A picture and something learned daily

So ok, how do I document the year when Ben will first graduate? Take a daily picture, or as often as possible, and get a quote or thought about what he learned for the day. Can be about anything under the sun. Here is today's picture.

The story behind it: ideally, he isn't supposed to be using the computer (unless it's for school work) anymore when it's a weekday and there is school the following day. But since this first week, there aren't any lessons yet, I thought I'd cut him some slack and allow him his last hurrah. Will I be able to hold out for the year and keep away from the computer during schooldays? I hope so. This kid needs discipline and have to learn responsibility.

As for his something learned? Upon question, his answer: 'Study harder and listen to the teacher more so I will get good grades this year.' Motherhood statement, not valid I said, but then I figured, fine I'll note down what he says he learn and then let him go back to it later.

He's a good kid, on the whole. I just want him to have more self-discipline and be more responsible. Ok, that's one goal for the year.

Another school year begins

Today, Ben started another school year. From Grade 4, he is now in Grade 6...but before you think I've got a genius (well, he's pretty smart ;)), the reason why he seemed to have skipped a grade is because his school relabeled its grade levels to match up with the new K-12 educational system our government has begun implementing. As it is, everyone in his school skipped a level. No Grade 5 for him, and to top it off, he's graduating at the end of the year.

And with the new school year, I continue the tradition of taking a picture of him on Day 1. Here are a couple:

Certainly a far cry from when he began going to school back in 2005. As I'm fond of saying, time sure flies.

Lately, he's been visiting this blog and asking me why I haven't been very active (ok, not active at all) in updating it, and I wondered too. It's not that I've not had the time. I don't know either. In my last post, I said I'll try to be more active with this blog, but obviously, I didn't do that. There certainly were a lot of things I could've written about, not to mention our trips this past summer which dug way too deep in my pockets, but was worth every centavo.

Well, again, I resolve to try and do better this year. I wish I was creative enough to think up of a cool way to document this year, his last as a grade schooler. Maybe a picture each day. With digital, pictures don't cost a thing anymore. Yeah, maybe I'll do that and then I'll be forced to sit down and write even just a little bit about each day. We'll see...

My 4th grader

Ben started the new school year today, and is now in Middle School. I told him that now he's in 4th grade, there will have to be changes. I'm not sure how soon we will be able to implement these changes, but hopefully my patience won't wear thin too early. :)

Here are the pictures I took this morning to start the year:







Was looking through some of my earlier posts and it's weird to see how much he's grown up. There are times when I miss the little Ben. Still I'm thankful he is still affectionate. I know the time will come when he won't be anymore, so I'm holding on to that while I can.

This year, I hope I'll be creative enough to think of a good way to document how things are going for us. Blogging regularly, maybe? Am keeping my fingers crossed.

18 days to go...

In 18 days, Ben will start 4th grade. My boy will soon be in Middle School. As I told him, new beginning, clean slate. Among my goals this year is to get him to develop a love for learning and to develop good study habits. This is difficult, since the amount of schoolwork kids are subjected to these days is appalling. Not surprisingly, many kids tend to not like school. I really don't remember my schooldays back in the 70s and 80s being this stuffed with schoolwork, but I guess those days are long gone. There seems to be so much pressure on the kids these days, what with all the new things going on. I've got to get him to read more and play less, because this summer he spent so much time playing. My fault actually.

Anyway, as the new school year rolls in, my goal is to be a better guide to Ben in his learning process. That's a tall order, since sadly, my patience usually wears thin when I help Ben with his lessons and homework. Daily arguments are common. This year, I will strive to be a more patient, more understanding, and more encouraging Nanay. I hope that by the end of the year and when he starts 5th grade, he would've have developed good study habits.

I'm not sure if I am on the right path, but my goal is not so much for him to get very high grades and honors in class, although of course those would be a bonus. I just want him to really be able to do his best in everything he does. It's hard though, because when he doesn't do too well, I get upset, so he starts thinking that I'm pressuring him for higher grades. I just know that he's capable of so much more, but perhaps I'm not being able to properly explain to him. I hope this year I'll be able to make him understand that.

It's going to be a challenging year, but with us working together, I'm hoping he and I will be able to rise up to the challenge.

It's been a long long time

Wow, has it been more than two years since I last posted. So much have happened, it would be difficult to go through them all. I'm thinking I'd like to give this a shot again though. Update - Ben is now almost 10 years old, about to enter 4th grade, which begins Middle School at the Ateneo. He's grown, I'll give it another two years (or maybe less) and he'll probably be taller than me. Here's a recent pic:

This summer I took him with me to Cebu, his second visit to the city. I"ll make a collage of some picture and post here later. I hope to be able to bring him to more places. We're going to start a travel jar, where we'll put in coins and small bills to save some money for potential trips. I'm hoping to get him out of the country before his passport expires next year. Setting sight on visiting Terrie in Singapore.

I don't even know if anyone reads this blog. Maybe I'll put a link on my FB page. Still, when I first created this blog, it was meant as a place for me to share my adventures with Ben...hence The Plastic Banoms. Oh well, here's hoping we'll have more adventures together before he ventures off on his own.

42 and counting...plus August pictures

Last August 19, I turned 42. I have to say that I am starting to think more about what lies in store for me. My recent bout with hypertension (albeit not a very serious one) was enough to make me think things over. After all, I've got Ben to think about. So when the doc said make changes in eating habits and lifestyle and lose weight...well, I really had no choice, did I? Now, a few months later, after having shunned soda/coffee/juice and cutting back on my rice intake, plus walking as often as I can (I try one hour a day, when possible), I've lost about 15 lbs and will soon be at my ideal weight (I hope...although I have been getting back some of my appetite...not a good sign maybe?).

Anyway, on my birthday, Ben and I went to see UP the Movie. Loved it, both of us, and we are waiting for the DVD (or the dibidi) to come out so we can watch again. I wanted to take him to see the 3D version, but geez, movies have become too expensive here. We had a great time, even though Ben couldn't help himself and was quite loud in the theater. It was great mom-son bonding anyway, first time we actually went to see a movie together, just the two of us.

I've got some photos of us from that day, which I'm posting now. I thought our color combination was great. :-). These pictures were taken just before we left to go see UP.

That's our church in the back.

Ben on his first day of tae kwon do

Wearing his tae kwon do uniform

Posing in Kuya Toti's house just before we visited Tita Rosie and Tito Resty

Ben turns 7, his Lola Delan turns 82

Time sure flies...

Last July 6, my Ben turned 7 years old. How he's grown. He is now about 51 inches tall, weighs roughly 70 lbs. I can still remember when he was a little baby and I just carried him around. I can't do that now :-).

The day itself he didn't go to schoo because he had a bit of a cold. With the A(H1N1) scare still gripping Ateneo, I figured it best to take him to the doc instead. Turns out he's got a bit of an infection in the throat which led to him being given antibiotics.

That evening though, we had spaghetti and cake to celebrate. His Lolo was here from Baler, and his Tito Toti, Auntie Jojo, Kuya Daniel and Kuya Miguel came over to help him celebrate on the day itself. Here are some photos.

These first ones were taken in the morning, just before we left for the doctor. He wasn't in a very good mood, but he managed to give me some smiles. He's also holding on to his Kuya Enzo's Ferrari book.






Later that night, he had a cake to blow a birthday candle. Here's a video clip.



Three days later, it was Ben's Lola Delan who turned 82 years old. For the past few years now, we've been joining her to celebrate her birthdays. She's still going strong. Here are some photos and a video clip from her birthday dinner which we had at Luk Foo Resto in Qi Central.




Here's Auntie Delan blowing her candle:


It was great fun, always is when we get together, although I wish there were more of the family there.

In my next post, I'll put up the photos from Ben's birthday party. For now, ta ta...