Smart & Secure: Expomom Money Talk Quarantine Edition

I'm grateful to God He allowed me to start young. Somehow.

We're not super billionaires, but my parents were avid fans of insurance and investments.  My paternal grandmother apparently was a fan of buying "cheap" real estate here and there. So despite having 11 kids (3 died in childhood), passing away early in her 50s due to cancer, and her husband losing his leg & job due to diabetes they managed to thrive.  The investments increased in value and we continue to thank her up to this day.

A lot of my parents' investments failed (they couldn't afford to continue paying some of the Sunlife plans  and a time share they started in the past due to financial problems here and there triggered by small businesses and decisions that didn't work out).  Thank God, others provided what we needed to get by especially around the time when my dad almost got blind due to diabetes complications.  These were the educational plans from Eternal.  I was in college at that time when he lost his job abroad.  (That was around the time I started ushering events and modelling.) All three of us were able to graduate and have better jobs later on, my parents still own their condo & their rental apartment, and somehow life turned out better than it was before.

Inay Ko Po: Aubrey Miles & E-skwela

Despite the limited space in our home in the city, the kids and I decided to be more active in the garden recently when a miracle money plant grew in our plant box in the terrace out of nowhere.  It was a sign from the heavens. I don't have a black thumb despite my history of overwatering succulents. Something beautiful could grow out of dirt despite the sorrow of all the plants that died on me in the past.  It's therapeutic to see my plant dance in the window every morning while the birds chirp their song. I don't even know the type of birds we have here in our community but I'm amazed because they're even better than the birds that sing on Youtube!

Decluttering in Vain

We attempted to declutter earlier but I realized it's hard to let go of the things we saved for when we first learned we were having a baby.  I got too sentimental. I tried to shoo away the feeling.  Instead of putting the stuff in the warehouse or in the laundry area, I figured someone else should make better use of some of the baby furniture and toys.  My sister-in-law is having a new baby but I think they already have the stuff they need.  We don't have a lot of toys (compared to some of our friends) but we don't have that much space either.

MECQ Lessons

Our setup is far from ideal.  As the government banned travel for leisure this 2020, my kids & I have been on lockdown for several months.  With the absence of a babysitter, I couldn't leave even just for groceries unless hubby is back home from work.   Even when the government lifted measures for some time, it had been wise to remain inside.  We've been homeschooling even before the onset of Covid-19, but despite the normalcy of homeschool they're itching to get out and run outdoors. 

Pseudo Heart Attack

I thought I was going to die last Monday.

Inay Ko Po!

When they were smaller, it was easier to make them sit still.

But nowadays, we seldom get to play outside.  Sometimes they can get too rowdy & it's very challenging for a non-sporty mom like me to run after two toddlers. Clean public parks with minimal cars and people aren't walking distance from where we live. With the dengue outbreak, it's also scary to let them out for too long.  Their insect repellant creams are Deet-free; you have to keep on reapplying when they sweat. My kids are like me; they sweat a lot even with an electric fan on :/ And yeah, blame me that I don't like hanging out and running around when the sun is up. I only enjoy it when there's no sun &/or it's 22 degrees or less outside.  Or if I'll be allowed to run around naked or with minimal clothes on.

Hoping to Raise Moneywise Toddlers

Most people are scared to let their toddlers handle money.

I'm happy daughter is the type who knows she shouldn't put anything shiny in her mouth. At an early age, I told her "most of the time when it's shiny, it's usually not fit to put in your mouth." That includes uncooked fish, shiny shoes, glitter polish, colorful balls, decorative stones & small coins. My mom-in-law used to babysit her all the time & she allowed her to play with coins at four months (under close supervision and a ton of wipes & hand sanitizer!)