what good moms do

Just what does it take to be considered a good mom? Apparently, in order to be part of this tribe, it's as easy as learning our A-B-C's. Here's something I found on Pinterest. I realized I've been practically doing some of these things on the list. So, I'm almost there. Hopefully, I should be able to apply what I've missed out on.
Gotta do what the good moms do! :-)

feeling so loved every single day

One of the best and the greatest feelings I have as a mother is knowing that someone is always eagerly waiting for me to come home. Besides my husband, I am feeling so greatly loved by my daughter! This is the reason why I am inspired and motivated to complete everything I needed to do at work so I can also resume doing my next role at home, that of being a mother. This is something I look forward to every single day and something that gives a huge smile to my face. When she starts to plant kisses on my cheek, any symptoms of weariness I may have at that time completely goes away. I most definitely find fulfillment in being a mother. I am quite grateful to God for letting me raise a wonderful and terrific daughter.

bumped into someone

At the toy store some weekends ago, I bumped into someone I later recognized to be a classmate back in college. I asked her what she does for a living and she just kind of told me that she's a print broker. I exclaimed "Wow! Big time, huh!" but actually I wasn't sure at that time and was ashamed even to ask about a specific job description. I wondered if it's a newly coined term or perhaps I fell asleep during our career orientation. I was sure I didn't hear about this before; so this must be something new. Anyway, I was glad to see her because I haven't seen her for ages. I was a little surprised to know that she already had three kids because she's so slim. I was a little envious that she was able to maintain her figure. When she asked me how many kids I have, I was somewhat embarrassed to tell her I am only a mother of one at the moment because I am more or less three times her size. Thankfully, she was polite enough not to say anything about my weight. Oh dear, I really must do something about this!

when will the baby come?

More often than not, people who entered married life long to have an offspring of their own somewhere within the productive years of their marriage. The husband and wife's longing and wanting to have a baby would even grow stronger  because people who are close to them also expect, and in fact  anticipate, that new addition to the family as soon as possible.  We cannot really blame them because they are just as eager as the couple to finally see them become parents.

Unfortunately, even if the couple is mentally ready and even if loved ones are also eager to see them entering that stage of parenthood, such mental readiness or eagerness just won't make any woman pregnant. The reality is that some ladies can have quick and unplanned pregnancies while some just keep "waiting for the stork" to finally visit them.

We can consider a lot of factors that would somehow give answers to questions as to why someone's wife can easily get pregnant while another else's would almost take forever to experience motherhood. Indeed, just as it takes two to tango, it also takes two (the couple) to get pregnant. In some cases, it would take more than just the two of them to bear a child and that's where science and medical intervention can help.

scared no more: giving pregnancy another thought

People close to us have already been asking if we are not planning to have another baby yet as our little girl might not enjoy the loneliness of being an only child later on. Right now, though, it's too early to tell if our daughter will complain about being an only child. Although we are aware that one is a lonely number, I am also wondering if she would be grateful of the fact that no one is competing with her against her parents' attention.

Today, as I am giving pregnancy another thought, I realized that I am not getting younger that by the time husband and I would decide on having another baby, it'd probably be too late. I thought that after what I had gone through with my first pregnancy and delivery, I would never consider getting pregnant again. However, after more than 3 years, I can honestly say today that I am already over with that pregnancy scare phase of my life as the thought of caring again for a newborn and having to wear nursing clothes would already bring a smile to my face. Then again, even though I have already overcome this fear of getting pregnant again, there are still some things that ought to be considered. Certainly, one of the considerations is on the financial demands that come with being parents to more than one child.

celebrating my greatest right as a woman

"Of all the rights of women, the greatest is to be a mother."

- Lin Yutang 

I know I have a lot to learn about being a mother. I can't even say I'm really good at  it. I only do things the best way I know how and with God's guidance. I am thankful to God for giving me the chance to become a mother. At first, it was only just a dream. Now, I wake up appreciating each day realizing that God gave me such an amazing gift, my daughter. She is truly God's gift and blessing to us! 

on keeping fit and healthy

There comes a time when a woman needs to stop thinking about her looks and focus her energies on raising her children.  This time comes at the moment of conception.  A child needs a role model, not a supermodel.  ~Astrid Alauda, on the "hot mom" trend

The quote above is like a "consuelo" to me. A consuelo is like something that helps make me feel better about myself. While it is true that we do need to prioritize raising our child(ren) more than looking great, I realize that we also need to take care of ourselves not only because we want our husbands not to look at other pretty girls out there but because it is also something that we owe to ourselves.

I was looking at the singer Vina Morales on television. I believe I gave birth months earlier than she did but look at her now, I think she looked sexier now that she's a mom. It didn't look like she had surgery or something because I know surgeries aren't advisable for women who just gave birth. I wonder how most moms can get back in shape while I'm struggling to make my fat belly and flabby arms to be a little less obvious. Hahaha but in this photo, I was brave enough to show my arms.

Personally, I wasn't dreaming to be in my most perfect shape but I am really hoping that I can actually feel good about myself by getting back in shape. My husband isn't complaining but he keeps joking to me about my belly so that I'd be inspired to lose it by eating less and exercising more.

I believe that to feel good about myself by keeping fit and healthy can help me become a better mom or parent. Husband always reminds me that if we both want to spend more years with my Dip-dip, we had better think about our health. What better way to start being healthy by trying to lose our weight.

I know I am not going to lose weight by blogging about it but it can serve as a helpful reminder of what I have planned to do.

when does parenting start?

Here's our opinion on the question. Parenting officially starts from the time of conception. When the woman knows she is pregnant, she makes sure that she looks after herself even more because she has a baby growing inside her. Come to think of it, parenting should start right before conception. Parenting is such a big responsibility that you need to make sure you are ready for it - mentally, physically, emotionally and financially.

Ask yourself the following questions:

Am I mentally prepared for parenthood? Am I already equipped with knowledge about parenting?
Although parenting is said to be a work in progress and that no amount of books can ever really assure you to become an expert parent, it really helps to have at least some knowledge about what it really takes to become a parent.

Am I physically prepared for it?
Couples need to keep themselves in the best of health. Although it is usually the woman or the expectant mother who has to go through labor, she also needs support from her partner especially after she delivers their baby into the world.

Am I emotionally prepared for it? Am I up for the challenge of being a parent?
Emotional stability is important, especially for the woman who has to go through the whole pregnancy. On the other hand, the husband or the partner also has to be emotionally ready to become a responsible father himself. There are some husbands who might feel less loved and cared for because they think that their babies would compete against the attention and the affection that they used to get from their wives.

Am I financially prepared for it?
Couples need to know that you can not just say you are ready for parenthood without looking at the financial aspect of it. Love, as a feeling alone, is not just enough. As parents, you need to translate that love into actions. Parents do not need to become the richest parents in the world in order to become responsible parents but they need to make sure that they can be able and have the capability to provide, whatever it takes, for their children's needs.