Saudi Sexpat Stories: Tales from the Kingdom

They say motherhood is oftentimes a thankless job.  Truth be told, I find myself agreeing with this many times…  

Yet, in the face of mounting chores and a seemingly endless “to do” list, it does feel great to be “recognized” for all my “mommy efforts” even for just one day in a year.  For this year, though, I pleasantly discovered that the surprises in store for me were not limited to just Mom’s Day itself but to the days before and after it as well - whaddyaknow! Talk about going “all out”, huh?

Of course, I have my loving hubby and three adorable “gremlins” to thank (as well as the loads of dear, thoughtful well-wishers who didn’t forget me) for celebrating MY DAY(s) with all the pomp and circumstance it is due.  Guys, it was simply marvelous! I loved it and I LOVE YOU!

Without further ado, I give you ”THE JUICE” … My apologies as this is admittedly a “picture-heavy” post…

MOM’S DAY EVE: As I was about to resume folding the newly-laundered clothes, this box made a welcome appearance

What can I say? Definitely a “maka-BAG-BAG damdaming” moment!

Plus a handmade card from the kiddos…

With a heartfelt “invitation-style” text (feeling “royalty” - hahaha!)

MOM’s DAY: Rafa made me yet another card…

With his own sweet message 

Another highlight: I didn’t have to cook - hurray! Checked out the new French resto in nearby Al-Khobar - La Boucherie

The ambience was cool and so was the service (courtesy of an “all kabayan” service staff!)… but, alas, the food left much to be desired. We all enjoyed the evening, nonetheless… Bon appetit!

Only Rafa seemed all too happy with his orders - he was the only one to “hit the jackpot” from entree to dessert

This was yummy - three scoops of Haagen Dasz ice cream with a dollop of cream and chocolate syrup.  Before you react, Keith and I shared this, okay? Hahaha!

Our “three reasons” for the season

Of course, as many girls will say, what’s a bag without shoes, right? Snagged two comfy ballet flats from Scholl’s - me happy indeed!

POST-MOM’s DAY: Such a wonderful treat - my first-ever blog award! Yipee! Thanks so much, Tin!

Incidentally, since my post-mom’s treat is also a tag, I pass this “Five-Star Blog Award” on to my long-time blogging buddy, Nell, as well as to my NFFs (that’s new-found (blogging) friends) Mommy Ba and Brother Utoy.  All you have to do is answer the simple question: “Who or what influenced you to start blogging?”  Easy-peesy, right? Find the link to my answer here.

That’s about it! If you’ve reached this point - thanks very much for your patience. 

Let’s all spread some sunshine, everyone!

Being a mother myself, I find it quite difficult to write something about mothers that wouldn’t sound so “self-serving”. 

On the other hand, I find yet another voice telling me that it would be a “disservice” to all the wonderful mothers who have touched my life if I relegate this post to a gross generalization of what mothers are.  For truly, there have been so many women who have “mothered” me throughout my life apart from my own dear Mama Petite.  From them, I learned wisdom and derived strength.  Through them, I saw compassion and self-sacrifice.  With them, I am grateful to a loving Father for letting me experience motherhood and thus join in such a  ”precious league”.

Three generations of “diva-ness”

Having been blessed with a daughter fairly recently, I pray that I may be able to get the best out of how Mama raised me and pass this on to Marga.  I am grateful to Mama for instilling in me a deep faith in God and a genuine sense of fair play.  On the practical side, I am now trying (very hard!) to follow in Mama’s footsteps at being a “wiz” in the kitchen for she has always stressed how important it is to “feed your family well”.  I hope to go the extra step, however, and get into the habit of not only feeding them well but also ensuring that I serve them healthful, nutritious and delicious food.

The Scintillating Sys - Loree, Pinky, Dollie and Ayn

It has been said that when one marries, one marries into a family as well.  I have been blessed to have been “married” to a family as giving and loving as the Sys.  Being a single parent, I admire Mommy Dollie for raising her three boys into decent and responsible husbands and fathers.  Her strength of character and genuine compassion has rubbed off well on her sons - thank God! I am also especially thankful to her for treating me like her own - with her, there seems to be no “in-laws” (or ”outlaws” - hahaha! ) but only ”daughters” coming into the family’s fold. 

Millie, Mama and Me!

Lastly, I am thankful to my sisters-in-law, Loree, Millie and Ayn (who, in her third month of pregnancy, recently joined the “motherly ranks”), for treating our children like their own and for making the journey of motherhood much more enjoyable and fun!  I certainly look forward to more years of sharing and swapping ”mommy moments” with you.

And to all the mommies, mamas, nanays out there whom I choose not to name but who will always remain special and dear to my heart, Herbert Farnham must’ve thought of you when he wrote this:

God took the fragrance of a flower…
The majesty of a tree…
The gentleness of morning dew…
The calm of a quiet sea…
The beauty of the twilight hour…
The soul of a starry night…
The laughter of a rippling brook…
The grace of a bird in flight…
Then God fashioned from these things
A creation like no other,
And when his masterpiece was through
He called it simply - MOTHER.

A very happy, meaningful and blessed Mother’s Day to us!

 ”Malilimutan ba ng ina

ang anak na galing sa kanya?

Sanggol sa kanyang sinapupunan

Paano niya matatalikdan?

Ngunit kahit na malimutan

ng ina ang anak niyang tangan

Hindi kita malilimutan

Kailan ma’y di pababayaan.”

Habang nagbibigay-pugay tayo ngayon sa ating mga mahal na ina, sumagi sa aking isipan ang mga kataga sa itaas mula sa isang tanyag na awit sa Pilipino at hango sa Mahal na Aklat.  Bilang isang ina na lubusang nagmamahal sa aking mga anak, di ko maubos maisip na higit pang mas malalim at dalisay ang pagmamahal ng ating lumikha sa atin kaysa sa ano pa mang pag-ibig na kaya kong ialay sa aking mga supling - isang bagay na tunay na kamangha-mangha pero totoo!

Ang kaalamang ito ang nagbibigay lakas at pag-asa sa akin.  Bagamat taos-puso at abot-langit ang aking pagmamahal at pasasalamat sa aking ina, higit akong nagpapasalamat sa isang mapagmahal na diyos at lumikha na hindi nakakalimot at hindi ako kailanman pababayaan.

Ang litrato sa itaas ay kinunan ko gamit ang aking Nokia N70 mula sa kaisa-isang “painting” na nabili naming mag-asawa ilang taon na rin ang nakalilipas noong kami ay nakatira pa sa Maynila.  Ito ay likha ni Ginoong Jun Alfon at nabibilang sa kanyang “Tiboli mother and child series”.

As most parents with toddlers will attest, a large part of the “Terrific Twos” is the seemingly insatiable curiosity about anything and everything.

Imagine my surprise one morning when our “resident kulit bulilit” was able to unwittingly compose this “artistically taken” (yup, it’s the mommy in me talking here - walang kokontra! ) shot while tinkering with my camera phone… 

Now, that’s one mean feet feat for someone just barely two, right?

PS Can anyone guess whose feet the purple starry shoes belong to?

Yesterday was a special day for our two boys.  You see, every school year, Luigi and Rafa look forward to the Science Fair in their school since it gives them the chance to “showcase” their creative skills at making science projects (modesty aside, with help from yours truly ) and to also improve on their oral presentation skills when they explain their respective “masterpieces” to teachers, students and parents who drop by.

I guess what even encouraged this interest was when Luigi won “Best Science Project” in his class last year.

Despite the admittedly “toxic” time the boys and I usually have preparing for this “big day”, their beaming smiles and sense of accomplishment from this exercise more than make up for all the stressing and fretting of the “pre-fair” days…

This year, Luigi chose the somewhat “high-falutin’” topic, “Bats and Echolocation”, while Rafael decided to highlight his model-building skills by making a simple thermometer.

Here are some pictures from our day at the fair.  Pardon the picture quality as these were just taken using our reliable Nokia N70.  More pictures can be found in Luigi’s and Rafa’s Multiply sites. Enjoy!

 Looking so pleased to finally see us

How’s that for a visual aid?

Next stop: Luigi, the “Bat Boy”!

A closer look at the “Bat Navigation” model…

…and the “Bat Chart”

Finally, the “star” of the Science Fair, its littlest visitor that day - Marga!

Two months shy of getting into the “Terrible Terrific Twos” zone, our darling daughter, Margarita (which, incidentally means “little pearl”), already has a few tricks and antics up her sleeve and is constantly finding ways to test her (and ours, too!) limits.

Case in point - Noticing that she hit her Kuya Luigi, I set her aside, looked at her in the eye (got this tip from Super Nanny Jo Frost ), and warned her sternly:

ME: “Marga, no hitting.”

MARGA: (in an act of defiance, I assume…) “Rowr!” (I noticed that when something displeased her in some way, she has recently developed a habit of letting out a “baby tiger roar” in an effort to “scare” her “tormentor(s)” - usually me or her kuyas)

ME: “I don’t like that.  You don’t do that to Mama!”

MARGA: (immediately changes tone with matching non-chalant facial expression) “Meow?”

Ayos! Yung tigre biglang naging kuting!

Momentarily forgetting my “Super Nanny” tips, I (and her kuyas) just had to let out a hearty laugh!

Marga, you definitely made my day! Love you! Mwah!

Sure, they may look like super heroes here…

…but I can assure you that our two boys are just like any ordinary kids their age.  Well, let me rephrase that a bit: our boys are two ordinary kids capable of extraordinary stuff. Pretty cool, huh?

It’s not just the mom in me talking here - I have certificates and letters to back me up! Yabang ko ‘no?

Kindly indulge me some bragging rights here.  I’m sure it’s just not ordinary that I get to receive four awards and citations for Luigi and Rafa in two days’ time (which is why I’m obviously thrilled!) Allow me to enumerate:

For the second straight year since we moved here, our boys have been chosen to participate in the “Model Behavior March” in school (*nope, it’s not a fashion and beauty event, dummies!*). This means that they are among the best-behaved students in class and are thus recognized by the school in line with their discipline program which “aims to develop, improve and maintain good student behavior“.  They will be rewarded with badges and small snacks (nice touch, if you ask me!) to celebrate this citation.

As an aside, Luigi and Rafa have always been recognized for being well-behaved in class - even while they were still in La Salle back home, they were always included as Exemplary Conduct awardees every year…

On to my second proud moment - Luigi’s coming out as first place in the recent Math contest held in school.  (I concede - he got the “math genes” from Keith ). He was awarded with a Certificate of Excellence for this achievement.

Lastly, as an added bonus, Luigi was awarded third place yet again in the book cover design contest held by their school’s library.  He did the cover for “The Busy Spider”.  For his efforts, he was given two activity books which he so excitedly showed me yesterday.

What can I say? I definitely live for moments like these…:) They may be naughty at times but what the heck - it’s still comforting to know that, with the Lord’s help, Keith and I must be doing something right in raising such two “super” boys!

Here’s to more “extraordinary moments” to come!

When I got this tag from Meeya, my first reaction was: “Galit ba siya sa akin at pinahihirapan ako?” It’s a good thing reason took over that initial gut response and made me realize how interesting this tag really is (o, bawi na ako, Meeya ha?).

Which brings us to the question: Which five values do I want to impart to my children for them to become better persons? (*medyo deep ito ha…  *)

After much thought, these are my top five picks (note that I am listing them in no particular order):

1. INTEGRITY:  We always stress to our kids the value of keeping their word.  We tell them how important it is to “walk their talk” and to always mean what they say.  After all, the measure of a man is not how much he has nor how much he knows but how much he remains true to himself and to others. At the end of the day, I think people will appreciate more how one lived his/her life than how much is stashed away in his/her bank account.
2. HARD WORK:  Apart from a good education and the basic needs of food, shelter and clothing, we do not want to raise our children believing that they are entitled to anything else (in the material sense) from us.  We want them to grow up striving for what they want in life, be it for better opportunities, a car, or what-not.  Of course, if we are able to provide more for them later on, I’d like for them to think of these as mere “bonuses” to help them along the way.  Again, I have to go back to what my own parents have taught me - that children will put more value on what they have if they actually had a hand in achieving it.
3. SENSE OF HUMOR: I have to agree with Meeya on this one.  Humor has always played an integral part in our family life.  Being able to see the lighter side of things and situations certainly does make life more pleasant and our crosses easier to bear.  It puts problems in perspective and gives us that assurance that if we can laugh through a difficulty, then it must be trivial and thus will surely pass. 
4. GIVING BACK:  Contrary to the popular culture of self-gratification and getting as much from life as you can, we’d like to teach our children how giving back is more important than to always be on the receiving end.  Apart from doing wonders on a child’s self-esteem, giving back allows our kids to see their blessings as things to be shared rather than to be kept for themselves. By giving back, we’d like them to experience the happiness derived from making others happy as well.  Moreover, later on, we’d like them to see that giving back is actually a reflection of our God’s own generosity towards us and that it is actually an expression of thanksgiving to Him, the source of all blessings.
5. RESPECT: This is another value I share with Meeya.  I have to say that respect for oneself and for others is probably one of the higher forms of love. I want my children to recognize their own importance and to realize that they have something valuable to contribute for their own good and for society.  I’d like them to be able to balance this realization with the acceptance that other people, too, can have meaningful contributions to make this world a much better place.  I want my kids to assert themselves without being abrasive to others - for them to stake their claim on what is rightfully theirs without denying that others may also make that claim sometime someplace.

OMG! After reading through what I just wrote, I realize that I just paraphrased much of Meeya’s thoughts pala! Just goes to show that great minds do think alike - hehehe!

Meeya girl, mission accomplished.  It’s a wrap!

To my mommy pals, Peachy, Carrie, Claire, Mary Anne and Leweiss - kayo naman ang taya!

A few days ago, I was expecting that, by this time, we would have finished packing our stuff for our trip back home to Manila soon.  Guess fate had other plans as I am nowhere near that… Instead, all of us (Keith included), have been bitten by some nasty bug (i.e., viral infection) that have caused us to feel under the weather for the past week - it started with Rafa, then Luigi and Marga followed suit, I “fell for it” two nights ago while Keith succumbed to it last night! Hay, what’s a girl like me got to do???

Inspired by cousin-in-law Weng, I tried thinking happy and positive thoughts  to help me through but unfortunately, at this point, some paracetamol and a strong dose of antibiotics are admittedly my best friends as I struggle to overcome this most recent bout with sickness. Right now, I still feel a bit feverish and have a hard time swallowing (like knives are stuck to my throat everytime).  What’s more, last time I checked, my tonsils have swollen so much that the middle part looks like a plump little sausage - gross!

Thank God the kids have recovered quite well though - their respective episodes not lasting more than 3 days at the most. I sincerely pray their immune systems are strong enough to fight off another onslaught.

Please help me storm the heavens with your prayers as we really need to get well very soon!

Just when I learned that a couple of typhoons struck Manila lately, I didn’t imagine how I would also experience my own kind of typhoon and flooding right here in the desert…in the comforts of our very home! Impossible? Not quite! 

Still woozy from lack of sleep, I groggily went to our front-loading washing machine to do my weekly laundry. I was literally aghast when, upon opening the machine door to load the dirty clothes, a torrent of water came rushing towards me! OMG!!! (as in, Oh my GUSH talaga!).  For a moment there I was stunned, like the proverbial deer facing the headlights of an oncoming car, while the water just came spilling out of the machine into the tiled floors of our mini-laundry area, flowing into the small hallway leading out into our room and also into the entrance of our tv/multi-purpose room – c’mon, is this for real??? Can this be happening??? Somebody wake me from this nightmare please!  

Alas, despite all my wishful thinking, I realized that a domestic disaster had indeed struck and, being the wet sleep-deprived zombie I have become, I was admittedly ill-prepared to face this, shall I say, “waterloo”… ;)  

Slamming the @#?!? washing machine door shut and mustering all my courage and strength, I did what I had to – Operation Linis-Baha, Activate!  With my trusty Vileda mop and bucket in hand, I began my early morning workout trying to keep the water contained in one area by mopping and wringing out the water as fast as I can ( I had to finish the task before Marga woke up or else there was a danger of her slipping on the wet floors! ). 

Sad to say, even this wasn’t working as well as I had hoped since a pool of water was still there begging to be cleaned out… What more can I do??? 

Plan B necessitated that I grab something larger to absorb the water and then dry up the area… Hmmm…Since di naman pang professional ang mga cleaning utensils ko, I had to make do with the nearest alternatives -  one of the boys’ hooded swim towels to absorb the water and my dirty cotton nightdress to complete the job of drying up.  Necessity is the mother of invention nga naman – hahaha!

So there I was, like a crazed sirena, mopping, absorbing the water with the towel, drying up, throwing the collected water into the nearby bathroom drain… keeping at it for the next hour or so until my mission was accomplished.  In the end, I managed to drain five bucketfuls of water – imagine that!  

Of course, what’s a mission about unless there is a “project report” afterwards, right? So I immediately called my “boss” to report the successful completion of the operation.  What did he have to say? “Paki-check mo nga yung manual para malaman what went wrong at nagbaha…” 

Uh, I don’t think so, honey… just not right now.  After some major mopping-up operations, I neither have the energy nor the interest to read up on some owner’s manual… I am pooped and I just need to chillax… 

Ka-pagod maging Darna! 

PS  Guess who were there to lend me support as I was facing this crisis? Who else but “My Friends, Tigger and Pooh”! Hahaha! Promise this wasn’t intentional - only realized the funny irony of it all after the whole ordeal was over!