4th Grader Dies in an Accident Yesterday!

A 4^th grader boy yesterday got killed accidentally when a van hit him inside the Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City. The victim’s name is Julian Carlo Miguel Alcantara and he was 10 years old. He was brought to the hospital and was pronounced dead upon arrival at the New Era Hospital. He was walking along with his 65-year old nanny when they were hit by a van. The driver of the van was also a mom who was trying to pick up her son but instead got in a tragic accident with another mom’s son. As a mom, I feel this. The death of an innocent boy in this tragic accident is very sad for me. And to think he was only 10 years old. I’m sure that his mother is going to be traumatized. The driver of the van who hit the boy and the nanny was actually hysterical too when she was brought to the police station. The nanny sustained several fractures but has survived the accident. This is really saddening and very traumatizing for all those who witnessed the accident inside the campus. God bless the poor boy’s soul. May he rest in peace and may he be surrounded by angels.

Full story HERE

Filed under: News , Mommy Talks, Philippine News, scared

My Funny Valentine!!!

Tomorrow is the feast day of St. Valentines and this is a day that everybody celebrates. The day of hearts and of love. Through the years, most of my celebrations were with friends. Friends who have been always there for me to share in the bad and good times. Seldom was it with a special someone. I had not yet found the one. Until now, that is. Here is my funny valentine for this year, my one and only Zoe. Many more years and valentines together Z!!! Much love!

Filed under: Mommy Talks , milestones, Mommy Talks, parenting, random musings, zoe

The Anxiety of a Working MOM!

Truth be told, I am now anxious here at work. I have just left my daughter in the care of a nanny at home and honestly, I am still adjusting to it. I know that all mother’s out there who are working and leave their kids at home with nannies experience the same anxiety that I do because we think that we can’t trust our babies to anybody but ourselves and family sometimes. And of course there are those horror stories about babies being abused by nannies which fuel our own fears.

Personally, I am just having the nanny for a month because my mom will be home after a month and will have the time to take care of my daughter and I will breathe more easily after the month is up. My mom loves my daughter. And there she can even take care of my baby better than I can with her having more experience having had to take care of 4 children.

We just can’t really trust anybody with our children but since now I have no choice, I have to. Hopefully, the nanny will like my daughter a lot and be extra nice to her. But for all the mothers out there, I have a list below of how to watch out for signs of Child Abuse from the nannies that we trust our children to.

I heard this story from a friend that their trusted “yaya” of 4 years upon being irritated by the baby that she was taking care of, actually made the baby eat booger (for those who do not know what booger is, it is the dirt particles found inside our noses). This story somewhat shocked and outraged me. Hence that is why I decided to write this article. Also of course use your best judgment to feel out child abuse and don’t just also accuse someone without factual basis.

Signs of Physical Abuse

Physical Indicators:

• Unexplained bruises and welts on the face, throat, upper arms, buttocks, thighs or lower back in unusual patterns or shapes which suggests the use of an instrument (belt buckle, electric cord) on an infant in various stages of healing that are seen after absences, weekends, or vacations.

• Unexplained burns, cigarette burns, especially burns found on palms, soles of feet, abdomen, buttocks; immersion burns producing “stocking” or “glove” marks on hands and feet; “doughnut shaped” on buttocks or genital area.

• Rope burns.

• Infected burns indicating delay in treatment; burns in the shape of common household utensils or appliances.

Behavioral Indicators:

• Behavioral extremes (withdrawal, aggression, regression, depression).

• Inappropriate or excessive fear of parent or caretaker.

• Antisocial behavior such as substance abuse, truancy, running away, fear of going home.

• Unbelievable or inconsistent explanation for injuries.

• Lies unusually still while surveying surroundings (for infants).

• Unusual shyness, wariness of physical contact.

Signs of Emotional Abuse

Physical Indicators:

• Eating disorders, including obesity or anorexia.

• Speech disorders (stuttering, stammering).

• Developmental delays in the acquisition of speech or motor skills.

• Weight or height level substantially below norm.

• Flat or bald spots on head (infants).

• Nervous disorders (rashes, hives, facial tics, stomach aches).

Behavioral Indicators:

• Habit disorders (biting, rocking, head-banging).

• Cruel behavior, seeming to get pleasure from hurting children, adults or animals; seeming to get pleasure from being mistreated.

• Age-inappropriate behaviors (bedwetting, wetting, soiling).

• Behavioral extremes, such as overly compliant-demanding; withdrawn-aggressive; listless-excitable.

Signs of Neglect

Physical Indicators:

• Poor hygiene, including lice, scabies, severe or untreated diaper rash, bedsores, body odor.

• Squinting.

• Unsuitable clothing; missing key articles of clothing (underwear, socks, shoes); overdressed or underdressed for climate conditions.

• Untreated injury or illness.

• Lack of immunizations.

• Indicators of prolonged exposure to elements (excessive sunburn, insect bites, colds).

• Height and weight significantly below age level.

Behavioral Indicators:

• Unusual school attendance.

• Chronic absenteeism.

• Chronic hunger, tiredness, or lethargy.

• Begging for or collecting leftovers.

• Assuming adult responsibilities.

• Reporting no caretaker at home.

This information provided courtesy of Lorain County, Ohio Children Services, through their website, www.childabuse.net.   We provide this information as a service, and no listing of abuse or neglect indicators can include all signs. Please use your best judgment.

Sources: www.childabuse.org

Filed under: Mommy Talks , Mommy Talks, parenting, scared, zoe

Of teething and Teeth…

Zoe is now approaching her 11^th month in our world and she is fast growing. Height wise, weight wise and of course intellectual-wise. She shows signs of being a feisty little girl who has little amounts of hair like me when I was still a baby. Like her, I had a little hair until I reached my first year and my mom made me

zoe with teeth and funny face

bald. I am soon going to follow in that tradition of being bald and will revisit it on Zoe by making her bald on her 1^st year. She is now teething and currently has sprouted a total of 4 teeth. 2 down and 2 up. She bites me constantly and also the other members of our household. I have brought her some organic toothpaste (Earth’s Best here at Rustan’s Makati) so that I can start her early on dental health. I am kind of anal in things about Zoe. The toothpaste came with a gum brush too. Pretty convenient and nice. We have fun brushing. She has fun licking and biting on the brush and she likes the taste of the toothpaste. She makes funny faces all the time and is generally a very happy child. No long crying bouts! I am thankful for that. I think that good habits should be started early on and what better timing than now before she turns 1. Happy brushing!

P.S. The organic toothpaste for all the mothers out there cost around Php 200 ++. It will last you a long time though because you only use pea-sized amounts.

Filed under: Mommy Talks, My Family News , family news, Mommy Talks, zoe

Organic Food – a healthy alternative to your regular baby food.

Way back then when I was still in high school and had baby sisters and a brother I watched my mom as she would feed my siblings with Cerelac or Gerber. They were the ultimate names in baby food as far as I am concerned. Nowadays, with the advent of healthy eating I scoured the internet for a better alternative on what to feed Zoe. I chanced upon the word ORGANIC FOOD. I looked this up in the internet and found out that this was indeed a better way for eating. Not only for kids but also for adults like me. What is organic food? According to Wikipedia, Organic foods are produced according to certain production standards, meaning they are grown without the use of conventional pesticides, artificial fertilizers, human waste, or sewage sludge, and that they were processed without ionizing radiation or food additives. I personally think that this is a better way of life and eating. So I found this product – Earth’s Best.

Here in the Philippines I think that there is only 1 store that sells Earth’s Best products and that is Healthy Options stores in malls. Here in Makati, I patronize their store inside Rustan’s near glorietta. Its the nearest Healthy Options store that I could find in the vicinity of my office. It has been a couple of months now that I have started giving organic food to Zoe and so far so good. I just want to make her eating habits more healthier starting right now when she is but a few months old. She actually has a very healthy appetite and eats almost anything. Vegetables and all that green stuff. Thankfully she hasn’t developed any allergies to any kind of food group yet and hopefully never does. I experienced as a kid how bad it is to have food allergies and I hope Zoe never does.

Filed under: Mommy Talks , Mommy Talks, parenting, zoe

zoe at 8 months…

Chantelle Zoe Enerio aka Zoe or Chaz, is the love of my life and the reason why every day seems to be so nice. Even until now I still marvel at the power that gave her to me for safekeeping and I hope and I pray that even if I am a single traveler that I will be able to be a good guide for her.

Some milestones on her 8^th month…

• she can already say ma-ma and pa-pa…(although id rather have her forget the latter! ).

• she can sit on her own without support.

• she has 2 small front teeth now growing on the bottom part of her mouth.

• she recognizes people, although she can already tell by her 6^th month.

• she dances to some tunes that I invent and she delights all her audiences.

I am thankful that she is a happy child and she has a happy disposition. I thank God everyday for the gift of zoe to me and my family.

baby zoe or baby chaz

Filed under: Mommy Talks, My Family News , milestones, Mommy Talks, parenting, zoe