Cutty

Months have passed.  Rainy days have come and gone.  Christmas is coming up in a few weeks. I still haven't found the time to update this blog till now. We survived another round of quarterly exams.  It was a lot easier this time.  Though, Math and Filipino are getting difficult to teach.  This Singapore Math style is just complicating things, IMHO.  Filipino, on the other hand, is still difficult though it is our first language.  I really don't understand why.  I am not sure if we can maintain Johann's performance in the previous quarter.  I hope we do. Javi is still very playful.  He is still very choosy when it comes to friends.  He is very much into Avengers, Toy Story and the iPad.  His 5th birthday is coming up in a few weeks so I am preparing for that too.  We've been counting down to the Big Day since June.  I couldn't decide what to give him for his birthday because he has a different request every night....

Topaz Mommy wrote about one's fear of loving another child. It was never an issue for me.  There is always the capacity to love more.  My issue was giving each child enough attention and guidance. Could I handle it? With all these thongs happening in my life, how can I balance motherhood, being a wife, a business person and being myself? I try not to have favorites. I try to treat each child the same way. However, due to difference in personalities and birth order, I really feel that I am prone to have a favorite. Favorite pagalitan, favorite kilitin, et al.  Now that there's another baby coming, I worry again. How can I become a responsible parent to these blessings?  Only God can tell.  I am comforted by the fact that my kids love each other the way we showed them.  Seeing how these kids care for each other (when they are not fighting) tells me that I must be on the right track. 

I am glad that exam week is over.  Johann just stepped into the Big School and here I am feeling pressured to instill all the concepts and good study habits in him.  It has been a week of strict discipline, self-control, and intense time-management.  My patience and tolerance levels have been tried and tested several times.   Admittedly, I feel that his failure to do well in school is a failure on my part too. Since we haven't gotten the complete test results, I can not celebrate just yet.  But when the time comes, Johann wont be the only one getting a reward. Now, when I think about rewards, these are what I have in mind... I can just imagine Vic shuddering at the sight of those bags.

I just love 158 Designer Blvd. We got two pairs of Kenneth Cole shoes  for less than P2500! They are from last season's collection. But I don't mind. They're both decent and very comfortable. 

Finding time to write things in this blog is very difficult these days.  With mommy duties, work and the kids' homework, it leaves so little time for recreation and ME time.  These happened in the month I've been absent from blogging: We've finally established a routine for us and the kids.  This helped us manage other activities around the more important aspects of daily life.  It gets less complicated by the day.  I still complain about the amount of homework we have to deal with from the Big School. Our spa business survived the lean month of June.  July sales is slowly picking up and I hope it goes up from there.  I finally have all the business papers I need.  It was tedious process, dealing with these government agencies.  But I am thankful that we got everything we need.  I just dread doing it annually. There are just too many unplanned expenses cropping up these days.  I just get emotional over these things because I p...

Yes, I know it has been a while.  Summer has come and gone.  A lot has happened this summer and I can't wait to share them all with you. Now that all kids are in school, I am supposed to have more time in my hands.  But that is just the complete opposite.  Dealing with the kids assignments and other requirements leave me stressed.  Hahaha.  It's as if I'm the one who went back to school.  We just have to determine our routine and it will be smooth-sailing from there.  I hope. Bettina is a nursery student now.  She was expecting to see Javi's former teacher to greet her.  So when the new teacher greeted her, she was shy to go inside the room.  I had to stay with her for 30 minutes.  She is slowly getting the feel of the class and the pre-school experience.  Outside the classroom, I am amazed by her independence and maturity.  She knows what she wants and communicates that really well. She is sometimes mis...

I've been posting job ads since December.  I've tried national and local publications to get the word out.  I'd say this is one of the more difficult aspects of starting and owning a business. The control-freak in me is helpless.  I have no control over people's reactions.  I can't will people to apply and show up at interviews.  However, I'd like to show you what steps I took to advertise my job opportunities. 1.  Manila Bulletin -  I chose this publication because it is known for their classified ads.  If you are hoping to be included Sunday ads, make sure you have submitted it before the Saturday 12NN deadline. I got a copy of the boxed lay-out from the Franchiser.  Based on the box size, MB gave me the price.  I sent out two Sunday ads for the Massage Therapist position. 2.  PESO - Every city or municipality has a Public Employment Service Office.  One must request to be accredited.  Once accredited, I had acce...