While The Kids Studied, Mama Took Home Some Donuts :)
Thank you Citibank!! If not for an unscheduled plurk peep, I wouldn’t have known that Citibank and Krispy Kreme had a promotion for free donuts. I was happy and content using my charge slips for redeeming for gas and grocery purchases. But when I found out that you could get a dozen donuts for 2 charge slips worth Php1500, I knew that I had to go for it A…S…A…P!!!
Guess what, I did! The very next day. I just happened to accompany my youngest daughter on her school fieldtrip which included a trip to Krispy Kreme. So while the kids were inside the store watching donuts being rolled out of the kitchen, I was lining up and claiming my free donuts. Not only that, I rallied the other parents on the bus to claim their donuts too. All in all, there were maybe a dozen parents who went home with free donuts that day.
Food For A Kid’s Brain
And I’m not talking about peanuts…although these tiny legumes are still considered an excellent brain food.
When I was pregnant with my 2 kids, I was obsessed with finding ways and means of insuring that they would grow up smart. Add to that the additional pressure from family member from both sides who have piled on numerous academic honors so much so that medals and ribbons seem to hanging from every nook and cranny of the house. You always ended your education with a laude attached to your name…even without the prefix.
Anyway, so as early as 5 months on the way I was already feeding my kids’ brains with all sorts of brain enhancing stimulus. I would strap a pair of earphones to my swollen belly and play Bach and Mozart for them. There were times that I would feel them kick while listening to classical music…although, I must admit, it wasn’t as fierce as when I would be watching a heart thumping Jerry Bruckheimer film.
One morning I spoke to one of my Godfathers who was delighted to find out that I was with child. Being a Lolo himself and an avowed fan of all things mental, he suggested that I purchase the Baby Einstein series of videos for my kid. He said that his grandkids were all products of Baby Einstein and were now honor students in their own right.
I tried to look for it here but they weren’t available here at that time. I had to have them shipped all the way from the U.S.
As early as 2 weeks old I was playing Baby Mozart to my kids. We progressed from then on. Let me tell you, it works. My kids were humming Mozart and Bach at 3 months. They were talking at 10 months and at 18 months they had the vocabulary of 3 year olds. I would like to think that my kids are geniuses (their late grandfather used to think so).
Lucky for kids nowadays that these brain boosting videos are available in the Philippines today.
Powerhans Philippines has brought to our shores Baby Einstein, Brainy Baby, So Smart, Baby Learns Chinese, as well as several other video lines that aim to develop our baby’s brain and intellect from as early as birth.
I am obviously a believer and I still continue to have my kids use educational videos to enhance their learning experience.
Most recently I introduced to them the Baby Learns Chinese videos. Although we do not speak the language, my kids had the opportunity to take 2 years of preschool Mandarin. When they left preschool, they completely forgot what they learned simply because of lack of practice. But when I popped the DVD into the player, they immediately took to the simple instructions. The “preschool like” instructions certainly appeal to children…and adults too. I found myself uttering some basic Mandarin by the middle of the video.
Powerhans also has an exclusive tie-up with the Singapore Zoo to produce videos about the animals in the zoo. I had my kids watch the Endagendered Species video and they were in a trance while watching. They are now officially saving up so we can go back because there were some animals in the video that they didn’t see on our last visit.
For all you parents out there who want some real brain food, check out Powerhans Philippines. Their videos can be found at the baby section of all SM Department Stores. They will also be opening their own kiosks this coming August in several SM malls.
School Jitters
We’re going on our 2nd week of school and my eldest is still dealing with school jitters. I don’t blame her. No amount of preparation really prepared her for the shocking sight of an honest to goodness BIG school. From the comfy confines of her prep classroom where there were only a handful of students, she was thrown in the almost “grown-up” world of Elementary school.
When I asked why she was upset she simply said that she didn’t know what being in Grade 1 felt like. We have all assured her that it felt exactly like Prep only better but she doesn’t seem to buy it. I guess its the feeling of being left all alone in a sea of strange faces that really frightens her. Considering that her prep school population was half of her class, it really makes you feel a little lost. However, she seems to be getting the hang of it as the days go by. There’s less clinging now. She still tells us that she sometimes wants to cry but she can already control it.
I’m sure she’ll be better this week when schoolwork really starts in earnest. And to think this is Grade school. I wonder what it will be like if and when we start facing sat prep courses or even college entrance exams. Egad. Gotta toughen her up for this. Anyway, we’ve got several years down the line. In the meantime, I’ve got some serious menu making to face. She starts eating lunch in school this week.
Early To Bed….Early To Rise
After 2 months of sleeping past their bedtime and waking up when the sun is in all its scorching glory, the kids are now faced with the dilemna of school.
This year both girls have to be in school at 7:30 a.m. which means having to wake up at 5:30 a.m. so we can be out of the house by 6:45 a.m. Egad!!!! This also means that I won’t be having my late nights anymore. I need to hit the sack at 11 p.m. at the latest. The kids, on the other hand, need to be in bed by 8 p.m. max which means dinner has to be at 5:30 p.m. which barely leaves us time to study since my eldest gets dismissed at 3 p.m.!!! Whew!!!
Whatever it is, this school year is really something to reckon with. All of us are new to this since this is really “big school” in all its entirety. Good luck to us and to all the students…..and parents of students.
Preparing For School
One more week to go and our school year officially starts.
This year will be a big year for us. Both kids are now in big school already which means super early mornings and lunch baon. This is the first time that I’ll be making lunch for baon so its a new thing for me.
I’ve pretty much done everything to prepare for school. After enrolling I bought all the books and school supplies neeeded. I’ve bought and ordered the required uniforms. The only thing I haven’t really prepared for is lunch.
I’ve been compiling a list of possible lunch baon ideas for my eldest kid. Much as I would like to pack her fave foods, it would be a bit too messy and inconvenient. Sinigang and nilaga aren’t exactly the best bets for lunchbox menus, right.
