Sounds like a joke but that is not literally my age. I mean I am already 3 years old plus in the virtual world, working as a Virtual Assistant (but my employer insists I am a Webmaster), which is obviously unrelated to my finished course, TEACHING.  I didn't rejoice mainly because I've gone this far, I rejoiced because I survived for over three years working outside my comfort zone.

I still remembered the exact date, July 27, 2011, the day I was hired as a webmaster (kuno! hehe). Ma'am Cathy from Texas (my employer now) who first spotted my resume at onlinejobs.ph, emailed me that she was looking for someone who could work for her as a content writer. I might be a good candidate for the position since she found my personal blog (my old blog checkmath.net) impressive, she added.

"My writing? impressive? really?,  a series of questions I muttered as my initial reaction to her email. To be honest, I am still struggling yet striving to be a good one. Technically,  I still lack of know-how on how to be an effective and persuasive writer, even sometimes I find my grammar erroneous.

And so I emailed back and confessed, "I am not a competent writer,  but I could help you manage your online-business websites since I had been doing some projects in the past using WordPress" (me oozing with guts). After exchanging of multiple emails and chats, and agreeing of the salary and work hours, she finally hired me as a Webmaster.

For three years and 3 months to be exact,  I continue working cheerfully and comfortably in our home with flexible hours for as long as I meet five hours a day, which gave me the freedom to raise my little girl by myself. I praised God for giving me this rarest opportunity, and by His grace I strive to live the fruits of the spirit towards my career ( Galatians 5:22-23 ).

- to become a FAITHFUL employee;

- to show more PATIENCE towards my job - whether easy or complex; whether relax or tedious; (I know I have to work more on this.)

- to accept with a JOYFUL HEART no matter what job brings - whether there is a salary increase or not; whether there is an urgent task that needs to be done beyond my work hours.

- to practice SELF-CONTROL by not surfing the net unrelated to work such as Facebooking, etc; (I have been training myself to do away from Facebook during work hours (unless Ma'am Cathy would tell me "Today is a quiet and easy day; Take the rest of the day off; ") but I have to spank more my butt to discipline myself. hehe..)

- to maintain my GENTLENESS, KINDNESS, and LOVE towards my employer by respecting her suggestions and opinions during our work-collaboration; by using gentle and encouraging words during our chats and emails online.

- Lastly, if I'll  constantly practice all of the fruits of spirit above, I would get a fruit salad of PEACE  - peace of mind and a peaceful life, as tranquil as a lake.

via: kezi.wordpress.com/poetries-potpourri-of-favorites/fruit-of-the-spirit/

I often experienced mothers of older kids telling me that they potty-trained their kids as young as possible because they wanted to cut down their monthly expenses from buying diapers.

I love the thought either - to cut down the expenses - because as a stingy mom, I also want to save extra pesos.

Well, who doesn't want?

Apart from saving pesos , Chesska is getting older already,  and it looks odd seeing her grow, still wearing a diaper - seems as her permanent undies already.

So here are my true-to-life stories on how I got Chesska to graduate from diapering at day time. (Night time will be sooner. hehe)

1. The "No, No" stage.

I bought the potty long before Chesska turned 2 years old. And she was just potty-trained a month ago (she turned 2 years and 7 months then). In the first four months (but not on a daily basis) right after I bought the potty, Chesska refused to use the potty despite everything I've done. The moment I accompanied her to go near the potty, she would cry "No, No". I sat on the potty myself with the best facial expression I could show as if I were peeing and pooping.  I put Teddy Bear, Mickey Mouse, and other stuff toys, too,  just to convince her to go near the potty and sit there if she's about to pee and poop. But nothing worked!



Later I realized I might have caused her stress because there were times she would cry if I insisted her to go near the potty.

If she could only speak, she would probably say this.

Don't expect me to use the potty in an instant way, ok?

2.  Getting to know "Ms. Potty", first.

After persuading-Chesska period, still, she didn't give up to refuse.  Like any other toddlers, Chesska is a kind of tot whom you cannot force if she really doesn't want to. So as to end the war between us,  I became lenient of the training for a few months. I came to realize Chesska is not a military, she's still a toddler after all.

So she was happily playing with the potty as if it were her toy. She would use it as a chair, or she would detach some parts,  or she would use it as a ladder when she wanted to pull up books from the shelf. But I never failed to remind her that the potty is used for pooping and peeing.

Until she saw pictures of potty and toilet bowl in one of her books, I seized the chance story-telling her, "it is a small potty where Chesska poops and pees , and here is the big potty (pointing to toilet bowl) where mama and papa poops".  So every morning, I let her see again the pictures and I kept saying those over and over until it would inject in her mind the use of potty.

3.  Wear undies at day time.

Chesska already dislikes "DIRT". For example, she whines hysterically if she gets dirty or wet,  or when she accidentally spills choco-drink to her clothes. The same is true by letting her wear undies instead of a diaper for a week or so, during day time so she would know how it feels when wet or soiled from urine and  poops respectively. Though I had to sacrifice a bit from washing the stinky undies.

4. I should have waited until she could follow simple instructions.

The main reason why I couldn't get her use the potty was simply because she couldn't yet follow instructions. She could even hardly utter words as well (Chesska was 2 years old then to be exact) by the time I began potty-training her.

However by the time she was able to follow instructions, like when husband and I would ask "Chesska, pick up your toys ", "let's take a bath",  "go to sleep",  "drink your milk", it seems like other things like "potty training" in particular, happened as fast as the other routine she did.

5. Potty-training: The success

Potty training successfully happens right after she can follow simple instructions.  In fairness to her, in just 2-3 weeks of serious potty-training, (well I won't consider the previous months serious due to misunderstanding between Chesska and I. hehe ), I already got Chesska to sit on the potty.

In fact, I am very pleased to hear her say "Ma, weewee (pee), or popoo (poop),   or she could even manage to hold her pee (while holding hers) and run into the potty and sit herself. Though, there was a single instance where she accidentally withdrew a little poop on her undies (hehe) before she was able to sit on the potty. But since we are still in a "practice period", that's still acceptable, anyway. It has been said "Constant Practice Makes Perfect".

At the end of potty-training, and as a teacher and a mom myself, I've learned two things:

First:


 And second:



Thanks for reading and enjoy your day.

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I have been a subscriber of Weekly Wisdom for months. Each week it sends me spiritual notes via email. As a busy mom, juggling my career with raising my child, I didn't have much time to read the Bible, and I felt guilty about this. Also, as a Christ believer, it's my spiritual obligation to know Him deeper and to demonstrate His words into action.

I am pleased to know that God sends www.christnotes.org to reach out to people online including myself about their spiritual mission. I can vouch everything you'll read is enlightening.

Regardless of your faith or religion, everyone is welcome to subscribe to receive Christ weekly notes. If you have spent most of your time facebooking and tweeting, God only asks you minutes to get to know Him deeply.

So among the Weekly Wisdoms I have read,  this "Weekly Note" hits me the most, and I'm sure you too.

Via: www.christnotes.org

It's not our circumstances that steal our joy; it's our attitude during our circumstances.It is easy to think "If I could just get a new car, a bigger house, a better job, or more money, then I'll be happy." We tend to view happiness as a commodity attainable by wealth. However, as the old saying goes, "money cannot buy happiness."

Indeed, no amount of money or things will ever give you lasting joy or contentment; that's because joy and contentment are not based on circumstances. Therefore, if you're not content with what you have, you won't be content with what you want.

Although at first it may seem difficult, it is very possible to be content even during harsh circumstances. Paul said, in Philippians 4:11-12, "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."

In those two verses, Paul is saying that he could be content—that is, have joy—regardless of his circumstances. Joy should not be dependent on circumstances; it should be present regardless of them.

When Paul said that he could be content "in any and every situation," he truly meant everything—even the tough times of testing. In 2 Corinthians 11:24-27, he lists some of the tough times that he has endured: "Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked."

Even in all these things, Paul had "learned to be content." Clearly, it's not our circumstances that steal our joy. You, too, can learn "to be content whatever the circumstances."Stop thinking that you will have joy after you buy a new house, after you get married, after you buy a better car, after your in-laws treat you right. Don't put off joy until after everything goes your way; decide to have joy now! For you can have joy whatever the circumstances!

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Hello Mommies and Daddies! How are you?

You might already have heard about the free immunization against measles-rubella and polio, which is being repeatedly aired on TV. It is a month-long immunization campaign which is called "Ligtas sa Tigdas", starting September 1 through September 30, initiated by Department of Health (DOH), urging all parents to bring their children, below five years old, to the health center near their Barangay.

The free vaccination aims to protect the children from these life-threatening and infectious diseases particularly Measles-Rubella since there are multiple cases of measles have been monitored just this year, which many children have died.

In addition to Measles vaccine, oral polio will be also given despite attaining a polio-free status in our country.

Since Measles-Rubella has continued to be a threat to our children, I brought Chesska to the health center near us yesterday, September 3. The health worker was accommodating and complimented that Chesska was so brave because she did not cry after the injection. They put indelible ink on her finger, as a sign that she has been vaccinated.

Just cast my vote for a measles-and-polio-free country. hehe

For more info, please visit the DOH website.

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