"A mother's arms are more comforting than anyone else's.", says Diana, Princess of Wales.

It is so easy to read but hard to understand. I learned how it means just recently when I took the shoes of motherhood.

Mother, Mommy, Ma, and Nay (Filipino term)….  It sounds so sweet but doing the role of motherhood is not an ordinary one.

My mother is beautiful, jolly, lovely, fair, kindhearted, amazing! Wondrous, understanding and patient! Upon writing this, I am still unable to find a noun, an adjective or an expression which could possibly entail what she is and what she means to me. I used to ask myself how to be a mother like her.

From the start, I was a challenge to her, an obstacle course that she played to. From my teenage tantrums until I became a mother like her, she watched me over. How caring she was! I totally missed those days when I just sat down and relaxed when I went home. Everything was set from breakfast, lunch and dinner without worries for tomorrow.

My childhood memories with my mother bring smile to my face. Why did I say that? She was always nagging about everything in the house!  She was tied up all day till night in a mini restaurant in our town. So at the end of the day, she was so tired for other chores at home.

“Rosmin, were you able to wash your clothes?”

“How about the task at the backyard, was it done?”

I just answered her with yes and no then I continued in listening to my favorite band over the radio.

“Oh, by the way, I brought you your favorite pizza. Come and take it!”

 That was the only time I had to get up.  After a few minutes of eating, I would notice that her eyes were closed and lips were opened as she snored. She took her rest in a minute!

This is one among many instances when I saw her sacrifices not just for me but for my two brothers too. One time, I went to school unprepared. I wore my school uniform and let my skirt unhook. My teacher called me to write my answer on the board. While I was busy writing, my skirt fell on the floor! I heard my classmates laughing out loud! It was so disgusting. I blame my mother for my shame.  So I went to her restaurant to blame her. But I never had a chance to speak because I saw her rushing to hold a big hot pan and washed it by her bare hands. Everybody in the store was so busy so I just waved my hand to her and told her that I had to go home.

That night while I was asleep, I felt her hands so rough on my head and uttered, “Child, I am so sorry. I love you.”

My mom is an instrument why I was brought into life. She rocked me, fed me, educated me, and accompanied me through thick and thin. I am a successful teacher because you taught me how to read, write and listen by heart. She was the only one who saw in me treasures that I did not know. She is my best teacher because of teaching me that the only truth is perseverance, and failures are just a step towards my future victories. No one compares to her as my best friend, my confidante, and the person to whom I turn when life seems so unfair. I am standing with proud with humility, calmness and consistency that she taught me. Though she did not have a degree in education, she was the one who educated me with practical life lessons.

I grew up with a complete touch of love from my mother until I got married. I really wondered why she had to scream before the wedding on 2003. Now I knew why she felt that way. I was still a baby for her even at the age of 23.

Cooking foods, doing the laundry, cleaning the house and all other household chores are those basic trainings that I never taught will be my tools in my marriage life. Not to mention how she served my father wholeheartedly at home. She was so amazing for being so responsible in doing all her tasks as a mother and wife.

Now, even though my mother has not been with me through the hardest moments in my life, and while she is living far away from me now, these words will never be erased from my mind. She still holds me while I cry over a toy; she tuck me in on the nights I feel alone; and she soars through my mind to lift me up again in times of sorrow.

Now I am still discovering the real meaning of motherhood. It is more than morning sickness, nausea, stretch marks, extra pounds, healthy diet, contractions and the arrival of a healthy baby. It is better than those physical signs. It is merely engaging love, tenderness, care, concern, acceptance, patience sacrifice. That is nothing new. Those are well known ingredients of motherhood.  I supposed, a mother is like a walking encyclopedia. My children expect me to know why there is flowing water in the river, why the flowers bloom and how they become a baby. I am an instant dentist who can remove my son’s teeth painlessly, stop an earache in the middle of the night, and a stage mom before a speech recital. Now, I am a person who gives nothing for my own self but for my two kids.

My five year old son once asked me when we were about to cross the street. He asked me as I held his hands, “ Mom, why are your hands not soft as mine?”.

I smiled at him and said, “Darling, they are not soft because I used them to show my love for you .”

Though I am still learning to be a mother, she reminds me that, "Remember that behind every successful woman is a basket of dirty laundry." It does not really matter how successful we are in our profession. What really matters is how successful we are as a mother.

I have written a poem for her to let her know how important she is in my life.

         My Mother, My Hero

The early years of my childhood

Her love and care were full

She spent quality time with me

She is a friend or even a buddy.

She took responsibility

Gave moral guidance for me

Showed compassion and gentleness

Firm with discipline anywhere.

Someone who is there when I need her

Who puts my needs above hers

                Her love to me is unmatched.

A good listener at all times.

A helper through negative circumstances

A remedy for my weaknesses

Have a never ending responsibility

A model in showing love for my family.

My mother is noble

I worry not at all

My mother is a hero

That is why I love her so.

For you “Nay”, I know motherhood is tough 24 hour job; no pay, no day off, sometimes it is unappreciated, but yet quitting is impossible. A mother is a woman who created by God to bring love, joy, passion and caring into this world. I am so blessed that God has created a woman to be a mother, even though motherhood is a full time job, a mother's work is never done. Happy Mother's Day!  I love you so much….

How to Become a Freelance Writer

To be a freelance writer is to commit in expressing ideas selflessly. Anyone can be a freelancer or a freelance like me. Someone who is self-starting or even pledged to his distinct employer can be a freelance writer. As a freelance worker, I do the reselling of my labor and other writing output to my clients by means of project organization and hard work that I provide as a writer.

In this day and age, many individuals engage in freelancing field like me. You may ask what it takes to become a freelancer writer.  Actually, there are chief reasons of being a freelance writer. Some people may want to work with independence so they choose to become freelancers. For those individuals, becoming a freelance writer is the most forthright track on the road to being an independent freelancer.

To be an upright freelance writer, one has to be committed and sincere with what he/ she is writing. Becoming a freelance worker leads to appreciating a better living. To live as a freelance writer, someone has to be creative and be fruitful in special ways.

To become a successful freelance writer, one has to embark on unavoidable occurrences that come your way. A freelancer is responsible in meeting scheduled deadlines and working rush changes in a snap. Replying to clients is a must whenever necessary. Setting high expectation is neither helpful nor applicable to a freelancer’s working routine.

A freelancer’s life exists for the calls and notices of the client 24/6. He is exposed to clients’ demands for the work. For this reason, having a long vacation is at risk due to the irregularity of working time. This is exactly an e-mail centered life.

Likewise, a freelance writer’s routine entails you to take along working gadget with you from time to time at all places. A writer’s viewpoints keep running on his head so a jotting down is a routine.

  A freelancer’s life is restricted because the type of the work requires an independent working with the employer. The income in freelancing business is irregular.  Making a living in freelancing is like a running wheel. Sometimes, you are a mucho den Eros while sometimes you are as badly off.

What makes freelancing remarkable is that you enjoy your freedom. You can work anywhere you want and not permanently committed to controlled working zone. Freelance writers tend to enjoy outright choices with regards to writing articles. I, for example can make modifications in working or moving to other residence exclusive of disturbing about my present job commitments.

A freelance writer can make much money out of on line jobs offered. You can earn thousands of dollars annually, monthly or even monthly. All it takes are diligence and willpower in internet jobs like writing and editing articles, website contents, brochures, manuals, academic write ups and many more.

As an employee, I was once among those people who embrace my regular job as a teacher to find way out of the crisis. I made it through for almost a decade. However, I still find other ways to be more secured as the years go by. Permanent work may not provide all adjustments in our family demands financially. So I took another break to achieve more as an individual. You, too, can be a professional who want to leave behind all the potentials from your stable employment. They just began to pursue their own business genres from their living rooms through the use of a laptop.

The economic struggling of freelance writers has to be ended. Searching for extra income is already over because on line writing has already begun. The economic crisis provides us opportunities to find freedom and possibilities for our economic stability.

There are also challenges for being a freelance writer.  There are times when follow-up failures and missed deadlines not met. These are just usual occurrences in the life of a freelancer.

For all such reasons, discipline and passion for writing can be fruitful in creating projects and meeting deadlines. Writing, editing and finalizing are the three important aspects in a freelance writer’s life. Disappointments may arise during the writing process but they will make a writer becomes better freelancer. Providing the best write up for the readers must be the focus because the life of a freelance writer roots from them.

               

Old Books vs E-Books

Innovation nowadays goes naturally in our home, school, work and society. All aspects of life are described by the innovative changes on things, events, methods, and ideas that are new and useful.

Our age is approaching in the application of better solutions that meet new needs or existing society requirements. This is accomplished through more effective products, processes, services, technologies, or ideas that are readily available to markets, governments and community. Furthermore, educational materials reached at its peak development. These innovative materials such as electronic books or e-books are used for better.

However, researches and studies have shown that these innovations have also limitations as compared to obsolete, outdated, printed books. According to Fenlon (2013), author of “Paper Books Offer Better Reading Comprehension Than E-Books”, the death of paper, argues technology writer Nicholas Carr, has been greatly exaggerated. This is an old trend: a new medium pops up, be it the radio or television or the Internet, and some speculate that the book or newspaper or magazine is surely doomed. When e-readers and tablets and e-books arrived, their popularity seemed to be a death sentence for hardbacks and paperbacks. But, writes Carr, that sentence won't be carried out anytime soon.” According to Carr's research, paper books still make up 75 percent of book sales in the United States. And that's not counting the used book market, which is also on an upswing.

I strongly disagree with the elimination of the old version materials. Being knowledgeable and fanatic to old books is not a point here.  But we must consider the fact that reading a paper book and reading a digital one has a great difference, whether it's on an LCD or an e-ink screen. Studies proved that physical books actually help us retain information better. Our brains simply react to printed words differently than digital ones. It is still important to regain the physical presence of these printed books. Make it available for reader’s navigation.

Some scientists believe that our brain actually interprets written letters and words as physical objects—a reflection of the fact that our minds evolved to perceive things, not symbols," writes Carr. "The physical presence of the printed pages, and the ability to flip back and forth through them, turns out to be important to the mind’s ability to navigate written works, particularly lengthy and complicated ones. This is true in actual reading experiences. We cannot inspect thoroughly in E-books. Simply put, physical books are better for reading comprehension. Of course, digital books are also offering their own advantages. But the printed ones though are old, still isn't going anywhere.

This is supported by Scott (2013), “E-books require unique devices or even personal computers can be looked as a drawback. Numerous e-books are usually creates to end up being suitable for certain software which in turn may be not easily available. Since e-books are reliant on other equipment, particular hardware or software failing may impact this. Unless the hardware, Internet link or battery power that is needed by a good e-book reader is readily available, then its electronic paperwork is useless. In addition, e-books based on hardware and software and are more easily damaged than imprinted book”. Now, E-book reading devices are certainly more expensive compared to imprinted books. All devices of e-books need power. There is a growing problem which the e-books at the moment might not be obtainable or even compatible to the future e-books software or devices.

People from different countries testify that they prefer the printed books. They love feeling the pages as they read... something about the fact that they can spill something on it. At present, numerous people choose the traditional types than e-books., since it can save their own time and cash.” I prefer to read on the printed books. I develop my imagination. My kids develop their imagination, too!” says Mrs.Lopez, a mom for 2 kids.

Severe concern for numerous possible users of e-book technologies are screen glare and eyes. Screen glare and eyestrain are a severe concern for numerous possible customers of e-book technologies. A major be concerned of reading from a good e-book readers could harm the eyes. The show resolution of computer screens and electronic devices is even less than the print quality produced by a publishing push. For these reasons, interested readers will be limited! It is because e-books for them become risky. In addition to this, reading from a computer lacks the knowledge and comfort of reading from a book. A paper book can be opened and turned via, while a good electronic text is much more difficult to read.

Lastly, e-books have unreliable life span. Paper has a much longer life span compared to most digital forms of storage space. Simply because of the rapid development of new computer systems it is difficult to assess whether the software or even hardware will become out-of-date. As new hardware is actually developed buildings should be put into location to permit for the migration of existing materials to the new platforms so that they can be utilized. Techniques of preserving the electronic documents should also end up being created. It can end up being hard to distinguish readers from the others. To make a book equivalent to a “real” book, one should find and assess several e-book publishers prior to making a deal. A fancy website doesn’t guarantee an excellent publisher.

Therefore, holding on to the old books must still be considered. Giving value onto it is as important as embracing the innovations.

A Dream Vacation for My Family

          Everybody desires a dream vacation for family that you would like to accomplish. I know I am one of them. My dream vacation would be in Baguio City, the most visited spot in a relatively small area compared to other tourist destinations in the Philippines.

Since year 2000, when I have got a permanent job, we became so busy. We always have to work, take care of the kids and family. For these reasons, vacation  became very necessary for us. I am a teacher so I do not have much time... But I will tell you about my dream vacation. It may be unreal but I still do dream. Hoping it may come true.i believe it will make my life more colorful. My vacation must be a long vacation for about 2 weeks or a month. It is because it is a suitable time for me to relax not just for me but for the whole family. This dream vacation for my family is so simple. I just want my family, parents, two brothers, two sisters and nieces/nephew to be there. I look very humble but I think it is so hard to achieve.  All of them are religiously working.

I don’t want to go too far because I want everyone to be complete when we get there. In that place, we can stay in a hotel. It is where we can share old stories, old songs and favorite foods. This is a chance to hold our get together in fun and exciting way. This dream would be more thrilling when the whole family took time to visit the attractions in Baguio City such as Burnham Park- the very heart of Baguio City in the Philippines, Baguio Cathedral-a majestic church located on top of a hill in the heart of the city, Camp John Hay -Baguio City's most popular attraction. I want my whole family experience what I felt when I was there 10 years ago. I want them to enjoy Baguio City, the "Summer Capital of the Philippines". That is the perfect place for us to hold the family's dream vacation.

Vacation is a good way to strengthen  good relationship with my family. This is not just my dream vacation, but my parents’ dream , too.

My First Freelancing Experience

My first freelancing experience is an extraordinary event for me. I work as an “English Language” teacher in school. I have learned great many things from writing and teaching via on line. It has changed my entire outlook on and attitude toward life. For me, teaching how to speak and write correct English to young ones was part of my profession and soon become a passion.  I never thought that this skill would bring me to my freelancing career.

My freelancer friend encouraged me to write articles on line. The first step on becoming an official oDesk freelancer gave me a roller coaster impression since I started on February 2014. I felt so excited when I passed oDesk tests and started to send applications. It was a feeling of regaining my youthful age. The excitement changed my daily routine as a mother and as a teacher. Though teaching is a spring of colorful experiences, freelancing career changed my life in a blink of an eye.

     It was a frustrating experience for me at first. It is because the communication line between the employer and me was unfavorable. So, the article that I had written was not considered. It was a painful start for me because I was judged for dishonesty. The employer thought that I did not finish the job. Well, as a teacher, I was hurt. I just kept myself calm. I am thankful because I was given a chance to explain.    “My internet connection may be slow, my literacy in computer may not be excellent, but I am honest”. This experience gave both of us a lesson to learn.

 The second experience inspired me to continue my writing career. Dr. Spencer Brown, my first client, trusted me to write a chapter of his book titled “Supernatural Individuals”. I gained my self-confidence once again. From this moment, I launched my writing career into a blast. I had been hired as English Tutor of Mr. Heng, a Sales and Marketing Officer in Singapore. Likewise, an Italian Businessman Mr. Alessandro Florian gave me a task of teaching him the English language and at the same time writer and editor of his business site. My freelancing experience with him gave a spark for me!

Many a few, I struggle for this job.  I have bulk of obligations to do in school and at home. Nevertheless, my freelancing experiences teach me how to manage my time properly. Yes, I am a teacher during the day and a mother at night. People around me always ask why I have to work at night. Being a freelancer writer, I can support my family needs with the extra income that I gained. I can share my skill and knowledge in social media. Also, I can meet people of different races through Skype. Now, my teaching job widens its scope as I reached people from different countries.

There are tasks in my life that change the course of my life. It is through my freelancing experience. It can either make a positive impact or a negative impact on me. Hence, it is always best to think of the positive impact though. For me, I have had plenty of positive experiences that will soon change my life forever.  I am a changed person now. My direction is clear to me now. I have an amazing job that I work on to. It shows me the way in becoming who I am as a writer.  This is my first freelancing experience that I will never forget.