The Magic Pig

Small circle, small circle, big circle,
Small circle, small circle, big circle,
Mama’s ear, papa’s ear and a big big smile,
Six times six, six times six, thirty six,
Six times six, six times six, like a magic pig!

This is one song I remember learning from my early childhood. The lyrics and the drawing activity that come with it stucked in my mind but from where I learned it slipped from my memory. I started to sing and teach it to Jade when I saw her holding a pen trying to write on a paper after Tita Rosie taught her how to hold a pen and draw lines. I also taught this to her cousin Ate Alex during our vacation. I was surprised to know that my younger sisters don’t know it. I thought they knew it, afterall we came from the same elementary school.

Last week, I heard her mumbling something like bicycle but no! It turned out that she’s starting to sing the song while drawing. The “cicle” word she was uttering is meant to be circle. Then few days after, I hear her singing more lines, now with “mama’s ears, papa’s ears” then “thirty six”. I look forward to hearing her sing the whole song and watching her able to come up with her own magic pig soon.

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She's now one of them...

After few months of waiting, my youngest sister finally shouted out that she's now an RN. The results came out yesterday and it somehow came as my sister's birthday presence to our father who told her he'll look for an elephant for the celebration, lol!

She left me a message in YM yesterday but I was not able to catch her. I called her today but I guess she's all to excited sharing the news of joy to her friends in town that she wasn't able to pick up her phone. I then had to pass my message through my other sister who sounded so happy too with the news.

We'll let her enjoy her moment for now and then ask her later what's the next step. We definitely wouldn't want her added in the list of unemployed :)

Congratulations Bok! We're all proud of you!

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Parenting job anyone?

I've been thinking of looking for a new job opportunity lately as my "self-declared deadline" is fast approaching. The decision is still open as to whether or not I will pursue my plan of quitting even if I don't find a new job. Somehow, one of my wishes is to try being a "stay at home mother/wife" even for some time only. I have already uploaded my CV in a data bank and had it sent out to a friend too.

Then, I received a "job advertisement" from a friend and reading it made me think "is this really how parenting is described if it were put in the ads?". If so, do you wanna apply?

Job Description: PARENT

POSITION: Mom, Mommy, Mama, Ma, Dad, Daddy, Dada, Pa, Pop

JOB DESCRIPTION:

• Long term, team players needed, for challenging permanent work in an, often chaotic environment.

• Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call.
• Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities! Travel expenses not reimbursed.
• Extensive courier duties also required.

RESPONSIBILITIES :

• The rest of your life.
• Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5.
• Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly.
• Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf.
• Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers.
• Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects. Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks.

• Must be willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next.
• Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices.
• Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.

• Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product.
• Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility.
• 

POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION:

None. Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE:

None required unfortunately. On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.

WAGES AND COMPENSATION:

Get this! You pay them! Offering frequent raises and bonuses. A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent. When you die, you give them whatever is left. The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.

BENEFITS : While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered; this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth, unconditional love, and free hugs and kisses for life, if you play your cards right.

FOOTNOTE "THERE IS NO RETIREMENT -- EVER!!!

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The conscience-smitten mom and the joy that results from conciliation treat

Guilt over scolding Jade to sleep the other night hit me as I saw her cuddle to her dad in an attempt to get the right position to sleep. At that time, I ran out of patient because after more than an hour of trying to put her to sleep, all she did was toss and turn and either scratch the back of my arms so lightly that it tickles or kick my tummy and legs with all her might. I started to tuck her to bed at 9:30pm after the usual evening games but she just couldn’t keep still. She would pull me up so I’d carry and swing her then she’d point at the bed as her way of telling she wants to lay down. Then she would pull me up again and point back to bed. She has been doing that for sometime now but that night was different. We actually allot one hour till she gets to doze off as we know that much as her eyes are already drooping, she wouldn’t really get into wonderland yet. But then an hour passed and she was still turning, hitting me here and there. Her dad arrived and offered to put her to sleep but I hesitated knowing that she would be crying instead and will make her awake even more. 11pm ticked and I decided to just get her up to play such that she’ll eventually get exhausted and sleep. I tickled her and made her laugh then I brought her out to the living room to play her toys and I even gave her a cookie to munch. I didn’t check the time anymore but when I noticed that her eyes were already turning red and she kept on yawning and started scratching the eyes, we put her back to the bedroom but no, she didn’t sleep right away. I think it was already past 12MN when she finally went to wonderland.

I felt slight aches from her powerful kicks but when I embraced her, I shed tears resulting from the guilt feeling of the scoldings in between the attempt of putting her into sleep. With that in mind until yesterday afternoon, I decided to bring her out to make up for the night before. Hubby’s working overtime again so date was only for me and Jade. I fetched her up and with her porridge ready, we went to the apartment to pick up the backpack with the entire toddler’s stuff and off we headed to the bus stop.

Jade may not really know and understand that I’m bringing her out to “pay” for mom’s misbehavior the other night but I didn’t really care. The treat was part of the mother-daughter bonding anyway. I brought her to KFC – with her porridge, we dined and shared the set of meal I ordered then I brought her up to the kid’s playpen and allowed her to enjoy. She was really very happy to be there and it was the first time that she slid down the slides in a correct way, and to her delight, she did it several times happy to know that she got it right this time. She also got the chance to play with another toddler whose mother was trying to converse with me but in the language that I still don’t understand. She wanted to play more but it was time to get back home. Good thing she was satisfied that she didn’t resist when I placed back her shoes signalling her it’s time to leave. Last night, she still did the toss and turns but mommy had the patient afterall.

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Brahms' Lullaby - Mommy Jane's version, original version and other variations

I first heard the tune from Jade's mobile which we bought on her 2nd month. Then I found myself humming it while putting my baby to sleep. Few weeks later, I came up with my own lyrics.

Go to sleep baby Jade, go to sleep my dear baby

Go to sleep, have sweet dreams, mommy's right here for you

Mommy's here, daddy's here, we love you our dear darling

Mommy's here, daddy's here, we will take care of you

I love you baby Jade, I love you my dear darling

I love you baby Jade, I will take care of you

Tulog na, baby Jade, tulog na aking baby

Tulog na, baby Jade, la la la la la la

Few months later, I searched on the web for this lullaby's true lyrics. I just looked at it but didn't really plan to memorize or adopt it. Today, I found myself surfing the net once more for Brahms' lullaby's lyrics and from Wikipedia, I found out that the original version by Johannes Brahms was composed in German. An English version was made and other varieties followed. Then Celine Dion also had her own rendition of this famous cradle song. I am keeping my own version but will also post the original version and variations of the lullaby so that just in case I wanted to get back on them, I only need to find this post.

Source: Wikipedia

Brahms' Lullaby is the common name for a number of children's lullabies with similar lyrics and the same melodythe original of which was Johannes Brahms Wiegenlied: Guten Abend, gute Nacht, Op. 49, No. 4.

It was recorded by Céline Dion in French and English on her These Are Special Times 1998 album.

Johannes Brahms' original version was composed in German:

Guten Abend, gut Nacht, mit Rosen bedacht,

Mit Näglein besteckt, schlupf unter die Deck!'

Morgen früh, wenn Gott will, wirst du wieder geweckt

Morgen früh, wenn Gott will, wirst du wieder geweckt

Guten Abend, gut Nacht, von Englein bewacht

Die zeigen im Traum, dir Christkindleins Baum

Schlaf nun selig und süß, schau im Traums Paradies

Schlaf nun selig und süß, schau im Traums Paradies

A close English translation of which is:

Good evening, and good night, with roses adorned,

With carnations covered, slip under the covers.

Early tomorrow, if God wills, you will wake once again.

Early tomorrow, if God wills, you will wake once again.

Good evening, and good night. By angels watched,

Who show you in your dream the Christ-child's tree.

Sleep now peacefully and sweetly, look into dream's paradise.

Sleep now peacefully and sweetly, look into dream's paradise.

The most common English version is as follows:

Lullaby and good night, with roses bedight

With lilies o'er spread is baby's wee bed

Lay thee down now and rest, may thy slumber be blessed

Lay thee down now and rest, may thy slumber be blessed

Lullaby and good night, thy mother's delight

Bright angels beside my darling abide

They will guard thee at rest, thou shalt wake on my breast

They will guard thee at rest, thou shalt wake on my breast

Further verses from various sources may be added to lengthen the lullaby:

Sleepyhead, close your eyes, mother's right here beside you.

I'll protect you from harm, you will wake in my arms.

Guardian angels are near, so sleep on, with no fear.

Guardian angels are near, so sleep on, with no fear.

Lullaby, and sleep tight, hush! My darling is sleeping,

On his sheets white as cream, with his head full of dreams.

When the sky's bright with dawn, he will wake in the morning.

When noontide warms the world, he will frolic in the sun.

CELINE DION LYRICS

Lullaby and good night
In the sky stars are bright
'Round your head
Flowers gay
Set you slumbers till day

Lullaby and good night
In the sky stars are bright
'Round your head
Flowers gay
Set you slumbers till day

Close your eyes
Now and rest
May these hours
Be blessed

Close your eyes
Now and rest
May these hours
Be blessed

Bonne nuit cher enfant
Dans tes langes blancs
Repose joyeux
En revant des cieux

Good night dear child
In your white sheets
Rest happy
Dreaming of Heaven
Quand le jour reviendra
Tu te reveilleras
Quand le jour reviendra
Tu te reveilleras

When day will be back
You'll wake up again
When day will be back
You'll wake up again
Lullaby and good night
In the sky stars are bright
'Round your head
Flowers gay
Set you slumbers till day

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Sentiments of a mother...

Being a mother for almost six months now has led me into a realization that mothers are indeed to be considered heroes in their own ways. I couldn't imagine how much patience, love and endurance a mother has in rearing up her child all through the growing years.

I am in a situation where our baby is under medical observation and to undergo medical testings, which in turn, may lead her to be under treatments. For whatever reason, we are yet to know in two weeks time.

My heart was broken after hearing the words from the babysitter that the first manifestation that I, myself, has witnessed in Jade, had happened for the second time. I had to go to the bathroom and cry my tears out to easen the emotional pain I have inside. It happened yet to Jade, it seemed nothing. Though I know something could be wrong that needs immediate medical attention.

We are lucky to have a very supportive pedia who helped us seek for a specialist in one of the well known hospitals in Taipei. In addition to that, we are also lucky that her medical insurance covers all that we only had to pay the registration fee of 100NTD. Moreover, we are lucky to have understanding and supportive employers and colleagues who, in their own ways, had given us their emotional support.

I do not feel like disclosing the whole thing here now, I will soon as I know it will help others, especially moms like me.

In two weeks time, we will be going back to the hospital. I pray for strength because much as I have, anything related to Jade makes me so emotionally hurt, but I know that I need to be stronger in any means.

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