mommy talk

One of the most neglected people in the home is usually the mother.  Not because people deliberately don’t want to mind her but most often than not it’s because she normally does not want to draw attention to herself as she busies herself with caring for her home.

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Most mothers would rather put their families or others first not because they don’t love themselves but because seeing her family and others happy makes her happy too.  Normally when she sets out time to try to get something for herself or do something that would be solely for her, she ends up leaving a store or establishment with something for any one member of her household.

Does this mean that mothers don’t care for themselves?  I don’t think so.  Perhaps we are just wired to care and our being flourishes in seeing our surroundings bloom through our touches.

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It took many years for me to embrace the idea that I have to put myself first not because I should take a selfish stand but because so many people depend on me, I have to have enough to give from an overflow so that I don’t give what is left of me.  Rather, I shall give from a source that never runs dry.  Oftentimes, I have lost my cool and have expressed myself in demanding ways thinking it would fill me up.  It took several heart to heart sessions with my husband and also mentor Leah Darwin to make me realise, it is ok to love myself and when I do so, I become a blessing and not a burden to my family.  My husband believes that if I am happy, everybody is happy.

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That is the premise of this beautiful idea of Mom-me Time 2014 which came forth thru the joint forces of Janna Simpao of Baby and Breakfast and Rica Peralejo- Bonifacio of Wanders and Wonders.  They wanted a chance for mommies to gather, be pampered, be showered by delightful gifts while engaging in good company while feasting together in a fabulous setting to be inspired by ideas for better mommy-ing.

As Editor in Chief of Celebrity Mom magazine, these are the very things we want to highlight and that is to allow mommies to shine in their own respective homes as they are indeed the stars of their homes!  Thank you to Mom-me Time, we get to give away three 1 year subscriptions of the magazine

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It was an honour to have been tasked to share my insights on mommy hood.  I don’t claim to be an expert nor am I perfect and I honestly think of myself a work in progress so I am never too serious when I talk about my adventures as a mommy and how I am able to survive five children and one super active husband!

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Dimples Romana was my seat mate and we shared lots of laughter as well.  So nice to be refreshed by her presence and love that she wants to take her mommy role seriously as a young mom who is expecting her 2nd baby.

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I’m glad that my Kimberly Clark family hopped on board to give the mommies a hefty loot bag filled with useful stuff for the home….

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and diapers galore from Huggies for mommies who have babies still in diapers!

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Such a lovely afternoon with everything blooming thanks to Gideon Hermosa  (who graciously gave me tons of eucalyptus for my home)that was just perfect to unwind and recharge.  Thanks to Happy Folks Studio for these photos I can share 🙂

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The best seat in the house belonged to Daddy Ian Simpao who basked in the overwhelming presence of so much mommies so happy and giddy with excitement for a fine time together.  As what they say, a happy Mommy for sure makes Daddy happy!

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October 27, 2014 by Mommy Maricel

7 thoughts on “Mom-me time!”

  1. pauline castillo says:

    Hi, Maricel.

    We met some time ago when we did a magazine issue for triathlon which featured some youngsters and teens. Never got to meet again after that.

    I just had a baby, my second, and he’s turning 1 next month. Reading Rica’s blog and the photos during the Mom-me Time and then reading your blog, too, I’m thinking to myself, wish I was a participant in that event. I’ve been such a busy mom and wife, I often neglect myself because I always put my family first, even when I still had only one child. Now that there are 2, it has become difficult for me to juggle mommy and wife duties and find time for myself. How I wish I can be a supermom, too.

    Congratulations on the Berlin run. Hope we can do business again soon! 🙂

    1. Mommy Maricel says:

      Of course I remember you , Pauline! Wow, a new baby, Congratulations!! Take it easy-don’t be too hard on yourself. Enjoy and look around you and I am sure lots of people want to help you. Just holler 🙂 Psalm 23

  2. marjorie dizon says:

    Hi ms maricel,
    nai inspired po ako kung pano mo pinalalaki mga kids mo.I have a 12 year old daugther na sobra pong matigas ang ulo.kung ano po ang ayaw po namin na gawin nya yun ang ginagawa nya.minsan talagang napupuno ako at nasasaktan ko sya.
    ano po bang maipapayo mo?
    Thanks.god bless

    1. Mommy Maricel says:

      Thank you for your note, Marjorie. Minsan may mas malalim na dahilan bait hindi magkaintindihan ang magulang at anak. Isang natutunan ko ay hindi natin kayang baguhin ang pag-iisip ng ating mga anak sa pag gamit ng dahas. Kinakailangan nilang makita na magulang nila tayo na magpapakita ng tamang daan. Baka dapat ay sumailalim kayo sa isang counseling upang matulungan kayo. May mga marerekomenda ako: Dr. Violeta Bautista- 09276789948 or Pastor Leo Armas: . Sana po makatulong.

  3. SJ. R. Fabella says:

    Glad you created a blog for moms, which can be a great forum for exchange of ideas on motherhood, so each one of us can share our own experiences and learn from each other so we all can become better moms in the process.

    This said, let me share a favorite quote of mine on Motherhood from another famous Mom (such as yourself, Mommy Maricel), the former first lady of California, Ms. Maria Shriver (whose own Mom, Mrs. Eunice Kennedy Shriver was the founder of Special Olympics, who pioneered in giving children with special needs the opportunity to participate in their own sports and recipients of many awards for her work, among them, the Minerva Lifetime Achievement Award):

    “Motherhood is the power that a mother has to create another human being with a sense of self esteem, and with a sense of possibility, that a 24/7 “job” we should all honor. Moms are not just chauffeur, or somebody who does her children’s laundry, or someone who merely brings her children’s books to school, etc., but a person who is making sacrifices all the time so that her child’s/children’s life/lives will become better. The more we can acknowledge moms in our own homes and beyond, the more women will feel empowered in the role of Motherhood, and perhaps, each of us can stop saying I’m just a mom”.

    We all mother in different ways and each should be seen of value, but the most important thing is we can raise children with self-esteem, who could lead lives fraught with purpose and meaning. My own experience as a mother taught me that starting great communication (not talking down to children), mutual respect, nurturing, and CONSISTENCY (starting from a young age) are a few of the most important keys to establishing good relationship in the family. When kids are allowed to express their own take on things, with the caveat that it should be done with respect in mind, with parents taking great pains in taking the sensible, wise LEAD in the relationship, children can take the cue from the tone set by moms (and dads). Children pick up the cue from the parents. From my own experience, it is important that there should be collaborative effort in parenting, whether it is a mom/dad, mom/grandparent, whatever comprises a family. It takes a village to raise a child, a village that places premium on values.

  4. SJ. R. Fabella says:

    Glad you created a blog for moms, which can be a great forum for exchange of ideas on motherhood, so each one of us can share our own experiences and learn from each other so we all can become better moms in the process.

    This said, let me share a favorite quote of mine on Motherhood from another famous Mom (such as yourself, Mommy Maricel), the former first lady of California, Ms. Maria Shriver (whose own Mom, Mrs. Eunice Kennedy Shriver was the founder of Special Olympics, who pioneered in giving children with special needs the opportunity to participate in their own sports and recipients of many awards for her work, among them, the Minerva Lifetime Achievement Award):

    “Motherhood is the power that a mother has to create another human being with a sense of self esteem, and with a sense of possibility, that a 24/7 “job” we should all honor. A mom is not just a chauffeur, or somebody who does her children’s laundry, or someone who merely brings her children’s books to school, etc., but a person who is making sacrifices all the time so that her child’s/children’s life/lives will become better. The more we can acknowledge moms in our own homes and beyond, the more women will feel empowered in the role of Motherhood, and perhaps, each of us can stop saying I’m just a mom”.

    We all mother in different ways and each should be seen of value, but the most important thing is we can raise children with self-esteem, who could lead lives fraught with purpose and meaning. My own experience as a mother taught me that starting great communication (not talking down to children), mutual respect, nurturing, and CONSISTENCY (starting from a young age) are a few of the most important keys to establishing good relationship in the family. When kids are allowed to express their own take on things, with the caveat that it should be done with respect in mind, with parents taking great pains in taking the sensible, wise LEAD in the relationship, children can take the cue from the tone set by moms (and dads). Children pick up the cue from the parents. From my own experience, it is important that there should be collaborative effort in parenting, whether it is a mom/dad, mom/grandparent, whatever comprises a family. It takes a village to raise a child, a village that places premium on values.

  5. SJ. R. Fabella says:

    Second one is the edited version

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