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Education Events Gather Nurture Parenting

Super Moms need Super Friends

There are lots of labels for parents. Helicopter parents, Tiger moms, single parents, SuperMoms, Working Moms, Hipsters, Crunchy Moms, Wolf Dads, Panda Dads, Lawnmower parents, Free Range parents, Attachment parents, or even Dragon moms are the labels that have been trending recently. There was a time when we were just parents…it wasn’t that long ago, but for some reason parenthood has been taken a step further to include these labels which differentiate us from one another.

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Gia, Miguel, Diego, and Evangelina make me want to be a better person. That doesn’t happen without some real work. Work on our relationships and work on ourselves.

Truth be told, I don’t know if I even like these labels. I think we are all in this together, somehow labeling ourselves or others somehow creates a divide…

I’ve been called a SUPER MOM a few times in my life, but I really don’t FEEL like a Super Mom. I know that people mean it as a compliment, when they label me, and that from where they stand I look like I have it all together. I’m managing the house, taking care of the kids, their nutrition and their schooling, while balancing my relationship with my husband, my family, my in-laws and my (late blooming) career.

This year has brought me to my "edge" in many different ways. I love the opportunities that have been presented to me to grow outside of my comfort zone.

This year has brought me to my “edge” in many different ways. I love the opportunities that have been presented to me to grow outside of my comfort zone.

To be honest, most of the time, I feel like I’m chasing the clock, trying really hard, and then sometimes-wishing that I could some how cut myself in two so I could be in two different places at once. I think the feeling I dislike the most is when I fall short of my own expectations. (Of course, we are our own worst critics.) You know that feeling you sometimes get, when you realize you may or may not have forgotten something that was totally important to your kid?

Between balancing all of my responsibilities, taking time to take care for myself, and taking time to nurture each of the relationships that are dear to me, often times I feel something is being left out, forgotten, or overlooked. Just the other day, a co-parent asked me if I sent in my son’s baby picture for the yearbook. I had no idea I HAD to send it in! So, just like that, when she asked me, I ran through all these checklists in my head…did I see a parent note and not read it thoroughly? Did he tell me and I wasn’t present, so I didn’t hear it? Was it in an email or the home notes that I somehow missed? And so now-I have to scramble and see if I can submit his baby picture for him to still be included in the yearbook. What’s worse is that feeling that it would be MY fault if my kids’ are somehow short changed, left out, or picked on because I’m spreading myself too thin and not doing right by their needs.

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Coach Pia has free sessions every second Tuesday of the month in Fully Booked on High Street. To learn more about The One Core you can visit their FB page.

In the most recent SoMoms #betterme #session with Coach Pia, we discussed “The Art of Co-Parenting: Raising a Child as a Team.” This session was generously sponsored by Philips Avent and as a Trusted Mom, I was able to attend.

Nino and I try to be the best parents we can be. We remind each other to be mindful with our language, our intentions, and our expectations for our children. If I am going to own the Super Mom label in this post, I can’t do it without the help of my partner, my kids’ Super Dad. Raising children is really hard. As Coach Pia points out, there are many things we must realize about ourselves if we are going to strive to be the best parents we can be. Identifying our own core issues can help us be better partners. If our children see that we have a healthy relationship, it sets the tone for our relationships with each one of them. It also sets the example of what they believe a relationship should be, for in the future if they have partners of their own, they can end up emulating our relationship to some extent. So this means that we can be better PARENTS to our children if we are better partners to our spouses. Makes sense, right?

 

If I'm going to own SuperMom, I need SuperDad by my side.

If I’m going to own SuperMom, I need SuperDad by my side. We were so young when we got married. I often joked Nino that we had to be friends before we could become lovers. Turns out that’s exactly the way we needed to do it. If you are parenting with your BFF, the job you have ahead of you seems just a little easier because you are in it together.

According to Coach Pia, in order for us to improve upon our relationship, we must commit to a willingness to maintain and develop trust, to continuously learn about each other, to communicate, cooperate, adapt, let go, and sacrifice for the sake of our partners to grow as individuals. In turn, working on these characteristics of our own relationship, enables us to build healthier relationships with our children.

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Setting the example for our children of what a healthy relationship can be is vital to the way they will form relationships as well.

Coach Pia has given the SoMoms strategies and concrete ways to improve our relationships with our children, lest we forget because we are caught up in the daily grind. So-this is where my “Super Friends” come into the picture. These are the women I look to when the chaos is just too much. They can relate, they can help carry the load, they can pitch in when they see me completely off kilter. Sometimes, they might just be on the other end of the phone when I feel it’s too much to bear, and I need to vent. I can attach a label it for you if you want: These are the women that are my support network. They are the women (and sometimes men) who help me do my job, and most of the time, they help me do my job better.

Group shot of our session :-)

Group shot of our session 🙂

If Nino and I are a “TEAM,” in our co-parenting, my Super Friends are like my back up singers, in a band, and I’m the lead-singing lullabies about how to live life to my kids. As I’ve grown older, my support network has expanded to include members of my family, childhood friends, college sorority sisters, co-leaders to my girl scouts, co-parents in my children’s school, moms who live near by in the village where I reside, my Reiki group, and now most recently the SoMoms (& SoDad) and Coach Pia. How lucky am I, that I benefit from the experience of all of these people who are willing to share themselves with me and my children!

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Many of the activities we participate in together, have a positive impact on our lives, our parenting, our relationships, our businesses and our happiness. We inspire one another. We support one another. One activity that we all look forward to is our #sessions with Coach Pia.

I’m so thankful that Philips Avent sponsored our SoMoms #session with Coach Pia. I really look forward to our sessions because I feel like a better person after each one. I feel like a better mom, a better wife, a better friend and daughter. Our sessions with Coach Pia enable me to assess where I can improve in my life, and how I can further my own happiness without feeling selfish or guilty about taking time for myself. If I can say that I practice yoga to achieve balance in life, attending just a few sessions with Coach Pia has already improved my chances in achieving that balance.   

Philips AVENT is a really great example of how moms’ jobs can be be made easier with the help of quality products. A faithful AVENT user since my first child was born, I was pleased to be asked to represent the brand as a Trusted Mom. From breast pumps, to bottles and later feeding sets, they have helped me nurture my children and foster independence in feeding as well. I will write more about the feeding set that we were all gifted by Philips AVENT during our session.

I will be reviewing this feeding set for Gelli very soon. Be on the look out for this future post.

I will be reviewing this feeding set for Gelli very soon. Be on the look out for this future post.

Another sponsor for our #betterme #session was Babyland. They have this new venue upstairs in their Shaw Blvd. location which seemed perfect for baby showers, small parties, and gatherings. There was even a cute little play area for the kids.

This play area was super cute, I think Gelli would really like it here.

This play area was super cute, I think Gelli would really like it here.

Mere Et Bebe took care of our lunch and gifted us with some adorable treats for our kiddos. You can find there super soft cottony Luvable Friends line in Landmark, Babyland, and Baby Company.

I had these cute tees for Gelli washed already. They are so soft!

I had these cute tees for Gelli washed already. They are so soft! Thanks Claudine!

 

 

 

 

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Waterside @solaireresort’s BBQ Brunch Buffet has Waterside @solaireresort’s BBQ Brunch Buffet has all the southern fixings and more.

Grilled and smoked meats. Seafood and mixed drinks. Fried chicken and fish and chips. Starters include fresh salads, corn bread, nachos and more. But the kicker comes in the form of a Make Your Own Milkshake bar, and YES, you can order it spiked with your favorite liquor! 

Waterside is only one of quite a few restaurants that you can enjoy  beautiful weekend brunches with your favorite person, the fam bam, or your friends. 

Check out www.mommanmanila.com to see the full menu and what Nino and I enjoyed most.
Creating food together is one of our love language Creating food together is one of our love languages. We flow in the kitchen. I get excited and move too fast, and she grounds me, and slows things down. We can move around one another while still staying in sync. In our own kitchen, there is music that guides us and sets the tone for the meal. Gelli would be in the mix, the boys will set the table, someone makes dessert, and maybe @manila.gent  makes a drink. 

When we prepare our table together there is so much that goes into the process and the ingredients. This mindful movement brings me so much joy when we are all together.

Even more so when we attend classes together to learn new dishes too.  @themayakitchen1 has regular classes offering cooks of all abilities to learn something new when preparing meals for for our families.

Check out my new article on @rappler for @kitchen143 where Gia and I learned from Chef @cocoyventura a few new Pinoy dishes that will definitely be on rotation for #TeamGellibean.

Link in my profile: 

https://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/food-drinks/kitchen-143-learning-lovelokal-the-maya-kitchens-cooking-classes/
Crispy Pata. Is there anything better than perfec Crispy Pata.

Is there anything better than perfectly brined crispy fried pork? 

@manila.gent and I visited @viicsrestaurantph for simple Pinoy fare that hit the spot. Admittedly, after moving here so many years ago, I took a while to warm up to this dish that is one of Nino’s (and my mom’s) favorites. But every once in a while-I won’t feel guilty about indulging in this deep fried treat.

Happy to learn that we can also order for when Mom arrives through @foodpanda_ph too!
The @admiralhotelmanila M-Gallery has opened their The @admiralhotelmanila M-Gallery has opened their doors! @manila.gent and I were privileged to visit the hotel on Friday night with some new friends and we were both so excited to explore some new digs in Manila.

Looking forward to bringing the family back soon!
We were a little early for therapy this morning, s We were a little early for therapy this morning, so @gelliaventajado got to spend a little time with @grace_loedin!

@thevanguardacademyph is still open for enrollment in their summer program, and has a full staff for all therapies and interventions. We really love her school and all of the faculty and staff. It makes a huge difference when you have confidence in the people you leave your child with for learning!
Whipped Feta #Recipe up on @kitchen143 over @rappl Whipped Feta #Recipe up on @kitchen143 over @rappler now!

Link in my profile!

https://www.rappler.com/nation/kitchen-143-dreaming-greece-try-making-easy-whipped-feta-dip/
Thinking about the day I got off the plane in LaGu Thinking about the day I got off the plane in LaGuardia, was picked up by one of my dearest friends and spent the entire day at the beach just catching up on LIFE.

It was a breezy day. Overcast. A little chilly to be in a suit, but it was perfect to catch up with my girl Candy. Sometimes, if you have chosen your friends well, you can pick up where you left off, as if no time has passed at all. 

Just like I did, sitting in that beach chair, feeling the mist of the Atlantic Ocean, and watching the seagulls pick and the seaweed.

Thank you Candy! For the friendship, for dropping everything to come and pick me up. Drive me around and have dinner with me and Fayth. 

Wishing I was sitting on this beach with you right now!!!
Eggs Benny with BBQ Pulled Pork was just one of ma Eggs Benny with BBQ Pulled Pork was just one of many dishes that we enjoyed during #SundayBrunch at Waterside in @solaireresort .

From cornbread, to mom’s potato salad, melt in your mouth whisky cured short ribs, homemade sausages and more. This #BrunchBuffet had @manila.gent and I rolling each other out the door!

Hard to choose which was our favorite from the feast that was set before us!

Brunch is inclusive of some delicious drinks, some Southern smoked and BBQ Fare, and a most colorful sweet dessert buffet by way of Milkshake Bar!
Movie Night at home with the big screen made easy Movie Night at home with the big screen made easy by @lumosprojector_ph!

Summer Lovin’ ain’t over for #TeamGellibean. Hop on over to www.mommanmanila.com to read my full review on how easy this #homeprojector is to use when you want to watch your favorite family film!!

Gelli and I have watched Sharkboy and Lavagirl, Grease, and BTS Videos. Up next? The Sound of Music! 

Want to have your own #LUMOSRAYProjectoe delivered to your home? Stay tuned for an upcoming giveaway, too!

Link in my profile!

https://www.mommanmanila.com/lumos-ray-projector-review/
Missing my @migaventajado The short time I had w Missing my @migaventajado 

The short time I had with this guy in Florida was definitely something I will look back on. Wish we had more time to explore and do some fun things on our own.

Gah. How is this kid 20 years old already?
I remember when he was little and he loved peanut butter, chicken nuggets, Kylie Minogue, and sitting on my lap. He was squishy, in tune with my feelings, and I was always worried that he might have an asthma attack in his sleep so I would nebulize him every few hours. He always looked at new experiences with gratitude and wonder, much how he did while we were in FL together.😍

Praying he continues to strengthen his faith as he grows. 🙏🏻👨🏻🙌🏻

Miss you Miggy!
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