More than once I have heard of newsbits on tv or on the radio talk about children dying because of dehydration. Most often our kids are put at risk when they are hit by extremely high fever, vomiting or diarrhea that may be caused by a viral infection.

When kids experience frequent vomiting and diarrhea, most of the time they refuse to eat or even drink milk… maybe because they feel sick or mostly they feel that whatever they take will just as easily come out again. My eldest is the most stubborn of my kids. It is very difficult to make him eat or drink anything when he is sick - and that includes water. So I get triple times scared everytime he has an episode of vomiting. My doctor always advises to keep my kid rehydrated with Pedialyte.

I recall that Pedialyte has a distinct taste that will make you instantly think “medicine”. I guess that is why kids do not like it.

But these times are easier. Pedialyte is now sold in different flavors. The ones I saw being sold in Mercury Drug were flavored orange and cherry. My bunso loves it so much.

So how can moms prevent dehydration in children?

The key words are fluid replacement. Rehydration. Pedialyte, or oral rehydration salts dissolved in water are suitable fluid replacements for young children. Kids older than two years can be given alternatives such as flat soda or Gatorade. Vomiting will not stop immediately but if it continues for more than 24 hours then it is better to seek the appropriate medical treatment.

It is heart breaking for parents to see their kids in so much pain. Always I have to keep back my tears because my kids need my strength more than my crying. But serious sickness or even death can be avoided as long as we stay vigilant about our children’s health.

My son’s school uses a school notebook to communicate to parents about school meetings, school events and even school assignments.

I came home the other day to find that the school had an assignment for my little one. It should have been just like any ordinary day and any ordinary assignment but this time the words said - “Do page 30 of the Math workbook”.

Math.

I did not expect Math to come so soon. I was imagining that my son would just paint, sing, dance, and color his whole life. But no. Kids have to grow up some time. And Math is a clear sign that my son just did.

I stared at him. Watched him as he picked out the colors that I was saying out of the crayon box. He picked all of them correctly. Even the violet crayon.

My head reeled. My son was only four years old and by all means he should know which crayon is red and which crayon is yellow. But I was in denial. I was thinking back to the time when all he cared about was red (as in red cars).

But kids grow up. And these days, kids grow up fast. He even plays games in the computer now (including using the mouse!).

There’s something about single moms. Some say its an aura that surrounds them. Some say its the way they carry themselves. Some even say there’s a certain smell of a single mom. Many profess to spot one from a mile away.

A lot of people think that there is something so pitiful about having to bear a child out of wedlock. Imagine having to carry a bulge for nine months without the security of a wedding ring and another man’s surname. As if security really goes with a gold band and some dude’s family tree.

Andrea wrote a very nice post about single motherhood depicting the realities that single mother’s face in the workplace. Despite the many challenges that one mom may face, it should not become a reason to be pitied.

So let me highlight what single moms are aim to change the way society views them.

Single moms are confident. Probably because of the difficulties they have had to face, the strength that comes out of overcoming the challenges give these moms the confidence that is evident in their eyes, in their face, in their walk.

Single moms are not confused. After making life-changing decisions, the roads are clearer for them. They suddenly know what they want and know exactly how they want to get it.

Single moms are NOT sex-hungry. This is a common misconception when single moms start dating again. The minute that you tell your date you are a single mom, it suddenly gives them the impression that you would gladly jump into bed with them. Many men would even go far as to ask outright when on your date. At least I had several very uncomfortable dates when that happened to me. I mean really, I don’t think I have “do me” written on my forehead.

Single moms are superheroes. Many have been known to bow out to defeat when faced with single-handedly taking care of a one month old child, at the same time going to work to earn a living, also making sure that all the child’s needs are met, and basically trying not to trip over themselves while carrying the stigma of an unwed mother. It is not an easy life to be a single mom. We should praise them not insult them.

Single moms are beautiful. Need I say more?

In our almost 2 years of marriage, my husband and I have never been out of touch with one another. Even when he went abroad for a month, he had to get himself a blackberry just so we could stay in touch 24×7.

When his company sent him to an overnight seminar, we still managed to stay in touch. But that should be normal for two people who love each other and are married to each other.

What is not normal is not hearing from each other for an extended period of time especially when you are not sure where the other is at.

A few days ago, I dropped off my husband at Glorietta 3. He was attending an event that was being held for gamers like himself (please don’t ask me for details as I am clueless about all that gaming stuff). He had mentioned that he was low on battery already but that it was ok since he was only staying until 10 or 11pm. I didn’t mind. I planned to wait up for him anyway as he says he was just going to take a cab home.

And so I went home already in anticipation of a long night spent in front of my computer.  I was able to fill my time with some surfing and watching late night tv that I really did not notice that so much time had passed. It was already 11pm when I tried to call my husband’s mobile phone. Hmm… “cannot be reached” was the message I got. I guessed that his battery finally gave up on him and settled down to wait another hour. I wasn’t really worried.

After another hour passed with no word, that was the time my heart was already pounding. All the time that the clock ticked I would dial his number. No answer. I dialed again. No answer. That isn’t like him. It isn’t like him at all. I looked at the clock again. It was already going on 2am and I imagined that the places in Glorietta would already be closed by then. Where was my husband??

I searched the net. Yes, I did. Since he was at an event with other bloggers and other gamers, there should be something or someone out there who would know something. I was right. I got in touch with one of his friends from his clan and was told that the game had ended hours ago. Yes my husband was there but left shortly after the event. Where was my husband??

It seems like such a short time had passed by but in reality three hours had passed and I had cried a bucket of tears. I don’t know where my husband was. I could not get in touch with him. I felt he had gotten into an accident. Maybe his phone was snatched? Fat chance as he was carrying a more expensive gadget and that was his pentax DSLR. Where was my husband??

I looked at the clock again to realize it was already 5 am. And yet no word. I was at wit’s end. I was about to call my brother so he could drive me to Makati to look for my missing husband. All the while I hoped he was just somewhere drunk and his friends probably didn’t want him to leave in such a condition. That was wishful thinking.

Just before six am, with my chest heavy and my eyes swollen from all the crying, I looked out the window and glimpsed a familiar face. It was my husband! I looked at his face and bawled out like a crazy lady… more out of relief than grief. It was as if a huge weight was lifted. I forgot all about my initial anger, paranoia, and worry. Only one thing was important, I have my husband back.

I recall a similar incident that caused such emotions to hit me and that was when my previous yaya got drunk and brandished a knife at my other yaya and the landlord of the apartment where I was staying. It was the only time that I felt that my own life would end as well.

Side note: Apparently, he and his gamer friends were picked up by patroling policemen at Reposo on their way their way to a bar. But that’s his story to tell.

I work in the industry of infomation technology. We support several international clients which means my work does not stop when the clock ticks at 5′o clock PM. So although I can physically leave the office, most often than not - work follows me home. Seems like a normal thing for today’s working women, but it becomes a challenge when you have got a husband and two kids to take care of.
And that is why my friends and I had this secret dream of just becoming a full time housewife. We dreamt of cooking and baking with the kids… of taking them to school and meeting up afterwards to go to a salon and get our nails done. Then we pick up the kids and play with them all afternoon before settling down to prepare dinner for the husband who will soon come home. It was a dream life.

Yeah, what a dream…

Now onto the real world. It isn’t easy working the IT scene when you have got a family to take care of. The situations, scenarios, demands, stress are not very good to someone with a lot of other personal demands and obligations. I know of some who have resigned their job to look for a less-demanding one just because they were getting married. Others have resigned to become full time housewives. Many… have stayed though. They seemed to make it work. What are the things you can do to make being a working mom work for you?

• Choose a company that has policies in place that are considerate of working mothers.

- It doesnt have to be an 8-5 desk job. Many of those types of companies will look down on you for leaving early to attend to a family emergency. That’s not what you would want. Being a working mother means you have to accept that kids get into accidents, get sick out of the blue and at the most untimely fashion. Imagine if you are not able to leave work to attend to them just because your boss has said he will sack you if you do.

• Make sure that the company you work for has benefits in place to cover paid maternity leaves.

- I think that’s clear enough.

• Inquire if you’re company has flexible work options.

This means that they allow you to come in to work at certain times not necessarily at 8am. Or to some it means having the option of compressing your work days so that you get to have 1 day off. And to others, it means having the company provide you resources so that you could do your work at home (i.e. laptop, mobile phone etc).

• Employ trustworthy nannies.

- Now this is one of those things that are really hard to find - trustworthy nannies. I have had my share of scares from previous nannies that I really do not want to go through again. But nannies are really essential if you do not have anyone to take care of your kids and cannot afford not to work.

• Ask your family for help.

- Many people do not realize that they can turn to their families for help. Doting grandmothers are very welcoming of taking in your kids while you go to work. Plus you already know how they are with kids. They raised you didnt they?

• Make sure you spend quality time with your kids.

I know, I know. If you think about it - we spend about 75% of our waking hours working. The measly 25% is where we cramp all our time with our family, our friends, our extended families, chores, extracurriculars. If you do not use that time wisely then indeed your family (husband and kids) will suffer the impact of that situation. So play with your kids before they go to bed at night. Spend a weekend with your husband. Take a family vacation!

See? It isnt that hard… haha. Nahh… it really is. But the one thing I guarantee is that all the hardships and sacrifices are worth it.

In a few days it will be Father’s day. I feel there isn’t much of a hulabaloo about this day than what usually happens with Mother’s day. I wonder why?

I have been celebrating my father on Father’s day for years. Now I am celebrating two fathers, my husband included.

And on this year’s Father’s day I celebrate the following about my father:

• Unlimited patience
• Extensive knowledge
• Strong will
• Devotion
• Faith

I celebrate the following about my husband - on his being the father to my youngest son:

• Deep love
• Loyalty
• Strong will
• Firm
• Soft (although contradicting to the previous bullet)
• Ambitious

Notice that I just sort of listed them out. I wanted to put some more detail and kind of give justice to why I feel they each have these qualities. But I must confess, I will turn into an emotional mush if I did. Just trying to conjure up all the memories that I have of these two men in my life is enough to bring on the flood of tears (of joy).

I love them both equally yet differently. And although they see differently, the one thing they can bank on is my bottomless love for the both of them.