Any mother would agree when I say that I will do anything to make my children happy.
I did not know I was capable of writing that before the twins, Nicholas and Antoinette, and Jeff Junior came into my life and turned it upside down.
It remains as a mystery to me how these three creatures can make me so exhausted and frustrated the entire day; and yet, I always end the day loving them so much.
I am amazed at my ability to forgive and forget since I became a mother. I now consider this as my super power.
My job demands a lot of my time. There are events to cover, people to interview, research to be done. A journalist’s job is a 24/7 commitment to staying updated on the latest news and current events. It has become even more challenging in the last two years.
Between the later part of 2017 and May 2018, I took on the position as desk editor of a community newspaper. It meant spending more time in the newsroom to handle and manage the flow of news and guide reporters on how to go about their daily tasks of finding and writing news.
It required a lot of positive mind conditioning and endless energy to wake up everyday knowing that anything can happen at any time. Drug busts and accidents are usual stories that I encounter on a daily basis. Many of these events change the lives of many people. Some for the better, some for the worse.
Despite the stressful nature of the profession and the long hours, I love the job! I love the smell of newsprint and the sight of newspapers piled up in the corner.
I woke up as early as 6 a.m. to monitor whatever is posted on social media. I was in the newsroom from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. three to four days a week. I am not complaining. I love the job because it allowed me to serve the community. I mean, seriously, what job gives you the opportunity to work today and then see the output tomorrow?
I have been a journalist for the same newspaper since I was 19 years old. The people there are family to me. The newsroom is my second home. We were allowed to bring children to work so Nick, Toni and JJ spent hours playing and sleeping inside the newsroom.
But there were times when I wished I could just spend the entire day in our house. I lived a fast-paced life and I often caught myself feeling envious of the regular lives that most mothers live.
I missed the comfort of home. I missed taking my time with my children in the morning. The saddest part came when I realized that I left when they were still asleep and came home when they were already asleep. The children asked me why I am not always home. My husband, a wonderful man who never complains, told me one day that the children are closer to their nanny, Ate Joy than to me.
It was a wake-up call.
I missed reading them bedtime stories.
I missed seeing them smile. I missed “brush teeth” time with them. I missed watching videos online such as the oneĀ below from Hapee Kiddie toothpaste, our preferred brand because the fun flavors always make “brush teeth” time an enjoyable experience.
So even when I loved being desk editor, I decided to give up the position so I can spend more time with my children. It was a decision that required writing a love letter to my editor-in-chief. I cried to my husband. I wept when I was alone.
But I knew it had to be done. That I have to give up some of the things I love to spend more time with my children. That as their mother, I do need to be there to help them brush their teeth and read them bedtime stories.
To me, it was the time to #GoTheExtraSmile because my children need to grow up with a mother who makes time for them and who dedicates her time to make memories with them.
On the day I decided to give up the desk editor position, I went to our frontyard and filled up the big pails with water. It was 8 a.m. I called the children and announced that it was “balde pool” time.
They looked confused at first. Antoinette asked me why I was still home. I told them I will be spending more mornings with them. Oh how they jumped and clapped.
They ran to the balde and the smiles on their faces told me that giving up a job I love was worth it.
I grew up swimming in the balde pool and I imparted the joy of this rustic swimming treat to my children early this year. Since then, they have been looking forward to it on weekends.
That day, the mutants spent most of their time in our “balde pool.” I took very few photos as I also got wet and played with them. We ate bananas and apples and cooked our dinner exchanging funny banters and giggles in between.
Boys will be boys.
That night, we spent an extra five minutes brushing our teeth and laughed about a silly thing that Jeff Junior said.
I read them two stories before I turned off the light, exchanged kisses and uttered our “good nights.”
Going the extra smile did not mean that I gave up my happiness to please my children. I still get to write stories, go on field, do research and interview people so I never really gave up my job as a journalist. I gave up a position. I chose to embrace my priorities and structure my time in a manner that I placed in high priority the people who matter most.
Going the extra smile meant spendingĀ more time with my children to teach them by example how to work hard, work smart and work with love. These are values that I can teach them when I am with them as an active force in their lives.
I do this because I know that they will not be children forever so I spend time with them as much as possible… while I am still the best thing that ever happened to them after chocolate ice cream.
