First Day of School

People always comment positively about my daughter's social skills. I haven't experienced tantrums and crying fits in public. Even at home with just us - the little girl, her dad and me - she doesn't act up and turn into The Problem Child. My friends are in awe of how well-behaved, friendly and sociable she is. I attribute this greatly to how much she loves school and how often she finds ways to creatively learn from the environment she's in, no matter what it is. (When we're out and she's about to get bored, she asks, "Mama, can I go explore?" I always say yes and let her, while reminding her to stay where I can see her.)

Kaelana started play group at age three. I let her attend during the summer. She went to the Woodridge School. Then she went to Maria Montessori International School when she was four for nursery school. I did a lot of research beforehand and requested to observe classes before enrolling her there. You know how some schools claim to be montessoris but really aren't. As a teacher myself, I had to make sure the teaching methods, materials and the learning setting remained faithful to "the montessori way." I was happy with what I found out and observed so The Husband and I enrolled her there.

My little girl stayed in MMIS for a year then I transferred her to my alma mater (and my sister's, and 80% of my girl friends'), St. Theresa's College. She is thriving and flourishing and we couldn't be happier. She was five and in kindergarten when she started in STC. Now she is seven and in first grade. She is a consistent honor student, and now president of her class. Time flies by so fast, indeed.

When she started school in MMIS, I had a lump in my throat. I was emotional. I felt like I had just given birth to her yesterday and yet, there I was, sending my baby to school.

up early!

Happy and excited, and yes, Yakult is good for pre-schoolers!

That's The Husband by the door.

pink Gingersnaps dress, fuchsia cat hair ties, Dora floral flats and Winx lunch kit

#likeafashionblogger

four and in nursery school!

in the car

outside the school with a headless me

She actually cried but it lasted for a good five minutes because a teacher's aide came 

and smiled at her and led her to a seat.

paparazzi shot of her coloring

I wonder how it'll be like when she'll start high school. Ulp.

Random Memories Cinq

- My childhood friend, Jaycel, bakes and cooks well. I love her pasta and cookies. Snack time at her house, which is three houses away from mine, is always good. We hung out at her house during lazy weekend afternoons, eating, drinking iced tea, talking and giggling. Ah, high school summers.

- I never learned to ride a bike. I think it might be because my parents never bought me my own. I practiced on my older brother, Jhzryl's blue one - a hand-me-down, because my parents bought him a yellow BMX when he was in sixth grade. I never felt the accountability to learn to ride something not technically and originally mine. That's my excuse, and I'm sticking to it.

- I got my first 'love letter' in sixth grade. It was a Christmas card with hearts, and yes or no tick boxes to the earth-shattering question: Do you like me?
I didn't answer it. Wuss.

- I was a consistent honor student in grade school. I graduated salutatorian in elementary school. I was on the school newspaper and was a spelling bee champion. High school? None. Nothing. No achievements, whatsoever, except getting into the University of the Philippines-Diliman for college.

- I wanted to be Miss Universe growing up. No joke.

Mobilize

I'm on my second work week for 2013. Things are still pretty relaxed, for now, but I'm sure they'll pick up pace soon enough. I'm pumped up to work, truth be told, having come from such a meaningfully packed holiday vacation. Not only was I able to spend quality time with my loved ones but I had more time to read, to reflect, to just be.

I got into a Flyfish raft mishap while on vacation in Boracay so my left wrist is in a splint. I became a bit melodramatic when I had to see my orthopedic doctors for my fracture. I went all woe-is-me weepy to The Husband and I was like, "I'm back to the doctors... So early into the new year." The Husband then gently consoled me, "Hey, it's going to be okay. You're going to get your splint, go to your physical therapy sessions and you'll be fine." Then he added with a mischievous grin, "We had fun, though, right? And that's what's important. Nothing's lost."

That shut my emo self up. It's true. In life, we get bruised and jarred along the way, but we push on. We keep on living. This 2013, that's exactly what I plan to do with gusto - to live fully, to choose happiness and to keep moving forward.

photo from weheartit.com