Ang Kalatas Volume III September 2013 Issue | Page 26

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THE MESSAGE. BRINGING INTO FOCUS FILIPINO PRESENCE IN AUSTRALIA. www.kalatas.com.au | Ang Kalatas Australia | Vol. 3 No. 12 | September 2013

FEATURE

Young mum says it in new book
TITUS FILIO
PARENTING has its ups and downs and not a few mothers can say that it is not really the fairy tale one would imagine. For Anna Maliwat Garcia, mother of bubbly four-year-old Allegra, she says ‘put the baby back in my tummy.’ Well, that’s actually the title of her book – ‘Put the Baby Back in My Tummy: When Parenthood is Not Quite as Expected’ – which saw its Australian edition print last month. The 300-page book, is an illustrated easy-to-read, humour-laced parenting kit for mothers especially those new in this 24/7 vocation. “Many of us anticipate the amazing miracle of a newborn baby,” Anna tells AK. “Whilst it is an amazing experience, there is the other side of parenting that most books don’t talk about – the sleep deprivation, the screaming, the food ?ghts, the toilet training dramas and the extreme tantrums – all the parts that sometimes leave you feeling you want a baby refund!” she says. “I try to deliver our personal parenting journey in a humorous way. I believe laughter helps parents through their rite of initiation. I had a particularly challenging p y g g parenting journey with Allegra so I hope by sharing my journey parents receive some consolation.” Manilaborn Anna is a visual arts and religion teacher by profession. But school duties took a backseat when heaven sent her and husband Sheldon baby daughter Allegra. That’s when some hell broke loose. And the young mother admits she could hardly cope. “I thought something was wrong with me because I seemed to be the only one not coping because I couldn’t ?nd any books at the time that said this was normal. I later discovered many parents go through this.” She’s gone from one parenting coach to another and had listened and taken advice from one mother to another. Baby Allegra was taking most of her time and energy; indeed love comes with a costly price tag and every long day’s toil saw Anna ?nding solace on Facebook (maybe just like most young mothers). “I was broadcasting all my Allegra dramas on Facebook. People were asking me when I would write a book because I had such a collection of funny stories. I literally went through my Facebook posts and pieced my story together.” The book is divided in three parts. The ?rst part is ‘Memoirs of a Diva’ which details the family’s journey, the second part is ‘Parents’ Survival Kit’ which includes tips from parents from around the world who also went through struggles. The third part is a collection of funny illustrated stories titled ‘Allegra’s Greatest Hits’. The book is her ?rst paperback initially launched as a US edition via www. amazon.com. It took her some 15 months to produce the book. That meant months of writing and re-writing and painstaking nights of drawing the illustrations herself. “It was a gruelling journey, especially when I was working full time. I’d go to work, then care for Allegra, then once she’d fall asleep I’d start working on my book. There were many nights I’d go to bed at 3am to ?nish the book. I understand why separation would lead to fragmentation of his country. Anyone who appeals that only through a religious solution Mindanao will move on already lost the argument. Our growing and maturing secular society mandates that we foster a pluralistic society. Christians, Muslims, lumads, and I dare say, nonbelievers, are here to stay. There is a better chance if we learn to live with one another. Those who pretend otherwise are leading us into a troubled present and immediate future. Allan Espinosa lives in Canley Vale NSW. He ?nished philosophy in Notre Dame University in Cotabato.

ON THE JOYS AND PAINS OF MOTHERHOOD …

Anna with husband Sheldon and daughter Allegra
‘day care police’ because she is so bossy telling everyone what they should do.” The book is being printed with Ligare printers in Sydney. More details about the book and how it can be purchased can be seen at Anna’s website www.putthebabyback.com. Anna is happy to share their journey in raising their baby with the book. But with the release of the book, Anna’s authoring duties can now take a backseat. Like every good mother, life for Anna revolves around her daughter. “Allegra is my biggest challenge and I am determined to make her life my greatest success.” should observe the principle of caveat emptor when we vote. Buyer beware! Or in this instance, let the voter beware! It is up to us to choose wisely. To scrutinise the merchandise. We cannot afford to have a buyer’s (voter’s) remorse. We get who we vote for and get stuck with it for however long their tenure is. Unfortunately, we cann ?B&WGW&??"W?6??vRF?R?W&6??F?6R?b?B?2fV?G??"???gV?7F????( 2vR?fRF?v?BV?F??F?R?W?BV?V7F????26??VB??"??VfV?f?&&?B??bF?W?W&?6????n??6R?'WB&V?V?&W"?vR6???R&?rF?ffW&V?6Rv?F??W"&V6??W2f?FR??V??R6?w&?F??r&????2??Rv?f??r&?'F?F?&'??( ?6?R6?2?6?RF?B?fW"#???W7G&F???2f?"F?R&???&V6W6R6?RfV?B?W"FVv?FW.( ?2W'6???G?v2( ?F??W?&W76?f^( ??Bv?&G2???Rv?V?B??BF??B?W7F?6R?( ???Vw&?2B'WB6?RF????26?R?2b?V'2??B?F?RF?6&R6V?G&R6???W"F?P????D????g&??vR#P?6V6??B?F?R&?&?V?2????F??&RV?F??FV?&?WB??&?f??rF?RV6????2?B??F?6?6?GVF????bF?RV??R????F????&V6???v?V?6??V??R6?( ?6F???26?V?G'?( ??"( ??W6????F??( ??F??2( ?&V?v??W2'F?F?????~( ??bF?R?????W2?gFV??&&?W'2?F?F??&WGvVV?F?ffW&V?Bf?F?2???FV??FR7W&RF?BGW&??r??2vF6??F?R???&?G?g&???2v?V?B&R??FVw&FVB??F?F?R???&?G?&?6??V?F??????f?&??`??T?T5D???2??g&??vR#P??bF??2????G??6??R?bW2v?F?w&VB?V?wF?2F?&V6??R?V?&W'2?bF?B'G??GFV?B'G??VWF??w2?vWB??F?w&?VBv?F?F?R?Vg?vV?v?G2?bF?B'G??B?7B7V6???F?2??6?6???VF???B?2?V???GW&R??F?7??B&W7B( 2F?&R'B?b6??W7V6????b?Bv2F?RF????B6???BF??WBF?Rv?&?B???rF?BvR?fR6??WB??"???F?R?V7B?66W72F?F?R&?wv?w2???wV??G??bF??2F???2v?V?vRW&6?6R6??WF???r?vP??