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

Do you know that it’s healthy to tell stories about your childhood days experiences aside from the traditional bedtime stories (Pinocchio, Rapunzel, Peter Pan, etc.) we tell or read our children before they go to sleep at night? I discovered it as one of the very effective ways of instilling good values in their young minds as well as a way of informing them of our family history.  My experiences in the past when I was still a kid not only interest my children but it created more bonding relationship between me and my kids.

Our family agreed to have a set of house rules to follow.  House helpers are included as well to abide in these policies.  My husband and I strictly implemented these regulations primarily for the sake of our kids.  Rules at home is a preparation for rules in society. The principle of proper behavior, organization, responsibility and self-discipline  should be first taught and learned at home.  The time when our kids are ready to go to school, their first step in facing the outside world, they will be ready to comply and conform with the standards. The following are our House Rules: Respect each others privacy.   Don’t just get things which are not yours.   Ask for permission if you want to borrow personal things of other members of the family. For instance: cellphones and other gadgets and things. Return the things properly where you get it. Maintain the cleanliness, order and care of your respective and utility areas.   Organize your things and area everyday. Tidy up your toys a

What cleaning rag do you use at home?   Traditionally, we use cotton cloths, old face towels or hand towels as cleaning rags.   I, for one use old cotton t-shirts, and hand towels to clean up the house until I discovered this Micro-Fiber Cloth two years ago. A Micro-Fiber cloth is made up of synthetic fibers having specific characteristics like softness, durability, absorption, electrodynamics, and filtering capabilities.   It is commonly used for apparel, upholstery, industrial filters and cleaning products.   It is Non-toxic! – just add water!   Environmentally friendly! Reusable and long lasting, no more paper towel waste.   Allergen friendly! If members of your household have allergies to cleaning products, or if you just don't like to use chemicals, the micro fiber cloths are perfect for you because all you do is add hot water or simply tap water to your cloth to clean almost everything in your home.   It magnetically attract dust, eliminates flying dust particles. It is also