Being a Working Mom is Challenging (but it doesn't mean we can't have fun!)

Being a mom is hard work. But when a mom works full time, things get more complicated and more challenging. I'm not complaining though. I have son who loves me to the moon and back and a husband who has pledged his heart and life to me. Life may have its ups and downs, but I will always be thankful to God for this life.

One example is my trip to the Bicol Region.

Day 1, I arrived in Lezagpi then went straight to Sorsogon to our branch office. After that, we went to San Benon in Sorsogon.

My room on Day 1

Day 2, I woke up at 2 am, left at 3 am to go to the port in Bulan, and catch the earliest boat to Ticao, Masbate. From San Fernando, I rode a habal-habal (motorbike) for about an hour To San Jacinto, to look for a place to spend the night in. After lunch, I rode back to San Fernando in a habal-habal  to work.

My room on Day 2

Day 3, I woke up at 4 am to catch the first boat back to Bulan, Sorsogon. I had some breakfast at the port, then looked for a place to stay, left my bags and by 9 am, I was back in the branch office to discuss work. At 7 pm, I was back in my room (I had three different rooms in three days - because I was in different places).

My room on Day 3

Day 4, I woke up early, took a ride to Legazpi and met some old friends.

Top all of that with homesickness.

But, a working mom has to know that working without some play is boring and tiring. So, I took the chance to see the sights and have some fun along the way.

I saw Chiz and Heart's house in Sorsogon. Walang gate. We even went inside and nobody stopped us. We just didn't go near the house baka kasi bigla na lang kaming hulihin, hahahahah!

Then we had a good dip at the Hot and Cold Spring Resort of San Benon at Irosin, Sorsogon. Entrance was P40.00 each! Imagine that! The temperature was hot, but because it was drizzling, you could see steam coming out of the pool as raindrops fall onto the pool. It was surreal. Imagine the movie Dante's Peak - full of trees, a bit dark (since we stayed there until 8 pm), and there was steam that the people in front of you look blurred.  Really amazing!!!

I also got a view of Mount Bulusan spewing ash.

A good friend offered to house me in Legazpi since her husband is there. Since I was not able to go back to Legazpi on the third day, I went there before 7:30 on my 4th day - just a few hours before my flight back to Manila.

We rode the RIB - a rigid inflatable boat along Pacific Ocean
and then to Embarcadero

Got to have a photo taken with the Seals :)

This is a Navy Patrol Boat Gunner something (I forgot)

And had a picture taken at Embarcadero and at the Legazpi sign

Met with old friends

During  my boat ride from Ticao to Sorsogon, this was my view: to my right, the sun was rising at Mt. Bulusan, and to my left, I could see Mayon Volcano looking equally majestic as when seen up close.  My camera phone could not even do justice to the beautiful scene before me.

Mount Bulusan

Mayon Volcano

I may have a busy life, but I will forever cherish all the challenges that come my way, and find joy in every step of the way. While there may be challenges, I am sure that there will always be abundant blessings.  I choose to count the blessings than count the hardships.

Like this Bicol trip: it was challenging, tiring, and pocket burning (because I had to advance all expenses first, save for the plane tickets, and ask for reimbursement later, and add my family missing me and complaining how long I was gone), but I was blessed because I got to see Bicol again, visit new places, see Sorsogon and Masbate at the same time, meet friends, old and new,  enjoy good food, see Mt. Bulusan spewing Ash, and see Mayon Volcano standing serenely in a distance, all while I was working.

Here's a thought: Ang hirap maging nanay. Ang hirap ng nagtatrabahong nanay. Pero hindi ibig sabihin nun ay kakaliumutan mo nang maging masaya. In kolehiyala English, "we have to make namnam naman our paligid even if we're working."