Once a Bookworm, Always a Bookworm: Finding My Way Back to Reading

They say you never forget your first love—and for me, that’s books. From sneaking Sweet Valley Twins into my school bag in Grade 3 to devouring Harry Potter and Twilight as a teen, reading has always been my safe place. But somewhere along the way, adulthood pulled me away. For years, I thought I had lost that part of myself… until one story brought me back.

My love for books began in Grade 3 with Sweet Valley Twins and Sweet Valley High. Soon after came Nancy Drew, who fueled my love for mystery and adventure. As I grew older, my shelves evolved with me—Harry Potter brought magic and a sense of belonging, while Twilight filled my teenage and young adult years with late-night binges and endless debates over Edward versus Jacob. Around that time, I also felt like I personally knew Becky Bloomwood from the Shopaholic series, her quirks, her charm, and her chaos made her feel like a friend I grew up with.

Then adulthood and well.. life happened. Work, responsibilities, and the weight of everyday life pushed reading aside. I also got married and had 3 kids. The girl who once stayed up until 3 a.m. with a book suddenly didn’t have the time and energy, to read at all. For a while, I thought maybe I had outgrown that part of me. 

some of my 2-year old book haul

But recently, I’ve found my way back. It all started when I was going through the heavy fog of postpartum blues. I felt like I had lost myself—that I was only “a mother” and no longer my own person. In that search to feel whole again, I looked back at the things that once made me truly happy. Reading was one of them. Picking up a book again felt like reconnecting with a forgotten part of myself, a reminder that beyond the roles I carry, I am still me—someone who finds joy, escape, and comfort in stories. I grabbed a copy of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo because I saw a news clip that it'll be made into a movie. I enjoyed it and started looking for the best selling books right away. Romantasy books like Fourth Wing and A Court of Thorns and 

Roses reignited my love for losing myself in new worlds. This time, though, I read with more maturity—savoring not just the story, but the emotions, growth, and imperfect love woven into the pages. I also discovered Ana Huang and Ali Hazelwood, whose witty and heartfelt romances (and spicy!) feel modern, empowering, and deeply relatable. 

I see now that being a bookworm was never just a childhood phase. It’s a part of me that simply waited for the right time to return—reminding me that books will always be my escape, my comfort, and my way of seeing the world a little more brightly.

Now that I’m a mother, I find myself hoping my kids will discover the same joy in books that I did. We started reading to them early, turning bedtime stories into a special ritual that feels like a gentle bridge between their world and mine. In an age ruled by screens, I know it’s important to set the example, that books can be more than just pages, they can be friends, adventures, and comfort. Seeing my middle child begin to enjoy reading on their own fills me with so much quiet pride; it feels like passing down a part of my heart. Because at the end of the day, it’s not just about raising readers—it’s about showing our kids that stories are meant to be lived, shared, and cherished, and that the joy of reading can belong to all of us.

Slow Down, My Loves!

I saw my SIL’s new baby post a few hours ago and I remember how years ago, I was at that stage before. When my three kids were wearing onesies and just lying on the bed giving us their oh so cute stares. I suddenly felt a wave of emotion I wasn’t expecting. At a blink of an eyes, my babies turned into kids and all of them are in school now. 

As you all know, I have three children. The other day, I was telling my husband how they each have their own quirks and attitudes. Each of them has different personalities and each one have their own spark. I look at them and I feel a bit sad that I don’t get to cradle them anymore but at the same time happy to see them becoming their own person. 

I miss being a mom with a baby but I definitely don’t want another kid! Three is already a lot to handle. I just miss holding them in my arms like the tiny precious things they were. I miss the way they’d reach for me with chubby little hands, how their eyes lit up when they see me entered the room. I miss the monthly pictorials and the milestones I swore I’d never forget (but sometimes forget specially my middle child). I sometimes miss waking up in the wee of the night just to breastfeed them and change their diapers. Those days were hard and exhausting but fulfilling too, all at once. 

kerenkeng.blogspot.com

At the same time, I’m also excited to see them grow more! My babies are growing into kids with wild imaginations, strong opinions, and hilarious jokes. I love hearing about their dreams, their made-up stories, their wishes for themselves and our family, and the friends they’re making. I love seeing how they develop their own interests too - whether it's dinosaurs, soccer, computer games, gymnastics, ballet, and baking. I see glimpses of who they’re becoming, and I am just amazed! 

Sometimes I find myself just staring at them and noticing how their faces are changing, how their legs are longer, how their questions are deeper. They're really not babies anymore. They're people - real little humans with real personalities. 

Bittersweet. That’s the word I was thinking how raising kids feel like. Bittersweet but also beautiful. Motherhood is full of paradoxes. You want time to slow down, but you're also excited to see what's next. You want to hold them close, but you also want to let them grow wings. 

I'm actually still learning not to cling to the past or rush the future. I know that I am not ready for all the growing up that’s happening, but I just want to be here for every moment. 

Have you had one of those emotional mommy moments lately too? I’d love to hear how you're feeling about your little ones growing up. Let’s remind each other—we’re not alone in this bittersweet, beautiful journey.

From Busy to Busier

I'm writing today and taking a short break from my busy mom life a.k.a. exhaustion, where I've been living for what feels like an eternity. You know, the usual – mom duties, household chores, work responsibilities, and a bit of procrastination. But you know what, no matter how busy I get, I always find a way to add more to my plate. I get annoyed at myself then I laugh realizing how stupid that sounds. 

My usual day consist of waking up really early to prepare the kids' baon, braving the morning rush to get them to school on time. Afterwards, I try to keep up with my toddler's demands for snacks and attention while simultaneously juggling a million other tasks like cleaning the house, sorting toys, making sure my kids' assignments and projects are ready for next day. And yet, I still managed to convince myself that I needed to start a new side hustle, finish the pile of my TBR book file, enroll my kids to sports/music classes, and learn how more things to craft. Did I mention that I'll be starting my driving lessons soon?

Yes, you read that right, crafting like stickers, keychain, leather, and crochet. I already have most of the materials ready. I mean, what's the point of having a spare moment when you can spend it trying to create something that will probably end up  up looking like a second graders' project? But hey, at least I'll be busy, right?

And don't even get me started on social media. This is my work, my niche. I should be pretty fed up scrolling everyday looking for influencers to collaborate with (sometimes I am actually) but I still can't get enough of checking my IG feed. I just can't resist looking for new toys, interior design, and of course the latest local and international chismis. Add the Tiktok, X feeds, plus Lazada and Shopee, and I'm done. Nothing accomplished! The following day will be a busy day for sure no thanks to me. Hahaha!

image not mine

But seriously, what's going on with us busy moms? Why do we feel the need to keep adding more and more to our plates? Is it some kind of masochistic desire to see how much we can handle before we collapse? Or are we just trying to prove something to ourselves (or others)? 

For me, it's a little bit of both. I mean, sure, there's a part of me that's just trying to keep up with everything. But there's also a part of me that's genuinely excited about trying new things and pushing myself outside of my comfort zone.

I know I'm not alone in this crazy journey. So if you're out there, fellow busy moms (and even titas), let's comfort each other and laugh about our shared struggles. Maybe even share what other activities we should try next time? I'm thinking of doing pottery soon.. Oops! Maybe I'll add that to my ever growing list for the next year's activities. 

From Page to Screen

I wanted to share what happened to me for the last years but I can't help but rant on the recent series I've watched. That I guess that will be on my next post instead.

As an avid reader, I always get thrilled whenever I hear that a book I love is being adapted into a movie. I don't expect a scene-for-scene remake but I'd be happy if they stick to the core of the storyline and character arc. I understand that changes need to be made in order to make it interesting and to have an element of surprise. What irks me the most is changing the storyline for the sake of appealing to the society.

I recently read an article about George RR Martin saying "No matter how major a writer its is, no matter how great the book, there always seem to be someone on hand who thinks he can do better, eager to take the story and 'improve' on it." Can't blame him, A Song of Ice and Fire is a good book, albeit hard to read, and the ending of the TV series was a sad sad one. It seems like they were in a hurry and didn't take the time to develop the idea properly. 

Recently, I watched the third season of Bridgerton on Netflix. I actually started reading the books because I loved the first TV series. I became a fan! The book is better than the TV series but I still liked the first two seasons. I was disappointed when the show's writers chose to sacrifice a good storytelling for the sake of trendy, woke ideologies. I feel that it compromised the show's overall quality and I'm no longer excited for the next season. I mean I just really want to watch a good story without someone forcing an agenda. While I'm thrilled to see more representation on the show, I think it's important not to overdo it.

CCTO (photo not mine)

CCTO (photo not mine)

Anyway, one of my favorite book to movie adaptation is Harry Potter. I used to rush to National Bookstore and Powerbooks to see if I can get a copy whenever a new book is released. I love the book but I cannot imagine what a Quidditch game was, how a Golden Snitch looks, and the other out of this world terms. This is one of the reasons why I also love this movie adaptation as much as the book series. I get to see the words in these books in motion. Book or movie wise, it sets a good balance of being loyal to the plot and at the same time giving the movie audience something new to experience.

Any bookworms like me who feel the same about books to tv/movie adaptation? Let me know!

Me after Seven Years

Hello Blog! It's been seven years!! LIFE HAPPENED. Adulthood and Motherhood is hard, I have no time for hobbies these days but I'm going back to doing the things I loved when my life was simple. Social Media is tiring a lot of times but I need to be here since my work is Social Media (the irony). I wanted to delete this blog but I can't since I love all the memories stored here - bad grammar, photos, mundane thoughts, and everything. 

I promise to create more entries this month. As much as I like doing IG Reels, blogging will always have a scepial place in my heart. Gusto ko i update tong itsura ng blog na to and magsulat ng mga walang kwenta ulit. It will always be my favorite outlet. Wait ka lang blogger ha, I'll be back very soon!