A Filipina Mom Blogger

“Your children will see what you’re all about by what you live rather than what you say.” Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

Nope this is not a graduation ceremony. Mom bloggers meet up with Raqgold, fellow mom blogger from Germany.

A few days ago, about the time my second daughter finished her last semester for college, David Wescott asked me if I was interested to join a global meme and asking moms around the world to describe five things they love about being a mother.

I find it timely because I am in another joyful phase of motherhood, more relaxed and laid back. When the kids were pretty much younger, my group of moms and I used to hang out after school whenever it was time to pick our kids. Every time the school year ends, we often joke each other…”hey, we are graduating from preschool to elementary school” or when we got older, “hey, have you graduated to high school?” and so on and so forth. Having all my kids out of college is huge milestone for me. More time to travel. More time to be by myself. More time to be with friends. More time to pursue passions that I couldn’t venture to when I was a hands-on mom.

I feel like giving my own graduation speech with me as the only audience because I deserve a pat at the back. Mothers deserve a round of applause for a job well done.

Literally, Graduation is the action of receiving or conferring an academic degree or the associated ceremony. If I could assign another degree for myself and other mothers, it should be called PHD in Motherhood. Mothers are managers, doctors, plumbers, electricians, nurses, teachers, interior designers, chef all rolled into one when attending to our household, our children, our caregivers (the yaya or babysitter) and our big boy (the husband). The multi-tasking roles that moms take is feat that needs honorable mention.

Today, I will take the task of listing down the things that I loved as a mom as my kids grew up from baby to their adult twenty something years of age.

1. I loved being their primary caregiver.

I recall how I stared at all my three babies when they were born. I recall the same beautiful eyes that looked at me with love. I look at them today and see the same beautiful mouth that made me tear when they first smiled at me. It was not long ago that I held them in my arms long after they fell asleep and I just kept rocking them all night long, kissing their soft hair and basking in their baby-sweet fragrance.

2. I loved being their first teacher.

When they were babies, I thought of their future life. Perhaps, they would fly to the moon or if not at least land on a star. Whatever their future held, I made sure I nurtured their God-given talent during their first six years of life. Experts say, children are like a sponge in those early years and I need to take advantage of that huge window of learning. I taught my children to read and write even before they reached pre-school. I taught them how to sing even if I was out of pitch. I taught basic piano lessons which they needed if they wanted to pursue their singing talents. I taught them to pray that God lives in their hearts. I taught them that they needed to study on their own without my help once they reached third grade. I taught them that their grades were their responsibility and not mine. That their education belonged to them and my responsibility is to ensure they finish a college education. I taught them basic foundation of life and if they don’t believe or pursue in my beliefs, that is their choice not mine.

I believe mothers can only teach so much and other factors like peer pressure, media exposure and school education come into play.

3. I loved being their “almost best friend”.

So many times they ask me questions while their beautiful eyes look at me with trust, confusion and innocence. I have often prayed that my answers guide them. Even though I always want to protect them and step in for them when they make a difficult decision, it is every important that I do not interfere so that they will learn from their own experiences and develop confidence in their own judgment. As their “almost best friend”, I listen patiently as they whine, roar, cheer and rant.

There is a fine line between telling our kids too much or too little. I hope I struck a proper balance somehow.

4. I love how they bring up their mom.

I recall the time when I first looked up at Marielle. She suddenly grew taller. Instead of looking down to a little girl, I was staring and arguing with a much taller girl. “Look at you” These words spilled out when she surprised me, standing there looking so grown-up and lovely. These same words spill out when they catch me off-guard. Gone are the days, when my rule was law. I learned to give and take. They awe me with their unexpected strength of heart and wisdom far beyond their years.

“Mom, look at me.” often wakes me up from my controlled parenting as I learn to adjust to their moods and idiosyncracies.

“Look at you” are words that come out when I talk to myself telling the parent in me to wake up and see the amazing young women standing where I left my baby girls. I remind myself to look and know how special each child is, to see their value, their true worth that is reflected in their eyes.

5. I love being the new person I have become.

I often ask myself if I have loved my children enough and done the best job that I could possibly can. Then as human nature goes, I remember the mistakes that I made and how they might have hurt my children. I did pick up the pieces and tried to be better. Yet I never stopped loving my children even in the times when I seemed distant. My children have been a witness to my struggle and the new me. I am so proud that they taught me a lot. I am proud that they are my children. When I think of them, tears roll down because they make me happy.

Memories come flooding back to me as I look back to the twenty plus years. I want to hold on to my children but I know at the same time, I should just step back and watch then fly high and free.

Graduating is a huge honor for me, simply because I’ve gotten the chance to accomplish something I never thought I would. Not even my college or masteral education prepared me for life’s greatest gift.

I am truly blessed.

Here is a list of posts by moms around the world. I enjoin the other moms to share their “5 things they love” on being a mom.

I am tagging, Filipina mom bloggers like Chats, Dine, Cookie, Julie and Cess and moms based abroad like Belle and Raq. All other moms can join too.

Here’s how it’s going to work: I’m going to link to a couple of other mom bloggers here in the Philippines, and to a couple of mom bloggers from other countries around the world, and they’ll write their posts, sharing 5 things that they love (or maybe what they don’t so much love – this playground doesn’t force conformity) about being a mom, and then they’ll tag a few more bloggers from their own country and from other countries, and so on. And you’re more than welcome to join: just write a post of your own (5 things that you love about being a mom) and find someone to link to and tag – someone from your own country, if you like, but definitely someone from another country (Google is a good resource if you don’t know any; google any country name and ‘mom’ in their blog search function) (be sure to let them know that you’ve tagged them!) – and link back here and leave a comment .

My Babies forever

Me and 4 month old Lauren

Oh those lovely tiny eyes

Me and 6 month old Marielle

Me and 6 month old Luijoe