Zayne dropping by

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

IT'S been several months that I've posted something about my five-year-old ward/friend Zayne Mojica and for followers of my Nanny Stories blog, I duly apologize because of the many personal events that I've had to deal with.

Rest assured I still have so many nanny stories to tell and share. I haven't seen Zayne for a month now. For those who haven't read, Zayne is my five-year-old ward at Charlotte, North Carolina and I met him ever since I first set foot in this place.

I’ve been with him when his first tooth came out and when he took his first step. I've seen his first year of existence in this planet so I guess you can imagine the joy I've felt in seeing him recently.

I haven't visited him since Ronnie had surgery last July 28 and I got holed up in home taking care of him so I was unable to visit Zayne. My surprise then when Zayne visited me with his dad and his aunt Maddy.

Zayne brought with him his new toys, “a shark and escovibido.” I asked him the name of the shark and he told me it was “shakie.” Shakie is colored white on the body and had funny teeth.

“Nanay (mother) look I have something for you,” Zayne said. I know that he meant the toys and he showed them to me. He then gave me a big hug and I choked back tears because I don't want him to see me crying.

Then while the others were talking we distanced ourselves and talked. 

I asked him how he is doing and he said “I am pretty good.” I asked him what he's doing aside from playing and school and he said “exercising.”

I nearly laughed at what he said but then I remembered that his daddy has this tread mill. It is wide and huge and I think he can use it safely with an adult close by for supervision.

Knowing Zayne I know he literally meant it. I remembered before he used to do it and he can even lift things. Then we went to the bedroom and our conversation took place.

Zayne: Why are you not visiting me Nanay?

Me: I don’t have someone to drive me to your place?

Zayne: Why?

Me: Papaw not driving

Zayne: Why Papaw not driving?

Me: He had surgery remember?

Zayne: But daddy can drive you over to the house?

Me: And Papaw would be alone here I could not leave him.

Zayne: We can bring Papaw to the house Nanay.

End of conversation.

Lesson learned: Don’t play with the feelings of a child .A five-year-old can remember a previous conversation. I remembered that I told him “okay baby I am not leaving you I would be back.”

You see a nanny has way more responsibility than a babysitter. Especially with a boy like Zayne whom you would learn to love as your own.

(Susan Palmes-Dennis is a veteran journalist from Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao in the Philippines who works as a nanny in North Carolina. This page will serve as a venue for news and discussion on Filipino communities in the Carolinas.

Read her blogs on susanpalmesstraightfrom the Carolinas.com and at http://www.blogher.com/myprofile/spdennis54. These and other articles also appear at http://www.sunstar.com.ph/author/2582/susan-palmes-dennis.

You can also connect with her through her Pinterest account at http://www.pinterest.com/pin/41025046580074350/) and https://www.facebook.com/pages/Straight-from-the-Carolinas-/494156950678063)

Angels as doctors

Taken from women.thenet.com

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

Angels come in whatever form to our lives. My recent experience with grand daughter Susane Lorete Palmes showed that angels also come wearing the crisp, white uniforms of doctors.

I'm talking about doctors who take an active role in caring for their patients like my grand daughter Susane who got sick with dengue recently. Like Dr. Roque Patriana, the pediatrician of my grandchildren Christian Mejorada, Susane and Arianne Jaden Baesas.

Dr. Patriana works at the Sabal hospital which should be proud of him as he represents the best things about their institution. Then again, the institution doesn't reflect on the individual doctors who must earn their reputation through their care of their patients.

Dr. Patriana was recommended by my younger sister Aida Pacana (congratulations to her for being the new principal at Rizal High School at Claveria town after her 20 years at the Misamis Oriental General High School or MOGHS).

Dr. Patriana is the doctor of her two boys Matmat and Macoy and the kids of nephews and nieces including the kids of Ezrah Eslabon (Bitoy and Diday). The good doctor is a byword to the family in child care. 

Concern
There were several times in the past when I would be with the mothers of my grandchildren and I'm still astonished that I can remember all their names. 

My granddaughter Susane

Dr. Patriana is really an angel, a soft spoken soul that can make kids feel at ease, and is compassionate, patient and fully empathizes with the concerns of his patients and their families.

I talked to him over the phone last week when Little Susie was confined at the intensive care unit of Sabal hospital and explained her condition to him. He listened well and offered me advice and that was so caring of him, I told myself. 

I think I overheard my daughter Honey saying that “Dr. Patriana's concern is always in dealing well with his little patients.”

One could just imagine that if one has fever you can text and he would answer. This is seldom done by doctors, though I knew a few like Dr. Caroline Orimaco who would do the same.

Standard
There was a time I knew Honey was texting Dr. Patriana on what to do about Christian aka Sam who at that was having his asthma attack. And true enough, the caring doctor would answer.

In this society now where privacy is now becoming an issue professionals like the doctors tend to distance themselves from the patients for all the reasons they can justify. Or other doctors would just use distance to justify their need for privacy  and ignore their patients because they don’t care at all or they could be tired. 

But not with Dr. Roque who grew up with the kids under his care through the years and it is amazing. If he's a gardener, I can see that he has tended his garden well.

You can see the long line morning through early evening outside his clinic at Sabal Hospital down Apolinar Velez Street at Cagayan de Oro, Philippines. 

A pediatrician is a doctor who treats children from birth to about 19 years of age. Trainings for pediatricians vary across the world. Dr. Patriana's training shows that he empowers and cares for his patients.

I don’t know much about Dr. Patriana, only that he is married to a gynecologist, who like him is very accommodating. I remembered inviting her for an interview and even if she was unable to make it, she did send a message to me explaining that she had prior engagements.

Dr. Patriana's care of little Susie shows the standard by which all doctors must adhere to. It should be absolute for all doctors, some of whom have become uncaring due to a lot of factors. God speed, Dr. Roque Patriana. 

Taken from www.nymomsworld.com

(Susan Palmes-Dennis is a veteran journalist from Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao in the Philippines who works as a nanny in North Carolina. This page will serve as a venue for news and discussion on Filipino communities in the Carolinas. Read her blogs on susanpalmesstraightfrom the Carolinas.com. These and other articles also appear at http://www.sunstar.com.ph/author/2582/susan-palmes-dennis.

You can also connect with her through her Pinterest account at http://www.pinterest.com/pin/41025046580074350/) and https://www.facebook.com/pages/Straight-from-the-Carolinas-/494156950678063)

Going for #2: Zayne’s bouts with constipation

Me with Zayne in a photo taken in Oct. 2012

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

Yesterday I told you about my reunion with my five-year-old ward Zayne Mojica; I forgot to tell you that I would be with him for two days. 

So on Tuesday, I was with Zayne and all went well except for some old issues that I’ve discussed in the past. 

Today I discovered that he’s still having problem with his poop or as we call it between me and Zayne “the #2” or “number two.”  

Those who follow “My Nanny Stories” blog would recall that  Zayne would usually ask me to pray to God whenever he’s about “to go” and say my prayer out loud so God could hear my prayers. (See “(All About) Zayne’s World here). 
I guess when he asks me to do this, he’s really in pain. 

Late this afternoon, I accidentally saw his face grimace in pain which signaled to me that he’s about to go for a “#2.”  In the three months that I was away I thought Zayne’s problem of defecating had already been solved and so I told him to go to the bathroom.

He didn’t answer and instead continued grimacing, trying to let “go.”  I went near him and told him to hold my hand and together we went to the bathroom. While he sat on the toilet bowl, he again asked me if I can pray. 

I was surprised so with a smile on my face, I prayed loud so he can hear what I was asking. Luckily he had no problem, so we finished cleaning up and we went back watching TV. 

I asked him what he’s eating and he answered “Daddy told me to eat honey raisin brand so that my poop would be soft.” I told him what foods to eat. 

“Baby, listen to me- these you should eat- okay. Carrots- remember you like eating baby carrots- remember. Brocoli, remember you bring to school broccoli- that is good for you so you can release your poop. Also eat celery,” I told Zayne.

Taken from healthdoctrine.com

He also told me “Nanay (mother) I eat strawberries too,” and I said, that’s good, that’s the best for making it easy to release your poop. 

Indeed there are children, like adults having problems with their “# 2” and it should be addressed immediately with home remedies because the pain can sometimes be unbearable. 

It pays for the babysitter or nanny to inform the parents about the possibility of their child suffering from constipation and they should consult a doctor in order to deal with the situation. 

The Constipation Home remedies blog offers the following remedies: 

• One of the best remedies for children is to give them a nice warm glass of milk mixed with 2 tbsp of Castor oil. This is a great way to help with the constipation.

• Also you may want to give them milk with a little bit of honey so it will help loosen them up whenever they have to go; 

• Put lemon juice in a glass of water and have them drink that about 2 to 3 times a day;

• It’s also time for your child to undergo potty training.  Have them sit on the toilet bowl for at least 10 to 25 minutes. It can be hard to encourage a child to do this but it will be very helpful to them should they suffer from constipation;

• Boysenberry juice can be a very good natural laxative for the child and help them free up the clog in their system. 

We all had to deal with constipation in one way or another when we grew up and so we need to pass on what we know to our children and wards.

Strawberries can aid in excretion. Taken from amillionlives.net

(Susan Palmes-Dennis is a veteran journalist from Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao in the Philippines who works as a nanny in North Carolina. This page will serve as a venue for news and discussion on Filipino communities in the Carolinas. Visit and read her website at www.susanpalmes-dennis.simplesite.com. Read her blogs on susanpalmesstraightfrom the Carolinas.com. These and other articles also appear at http://www.sunstar.com.ph/author/2582/susan-palmes-dennis).


You can also connect with her through her Pinterest account at http://www.pinterest.com/pin/41025046580074350/) and https://www.facebook.com/pages/Straight-from-the-Carolinas-/494156950678063) 

My reunion with Zayne

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

It’s been quite a long time since I last posted about Zayne Mojica, my five-year- old ward here in Charlotte, North Carolina.

But last Monday, June 23, I was reunited with him after a three-month hiatus following some changes in my work schedule and circumstances. For those following my blog, you may recall that I was with Zayne since he was a year old.

Even if I wasn't with him I got informed about how he's doing from my daughter GG who took over babysitting duties from me. We would talk frequently about Zayne since he always has a special place in my heart.

On arriving at his home, my husband Ronnie said “look who's here” and a happy Zayne answered “Nanay (mother).” I hugged him and there was a brief moment of awkwardness before our eyes met and we smiled at each other.

I started he day by asking him “what do you want to do today babe?” and he didn't answer. In the old days, he would act indifferent every time we meet on Mondays. But this time he was all smiles.

He was still in his pajamas and was watching Disney Channel while eating Kellog's mini-wheats strawberry flavor and I sat at the floor not mentioning a word. Then I heard him say “Nanay I have a surprise for you.”

I was really surprised because he used my game of surprise every time we see each other; I have small or big things to remind him that he was in my thoughts even when I wasn't around.

It was my idea of showing people I care even if it is only a piece of “candy.” Usually when I say that I have a surprise for him, Zayne would close his eyes and when he opens them, he would see my small or big gift and he would kiss and hug me.

This time, he held my hand and told me to close my eyes as he led me to the other side of the living room. When he told me to open my eyes, I feigned surprise when he showed me his new helicopter made of Lego tiles and a new car.

“Wow this is new,” I told him and Zayne proudly answered that he got his gifts from his father and GG helped him assemble the Lego tiles into a helicopter.

“Get up Nanay I have another surprise for you. Close your eyes again,” Zayne said and as we climbed up the stairs he excitedly showed me his other new toys and clothes.

Simple gestures like teaching Zayne about appreciating the gifts given to him and of giving back fills me with a sense of fulfillment. 

It's showing the unexpected little things that often do matter. Anyone can give a grand gift but making it feel special to the recipient is something different altogether.

These simple gifts, these gestures of thoughtfulness and care go a long way towards building a happier, kinder and more optimistic Zayne as he continues on his life journey.

(Susan Palmes-Dennis is a veteran journalist from Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao in the Philippines who works as a nanny in North Carolina. This page will serve as a venue for news and discussion on Filipino communities in the Carolinas. Visit and read her website at www.susanpalmes-dennis.simplesite.com. Read her blogs on susanpalmesstraightfrom the Carolinas.com. These and other articles also appear at http://www.sunstar.com.ph/author/2582/susan-palmes-dennis.

You can also connect with her through her Pinterest account at http://www.pinterest.com/pin/41025046580074350/) and https://www.facebook.com/pages/Straight-from-the-Carolinas-/494156950678063)

Connecting with Zayne

Zayne in his disciple costume with cast mates.

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

I am presently occupied with another “job” that keeps me away from my little friend Zayne Mojica.

But I still see him a lot as he stays with my daughter GG. In fact today he is here with us. Even now, when we’ve spent quite a bit of time with each other, Zayne still feels shy and awkward towards me.

It would take 20 minutes before he warms up and approaches me. This is a late post because of my second job so let me tell you about the Holy Week presentation that I attended where Zayne played one of the Lord’s disciples.

The teacher read the stories in the Bible to the audience and the stories transported me back to the times when I read the Holy Book in my childhood. 

These are the Biblical stories of David and Goliath, Cain and Abel, Elijah being fed by ravens and the story of Daniel as well as Jesus of course. 

Teaching children the Word of God early helps prepare them in their journey in life. “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it” said Proverbs 22:6

It is so important to shape and guide children but as adults we help to shape the children in what they do even in early age. Children by nature believe what adults tell them anyway so this is the best time to teach them.

I remember when Zayne was three years old, I mentioned the name Jesus out of nowhere and he asked me “where is Jesus Nanay (mother)?”

I was taken aback with his question and it took me sometime to tell him that Jesus is “in heaven.”  I should have answered that Jesus is here with us always. 

I enjoyed the Holy Week play. Tomorrow Zayne goes back to school and I resume my other job. Hope you continue to enjoy my nanny stories and see you soon.

(Susan Palmes-Dennis is a veteran journalist from Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao in the Philippines who works as a nanny in North Carolina. This page will serve as a venue for news and discussion on Filipino communities in the Carolinas. 

She also has her own website at susanpalmes-dennis.simplesite.com. Read her blogs on susanpalmesstraightfrom the Carolinas.com. These and other articles also appear at http://www.sunstar.com.ph/author/2582/susan-palmes-dennis).

How Zayne took to swimming

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

Today I'll tell you something about how Zayne Mojica learned swimming. As if you didn't know by now, Zayne is my five-year-old ward and best friend.

Zayne was already working the pool when he was three years old. He takes private swimming lessons and his daddy has a family pool. Now that he's five years old, he's doing well in his swimming class.

But his bath tub was his first pool and I have a separate story about this. As far as I can remember, he's always a water boy which means he's unafraid of the water. 

However Zayne is afraid of taking a bath in the late afternoon because it means he's going to bed. 

When he does land in his bath tub, he would play and swim in the water, splashing and spilling it in all directions so I usually prepare the rug or paper towels to wipe the floor tiles dry.

Since his considers the bath tub his pool I think his daddy placed toys and other objects there on the side so Zayne would enjoy bath time especially during summer.

On the side of the bath tub are cups and scoops for filling and dumping, boats and fish, sponges and cloths, bath crayons and paints, soaps and bubbles. 

There was a time when I nearly had a heart attack seeing the paint splashed all over the bath tub and wondered how I can clean it up, only to learn that it can easily be wiped away.

Now when he does take a bath he doesn't want to use the shampoo because the liquid easily stings his eyes just like most adults. I also have trouble soaping him because he's so frenetic.

A typical dialogue between us goes this way:

Zayne: Nanay (Mother), Come we soap (places the baby bubble bath liquid on the water)

Me: Okay

Zayne: (When I try to soap him up) I do it- I can do it.

Then he soaks himself in the water, which means he's done soaping himself up.

I have to be creative in persuading him to soap himself up by cutting a deal with him; I would shampoo and soap him up and after that, we play race, tag or hide and seek. He would usually be fine with it.

I try to bathe him fast otherwise he would throw a tantrum and he would really make a mess of the bathroom. I ready the rug in case he really spills water over the bathtub. Otherwise he can really swim in his bathtub. 

By the time he was five, Zayne has outgrown his bath tub and is now comfortable taking the shower. In the school pool, I noticed that he's making progress making friends with the other boys in the class.

There are four boys in his swimming class, a 30-minute session once a week. I think Zayne is ahead of the boys. It is said that swimming lessons provide the child with many benefits such as socializing.

It's also a sensational learning experience for your child. As Zayne, my young scientist friend splashes, and giggles, he's observing the cause and effect, experimenting with the water and studying what floats and what sinks.

It is fascinating to see Zayne, my young friend, now floating on the pool and it reminded me how I learned to swim in the riverbank of my native Tagoloan town in Misamis Oriental, northern Mindanao in the Philippines. 

Back then, I just waded deep into the river and swam through the waters as if  swimming was and always had been a part of my being.

(Susan Palmes-Dennis is a veteran journalist from Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao in the Philippines who works as a nanny in North Carolina. This page will serve as a venue for news and discussion on Filipino communities in the Carolinas. Read her blogs on susanpalmesstraightfrom the Carolinas.com. These and other articles also appear at http://www.sunstar.com.ph/author/2582/susan-palmes-dennis.  You can also connect with her through her Pinterest account at http://www.pinterest.com/pin/41025046580074350/)https://www.facebook.com/pages/Straight-from-the-Carolinas-/494156950678063. )

Running with Zayne

My daughter GG, Zayne at the center when he was still a toddler and me at a playground.

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

You thought I’ve forgotten all about Zayne Mojica, my ward and little best friend with all the other blogs I’ve written about. It’s just that we’ve been busy running for a race that I forgot to update you about his story and mine.

Well, today I’d be talking about running through the eyes of a child, specifically Zayne’s eyes. Nearly everyday, Zayne and I have to run inside the second floor of his family’s house.

The house is carpeted so there are no worries about any stone, dirt or sharp object that may hurt our feet. As to how we race, it goes something like this.

Usually it would be him who’d say “we have to do a race Nanay (mother).”
Like any other games with him, I treat this race like a game. When he runs I would run. You can just imagine me trying to keep up with him, lightning fast as he is.

It starts with the usual “ready, on your mark, get set, go” or “let’s start our engines.”  There are times when I would pretend that I am panting and out of breath and he would ask me if I’m all right.

“You need a booster Nanay,” he would say.  “Oh yeah--okay pretend I got the booster,” I’d reply. “Come on, you can do it,” he would say. This is the usual dialogue between us. 

In running or playing games with any kids, I learned some basic truths.

1. Play when he plays. Meaning if he runs, run with him. Times like this the child thinks you are a child.

With Zayne I taught him little moral values while running and there are times when he would cry when I run ahead of him.  While he’s energetic due to the sweets he eats, I can still outrun him when I want too.

I would tell him ”Don’t cry baby, there are times when you run you lose- not all the time you win. In life, baby, sometimes you win sometimes you lose- but remember it is how we run that makes us win.”

I think he gets my point because he would tell me “okay you win nanay.”

2. Teaching children moral values would help you develop their moral compass in life. You can shape how they would look at the world and behave towards others. And learning these lessons early would shape their character.

While it seems impossible to explain the importance of winning or losing in life, showing your children how good morals affect others can be a great influence on them.

As a nanny who takes the role of guiding her ward seriously in the absence of his parents, it’s my duty to teach morals to Zayne and other children to help transform into capable, responsible and mature adults in society.

My daughter GG and Zayne. 

(Susan Palmes-Dennis is a veteran journalist from Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao in the Philippines who works as a nanny in North Carolina. This page will serve as a venue for news and discussion on Filipino communities in the Carolinas. Read her blogs on susanpalmesstraightfrom the Carolinas.com. These and other articles also appear at http://www.sunstar.com.ph/author/2582/susan-palmes-dennis.  You can also connect with her through her Pinterest account at http://www.pinterest.com/pin/41025046580074350/)https://www.facebook.com/pages/Straight-from-the-Carolinas-/494156950678063. )