Período de Vibración

their children, they have more opportunities to be involved. When asked if there were factors that make it difficult for them to support their children’s education, some

participants shared that it was not very hard for them because they have time. Ten of the 31 participants were not employed and stayed at home with the children, giving them an open schedule to assist their children. Alma (B), Beth (B), Monica (C), and Lyka (B) all mentioned that they do not have problem with time since they stay at home. Lyka added, “I don’t have a problem because I only have two children. I only have two, so I can really

focus on them.” Elsa (B), a stay-at-home mom who has two children, said, “When I think about it, I can’t really give my 100% attention to my son, because I have to divide my time. But that’s okay because I still have time for him, he’s my priority.”

Even some of the working parents did note that they are still able to find time to help their children. For example, Fiona (C), who owns and operates a small online clothing shop, believes that her work does not get in the way of her helping her son. She said, “My opinion is that it depends on the parent how she/he will prioritize her/his time. You can spare at least 30 minutes (for your child), right? You’re not supposed to just be focusing on your work the whole day.” Monica (C) also shared that her daughter is her priority. Although she is now a stay-at-home mother, she did mention that when she was still working, she would really take a leave from work to attend parent-teacher

conferences. Sonia (A) also shared what she would do when she was still working, “Even when I was working, I was the store cashier and custodian, and there’s a computer there so what I would do is make reviewers for my daughter when there’s no customer.”

On the other hand, several participants reported that they do not have enough time to be more involved with their children’s education and that there are many things that compete for their time and attention. To illustrate, Emie (A) mentioned that she used to be able to volunteer in school to clean up, but she had been unable to do that since she had a baby. She also shared, “Sometimes, my daughter (target child) would ask for my attention and help, she’d ask me to tie her hair, I’d urge her to do it on her own because the baby is very playful and restless. Good thing she can do it independently.” This is similar to Carmela’s (B) experience as she also has a two-year-old and that she cannot focus entirely on her third-grade daughter. For Monica (C) who was previously asked by her

husband to stop working so she can focus on the children, she was still unable to volunteer in school because of her 3-year-old baby. She has three children. Vivian (C), who was 31-years-old and has eight children, admitted that she could not really give her complete attention to her daughter who had previously repeated first grade. She said, “Sometimes I’d just tell her to read out loud so that I can hear her even if I’m doing something else.”

Not having enough time to help their children was more evident for two

participants who were single parents and were working. Lani (B) had been separated from her husband during the time of the interview and was working as a dressmaker. She shared, “Since we separated, it has been more difficult for me to focus on my son, especially because I work. The most difficult for me is that it seems like I’m always running out of time, I’m always in a hurry. There was a time when my son was already crying because I’d get mad at him. I’d tell him to hurry because he’d be late for school, but it seems like he’s moving so slowly. We’re running out of time.” Chloe (C), a single mother and bread winner for her family (her four children, two aging parents, and one sibling), admitted the difficulties she experiences on a regular basis. Every morning, she would cook food that she would later peddle on the streets. Chloe further mentioned:

I can only dedicate a very, very limited amount of time to teach my daughter. When I teach her, she has to pick it up right away. If there’s anything more that she needs, I don’t really have time for it… That’s my primary barrier, my being busy because I’m the source of income. I don’t know any other way to earn money, this is the only thing I know – to cook and to sell… It’s very hard to be a single mom and a sole earner, I almost don’t see my children. We’d just eat and

then they’d go to school and I’d go out and work. Sometimes my children and I would just see each other on the streets.

For Ivy (C) who has four children and lives with their extended family, she revealed that she can only guide her son occasionally, especially when there were things that demand her attention at the same time and there was no one else at home to help her. She was also unable to volunteer because of the many household chores she needed to do. Because of these, her son was also unable to attend his recommended remedial classes. Ivy (C) said, “I just talk to the teacher and tell them that I really can’t send him to his remedial classes because there are so many things I need to do, and I can’t juggle them all. Because if I don’t move, the child won’t be able to move as well.”

1.5. Perception of what other people would think. A few of the participants