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My Son's Farewell To Preschool

My little prince's last day in preschool

One of the greatest joys in a woman's life is motherhood. Nowadays, where world promotes self indulgence and self-gratification, I would say that motherhood and good parenting are a highest form of unselfishness and unconditional love.

The moment that I became a mother, I said to myself, I am also going to become a great mother. As I watch my son grown, how he became a happy and an "always curious" child, I would say that I am doing well too my part as a first time mother. It is a happy thing to see our children's milestone. It is like, we cannot stop them from growing, to take their own steps into the real world, and eventually to follow their own dreams.

I would like to share with you through this blog the joy that I had felt when my son said farewell to preschool. The simple farewell party that me and his teachers prepared for him. My husband was on his working trip in Poland when we have this small party so he was not able to join us.
About two weeks from now, summer vacation is done, and my son will start in basis school or the elementary school. If there are special things in my life that I am very grateful with, I surely count on in my joys of being a mother to my son.

Mamas Just Wanna Have Fun!

Everyday, I go to school to bring and to fetch my preschooler. And from there, I have met a wonderful woman, a fulltime mother like me. We became friends. She happily accepted the Bible-based magazine that I am sharing and giving her. I feel the enjoyment of her company. She lives just a few blocks away from our home and I always appreciate it that whenever she is passing by with her two daughters, she taps our window. I feel she is really a neighbour. What I like with her too is that she is befriending me without hesitation, without expectation. And so I am to her. We love making selfies. We love to just walk and talk. We talk almost about everything. The feelings I feel for her inspire me to write this blog about her... About us. What we have done today together. While our kids were in school, we went in the nearby surplus shop. We bought few second hand items. I fell in love to a summer blouse that I saw in the store that I grabbed it right away and pay. On our way back to school, we made photos with the wildflowers. I changed my blouse at the back of the tall grass, right there in the highway! We have such a fun together. It feels so good to feel that I am on myself again, that I am free to be me with her. I cooked monggo (mong bean) for dinner, I called her and told her that she can come in our house so she can taste it. In the end, I gave her a portion in a lunch box and she brought it to her Dutch husband. A moment ago, she sent me in Whatsap the photo of her husband enjoying eating the monggo that I gave. I am about to go to bed now with my husband, but then, I opened my laptop, started to type words, words that are really coming from my heart... I tell you, even fulltime moms just wanna have fun... A whole some fun! Please enjoy our photos :)

Me and my friend, Anama.

my friend's Dutch husband, eating monggo

Complete Me (A Mother's Poem)

Little toes, bright eyes

Tender smile, soft giggles

A boy with golden hair,

Once you were just a dream.

I have you now

My life will be incomplete without you

The breath that fills my heart,

The movement that sustains my day.

A child of mine,

A sweet delight

That sometimes makes my world

Upside down.

You bring to me a sense of completion

It's a peculiar kind of joy

A happiness without measure

You made the best of me when I became your mother.

My Preschooler's Costume Party

It was a fun-filled day at school. The preschoolers had their costume party this morning. Yesterday, I went out to look for a nice costume for my son. The cowboy costume that my sister in law sent for my son is too big for him. And the teachers told me to prepare something that looks good too for Burt. I am happy because I found a good costume for him. I thought it is an astronaut costume but, it was actually a knight costume. At 11:15 this morning, the school was opened for the mothers of the preschooler. It was fun, the preschooler were so cute with their costume, but when my son entered the room for their like a ramp-modeling session, he was not wearing the costume that I bought. The teachers told me that my son do not like to wear it, he don't like them to change his clothes and he was crying! So they let him to just wear his school clothes. He looks different from the other children who are wearing their costume. I am still happy because he was full of joy when he saw me sitting next with other mothers with my big camera. When his teachers asked him if he likes to sit with other children or with me, he answered: with mama. Motherhood is hard but has joys and challenges. Everyday, my son brings to me a happiness without measure with a riot of colors.

A Pondering Thoughts Of A Trying To Become A Good Mother

Today in school.

I think it contributes to our well being and healthy living when at the end of the day, we sit a bit, try to recapture moments, write them if we can, and analyze how happenings within the day gave us a life meaning.
Today is the last day of my son in school for the year 2016. The next time I will bring my son to school is in February. Because we will have a month holiday in the Philippines in January. Also today, one of my son's teacher said farewell because she is now a pensioner, a beginning of her retirement years. The school gave a simple farewell party for her and all mothers were also there. I brought her flowers and I was touched when she gave me a Dutch kiss, a three kisses, as how Dutch people greet and kiss.

My plate of the cake.

We have coffee and tea, and the teachers served a delicious cake and some homemade cookies and bread. When I told my son's teacher that she will miss the children, she was teary eyed in answering me: yes. She said, it is nice to retire, but sad as well. The sweet Turkish girl was there and I did not see her mother. She sits in between the two mothers, she looks so small, fragile. When she saw me, she flashes me right away her smile. I wonder why she had that easy smile to me.
All mothers left, all children stayed with the teachers for another hour before we pick them up. I went to the supermarket, when I arrived home, I am glad that my husband arrived already from his three days working trip in Germany. He brought home a jar of some fruit jam from the hotel where he stayed, and he also brought me a cup with a heart shape handle. We pick up our preschooler together.

from my husband.

There is a kind of happiness that I feel right now, as I am writing this. I can talk freely now in school, both with the teachers and with the mothers. I love school since I was a kid. Now that I am a mother, I am glad that going to school is again, a part of my life almost every day. I appreciate it that the teachers give me the recognition as the mother of my son. I think all mothers will agree with me if I will say that it is one of the best feeling of being a mother, when people recognize you, not because you are pretty, or sexy, or powerful. It is because you are a great and an amazing mother to your children.

A December's Mother's Day With The Preschoolers

As much as possible, I like to remain with my blog theme. To share my life as a Dutchy wife my day to day endeavor that I found inspiring. On internet where stories and social networking compose most of the time of satiric notes, ridicule, and sarcasm, I made my stand to remain in my peaceful self, even in my blog.

Among my topics, I always love to write about my life as a mother, I love motherhood. Yesterday, I attended a special gathering with other mothers at my son's school. It was nice to meet other mothers and we made art works together with our children. After that, the teachers served cookies, chocolates, coffee, and tea.
When the teachers gave us the art materials, my mind was so fast to think what I am going to create... A big smile on a paper plate. My son and I made it together, even he put a lot of glue in the paper plate  hahahah and want to pour a one container of glitters on it hahaha! I am glad that my son loves school. Every day, to go to school is something he always looks forward to.
The Turkish girl that sits next to me was so sweet. She likes to work with me than with her mother. She was grinning when I gave her art materials to her mother. She even likes it when I made a selfie with her and was all smiling when I showed to her our photo in my phone.  It was a fun filled one hour in school.
In the afternoon, while my son was sleeping, I watched the movie Mother's Day on HBO. A matching conclusion after a beautiful morning in school.

My Son's Short Story Of Decay

My son named it: mama's truck.

Nothing can compare the feeling of having a toddler at home. Your life, your home turns like a roller coaster... Many ups, but sometimes down. Not because you do not like the role, but what I meant to say is the stress and the challenge to control the situation.

 I gave my son a tanker truck, as my simple gift to him. My son is continuously receiving gifts from family and friends since he was still in my womb until now. We have now are boxes of many toys for him. I never bought even one toy for him. I think, he has already more than enough.

Almost a month now since I gave him a tanker truck that he loves so much. He brings it everyday to school and back home. He actually brings it anywhere we go, even in his sleep.

A very playful child.

Early this morning, he woke up already and went to our bedroom (me and his papa's room). He sleeps separate from us, alone in his room. I was still very sleep and feeling lazy to move and to get up. He went to my husband instead. When I get up, my husband is already in the sink and cleaning something. My husband is cleaning the tanker truck. He said it is very smelly!

I told my husband to just leave it and I will finish it after he left for work. Uh! It was not easy. What is deep down the tanker are the rotten skin of mandarin. Uh, I remember that when we were in the assembly two weeks ago, as I peel the mandarin, he put the skin inside the tanker. I did not bother to remove it or to clean it. Now it is rotten, stinky, the smell makes me dizzy!

I used tweezers to get rid all the, like picking small objects and plucking hair. Then I washed the inside of the tanker with hot water and soap. When I handed it back to my son, he is smiling. Another lesson I have learned today with regards in mommying. 

An Issue Of A "Mother-Teachers Relationship"

"I am not a guardian! I am the mother of my son!"

When I signed up on Blogger, my objective in writing is only about something personal. That is why I categorized my blog as a personal blog. But this personal blog gets broader as my life's horizon getting wider. I have many things on my mind that my heart wants to express through writing. This time, another blog about my feelings as a mother to my son.

I don't like to sound sensitive, nor vulnerable. In this part of the world where the women are as eminent and as powerful as men, there is no room for vulnerability. Only when it comes to family matters, I am soft, I am sensitive.

I am nearly four years living in The Netherlands. The assimilation quiet difficult: the weather, the culture, the language, and the lifestyle. Now, there is another story that my son is already in preschool.

Last April, the teachers of my son called my husband. My husband told me that the teachers like to talk to him. It was a surprised to me because I bring our son to school every day and I am also the one who picking him up, but the teachers did not tell me that they called my husband or that they want to talk to him!

It happened again. Last night, my husband told me that he will take a day off on Friday because, he said, the teachers called him and they like to talk to him. If you are a mother, a devoted mother, and you are in my position, how would you feel? Honestly, it hurt me and I feel really bad. I am asking, why the teachers not telling me that they want to speak to my husband about our son? Or if there is any problem with my son, why they do not open it up to me or discuss it with me as the mother?

I don't care if they don't like me as long as I like myself.

I had a hurt feeling last night until this morning. I have enough and I want to speak out. I called my very dear friend in Denmark and told her about it. I told her that I called her because I want to draw some strength from someone who can push me so I will have the strength to speak out. She replied me: "Maggy, you are strong, you have strength, you are not just using it."

Before we ended up our phone conversation, she reminded me: "Maggy, do not cry in front of the teachers." I said, yes. I took my son to school. I approached one of his three teachers. I asked her if we can talk even for a while. She said, yes.

I said it all! In a calm voice, in a professional manner, I asked the teacher, why it is always my husband that they like to talk about our son? I am in school everyday, they see me, why they are calling my husband instead of telling me? My tears falling when I told the teacher that "I am not a guardian, I am the mother of my son!"

The teacher explained to me that in their files, it stated there that during meetings with parents the contact person is my husband. I asked her why? Because I am not a Nederlander? Whatever, I found the reasoning shallow. Every day I entrust my son to them, but with like this happening, I feel, they dislike me. I don't mind. I don't care. As long as I like myself and my family is happy with me, that matters.

Five Special Ways Of A Toddler Saying "I Love You"

Millions of books were published for child care and parenting. Because of this, some parents come to doubt their efficiency in good parenting. It is like, other people, as long as "it is their profession" might clouded our minds as parents, so we will lose our self confidence in taking care of our own child.

In our municipality, the mothers of preschoolers meet once a month, organized by Stitching Aanzet. They meet us to help us, and give us advice on child care, on child schooling, behavior, language skill, and others. We can open up to the group any of our concerns or troubles with our child. One of the mothers today, relates that her child has sleeping problem. Anyone can give a tip about this particular issue. Since my son is a good sleeper, I shared a little of my motherly knowledge.

My son is a good sleeper, and this is one of the things that I am very grateful with. I think, the consistency of a child's bedtime is important. When it is time to sleep, even the child is not yet sleepy, we must put our child to bed, so in the early years, they know how to follow their biological clock. Me and my husband had proven it helpful too: a warm shower or bath before bedtime can help a child to have a sound sleep at night.

Your life will never be the same again once have a toddler. And toddlers have their own special ways of saying "I love you." It takes heart, love, and a lot of patience to pay attention. Here are some:

1. Cuddles and snuggles and all that fun stuff. No matter how busy you are, don't deprive your child the cuddling and snuggling he or she needs. There are times that toddlers had tantrums and you had a bad mood. Even toddlers, they have a sensitive feeling. They know well that a cuddling and snuggling can put your smile back and get their eyes sparkling again.

2. Screaming when you or husband arrived at home. My son is very cute saying his loudest: "papa, papa, papa!" when my husband arrives from work. Just the same, when I am the one who have a day out without them. It is the toddler's way of saying that: "I have missed you!"

3. Taking anything that interest him/her to you. Toddlers are full of curiosity. Once they found something that interest them, the first thing they will do is to show it to you. It is their way of saying that you two are buddies, a period where you can lay a foundation of friendship with your child until he grow up.

4. Loves doing routines with you. Sometimes, it is so stressful having a toddler. Toddlers love to do things again and again, loves repetition. My son has games that he already knows, puzzles and others. But he loves to do them again and again and keep on asking me, and waiting for me to agree. But I understand that it's his way of saying that he enjoys doing things repeatedly with me or with his father.

5. Obeying your simple command, follows small rule. Nothing is sweeter than seeing our little ones obeying us when we ask them to do certain tasks. I am all out smile when my son spills his milk and he is fast to take the rug and clean his mess. It is one of the ultimate expressions of their love when they extend their small helping hand.

You may know a lot about birds, but you don’t know a thing about kids. -Excerpt from the movie, Away And Back

Five Valuable Lessons That I Learned From My Toddler

Life will never be the same once you become a parent.

I have read that when we have a toddler, their favorite word this year is "more"! Toddlers love to do things over and over again, but are also introducing themselves to a subtle change into each repetition. They are also a great imitator. They love to follow what they are constantly seeing and noticed from us. It is funny because my son imitate even how I used the toilet paper, and how we use the kitchen paper when me or his father sneeze. Even toddlers love to do things over and over again, they also love to do new activities. Don't deprive them the chance to lend their helping hand even on that very young age, it will mold them to become a responsible adult in the future.

The temperature in The Netherlands is now cooling down. This morning, I washed our laundry and hanged them again in the clothesline in the garden. The sunlight is a bit shy, but I still have the element to dry my laundry: wind and a dry day. My son was with me and helping me by passing me the clip, one by one.

And so I started to cut the grass in our garden. Again, my son loves to help. Our morning together was a really fun, even we're just cutting the grass. I cut the grass and he gathered them together and stacking them in his dump truck! Hahaha! I took my camera and got some photos of what he is doing, I am pleased.

after helping me, he is sleepy :)

As I spend each moment of my day to day life with my toddler, I learned some valuable lessons in life:
1. Fun is a matter of choice. When I see gray sky, my son sees it clear and bright, and fun continues. Fun is in the eye of the beholder.

2. There is always someone who loves to lend a helping hand, do not underestimate even these hands are small. My son helped me realized that even we are grown up, we also feel tired and it is okay to ask for help.

3. Outdoor is the best medicine. I have been sickly lately. I feel like I like to just stay inside. But my son loves outdoors. Every time he got restless indoors, I switch his attention to something by taking him outside. Letting him play in the garden, or at the playground. All of the sudden, I feel better after I have a good dose of the outdoor fun.

4. To enjoy my my present age because it is not permanent. Enjoy it with my family. How quickly time flies! It was like only yesterday when I gave birth to my son. Next year he is already in the basisschool, the formal schooling for all children in the Netherlands.

5. I am loved. There is nothing better or sweeter in life, than having a tight hug, a tiny arm wrapping around my neck and saying: mama.

When God Created Mothers

I am grateful that God gave me the gift of motherhood.

I fell in love with this right at the moment that I have first read it. I penned these words as a photo caption in one of my photos with my son. So many stories, tales about being a great mother. I am grateful that God gave me the gift of motherhood. I know exactly now what is the feeling of being a mother. -Maggy


When God Created Mothers

When the Good Lord was creating mothers, He was into His sixth day of "overtime" when the angel appeared and said. "You're doing a lot of fiddling around on this one."

And God said, "Have you read the specs on this order?" She has to be completely washable, but not plastic. Have 180 moveable parts...all replaceable. Run on black coffee and leftovers. Have a lap that disappears when she stands up. A kiss that can cure anything from a broken leg to a disappointed love affair. And six pairs of hands."

The angel shook her head slowly and said. "Six pairs of hands.... no way."

It's not the hands that are causing me problems," God remarked, "it's the three pairs of eyes that mothers have to have."

That's on the standard model?" asked the angel. God nodded.

One pair that sees through closed doors when she asks, 'What are you kids doing in there?' when she already knows. Another here in the back of her head that sees what she shouldn't but what she has to know, and of course the ones here in front that can look at a child when he goofs up and say. 'I understand and I love you' without so much as uttering a word."

God," said the angel touching his sleeve gently, "Get some rest tomorrow...."

I can't," said God, "I'm so close to creating something so close to myself. Already I have one who heals herself when she is sick...can feed a family of six on one pound of hamburger...and can get a nine year old to stand under a shower."

The angel circled the model of a mother very slowly. "It's too soft," she sighed.

But tough!" said God excitedly. "You can imagine what this mother can do or endure."

Can it think?"

Not only can it think, but it can reason and compromise," said the Creator.

Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek.

There's a leak," she pronounced. "I told You that You were trying to put too much into this model."

It's not a leak," said the Lord, "It's a tear."

What's it for?"

It's for joy, sadness, disappointment, pain, loneliness, and pride."

You are a genius, " said the angel.

Somberly, God said, "I didn't put it there.”
― Erma Bombeck

The Mother's Love

I have read this story on the internet. For me, this is one of the greatest stories ever told. I am sharing this to all mothers in the world as well as for the children. Most of the times, people underestimate the role of the mother, especially if the mother is just a plain housewife, ,uneducated or from a poor family. There are countries that treat women as low creations, and there are men who considered women only as sex objects.

I admire mothers who are devoted to their role, especially those who are single mothers. This story is written for you. I am a mother of a toddler and I do not like to brag my love for my son. But having him in my life, brought sunshine and a kind of love and happiness that exist. Please read this story and please feel free to leave a comment.

This story was published in Good Housekeeping, 1933. A must read for all mothers and to all grown up children.
Is this the long way?" asked the young mother as she set her foot on the path of life. And the Guide said:
"Yes, and the way is hard, and you will be old before you reach the end of it. But the end will be better than the beginning."
The young mother was happy, and she would not believe that anything could be better than these years. So she played with her children, she fed them and bathed them, taught them how to tie their shoes and ride a bike, and reminded them to feed the dog and do their homework and brush their teeth. The sun shone on them and the young mother cried,
Nothing will ever be lovelier than this."

Then the nights came, and the storms, and the path was sometimes dark, and the children shook with fear and cold, and the mother drew them close and covered them with her arms. The children said,
"Mother, we are not afraid, for you are near, and no harm can come."
And the morning came, and there was a hill ahead, and the children climbed and grew weary, and the mother was weary. But at all times she said to the children,
"A little patience and we are there."
So the children climbed and as they climbed they learned to weather the storms. And with this, she gave them strength to face the world. Year after year she showed them compassion, understanding, hope, but most of all unconditional love. And when they reached the top they said,
"Mother, we could not have done it without you."

The days went on, and the weeks and the months and the years. The mother grew old and she became little and bent. But her children were tall and strong, and walked with courage. And the mother, when she lay down at night, looked up at the stars and said:
This is a better day than the last, for my children have learned so much and are now passing these traits on to their children."
And when the way became rough for her, they lifted her, and gave her strength, just as she had given them hers. One day they came to a hill, and beyond the hill they could see a shining road and golden gates flung wide. And Mother said,
"I have reached the end of my journey. And now I know the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk with dignity and pride, with their heads held high, and so can their children after them." And the children said,
"You will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates."

And they stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates closed after her. And they said,
"We cannot see her, but she is with us still." A mother is more than a memory. She is a living presence. Your Mother is always with you. She's the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street, she's the smell of certain foods you remember, flowers you pick and perfume that she wore, she's the cool hand on your brow when you're not feeling well, she's your breath in the air on a cold winters day.
She is the sound of the rain that lulls you to sleep, the colors of a rainbow, she is your birthday morning. Your Mother lives inside your laughter. And she's crystallized in every tear drop.
A mother shows through in every emotion - happiness, sadness, fear, jealousy, love, hate, anger, helplessness, excitement, joy, sorrow - and all the while hoping and praying you will only know the good feelings in life.
She's the place you came from, your first home, and she's the map you follow with every step you take. She's your first love, your first friend, even your first enemy, but nothing on earth can separate you.
Not time, not space - not even death!

(photos are me with my son)