Choosing the Right Milk

As a first time mom, I heavily relied on my kid's pedia. When my kid started formula milk, we followed the product line of the Wyeth starting from 0-6 months (S26), 6months to 1-year (Promil Gold), 1-3 years (Progress Gold), and now that my kid is turning 4 (Progress Gold Preschool), we have shifted to pre-school for 4-years and up.

It is not a joke to be maintaining this specially if your kid take it like water. The pedia even recommended for a lesser in take since my kid was already overweight when he reached 2 years old. We had to stick to 2 bottles a day. We shifted to mealtime eating to distract his attention to milk. But when he got sick, we had to resort back to drinking 3-4 bottles again.

When he reached 3-years, I introduced other brands, thinking I would be able to save on milk. I started with the familiar Lactum choco. The TV commercial was effective I really had to try. I tried having it hot or cold, but my kid didn't like it. Next, I tried Nido 3+. Baby James was an effective endorser. I even told my kid who is just 2-months younger than Baby James to drink it also. But he said, "that's Baby James' milk. I have my own milk". Then I tried Bear Brand...and Anchor 3+. All in vain.

He is still taking Progress Gold Preschool. My colleague told me, I'm lucky my kid is still drinking milk. Other kids at this stage no longer drink milk and prefer other drinks. I should be thankful. And it's true. I am very satisfied with my kid's health. Though he is a bit overweight for his age, he is also taller than his age. I should not complain.

Enchanted Kingdom

We were quite excited when the day finally came for our Enchanted Kingdom visit. Most specially excited for my kid who for the first time will try on the rides since he is now 42inches tall.

Off we went and the sun was shining that day. Our faces beaming with excitement. First on the list was the Grand Carousel. Favorite ride for a 3-year old kid. Having seen the Happy Feet posters, we went to Rialto. Good thing his height was just enough. We fell in line for around 30minutes. Then we went in. My little boy was excited since he knew Mumble and has watched Happy Feet several times.


Just as the show was about to start, he started saying he wants to go out. He knew something was not right. I just talked to him about Mumble, how fun its gonna be and the movie is about to start. When it finally started and the theater chairs began moving, it was then he held on tight to my hand and started crying. He was afraid he will fall down. During the entire 5mins duration of the show he was crying and telling me he wanted to go home. I cannot just open the seat belt and jump out of the seats. His tears were falling and my heart was just torn. I was thinking...what did I do? It was supposed to be fun for my kid...It turned out traumatic for him. When we finally went out, I had to reassure him that it will not happen again.

I felt guilty even as I was writing this. I was supposed to be the first person he can trust, yet I allowed him to be traumatized by the experience. When I remember how he cried inside the theater and the amount of tears that fell, I feel my heart squeeze. Next time, I'd better be more careful and sensitive and considerate...I promise.

Relocation

Whew! It has been almost a year since I last posted here. It must be something to do with relocation.

RELOCATION as Wikipedia defines is the process of vacating a fixed residence in favor of another. It sounds so simple but requires a major decision since it brings a very major impact in life.

I have experienced relocation for the nth time. I sometimes wonder maybe I was once a Nomad in my past life. During my elementary years, my family relocated from Mindanao to Visayas. It was not a big deal. For me, it was just a change of school with new friends, neighbors, etc. While there, we transferred to several houses including my own decision to becoming a "boarder" during my college years. Still, no big deal. My family was there, relocation was just a few kilometers anyway.

Then my parents decided to go back to our hometown, Davao. Being the only single child left in the family, I decided it is right to be there with them. This was another major decision. I left work and relocated with my Mom and Dad to our new home in Davao. Eventually, circumstances brought me back to Cebu, for personal and career reasons. I stayed in 3 different houses before I finally had my own family. Then 2 houses after I got married, came the major relocation in my life.

Getting used to having a lot of family members around us, our family's transfer from Cebu to Dasmarinas, Cavite was an eye-opener. What I usually took for granted back home has become a luxury. People's presence, food, place, and etc. It was the first time it was just us. Me, my husband and my kid. It was great! But it was also scary....

Thoughts running through my mind...Finally we can schedule activities when we like, not relying on other people's schedule. Then we can decide how to spend our weekends, holidays. No obligations to visit this and that. I can finally plan what I want for my family...decisions, food, vacation, etc. But a lot of questions also came... what if someone gets sick? what if there is an emergency? what about the holidays? what if there is an emergency back home?

It has brought a lot of changes in our life. For one, my family has become closer...but of course, we are only 3. And we have no one else in here! Kidding aside, the experience also bring out the best in us, having no one to rely on.

I realized relocation is not a very simple decision. However, as in my every life, I always remember what my Mom said: It's okay to make a decision as long as you can stand by it and ready to take its consequences. My family decided on this, and we will stand by it. Challenges are never ending, we just hope and pray we can withstand everything that may come our way.