Blogging Is My Therapy

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The story behind why I started a blog was because I needed a therapy -- mind therapy. As a new mom, I've had my fair share of challenges like all others I suppose. I was literally going insane. One of them was my difficulty to maintain meaningful friendship. Put it simply -- I had no one to talk to. I am a very talkative person. I love to talk and to share. It came to a point where I had no one to share my musings about motherhood, how my son loved what I cooked for him, how cute he was while taking a bath and so on and so forth. And I'm not getting any satisfaction from mere posting on Facebook and Instagram about my every mommyhood milestone. And so I decided to blog.

A friend recently asked me. "Good thing you still find the time to write? I gave up writing even before I started."

So here are some ideas on finding time to write the IlonggaMommy way.

WRITE BY HEART

Let your heart do the talking. Very simple but most effective. You write only by heart. Your heart only knows you. What you feel at the moment is what you are. It doesn't matter what you talk or write about. As long as you write by heart, you'll never get wrong. Ten meaningful posts are way better than a thousand insincere posts.

CHOOSE THE ONE THAT STOOD UP

I don't believe in getting out of your way to find something to write. Choose topics based on your own experience. Choose one that really matters to you that week or that day. You need not look elsewhere. What to write is always in front of you. This will save you time.

DAYDREAMING IS BLOGGING
If I don't find the time to start something to write, I daydream about what to write. It's like a meditation for me. It can be while I'm lying in bed beside my kid putting him to sleep. It can be while I'm cooking. It can be while I'm taking a shower. List them in your mind and put them in writing on your downtime. Believe me. Daydreaming is very powerful. Meditate.

CAPTURE AS MANY MOMENTS AS YOU CAN
A picture paints a thousand words. This is very true. I make it a habit to take as many photos as I can. I take photos of my baby in whatever activity he's in. I take photos of whatever I prepare every day. I take photos of anything that interests me. From these photos, you can create a topic that's very sincere and very personal. Share them away with a sprinkling of your magical words.

LIVE LIKE WATER
Blogging is a journey. It is a journey of your life. Live life like how the river flows. In short, just go with it! Live away from pressure and norms. Go with what you think is fun and is best. You don't have to set yourself a deadline. To live freely is to live meaningfully.

OWN YOUR BRAND
There are a lot of bloggers who are copycats. I must apologize for the word but this is true. Owning your brand will make you stand out. So go out there and show 'em what you really got. Show 'em the real you. Be real. Be your own.

My 16th Letter to Freedom

Dearest Son,

You'll be 21 months in a matter of days and you just continue to amaze us. First, your Tatay and I are very happy that God healed you as you haven't had any asthma attacks in the last 10 months. We thank God every day for that. Mommy and Tatay are faced with some big problems lately but we are starting to get through of those because you continue to inspire and strengthen us.

There is no bigger problem than God, Anak. That's what Mamita taught me. I hope I could be as good as a mom as your Mamita. Mommy always tells herself that whatever problem may come our way, as long as you are healthy and happy, I'm all good. Do you know that you just learned saying "I love you" to us? It is just awesome to hear you reply "I love you". I was so happy about it I tell you "I love you" a hundred times a day and you reply a hundred times back, it really melts my heart, Anak. Your Mamita just loves to hear you say "I Love You" over the phone.

I am also happy to report that you are already toilet trained! You are so cool! Even with nappies on, you keep on telling Mommy that you got to go. So cute! Another thing that really amazes us now is that whenever we ask you "Free, are you happy?" You always answer, "Happy!" I am so glad you are one happy kid. I'll make sure you'll have a happy and memorable childhood, my son. I promise you that.

Always remember, Mommy and Tatay are always here to make you happy. Can't wait till morning when I can hear you say "I Love You" to us again. Sleep tight my dearest. Mommy will be just by your side all throughout the night, saying a thankful prayer to God for He has given you to us.

Love,
Mommy

A Dozen Years

This goes to my one and only love:

Thank you for a dozen years of love.

Thank you for always being by my side.
Thank you for always lifting my spirits up.

Thank you for the positive vibes.

Thank you for being there for me.

Thank you for being Freedom's greatest dad.

Thank you for being his ultimate funny playmate.

Looking forward for more years with you. I love you.

The Challenges Of Entertaining Your Toddler On Rainy Days

Moms like me know it really is hard entertaining a toddler on a rainy day. So what about on a rainy week? This is one challenge my husband and I are facing this rainy season.

While stuck inside the house, watching TV is inevitable. My son loves Disney Junior especially Hi 5 but would die for TV commercials. He cries when commercials are over. He's so funny when he does this. So we resort to watching TV commercials and Hi 5 songs on YouTubeRepeater. But you won't expect my kid glued on TV or videos all day. So we also try playing with him with all the toys on the floor. This saved us an hour or two.

And when all resources are exhausted, I turn to learning and was surprised at his speech and comprehension level! My son is only 18 months. Another hour or two well spent!



Don't get me wrong. I don't wish for a genius child.I just want a street smart kid.

Here's hoping for a ray of sunshine tomorrow and the days ahead.

Don't forget to at least donate to victims of typhoon Maring. Little things will matter. We got to share love and compassion. Prayers are powerful too.

The Apple of My Eyes: How To Get Your Toddler Eat Fruits

My son loves apples.

We sure buy him at least two apples when we're going to the mall and spend the day.

An apple saves Mommy and Tatay from tantrums.

He is well entertained as long as he got apples in his hands.

He doesn't even want to share! Bad.

Apple has many benefits. One of them is that my son stays in his stroller as long as he's got an apple! This saves Mommy and Tatay from running after him when he goes astray and enters every store in the mall!

A friend asked me one time, how do I get my son to eat fruits? My technique was to always store fruits in the house. Offer your toddler fruits EVERY time. Offer fruits even though they refuse many times. In time, they'll get accustomed to eating them.

Ilonggo's Beef Nilaga/Kansi

Ilonggos are famous for their many savory dishes. Chicken inasal, batchoy, kansi, molo and a lot more. This time, let's focus on their famous beef nila-ga or popularly known as kansi.

In our 12-year relationship, I was surprised to have found out that my husband hasn't tried this dish yet! I went on panic mode and decided to cook this dish for him today! How could he -- a husband of an ilongga -- not try this famous ilonggo dish? Oh my!

Here's the recipe!

You'll need half kilo of beef. It's better if you include beef bones like femur with all its marrow goodness. But plain beef meat will also do.

You'll also need a teaspoon of achuete extract, a handful of red string beans (lamigas in ilonggo), lemon grass, siling mahaba (siling pang sigang) and batwan! Now, you can't find batwan here in Manila. I've scoured all huge markets here and I couldn't find a trace of batwan in the city. You can use sampalok instead.

This is batwan! Ilonggo's famous pampaasim (souring agent)

Lastly, you'll need sliced langka (unripe jackfruit).

Here's how:

Bring beef, lamigas, lemongrass to boil till the beef is tender. Add achuete extract, your choice of souring agent, langka and season to taste. Add long chili a minute before you serve. Best served hot! This recipe is very easy to do!

 Presenting! The hot hot hot beef kansi! Try it, mommies!

Kate

Dearest Kate,

I miss you now like how I've missed you when we were gone home for the college summer vacation.

I miss you now like how I've missed talking to you before we fall asleep.

I miss you now like how I've missed walking with you in the fields of UP Miag-ao.

I miss you now like how I've missed hearing your words of advice with your most angelic voice.

I miss you now like how I've missed laughing at your corny jokes.

I miss you now like how I've missed clapping my hands at your awkward dance steps.

I even miss you now like how I've missed fighting with you over non-sense stuff.

I miss you now like I've never missed you before.

And I wonder how wonderful my life would be if I can still see and hug you. Not like it was any less wonderful at all since you were in it! My life has been one wonderful one 'cause I met a wonderful you in my one lifetime.

I miss you, Kate.

In times like these that I miss you more. I miss hearing these words from you:

EXPECT the worst.

HOPE for the best.

TAKE what comes.

Our friendship knows no boundaries. It knows no death. It knows no rules. It knows no judgement. It knows no requirement. It knows no time. It only is pure and kind. Thank you so much for this gift. See you again, Kate. I love you.

That's my beautiful sister, Kate! She was a UP Economics cum laude. I lost my bestfriend to leukemia at the age of 20. She fought a very good battle and she continues to live in the hearts of those whose lives were touched by her. What she has done for those around her will forever be eternal. And what she has done for me is immortal.