In the Eyes of my Son

On the first weekend of October, I accompanied my son, Kiel, to his school’s educational trip. My husband was not able to go and so was Kiel’s yaya (baby-sitter).  I did a lot of planning (in my mind) about how we were going to survive the day with just the two of us. Normally, I wouldn’t mind spending alone time with Kiel outside the house. In fact, I love our alone time.  Easy peasy, I must say. After more than 3 years of training, I can say I know how to handle him being so playful and mischievous. But that time was different. We had to get up very early (call time was 5:00-5:30 AM) and our first 2 stops in the itinerary were museums! Just imagining my kid inside a place where there are lots of fragile things to break sent shiver down my spine! Seriously! What I was looking forward to, though, was our last stop, Enchanted Kingdom. We’ve never been there with Kiel. I knew he would have lots of fun there.

This picture says it all!

Anyway, I thought I didn’t have any other choice after all so I just needed to breathe in and breathe out and hope for the best. I never, ever knew that I would learn something from this trip. It may not be from the places we’ve been, but how my son sees me when we’re together.

In the eyes of my son:

1. I am Superwoman.

He sees me as Superwoman, someone who can do ALL things. Why I said that? Here’s the story:

We passed by the skill games area where huge stuffed toys were displayed. He asked me how we could get a toy and I told him we had to play and win. So that’s what he asked me to do.  Unfortunately, we lost. He was very disappointed. And I, thinking it was just a waste of money, convinced him that we just go to the playground. He was still sad but he obliged. As we were walking away from that area, we saw his classmate, holding a very large stuffed toy, and said they won it. He got even more frustrated and asked me to play again. I told him I’m not good at it but was eventually sold out by his words: “You can do it, Mommy!” His classmate’s mom told me that we’d have high chances of winning if we play on the game where you have to throw balls and break 2 plates. We looked and found that area. With Kiel cheering for me, I gathered enough strength as I throw those balls with all my might thinking: “Let me win this. I just want to make my son happy.” I will never forget the look on my son’s face when I told him we won! He was so happy and excited while choosing a toy. What I got? A very tight hug, a kiss and a sweet “Thank you.” and Kiel’s word of encouragement “I told you, you’d win.”

He named his toy "Asa"

2. I am fearless.

I don’t really have that BIG fear when it comes to heights and amusement rides but I get that funny feeling in my tummy every time I ride the ferris wheel and I become slightly dizzy with rides. With Kiel riding the Wheel of Fate (twice), Flying Fiesta (twice), and 5 other rides, I dismissed the thought of fear so it didn’t get in the way and ruin the day. It made me realized that “Fear is not an option.” 

Look how happy he was! I, on the other hand won't let go of him.

Another shot at the Wheel of Fate (ferris wheel)

Flying Fiesta ride where all he did was shout, "This is so fun!"

3. I am a Beauty Queen.

Before going to Enchanted Kingdom, we spent the entire morning in UPLB. We went to UPLB’s Botanical Garden to have lunch. I’m honestly tired of chasing and preventing Kiel from breaking things from the 2 museums we’ve been to. My patience is growing very thin when Kiel ran away from me again! I was ready to have “The Talk” but I changed my mind instantly after discovering what he’s up to. He ran so he could pick up a flower for both of us. He handed one over to me saying: “Flowers for you, Mommy.” My heart melted right away. I felt a little guilty for being so uptight with him when he only wanted to do something nice for me. Though Kiel constantly associates me with the character of Gloria in Madagascar (Yes, the Hippo!), I felt like a beauty queen, at least in my son’s eyes. 

4. I am a kid just like him.

He wanted me to chase him, run around with him, play with him and make silly faces with him. He wants me to laugh with him while he watches videos in his iPad. In his eyes, I’m a kid, just like him. 

Riding the carousel

He said he's a magnet :)

5. I am a gladiatrix.

It was around 5PM in Enchanted Kingdom. We have been walking, playing and trying out the rides for the past 5 hours so I decided it was time to have snacks at one of EK’s cafeteria (near the Space Shuttle ride) before we head back to our designated bus. We were both exhausted and Kiel was very sleepy. He was closing his eyes while munching his fries. That sleepy! He told me he was very tired because he was constantly screaming, “This is fun!” while trying out the rides. I carried him and he instantly fell asleep. I walked from there, carrying a dead weight until we reach the parking area where the buses are standing by. 

So knocked up he slept the entire trip going back to the city.

The day was indeed very exhausting but I can say it was worth it! My son had so much fun and we brought back great bonding moments that we’ll treasure for a long time.  Moreover, the trip gave me insights on how my son sees me. I myself would not see those personas in me, but you know kids – there’s so much truth in their eyes so I might as well believe in how my son Kiel sees me.

Boracay Trip with a Toddler

Lovely Boracay after sunset!

Boracay is one of the top tourist destinations in the Philippines. The long stretch of powdery-white sand and calm, blue-green water is picture-perfect! I can say it’s a great place to spend your vacation as a solo traveller, couples, or family with children.

When we booked our flight to Boracay, I’m both excited and anxious. Excited because based on research, the place is a paradise, but also anxious because we will bring with us our 2.5-year-old son, Kiel. And it will be his first time to ride a plane and go the beach.

Here are some things I learned and would like to share with parents who want to travel to Boracay with their toddlers.

1. Take a direct flight to Caticlan rather than Kalibo.

Flights to Caticlan might be a bit pricey compared to Kalibo, but it will take you to Boracay in a shorter time compared to Kalibo. You may reach Boracay in 30 minutes (give and take) from Caticlan while it may take you 2-2.5 hours to reach the island via Kalibo.

When travelling with a toddler, time is really our friend. The shorter time you need to travel, the less likely that your child will get bored (and tired), which also means less stress for parents.

2. Consider your child’s nap time in choosing the time of your flight.

Our son takes a nap in the afternoon. So it became an advantage when we left Manila on an afternoon flight via Cebu Pacific Air. Our son was still able to see the wonderful clouds when the plane took off. But after a while, he fell asleep and woke up when we already landed.  

3. Choose your hotel/guesthouse wisely.

Consider the following when booking your hotel or guesthouse when you’re with a toddler:

• Location - Boracay is even livelier during the night. Though generally safe, it might not be good idea to stay very near the areas where parties are held. Your child’s sleep might be interrupted and you would not want a grumpy kid during your trip.

That smile says it all!

powdery white sand, crystal clear blue-green waters

sandcastle making at noontime

• Choose the non-smoking floor/wing (if any) – planning a trip can be a bit overwhelming and we might overlook a lot of things. So be sure to ask (in advanced) if the hotel or guesthouse offers non-smoking areas. Our kid’s health is our priority.

• Kid’s room/Playroom/Playground – This is just an option. But during idle time when you’re not at the beach, it’s good to have a playroom or playground. It will keep your toddler busy while you rest.

Kiel enjoying the slide while we're eating our breakfast

4. Plan your activities well

Boracay offers lots of activities but better check with your tour guide for the age restrictions for each activity. 

Here are some toddler-friendly activities in Boracay:

• Paraw Sailing – Paraw is a sailboat with two outriggers. Each outrigger has a net where you can sit (or lie) as you sail through the sea. Our son very much enjoyed this activity.

Paraw sailing. Taken during our second Boracay trip.

• Glass-Bottom Boat Tour – We did not book this tour because this activity is scheduled during the afternoon and unfortunately, it’s our son’s nap time. But it would be a good activity for kids because they will get to see fishes through the clear glass bottom of the boat without soaking themselves in water.

• Island Hopping – You can encourage your kid to pretend to be a captain, a sailor, or a pirate. Or have him/her feed the fishes (which is usually included in the tour) to make your trip extra memorable for your little one.

Fed the fishes first.

Then, fed himself afterwards!

Also, I suggest you buy your kid his own life vest because even if boats provide life vests, they aren’t fit for kids, especially the little ones. Though island hopping is generally safe, it wouldn’t hurt to be extra cautious.

Bought Kiel an inflatable life vest that fits just right.

• Buggy Cart ride – We initially wanted to ride an ATV but Kiel was not allowed because of the age restriction. Our tour guide suggested the Buggy Cart ride instead and we’re glad we tried it because our son loved it so much! He still enjoys browsing through our photos every now and then. 

For starters, you have to test-drive your cart to different terrains (dirt and cement). Then you'll drive uphill until you reach the top of Mt. Luho. From there you can go up the view deck and enjoy the majestic Boracay view! 

Are you ready for the ride?

we're all smiles!

Mt. Luho Viewdeck

• Banana Boat – On our second time at Boracay, we tried the Banana Boat with our son (who was then 3 years old). He enjoyed it at first and if only the waves were not splashing on his face, he would have enjoyed the activity all throughout! My bad, I forgot his goggles in our luggage. I’ll keep that in mind next time.

If you're going to try this activity, make sure to securely hold your child. And please have him wear a life vest for safety purposes.

banana boat

I hope the above tips will help you in planning a safe and enjoyable trip with your toddler. Have fun!