When daughter discovers who their mother is.
By eileenleyva
@eileenleyva (27560)
Philippines
March 7, 2018 9:20pm CST
From the very beginning of my motherhood, I never did baby talk my daughters. From their infancy, I would use the languages I was equipped with, English and Tagalog. I wanted them to learn both.
Thus, my daughters grew up believing that the way we speak is the normal course of things. Both were sheltered in schools that call for academic excellence.
But when they went out into the world, they discovered that language is a difficulty to most individuals. Both were appreciated as good communicators by their superiors, or bosses, in their respective lines of work.
Today, however, I was surprised by my grateful daughter, for finally recognizing instilling in her the proper way to speak and write. She posted this on fb:
Happy International Women’s Day!
Yep, that’s my pretty mom. She embodies strength, beauty, wisdom, and such a badass reputation for English, Catholicism, and general frankness. Haha. Cheers, meemow! ?? — with Eileen Leyva
9 people like this
12 responses
@cherigucchi (14876)
• Philippines
8 Mar 18
It warms my heart reading this share of yours. You are blessed.
4 people like this
@cherigucchi (14876)
• Philippines
8 Mar 18
@mydanods Who would not be anyway? It really feels good.
3 people like this
@eileenleyva (27560)
• Philippines
8 Mar 18
She asked me to read a flash fiction she was required to write. I criticized her story as a teacher would. She cringed a little but welcomed the pointers I stressed on. And she asked for more lecture which I indulged her with. Thus, this post.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (340216)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Mar 18
@eileenleyva That would have been really gratifying. You have to be brave to ask to have your stories critiqued. It was a win-win situation all round.
2 people like this
@eileenleyva (27560)
• Philippines
8 Mar 18
@JudyEv I couldn't deceive anyone that their stories are good if in actuality the stories are not. Especially with my own daughters. I am their first and foremost critic. I'd rather they hear from me than others.
2 people like this
@marguicha (223107)
• Chile
29 Mar 18
She was lucky to have both a home and a school that applauded academic excellence.
2 people like this
@toniganzon (72281)
• Philippines
8 Mar 18
Some parents really think that doing that to their babies is cute. I never baby talked my son. He went to school at the age of 2, was accelerated and excelled in school and he never talked like the rest of the student his age back then.
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27560)
• Philippines
8 Mar 18
The infants perceive as much vocabulary and language as soon as they were born. Baby talk does not make sense at all. Even adults do not understand what they are saying.
And your son, is he still in school?
@toniganzon (72281)
• Philippines
8 Mar 18
@eileenleyva Yes, he's turning 14 next week.
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (72281)
• Philippines
8 Mar 18
@eileenleyva Yeah, I get what you mean. When I met my college friends last December, the first thing she asked me was how was my son. She wondered if my son was one of those naughty students or not. Then I thought of how it was with him from the time he turned 11 and I realised, I am such a lucky mom. I don't seem to have problems like most moms with boys do.
1 person likes this
@Letranknight2015 (51969)
• Philippines
10 Mar 18
It's sad in my opinion when children realized their mother's worth of teaching and discipline when they get old. I admit to be slow and turd back in my younger days. But right now, I'm thankful for a mom who has much wisdom to share to me still even at my age. Now, I wish sometimes if she could have another 50 more years but then it's just wishful thinking. There are times, when I just want to go back in time and immediately applied all that she thought me..
2 people like this
@eileenleyva (27560)
• Philippines
14 Mar 18
Glad you had your awakening. As glad as I am with my own daughter. She's a free spirit with a rather strong mind of her own. I allowed her to spread her wings and soar on her own. That is what I prepared her for. I always played the supporting role in all her endeavors, usually ensuring she has sleep and good food, and a safe ride to and fro. Nothing that I did pertain to who I was as a teacher. When the conversations became in-depth, the realization set in.
As most cases of parent-child relationships.
@eileenleyva (27560)
• Philippines
8 Mar 18
And so the dumb gets dumber. 
No wonder babies get delayed on speech, they were never talked to properly. In the past two decades though, the eight intelligences has been taught in schools. Perhaps the parents know now.
No wonder babies get delayed on speech, they were never talked to properly. In the past two decades though, the eight intelligences has been taught in schools. Perhaps the parents know now.1 person likes this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
13 May 18
Mine do not appreciate what I have taught them at least not openly.
That is one beautiful photo of you and its great and lovely that your daughter thinks of you so highly also.
You have done a very worthy job bringing them up like that.
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27560)
• Philippines
17 May 18
People have various ways of showing affection. Personally, I am not demonstrative. My daughter is the huggy type. The other one is the beso-beso type during Mass peace only.
Mothers have done their best rearing, I know, but children have their own characters and ways of expressing affection.
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27560)
• Philippines
17 May 18
@lovinangelsinstead21 But you are blessed with people who showed you warmth and kindness. For some, truly, God has given a more challenging life. What matters is how we live life gracefully.
I suppose I was blessed with a happy clan in my youth but that is all gone now. How I wish my daughters could have huge Christmas parties with aunts and uncles and cousins, but there's just the three of us. When I meditate upon it, God has given us exactly what is for us.
But you are blessed with people who showed you warmth and kindness. For some, truly, God has given a more challenging life. What matters is how we live life gracefully.
I suppose I was blessed with a happy clan in my youth but that is all gone now. How I wish my daughters could have huge Christmas parties with aunts and uncles and cousins, but there's just the three of us. When I meditate upon it, God has given us exactly what is for us. 1 person likes this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
17 May 18
@eileenleyva
Mine are neither huggy or giving kisses either at least not with me.
I grew up in a Family that was neither either.
Lucky for me I had other people have shown me the way out of all that.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
8 Mar 18
i'm okay with baby talk. i even do it to our dog. but i notice more and more parents talking to their children in english, not conyo or taglish, but english only.
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27560)
• Philippines
8 Mar 18
And you also hear parents complain how difficult a subject Filipino is. And I simply answer them "No, it is not."
Believe it or not, colonial mentality is very much our trait still.
In the UP, if one cannot speak three languages, that student is cast away. Condescended. Looked down upon. 
My daughters felt the condescension and learned Spanish as they could. . Now they have forgotten, fast as they could.
My daughters felt the condescension and learned Spanish as they could. . Now they have forgotten, fast as they could.1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27560)
• Philippines
9 Mar 18
Now I am predisposed to alter my image. If the colleagues see the mother, they might feel frustrated. I shall exercise and make a trip to the parlor. Ha ha ha
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27560)
• Philippines
9 Mar 18
The childhood was the fun but exhausting part. I did allow my girls to grow up, enjoy school, play, watch movies, read books, eat out. Adolescence was a challenge. The girls did try to assert their personalities on me. We argued and clashed on many issues. I must win, or they would find me weak. Now that they are professionals, I bend my ground. I find solitude in listening to them relate their stories, their battles, their ideas, their judgment calls. I suppose I did the right rearing all right. I just love watching my girls. Contented on being on the sidelight. Thanks, Thelma.
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27560)
• Philippines
13 Mar 18
@thelme55 Thank you. I did realize early on that I have one shot at being a good mother. I am more blessed our good God blessed me with exemplary children. They knew they have to write their own life stories.
1 person likes this
@thelme55 (77081)
• Germany
12 Mar 18
@eileenleyva Wow! That is great to hear about that. You are very lucky. Well done.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (130218)
• Israel
9 Mar 18
@eileenleyva
You are very welcome eileenleyva.
1 person likes this
