Some Kind of a Sacrifice

        Tamarra's not around on weekdays because of school ( Sweet Little Child ).  Alyanna ( Bouncing Second Baby Girl ) stays with my mother-in-law and comes to our house once in a while.  She's with Nanay since she's just 6 months old.  That is because I got pregnant with Kohbe ( The Emperor of my Heart ) at that time.  I couldn't continue breastfeeding her because of the baby in my womb.  Since then, she never left Nanay.  We just let her for we lived across my in-laws house.  But now that we moved to this house, we began seeing the problem.  We can't let Alyanna stay with us for long.  She would stay for about three days then would ask daddy to bring her back to Nanay for she (Alyanna) misses her already.  We're getting used to the situation.  

        The other night, I felt different.  I arrived home around 9:30 without noisy kids to welcome me with their hugs and kisses.  Prior to that, I already received a text message from my sister-in-law telling that my baby boy forced himself to go with her when she fetched Alyanna.  I said it was fine.  But when I got home, I felt really empty.  The house was cold, my husband's out on duty, no one's home except his cousin who looks after the kids while we're out.  I realized parenting is really equivalent to sacrifice.  My husband and I work hard to earn a living, to give the needs of our children.  But because we have to work, we seldom see our kids.  We seldom spend some quality time with them.  Though, whenever we can, we really make sure no matter how short the time we can spend with them, they would very much enjoy our company.  I try to cook often, daddy would buy dvd's for the whole family to watch.  Once in a while, we also see to it that we go out with them: malling, picnicking, and doing other fun activities.  

        How I wish one day I could just stay home and just attend to their needs, prepare their food, make them ready for school and the likes.  A day when they don't need to stay with our parents because their own parents are available for them. 

Feeding The Babies

         Being a mother is one happy job.  But just like other regular jobs, we encounter certain difficulties.  If there's one thing I found difficult in this task, it's feeding my babies.  They love to eat a lot...as in a whole lot.  I think all three of them have sweet teeth.  They love chocolates, candies, ice cream and cake.  Typical for children like them.  It's all right with me, as long as they brush their teeth regularly.  They also love bread.  They'd start their day eating pan de sal.  An hour later, they'll eat their breakfast which is usually rice.  They love hotdogs.  They are not much into eggs.  I am always delighted when they finish their food up to the last grain on their plate.  It seldom happens though.  Only when they are served with fried chicken.  What I find difficult is making them eat vegetables.  They wouldn't eat green leaves or any other kind of veggies..  I tried everything I thought would possibly make them eat veggies but they wouldn't.  Til I learned to experiment.  They are all into patties.  So, I tried making home-made patties without the pork or the beef.  Instead of meat, I replaced them with vegetables like carrots, cauliflower, and mongo sprouts.  So that they won't realize they were eating veggies, I cut them into small pieces, even grind them at times, before mixing with other ingredients.  I also use flavorings for them to taste the meat that is supposed to be there.  Since they love patties, I serve them any time of the day, be it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.  At times, I buy buns and make burger for my kids.  With ketchup and mayo, they don't have to know that what they are eating is actually what they abhor. 

the other side

        Being a mother is not always fun especially when the mother is also a career woman.

        In my case, I'm not really after the career.  Work is a must for me.  If I don't work, we won't be able to sustain the needs of our family.  (My husband's a security guard, so I really need to help him.  You see, here in our country, guards are getting only the minimum wage.  Lucky, in their agency, they're giving above minimum.)

       Teachers have tons of work on days like these (nearing the closing of classes).  I bring home most of my paper works for I won't be able to finish them with just an hour break at school.  And because I feel so stressed out, I can't afford to hear much noise in the house.  I get easily irritated hearing my children whether they're just having fun or they're already having a fight over simple things like toys or the dvd they would watch.  After I yell at them, I'd feel so guilty but would not tell them so.  I'd keep it to myself.  Then I would go back to work.  I feel guilty also on times that I wasn't able to put them to sleep.  I would ask their tita Jen to stay with them til they're asleep.  Most of the time, I'd visit them in their room and would give them pecks on the cheek so as to lessen the guilt I have inside. 

      

       This is the other side of motherhood.  It's not all fun and exciting memories with the kids.  Sometimes it's also heartbreaking.