Wi-fi

We forgot about paying our landline bill on time.  As a consequence, our line was temporarily cut.  Tatay and I were thinking it might be good to go without WI-FI momentarily to curb the children's dependence to it.  In fairness, Rod's phone is "confiscated" from Sunday afternoon to Thursday night. He gets to enjoy it only on the weekends.  However, when he does have his phone, he is glued to it all day.

So, after two  days of having no WI-FI.  I got this Skype message from Rod (they were at Lola Fely's house at that time thus the connection):

Rod: Nay mag padala ka gud ng pera kay tatay wala ng wifi kaya hindi ka na namin ma tawagan.

I did not answer him instead asked him how he was as he was recently sick.  I asked how his exam was and whether he had to be absent.  He answered me each time but then kept at it again:

Rod:  Nay kailan maka bayad ng wifi.

Since I apparently could not escape the inevitable,I just told him, "Di ko alam anak... wala pa akong pera.  Baka sa katapusan pa.  Kumusta ka na?"

Rod: Oct 31 bala ka hindi ka na namin ma tawagan hanggang oct 31.

We got cut off momentarily and then I just to have a talk with Mama Fely who was celebrating her birthday.

Then in true, Rod fashion, he persisted, "Nay mag bili ka ng maraming notebooks at pencil tapos hindi ka maka bayad ng wifi."  This surely made me laugh.  He was pertaining to the outreach activity we are donating to.  I had to tell him that the notebooks and pencils were much cheaper.  To which he only added, "Bayaran mo na lang gud ang wifi."  Hehe! Such persistence!

Conversation with the Kiddos

Rod: Nanay, naka save na ako ng 100
Me: Wow! Well-done! Try to keep it safe why don't you deposit it to your account? Di bale pagkauwi ko, I will double what you've saved and deposit it.
R: Di ba, Nay, gamitin ko man siya sa bakasyon natin?

I have told them that they better save if they want to buy something for themselves during our vacation. I told them all of Nanay's money would be used up for plane fares and  hotel stay.

M: Yeah, it's still better to keep it safe though. So you won't be tempted to spend it.

R: Okay.

M: Kumusta school, Anak? Nahirapan ka na ba sa Math mo? Do you need a tutor now? I'll get my salary in September pa. I might be able to enroll you by then to e-nopi.

R: Mahirap na ng konti. Di bale, Nay, ma gets ko lang man din yun.

M: (Feeling my heart expand) You don't know how happy you made me, Rod. So proud of you.

R: Thank you. (Nag thank you pa hehe)

R: Nanay, tanong ko lang ha? Kelan mo ko mabilhan ng film sa camera ko? (He has an instamagic, a prize he asked for, for being an honor student last school year)

N: Naku, Anak, wala pa man pera si Nanay. Baka first week of September pa. May bills pa nga tayo na unpaid pa. I'll ask Tatay if he has money from the shop, I can borrow.

R: Okay lang man, Nay. Kahit matagal pa. Don't worry about it. Okay lang man sa akin.

Forest: Nanay...
M: Yes, Anak? I miss you so much!
F: Gusto na kita mayakap.
M: (Totally speechless and tears stung my eyes)
F: Miss na kita.
M: Ako rin, Anak. Miss na miss na kita. Di bale, uwi ako soon.
F: Gusto na kita mayakap ng totoo...

What do you say to that? ;(

I'm grateful everyday for having such loving, wonderful, smart kids. Truly God's blessing. I miss you everyday.

Echo

So I got this message in Skype from my son, "Nay goodnight sleep na kami love you off na namin ha masama sa bata ang celephone ay malapit sa ulo goodnight love you nay."

Context:  We said a prayer together and Forest asked that I keep watch for a bit while they sleep.  I had to be away for a while from the computer for work concerns.  When I went back I saw this message.

Kids, it's amazing and amusing how they echo back to you the very words you keep telling them.  So it's really important to always be mindful of what you say to them... And of what we fill our innerworld with.  After all, the mouth speaks what the heart is full of... (Note to self.)

A Good Mom!

Conversation earlier:

Me: Both of you made me feel so proud you were behaved the whole time you waited for me. Thank you for waiting so patiently.

Forest: Ganyan talaga yan pag mga mabait ang Nanay!

Me: Huh?

Forest: Kasi mabait ka nung bata ka kaya mana kami sa yo. At dahil di mo kami ginapasanay sa mga gadgets!

Hahaha and so the lecture about use of gadgets had sunk in more than I thought, huh? :p It's an on and off negotiation (battle) though. They are not always so 'unfriendly' with gadgets :p

To Whom?

Forest handed me a rose petal saying, "Wish ko sa 'yo, 'Nay..."

Then muttering more to herself looking at another petal in her hand, "Haay, napisat na yung para kay Tatay!"  Then turning to me, suddenly said, "O, ibigay mo sa asawa mo!"

Ganun? :P

Is it Shameful?

Yesterday, we went out with the kids to buy their requirements for school.  As there was no parking available, Tatay only dropped us and asked that we call him when we were done.

I felt pride swell in me when I saw Rod looking at his list from school and looking for what he needs all by himself.  When we're done, we went out to the parking lot and waited for Tatay.  All of a sudden, Rod turned to me and said, "Nanay, I have a question."  I looked at him and wondered what it is this time and asked, "What is your question?"

He blurted out, "Is magpadede in public, bad?"  (Is breast-feeding in public, bad?).  I tried looking for what he was referring to and spied a woman sitting at the front seat of a tricycle, feeding her baby.  I immediately replied, "Of course not.  It is the most natural thing in the world, feeding your baby."  Then I pointed to him, "There are other women wearing revealing tops for no other reason but, whereas, a Mom breastfeeding her baby in public is only easing the hunger of her baby.  Is there anything bad about that?"  He then smiled sheepishly at me and replied, "None.  You are right, Nay."

I'm really grateful that he still turns to me for questions like these.  It makes way for good conversations between us and an opportunity to share with him values I hold dear to me.  But, just to be clear, I am in no way obligating him.  Later on, he might have different views on some things.  As long as he is in the right, not harming other people, not being prejudiced in any way, then that should be more than fine...

How Come?

Conversation at the breakfast table:

Forest: Nanay bakit nung baby si Kuya, wala siya buhok, si Tatay mahaba ang buhok? Ngayon malaki na si Kuya, marami siya buhok tapos si Tatay konti na lang ang buhok niya?

(Forest: Nanay, how come when Kuya was still a baby, he had no hair but Tatay had long hair? Now, Kuya is big and have a lot of hair and Tatay only has little hair left?)

Tatay can only smile while I almost spurted out my tea hehe

Bad word!

Bedtime conversation:

Me: So what are the things you are grateful for today? Or the weekend in general?
Rod: Hmm... Wala man... None really.
Me: What?! The fact that we were able to go on an outing is...
Forest: (interrupting me in an irate, sleepy, tired voice) Nanay! Sabi mo bawal magsabi ng bad words! (You said, it's not alright to say bad words!
Me: (perplexed and don't know what I said exactly) what? What did I say?
Forest: f**k.

Rod doubled over in laughter.
I was aghast! And asked,  "How come you know that word?!" But explained I said, FACT and what it means exactly.
Rod who was laughing the whole time helped explained as well.

My gas!

Earrings

Forest, noticing the new earrings I was wearing quipped, "Gusto ko rin ng bagong earrings, Nay (I want some new ones as well, Nanay)."

Me:  Okay.

Forest: I want it as long as that... Oh! Even longer like this size (holding out a triple A battery.)

Oh, oh! Time is flying so fast.  Our baby now has some fashion sense (though she always had even when still a toddler).  Can you wait for a little longer, Anak? I'm missing a lot of your growing up years as it is!

Rod: What I Want to Be

It's been awhile but finally, we again had our usual soul-to-soul conversation:

Me: At ten, Rod, I somehow knew already what I wanted to do... (describing the historical event that led me to my realization)

Rod: I want to be like you, 'Nay (my heart stopped and I immediately became teary eyed). But I might become a vet as well. I feel for people too. At school when there are vendors who do not get a sale, I buy their food even if I don't like them. But I feel for dogs and animals also (describing to me a story he read about someone who decided to become a vet after losing a dog).

Well, you could be anything, Anak. As long as you're not hurting other people to become what you want to be. Nanay and Tatay will try our best to support you all the way. I love you to the moon and back.

Pretty when Happy

Tatay took a photo of me while we were having a conversation through Skype.  We've made the effort to get in touch,it being Heart's Day.  Forest upon seeing it immediately said, "See, Nanay, maganda ka gud kung happy ka.  Ang ganda mo! Pag sad ka, pangit ka."  (See, Nanay, you look really beautiful when you're happy.  You're pretty! When you're sad, you're ugly) Huh!

Makes Sense

I remember how, just before I left, Forest was at this stage wherein she really loves beautiful houses.  There were instances when she would say to me, "Gusto ko talaga ng bahay na may hagdanan, Nanay!" (I really like houses with stairs, Nanay.)  She then pointed out to our neighbor's house and said, "Just like that of the house next to Nana's."

I was pretty sure she'd never been  inside that house and so I asked her, "Oh, have you ever been inside? They have stairs?"  She looked at me in a funny way, as if to say she can't believe I have to ask the question.  She then said, "Di pa.  Pero alam mo kum bakit alam ko may stairs sila?"  (Not yet.  But do you know, how I know?) She then proceeded in a very condescending tone, "Kasi... meron silang taas ng bahay. Pano sila aakyat sa taas kung walang stairs, di ba?!" (Because... they have a second floor.  How could they go up if they don't have stairs?)  Short of telling me, "It's that simple, Nanay. I can't believe you haven't figured that out yet!" :P