Something dear to my heart is coming up this weekend. It’s our son’s second birthday. I’m extremely overjoyed. He is the firstfruits of our youth.
Just like any other mom, I love him with all my heart -- so much that it breaks my heart to see him suffer. He developed eczema at 2 months.
For those who don’t know what eczema is. It is a medical condition where patches of skin become inflamed, itchy, red, cracked and rough. Blisters may sometimes occur. [source] Itching is very uncomfortable.
He is the first in our family to have it. Childrearing is tough. Extra care is a must for the little love afflicted with illness.
[photo source]
Our son never had clear beautiful skin since eczema broke out. We watch everything from his diet to the products we use. I’ve tried many things to see what works. I’ve turned to lots of sources for a solution. And recently emptied out my savings account doing so -- the last of my income since I stopped working.
Many nights I’d lie in bed crying. Truth is, I was in denial for a long time. It took me a while before I’ve accepted our son’s situation. I’d be lying if I’d say my faith in God remained intact all this while.
Many nights I’d lie in bed crying. Truth is, I was in denial for a long time. It took me a while before I’ve accepted our son’s situation. I’d be lying if I’d say my faith in God remained intact all this while.
I had questions. Lots of them.
How did this happen? Will I ever see my child enjoy all kinds of food without the bad flare ups? Will I ever see him with healthy, clear beautiful skin? Will he ever get well? ...
I became desperate. Frantic. Overwhelmed.
Do you really understand?
Our son’s been busy daily adding words to his vocabulary. He now knows what ‘itchy’ means. Whenever something irritates him, he’d run towards me and say his itchy. (Oh… how this shatters my heart to a million different pieces.) I’d then embrace and comfort him. Every time, I’m reminded of my helplessness.
I feel alone. Unheard.
People mean well. Unavoidably, there are times they’d come of as insensitive without even realizing it. They won’t totally understand what you’re going through unless they’ve gone there before. (Let me be clear, I don’t wish bad for anyone.) If only we could live in a world where there is no sickness and diseases.
I don’t blame them though. That’s understandable. Heck, I’d probably be the same if I were in their shoes.
I feel for the broken suffering in silence. I feel for the moms, dads, guardians, whoever you maybe relentlessly giving for a sick loved one. Maybe, I don’t have it worse but I do get it. I understand. My heart is hurting for my son too.
I wish I had a solution to share. Not an emotional account of a first-time mom in distress.
The Lesson
If there’s anything I’ve learned during this time it is that no one is to blame. God is not to blame. It is a huge lie to believe that. And He is not withholding anything at all. He is FOR ME, not against me.
(I'm writing this because I did fell for the trap, thinking that God is withholding healing for my son. Nope, sickness and diseases are not God’s will. He is NOT the author of it. He NEVER disciplines or teaches anyone through it.) God is good. You can count that He never changes.
What’s hindering us to receive the healing then? I don’t know. If I do, I’d put it in print for everyone to benefit as well.
For now, I’ll continue to do things to keep the flare-ups at bay: through diet, supplements, … and unceasingly trust God for the solution.
one | leather boat shoes in washed red
Interesting shade. It's not for every dad, I know. It's available in other colors though. Check out this one or this.
two | chino shorts
I like this for dad. Minimalist, clean and formal. This color looks nice too.
three | noise cancelling headphones
Whoever came up with this idea is a genius. I'd get this for dads who work from home with little kiddos. Also found an affordable version for less than $50. Link here. It's currently on sale for $39.99.
four | eau de parfum
Saw this from a youtube ad yesterday. It got stuck on my mind because of its clever imagery. It showed a man swimming and then climbing up on a big tree thriving in the middle of the sea. I thought, hmm... good gift idea for dad.
five | toiletry kit
This is convenient to keep toiletries organized in one place. Great for dads who travel. It's currently on sale for 40% off. Also available in white.
six | men's probiotics
Probiotics are good for dad's digestive system. They keep the gut healthy. There are many other benefits of taking a good probiotic. (Google it for more info). Daddy's health is important to me that's why I'm adding this to my cart.
seven | wood watch
I did a campaign with Jord before. I really like their watches. They are running promotions right now for Father's Day. You might want to check them out.
eight | polarized sunglasses
Help protect dad's eyes from the sun's UV rays by gifting him with sunglasses. This is actually a concern of mine whenever my husband drives towards the sun. Love the classic design of this one.
nine | kindle or kindle unlimited subscription
If dad likes to consume information/knowledge, get him a kindle. If he already has one, pay for his kindle unlimited subscription for one month. It's price at $9.99.
There you go. I hope you already had one in mind for dad this coming weekend for Father's Day. Have an awesome one! ;)
Late last year we flew 20 hours halfway across the world with our 1-year-old tot. I did my due diligence to prepare for the long haul flight since this is our first time traveling with a toddler.
But what happened during those long hours inside the flying tube caught us off-guard. Below are the mistakes I wish I had anticipated before flying out with our son.
Not booking a seat for our little tot.
Our son was less than 2-years-old at that time, he gets to fly for free sitting on our laps. We wanted to save money. However, we've come to regret that decision later on.
Our son wasn't able to sleep. (Yes, he never did!) He was fussy and tired. We had to comfort and pacify him all the way until we reached our destination. (Remember, this a 20-hour flight!) We were completely exhausted.
The dynamics would have been different if he had his own seat. We could then purchased this or this so he'll be able to lie down comfortably. Maybe, just maybe, all of us could get some rest.
Not bringing sleep-aid medication.
I used to be that parent who is against giving drugs in any form (yes, including sleeping pills) to our son. But those long grueling hours inside the plane made me repent my decision.
We flew at midnight. This made me a little bit confident with my decision to not bring a sleep-aid medicine (even for worse case scenarios).
Unfortunately for us, the exact opposite happened. Our little boy wasn't able to sleep. I've wisened up on our return flight back home. I've made sure to secure the medication. And guess what?! We had a smooth flight. (Note: We've consulted a local pediatrician before doing this.)
Not packing enough diapers.
This shouldn't be an issue, right? After all, diapers are available worldwide. Yes, unless your kid suffers from bad allergies. This is true for our son who had eczema. He had bad allergic reactions from the diapers back in the Philippines. Glad we found this brand. It's gentle enough for his skin.
Knowing what I know now, I'll be more prepared the next time around.
Did you have a similar experience? How did it go? What would you have done differently?
Did you have a similar experience? How did it go? What would you have done differently?
