Papa Hector, my hubby, and I made the decision that we wouldn't hire a helper and I would be a stay-at-home mom instead. This set up worked for us and we didn't fail. Our parents raised us to be independent and domesticated so it turned out so conveniently despite being challenging for both of us. What made our situation more challenging especially in giving equal attention to our kids was after Bunso was diagnosed with Mild Autism Spectrum Disorder.

We have to make a sacrifice especially in attending  Kuya's milestones in school. Papa, who happens to work in the school where Kuya studies is an advantage on our part. Since Bunso is not yet capable of going to and staying in crowded places, the three of us have decided that hubby is going to take care of Kuya while I am to Bunso. It makes me feel inadequate as a mom to Kuya but what makes it easier for me to swallow my pride and guilt is his assurance that it's fine with him and he understands our situation. Papa also feels guilty of not spending too much time with Bunso. Due to our very unique arrangement, Papa and I have made it a point to date our kids separately, once or more than once a month if time and budget permit.

Aside from dining out together and chatting to catch up, I don't miss the opportunity of attending blogger events with Kuya that I find enjoyable and beneficial for him. I seldom attend events due to mom duties but when the opportunity comes, I don't miss the chance. I always want our date to be fun and educational as possible or something that he finds exciting and interesting. I want his memories with me to be happy.

When Mommy Bloggers Philippines announced that it would collaborate with The Maya Kitchen to bring an awesome Baking Workshop on the 28th of May, I immediately stated my interest. 

12 "beautiful" (Ehem...) mommies of MBP can bring one kid, ages five to twelve, to learn how to bake and decorate Strawberries & Cream and Peanut Butter & Choco Chip Cupcakes. What a perfect mom-child bonding moment!

Kuya and I love to "make" cakes using Maya Cake Mixes. We steam our cakes. We don't bake them due to the fear of burning them! I'm not kidding!

This is our chance to level up our cake-making skills, hoping that we can start baking them and not just steam them!

I was one of the blessed mom bloggers who were invited by Uratex Philippines to attend its intimate Sparty in its Premium Mattress Gallery in Ronac Lifestyle Center Magallanes on May 6, 2016. Honestly, the reason that I immediately said yes to the invite was my eagerness to see Miss Crissy Mojica, Uratex Philippines Brand Marketing Executive, in person and to have a quick tour on the gallery. I wanted to compare it with the one in Ronac Art Center Greenhills, San Juan. Being pampered would definitely be a bonus! I was so busy with my mom duties and had no time for relaxing for the past few months.

I commute when I go to events. Magallanes, Makati City was far from home but I didn't mind. Ronac Lifestyle Center was located in Paseo de Magallanes, which was very accessible to public transportation.

I came just right on time and was welcomed by warm people and ambience.



After freshening up, I registered and was given by the very accommodating Mr. Jerome of AMPR the list of what to accomplish before the ultimate pampering session. I was really, really excited to do them all because it was not just a sparty but an educational trip for me as well.


I immediately went on the second floor to explore the different Uratex Premium Collection. I was greeted by the very friendly, Miss Debbie, and showed me the different beds that I could try on. I chose the collection with hard foams rather than the softer ones and was asked to take the Xsensor Challenge. Unfortunately, due to my excitement to go around the area and feel every mattress and pillows, I forgot to try it! I would do it on my next visit.

By the way, the Xsensor Machine is a device that detects whether the mattress suits the client or not.

My next stop was the Uratex Monoblock Collection display, where Miss Crissy was located. Finally we where able to see each other in person. After exchanging hellos and a pep talk, she told me that I could take a selfie with the newest addition to the collection, Olympia Chairs, post it on Instagram with further instructions for a chance to win four Olympia Chairs of my choice. How bongga!

What is so special about Olympia Chairs? They are Nitrogen injected that makes them more durable, sturdy, and skid-free. Olympia Chairs can carry heavier persons without the fear of damaging the chairs.

After my encounter with the fabulous Olympia Chairs and Miss Crissy, I proceeded to the room where Miss Jill was in  charge. I watched a video and learned about Tips on How to Have a Good Sleep, taught by Dr. Romeo Aguilera, a Sleep Specialist from the Philippine Society of Sleep Medicine. Then I was asked by Miss Jill two tips that I remembered. She gave me a nice tumbler after answering. Hindi ba ang saya?



It was time for pampering downstairs but I chose to stay and roam around the second floor. I was approached again by Miss Debbie and asked me if I could take a Pillow Selfie, post it on Instagram to get a free pillow. I was not good at taking selfies and she helped me in capturing this. I felt so ackward. Halatang-halata, 'di ba?


I already accomplished the tasks and it was time for the Sparty! As I was going down the stairs, I saw the iconic Sixinch Collection. How splendid!



Since the pampering area was still filled with mommy bloggers, I went straight to the buffet. The food catered by The Creamery was satisfying.

When it was my turn to get pampered, my mommy blogger friends and I were given gift packs from Downy and Celebrity Nails.

Miss Pat was the one who did my foot spa, pedicure, and manicure. She was very nice and her hands were therapeutic.

 
Aside from the super relaxing pampering session, good food, cozy ambience, and quick tour around the gallery, I was able to see my old mom blogger friends and met new ones as well. I felt rejuvenated because moments like this would seldom happen to me because of mom duties.

All of us were treated like queens from start to finish. Uratex Philippines provided us with a transport service too so that we could go to our destinations safely and hassle-free. An additional gift was also given to us. Each got a SENSO MEMORY CELESTE TRADITIONAL GEL PILLOW.

I took so many pictures and I would like to show them all to you through a slide show:



According to Miss Debbie, most of the items displayed in Ronac Lifestyle Center Magallanes are high end. I wish that Uratex Philippines can include its classic collection too like in Ronac Art Gallery Greenhills and Uratex Philippines Retail Showroom Quezon City.

Thank you so much, Uratex Philippines for the unforgettable Mother's Day treat!

This morning, I posted this Mother's Day greeting on my Instagram account. I sincerely and truly love my life as a mom despite all the challenges that come with it.

It is and never will it be easy to raise kids. The financial, psychological, spiritual, social, intellectual, and all the aspects that encompass motherhood can be insanely difficult but nonetheless doable. The situation that I have right now has never been taught by mom through words but I've seen and felt them through her actions. I've known what to expect but experience is still the best teacher. 

For me, being a mom is still the greatest and most perfect decision that I've made in my life.

Papa always say, "Mahirap talagang magpalaki ng tao." He always says this whenever our children do something in discord with the norms that we set as their parents. Like us, our children are not perfect. We also accept that children in this generation are way beyond different in their preferences. 

Despite teaching them good values, they may go astray then realize afterwards that they have done something inappropriate. For us, learning from mistakes and standing up right after stumbling down matters but learning from other people's mistakes is much better than the former. 

But committing mistakes is inevitable. That's why we have to teach our kids morals for them to be good people and they are going to do the same when they have families and kids of their own.

Sometimes our kids disobey. The perfect example that I'm going to share with you is the situation that has happened a while ago.

Papa asked Kuya to throw the garbage, one of the few of his household duties at home. Then he refused with an attitude! Papa became agitated and told him to go to his room. (One of our rules as parents is we never talk or reprimand our kids while we are angry.)

After a few minutes of cooling down, I called Kuya and told him that Papa and I wanted to talk to him. This was our conversation.

Papa: "Anak, why do you always refuse to throw the garbage. I don't ask you to do so much for the family. As Mama and I have told you before, you have rights as a child in the family but with every right comes responsibility."

I: "Anak, we already taught you all the things that we thought you needed to know as an individual. You are already big enough to discern between right and wrong. It's up to you to decide but we expect you to do the right things because it's for your own good and it serves as a practice for you so that you'd know what to teach your kids when you have your own family. When Papa and I were kids, we were obedient to our parents not because of fear but because of love. Sana, Anak, ganoon ka rin sa amin. But we want it to be natural. Hindi pilit."

Papa: "Sabi nila, kung ano ang puno, siyang bunga. Ang santol ay hindi mamumunga ng bayabas. Tama, 'di ba? Pero ang prutas ay hindi tao kaya hindi ako naniniwala sa kasabihang 'yan. MAY FREE WILL BA ANG SANTOL? Wala, hindi ba? ANG TAO AY BINIGYAN NG DIYOS NG FREE WILL PARA PAG-ISIPAN KUNG ANG KANYANG GINAGAWA AY TAMA O MALI. It's so unfair for others to say na kaya masama ang anak ng isang tao ay dahil masama ang kanyang mga magulang. Someday if someone will tell me that you are bad because of me and your Mama, I'll tell that person that it's so unfair for him or her to say that. Hindi kami masamang tao ng Mama mo. Hindi ka namin tinuturuang maging masamang anak."

I: "It's up to you, Anak, how you use your free will. But we hope and believe that you will use it to do good things. We love you, Anak. You are a good kid. Please don't forget that. "

Then Kuya began to cry. He was apologetic. We closed the conversation with this statement:

"We love you, Anak. We want what's best for you. We want you to be a good person and that goodness is something that you can pass on to others and to your future wife and kids." 

And it was sealed with a warm embrace.

I know that this conversation will recur, once, twice, or even more than ten times. At the end of the day, it's part of parenthood. It's part of my zestful life as a mom.

Happy Mother's Day to all moms out there who share the same challenges and triumphs like I have. As I always say, let's savor every moment. Each day is worth living because God has given us the best vocation in the world.