Paper Fortune Tellers

Aki came home from school last year and begged me to make paper fortune tellers. I WAS THRILLED! I learned how to make them when I was 9 years old. Big big thanks to our trusty ChildCraft encyclopedia set.   I remember how proud I was because it was me who introduced my grade school classmates to this super easy and fun paper craft. How can I not be thrilled, twenty years later, when my own kid, born in the digital era, shows interest in the same old school plaything?

Here is you can win the mother-of-the-school-bus-rider of the year award.

Akisms {Makeover #2}

Akisms {Makeoverer #1}

Our Real Living Makeover

If you read this post last month, I hope I inspired you to join the makeover contest of Real Living. A lot of people tell me I am very lucky when it comes to contests. In a way, that may be true. What I want to think is that I win because I try. Hard. I don’t have many desires but when I want something, I commit. For this makeover contest, I read the stories of past winners.  I took photos of my house and had the pictures developed. I wrote and rewrote and rewrote my entry. And then, I commuted from Paranaque to Ortigas to handcarry my entry to Summit Media. When I learned that our house was shortlisted, I planned for the ocular inspection by rehearsing how to “sell” our house and by baking chocolate chip cookies in the morning (which RL team was not able to taste because they came early). Now, was I really just lucky?

Akisms {Positivity #3}

Akisms {Positivity #2}

As parents, we are always a work on progress. We have good days. We have bad days. Thank God, we have someone who always reminds us when we are not able to walk the talk.

This happened one evening. I came home very tired from work. I wanted to rest but there were homework and quizzes that we need to work on. I was complaining because Aki was not cooperating.

Akisms {Positivity # 1}

Aki responds well when we introduce him to mantras. We call them family mottos. Last year, when we wanted to tame down his competitiveness and improve his sportsmanship. Our family motto was

“Sometimes, you win. Sometimes, you learn. What is important is doing your best.”

This year, we want him to be more positive. I noticed that he was whining more often and gave himself  negative labels. In college, I learned about self-fulfilling prophesies. If you think you are terrible at something, that will eventually happen. Why? Because you have convinced yourself of your capabilities, you will not try and overcome  challenges. Challenges that will make you better eventually. Now, think of the reversed mindset. If you know deep inside that you are limitless, what do you think will happen?

This is the latest addition to our list of family motto:

“Your words have power.”

Akisms: Message for Lola Do

Here is my little honey’s message for my mom.

Isn’t he the sweetest? My future daughter-in-law is so lucky!

 

Akisms: Mother’s Day Message for Babita

Here is my little love’s sweet message for his grandmother last Mother’s Day

Akism: How To Stop Yourself From Worrying

…and then there are those day, when Aki gives me advice that only a 5 year old can give.