Notepad Corner

The family starts to grow after a year or two of marriage.  The home begins to be much livelier and happier with kids around, but at the same time house chores becomes much difficult to manage.  We need to be systematic in keeping everything in place to keep things organized. Make a cleaning schedule and stick to it.  I posted a copy of cleaning schedule in the dirty kitchen.  A list of chores done on a daily basis, weekly and monthly, plus reminders on saving tips.  I emphasized to my househelp to keep on reading it until she memorizes it, so I won’t be always reminding her. Create purpose-driven home zones.  For instance, the bedroom is just a bedroom. No work table, no computer, except for a tv and and a dvd player. Edit your closet.  I am sick and tired of seeing disarrayed clothes and other stuffs in my children’s closet. So, in order for them to keep it tidy, I make room for their favorite clothes and new purchases.  I put away old clothes to be given to donations.  In this ca

8:30 am, April 6, 2011 was Yahmir’s medical appointment for circumcision at Bernardino General Hospital , Zabarte Quezon City.  Circumcision is the surgical removal of the foreskin at the tip of the penis. As a tradition here in the Philippines , when boys reach the stage of puberty, aging 9-12 years old, they are bound to undergo this practice. Circumcision is a hygienic necessity and as much as possible should be done by a doctor to avoid infection.  Our friend doctor, Dr. Jayson Tejada did the procedure on Yahmir.  He performed a Dorsal Slit Method. It is a single incision along the upper length of the foreskin from the tip to the corona, exposing the glans without removing any tissue. As usual, I am more nervous than the patient himself (lol).  I keep on telling Yahmir to relax, the pain will only be at the beginning of the procedure which is injecting the local anaesthesia, and then afterwards, it will be numb to feel any pain. Yahmir is very cooperative and calm, he just sa

In my experience, the best time to teach kids to be independent in a potty seat is during their pre-school years.   Here are my strategies to share for your kid’s toilet training. Set a schedule.   Bring your child to the potty after every meal, before bedtime or prior to any outing. He/she learns the habit of using the comfort room, before the urge becomes uncontrollable. It is recommended also to train them with their potty seats inside your comfort room. Never scold them if the attempt is not successful. Choose your words, simply say “let’s use the potty”.  If he succeeds, I praise him by saying “Oh, You went by yourself! Good for you! Of course, there will come a time that he already pooped before reaching the potty, be patient, this will help him realize how uncomfortable it is to be soiled. Give him space to defecate, as much as possible do not stand in front of him while he is doing so.  He needs to experience the thrill of success that comes down from doing it on his own.  T

It is a fact that our habits leads clutter in our homes.   Let me cite you examples of these habits that we need to break in order for us to have a de-cluttered home. Any of these sound familiar? HABIT Being afraid to let go of items. We always thought of “I might need this someday” or “My kids might want this Someday” until it will came the time that we forgot all about it. How to Deal :   In many cases, you can repurchase the item, if it’s truly needed. HABIT Not stepping up to tasks.   Family members walk right by something left out on the counter or in one corner of the house, but unless someone takes the initiative to make sure it gets cleared, it’s unlikely to happen. How to Deal :   Assign clear responsibilities, communicate with your kids and other members of the family and give consequences when they’re not accomplished. HABIT Procrastination.   Delaying decisions about where to put things, or waiting to put them in proper places – this is the cause of all clutter! How