We’re done with Gymboree Sta. Rosa’s Moving Up soooo…I’m baaaaaack!!! 🙂 Crossing my fingers that I could blog about our Moving Up in detail once I get the photos from our official photographer.
One of the things I’m proud about Gymboree Sta. Rosa is that it has paved way for so many friendships not just among the children, but also among the mommies. As in real friendships—deep and meaningful ones.
I feel so happy for these moms because I can relate. In my two circles of friends, I was the first one to get married and have a kid. My friends were supportive of me and were doting to Raviv—God bless them—but I have to admit I was also craving to have co-mommy friends whose husbands can drink beer with Randy and children can play with Raviv while we were busy chika-chika about juggling career and motherhood and kikay moments.
I thought I’d have that when Raviv started going to school. But I was wrong, as we parents didn’t really get a chance to mingle. I also couldn’t afford to tambay in school and wait for Raviv because I had a lot of things to do. There were school events and we would attend them, but that’s it pancit. My co-parents all seemed so busy as well. And those who had time, hindi kami click.
Plus there’s the issue of our erratic schedule—we work on days when people party or go on vacations. Social life suicide talaga. So Randy and I had no choice but to find friendship within our colleagues.
Drawing the line
But over the past months, it was emphasized to me that a line must be drawn between professional and personal relationships. For the longest time, I considered our employees as our best friends. God knows how much I loved them like family. But since we are bound by work, different career paths usually halt these friendships, although that’s OK—we beam with pride when they become successful!
What’s truly painful though is when they decide they no longer need you so they chuck away your relationship and grasp at straws to make people (themselves) believe they’re the aggrieved party just because they were still expected to be professional.
I still can’t help but love my colleagues/our employees, but I’ve learned not to get too attached to them and not to get too affected when they leave.
“Chill” parents
Then Raviv started going to his current school. It’s a small school with like-minded parents—I’d like to think we are hands-on but “chill” parents who simply want our kids to enjoy their childhood, have fun while learning, and be good citizens.
We’re hands-on in the sense that we are very much involved in our kids’ lives, but we’re also “chill” in the sense that hindi kami mahanash.
Our kids got into a fight? Let them resolve it!
Our kids are dirty and sweaty when we fetch them? Good, they played outdoors! Dirt is good, and so is lots of physical activities!
Our kids were bitten by a mosquito? Well, that’s because they played outside. We’ll just give Teacher a note to lather the OFF lotion in their bags before they go out.
We’re chill like that, and we love that we found one another in a town where tiger parents abound. And we talked to keep it that way—we said we didn’t want to be “infected” with helicopter or bulldozer co-parents whose hanash might make the school be like a regular school. You know, ‘yung marami nang bawal. We fear that when a mahanash parent comes, the school will no longer allow our kids to play outdoors or climb the trees after school hours for fear of hearing endless complaints. It will no longer be the positive haven of our children.
Anyway, because we’re chill nga, their teacher loves throwing evening get-togethers for families. These get-togethers allowed us to get to know each other deeply. The dads would talk over bottles of beer, we moms would giggle over flutes of champagne while our children play under the moonlit night. Whole family happy!
Nerdy Party
One of my favorite get-togethers was our Lunar Eclipse Party during the super blood moon.
I forgot to mention: another thing we parents have in common is that most of us have nerdy tendencies, hehe. Thus almost all of us were in attendance during the eclipse party.
Chill Surprise Party
After the super fun eclipse party, we all gamely supported the school directress’ husband when the latter expressed to Randy that he wanted to throw his wife a simple surprise party. We super love Teacher Anneke so almost everyone dropped his/her plans to make sure we’ll be there to greet her a happy birthday. 🙂
Here are some snapshots from Teacher Anneke’s 40th birthday party at Haraya Restaurant:
How do I describe this cocktail party? Still very…chill! Just the way we like it.
Cheers!
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Right now, I’m just happy that Randy and I are expanding our circle. Aside from our circle at Raviv’s school, I’m also enjoying the company of my fellow soccer moms while Randy basks in the company of his fellow bullmastiff and bird photography enthusiasts.
Cheers to friendships!
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