The Shoemakers: End-results of genetic dominance

The capacity to be skilled in the many facets of parenting remains to this day a gargantuan challenge for Singer-supermom Maureen Javier-Varco. Now that her kids are in the adolescent and young adult stages, she needs to assess their independence preferences, explore their limits, analyze their capabilities, and attend to their individual needs that they could be prepared for a more complicated environment outside of the home.
Maureen, being a working mom with singing gigs on the side, has to cope with the disconcertingly emotional and sexual impulses common among teenagers. And she has to exhibit a double personality since her approach with boys is totally different with the way she has to address her girl.
It’s a natural dilemma for Maureen to raise her boys as compared to her girl. Disciplining boys always ends up to be tough since they tend to be more tactile, less verbal but more impulsive. Generally speaking, boys are more rambunctious and aggressive leaving parents with watchful eyes on their every activity.
Maureen is all hands-on when it comes to “gearing and rearing” her kids. She’s just thankful that she hasn’t reached to that point where she has to beg for heaven’s mercy to rigorously discipline her boys. Beside she has the full support of her parents, Rolly and Rose Javier, who looked after the kids whenever she’s away from home.
The sultry chanteuse’s early foray into the entertainment scene was when she was barely 5 years old and was actually influenced by her sister Lani’s rendition of Lea Salonga’s “Munting Tinig.” Growing up, they used to record songs for their dad who worked in Saudi Arabia. That constant musical communication offered her a better understanding of music and interpreting songs from the heart.
Here in America, she professionally honed her singing talent via regular gigs at the defunct Archipelago Restaurant where she had 3 nightly sets. Every gig became a well-earned learning experience.
Young and effervescent with uncontrolled impulses, Maureen fell in love with a German-Irish-American guy, Michael Shoemaker, in a bowling lane. Persistent and serious in wooing her, he became her first boyfriend that she readily agreed when he proposed.  The starry-eyed lovers exchange marital vows in August of 1995 when she was 20 while he was barely a few months short of 20.
Their union wasn’t at all made of roses and honey as she thought it would. “There were a couple of differences we found hard to settle.” Maureen unhesitatingly declared. “But I’m still in good relationship with my in-laws…they’re simply adorable and caring!”
“If there’s but one thing that I truly regret in life is the fact that I abandoned school and discontinued my Educational Psychology course after I settled down. But still nothing could replace the tremendous fulfillment of muliebrity with the birth of my three kids.”
A new and inspiring chapter in her lovelife sprung in Joe Varco, a band mate who plays the keyboard. “Joe has always been a friend even when Michael and I were still a couple and he’s aware of the situation where I was in.  It was easy for me to enter into a new relationship with him since we perfectly knew each other.”
Currently, Maureen is kept busy with her job and gigs while simultaneously struggling to take care of her kids. Having hugged the limelight at a very early age and consistently perfecting  a wide array of repertoire, Maureen’s laryngeal pivot has already attained considerable perfection.  From her original band, Opera 3000, her group is being reorganized and will be re-launched soon under a new name, the Relm Band, with 5 vocalists including her daughter, Alyssa , as a special featured artist.
The fundamental law of genetics, specifically that of Gregor Mendel’s theory, could be said to have effectively worked benefitting Maureen Javier and Michael Shoemaker’s offsprings. The perfect fusion of parental genes’ most dominant traits was obviously passed on to their kids Justin , Michael and Alyssa.
Meet Maureen’s first born christened Justin Gabriel. All grown up at 18 and a freshman at the Middlesex County College taking up Occupational Therapy, Justin is the epitome of an older brother to his two younger siblings. Gifted with an intense masculine appeal concealed behind his timidly quiet and innocuous nature, Justin exhibits his innate ferocity or unpredictable gregariousness when provoked.
Like normal kids during their formative years, Justin has this to share: “We used to fight a lot when we were younger… mostly over some stupid things of no actual value. As we grew up the sibling war suddenly came to rest.”
Towering at 6 feet and good-looking,  eighteen-year-old heartthrob  Justin partially acquired his independence upon entering college while working at a Hollister retail store. “But it wasn’t that easy since nothing else compares to coming home to the warmth and comforts of a place that I was accustomed to.”
Justin, in his desire to land a most demanding job after school, initially took up Nursing but had a change of heart to Occupational Therapy after being influenced by her aunt who stands as his guardian.
When queried about common teenage (improbable) practices regarding pre-marital sex, teenage pregnancy, habitual smoking, drug addiction, and school fraternities, the reserved-looking young man readily presented a piece of his mind: “It’s always a matter of personal choice when it comes to such cases. Whether being influenced or what, wrong choices and impulsive preferences always result to something regrettable. Once hooked one is already corrupted, physically and mentally, before even considering prevention.”
Aggressive and ambitious as a typical Scorpio-born, Justin has a lot of not-so-concrete life schemes already crowding his young mind. But one significant dream of his consistently remains to be a magnificent obsession…to travel and see the world. “I want to live my life to the fullest while I’m still young then in my old days all I have to do is reminisce the good life with fondness and enjoy the remaining days with enthusiasm.”
Michael Joshua, Maureen’s second son, is his Kuya’s exact opposite in terms of personal choices and even in looks.  At 16, Mike or Mickey, this Sagittarian already stands 5’11” and tips the scale at 140 lbs. Currently in Grade 10 at the Morris Knolls High School,  lean but muscular Mikey is athletic, a martial arts aficionado, and unmistakably, a Bruce Lee fan.
Contrastingly Mikey writes rap music which he could perform with such passion and fervor. “I just found myself jotting down what I felt and observed…or anything that goes on my mind at the moment. Then I edit what I have written when the right mood settles in.”
If there’s but one ambition that Mikey wants to pursue, (aside, of course, from basketball and Carmelo Anthony), that would be modeling. And that dream cannot stay long from being elusive since he’s got what it takes to be one. “I started shopping for my own clothes at 11. I love to wear different well-coordinated or mix-matched items and just feel the panache on me. I feel really good whenever I’m all donned up with excellent wardrobes.”
When it comes to parents’ nightmares like children being involved in hazing and gang war activities, trying alcohol and drugs, and other related stuff, Mikey could only feel sorry for those who are into it. “It always starts from curiosity or being badly influenced until one gets hooked. Maybe, one should always consider prevention even before taking the risk.” A wise pronouncement, indeed,  from such a young guy.
Cancer-born Alyssa Jade, (born July 18), is the quintessential exponent of a true entertainer possessing a well-chiseled face, almond-shaped eyes, luscious locks, svelte figure, and an extraordinary singing voice. A rare breed of a singer equipped with powerful lungs, fully resonated voice, and sustained vocal range, Alyssa is by nature coy and at times childish, but could instantly metamorphose into a professional performer once under the spotlights. She possesses that distinct electrifying stage presence and irresistibly arresting personality highly improbable for somebody who’s merely 13.
Mom Maureen and Alyssa could unmistakably pass as sisters for the former has consistently maintained her youthful charm and whistle-bait figure while the latter is fast blossoming into a full-figured young lady. “Actually, we’re borrowing each other’s clothes,” reveals Alyssa.  “I like what she wears the way she likes mine. And we share a mutual crush…Maroon 5 lead vocalist and frontman, Adam Levine!”
After winning awards from prestigious organizations, Kids Bop champion at 11, the US Open and NBA games, a lead role in an off-Broadway play Wizard of Oz,  and being recognized for her exceptional talent in different occasions, Alyssa is nowhere to go but get closer to reaching her goal…to be another Beyonce Knowles and nobody else. “My mom and Beyonce have the biggest influence in my singing career,” she vehemently attested.
But how’s growing up with two big boys in the family? “Sometimes it’s ok since there are two guys in your defense…but, oftentimes, annoying. I’m always the subject of derision and banter. But that was then. Finally, everybody mellowed and grew up.”
The Shoemaker kids, together with their mom, jointly participated in the recently concluded PACCAL Women’s History Month celebration at the Ramada Plaza Hotel. While Maureen sang the Star Spangled Banner and Alyssa rendered her own vocal interpretation of Aretha Franklin’s “Something’s Gonna Hold on Me,” brothers Justin and Michael dashingly escorted all PACCAL lady awardees.
Incidentally, Alyssa is slated to perform at the Nets  game on Sunday, April 13 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.  Her own version of the Star Spangled Banner is always a piece de resistance
Since personality is a dynamic peculiar trait which creates a person’s characteristic patterns of behavior, thinking, and emotions, it’s an acceptable fact that individuals differ from one another even coming from the same brood. The Shoemaker kids are typically the normal youths in their adolescent stage but they’re definitely more than just the ordinary teens their age.
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