The Joy of Being a Mother (Quality Quantity Time)
Posted on April 5, 2007
Filed Under Fun, Parenting and Family | Viewed 886 times
from my treasure chest of mommy moments memories… (originally written 8 years ago, but still holds true to this day).
Quality Quantity Time
I don’t cook, but I can prepare the most savory lasagna! I don’t do laundry, and I am lucky I don’t have to. The last time I went to a wet market was perhaps ten years ago. But this doesn’t make me any less of a mother. These chores I have delegated to my mother who enjoys a life of domesticity with the help of a faithful and competent house helper.
I work and do not have the luxury of giving my full time to my children. I am left with the only option of giving them quality time. Quality time—an overused phrase, a rationale given by most working mothers. Perhaps what one can do is to “give the children the best quality of the quantity time one can muster”. This is maximizing whatever time one can devote to the children.
All weekends I try to spend with my children—weekends of domesticity, fun, gimmickry, lazing around, anything under the sun. At times you will find each child in his/her favorite corner in the house, one or two huddled by my side, reading—a favorite family pastime.
A trip to the supermarket, then afterwards a treat to a favorite fast restaurant, is also a reason to go out together, no matter how complex it is to bring along a bunch of toddlers, kids, adolescents and teenagers. It is the togetherness that counts, and this gives each child a degree of sharing responsibilities. A trip to the supermarket is a learning experience as a child learns in an early age about life’s basic necessities. He also learns that not all he/she sees, wants, or cares for can, and need, to be bought.
Baking cookies, at most ready mix cakes, is also an activity children are fond of. I let them do the measuring, mixing, experimenting, even the baking, or the cooking of pancakes, in between ringing laughter and giggles. Oh yes, it’s messy, but it is fun!
When I can’t help but start cross stitching, which is sometimes addicting, the children are given their own needles, threads and aida cloths to keep them absorbed, trying to outdo each other in their imaginary cross stitches. Or, the two-year old baby is tasked to pulling the needle in between stitches.
On weekdays, we bring the kids to school—this is an opportunity for me to be with them. I fix the girls’ hair, the boys’ shirts, sign letters from schools, remind them of this and that, in between feeding those who have not finished eating their breakfast. It’s a riot!
Finally, finally, when the last of the kids has been dispatched, and has said his/her good-bye, “I love you” and planted those messy but sweet kisses, I find time for myself, to read the newspaper, or catch up with the former day’s activity with my husband.
It is important to take time out to listen to each child. Sometimes, a child does not need to talk, as it is the mother in us that feels each child’s joys, hopes, fears, hurts, and insecurities. One only needs to be imaginative, and innovative, in giving the children the best quality of the quantity time—from the most simple joys to the complex.
treasure chest from: www.biblepicturegallery.com
Related
- A Mother’s Thoughts on Easter Sunday
- Time Out: Where is the missing P1? Rather, where are the missing millions of dollars?
- Mother is 69–but look, she looks like she is only 50!
- The Cat That Touched My Heart–Happy Mother’s Day!
- Emergency Family Meeting: Agenda–Price Increase, What to do?
- Previous post: Bababa ba? Happy Birthday, BA!
- Next post: To J Angelo and Caren, Happy 4th Wedding Anniversary
- More articles at the archives
- Jobs and Business Opportunities for Probloggers @ The J Spot
Comments
19 Responses to “The Joy of Being a Mother (Quality Quantity Time)”
Leave a Reply
-
Quote for the Day!
“'Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others, cannot keep it from themselves.”
---James Matthew Barrie
-
Today's Picture of Interest
In Bhutan, the economy is measured by Gross National Happiness -
About Me
Dine Racoma is Sexy Mom, a Filipina doing what she likes best—writing, her passion. She writes freelance, does research, advises on new media, and manages a virtual assistance office for home-based jobs. A mother of 7 (what joy!) foremost, a wife, MIL, grandma to 2 pretty girls and an angel in heaven, sister, daughter, friend. Was in the corporate world for 27 years, the first 5 as Executive Secretary to an affiliate of the country’s biggest drug chain, and the last 22 as an international civil servant in an international development bank with HQ in Manila. Traveled extensively to many countries bringing about rich experiences and lessons learned to share with dear Readers. All these—in The D Spot
Read more. My mission statement.
- My Other Blogs
- My Advocacies
-
Oh Wind(Poems from the Heart by D. Racoma)
the wind I can’t see but I can feel it it is there, I am sure caressing my face almost a kiss enveloping my whole being a warm embrace making me feel alive glow, delight, smile a pleasant rendezvouz
it blows intensely at times and I am swept away bringing me to heights never imagined I forget myself take me, please do, I plead then i go with the flow of the wind to the south, to the north to the east, to the west a dizzying union with the wind, my wind
wake me up, when it becomes too much more than what I can handle and bring me back to earth where I truly belong my feet firmly on the ground be the wind that gently blows the wind that I can feel always there, even if I can’t see always there, never to go away to caress my face, envelop my whole being -
-
Ratified.org Rank
-
Blog Stats Since Nov 2006
-
Top Blogs Philippines
I used to cook, bake, do arts and crafts when the kids were little so I could set an example. These days, I am lazy. I think I have done enough motherly things already. It’s up to my kids to pick it up and choose. I still devote time with the kids but these days I am more relaxed.
sexy mom: hi, Noemi. you have really set a good example, and i can see it in the way the kids have grown. good for you, you are more relaxed now. as for me, i have to be “cool”, in order to remain focused. Happy Easter to you and your family!
That is sooo fun to bad I dont do those stuff with my biological family. Most of my real parents are either busy with work or with their selves
sexy mom: oh, chase, i’m sure even if you don’t spend a lot of time with your family, whatever time you get to spend with each other is much enjoyed.
napagod ako sa entry mo…
I’ve got one 2-year old boy & di na ko magkandaugaga minsan, I can’t imagine having 2 or 3 toddlers at the same time. But I do relish the joy of having so many kids around to talk to, to have fun with & to hug & kiss.
Hubby says we should aim for 3 at least. Sana nga we can.
sexy mom: you know what i observed? it’s easier to raise 7 kids than 1 or 2. having 1 or 2 tends to make a mom more nervous, more idealistic, more focused on the child/children. having 7—the children tend to take care of each other, or bond with each other. the down side, however, is that it is really very expensive to raise 7. imagine the rolls of toilet paper, tubes of toothpaste, bottles of shampoo/conditioner, grocery bills, utilities, school…the list goes on and on. what happens is that i live by the day, and put everything in the hands of God…and it has always worked! Happy Easter.
Great looking kids Sexy Mom! Is this recent or also 8 years ago? Do you remember all their names? My Mom has to go through the names of all her kids before she gets the right one. Unfortunately, I’m the youngest so she has to go through five before she gets it right.
How wonderful that you have time to be with them and spend a lot of quality time. It’s really fun and a riot to be in a big family.
sexy mom: hi, Toe! am glad to learn from your latest post that you enjoyed each moment of your manila visit.
the picture was recent, taken a few weeks ago. you are part of a large family, too! so you would know how it is! as to their names, they are lucky coz i still know their names, in the right order, including birthdays. there was one point in time, though, when i called them S1 (son 1), S2 (son 2), etc., D1 (daughter 1), D2 (daughter 2), etc.
its good, you always find time to be with your kids.. I think they appreciate it a lot.
sexy mom: yes, Dimaks, before i went on early retirement, my time outside work was spent with the kids. i was lucky because my mom lives with me—she took care of all the domesticities, while i took care of child rearing, as soon as i came back to work.
Busy, busy Mom! I’m sure you’re doing a wonderful job in rearing your kids, they all seem to be well rounded individuals! Hey, so you used to dabble in x-stitch before,too? It would be interesting to see some (or all) of your crosstitch projects in the blog =P.
You & your family have a blessed Easter Dine!
sexy mom: hi, Gina! yes, about 8 years back, i was addicted to cross stitch. but then i underwent laser surgery (i was myopic). since the, i did not anymore do cross stitch, i didn’t want to strain my eyes. one of my daughters once told me, “mom, since you did cross stitch, you had less time for us”. that was the cue. as to rearing the kids—the secret is openness and being one with them. Happy Easter to you and your family!
Sounds like you have a wonderful family dynamic! Your children are very blessed.
sexy mom: yes, Mark, it’s always a riot at home. Happy Easter!
Happy Easter!
My mommy used to bake and cook but since she is busy with her work, she hardly does that anymore. But sometimes whenever I go home I still get to taste her cooking though!
(:
sexy mom: Happy Easter, dear Kyels! fond memories with mom…
Hi Dine. I enjoyed reading your post. I agree that learning to maximize your time time with your children by thinking of fun and bonding activities together can make up for the time you spent working. Quality is always better than quantity time.
Thanks for sharing.
sexy mom: yea, Rach, quality over quantity…but it would have been best if we can give both!
Bet you don’t know how old I am. Lol. Kidding
I keep on forgetting my siblings’ ages. What I know are their birthdays. Hahaha
sexy mom: 19 di ba? and i know the ages of your other siblings: 26, 23, 17, 16, 14, and 10 bwahahahaha
best bonding yata namin ng nanay ko e nung sinusubuan nya kaming tatlong magkakapatid ng pagkain galing sa iisang plato…yun lang kasi pagkain pero hanggang ngayon yun parin kwento ni nanay
You’re kids are very lucky to have you as their mom
And so Am I, having my nanay around, what more can I ask for?
Malapit lapit na ang mother’s day
tita sexy mom 
gusto ko ako ang pinaka maagang bumati sayo
sweet ko ba? lol!
sexy mom: how sweet of your, dear Melai, for the advanced happy mother’s day greeting. i see that you are so close to your mom—but do tell her how much she means to you—it makes a mother’s heart so happy to hear this from her daughter.
naku nung isang araw lang kinakarga ko sya tita pero ang bigat di ko makarga tapos sabi nya sa kin..”patunay lang yan na hindi mo ko kaya talaga!”
lol!!
Dine, I should have continued having kids when I could. I could have easily managed having one more kid, a boy preferably. I can imagine how it is like in your home as I came from a family of 7 children too. When I visited my relatives just recently, I butchered a pig for a family get-together. Wow, I didn’t realized I have such a huge family! It was fun though watching them play, fight at times, cry, shriek (which made me nervous) and swim in the ocean. Good happy memories!
You got lovely kids and I know they’re achievers pa. You had a lot of loving and mothering to do, sexy mom. I am sure every experience you embraced like the magnificient mom you are.
i love spending time with my family, especially my mom.actually, i love it a lot, my mom tries to kick me out for even just one night.accdg to her, i dont go out that much and i need to get out and socialize.i love being at home!
i love how you always find time to be with your family.i hope all mothers could spare a second or two to learn basics of parenthood from u!
Dine, it must have been fun (and exhausting too) having that number of kids in the house. My hubby comes from a brood of 7. I come from a brood of 2. Hubby and I have 3 which is just enough number, as far as time, resources and energy is concerned. Parenting is a 24/7 work and it takes a lot of dedication, love, patience and energy to do that.
youve done your best, and i say you did a great job. im certain your kids appreciate all things youve done! cheers to you!
sexy mom: that’s comforting to note. we moms always try our best!
Hello Dine,
Happy Easter Monday…..here is still holiday….easter pa, marami pang rabbit choco and colored eggs to hunt….
“give the children the best quality of the quantity time one can muster”. ....
yes, I agree this, i try my very best to have time for my kids and my husband, eventhough how busy i am, like household chores,...but i try that i have time to them too….i try not to ignore them, whatever they want or ask….
Thanks for sharing again this….it´s nice to find you as my Worthful Friend…..
sexy mom: nowadays, we really have to give the best in the available time we have for them. ako, tsaka na yung mga ibang gawain dyan, mga bata muna, last nga ang para sa atin e! i’m glad I found you, too. blog ka na lagi, ha?
By the way, i read your comments in my blog,esp. about this SWEETS…..
I think, magka-vibes tayo nito….lol
I like Pralinen n Nougat Creme Choco…or any sweets, when i started eating this….”I would say, mir ist Egal mein figur”...hehehhe…(bahala kang Figure?)
You know, Tomorrow is nice to go in the Grocery….all choco-Easter motives are 50% discount…..this is I always do, buy those my favo. choko….like what you like too, from LINDT…...
Nice, when we are near, we go together, bilihin natin yon lahat na gusto natin…..kahit na good for a year for us to eat…..until next Easter, right?
sexy mom: magkakasundo talaga tayo sa mga bagay na yan. and coz talaga yan to temporarily forget about the figure. wow
and sarap ng mga chocolates nyo! gusto mo din ba ng chocnut?
Cakes????? i like to bakes too….esp with butter cream or whipped cream…...lol
Ay naku, sira ang Figure natin nito…...
Bahala na, basta, nakain ko ang gusto ko…..lol
Thanks for the emails too, .......thanks for your thoughtfulness…...