Our First-Grader (a retro post)

The daughter went to two different schools for her Nursery and Kinder education. When  she decided to go to PAREF for grade school, I was both happy and anxious --- happy because I wouldn't have to drive her and her brother to and from school separately (the coed PAREF pre-school and the all-girls school shared one school gate). I was, however, worried that she might have a hard time adjusting to another new school because she's shy! 

When we took the admission test in March 2012, I wasn't really confident because back at her previous school, I found that there wasn't much emphasis on Reading. After the test, I was told that she passed all subjects but she lacked fluency in reading. It really didn't come as a big surprise! The assistant director for academic affairs advised me to just let the daughter practice reading everyday from that day 'til classes start in June. I actually got a similar advice from one of my friends (who always gives the best "words of wisdom") --- to spend at least 20 minutes everyday on reading.

Being the worrywart mom that I am, I religiously spent time letting her read and as soon as we got some of her text books in May, I let her read some chapters to somehow make her familiar with what their lessons would be.

first day at her new school

I was so happy when, on their first quarter exams, she got a high score in Reading and happier when she got a 100 grade in Reading in one of the grading periods! Sometime in March (this year), I got an SMS from the daughter's class adviser to let her and us (parents) attend the recognition day because she's one of the awardees! There was no mention on what award she would get. 

Fast forward to THE day. It was our very first time to attend a recognition program (as parents). In her previous school, no awards were given and in her brother's pre-school, the awards were non-academic. After the community singing of the national anthem, the emcee announced that subject awards would be given to students who got the highest grade (from the first to the fourth quarter) in their respective levels. I almost shouted and burst into tears when the emcee said, "for Grade 1, Reading: MARTINA SOFIA HERRERA VILLARUEL." I had to secretly shed tears of joy (before going up the stage) because being the shy girl that she is, she would really be embarrassed! (: what can I say?! our hard work paid off! 

look how shy she is! posing for the school's official photographer

After all the subject awardees from Grade 1 to 5 were called, another set of awards was given. Our first grader got a GOLD award, no less! The gold award is given to students with grades not lower than 95 in all subjects and a grade of O (outstanding) in Personal Development (behavior). That day's got to be one of my happiest! I said many, many prayers of thanksgiving for the daughter's amazing first year in her new school! By God's grace, she did really well despite being shy and having a "challenged" vision.

I'm one proud mom!

Mother's Day's Thoughts

It's true what they say that "motherhood is a choice we moms make everyday to put someone else's happiness and well-being ahead of your own."

Although yesterday was supposedly my and Mama's special day, it was the kids who chose where to dine and what to do after dining. We didn't mind because their happiness comes first. :)

They didn't want anything fancy. After we heard Sunday mass, we went to one of their favorite local fastfood chains, the Orange Brutus. They love their sizzling burger steak, fried chicken, and hotdog-on-a-stick. 

me and my most precious treasures

"Motherhood is a choice we make everyday to do the right thing, even when you're not sure what the right thing is and to forgive yourself over and over again for doing everything wrong." Since the day I became a mother, I have been faced with this challenge for how does one really know what is right in parenting. Many times I wished motherhood came with a step-by-step manual and I wish, too, that it is that easy to forgive one's self when she has done the "wrong" thing. 

Mothergoose and me on mother's day

One of my all-time favorite quotes on motherhood goes "a mother is she who can take the place of all others but whose place no one else can take." I am very blessed to have a mother like our Mama. She loves me and is very patient with me even at my worst! I could not really imagine how I would be without someone like her. 

gratitude list (02.20-02.26)

i promised myself i will do my gratitude list (on a weekly basis as much as possible) to have an 'inventory' of all my blessings.

* our youngest sister and her hub's wedding anniversary on February 20, it's their first since their little princess' birth;  we offered thanksgiving mass for them and celebrated at Max's 

* praying the rosary daily (one of my goals). i failed doing it last year and even early this year.


* surpassing my goal of reading 2 books a month. i finished 5 this month. they may not be "intellectual" books but i believe that reading is always food for the brain.

* signing up (for the millionth time in this lifetime) for a gym membership


* this news which made Mama and all of us cry. our hearts were crushed when, last year, GSIS wrote Mama that she is disqualified from the survivorship benefit because she's a pensioner herself. we felt that it was totally unfair that the family of the deceased member gets nothing for his 44 years of service to the government. we couldn't thank the Lord enough for this new development. inutil as it may sound, my kids will benefit from this because like the late Daddy, Mama is selfless and she's already planning to give part of what she receives for the kids' tuition.

* four-day weekend for the kids (Feb. 24 was Cebu City charter day and Feb. 25th was EDSA anniv)


* a pre-summer family getaway. thanks to the resort's annual 'paradise sale', we were able to afford an overnight stay there. we bought the voucher in August 2010 but only got to use it last friday, it was valid only until Feb 28th. and i only was able to convince the hubby into buying one when i told him it's my 40th birthday gift (last November) :-)

* free WiFi at the resort and a really nice health club where I sweat out while on vacation


* surviving the getaway with no yaya. yes, i was tired but when you see your kids having so much fun, you just feel happy and fulfilled.


* helping (financially) M's yaya (whose mother is very sick) when you think you only have just enough finances for your needs. the Lord works in mysterious and amazing ways!


* family and friends