Best Friends Forever

"Best Friends Forever" This was the theme of the Preschool Mother and Daughter Day this year. Raya, who is in Senior Kinder (the equivalent of Prep), and I attended the event last September 19, 2009 at the Harbor Lights Hotel. The Mother and Daughter activity is an annual event where mothers join their daughters in a day of fun filled activities. This is a great opportunity to bond with each other.

Raya felt extremely excited that we were spending time just the two of us. I have always been conscious of the fact that she needs a lot of attention too being the middle child. Nadine, the oldest, gets a lot of attention herself because she experiences things first --- first graduation, first this, first that, etc. And of course, adorable Alyssa at 2 years can never be without attention. So I try to make it a point to spend enough time with Raya, just the two of us. It's difficult yes, but achievable.

During school days, Raya is my companion when I do the grocery or do my bank errands. I pick her up from school and we do the activities we have to do. We sing together in the car while listening to music or we just talk about anything. A lot of times, we have lunch with Mier in SM. During this time, we try to bond with her as much as possible even if we are still busy with other stuff. Mier also does his share in bonding with Raya. A lot of times they go out together just the two them.

But the nice thing about the Mother and Daughter activity is that it's a whole day affair where the focus is just on Raya.

We woke up bright and early on that day and drove to Gusa. We were one of the first ones there (excited obviously!) but we were able to bond with early mommies and teachers too.  Although the activities started late because we had to wait for the other participants, Raya and I enjoyed the time there. First activity was an Amazing Race game. We had to go from one station to the other and complete the activity asked for. There were four stations all in all but far apart from each other so we had to run all over the place. It was fun doing the collage, the limbo rock, the puzzles and the scooping activities with Raya.

Then the mothers gathered together for a short talk on communication. Effective communication is essential in any relationship. And having good communication lines with our children will enable us to understand them more and them to understand us too.

After lunch, was storytelling time! Days before the event, we were asked to bring a storybook to read to our daughters, preferably a story that has never been read before. Since Raya is an avid reader, we have no book at home that she hasn't read. So I decided to buy her a book and wrapped it as a present. Seeing her face while she unwrapped the book was priceless! She asked me to read the book again and again and she kept on hugging me and saying thank you. Little things for us but big things for them.

The next activity, we had to decorate a cake, another activity that she throughly enjoyed. I gave her free reign to do whatever she wanted with the cake decors and she was so intent on decorating her cake. She looked so cute! 

The last part of the affair was a picnic party. However, the rains beat us to it in the garden. But this didn't stop the mothers from dancing to the tune of Beat It and Jai-Ho!

Our souvenir for the day was a picture frame with both of us hugging each other. On our way home, Raya fell asleep in the car, tired but happy and content. I could tell that this was an event that was very meaningful for her. And indeed it was as she talks about it fondly even weeks after the event.

The Second Birthday

We learned our lesson during the first birthday of our first child. At age one, the child has no idea what is happening during her birthday. She is oblivious to the singing, playing of games and eating during a celebration that is supposedly in her honor. Although all the guests have fun, the main celebrant is often cranky and over stimulated after the whole event.

For Nadine’s first birthday, we had a somewhat elaborate party at Museo Pambata in Manila. My mother-in-law cooked food for more than a hundred and fifty guests. I put together loot bags for fifty children, made bookmarks and jars of marshmallows as giveaways for the adults. My husband and I decorated the place by ourselves with posters and balloons. We did extend ourselves to make that birthday a memorable one. However, our little baby cannot even recall the event.

So we’ve learned our lesson. For our succeeding daughters, we would have a simple celebration inviting only relatives during their first birthdays. It is on their second birthday that we do give them a well-thought-of party because at this age, they can already “feel” the specialness of the big day.

When Raya turned two, we planned a unique party for her at the zoo. Yes, in Manila Zoo itself! We learned that they didn’t usually allow this so I had to write a letter to the director for permission to use the premises. We were overjoyed to get a positive response. A number of trips to the area and we were all set for the party. Since her birthday fell on a Sunday, the busiest day of the place, we timed the party at 9am just in time before the place got full. I made entrance tickets that served as invitations as well. Each person invited got a ticket and would surrender a part of it at the entrance.

The theme of Raya’s party was Barney because that was her favorite at the moment. We bought decorations and backpack loot bags and other stuff from Divisoria in Manila. I asked my friend to make a Barney cake for Raya. We began the party with a prayer then the blowing of the cake; we served brunch and distributed the loot bags. After all the birthday happenings, the guests were now free to roam the zoo. We learned that many stayed even until late in the afternoon.

Raya, on the other hand, knew it was her birthday and although in the beginning she wasn’t very much in the mood for the party, she felt special the whole time. She warmed up when her daddy allowed her to play and frolic near the fountain, getting herself all wet afterwards. So when we proceeded to the Kinder Zoo (the part of the zoo where you can pet the animals), she was so game and was her usual self already. She even rode the ostrich! And the horse by herself!

I know that she cannot remember the day as vividly anymore but at that moment, I know that she felt that the day was extraordinary for her and I believe that was what matters most.

Two weeks ago, my youngest Alyssa turned two. Since she is into music and dancing, we decided to have a dancing party for her. I burned her top ten favorite songs that included Michael Jackson, Taylor Swift and Black Eyed Peas. (Yes, my baby likes RnB music!) The CD was her invitation for her guests. Since she also gets excited when she sees Jollibee, we thought a party there would be fun enough.

And then 4 days before her big day, she suddenly got into the Snow White princess mode! (I don’t really understand WHY they’re into the Disney princesses but I guess that’s another discussion to make) She would look for Raya’s Snow White toy doll and would insist on playing with that all the time. I thought of Raya’s old princess costume and felt that it would fit Alyssa already. And it did! Alyssa wouldn’t even take the costume off! (It was only when she spilled water on it, that we were able to convince her to remove it for washing.)

On the day of her birthday, she was definitely the STAR of the day and she KNEW it! She would repeatedly say throughout the whole day, “Alyssa birthday.” And would even point to herself when she says this. We made sure that she took a long and good nap in the afternoon to prepare her for her late afternoon party.

At age two, I don’t think she really realized that there was going to be a party in her honor until the party actually began. She thoroughly enjoyed the event, playing with her guests and dancing and smiling the whole time. And when Jollibee came out, she was mesmerized! While most children would be afraid of mascots at this age, Alyssa was actually star-strucked. She even allowed Jollibee to carry her! And after his personal appearance and dance number, she kept on looking for him and asking us, “Where Jollibee?” (Well, she actually said, “Where Babaja?” That is what she calls Jollibee. Why? I don’t really know.)

It was a long day for her but well worth it, I believe. At the end of the day, after all the preparations we made, I asked her, “Did you have fun today?” She gave me a smile and said, “Yeth, Mommy!” And that’s what matters most.

Alyssa's 2nd Birthday

We had a dancing themed party at Jollibee (her favorite). But since she suddenly got into a princess Snow White mode, we dressed her up in the costume. She had a blast!

Snow White's Prince

Since she's into Snow White these days, we let Alyssa watch the Disney version of Snow White. She got scared of the witch and the hunter who was trying to kill Snow White the first time she watched it. But last night she watched it again with her sisters and all was well.

So when I was discussing the movie with her later on, I asked her, "Who kissed Snow White so she'll wake up?" Alyssa answered, "The Daddy!"

Hmmmm... I'm now wondering. It's either she thinks that all men are daddies (maybe she associates men with daddies because of her own Daddy) OR she thinks the Prince is the Daddy and all the dwarves are the children! Hahaha!!!

Isn't she such a cutie??

A Day at the Beach

Opol Beach with Papa, Mama, Mackie and Mabel and the San Joses.