Baby's first four

I can't help not to share my baby's first four teeth. How cute is this picture, huh? I took it for remembrance. I'm just a bit worried, because they say that kids whose teeth grew early have the possibility of having their teeth damaged easily.

I don't have strong teeth. Most of my permanent teeth were damaged as early as twelve years old. I now have tooth fillings and a tooth canal. From eleven to thirteen years old, I have frequent tooth aches, and that's also the time when my teeth started to have damages.

I want my child to have the best set of teeth. That is why I set it a goal every day to clean her teeth with a clean cloth while she's young. When she get's older, I'll teach her how to brush her teeth three times a day. I heard brushing your teeth more than three times a day would also make the teeth weak.

Our pearly whites score on the charms we have every time we smile, that's why it's one of the things I take most care of, of my daughter.

Too soon

I remember when I was kid, I always wanted to do things older people do. Given that I'm surrounded by a lot of adults. Only me and my younger brother are the kids in the house. I wanted to do the dishes, I want to wash clothes, I want to sweep the floor, but they wouldn't allow me because I'm too young. It is not bad to help, but I do not know how to do it properly even if they teach me, because biologically, I'm still incapable.

Until I grow up to be a school girl. I started to be given the responsibility to help around the house by doing chores assigned to me. And at that time, I didn't want to do things I used to called "work of the old people" anymore. I changed.

When I reached high school, my parents talked to me about getting into relationships. I wasn't allowed to have a boyfriend while I am still studying. However, due to peer pressure and other "humanitarian forces," I got into relationships, some are serious relationships. And now, I have sown the fruits of the works that I've done, both negative and positive.

Don't you realize? Many of us wants to get where we want to be, even if it's not in time. We race over time, wanting to be where we want to be even if it was not yet meant. In our own point of view, this is right because this is what we want.

Most of the time we love to do what's forbidden. In the end, I found myself stopping schooling for a year, and this whole year I realized so many things. It might be normal for us to change every stage we grow to. However, it is important to take in guidance from experienced people(specially parents). Yes, we make mistakes, but is it not better to avoid it? We do learn a lot in mistakes, but long as we can learn lessons in easy ways, why not?

I know I may not be good at this. However, due to my life experiences, I want to share that we all normally go extra steps fast. Most of us want to grow up too soon, but what would it be like if you were not prepared. It's very difficult believe me. However, when you're already there, it's a challenge for you, how you handle it.

Haterade

People who were born with good genes are not those who are super pretty. I believe they are those healthy enough to adapt to other people (who also has genes)!

I really don’t see the sense of why people hate. I mean, I understand that people have different tastes, and so what? Hating people doesn’t only rely on your scientific abilities. Your attitude also counts. It’s not just plain hating, it’s judging people. And in this case, in this article, I mean the people who hate because of what they see outside the book.

I have a friend ( let me guess if she is ‘til now), who is constantly hating me. I deny the reasons, because I don’t want to think it. However, somehow, I try to analyze her, and it just makes no sense. I respect her opinions about me, that she is a hater-friend because she jump simply don’t like me. In the case of directing the point, she is treating me quite nice because we are in the same circle of friends, but in her own self circle she doesn’t like me at all. She pretends to like me because maybe, she wants to hang out at my place where our friends hang out.

She hates me because she thinks I’m a social climber. She wears on clothing line that’s very adorable, and here comes me, who also loves the clothes in that line. And when she saw me wear one of the clothes from that line, she went saying to one of our friends she won’t wear that line anymore and it’s very obvious it’s because I was wearing one shirt from it. Still I see her wear tees from that line.

She is also one of the people I know who have the best profile layouts on friendster. And I just feel bad when she makes me looked like I tried to hard when she visit my upgraded profile. I don’t like that she always makes me feel like I’m COPYING HER!! I am not! Look at how different my stuffs are! Look at how entirely original I am! And do you hold Artwork’s copyright? Oh come on.  I look better on their shirts.

Sometimes, I break down and give in to her hating, that no matter how much I want to like her still, I begin to hate her. I am trying to be really nice to this girl. Yet, it pisses me off every time she looks at me that stupid way. I am different and unique and has my own style, so don’t look at me like I’m trying to clone you, because I never did and I never will. I wouldn’t trade my own self to become like you or anybody else for the world!

There was a man long ago, and he said, “You haters must die.”  Haters, what do you think?

sweet childhood

My sweetest memories are those of my childhood – priceless.

Nothing compares better than having to wake up in the morning without any alarming thoughts of school, lovelife, and responsibilities. You’re plainly waking up without any pressure forming in the start of the day/ all is easy-breezy. You’re a kid.

All you need to do is obey mom and dad when they say finish your meal, take a nap in the noon time, and don’t mess up in the living room. Then at night, mom sends you to sleep with your favorite fairytale story from an all-time favorite classics book. Haah… my childhood. I miss everything about it.

Back then, my grandmother would buy me the toys I want. She would also let me eat all my favorite food. All I need to do is ask. I was and still am my grandma’s favorite and companion (everybody could tell).  However, I’m also as close to my parents.

My heart is closer to my father, as a child among my parents. I’m a “papa’s girl”. I remember father arriving from work, bringing me home crayons of set of 8’s almost every day. The crayon box was wrapped in Manila paper material. I was always excited opening it, even if I already know what’s inside.

It never fails to give me happy thoughts every time I remember my younger days riding my father’s old Kawasaki motorcycle. I am riding the tank, father’s driving, and mom and my younger brother Jasper sits at the back. We always stroll around town that way. I could roughly remember the breeze striking my face and that adds exciting.

Mom and I share one thing in common even from my childhood – we love beautiful views and houses. Mom often buys magazines of beautiful houses and house arrangements. I browse them too. Maybe it’s no wonder we both have the love for home so much. I don’t know if it’s because women have softer hearts. Among the family, most of the time, it is the two of us who loves being with the family most of the time. I know my father loves being with the family too, just like us.

Another thing I love about my childhood is the family (all my relatives) bond we had. In the case of my mother’s side, we don’t have our annual reunion since my great grandfather died. I don’t know if that only the reason, but things between the family are quite different now. We still see each other, but not that often. 

In my father’s side, we see each other annually, mostly December. I am always happy to see them. Specially most of them have come from far places like Manila and Koronadal City. Some of them came from abroad. I’ve been the youngest girl cousin for more than ten years, and I love that I have many ates and kuyas.

My favorite toy when I was a kid was my doll house. I don’t have it now to pass to my daughter, because I’ve already passed it on to some other unfortunate children. I didn’t know then that I would have a child too soon. I should’ve kept it for her, but I’m going to buy her, her own.

I adore everything about childhood. And now that I’m a mom, I want my child too enjoy her childhood too, not grow up so soon like me. Childhood I’d say, is one of the best miles of my life.

Relative reconnect

02/26/2011

So this day was so tiring. It’s my brother’s belated birthday celebration. It was just a simple birthday party, me and my relatives. There were no other people invited. It’s been a long time since I haven’t been able to have this time with my family (and relatives). It’s hard to deny what went wrong about our clan, just so our yearly reunion had been stopped seven years ago. That’s why this get-together has been so refreshing.

                I was able to chat with my cousins for more than five hours. We talked about lots of things and shared the things our “every days” were filled. I and my cousins went into the same high school. Even though I graduated ahead from them, we all know people from the batches of our circle, that’s why when we talk about someone, we won’t be “out of place.”

                You know, family means a lot to me. I admit, sometimes I hate some of my relatives, the ones who try to own much of the properties that should belong to all of us and not just them, but later on, I still find in myself the love for my own blood. My family are the people who never fail to soften my heart. When I say “family,” I don’t only talk about my parents and siblings, I mean my relatives too.

                I sometimes find it hard to pull myself away from crying, every time I look back at my childhood. It was when during Christmas, we go to the ancestral house, and everyone brings their own dishes to share. I play with my cousins, we sleep in one bed no matter how many we are, our aunts and uncles sing videoke, and everybody is merry. I just miss those times. When my great grandfather died, that was like our last reunion, and it was a sad one.

                I’m just happy now that we all get to reconnect. I’m also happy that my brother is happy during his birthday. Among us siblings, he is the least whose requests are granted. I pity him sometimes. I love him. This was such a wonderful day. I don’t only get to see my brother happy, I also get to see most of my loved ones.

Starting over

            
 I wish I could start blogging again exactly on my 18^th birthday, but then I’d have to stay home and watch over my baby. There’s no internet at home, not until I had my grandma bought me my laptop. However, the WiFi signal is crazy. Sometimes the WiFi owner puts it off.

                I have had a couple of blogs since then, but I wasn’t able to maintain and update any of them for long. So, now, I am hoping I could maintain this one forever. Let me show you my life.

                I am Joayra Gem D. Pamplona and I was born in a small town in the Philippines. There’s not really much happening here, but I love this place, Kabacan. My grandparents are one of the very first settlers in this town, which is why we know almost everyone who lives here, tracing some of them as the next generations of the other first families who settled here.

                I was raised in a Christian home. My parents gave me and my brothers the discipline that we needed, but sometimes, we’re just so stubborn to obey. That’s why we often get into trouble. However, I also try to be good, because I don’t really want to deal with the anger of people. Sometimes, I see myself as the black sheep among my parents’ children, realizing all the pains I have cost them. I don’t know why I accidentally happen to bump into bad things all the time. I never intentionally hurt my parents. I love my parents, and I know it from the bottom of my hurt, since I was a kid. I know sometimes I get mad whenever they don’t let me do what I want, but I love them still.

                I couldn’t count with ten pairs of hands the bad things, and the heart aches that I have cost my parents. However, there was one thing that I certainly am sure hurt them the most. It was in high school when I was excelling in my extracurricular activity, as the school Editor-in-chief. During that moment, I was high, because of the position, popularity, my winning in the writing competitions, and I barely have time to spend with my family. It was when I was like I was very far from them. And there was a boy, who took me very far more away from them – my boyfriend. But that was not just it, worse things happened like...I was pregnant.

                Upon knowing, I was so depressed at that time. All eyes and ears were on me, at school, at the neighbourhood, just everywhere. The news broke even to other schools. It’s not surprising. It’s a small town. From there, I was not just scrutinized, and depressed, and judged. I was also forced to grow up. And by then, I learned multiple lessons and principles in life:

·         It is always the right thing to wait. All things, as planned by God will eventually come to you in the right time, at the right place. To hurry, will cost you something, or some things.

·         At the time, when bad weather airs into your life, you will know who your real friends are. You will know the people who are taking advantage. And your family will stand by you.

·         Outside of marriage, love shouldn’t be the overruling factor. Consider everything, since everything is involved. Decisions should be analyzed along with its incoming consequences. You don’t want to regret anything in the future. So use your mind, the proper way, and set your heart aside for awhile if it’s not yet the proper time.

·         Listen to the advice of godly people. You know they’ll advice you with the light of the word of God, and it’s always better.

·         Prayer goes a long way. It was during those times when prayer was the one thing I needed the most. It was when I reconnected with God, it was when I ask for His help.

·         Think before you speak.

·         Life is as beautiful as you make it. It’s not a race. It’s a journey. So, take your time.

A few months from now, I’m going to college. I’m excited and thrilled. I’ll miss my baby since I’ll be many miles away from here. I wouldn’t even be there on her first birthday. I bet I’m going to cry that day. However, I know that life is still beautiful. And one of the reasons I’m here on earth is to enjoy it.