the canDIshhh tales

When you say trauma, one immediately thinks of a very bad experience that scared the bejeezuz out of you at one point.  But it's actually not - trauma means *scars* scars that we brought on by certain situations and instances.  Like say when toddlers cry - there is an emotional scar - it may be small, but it's still a scar - thus, it's called *trauma* Last week, I was lucky enough to meet and listen to Christine Foong-Wong speak on the topic *Understanding childhood Psychological Trauma and it's effects on parents and children*  I learned so much in a short time, and I'm sure there will be more learnings if you attend her session on June 27, 2015 at the Ortigas Library. When I first encountered the topic, I thought - wow, it's quite a heavy one to digest.  But then as Christine spoke, it made perfect sense.  We are who we are because of the experiences that shaped us.  They may be bad and they may be good - but in total - they're all life experience...

I would remember watching the cooking show of the Daza's with a Lee Kum Kee segment.  They made cooking Chinese food look so easy.  My mom would tell me that she would just experiment, put this and that and voila!  At that time I couldn't understand how she can cook without measuring ingredients.  Well, that was until I learned how to really cook.  It was literally - experimental!  Hahaha.. I was so happy to attend a cooking workshop with moms by Lee Kum Kee.  You see, my dishes have become a bit boring and redundant.  So I was very excited to learn the recipes of fellow mommies!  I was surprised to see how easy their recipes were to be honest.  I guess every mom has a secret *easy-to-do recipe* using Lee Kum Kee!  I think my Panget is already bored with the dishes that I serve him, so I'm glad to learn new recipes from fellow moms - the best part about it is - it's so easy to prepare and make!! You know what else I learned? ...

The last time I was in Tagaytay - I think I wasn't married yet.  Yes, it has been that long - too long.  Well, to be honest - when I still didn't have kids, I was always game for an out of town trip.  It was always a *go* for me.  But now that I have kids, I'm sorry to say - that the thought of going on an out of town trip with them, repels me.  Why?  Simply because of all the things you need to pack and take along with you.  I have to be honest, now that I have kids - I bring with me *everything* as in everything!  Then I need to know that the place we're going to is conducive for kids or is kid friendly.  I mean, you don't bring your child to a nudist beach or a place that needs a long uphill hike.  Now that I have Kailee and Connor - it's all about them.  It's all about keeping them entertained and wanting them to have fun and enjoy the trip as well.  A lot of elders tell us that kids won't remember anything - but I beg to d...

I've always felt guilty of not being able to spend more time with Connor.  But let's be honest - as much as we want to spend equal time with our kids - we just can't split ourselves up into separate persons to do so.  I remember not understanding the movie *Multiplicity*, but now that I'm a mom - I say to myself that I really need a clone! My Connor really loves nibbling his food, everyday he would point to the not-so secret drawer that contained snacks (in my room) and he would always get Oreos and have me open it.  As much as I want to stop him - I give in because I felt guilty - and so he has his way.  And he's so loving it.  I know, it's not good - but what the heck!  Every child needs to enjoy his Oreos right?  Who am I stop him?  I love Oreos too! This trip to Tagaytay with just Connor, forced me to spend *alone* time with him.  And I am so very glad that I got to do it.  It's actually a blessing in disguise, since in...

For the past year or so, I have been seeing so many bento meals for kids in my social media feeds.  I know for a fact that bento is something Japanese but it has evolved now to what I know - as a creative way to make a kid's meal more fun! Last month, Kailee and I attended a Bento workshop by The Bento Mommas and Oreos.  I swear, I have a new found respect for mommies/daddies making bento meals for their kids.  It's not an easy task - I mean, you have to have (major) creativity and ingenuity and patience and lots and lots of time. I initially thought that it was easy, well - do this and that - voila, a bento.  But it's more than that - one should be able to plan what kind of bento to prepare, the available ingredients, tools to use.  During the workshop - I've a gained an admiration for the parents who make bento.  It takes a lot of getting used to .  The cutting, the preparing, the molding and the presentation.  The meal planning too! ...