School has started early with my two children. The youngest still has a few days left to enjoy her “free” days before she goes back to school.

It is a difficult time for us this year with three different schools and three schedules to juggle. The strain is showing early, well in to the first week that classes started. This is going to be a very loooong and challenging school year indeed.

I try to look beyond the “inconveniences” of conflicting schedules and try not to think about doing the alternative easy way: go back to where it is comfortable, where it is easy and where we are not duly inconvenienced with some concerns.

I am keeping my fingers crossed and offering a prayer for a positive response regarding an alternative option about some concerns we are having.

For now, I am thankful with the children’s school placements, for the challenges that I hope and pray will not only make them better students but better persons in the long run.

If there is one thing very positive about Facebook, it keeps us connected to people we have met in the past.

As a teacher, Facebook made it easier for me to “keep track” of my former students. One way or another I know what they are up to, what keeps them busy or what they feel and what their opinions are in some relevant social issues.

I can stand back and observe, put a word or two when asked, applaud (albeit virtually) when they accomplish something big or small and feel proud that I have been a part of their lives.

I may not be able to physically tap their backs for a job well done nor be there to see the boss compressor at guitar center that they recently bought nor even laugh (or cry!) with them, I know that they all have a space in my heart, whether I  still remember their names (those I do not have contact with anymore) or not.

I just hope I have a big enough heart for all of them. I am also glad that we are still “under each others’ radar” even if it is only through virtual connection.

Summer Vacation is officially here.

The children have their own destinations this summer and all of them, including their cousins from the husband’s side of the family are going down South to spend summer with the MIL.

Looking at the vacation photos of some of my friends make me melancholic at times because we do not have the luxury to do these things together.

For one, since the kids are away, how can we? Sure, it would be nice to dream about having a luxury apartment in paris, even if only for a few days. Sure it would be nice to walk down the streets of Paris savoring the rich aroma of food wafting from cafes and feeling the cool weather, a good enough excuse to use clothes fit for cooler climates. I can dream for this vacation with the family, can I? Perhaps in the future, when all responsibilities have been settled.

Anyway…

Another thing would be setting aside extra budget which we don’t seem to have a plenty of, especially since we have a college-bound child for the coming school year.

Someone once said that parents need not burden their children about expenses to be incurred with their schooling because as parents, we should have known better and have planned well for these things, whether or not these are still several years from happening.

But how can one do so when there is just enough to cover for immediate needs and not have extra to save for the years to come?

Let us not “judge” and tell other parents what we think is best for their children or what we think they should have done in the first place. Maybe it would help if we try to encourage other parents than try to have them see their shortcomings which I know they are very well aware of.

Ahhh… am straying away from the topic. Even if we could not check in at a luxury hotel in the metro during long weekends, enroll in fun summer activities nor head off to a dream beach destination, we know that having each other and spending time together are enough to make summer vacation fun and enjoyable.

I don’t know how many times I have said “How time flies by quickly” when it comes to things related to my children. This is true with most parents I know. This is even truer to the children of my friends who I saw growing up through their photos posted online.

Dare I say it again? How time flies…

Our eldest child is now university bound in another sense. Having grown up and studied in a university with basic education level, she is now college bound in another university, one she personally preferred to go to than one we wanted her to go to. It was difficult to digest this bit of information at first but when we went to reserve a slot for her, I told myself, “This is it!”

Wasn’t it just yesterday when I posted a Happy 12th Birthday Ate post?

Photo first posted here.

How time flies. Our youngest child had her first communion earlier this month:

Tomorrow she will be ten years old. We don’t have a child with a single digit number age anymore.

Parenting has taught me a lot of things and one of these is to be the best role model I can be. There are times that this is hard especially if the going gets rough.

There are still a lot more I need to learn to be a better parent than I already am, despite the LIFE LESSONS we try to teach.

Everyday is a learning experience.

Everyday is a challenge.

Everyday is also a day I get hugs and kisses. I savor each moment that we spend together and I would certainly dread the day that I have to give them space to spread their wings.

Until then, we will enjoy being overwhelmed by love and support each other through thick and thin.

The elections will happen next year but a few months ago, premature campaigning has been happening. I am getting an earworm with this song from a certain missus with a husband who had another earworm song being played just about everywhere. Argh!!!

Seriously, those running for office should concentrate on the many important issues that plague the nation like overpopulation, labor laws, building grass root communities that can thrive without much monetary assistance from the government (which I don’t believe help the people be more resourceful and hardworking).

This early, I’m guessing there are those who have laid out their political plans and agendas to garner the most votes and win. Perhaps they also consult gneil.com for a labor law poster just as graphic designers are starting work on campaign paraphernalia. The printing press companies are having a good year too.

I just hope that nation-building with people who have the heart to serve be greatly reinforced because we are being left behind by other ASEAN counterparts.

On the other hand, don’t we get tired of hearing false and empty promises?