As our son enters middle childhood, I realize that it’s becoming more and more challenging to simply command orders and expect him to just obey and follow. Most of the time, he will ask more than a couple of “why” – is the task needed? Is my way the best way to accomplish it? Is time of the essence or can it wait until later? I can’t say I’m surprised really because I’m exactly like him when I was a child, and I can imagine my parents at their wit’s end with my many questions and counter-arguments.

I have a confession to make. Every time I miss my monthly period, even if it’s just for a day, I already secretly hope that I’m pregnant (even if it’s not scientifically possible), and yes I even actually take a pregnancy test and start praying about it. But most of the time (like today), the minute I do, I start spotting, and it feels like God’s being too kind to me and just gives me a flat NO, before I get my hopes up any further.

If I told you that I learned about Global Art Philippines when I was 33 weeks pregnant with my son, way back March 2010, right after my maternity photoshoot at the now defunct Blow Up Babies Studio, which happened to sit right beside their Serendra branch, and that I tacked their flyer on my corkboard to serve as a reminder to enroll my son there when he turns five years old, would you find that incredible, freaky, or both?