5 Books That Can Help Children Understand Emotionally Sensitive Topics

When I became a mom a decade ago, just like most new parents, I did my best to learn the basics of raising a child. Having the opportunity to take care of all my nephews though, let's just say I'm in the advanced level. I have already mastered bathing rambunctious boys, feeding picky eaters, and playing with kids that by the time I had to do those to my own daughter, I didn't have a problem. It is only when Sophia started asking whys and hows that I realized parenting is such a tough job.

You see, whatever seed of life we plant in the hearts of our children, it will grow with them. These seeds will become their thoughts, which will turn into emotions and eventually into actions. This is why my husband and I are intentionally raising our daughters with the teachings of the Bible, what we have personally experienced and learned in life, and as for I who dream to have a book published under my name someday, I also get help from books.

The Book With No Pictures by B.J. Novak

I've been following a few mom bloggers abroad. And if you are a regular reader of mine, you know that I love this amazing mom from New York City behind Mommy Shorts. Her name is Ilana Wiles. Remember her Evil Baby Glare Off last year? My daughter got in top 6! Anyway, her level of creativity makes me want to be her. As in, when I grow up I want to be Ilana, haha! Of course, I'm kidding. I'm just one of her league of fans. So Ilana posted a photo of this book on her Instagram (kudos to me for finding it amidst her 2,412 posts) and wrote about it on her spectacular site. This fanatic got curious, as always when she posts new stuff. I told myself I'd get one for my girl.

2014 ended just like that and I never got the book for my little bedtime reader. 

Fast forward to one serendipitous day that Amazon put it on a 4-dollar sale. Yay! I thought I can get it and use the remaining money on my PayPal. But then, just before I put it in my cart, I realized the shipping fee will kill my joy eventually. I still didn't give up, though. In the middle of what seemed to be a deep contemplation on how to get one, a message popped on my Facebook. It was from my Florida-based friend who got married this month. She was asking me about the gown as I was one of her secondary sponsors. My friend happened to be my daughter's godmom so I sweet-talked her in buying it for me her godchild. Tee-hee.

Problem solved. 

Watch + Read II

I was surprised to find myself getting hooked on every single thing that LB watches and reads. We bought a new book last weekend entitled The Berenstein Bears and the Trouble with Friends, and I wanted to share it with you. But... I felt that LB's other favorites might feel bad about it. They might think I'm taking sides. Haha! #weirdomomma

I hope you could share with us your kids' most-watched films and most-read books through your comments. :)

Watch + Read

These are LB's current favorites. We still do not have cable TV and no access to local channels, so we have to resort to downloaded movies, pirated dvds and books to lessen boredom; and of course, entertain us. I am not my daughter's bestfriend anymore, to be honest. Aside from her imaginary friend, Rekeli; she'd rather play alone in her room. However, it's a different case when it's about movies and books: we're partners. 

How about you, what are your child's current favorites?

Review: Kid StarMaker's Ballerina Princess Book

I haven't met a parent, or a mom per se, who do not give so much pride about having her child. I know you know what I'm talking about! Like what my former guy (& single) assistant told me when it was Christmas season in  the office last year, when you get to be a parent, all you got to brag are your kids' achievements. Or your kids themselves. When LB wasn't born yet, it was my boyfriend (now husband) that I was so proud to talk about. I have "branded" him as the best boyfriend ever despite our endless fights & arguments. I always sounded like I am selling Rhambo to my friends & family, dishing out to them the juiciest stories about how he made me feel like a natural woman! Okay, that's a song. But yeah, I think it's really my nature to get that "marketing/PR" vibe in me. Now that I am a mother of a 4-year-old drama princess, I never changed that. Well, for some parents, they find it not so nice. It's like I'm pushing my two loves (Rhambo & LB) to limelight, which they weren't really asking for. But that was not my point, I wanted to let the people see & know how wonderful they are! 

Thank you so much Kid StarMaker for my little girl's book & CD!
Her AWESOME face just proved how happy she was. ;)

I have learned my lesson though. Rhambo's not really the type of guy who wants so much spectacle about him so I minimized the details on his what-seemed-to-be-my-husband-press-kit. I just let myself be the proof of his being the great man that he is. How? To be a fabulous woman that I am! Charot. But really, he takes good care of me very well. And yes, he spoils me like a baby. Alright, enough. But LB? Ooh, she loves it! Being the only girl grandchild of my mom (Lola Leny or LL has 5 grandsons from my sisters), she gets to be cooed a lot. Though it's not the case in my MIL's side because she's the 3rd granddaughter already, she has still kept that BIDA COMPLEX alive, as being the unica hija of MIL's only son.