35 is old?

I am going to be in my mid-30s in a few hours. 

35 years old. 

That's a totally different group age. Mid-30s. 

That sounds so old. Adults and kids around me would think that I know a lot and that I am absolutely sure what I'm doing with my life. Ha, they would be so wrong! I became the master of winging it! 

35 years old. 

That age has been on my mind for the past year that I think I overindulge myself and lived as if this is my last year on earth.

I got a very good office with a dedicated parking space. 

I went “To The Top”, the tallest building in the world. I did enjoy the high speed elevator going all the way up to 124th floor. Woman on top – literally.

I went to Ski Dubai. Snow world in the middle of the desert. What man can do given the resources amazes me.

I have visited a very good friend in a foreign country and talked for hours.

First time, I rode an elephant for almost thirty minutes going from land to swamp.

I have stayed with my mother for six beautiful months in one house and didn't experience any drama. Drama between two of us, at least.

I have witnessed the biggest bonfire in Doha for a Christmas event in sand dunes. It was a really magical moment – Aladdin style but Christmassy.

I have toured Europe with my family (three kids! Three kids! Three kids! ) explored France, Monaco, Italy, Vatican City, Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. That’s eight countries in less than two months with family. Supreme bliss.

We have set a travel goal for the family. 100 countries to explore before our eldest turn 18.

I have traveled to my dream cities - Paris and Venice after years of imagination and lack of planning. I liked the engineering aspect of Eiffel Tower, yes it is amazing but the city, for me, is below my expectations. I found Venice romantic and unique but any body of water does not make me as happy as when I see mountain views, tall buildings or fancy hotels. Sometimes, we have to achieve our dreams to realize that our dreams are not what we were really looking for.

I experienced Disneyland. Enjoyed it, hated it, got tired of it and enjoyed it! Comes the realization that there are other places in the world way less commercialized than Disneyland. And way better for kids! 

I stayed in a five star cave hotel and explored Cappadocia with family. Majestic views of naughty rocks – nature and its kinky works!

I rode the hot air balloon for the first time.

I rode the hot air ballon for the first time with family!

I became a mom of seven-year old girl. That's something! I survived the first seven years of being a mom - YAY for me! 

My seven-year old girl and I went to a trip in Belgium together and enjoyed every minute of it - full of adventure and zero of drama!

I have started homeschooling my three adorable kids. No more overpriced tuition, no more school run, no more complaining to teachers about bullies. We could focus now on nurturing my kids’ gift in our own unique way.

With my husband’s commitment and dedication, we have started launching our family business. It is going to be lots of hard work – but a single step is the start of a journey.

I have experienced death in the family. It still hurts a lot – but I have come to terms of accepting that our life here on earth is way too short to indulge the feelings of pain and loss. Life is too short. I have learned all over that time with family members is way more important than petty quarrels.

I am proud of my beliefs without caring what society thinks. I have high opinion of religion, education and discrimination. It feels good to think for myself and not be “molded.”

I have loved to become a mother, poo and all. But I have also loved the fact that I’m done being hypocritical about it. Being a parent is not all good – there are times that I want to strap my kids to the wall and dose them with cough syrup or sleeping pills so I could rest. (So far, I haven’t done that!)

I enjoy being a witness of seeing my brothers and sisters grow up and contribute to society. My little sister got herself a new car, my little brother travelled to Southeast Asian countries and my littlest sister paid for a hotel buffet for all of us. I am a very proud big sister.

I am well respected in my field at work. I have received the biggest salary increase in my career life.. so far.

I am comfortable with my body. I have accepted that my breasts are not as firma s they used to be and that my bottom is not one of my strong asset.

My house is always messy. I do not need to pretend to my husband. If he can’t find a pair of socks, he looks for it (hell no, not me!) and if he can’t find it, he’s okay with wearing mismatched socks or torn shorts or un-ironed shirt.

And I am very glad that my mother-in-law can’t read this.

I have started not shouting anyone for whatever reasons. I have no grudge nor hang ups. I made peace with all the people around me. Well, except a number of ex-boyfriends who still can’t add me as their Facebook friends. (Can't blame them!)

I get on average 30-50 “Likes” to my Facebook posts because I always publish something positive. No drama. But most of the time, my cute kids photos and milestones – it’s an addiction. Who will not like that?

I am actively in contact with my real friends. I can count them in my ten fingers, but who needs loads of friends when I have the real ones?

I laughed out loud a lot until I pee it’s embarrassing.

I am 35 years old. I feel old, yes but simply because I  feel that I have a lot of wisdom to share. Not everything, but something. 

Happy birthday to me! and hoops, to my husband who's turning 37 and to my little sister who is turning 21 - legal age! 

Gotta love 23rd of August! A very special day indeed. 

Happy happy life! Thanks be to God!
 

Busy Beaming with Pride

"If parents are not busy beaming with pride for their kids, we will be so very tired at all times."
   - Leng Demirkol

As our blog readers may have noticed, we have been on and off with our blog updates, we are so busy coping with life of two kids (plus one soon!) It's not easy to be both of us parents working full time, with no hired help to assist us with the chores. Not to mention the logistics challenge brought about by helping the extended family.

Yesterday is simply one of those days where being a mother is just about the wisest choice I've ever made in my life.

Kylie had a presentation in school. She sang with the rest of the Key Stage 1 students. In addition, she was selected to perform the closing number together with other students from both Year 1 and Year 2 coming from different sections.

It's not her first presentation but the bigger the crowd this little miss perform for, the higher the stress for me and thus, the busier I get beaming with pride. Here's the clip of the presentation from yesterday taken from my phone camera.

I love that she loves what she is doing. This might not be a best performance but she is proud of her being on the stage, and I am a super proud of her.

We went straight to work after the presentation and I got challenged having to concentrate at work while entertaining the little miss. She's a handful but a very welcome interruption from the normalcy of work.

After work, I picked up Kerim, went to do a quick grocery. Kerim shouted NANA! upon seeing a banana and then proceed to say .. ELO (yellow!)

I was teary eyed looking at the two kids growing and learning right before my eyes. Who has time to get tired when I am always busy beaming with pride!

I just love being a Mommy! And just when I was thinking this, they started fighting over some transformer toy and both shouted "MOMMY" to call my attention waiting for my verdict as to whose side I am with.

Arrghhh, music to my ears!

Life is good!

STILL

He's was so still when I left him with grandparents one fine summer afternoon for the first time.

My heart is far away from still.

Mommy-hood did make me weak at heart. I used to be that "woman on a mission" to make a difference at work and in our family life.

Leaving the kids for the summer would make me concentrate on work more. Not worrying about their whereabouts under the hot desert sun.

They are far away from me. Home is very still. I should be accomplishing a lot of things. But never did I feel my body more still than ever. I don't move. I am not motivated to move.

The reasons for my motivated life is not with me anymore. Everything is still but my heart.



Keep exploring!

Linked to the Gypsy Mama and her Five Minute Friday which is being hosted at (in)courage today!

Doha Explorers Book Club

Barney definitely said it best and we completely agree and buy in to this song. 

Books are fun! Books are great!

Let's sit down with a book today.

Books are fun! Books are great!

Is it book time yet? Oh, I just can't wait

To read a book.

Do you know why I love to read a book?

Why I get so happy every time I take a look?

'Cause books can take me anywhere that I want to go.

Books help my imagination grow.

Books are fun! Books are great!

Let's sit down with a book today.

Books are fun! Books are great!

Is it book time yet? Oh, I just can't wait

To read a book.

Books are fun to read. I love the pictures too.

I love to snuggle up and read with somebody like you.

All my favorite stories and many more to learn.

Good things come with every page I turn.

Later part of last year, our Doha community started a reading book session under the trees. I was already on the look out for some book friends for Kylie as I noticed that she was getting too bored reading to me and the rest of the family members.  I got the idea from one of forums of our Doha Mums community of reading under the trees and gave it a personal touch and invited close friends within the Pinoy community. I then realized that it was quite a start of childhood friendship based on the love for books among the kids involved. 

Since the winter season was starting that time and here in the Gulf, winters are just fabulous weather to be outside, reading books is just a brilliant way to enjoy the outdoors with friends.

To date, we have completed five sessions and the eagerness of the kids are simply heart warming. Just today during our first session for the year after the long holiday break, despite being showered by water sprinklers in the park (no thanks to the part guards for not warning us!), we still managed to read at least a book to justify the session. We, however, managed to have a good breakfast though.


A typical explorer book club session last two hours. Being Pinoys, of course, we have to eat first among other things. And then each of the children show off their reading to all. It is a personalized reading sessions, otherwise the kids reading books will not be given the attention. I believe that the sense of pride they feel gives more motivation to read books after the sessions. After all the kids read they share of books, then its my turn to read books to them usually combined with activities such as song, dance, body movements, puzzles and other things I could find during my cramming hours before the sessions. We can also dress up for the book club depending on the holidays.  Last Halloween, kids wore their costumes during our story time under the trees.

After the sessions, we get to swap books as homework for the kids to read for the next session. It is also a way for us to read variety of books without actually buying more books.


I love the idea that there are proactive mom friends around me who can fix schedule with me and motivate the children to find time to read amidst their routine in school.

Living in Doha while raising lifetime readers can't get as simple as this.


Some photos taken during story time taken by the most proactive Dad in the book club. ;) (Thanks Allan!)

You May Kiss, Live Happily Ever After. And More Fairy Tale Fallacies

 Shrek and Fiona may have changed how we looked at prince charming and encouraged women power, but there will always be that “happily ever after. “

The newest Disney Princess, Rapunzel in Tangled maybe not our typical princess waiting to be rescued by a perfect prince but there will always be the “Wedding” 

Kylie, 25 months a little too much Disney Princesses alright!

Being subjected to the commercial fad of these princesses and princes, Kylie at age two, she already wanted to meet her prince and get married. Whenever she sees a couple, she always tactlessly asks, “Did you already kiss?” or “Did you get married?” – Or “Are you getting married?!

It’s cute alright but I am really annoyed at the thought that she thinks that her life’s adventure ends happily ever after... After she get married!

 Here’s to Disney Princesses – BOOHOO. I understand completely Why Mia is no fan of Cinderella, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty etc. Damn right, why can’t Cinderella can’t get a degree and moved out of the stepmother’s house and for crying out loud, start a career? And why can’t Snow White find his way back to the castle from the forest with the help of her new found friend dwarfs? If she was the prettiest woman alive, she could definitely charm those dwarfs to do what she wishes. Get out of that slump, woman! You deserve better than a poison apple. Fight back! Evil only wins when good people don’t do anything.

Don’t get me started on Ariel who happens to be my daughter’s favorite at the moment. She was quite the adventurer which I really (really!) like. “I want to be part of your world!” is a dream big song based from my interpretation. Aspiring to be part of something bigger and more beautiful than you is a trait I definitely want my daughter to possess. TThe only part which pains me is that the catalyst has to be a, you guess it, a prince!  Too shallow for me: “Me Ariel. Me Woman. Me Want Legs. Of Course, Me Want Man with Legs.” Pardon the thoughts racing from my mind.

Moving on to Sleeping Beauty – come on!! She got locked up, slept for years and the minute she woke up – she got married! They should learn from Belle and live her own life for a while. Kudos to Belle when she turned down Gaston for marriage. I loved how she craved for adventure coming from a small town village and wanting to see more of what’s out there in the world. The first adventure she found was worth the while of turning down a marriage. She met new weird friends which happened to be royalties and turned them back to normal, lifting the fairy spell. Beast returns back to being a Prince and whooaaa, Belle married him; they kissed and lived happily ever after. A little too soon as well, for me. The Beast turned into a Monster, he needs to prove himself over and over... and over again before marriage.

I can’t remember whether Mulan kissed Shang in the first movie but at least they had to wait for the second movie to get married. The way it should be – a woman should find her complete self first before committing to marriage. And who ever said that a woman has to lose her identity for a prince charming. Mulan certainly didn’t simply because she spent her life finding her true self and helping her family instead of assuming the position of the princess waiting to be rescued.

 Time and again, the women have fought their rights and proved that they are as capable (if not more!) as men. So why these princesses’ stories can’t be revised to fit these changing situations.

Let me give it a shot.

Once upon a time there was a so-so looking little girl named Cinderella. Her mother died when we was a young girl. Her father was having financial problems and was very lonely being a single parent. He found a lovely woman to marry. Cinderella’s stepmother loved Cinderella instantly. Her two stepsisters felt the same way; they got along pretty well at their small house, living a simple life. The father died due to accident. It caused so much pain for everyone but everyone needs to move one. Cinderella wanted to move out of the house but she felt guilty leaving her stepfamily behind. The family thought of hooking up with the prince for his money, fame and status. Cinderella’s prettier stepsister married the Prince. Prince’s brother met Cinderella and wanted to marry her as well. Cinderella didn’t want marriage and left the village for better opportunity. She studied the ins and outs of stock exchange and got established. She ended up wealthier than the prince’s family. She came back home and she considered dating the Prince, King’s (formerly the prince who already assumed the throne) brother

The Prince and Cinderella have been dating for seven years now. Cinderella acquired a lot of properties and enjoys her annual travel around the world. She is also currently the Ambassador of UC (United Castles) and does charity work during her travel.

Everybody is happily waiting for their new adventure to come. The End.

 So, what you think of the story? I may have mentioned the word, financial twice or more which maybe against the fairy tale practice but then I tried to change a lot of misconception too. Step mothers and step sisters are not necessarily bad and that they should get the prince sometimes. I have also highlighted that living simple is good but not wanting to see other adventure out there is bad. We don’t need problems in life before we take initiative. And who ever said, Cinderella needs to be pretty to be heroine of the story? It’s a scam and we are buying into the false illusion of being a woman.

Not that I don’t buy in. These princesses are everywhere in my house. Kylie has almost all of the princesses’ dresses, except for Mulan and Ariel. And she receives a lot of princesses’ related gifts from friends and relatives. I have known these princesses stories not from my childhood but from movie marathons with her. I am not saying I can’t help it, I can but then she’ll look like she lived under the rock for not knowing these stories at her age now. Here’s just me hoping that this phase will pass and that her idea of what a happily ever after will not tainted with pink illusions of the Disney World.

And off we go to Disney  World next year. ;)

DO WHAT? TO WHAT? SO THAT?

I will write this blog for my blog followers to teach them a simple tip on how to communicate effectively.

Do what. To What. So That.

Being a parent requires great tact in delivering the message across.

Scene 1: Do What.

Mommy (to two kids): Clean up time!

No one cleaned up.

Mommy: Why you didn’t clean up, Kylie?

Kylie: You didn’t tell ME to clean up! Kerim should clean up.

That’s one wrinkle in my forehead.

Scene 2: Do What. To What

Kylie: Clean up time , Kylie!

The subject responded quite automatically.

Kylie: Why? I am not done playing yet. Why not Kerim? I am tired.

That’s two wrinkles .

Scene 3: Do what. To What. So That.

Mommy:  It’s time to clean up, Kylie, so we can go to the mall to buy you more toys.

And Kylie immediately clean up.

I obviously need a parenting coach!  

oh great tact!