Archive for the ‘Parenting Tips’ Category

If you’ve been following me for years, like waaaayyy back in ’97, you’ve practically watched my son grow into a Teenager. Chances are, I’ve watched your kids grow as well. I suddenly feel all nostalgic. Anyhoooo, part of his growth that you’ve witnessed is his art work. I can’t even count how many times I’m raved what a great artist he is and how many artwork of his that I’ve posted throughout the years. They’re not limited to drawings either. My son can do digital better than anyone. Well, maybe I’m exaggerating but what I mean it, he’s really good. He once drew Popeye in Photoshop just using the draw tool then printed it and when his cousins saw it they all wanted one. These days he’s into creating videos and video games. I won’t even attempt to look into his computer to check out his files coz I know he’s got folders and folders of them. He has a YouTube account where he uploads the videos though. I’ll share some of the videos sometime. Right now, here are some recent and not-so recent drawings all over his room.

As you can see, he’s into Sonic these days. He’s also into Halo and he has drawings of that too which I’ll post sometime. When he was in grade school, except for that one week when he brought home 3 tickets in a span of one week for talking too much, he never really got in trouble for the usual stuff that kids gets in trouble with at school. Yah know like bullying, picking a fight, or being a distraction to other kids. Every time I had a meeting with any of his Teachers, his trouble was mostly because he liked to draw a lot. It sounds strange, doesn’t it? See, he would always rush his work so he could have that extra quite time to do whatever and in his case, to draw. So every time we’d talk to him about focusing on the task at hand, I always had this pain in my stomach. It always bothered me so much telling my son to ease up on something he’s obviously so passionate about so he could concentrate on other things.

Read the rest of this entry »

Or something like that. Oh wait, that’s totally something else. It’s actually Revenge is best when served cold. Well, I’m just going to borrow it coz it’s kinda cool.

It’s only Wednesday but I have been served with Honesty twice this week by my children. Yah know what they say, Honesty is the best policy. Aren’t all parents teaching their children to always be honest? We also know that kids don’t lie. And if they do, they’re terrible at it so parents will always know. We’ve been there, done that, after all. Admit it, Haha!

After working out last Monday for 45 minutes with my TurboFire Fire 45 routine, I was sweating my ass off, and had to catch my breath a few times. It was an intense workout and I Loved It. I was so proud of myself. In between trying to breathe and feeling so proud of myself for another awesome workout, my 5 yr. old daughter blurted out, “You Stink!”

I supposed I did… Haha!

Read the rest of this entry »

2 years ago, when my son was Mario for Halloween, was the time we told him to be his last year of wearing a Halloween costume and trick-or-treating. I mean he could still accompany his sister and be part of the merriment of it all but we figured it was time to let the little ones take first dibs on houses with candies and chocolates wearing their cute or scary costumes. But then last year, we decided, OK, 1 more year. So my talented and artistic husband turned our son into a zombie.

Hubs did the makeup really well and my son gamely played his character too when I took the pictures. This year he could walk along with his sister and father while they go around the neighborhood trick-or-treating. I’ll be left at home giving out candies. He’s really not happy about not wearing anything for Halloween. I am kinda feeling guilty about that but yah know, we figured there has to be a cut off limit for kids. Like when you tell tell them Santa is actually Dad, and Easter Bunny is just someone in a Bunny costume scaring little kids in the mall, unintentionally of course, so the parents can have pictures of their children with the Easter Bunny. I am proud to say I never subjected my children to that commercialism, Heh! We didn’t tell him all of that about Easter Bunny of course. Just that he’s not real, short gist of it all. We try not to be too cynical all the time. 

Read the rest of this entry »

Whenever my husband enjoys our dinner immensely he would say,

“damn that was disgusting I ate all of it”

Sometimes that involves second and third helpings.

Early on, my son would react coz he didn’t get the irony between the empty plate and the word disgusting. It was kinda cute how he would defend me by firmly saying the food is not disgusting and I’m the best cook in the world although it usually takes him 2 hours to finish his dinner. He just doesn’t like it when someone says something bad about my cooking. Father or not.

Anyhooo, last week I made some broiled chicken pieces where the skin got a little bit burnt. Just a little of course, yah know, broiler effect which my husband likes apparently.

My husband told our son after thanking me for a delicious dinner,

“Caine, I hope you find a wife that cooks just as good as your mother.”

And I said oh so surely…

“I hope so coz I’m certainly not cooking for you all your life.”

Of course that was a big fat lie.

Read the rest of this entry »

This food post could have easily gone to Feistycook but I’ve decided to post it here instead because it is such an easy breakfast to make that is very kid-friendly. Seriously too easy. Cut a hole or any other shapes on a slice of bread, melt butter on a griddle or non-skillet pan, place the slices of bread on the griddle, break an egg into each hole, season with salt and pepper, cook for a few minutes, flip to cook the other side and VOILA, fun breakfast for the whole family.

This is a classic breakfast that is so easy to make you can make this with your eyes closed. Well, maybe not. Campers love this stuff.

Read the rest of this entry »

Spend $4 for a box of Crayola Washable Sidewalk Chalk then watch all the masterpieces your artistic family could create.

Read the rest of this entry »

He can by doing a few household chores of course. Like doing the dishes, sweeping the floor, cleaning his room, and mowing at least half of the lawn. I’m sure my husband and I are not the only parents in the world who’ve taught their children the value of responsibilities. You want something, work for it. Santa Ain’t Real!!!

Read the rest of this entry »

Years ago I learned what the “Burnt Toast” philosophy is when Teri Hatcher was promoting her book, “Burnt Toast: And Other Philosophies of Life”. The realization was loud and clear that YES, I do burn some toasts and because I hate wasting anything, I’d brush that black stuff out, spread either butter or jam, then eat it while the rest of the family gets the best toasts. I am not really sure where Teri said this (might be on Oprah), but I completely agreed with her that yah know, we should stop that. Why can’t we have the best toast just like everybody else? It’s of course a metaphor for pretty much every “martyr” acts we do for our loved one’s sake. And Mothers are usually the ones in the forefront. We’re not gullible, we’re just instinctively nurturers.

Read the rest of this entry »