Everyday Adventures: January 2021

Being a Teenage Blogger

By JJ Nakamura - January 23, 2021

Hey there, guys! It's me, Kib, Mommy Donna's son. Today is my first blog on this domain, as I'll now be collaborating with my mom on her blogging journey! I've been blogging for a while now, actually. Believe it, or not, but I have my own blog where I go by an alias of my own. If you want to see it, just click here.

What I'll be writing about on this blog are my interests, which corroborates with my mom's interests. After all, this is my mom's blog and my blog. It's OUR blog.

If you have been seeing our vlog channel for a while now, you'll know that I help my mom out in making them. Not only that, but I'm also the channel's main star. Well, at least I was until my mom decided to join in the fun. Nowadays, we do our vlogs together, just like the mother-son duo we are.

Enough about the vlog. It's time I explain myself to you guys. If you are in a mutual relationship with me, you would know that my hobbies are playing video games, eating, watching television, listening to music, and reading books. I'll be explaining to you what I like about each of those hobbies.

For video games, I'm mostly into first-person-shooters, racing games, simulators, fighting games, free-roaming, and adventure-type games. A few good examples for each of these are Destiny 2 (first-person-shooter/free-roam), Gran Turismo series (racing game/simulator), Super Smash Bros. (fighting game), and the Ratchet and Clank series (adventure/shoot-em-up).

For eating, I have to say that I like everything that I eat, fortunately. I'm into pasta, soups, snacks, sandwiches, etc.

For watching television, I like watching mostly cartoons, anime, and some sitcoms.

For listening to music, I actually know a lot about music, which is actually impressive for a kid like me. I'm a kid who is into a lot of music genres. I like jazz, rock, R&B, soul, rap, etc., though I'm mostly just into rock. My favorite rock bands are AC/DC, Foo Fighters, Queen, The Police, The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, REO Speedwagon, Pearl Jam, and Metallica.

And finally, for book reading, I'm mostly into dystopian-type novels. Not only that, but I also have a thing for Japanese manga and American comic books.

Well, that's everything I'll have to tell you about myself, guys. I hope to see you guys sometime soon on my blogging journey! - Love, Kib

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community quarantine

10 Things I've Learned During The Community Quarantine

By Mommy Donna and Kib - January 11, 2021

NOTE: This blog entry was supposed to be a contest entry, but I was not able to finish it on time. I decided to publish it anyway and added more as it has been almost a year since COVID-19 has changed the way we live.

For the first time in my 43 years of existence, I've experienced a pandemic in the Philippines.

The Philippines was spared from the SARS and MERS pandemic which happened years ago. Sadly, the country was not spared from COVID-19 this year. Other countries that had experienced an outbreak in the past years were prepared for this, but overall, most countries in the world were not prepared for COVID-19, thus, the whole world was in crisis.

The community quarantine started on March 15th, and some areas ended it on May 15th. Some areas ended it a bit late due to a high number of cases.

I prepared before the quarantine took effect. I finished all my deliverables like filing my annual tax, delivering orders, purchasing materials needed for my project, shopping for food, and giving my son a haircut. However, there are still a lot of people who were not prepared for this especially those who earn on a daily basis.

Now that the government has placed some areas of the country in general quarantine, we still cannot do our regular activities.

A lot of people have lost their jobs, and yes, lives are also lost because of COVID-19. These days, we couldn't comfort families who lost their loved ones and pay our last respects to the deceased during this time because mass gatherings are not allowed.

To date, the number of cases in the country has been increasing. There are no signs that it will go down in the coming months. With this, everyone is still encouraged to their part in limiting their exposure outdoors and to take necessary precautions by keeping the surroundings clean, wearing a face mask when going out, and keeping hands clean regularly.

Some people are not used to staying at home. They do not know how to focus on working at home. Some felt boredom. There are some who also felt like they are a prisoner in their own home.

In my case, staying at home is not new to me. I have been working from home for the past 12 years and my son is homeschooled ever since. Don't get me wrong; we also feel abnormal too. We also miss going out, like going to church and to the shopping mall. We are also supposed to go to Japan in April but because of the pandemic, we have to postpone our trip. Kib is supposed to enroll in enrichment classes and I am supposed to continue with my swimming lessons. My mom is also stuck in the country (she is already based in the United States).

Rich and poor are affected by the situation, but we have different ways of coping.

I also made this downtime an opportunity to reflect on where my life is at right now. It made me realize that there are things that we don't have control of the outcome. It also made me ponder what are the things that I have to prepare should another situation such as this happens in the future.

During the community quarantine, here are the things that kept us sane:

1. Rediscovered our talent in watercolor painting.

2. Planted new plants and rearrange the plants in our garden.

3. I encouraged my son to practice guitar.

4. Did the movie marathon.

5. Work! Thank God I have work during this time.

6. Eat! A lot of friends are selling food, so to help them, we buy what they offer.

7. Discovered new dishes.

8. Shared my thoughts about homeschooling on social media.

9. Bonded with my mom.

10. Played with our dog every day.

As a person who would always see the glass half-full, here are the things that I have learned during the community quarantine:

1. Be thankful always. No matter how small it is, be thankful. Every time you wake up, be thankful. Surviving the quarantine without getting the symptoms of COVID-19 is something to be thankful for.

2. Be content with what you have. No matter how simple it is, the community quarantine made me realize to appreciate the things I have. We are also thankful for the food packs given to us even if we don't expect it at all.

3. Be patient. The community quarantine period is indeed a test of patience. A lot of people wanted an instant response. Patience is truly a virtue that everyone should have. It is a downtime period, so expect that we cannot get the results that we wanted in a short period of time. There

4. Be creative with the resources on-hand. There is no need to buy new things, make the most of the available resources. This is one way of saving up too!

5. Be emphatic. Don't feel superior nor inferior about what's happening around us. You may have different experiences but it does not mean that you're better. We're in this together, let's help each other bounce back!

6. Be willing to help others in need. No matter how small it is, let's help a fellow in need. God will give it back to you tenfold.

7. Be positive. Always thinking the other way around will add wrinkles to your face. Instead, smile more, appreciate what you have, and don't feel poor about yourself. Most importantly always think that God loves you! It'll help in bringing positivity into your life.

8. Be a forward-thinker. Prepare for uncertainties, in all forms. This will give you a sense of security when there are trials and challenges in your lives. Save, invest, get life insurance--these are the ways to prepare for the future.

9. Be appreciative, even on small things. Now that our activities and resources are limited, let us find things around us and be grateful for them.

10. Be healthy. This is the most important thing that we need to do at this time of the pandemic. We need to stay healthy so that we won't contract the deadly virus. We need to survive for our family.

Our battle against the COVID-19 is far from being over. With the new strain discovered, we need to be more careful with our interactions outside our homes. The best thing that we can do now is to learn to live with the virus and do the necessary precautions and health maintenance. Stay healthy and safe!

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adolescence

New Milestone--Being a Mom to a Teenager

By Mommy Donna and Kib - January 05, 2021

Kib turned 13 years old two years ago, and it was a bittersweet moment for me.

I really feel sentimental about this milestone because I'll be missing the little Kib. I know that there will be changes within him that I also need to adapt to as his mother.

Going back, it was a dream come true for me to become a mom. As soon as I gave birth to Kib, it was love at first sight. I would always look at him, kiss him, and hug him. I don't get tired of doing it every day. I don't want to miss any of his milestones, that is why I also decided to work from home.

Now that he's officially a teen, I noticed that he is slowly exercising his independence, and honestly, I'm a bit hurt about it. I know that I need to let him decide on his own and for him to be whatever he wants to be.

Kib felt weird about the physical changes in his body. He even said that he didn't like it. However, he also knows that the changes are inevitable.

In addition, Kib likes to stay at home most of the time. Whenever I ask him to go with me, he would ask me why do I need a companion. I feel sad that he does not like going out with me anymore even going on an errand.

At home, Kib would stay downstairs while I stay upstairs. He would even sleep on the floor now. He does not like sharing beds with me anymore.

Apart from exercising his independence, Kib is more outspoken now. We always have an argument especially on doing his responsibilities. On the other hand, I can see that he is also becoming more responsible because I'm always reminding him of what the real world is all about.

There are a lot of things happening around us. We often hear news about teens or young people getting into trouble. As a parent, I also worry about my son's safety once he fully asks for freedom in doing things. But I know I can only do much; all I can do is to always pray for protection and covering for him.

I always remind him to be in the company of good people. I always remind him to be close to the Lord. I always remind him to be vigilant. I always tell him to be always kind to people no matter what. Kib has still lots of things to learn in life, and I'm there to guide him as I slowly let him spread his wings and fly on his own.

Right now, I am encouraging him to pursue his passion, which is writing and vlogging. He recently started with his blog, but I'm encouraging him too to share his thoughts on this site since this blog is all about us.

I still miss the young Kib. I miss his baby voice. I miss him clinging to me.

Despite the changes that Kib is experiencing right now, one thing is constant: I'll be his first love.

To the parents who are complaining about how naughty and kulit their young kids are, twelve years is very short. You'll also miss those moments when you have to shout at the top of your lungs to stop them. You'll miss their kisses and hugs because soon, they'll be kissing and hugging someone. You'll miss going out with them even if it stresses you bringing all of their stuff because soon, they'd be happier to go out with their friends.

To the parents with young kids out there, cherish the first twelve years of their existence, no matter how difficult it is to raise a child. Build a strong relationship with them so that when they become teenagers, you will be secured that they would continue to love and trust you as they start to explore the world.

P.S. I'll tell you more stories about our dog, Bach. He is now my constant companion and baby, hihi.

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2020 highlights

Hello 2021!

By Mommy Donna and Kib - January 01, 2021

It has been a while since I last blogged. I got busy at work and to be honest, I started to lack passion for writing lengthy articles. I'd rather share snippets of my thoughts directly on our Facebook page. A friend of mine encouraged me to write blog entries again to get campaigns again. This year, I will try my very best to have entries at least once a week.

In addition, Kib wants to develop his writing skills. I told him that we would share this blog instead of him creating his own website. He said that he would contribute his thoughts on this site as long as he thinks it is appropriate for this niche.

I know, my stats went down. It is also my fault. I need to kick my butt to put more entries on my blog and share valuable insights with my readers.

The year 2020 has been a not-so-good year for most people but for us, we were not that much affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Well, there were canceled vacations and road trips, but apart from that, we were generally okay.

Let me recap what happened to us in 2020:

January: Manila Workshops had its last big event, the Entrepreneur and Freelancer Forum. Ginger Arboleda, our CEO, has decided to focus more on her other business, Taxumo, in the meantime. Kib was tasked to be the official photographer while I helped in the logistics. We also thought of creating a vlog about this event by interviewing some of its key speakers (watch the vlog here). My mom also arrived in the Philippines for vacation and to have a medical check (cataract). In addition, our beloved dog Bach had his surgery due to the crystals in his bladder. He had been confined at the vet hospital for nine days.

During the Entrepreneur and Freelancer Forum 2020 at the Bayanihan Center

After nine days, Bach can now go home!

February: I had my graduation at my swimming class at Bert Lozada Swim School by jumping in the deep blue sea. Yes, it was nerve-wracking but I made it! I got a bit scared because it's wavy and yes, it's very deep! But it's true, you'll float more in salty water than in pool water. Coach Angelo Lozada said that we would repeat this again so that we would gain more confidence in the water.

See the happiness on my face!

March: New opportunities opened for me! Good thing that everything had been set before President Duterte declared a community quarantine to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. My mom had finished her cataract surgery before the quarantine too, whew!

April: Supposedly we would go back to Japan for a holiday, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic which affected the whole world, countries have shut their boundaries to visitors. Some countries even canceled travel visas. It was slightly difficult for us to move around, especially that I am the only one in the family who is qualified to go out and buy the necessities. My business, Katsa Co., has also been to a halt due to difficulty in logistics. I was only able to sell face masks during this time because it's readily available. Kib also joined a virtual watercolor art class by May Palacpac of Fully Housewifed. She also encouraged me to join the classes, thus, our new Instagram account momandsonwatercolorhobbyists was born.

Happy to help our frontliners in fighting COVID-19

During one of our watercolor sessions

May: Travel restrictions got a bit relaxed when President Duterte declared a modified quarantine level. I was able to schedule an eye check-up for my mom because she was having a hard time seeing after her cataract surgery. The eye doctor said that her lenses need cleaning and we were advised to make a follow-up on the schedule because the eye center was still adjusting to the 'new normal.'

During mama's check-up. Social distancing must be observed

June: Mama's eye lenses cleaning was done, and she was already given clearance by the doctor to travel.

July: It's our birthday month! Too bad we can't celebrate by eating at our favorite restaurant, so we just had samgyupsal and shabu-shabu party at home. I also scheduled a passport renewal appointment for my mom just to be sure too. My mom has been bugging me to schedule her departure so I booked her tickets back to the United States and inquired thoroughly about travel requirements. Kib was also officially enrolled at this time at our homeschool provider (School of Tomorrow), so hello Level 7! It was also my first time to see friends and had a short date at a mall.

At mama's passport renewal appointment

August: My mom went back to the United States together with my uncle. President Duterte once declared a strict quarantine for two weeks and I got worried because I haven't gotten my mom's renewed passport. Worse comes to worst, she would travel with her old passport since it was not yet punched. Good thing, I was able to contact DFA and appealed to get the new passport during the quarantine period.

Safe travels to both of you!

September: Thankfully, I was given a teaching load again at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Antipolo Campus! I had been teaching there since 2018 and I'm grateful that I still teach part-time at the same institution. Teaching is one of the things that I love doing the most. In addition, Kib joined BFit Active Kids, the Physical Education class of Bert Lozada Swim School.

Kib during his BFit Active Kids online class

It's online learning at DLS-CSB, I went to the school to borrow some books. The campus looks lonely without the presence of the students

October: It was Kib's first time to go to a mall after several months of staying at home. A friend of mine said that kids are allowed at BGC, so we went there for a breather.

Our first mall date after so many months of staying at home

November: Kib and I went back to BGC, this time, with our dog, Bach. It's our first time to bring our dog for a walk. We weren't able to bring him on a road trip in the past because he had travel sickness. Other dog owners advised that we should bring our dog for short trips often so that he would get used to the habit. Now, he loves getting in the car and look at the window! Before I forget, we were also devastated by Typhoon Ulysses, thank God, we were not that much affected, the floodwater rose up to an inch inside our house.

Our dog looked happy because he was able to see new surroundings!

Typhoon Ulysses before the floodwater entered our house

December: I planned to go to Bataan to visit our relatives for the holiday, but the government once again implemented strict travel requirements. We only spent Christmas and New Year celebrations at home. I bought food at our favorite restaurants and ordered food in our village.

2020 is full of learnings and blessings. I am touched by the messages I have received from some friends that they were blessed by my acts and gestures.

I hope and pray that the situation gets better this year. I am full of hope that the Lord would continue to bless me and my son. I am also happy to look forward to the full payment of my car, wee! There are lots of things to look forward to this year, so let's stay positive and hopeful.

And oh, always stay healthy, okay?!