Mom Writes Stuff

All too often, we women spend too much time thinking about our expectations of men.   We want them to be this and that, and deliberately scratch the fine finish from those shiny switch plate covers on our walls out of sheer frustration when the men in our lives fail to meet those expectations.

What we tend to overlook is the fact that men also have their own expectations of us.  Yes, the world does not only revolve around us!  What exactly do men want from us women, then?

Understanding.  Probably more than a shiny red Ferrari, the man in your life would like you to give him your understanding.   If he’s too busy to answer a text from you, understand that he may be buried deep in work.   You should always try to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Trust.  This goes hand in hand with understanding.  Give your man your trust, and he’ll love you forever.  It’s important for a man to know that you have faith in him, that he won’t do anything to hurt you.  The more you nag him about something, the more you’ll push him away.  Jealousy builds walls and breaks up otherwise lasting relationships.

Don’t wait for an important occasion to give your man the gifts of understanding and trust.  Work at it everyday, and soon they will come out of you naturally.

Tags: loving relationships, man woman relationships, what men want from women

Whether you and your husband have been together for 5 weeks or 5 years, it’s always essential to keep the love alive.  Any marriage survival kit will include that.  If your hubby is the type who can’t be disturbed as he fiddles with the toggle bolts of his latest hardware project, don’t lose all hope as you can still do some things to keep that flame of romance burning.

Stay intimate.  Sure you both lead busy lives and have putting food on the table as a top priority, but you must never forget  those little displays of intimacy.  As you’re busy taking the turkey out of the oven, you can give him a quick peck on the cheek, or even just a firm hand-squeeze.  Any tiny loving gesture will speak volumes.

Take care of him.  Men are suckers for this.  They won’t admit it, but they do like being taken care of.  Even the macho man falls for a little babying here and there.  Fix him his favorite breakfast or give him a back rub when he comes home from work after a tiring day.

Text him.  Never underestimate the power of technology.  Sure, he’s up to his neck in work, but if he receives a brief but loving text from you, he’s sure to feel energized.  Don’t fret if he doesn’t reply.  Just take consolation in the fact that he did read your message and is definitely feeling better because of it.

Tags: husband and wife love, staying in love

Twas the night after Christmas, and all through the house… not a tiny tot was stirring, not even a mouse…

For us busy moms, the work doesn’t stop with the days or nights after Christmas.  In fact, this is when the real work begins.  Post-holiday cleanup can just be as stressful as preparing for the yuletide season.  Just thinking about the tall tower of dirty dishes waiting at the kitchen sink puts a damper on your goals at applying that eyelash growth product on your lashes.

Once again, we moms put ourselves at the bottom of the list.  Everything else comes first: household chores, picking up your hubby’s socks, mending that hole on your son’s favorite jersey.

At the end of the day, all that matters is that everyone in the family is happy and healthy.  It’s occasions like Christmas when we realize how much we should be thankful for.

Hope your Christmas was merry.  I’m sure mine was!

It should come as no surprise that there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for my family.  If my hubby wanted one of those Tourmaster motorcycle jackets for Christmas, I’d give it to him without so much as batting an eyelash- that is, if my budget permits.  If my kid wanted to go on a Disneyland tour, I’d waste no time in packing our bags and flying off to meet Mickey and the gang.

This is where the value of gratitude comes into the picture.  Whenever I do something big or small for any member of my family, I can almost feel my heart do cartwheels when they say a simple “thank you” to me.  Any form of gratitude elates my spirit and only motivates me to do more things for them.

This post may be a little too early for Thanksgiving, but there’s never a set date to show our thanks to the people we hold most dear to our hearts.  Whenever the opportunity presents itself, say thanks to whoever has gone the extra mile- or inch- for you.  A grateful heart makes for a happy family.

Tags: family thanksgiving, grateful heart

It’s a long Halloween weekend, and I am looking forward to meeting up with old friends: one is a dentist who spends most of her time looking for discount dental supplies, another is a struggling entrepreneur, trying to carve a niche for herself in the food industry.

It’s been ages since we last saw one another, as we each have our own daily troubles to keep us preoccupied.  W e hardly have the time to catch up on each others’ lives.  The days of endless chatter on the phone and long stretches of hours together over coffee are long gone.  A gazillion other responsibilities have taken over the simple joy of girlfriends convening to talk about hunky men and figure-flattering jeans.

It’s always important to touch base with who you are- apart from your husband, kids and the seemingly insurmountable household chores.  As much as you can, try to carve out some time for yourself.  If you can’t physically be together with your girlfriends, try to at least call them up or send them a text message.  Don’t even think about posting on their Facebook wall, as nothing can be more impersonal.  It is pretty easy to be insincere online, believe me.  If your schedules allow you to, mark off a day to meet up at a nearby restaurant, even for just a couple of hours.

Friends are there for a reason.  They help remind us who we are- that we can still be sexy and fashionable despite our mommy duties.  Value them, as they are truly indispensable in this ever-changing world.

Tags: friendship moms, women friends, women friendship

Image source: aboutpixel.de / Babyfüße © Rico Kammerer

For any mother who has carried her baby in her womb for nine months, finally hearing her baby’s first cry as she emerges from your belly is simply a joyous occasion.  Celebrating your newborn baby’s birth into this world is something which is at the top of your list.  What can you do to commemorate this momentous event in your lives?

Before anything else, friends and family should understand that you are only too tired and sleep-deprived to take on the planning details for a welcoming party for your newborn.  Instead of dropping by your place and potentially infesting your house with human-germs, well-wishers can instead give you a quick phone call or send flowers, a card or even food your way. 

The grander celebration can come a few months after, when you and your partner have pretty much adjusted to having a baby in your lives.  By then, your baby will have become more physically resistant to infection, and can accommodate a few cheek-pinching sessions with your beloved guests.

A couple’s happiness over the birth of a newborn is almost infectious.  Just sympathize with them for the meantime and save the visits for later.  They will surely appreciate your concern.

Tags: celebrating newborn

Image source: aboutpixel.de / Riese II © Daniel Werner

As I was cruising down the road today with one of my best friends, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude within me.  Not only because she paid for lunch, but because I felt thankful that nobody I know is cooped up in one of those drug rehab treatment centers.  I feel blessed that my friends and family are all well-adjusted people who do not have to depend on narcotics and the like just to help them get through life.

It is but normal to hit some bumps in the road and to feel sadness or hopelessness once in a while, as we are only human whose souls get bruised when faced with adversity in all its various forms.  We just have to learn to handle life’s occasional misfortunes and force a positive outlook on things.

It, of course, helps to have faith in a Higher Being.  Whatever religion you belong to, engaging in daily prayer does wonders in uplifting your spirits.

Having a good support system helps remind us of the good things in life.  When things go awry, it’s always comforting to know that you have your BFF or family to turn to.

Tags: life problems, support system

I love looking at my fingers. It’s not because I’m naturally vain, though. It’s just that, whenever I see the gleaming diamond studded wedding ring on my finger, I am reminded of my husband’s undying love for me.

If you are on a quest for wedding rings or bands for you and your soon-to-be lifelong partner, keep him involved. If possible, take him with you when you go ring-shopping. You’d want to consider his personal style and taste when picking out wedding rings. Decide which band metal you want: yellow gold, white gold, or platinum. White gold is the more popular choice, as it goes well with silver and gold, without costing as much as platinum. You can go for artcarved rings in platinum if you’re willing to spend a little more.

Tags: how to choose wedding rings

We have moved to the Philippines, me my husband and our dog. I don’t know if it was the best decision because my husband is quite frail. We just slept one day in our new home and we had to bring him to the hospital. He had another stroke. He’s weak and bedridden. This isn’t really how we pictured our life in the Philippines.

For now, the consolation is seeing my grandbaby. I brought him some baby gifts but I haven’t even seen him wear them. Good thing my daughter made a picture. Look here, isn’t he adorable?

It is every little girl’s dream to be a princess with a prince charming in tow. As we grow older, we women still hold on to that dream, but are a bit more obsessive about making it real. The mechanism of love is oftentimes seemingly as complicated as to understanding how thrust bearings work on a machine, but there are some fairly easy ways to make your love relationship last.

Learn to trust your partner. Love entails trust, so just believe that your partner loves you and won’t replace you for a hotter-looking girl in the blink of an eye.

Invest time in your relationship. Set aside some time to enjoy doing something with your significant other. Whether it’s just pigging out in front of the TV, or beating the hell out of each other at badminton, what’s important is you are able to create memories with the one you love.