Mother of 2

Have you ever experienced running after your kids with a spoonful of green leafy vegetables trying so hard to entice them to eat it or at least convince them that their taste is as good as their effect on their health? I often play hide and seek, landing airplanes, funny faces and yet they keep their mouths shut as if afraid of the germs that threaten to come in.

I have not met one parent who did not have a problem with getting their children to eat vegetables. Just a few days ago, I witnessed one mom trying to coax her son to stop taking the lettuce out of the burger she bought him. I looked at them amusingly and turned to look at my son who was busy finishing his share of our food. He was eating everything, meat, onions, veggies, everything.

Not to say I have not had my share of cajoling and encouraging and maybe even some bribing just to get my kids to eat one more vegetable. Although I can’t really recall the last time I had to do it. I guess I have always been lucky or I must have done something right that my kids picked up on.

I think it happened when they were at that copycat stage, mimicking everything their parents and everyone around them would do. Being the food enthusiast that I am, my face turns very expressive whenever food enters my mouth. Be it yum, yuck or otherwise. When they saw that I was putting the icky veggies into my mouth and not spitting it out, they must have thought it was good for them and so started eating it as well. Then they started having favorites and by then it was easy to "force" other varieties to them, even when they did not like it. I say force because there are still moments when they are not in the mood to eat veggies.

Leading by example. The power of imitation. Now isn’t that the perfect example of taking advantage of something that can sometimes prove to be irritating?

A couple of weeks ago, I was in a you-got-what-you-wished-for kind of situation. My nanny had to go home to their province to take care of her family so I had a chance at being a stay at home mom for a week while she was gone. I thought, finally I would be able to do what I had dreamt of for so long. I was so excited.

I started that week energetic and determined. I was able to successfully prepare my hubby’s work clothes, cook food he would take in his lunch bag, make breakfast for the kids, clean up a bit around the house, making sure there are no used diapers lying around, forgotten, or glasses with leftover juice hidden under the tables or chairs, get the kids to take a bath, settle them down so I can start preparing for lunch, serve lunch and clean up after, prepare my eldest for school, take a bath, prepare afternoon snack of the kids and hubby, cook dinner, playtime with the kids, get the kids to bed, make sure hubby has clean clothes for the next day, note down bills that need to get paid, oh and sit down for a bit to plurk or tweet about my day and the cycle goes on.

With all that free time, you would think I would have had time to get my hair cut, get a manicure, bake a new dessert, go shopping for new makeup and shoes, buy my friend a gift, get the car its regular maintenance, get my phone fixed, get some family pictures blown up and framed and get a bit of work done so that there won’t be such a big pile of backlog when I do get back to the office.

I thought back to how my friends and I vowed never to let ourselves go (physically) even when we get married and have kids and I realized, it takes a special kind of willpower and strength to become a stay at home mom and still come out primped and prettified at the end of the day. It is a common complaint of husbands that they would like to come home and be greeted by a wife who doesn’t smell like the kitchen. I once dared my own hubby to try his luck at doing a full time stint at home. Being a typical man, he immediately said of course I can do it (in a defensive tone and matching flared nostrils). I don’t doubt he can. How good, clean, or complete it turns out to be is really my question. It will probably drive him crazy! I love you sweetie. Mwah!

I was equally pleased as my sons were when my nanny got back from her vacation that I was almost the first one to run out and welcome her. Can you imagine? But yes, I am very thankful that I have nannies to help me bring up my kids clean and healthy, and help me keep myself clean and pretty. If not for their help, I probably won’t have time to even tell you all about it.

I love the beach. I love the sound of the waves as they hit the shore. I love the sound of the motors of the fishing boats as they pass by. I love the sound that the sand makes when someone walks the shore. I don’t go to the beach to drink or to party. I prefer a private stretch of sand and surf where I can lounge and close my eyes and relax.

I was first invited to San Juan, Batangas about 7 years ago. Back then it was not yet too well known and the road was too rough for a comfortable ride. But I loved what I saw and I have been going back ever since.

This is my entry to this week’s PhotoHunt theme: nautical. I took this picture while walking along the beach as the sun set. The fisherman’s boat looked so lonely in the horizon and I couldn’t help but take a picture.

I would say I am a fairly independent and self sufficient woman despite many people’s expectations that women are helpless clueless creatures of the world. I got trained early by my parents and learned a lot more during my stint working in the US and when I was a single mom.

What that means is that I can clean, do the laundry, cook, go somewhere using a map, drive and find my way inside a large hardware store to find and buy what I need. I can strike up a decent conversation with the mechanic about a car problem I am having but I must admit I cannot change a flat tire.

When you have to take care of two rowdy little boys, a demanding husband, two nannies, a home, and a career, it is not an option to become weak. Contrary to what people may say (including myself), it is easy to become strong. It is becoming strong, keeping that strength while trying to be the same person you are is what is very much difficult.

Most of the time becoming strong means becoming someone totally different.