parenting

PLDT Home Helped Keep Our Family Close

December 30, 2014 / Filed Under: family, parenting

PLDT Home Helped Keep Our Family Close

The last four years has been quite difficult for us as a family. peanutbutter♥ worked abroad for the last four years and I was left here to take care of Ykaie. He would come home for one month every year and we cried whenever it was time to leave. Ykaie and I missed him so much whenever he’s away but of course we had to adjust.

Good thing there’s PLDT Home DSL. Even if he was in Dubai we were able to talk to him everyday. Ykaie was able to see him through the webcam and we can communicate clearly. We shared what happened to us during the day. peanutbutter♥ played games with Ykaie, he told her stories, and he read to her. Despite the fact that we were miles apart, the closeness remained because we can talk consistently through clear connections daily.

Birthdays were also celebrated via online communications! The photo above was from peanutbutter♥‘s birthday last 2011. Ykaie surprised him with a birthday cake and we sang him the Happy Birthday song. He pretended to blow the candles on the cake and Ykaie blew it for him. Ykaie’s photo is blurry but you can see that big smile on her face.

Kiddie Garage Sale by Ykaie, Cyra, and Cyvrine

September 18, 2014 / Filed Under: cousins, kiddie activity, parenting, ykaie

Ykaie, Cyra, and Cyvrine had a Garage Sale in fron t of the house last week. They sold old toys, headbands, wallets, and whatnots which they don’t like anymore. These are things accumulated when we moved in to our new house a month ago. We chose the toys that Ykaie still liked and those that she doesn’t like anymore were thrown in a big box and set aside. The toys in the big box are those that were sold at this kiddie garage sale.

Things were sold for a very cheap price. Some are only priced at ₱1! Some are for ₱5 and ₱10, the most expensive ones.

Kiddie Garage Sale by Ykaie

I remember how much fun Ykaie had when she had he first garage sale (Garage Sale ni Ykaie) back in 2010 when she was still 2 years old!

I also have fun looking after them during their garage sale. I love how they anwswer when someone asks them how much an item is. I believe the garage sale teaches them enterpreneurial drive even subconsciously. Hey, they’re just children and I know to them all of these are just play.

How to Raise Compassionate Children

June 10, 2014 / Filed Under: parenting

In this day and age, young people are increasingly encouraged to focus on themselves. With the media and our culture at large constantly sending such messages, it’s important to teach children to care about the welfare of others instead of concentrating solely on their own satisfaction. Here are just a few ways to go about it.

Volunteer With Your Kids
There are plenty of kid-friendly was for children and adults to volunteer together. You can visit a nursing home to cheer up elderly patients, or to an animal shelter to help wash rescued animals.

Take Them To Charity Events
Events like charity runs and walks, bake sales, dinner nights, and dances are fun ways to get your kids involved. Make sure that they understand the reason behind the event, and that their involvement will help the cause.

Talk About Current Events
Disasters like the earthquakes and war can seem like heavy conversation for a child. Our first instinct is to try to shield our children from suffering. However, having discussions about current events can help develop your child’s level of compassion. Discuss with them what is going on in a current crisis, and possible ways that you and your child can help the situation. For example, you can say something like, “There is a war going on in a country called Syria. Sometimes wars happen when two countries can’t agree on something. I thought we could talk about some ways to help the people who have lost their homes because of it.”

Teach Them To Give
If you give your child allowance, teach them the importance of giving to those less fortunate than them. You can take them to donate through their church, synagogue, animal shelter, or any other local organization. UNICEF is a great charity to give to as well.

Be An Example
The most important way for you to teach your children about charity is to be an example yourself. Demonstrate acts of kindness to people, such as helping an eldery couple rake leaves, or baking for a service man or woman. Actively demonstrate charity in your own day to day life.

These are just a few ways you can raise your children to be compassionate. Doing so can help them to live a richer, fuller life.