GottaLoveMom

Can we have it all? What exactly “having it all” means? Is it a sacrifice to be a stay-at-home mom? Last month, in an interview with BabyBableRadio.com , I was asked, “What is your biggest personal sacrifice when you decided to be a stay-at-home mom?   Did you regret not having it all?” What exactly “having it all” means? My “all” is definitely not the same as another person’s “all”. Maybe mine sounds simple because my “all” is making sure that my family is together, happy, healthy and loved. So is it possible to have it all? Maybe you can eventually have all that you sought out to have – in the course of your lifetime, but to have it all in every moment of the day? There are only 24 hours in a day. If you’re fortunate, 7 hours are spent sleeping, which leaves 17 hours of awake time. Let’s say it takes about 1 hour to get yourself ready in the morning, and another hour to get ready for bed. So you’re left with 15 hours. 15 hours seem a lot but ...

 Close your eyes. Think of who you are. What do you see? Is there something you want to change? Is there something you want to improve? Is there something you need motivation with? Do you want to live a healthy, happy, simple life? Now, open your eyes. Choosing to be healthy is a lifestyle.   It’s not a momentary change in the way you treat your mind, body and soul. It’s a long time commitment - an investment. Spring is here and isn’t it time to focus on YOU? That’s what I learned when I decided to invest in my well being. I realized I need to make TIME: 1)    T - Thankful . Practice gratitude every morning. Say your prayers, take time to meditate to quiet your mind, or say five things you’re thankful for. I noticed that doing this every morning ( or through out the day) helps me focus on the positive. 2)    I – Imagine what want your day to be like. Setting short term goals make life mor...

On my family’s first visit to the Philippines 10 years ago, my children had their first exposure to Original Pilipino Music (OPM) through the songs of Parokya ni Edgar. Their cousins introduced them to the distinct, story-telling style music of the four band members. Thus, my kids learned about the romantic courtship through “Harana,” and while they couldn’t understand what all the guffaw was about in “Please Don’t Touch My Birdie,” they danced up a storm with my Dad, their ‘lolo,’ in “Buloy.”

My youngest (nicknamed FOUR) has been the shortest in his class - ever since Pre-K. I don't really notice how tall his peers are until I see them at school events. For years we've consulted with an endocrinologist, monitored his bone age, weight and height growth. Everything’s normal. He’s growing as God intended him to grow. My son, THREE, was the shortest in his class until his junior year in High School. He said that it might seem that height doesn’t matter, but for teenage boys – it does – especially when girls in your class are a lot taller than you.

Menopause is a gift that keeps on giving. I was noticing a lot of hair on the carpet. I brought it up years ago but I was told that  we lose about 100 strands of hair every day - so there's nothing to worry about. Until one day while browsing through photographs from one of my book signing events, I noticed I have bald spots. Panic. Frustration. My husband suggested that I use Rogaine for Women ( with 5% Monoxidil). And as usual, my reaction was "I don't want to put anything that's not natural." and I got more upset when I read that one of the side effects is "weight gain".