Traditional and Non-Traditional Motherhood

Both traditional and non-traditional motherhood generally maintain the same essence of caring for children. The difference may lie in the way motherly duties and functions are dispensed. What remains the same is the love in its purest form that shines through regardless of differing time and situations.

The Traditional Mother

My mother belonged to this category. For the most part of her motherhood, she took the supporting role behind my father. When my siblings and I cannot go straight to our father, she would be the go-between.

While my father was a disciplinarian, she would find ways to go around his rule to "help" us. She was the typical mother who would try to make the consequences of our actions that earned punishments, lighter. While trying to follow my father's decisions, she will always try to convince my father to reconsider. It usually works since behind my father's tough facade is a soft heart that only wants the best for his children.

Traditional mothers were usually dependent on their husbands financially or otherwise. Her presence at home is something constant. Decisions made without prior consultation with the husband are rare. 

The Non-Traditional Mother

Forced by circumstances, I was a single mother when I was raising my eldest child.  I felt I had no choice but to take over and "control" our destiny. It was a long battle with insecurity and fear made lighter by the presence of a child who depended solely on me. I was trying to work while taking care of my child.

In the eyes of my child, I was the heroine and the antagonist rolled into one. For 16 years, the responsibility of two parents fell squarely on my shoulders and I would be hypocrite to say that it was a breeze all the way. By the time my second child came 19 years after my first child, I had to relearn everything I knew. 

Contrary to my mother's style however, I have always been at the forefront with regards to my children's affairs. I needed to remind myself every so often to "stand down" and defer to my husband's decisions when circumstances call for it. It was a reality I had to face after being accustomed to taking charge for so long.

Other Non-Traditional Mothers

Time and circumstances have given rise to other forms of non-traditional motherhood. There are the stepmothers who are no longer as "evil" as portrayed in fairy-tales. There are the long-distance mothers who try to rear their children from afar due to economic difficulties. There are also the surrogate mothers who give life to babies for women who are unable to bear children on their own. The grandmothers who found themselves extending their motherly duties to their grandchildren comprise an entirely different breed of mothers. There are many other women who find themselves in non-traditional situations but nevertheless are called mothers.

My Say

With a very few exceptions, mothers do their best in whatever situation and time they find themselves in while taking care of their children. They will never be perfect but they will always have perfect intentions for their family. The face of motherhood has evolved through time but the basic essence of loving and supporting their children will never change.

That said, traditional and non-traditional mothers are bound by a single intent of giving their children the best they can provide. Each face their respective challenges. In the end, children reap the benefits of the successful efforts of motherhood.

Get a New Home Without the Hassle of Moving

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The cost of moving has reached an all time high, resulting in many simply being unable to afford to move home. Rather than relocate, many are choosing to spruce up their homes instead to have the feel of a new home minus the stress and cost of actually moving. There are multiple ways of making your home feel new and refreshed either with a few simple touches or a complete design overhaul. Re-decorating and re-designing are enjoyable and stress-free ways to achieve a completely new home look and feel.

There is really no time limit when choosing to redecorate. You can take your time, plan, shop around or even tackle each room one at a time to fit in with budget considerations and busy schedules.  Everything can be completed at your own pace to ensure that you are happy with the end result and are able to create something that fulfills your needs and wants.  

The purpose of re-decoration is to transform your home into a place exactly the way you've always imagined it to be. Each room can take on its own persona and can be designed to perfectly meet the needs of their respective occupants. Individualized redecorating of rooms can completely transform the look and feel of a home and give its owners more reason to enjoy and treasure it. .

Personal regeneration projects are the best kind, they can allow you to be free and creative and enable you to express your creative flair within an environment that is completely personal to you and an area that you can enjoy for many years to come. A complete overhaul of each room within a household can be costly and time consuming but there is no reason for this to prevent you from undertaking such a project. Clever buys, budgeting and thought can allow for all the necessary and desired changes to be made.

The home is considered a sanctuary. The escape from everyday life and pressures is sought for in homes. Its style and appearance need to reflect the preference of its owner. Owners need to feel happy in their home surroundings and interior design products can actually help in this area.

Many interior design experts are on hand to help you create the home of your dreams. Advice and support are often greatly appreciated when considering such a project. Sometimes, all it needs is a little push to bring out  or unleash your creative flair. Creativity is best paired with the clear understanding of what is sought to be created. 

One of the most important rooms within a home is without a doubt the bedroom. It is a place where peace and tranquility should reign and the most restful nights sleep is possible. It is an area where people can just rest or relax during the day.A bedroom overhaul can completely change your outlook in life. Someone who is well rested and wakes up in a peaceful place is understandably, better equipped to deal with the day ahead. There are so many ways in which a bedroom can be designed to ensure that your needs are met and that the perfect bedroom of your dreams is created. Fitted bedrooms from Betta Living offer the best choices for any re-design effort. The beauty, elegance and range of designs mean that everyone can create the perfect bedroom space and totally forget about moving.

Guest Post

Always a Beautiful Ending with Cif - The Mother's Day Event

Always a Beautiful Ending, so goes the tagline of Cif Cream Surface Cleaner...

Yesterday, Cif held its special Mother's Day Event at the Abe Restaurant in Serendra, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig. The event aptly called "Beautiful Endings, Everyday with Cif" was an opportune time for all Cif moms and dads to meet, have lunch, and get to meet the newest Cif mom and brand ambassador,Ms. Suzi Entrata. The event marks the launch of its latest campaign "101 Beautiful Endings with Cif".

Beautiful Endings, Everyday with Cif Event

The event welcomed media people including bloggers, certified Cif moms and dads, as well as the winners from the Cif Mom Search. A short introduction was given by the event hosts and then everyone was treated to a sumptuous lunch. After which, Ms. Suzi Entrata was introduced and she talked about her personal experiences in trying to maintain a beautiful and clean home.

There were several online contests held for the attendees which of course involved creating awareness for Cif through various social media platforms such as Twitter and Instagram. There was also an actual demonstration  held for the correct use of Cif as shown below. The most exciting part is when Ms. Jinggay Iglesia, a guest of one of the bloggers seated with us went home with a TV for having the Best Mother's Day greetings. A very nice Mother's day surprise indeed! Incidentally, the winner of the Cif and Domex Overhaul Search was also recognized in the person of Ms. Cindy Dominguez. She submitted photos of the Quema Mansion Ancestral Home.

101 Beautiful Endings with Cif

This campaign essentially highlights a guide to 101 uses of Cif Cream Surface Cleaner.  Cif helps mothers and homemakers deal with the most stubborn dirt while remaining gentle on surfaces. It can clean efficiently without scratching practically all kinds of surfaces.

Directions for Use:

1. Pour a small amount of Cif Cream onto a sponge or cleaning cloth or directly on the area

    to be cleaned.

2. Rub gently then wipe with clean cloth  or rinse.

3. Use sparingly for delicate and colored surfaces.

It can be used almost anywhere including the kitchen, the bathroom, indoors, outdoors, kiddies corner, and other areas that need cleaning. 

Specific applications on kitchen areas include stained oven hobs and hotplates, tea stains on teapots and cups, sides of deep fat fryer, limescale build-up on tap joints and coffee percolator,  and burnt saucepans. Bathroom applications include removal of dried on soap on soap dishes, toilet, shower curtains, yellowing tile grouting, and basins and baths heavily stained with limescale. Other home areas can also benefit from the use of Cif since it has many other uses such as cleaning telephones, plastic trays, door handles, vases, ashtrays, and even your favorite flip-flops.

The list goes on to include synthetic car seat covers, soles of trainers and rubber boots, plastic bibs, kiddie tricycles, and toys. Cif is also suitable for outdoor cleaning such as barbecue grills, garden furniture, sports equipment, as well as fences and gates of homes. The uses are just too many to list.

Using Cif results not only to a cleaner home but a fresher smelling home as well. Homemakers will definitely discover more uses for Cif as they go about their daily routine of maintaining the house. Certainly tough cleaning with minimum effort.

My Say

Cif has generously provided all bloggers with products which we can give away to our loyal readers. However, given the logistical cost of sending these products to individuals, I have decided to use what I got in a different way. I intend to share Cif with my friends in our community and ask them to share the results preferably through photos.

That said, I hope the plan works out fine so I can show my readers the results together with my own review of the product. To borrow Cif's line, this Mother's Day Event indeed had a beautiful ending.

Songs from the Jukebox - The AMBOS MUNDOS RESTAURANT Anecdotes - Fifth of a Series

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

My nostalgic travel in time that started in the first of May continued when I spotted a jukebox standing on one corner of a business establishment a couple of days ago. I believe it wasn't working anymore but functioned more as a decorative item to represent a certain era when it was very popular. All too suddenly, I was brought back to a time in my childhood when my father would give me a handful of coins to while away my time while everyone in our restaurant was busy serving the customers. I listened to many songs from the jukebox in one corner of Ambos Mundos Restaurant.

In awe and In Wonder of the Jukebox

The intricacies of the workings of a jukebox captivated me from the moment I set eyes on this machine that produced music that filled the restaurant. I would peer through the jukebox glass as I wait for the clink of the coin I have dropped in the slot and see how a contraption  similar to an arm would get a "45" vinyl single and play the music it contains. Song selection is done by pressing a certain combination.

People of today may not be familiar with a "45" or the "33 1/2" rpm gramophone records since they are very rarely used today except perhaps to represent a bygone era. These are actually the black-colored circular things with central spindle holes. A "45", which is the smaller one between the two would usually be the most popular song lifted from the "33 1/2" Long-Playing album. 

Photo credit: arclients

Music and the Filipino Culture

Long before the karaoke and the videoke came and occupied the time of fun-loving and music-loving Filipinos, there was the jukebox. Unlike the karaoke and the videoke however which are now found even in private homes, the jukebox was generally found in commercial eating establishments like Ambos Mundos Restaurant. The singing along was done sans the microphone but still all the customers had to "suffer" through a personal song choice of one customer and wait for their turn.

I remember "fights" arising from the use of the jukebox similar to the common story we hear today about the curse in singing "My Way" in karaoke and videoke establishments. I am pretty sure though that the jukebox occurrences were much milder than what we often read in the newspapers today that sometimes lead to unnecessary deaths. These untoward incidents usually result from the deadly combination of music and too much liquor but I digress...

My Say

The jukebox represents a certain time which I associate with my childhood and Ambos Mundos Restaurant. To see one and hear music coming from one transports me to a time of innocence and dependence on my parents for everything I needed. Like in any other child, I wanted to grow up quickly so I can conquer my world, only to find out that I would be longing for the safety of childhood every so often in adulthood.

That said, some people may think that I am too sentimental for my own good and that is a possibility. Being sentimental is a part of me and I have learned to accept that in myself. My connection with my past stays and lingers. I tell stories of them to my children, hoping to give them a glimpse of how my childhood was like and how their grandparents were like. These stories are the stuff in which family legacies are made of and continued.

The Lucky Me Pancit Palabok Product Review - A Trip Down Memory Lane

The  Lucky Me Pancit Palabok Product review was supposed to be just like any other review but instead it took me to an unexpected  trip down memory lane. Eating it brought back memories of early childhood especially when I chose to test the product today, my birthday. Before I realized it, I was reminiscing about the good old days and how pancit palabok was always and is still a part of my comfort food fare.

My Childhood and Pancit Palabok

I don't exactly remember when I started to like pancit palabok. My most vivid memories about it was when our family was still living in Pasay City. During that time, Cartimar was considered the premier shopping center in the area and this was where my mother would take us to buy our things.

More than the excitement of having new clothes, new shoes, and the imported chocolates and canned goods, I had one more reason to be excited about going to Cartimar. After shopping, we will always eat in a quaint and charming food shop managed by a bespectacled and strict-looking middle-age woman. In that little nook, I found my childish heaven in eating pancit palabok and halo-halo.

This would go on for several years until we had to transfer to another city. In time, the place became different and that food shop was nowhere to be found in the vicinity. I lost the place but I retained the memories and the love for pancit palabok and halo-halo.

Adulthood and Pancit Palabok

Since pancit palabok is not offered in our restaurant, I found ways of enjoying the food by ordering it in other places where it is sold. As sure as the sun rises, that is how sure my eating companions would be that I will order pancit palabok when I see it included in the menu. During college days, my friends and I will frequent a specific fast food establishment and there I ordered my favorite pancit palabok for about four years.

Although I fairly enjoy cooking, I found it quite tedious to prepare my own home-made palabok. This became especially so when I was working and had a family to attend to. Everything just had to be done more quickly.

Instant Pancit Palabok

The desire to enjoy eating pancit palabok did not wane through time.  Even when trying to scrimp on family budget and time became a more priced commodity, some things like love for a certain food never goes away. Instant food  offered a convenient way to do it in this fast-paced life.

Last week, a special package arrived at my doorstep. It was a "bilao" of uncooked Lucky Me Special Instant Pancit Palabok. Today, I tested it and here is what I think about it.

1. Lucky Me Special Instant Pancit Palabok is very easy to prepare. Each pack contains a pack of noodles, sauce, and garnish. Boiling water is simply added to the noodles and covered for 4 minutes. The sauce and garnish is added after draining the water from the noodles.

2. Lucky Me Special Instant Pancit Palabok packed enough flavor to make it a satisfying merienda treat as it came with real chicharon and calamansi flavored sauce. I would personally prefer more sauce though. To make my birthday pancit palabok extra special, I added in toasted tinapa flakes and sliced boiled eggs on top.

3. Lucky Me Special Instant Pancit Palabok is reasonably priced at about P 14.00 per pack. Satisfying merienda treats rarely come at this price. Quick and low-cost options like this are always welcome to consumers. 

My Say 

This special surprise couldn't have come at a better time. We always want to celebrate special days with special food since that is how Filipino families are. In this economically-difficult times, being able to do so without incurring extraordinarily high expenses is always preferred.

That said, I'm glad I was one of those chosen to receive this gift. I likewise received an extra unexpected gift basket containing all of the 17 Lucky Me Special Instant Noodle Product flavors because the first attempted delivery failed to find its way to me. This just gives me more reason to try their other products as well.

Toilet Training of Kids - the When and How of Going About It

Toilet training of kids is a rite of passage towards eventual independence. During this time, parents are tasked to look for the signs that will tell them that their young children are ready. This is an experience that should be maintained with a positive attitude since any negativity will just tend to prolong the training.

Photo credit: jbird

When Does Toilet Training of Kids Start?

Toilet training should start when a child is ready, not earlier nor later. Training kids to use the potty too early results to resistance while doing it too late may result to unchecked bad toilet habits. Translated to numbers, readiness is expected to occur sometime between 22 to 30 months of age. 

It is possible however that a child may still not be emotionally ready to potty train even if he or she has become of age. By experience, girls are easier to toilet train than boys. While the former average at 36 months of age to be fully potty-trained, the latter average a little over at 38 months.

How to Determine Readiness of Kids for Toilet Training

Kids can be considered ready for potty training when they are able to control their bladder and bowel muscles. Some signs of this are regular bowel movement, retaining a dry diaper even after a nap, and having no bowel movements during the night while sleeping. It is also highly ideal that kids are able to perform basic motor skills before toilet training commences.

Children up to 5 or 6 years old will still require assistance in wiping and washing themselves even if they have been sufficiently toilet-trained.  This would involve teaching them proper hygiene practices.  Parents of young children should consider checking on their children once in a while to see if they require any further assistance.

Why Toilet Training Should Be Fun

Toilet training should not be stressful especially for the children. In fact, it should be fun to make it easier for everyone. Parents should tap on their creativity to do this.

Some of the suggested ways is to create a fun bathroom atmosphere. There are many attractively-designed potties for children available in the market. It would help if parents can make the regular toilet look as friendly as possible in the eyes of a child. This is easily achieved by using a variety of colourful toilet seats that will facilitate ease of transition from children's potty to regular toilet.

My Say

Toilet training of children starts when the child is ready and not when parents deem it convenient for them. Every phase of child development has its time and it will not always be the same for all. The last thing parents should do, if at all, is to force their children to do something just because the other children his or her age are already doing it.

That said, any form of child training will require patience and persistence from parents.  Parents need to find that style that will tend to encourage their children to follow instead of forcing them out of fear. This is not only true in toilet training of kids but in other aspects as well which are expected to be faced by parents and children together.

Of Fairy Hobmother and Other Fairies

Fairies are what childhood make-believes are made of. Mythical and mini human-like creatures with wings and magic dust that can make us fly. They weave their magic and sometimes grant wishes of humans. I thought I will not live to see the day that I will be visited by one. It was a pleasant surprise therefore when the Fairy Hobmother finally came to visit my blog today.

Fairy Hobmother...

Fairy Hobmother is the fairy that has been spreading joy and happiness in the blogosphere for several years. He visits blogs and leaves a $50 Amazon voucher to every lucky blogger chosen and who commented on other blogs he has previously visited. This is his way of inviting people to visit www.appliancesonline.co.uk to see what other magic they can find in this site.

He simply loves to give, give, and give. You can get the chance to have your blog visited by the Fairy Hobmother by commenting on this post.  Let's just say he likes to see bloggers happy and uses his magical powers to do that.

...and Other Fairies

While I was writing this, my youngest daughter saw Fairy Hobmother's image and asked me in what story he appeared so she can read it. She is quite familiar with the fairies associated with childhood like the Tooth Fairy, Tinkerbell from Peter Pan, Blue Fairy from Pinocchio, Fairy Godmother, and even the fashionable fairies of the animated series Winx Club. I explained to her though that Fairy Hobmother was a special fairy of bloggers like her mom and that he would be seen fluttering around blogs spreading his magical dust all over.

And then she asks if her personal artwork blog will be visited as well, I said he might in the future. However, I reminded her to make sure to take care of her blog by updating it every once in a while. She smiled as she remembered it has actually been a while since she did that. Like any other child, she likes to imitate grown-up activities and blogging just seem to be one of them, at least in our household. Whether blogging becomes a serious endeavor for her in the future or not, I leave it to her. For now, she can continue with her make believe adventures with fairies.

My Say

Make-believe or pretend play is very healthy for children's intellectual development. It allows them to explore possibilities which seem impossible in the real world. Adults can also use imaginative play in teaching their children adopt positive values and practices.

That said, even in a make-believe persona, Fairy Hobmother gives real benefits and opportunities to bloggers. Many blogs have already been visited and maybe your chance will come soon. Grab that chance and comment below.

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AMBOS MUNDOS RESTAURANT and Its Role in Philippine Culinary History

I got to thinking about the role that Ambos Mundos Restaurant played in Philippine culinary history when someone from a foundation related to a known restaurant emailed me as to the possibility of obtaining photographs of Ambos Mundos . They intended to use such photographs as part of an audio-visual presentation related to tracing the history of the Philippine culinary industry. This made me realize even more that Ambos Mundos Restaurant has indeed managed to carve its space in Philippine culinary history.

The Beginnings

The idea of putting up a restaurant that serves Filipino and Spanish dishes came from the mind of an unexpected source. A petite, unmarried lady from Bulacan by the name of Felisa de Leon thought that there was potential in serving dishes commonly enjoyed by the Filipino masses in a quick way. During that time, the term "fast-food" and the "tapsilog" variants probably haven't been coined yet but Ambos Mundos Restaurant was already at it. Of course, fast-food in our context means to be able to serve freshly-cooked food in minutes.

The Heydays

The atmosphere in the main restaurant in Estero Cegado and the other branch in Quiapo was quite relaxed and informal. The Ermita branch had a more "elite" feel. No matter, these three Ambos Mundos Restaurant establishments attracted and served popular movie stars as well as more private individuals and families. This was during the time of Jose "Nene" Gaudinez Jr. and his siblings, Luis and Carlos. It looked like it will go on and on.

The Forced Slumber

By some unexpected twists and maneuverings, the real Ambos Mundos Restaurant was pushed into a forced slumber while a pretender tries to capitalize on its name. People however do not easily forget the genuine taste and continue to look for it. It would seem that a popular business name under the hands of people with no real history in it is nothing. As the legitimate trademark holder up to this time, I, Maria Teresa Gaudinez fight on.

My Say

I am often tempted to give up the fight for Ambos Mundos Restaurant but I wonder why every time I grow weak in spirit, something will come up to remind me about my responsibility and so I fight on. I write articles like this just to serve as a constant reminder to the public not be misled. I do not gripe, I just lay down the facts as they are.

That said, today April 20 is the death anniversary of my father. This is the time when I get reminded the most why I should not give up. This day makes me remember more than ever that no one has the right to take away my family's right to the name AMBOS MUNDOS RESTAURANT.

How to Make Swimming Safe and Enjoyable for the Kids

Swimming must be made a safe and enjoyable activity for kids to truly benefit from it. Summer vacation has always been associated with swimming time especially for the kids. Even before its start is formally announced in school, many children will be asking their parents to bring them to the nearest pool or a farther beach destination.

Benefits of Swimming

Aside from being the most refreshing activity to do in summer, swimming provides many benefits not only to children but to adults as well.

1. Swimming is able to provide various health benefits including the stimulation of muscles and strength development without the usual stress and impact associated with other exercises. It is also an ideal cardiovascular workout which children wouldn't actually mind since most would be willing to be in the water for an extended period of time. 

2. Swimming facilitates social benefits. The activity encourages children to interact with other children. It is quite seldom that a child would enjoy swimming alone and in one corner. Competitive swimming develops positive attitudes in children including sportsmanship, discipline, and teamwork.

3. Learning to swim can save lives. In fact, swimming is the only sport that can achieve that. Acquired skills in swimming is useful up to adult life.

How to Make Swimming Safe and Enjoyable for Kids

1. Parents should  make sure that children learn how to swim from a responsible adult. If they cannot do it themselves, they can enroll their kids in swimming classes to learn even the basics.  Unless a child wishes to engage in swimming competitively, it may not be necessary to take all the swimming classes recommended by swimming schools. Taking them though, if possible, equips children with more skills they can use to keep them safe or save others, when necessary.

2. It is always best to have children swim in suitable attire and use appropriate equipment. There is a reason why swimming attires and equipment have been designed that way. It is also a must to use sun protection to prevent painful sunburning of their young skin.

3. Children should always be reminded not to indulge in unsafe activities in the pool or beach such as pushing, intentional diving over another, and anything that can result to bodily injury and accidents. Swimming is a fun activity but the slippery physical environment plus the deep water are not exactly conducive for safe pranking or jokes.

My Say

Learning to swim is probably one of my biggest frustration in life. I never had a chance to learn it and that has severely limited the enjoyment I derive from swimming activities. I hope to change that with my children.

That said, I am seriously thinking of learning how to swim. I have included it in my personal bucket list of things I want to accomplish in life. Oh well, better late than never.

Saving the Environment One Dappy Diaper at a Time

I am way past the diaper days of my children, my youngest being 8 years old.  This doesn't stop me however from appreciating a good product when I see one. Today I was introduced to Bamboo Dappy diapers, a must-have for environment-loving mothers, through a sponsored event aptly called "Tea Talks".

A Relaxing Event

Much like a relaxing afternoon tea made popular by the English, the event proceeded smoothly without much fanfare but definitely filled with genuine enthusiasm of the women-organizers for a cause which they sincerely believe in. Saving the environment was the main topic and doing this through the use of environment-friendly products is one way where mothers can truly make a difference.

The event featured a short talk from the representative of WWF-Philippines. WWF is one of the world's largest conservation organizations which has been in existence since 1961. Another worthy presence in the event is that of Holy Carabao Holistic Farms which introduced 100% farm-fresh goods to the attendees. Their individual yet interconnected causes are both worth separate write-ups which I hope I can do some time in the near future. 

And then there were the Bamboo Dappy products...

The Dappy Story

In the words of mommy Jenny Chua, who is the proud owner of Bamboo Dappy, the Dappy brand came to be because of a personal search for the best alternative to disposable diapers. It is no secret that disposable diapers are just one of the products that continue to present environmental issues. Do you know that it would take 250 years for most disposable diapers to completely decompose?

What is particularly interesting about Dappy diapers is its use of the bamboo fabric. Aside from being earth friendly, the bamboo fabric makes it possible to produce diapers that are softer and more absorbent while offering better ventilation to baby's skin. Dappy diapers are also hypoallergenic and antibacterial.

The Rationale of Using Dappy

Given the convenience of using disposable diapers and the expected resistance of some mothers to having additional work in washing cloth diapers, everyone still should be doing his or her part in making this world a better place to live in.  The use of cloth diapers such as Dappy is just one small but doable effort which mothers can accept as part of parental responsibility.  Taking responsibility  always connotes concern beyond the present generation.

Achieving something as big as saving the environment starts with small, individual commitments. Unless we start with what can be done on a personal basis, achieving what is actually global in scope can prove to be impossible. Dappy is just one of the products that dare to make a positive change.

My Say

During the diaper phase of my own children. I have always practiced using the traditional "lampin" alternately with disposable diapers. Although using the latter presents its advantages especially when we go out, I saw the need to provide my children relief from the discomfort of continuous use of disposable diapers. The good old "lampin" provided that relief when we were at home.

That said,Dappy diaper is certainly a modernized and more convenient version of the "lampin". Instead of the pins and clips on the side, there are the velcro tapes. Instead of the all-white "lampin", there are the various colors and designs to choose from. Young mothers of today really have more choices while babies get to benefit from the advantages. It wouldn't be so bad to consider helping save the environment one Dappy diaper at a time. 

In case you're wondering about what was written on the boards hanging on our necks, they are actually written personal commitments to preserving our environment.