While I am writing this post, I realized just how fast time flies. But being a Local Guide Mom and part of the #LocalGuidesConnect community, you can keep all those memories alive and keep coming back to it every time you visit Google Maps.
I had quite the adventure indeed! Because of my special little girl, I became this super-charged Local Guide Mom, who wants what’s best for my family. Finding a great vacation spot, best place to eat, a school that best fit our needs, therapy centers, doctors or hospitals, location of summer workshops and trainings, other activities where you give reviews to a place you had visited, these and more help me to know about people and places.
As a Local Guide Mom, you have the opportunity to give advise to other moms looking out for their kids. I am also able to answer some Yes or No questions that pertains to accessibility of facilities in a mall, workshop or training area, doctor offices, therapy centers, as well as restaurants, eateries or fast-food. I want people to be well informed and also learn from my own mistakes or from my friends or relatives’ experience of a place.
This is why I want to share with you, using my super-charged powers as a #LocalGuidesConnect Mom, my adventures of being a mom, a work-at home VA and a homeschool parent-teacher to a very special little girl, named Belle.
Having A Child is taking a big leap
Ever since my 30th birthday, I know that I want to adopt my own child. It’s not because I don’t want to have a boyfriend, get married, start a family, etc. It’s just that I felt, I can’t wait anymore…I want to have a bigger purpose in life. I have nothing against those who are still single…LOL! I just felt, I want to have something more and that I have more to give of myself.
We went to Hospicio De San Jose for my 30th Birthday. I gave a Jollibee kiddie party for 20 kids there, 3-5 years old. I think that inspired me to adopt a kid of my own. In April 2013, I attended an adoption forum with my Mom at Kaisahang Buhay Foundation (KBF).
Matching and The First Day I saw my kid
In August of 2014, our social worker, Ms. Rej, called me up and told me that I was matched to a generally healthy 2 year old little girl. In October 2014, I got to meet my daughter for the first time at Destiny’s Promise and bring her home.
It was a surprising and magical feeling. I was in awe that I can now call myself a “Mom”. I had so much going on in my mind that time. Was it ovewhelm, joy, hope…? I just know that my life will change dramatically and it would be better…because it will be my life’s new journey.
Struggles as a Parent of Kid with ADHD
After a year that I had adopted my daughter, I realized, she was a bit delayed for her age. There were some things in the developmental stages that she had not met. First we learned about her struggles to speak, so I taught her basic sign language. Then, after that she learned to say the alphabet and count up to 10. We had her checked up with a devped but she was still too young to be diagnosed, so we had to wait until she was 6 years old. She was at first at risk for ADHD and then was diagnosed last December 2018 of ADHD combined type, by Dra. Aguila, a DevPed in our area.
However, within that period of waiting, back when she was about 3-5 years old, I had her join many summer activities. This was also because she was so hyperactive that I want her learn how to move the right way.
So, we can avoid instances where she would have a fit or tantrum just because she couldn’t move about that much. Movement I think is the way to make her focus and have more restraint. Seeing her grow up to be mature, loving, charming young girl despite her ADHD, is an achievement for me as a mom.
My Super-charged Mission as a Local Guide Mom
Because of my daughter’s need for activities, movement, etc. This made me start my mission as a #LocalGuidesConnect Mom. It gives me great satisfaction seeing that my experiences, comments, advise will be heard and accepted by others. Which will also help them and in return, they give appropriate feedback, where I could learn as well. It puts a smile on my face whenever I see that my reviews are acknowledged and had been put to good use.
Many Thanks to Google and all #LocalGuidesConnect around the world
Right now, I am homeschooling my daughter, Belle. She has a great aptitude in English, Math and Science. But loves English and Science. She likes reading and writing about songs she heard and experiences. She’s going to be 1st Grade this SY 2019-2020. So, more adventures to add to our list.
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Google #LocalGuidesConnect community. You bring so many people all over the world closer to each other. May this coming Connect Live 2019 be a success for all of us. So, for me, whether I get to be picked as one of the “200 lucky participants” or just remain in the comfort of my home, I will always support everyone here, specially in my area, here in Cavite and Paranaque (as well as surrounding cities).
Thank you Lord for another fun-filled and super-charged year! God bless us all!