GottaLoveMom

This morning, my eight year old took his regular shower and started getting ready for school. This kid does not have any inhibitions so he walks from the bathroom to his bedroom naked. And as I was trying to get him ready he noticed something. He asks, "Mom,why does my patutoy do that?" ( He was pointing to his anatomical private part. In the Philippines, we teach the kids to call it "patutoy". His patutoy is pointing out) I smiled and said, " You might have to ask your Dad since we're late." Of course, he forgot all about it and we hurriedly got ready for school. ( In my walk with his Dad today, I told him the morning incident) His Dad said , "Just tell him that his head is thinking!" Boys...boys...boys.. Visit Josh at Joshizms : the universe according to an 8-year old --- Copyright 2009 © GottaLoveMom CJ Solutions, Inc Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited

“Doing chores is a non-paying job because helping mom is priceless!” - Jen2 I remember when the kids were younger, about 5 years old; They couldn’t wait to do their chores. They thought of doing chores as a fun family event! Now that they’re older and have better and more fun activities to do, Getting them to do their weekly chores is like pulling teeth. I try not to make it a stressful event but when they keep putting it off, It can get pretty stressful. Last summer, due to antibiotics, I had major allergic reaction to almost anything . So after 13 years of saying “no” to hiring help to clean the house, I was forced to say “yes”. My friend actually commented, “You must be really sick to actually hire someone to clean your house!” I try to keep my house clean and tidy at all times. My Cinderella helpers do their chores every week – The older ones vacuum and mop, the younger ones do the dusting! ( The younger ones love to spray pledge that sometimes the floor gets s...

My over-achiever 13-year old , J2, this morning complained, “Mom, why are you picking on me?” I so authoritatively replied, “What do you mean? I just want you to brush your hair.” My 17-year old questioning my authority remarked, “But mom, we’ll just be in a car for seven hours!” ( I’m glad that the brothers are sticking up for each other and I can see J2 nodding his head approving with what his older brother said) I then gave them both a stern look and said, “I want him to brush his hair. Period!” J2 then brushed his hair and asked me, “Why aren’t you asking him or J3?” Well, you see I already brushed J3 ‘s hair, my 8-year old. And my 17-year old wears a hat and his hair didn’t look like it needed to be brushed. (When we stopped at Burger King to get a bite to eat, J2 smiled and asked me if his hair looks fine – I just smiled at him.) To back-track, we were all getting ready for our seven-hour drive. He just woke up and has a very “bad” hair day On another incident,...

A few days ago I firmly said, “no way ” Today, I compromised with my 8-year old. Confident, yet super daring Energetic and stubborn – that’s him! I can’t really say he won, We met halfway – that’s what it is. His ski instructor gave an OK My 8-year old is skiing well. A little child’s brain is like a sponge It absorbs everything his/her eyes capture. A little child enjoys the silly things in life Waddling on ice, playing in the snow. Fear he knows nothing of, Fun is all he cares for. “NO” he doesn’t want to hear, “Only IF” – a plausible work-around we can deal with. Letting go, I had to do. He’s eight and ready to go. No skiing into woods, No daredevil stunts I emphasized. So out he went with his 13-year old brother Off to the lift and uphill on their own; Two, Four, Six, Eight, Ten long minutes my heart stopped beating. I stared at the sky, Blue, pretty and calm. I’m shaking not because I’m freezing, But waiting for the two to ski downhill. La...

We just finished skiing and totally beat. My two teens are in the Fun Zone but my husband and I were so tired to take my 8 year old to the Fun Zone - it's like ChuckECheese here in Smuggler's Notch. So my 8-year was whinning, "Life is not fair". Honey “teasingly” replied, Life is a series of disappointments Ultimately culminating in death. We all end up in the same place The rich and the poor The good and the bad The evil and the righteous The genius and the moron! My 8-year old zoned-out after "Life is a series of..” Visit Josh at Joshizms : the universe according to an 8-year old ---- Copyright 2009 © GottaLoveMom CJ Solutions, Inc Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited

First day of our ski vacation and my 8 year old, Josh, and my 13 year old, Jon, woke me up and told me that they want to ski down the mountain. Granted that Jon’s been skiing for ten years and Josh 5 years, the thought of just the two of them going on the lift across our unit and skiing down the mountain is just mind boggling! Although I took a stand and firmly(?) informed them that “no way” can they go down the mountain by themselves, I had to tell them, “Go ask your father. “. The mother’s guilt of being a “kill-joy” came out. I didn’t want to be the one that kept saying, “no, you can’t ” when it comes to activities like these. And they know that I always say, “ yes, you can do whatever it is that you set your mind into. ” Sounds like two conflicting words to live-by! That’s why “ Go ask your father ” is a good back-up plan. And of course, when I said “Go ask your father”, I hoped that their father is in the same wave length as I am. Luckily, he said “ No, you can’t ski down a...

Friday morning, my last entry was describing how gorgeous the day was! I guess in a way, it still ended gorgeous in spite of the car accident my two young sons and I were involved in. One rainy Friday night – a driver did not see our car and hit the right side of our car as he was pulling out of the Gasport. It was one of the scariest moments in my life! I was so scared for my two sons. The thought that they could have gotten hurt flashed in my mind as I tried to steer the car back to the right lane. At that moment, all I can think of was “ what-ifs ”. I trembled and cried – and I cried! I had to call my husband to come over and call the police and to make sure that I can drive the car and the boys back home. Luckily, the other driver was a nice 67-year old man that stopped and made sure that we were fine. As soon as we got home, I hugged my youngest really tight and then my older child. (Of course I hugged my husband and daughter, too). I was worried for both of them but part...

There is no way anyone could possibly fully describe a father, But I’ll take a crack at it. A dad is a guardian type person. Dads check up on you while you are in bed sleeping. Dads give you a kiss on the forehead even if you are sleeping just to make sure you know he loves you. Dads can be friends to you, They will always comfort you when you come home crying from school because someone picked on you. Dads play with you; they are your best friends. Dads are sympathetic, when you are sad they make you happy. When you are bored, they play with you. When you make a mistake they will work it out with you. There simply are no words to describe the role and importance of a dad. NO dictionary will tell you the real meaning of the word, DAD This paragraph barely scratches the surface of the word. However, one strong word could summarize a dad, LOVE. This power exceeds any other, This bond is unbreakable, NO tragedy can move it, NO earthquake waver it. It is the strongest...

I. On adults kissing on TV Dad and Josh are watching TV. And a commercial appeared on TV. Josh: “ Dad, why do people kiss naked while in bed? “ Dad: “Huh??” Josh: “Dad’s gross!” II. On PDA End of day, usual PDA in our household. I’m making dinner and honey comes along to give me a tight big hug. Josh: “Watch-out people, there’s a child in the room!” III. Mom, are you working today? Josh asked, “Mom, are you working today?” Mom replied, “Why are you asking?” Josh: “Mom, you work everyday!” Mom, “What kind of work do you think I do every day?” Josh: “Mom, you’re job is to worry!” IV. Go ask Daddy Josh: “Mom, can I sleep over Gavin’s house?” Mom: “I don’t think so.” Josh: “Why?” Mom: “Go ask your Dad.” ( My way of getting out of a possible long conversation) Josh: “Mom, you always say that – Go ask your Craig(Dad). But then Dad always says – Go ask Mommy. I think you’re just trying to make me dizzy!” ---------------- Copyright 2009 © GottaLoveMom CJ Solutions, Inc Unautho...

Dec 10, 2006 – that’s when my youngest experienced someone he knew and loved died. I remember him asking, “Mom, can I go and visit heaven just to see if Trixie’s okay?” He was just barely 6 years old. And then a few days ago, he asked me, “Mom, is heaven safe? I am scared of dying.” How do you explain such sorrow. How do you ease his pain and fear? Ten years ago, when my aunt passed away, my husband wrote the a note because I was crying so much. “For Mommy : Why do people cry when people die Because they have tears in their eye. Because together they can never again look at the sky. Because they will not go to McDonalds and eat pie or French fries. Because they didn’t get to say good-bye. And they will never again hear the sigh. OR ( in an attempt to make me laugh) They can never go to the store to buy the tie Or tell them to close their fly. ------- I didn’t immediately realize that children are heavily affected by a death of a loved one. They may not show the pain a...

(I'm not a perfect mom. I mess-up here and there but I can honestly say that I do try to be the best!) Feb 20, 2009, however, is one of my OSCAR moment! It’s always a crazy day in our household – that means you can’t really plan on sticking to a schedule because stuff that you didn’t plan always manages to sneak into your calendar! My 13-year old woke up with a severe headache and he really wants to see a doctor. ( He was congested over the weekend). Our pediatrician has walk-in hours till 9am. So I was crazily rushing the two boys to be out of the house by 8:20am. I dropped-off my almost 8-year old to school. With his heavy backpack and thick winter jacket, he walked to the school entrance. My 13-year old then commented on how cute his little brother is! ( They do fight here and there!) While waiting in the pediatrician’s office, one of the fathers noticed my mini-laptop. He then started a conversation with my 13 year old. A few minutes into the conversation, M...

Do you want to read what I just wrote? My husband said, “every word!” I write poetry it seems like it I express myself in poems rather than essay form. But I do write essays – sentences long, Poetry’s more artistic and sounds like music. Essay requires a certain discipline, Subjects, verbs, predicates and those things All arranged the way my English teacher taught me Constrained by the conventions of English 101 rules. I love writing poems, I think in jpeg forms; Words - English, Filipino or “ewok”, Not in my mind at all. Pictures, colors and art, Occupies every space in my mind; My hands type and put together the words, My heart projects the vision in my mind. Every color, every angle Every sound, every tune; It’s not a sentence or a paragraph But music, prose and poem. ------- Artwork by Josh (2007) Copyright 2009 © GottaLoveMom CJ Solutions, Inc Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited

You couldn’t wait to be on your own You were eager to show them all You dream far and wide You were ready to conquer the world. You started with I can do it! You were gung-ho at acing it. You began with high energy You were ready to conquer the world. You sent in your applications, You received accommodations; You were psyched with the scholarships You were ready to conquer the world. You composed your music You recorded the arrangements; You were performing to your audience, You were ready to conquer the world. And then one day you just stopped, You were bewildered and were shocked You thought you were ready to conquer the world You paused and uttered , “ I am scared”. Dad, you and I sat together We talked, we listened, we cared. Don’t worry we all agreed We will solve this hand and hand. ----- Photograph by Jen2 (2009) Copyright 2009 © GottaLoveMom CJ Solutions, Inc Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited

As the day ends The night comes; As sorrow breaks your heart Hope will lift your spirit; Sunset is lovely Brings end to a day But a hope of a new beginning Is just seconds away; It’s tough when kids are lost Not knowing what direction to take; Tougher for a mother to see That the future for the moment is dim. You’re still young and full of energy My child, we’ll get past this tragedy. Tough love, guidance and wisdom Someday you will understand. Chances, choices, opportunities We’ll face together for you to see There’s a bright future waiting For you to discover and “BE”.

Josh is starting to do a walk- over in gymnastics . Josh was showing it to his Dad. So Dad, a gymnast himself, explains “ Before kicking your legs over, you need to lock your knees So it pushes your body towards your head and moves Your center of gravity over your hands and then kick over.” Josh looks up to his Dad and says, “Daddy sometimes you make things sound very complicated”. Dad laughing, replied, “ You don’t know what locking your legs mean?” Josh nodding his head, says, “Of course I know what locking your knees mean. But I have no idea what center of gravity is” Visit Josh at Joshizms : the universe according to an 8-year old ------------- Copyright 2009 © GottaLoveMom CJ Solutions, Inc Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited

Dear Mom, You are the greatest mother ever! You gave me life, You gave me hope, And someone that could help me. TO me you are my life, as well as love. You are the greatest of all mothers, And the symbol of love and happiness for me. Sure I care about other people, but you are number one. I know that you are my life and my world. You are a blessing that speaks to me, And gives me something to live and believe in. Thank you for the love you have given me. Love, Jonathon (age 8) April 30, 2004 Artwork by Nicole, 1999 -------------------------- My son, Five years have passed since you wrote that note, Read it once, twice, a thousand times Still tickles my heart and makes me smile. You are now 13 and you’ve grown quite bit, Almost tall as me, but your heart’s so big. Though there were few times we do disagree, There’s always a kiss and a hug waiting for me. Strangers are amazed on how well you speak Not just the issues that they agr...

I. On Happy Meal Grandpa took Josh to McDonald’s. Josh flashing his little pearly whites, says: “Grandpa, can you please buy me a Happy Meal? Because my mom wouldn’t buy me a Happy Meal.” Grandpa (confused) asks Joshee: “Why wouldn’t your Mom buy you a Happy Meal? “ Josh in a serious tone: “Oh grandpa, that’s because she does not want me to be happy!” Grandpa LOL! ( laughed out loud) II. On going to jail Grandpa is showing Josh how to drive. Grandpa put Josh on his lap and shows him to to steer the wheel. Josh: “Isn’t it illegal to drive without a license?” Grandpa: “Ah, yeah. If you get caught, you’ll get a ticket and go to jail” Josh, asks his grandpa, with a concerned look in his eyes: “ But grandpa, I don’t want to go to jail.” Grandpa: “Why, are you afraid of going to jail?” Josh: “ I don’t want to go to jail because they don’t make the food that I like.” (PS – Josh only eats chicken nuggets, grilled cheese, apples, bananas and peanut butter and je...

Mom, you are special to me – Because you take care of me. Because you are there when I need you. Because you let me go on the computer Because you help with homework Because you play with me Because you bring me to school Because you let me play with my friends Because you bring me to the pool Because you bring me to the beach Because you love me ---------- Artwork by Nicole (2006) Written by Mikey (age 8, 1999) Copyright 2009 © GottaLoveMom CJ Solutions, Inc Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited