes are shrinking, when in fact, they are just growing up too fast!  Where have my babies gone?

HAPPY FEET =)

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Family Friday: First Day of (Senior) Kindergarten

"She started school this morning,

And she seemed so very small.

As I walked there beside her

In the Kindergarten hall...

And I must share my little girl

With friends and work and play;

She's not a baby anymore -- 

She's in Kindergarten today."

(First Day of Kindergarten School Poem, author unknown)

Book project in school: Author's Page, from her book about birds

That poem above resonates with me.  First day of school is always bittersweet.
Next week, my girl will be in Senior Kinder (or whatever they're calling her level this year, due to the K+12 adjustment in school systems).  This will be her final year before going to the next (big school) level.

Her parachute experiment with the fan and a plastic bag

I have to confess... I'm the one who experienced more separation anxiety than the kids, especially during their first two years of going to school.  Before, I found myself lingering longer outside their classrooms, trying to take a peek though the viewing glass, wondering if they've settled in, or if they're still about to cry...those were the days.

My cousin, who's a pediatrician, once told me, "wag ka nang lumingon, umalis kana" (don't look back, just leave).  Therefore, I pass on the same advise to first-time "stage parents" when bringing your youngsters to school:  As soon as you bring them in, try to leave them as soon as you can, turn and walk away from the classroom, and don't look back. Oh yes, it's hard!

What I've observed is the more we linger, the more they cling and sometimes cry, knowing we're still there waiting and ready to take them away. You're lucky if your child is excited and quick to adjust to the new routine.  Eventually, they got older and know what to expect already. And I also got used to just dropping them off from the main entrance, or the gate! Hahahaha!

"Mommy, I'm not a baby anymore..." -- that's her standard retort as she smiles coyly, whenever I call her endearingly as "baby" or "baby girl". My reply is also standard: "I know... but you'll always be my baby girl!"

Moms and dads, have your little ones started school already?  How's your first day of school? :)


I'd love to know your thoughts on this post.  If you enjoyed this, feel free to share it!
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A Valentine Poem

"Roses are red,

viotets are blue,

you are the Best

and...

I love you."

This was a Valentine project from my boy -- a unique, crafty pop-up card. Yes, he misspelled "violets" and I'm guessing he wrote the word like how he heard it from the teacher, I'm sure. And it actually made this card even cuter! :-)  Made with love, such is the kind that's most treasured.

Happy Valentine's Day!

This was last year's :)
A Ring, A Rose, a Valentine's Day


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A Fitting First Post

For weeks now, I have been contemplating on starting this blog. What title? What topic? What theme? Questions unending. The only thing I was sure about is that the blog should be for moms, for kids, for family. Then it was literally a light bulb moment for me - tomorrow is Mother's Day and I know it is just fitting that I launch my blog on this special day.

And so my search for this tear sheet of a milk ad. It's my one and only mom's day ad and I wanted it to be image #1.

It must be kismet!
Check out the date of the publication (upper right corner of the image) - exactly a decade ago, this print ad was published in the leading local broadsheet in time for Mother's Day. This is my sign. And so I blog today! Big shout-out to my friend, Jen, for her encouragement.

I am particularly proud of this material since it was the first poem I've written that was approved for use in a print ad, and for a major account at that. I still remember my creative director teasing me about being so mushy with the copy, but was quite pleased nevertheless, and approved this without revisions. My client was also quick to give a go on this material and so this ad came to be.

It needs to be an emotional ad. That was the objective. I was not yet a mom, nor was I married then, when I wrote this. I definitely can't recall what my mood was and what inspired me while composing it. I just know that I wanted it to be sentimental and touching - yes, mushy. That is how I want the readers (targeted at moms and expectant moms) to feel when they get to read the ad. I want the moms to feel appreciated, important, loved.

Being a mother is the most underrated of all 'jobs' - I know this now since I am mommy to two precocious tykes.

This post is my personal tribute to all the superwomen -- mothers of the world -- the Mom-Fridays! To my mama, and to all my mom friends, I salute you!

Happy Mother's Day!

p.s.
Just so you know, I was working as an account manager/copywriter for a local advertising and PR agency when this ad was produced. And for all succeeding posts, my goal is not to be too poetic, to keep it short and simple, yet still insightful and entertaining enough for you to keep on reading, and hopefully have my own following :)

Follow-up post:
Click here to read a clear copy of the poem.

I'd love to know your thoughts on this post.  If you enjoyed this, feel free to share it!
Get instant updates:
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I try my best to reply and answer any questions you may have on each entry so check back if you've left one. Thank you and do visit again!
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