Nancy Mommy Naging SingleD

SingleD and My New Normal by Nancy D. Galang, M.A. May 2, 2020 "And this is the part when you must decide to become a warrior." - Karen Salmansohn A reader, Regina M.P. of Quezon City, wrote to me and requested that I give more tips on how to cope with being SingleD.  Good idea, I thought.   So, extended ang Enhanced Community Quarntine sa NCR and other cities until May 15, and the rest of the country are still in General Community Quarantine. We hope the situation improves so our quarantine will be modified, if not totally lifted. And when this happens, we will have to adjust to our "new normal," move on, and cope with how the COVID-19 crisis changed our lifestyles. When I became SingleD, I also faced a "new normal." My life changed. Looking back, ano nga ba ang   ginawa ko to cope with it? First,   I cried. And cried. And cried. Buckets. Sa tagalog, timba-timba. 'Yung nakaka-dehydrate na klase. I allowed m...

SingleD and Sane  By Nancy D. Galang April 26, 2020          "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning how to dance in the rain." - Viviane Greene When faced with any adversity, keeping one’s sanity is a challenge. Like pag ika'y naging SingleD, o kaya na-quarantine like now.   It has been 6 weeks that we are in Enhanced Community Quarantine (and it was extended until May 15) at alam nating lahat na hindi ito madali. Noon, busy tayo sa ating trabaho at sanay tayo na araw-araw lumalabas. Hinahanap-hanap natin ang mahaba-habang bakasyon. Ngayon, we have so much time in our hands. Hindi natin in-expect na ganito naman kahabang panahon tayo mananatili sa ating bahay. Nakakainip. Nakakabagot. Minsan nakakasawa na.   Nauubusan na tayo ng puwedeng gawin habang naka-quarantine. At habang nasa bahay, tumataas ang anxiety natin, worried about our lives after this.  Pero...

SingleD & Embracing Independence by Nancy D. Galang April 21, 2020 Learning to Bloom where I am planted. While in quarantine for four weeks, I have realized how blessed are those families na kumpleto ang set-up: May tatay, nanay, mga anak, and even luckier when they have helpers and drivers.   Since I have become singleD, I was forced to rely on myself in many circumstances (lalo na when the kids were younger), like during this Enhanced Community Quarantine. Being the head of the household, I am the lone designated member to do errands and get our family’s basic essentials. Naiisip ko tuloy, kung may asawa pa ako, siya ang lalabas ng bahay to do them, while I can stay at home to work, do the cooking, and supervise the kids with their assigned chores.   Isa pa, bukod sa may taga-palengke at grocery, may katulong din sana ako sa gastos. Naiisip ko rin na mas masarap siguro magkape sa umaga during quarantine kung may kakuwentuhan while the kids ar...

SingleD and QuarantineD By Nancy D. Galang What do being SingleD and being QuarantineD have in common? Uncertainty. This health crisis brought about by Covid 19 has kept all of us stuck in our homes for most of our days.   Kung hindi tayo frontliners, hindi tayo puwede lumabas except kung bibili tayo ng basic essentials natin. Hindi natin alam ga’no ito katagal.   Recently, kaka-extend lang ng another 15 days ang ECQ or Enhanced Community Quarantine.   Meron pa kayang susunod na extension? No one knows for sure. Lahat tayo ay nakararamdam ng takot, lungkot, kaba, 'yung feeling of UNCERTAINTY. When my husband decided not to come home, matinding lungkot at takot ang naramdaman ko. Biglang huminto lahat sa paligid ko. I felt like I was in a movie, at nag-freeze frame ang shot. Wala akong marinig kundi isang boses saying: “Ito na yun. Maghihiwalay na talaga kayo." What will happen 'pag iniwan n'ya kami ng mga bata? Everything was hazy. ...

By Nancy D. Galang, M.A. Becoming "singleD" was truly an unexpected turn in my life.   Bata pa lang ako, I pictured that to be my ideal self, I should be the following: 1) A loving and supportive wife, married to a good man who will provide well for his family (this to me, meant na ibibigay ko ang limelight sa husband ko and ako sa background lang), even though I could have a career at the same time; 2) A good cook (di kailangan mala-chef pero at least kaya ipagluto ang pamilya ko maski simpleng adobo, sinigang, afritada, etc.); 3) A creative homemaker (may malinis at maayos na bahay kahit simple at maliit lang); 4) And isa sa pinaka-nasa top sa list ko... ang pagiging cool mom! 'Yung aalagaan ko mga anak ko simula ipanganak sila, hanggang may mga anak na sila. 'Yung tipong I can play with them na parang bata din ako, and paglaki nila, we would all end up to be very good friends, barkada. In my 50 years of existence, it seems nakuha ko naman l...