| My Point of View |

Aside from my son’s obsession with the sports Taekwondo. He is also keen on learning to play the guitar. Actually the influence came from his cousins who are also planning to take guitar and keyboard class this summer. I am still cross between Kumon and guitar lesson. But from the looks of it, my Icko is more inclined into taking his guitar lesson for this summer – he just can’t take his eyes away from the Charvel that he saw in the magazine.

Well, we still have 2 weeks to decide. Whatever it will be my husband and I will be supporting him all throughout.

How about you, what will be your kid’s summer activity?

This week I am going to create a survival kit in our house. I still need to buy a durable flashlight, saft batteries or the black Duracell batteries, whistle, first aid kits, scissors, candles, match, band aids, umbrella, emergency number lists and medicines. This is already long over due and I should not procrastinate on matters like this. Better be ready that sorry.

This is also a reminder for you peeps to create one for your home.

I previously blogged in my Brown Pinay blog that I won a Nintendo WII during the company anniversary party. My kids are much as happy as I am and even more. My little boy would usually bring one of his wii remotes  to his cousins’ house. I would always dissuade him from bringing it since I feel that it is not necessary since my brother has 2 wii remotes already. Unfortunately again, the wii remote of my son was misplaced, when we check the knapsack bag that he used on his way home, it is open. Conclusion, it fell in his bag, yaya dear did not check if the bag is closed before living my brother’s house.

I don’t want to get angry since my health is usually affected {high blood pressure anyone}. But when I saw the price of the Wii remote control ranging from Php2.400 to Php3,000 I cannot help but to sigh. If only my boy listened to me, if only the maid check the bag. I know, I know that there is no need to cry over spilled milk, but this post is born out “panghihinayang”. I brought this to the attention of my son and show him that the item he lost is in thousand should we desire to replace it.

But my son really knows how to tame me. Just when he saw that I am quite enraged – you know what he did? He started kissing me and he whispered “Mama, Sorry po, I love You”. Of course I gave in so easily. I hugged him back but I don’t tell him that it is OK since it is not. Instead I explained to him the reason why I am angry, I explained that I am not angry with him, but with what he did.

Although the wii remote remains un-replaced still all’s well that ends well.

I am a working Mom trying to be a super wonder Mom to my kids.  Schedule would usually turn so erratic that there are times that I feel so stress and worn out.  I am at times depressed; I can feel the guilt since I know that my kids only deserve the best of me.  However, very usual than not, I would be home late at night already dead tired.  But no matter how tired I may be, I would always tend to my kids’ needs (assignments, baon, projects, bonding moments).  I may not give them much of my time but I am giving them my quality time.

I know that I can choose to be a Work at Home Mom right now but I chose to be a Working Mom due to some priorities that my husband and I have set and obligations to fulfill.  We are doing it for our kids.

Working Mommy guilt is just natural for a working momma like me.  But we should not be harsh on ourselves since we are working to give our kids a brighter future. I had been working ever since I had been a Mom and my 2 kids cannot discount the fact that I love them dearly. For those who are also in my shoes I know that you can totally relate.

Let me share to you my simple ways that I am doing which turns out to be effective in countering my working mommy guilt in my end. I may suck in time management but modesty aside I am good in giving them my quality time

• All working moms working outside the confines of their home wishes to have more time with their kids at home, the very reason why weekends and holidays for me are very precious. Weekends and holidays are for my family only, I am very lucky that my superiors in the company where I work have the same priority.
•  At   home my kids are my boss.   I give them my full attention and time.  I listen to them.  I also encourage them to share their stories and even jokes. I am giving them their freedom of speech to air their opinion but to some extent.  Debates are also welcome at home provided that they do their piece in a polite manner.
• Dinners are sacred for us, this is the time that we reconnect.
• I never miss my kids’ milestone , I may not be in every practice/rehearsals that they have but I make sure that I am always there during their main event.
• Reaasurance – I always make them feel that just because I am busy at work, it doesn’t mean that I don’y love them.
• Support Group- I am very lucky that I have a good support  group none other than my family most sepcially my husband and siblings (all of us are working Moms and Dad).
• Vacation – once a year my husband and I make sure that we take our kids in a vacation.  We would often do it with my immediate family (with 21 family members – my parents, siblings and pamangkins)

For working moms like me feeling guilty is just natural, but do not pressure yourself.  We must remember that we can never be superwoman since we are just but human., but we can be a wonder Mom who can do loving wonders to our children.

But of course at the end of the day, it is always my family specially my kids that is on my priority.  No meetings, conferences and projects can stop me to see every milestone of my kids.  I am just happy that my bosses knew this being parents themselves too.

How about you, how do you counter working mommy guilt?

Computers are heaven sent tools for mothers who are juggling parenting responsibilities, domestic errands and work deadlines. They allow us to access online services that help us accomplish household errands without leaving our work desks.

One online service that I consistently use is the bills payment system or ACH payment. At first, I was hesitant to make online transactions involving payments due to hacking concerns but all my fears were put to rest after reading the safety and security measures done to protect the consumers. Aside from saving time, paying my bills online has also been very convenient. I get to pay my bill with just a few clicks and in my own time.

Another online service that I utilize whenever I’m pressed for time is the delivery service. In instances wherein an emergency task or a looming work deadline prevents me from cooking for the family, I turn to online food delivery services. I also turn to online shopping for gift ideas and practical buys before heading out to the mall.

It’s really great to live in a time where you can get help in just a click of a mouse. Less energy spent on tasks and less stress for the busy mom.

“I looked on childrearing not only as a work of love and duty but as a profession that was fully interesting and challenging as any honorable profession in the world and one that demanded the best that I could bring to it.” –Rose Kennedy, mother of former U.S. president John F. Kennedy (1890-1995)