The Dress

I arrived a few days before Forest's "Bridge Ceremony" in school.  It was the main reason I went home.  I wouldn't miss it for the world.  It's a very important milestone not just for us for the entire family:  our little one is transitioning from kindergarten to grade school.

The first thing we did when I arrived then was to go and buy her dress. We actually ended up buying her "very interesting" shoes first but that's another story.  

So anyway, we bought the dress (and the shoes) and everything else and then went home.  There were a lot of dresses to choose from.  It should be white so the choices we had were from really simple ones to lacy, glittery frivolous one.  We opted for the former.  It was an eyelet number that comes with a tiny, white leather belt.  It was simple but expensive just the same.  So when we got home, I jokingly said, "I never had a dress this expensive when I was 6 years old!"  Then Forest's quick reply, "Kay wala man kuwarta imong Mama!" That made us all laugh including Mama.  It's more of how quickly she made the deduction and not the interpretation really.

When I sobered up, i realised I had to correct her. I told her Lola had a lot of money then but she chose to spend it wisely.  I told her, most of Lola's money went to Nanay's school.  Indeed.  Thank you, Ma!

I love you very much Too, Rod!

Got this messenger message from Rod:

Miss ka na rin namin

Bukas meron ng wifi

Pray mamaya pero wag gabi na masyado

Love you very much nay

Conversations with the Kiddos (over the phone but it was heavenly just the same)

So I found out from Tatay that tomorrow, he, Forest and Mama would be on a "great excursion."  They would be hunting for Rod's most coveted "coinbank."  It turned out, he was crying the whole time the night before because he wanted one.  And that he, Lola, Forest and Ate Janin were  out last weekend where the two girls got to go home with new shoes in tow.  He, however, did not get to buy any because Lola ran out of cash.  (Because Forest got two pairs of shoes! And they found his coinbank at the last minute).  So tomorrow, Forest would act as guide since aparently, she is the only one who can tell where the coinbank can be found. Lola could not remember anymore.  

Then I found out the thing cost around $12 USD.  I was like, "what?!"  How ironic could that be?  Buying something to help you save but is also expensive at the same time!  So I had a pep talk with Kuya.  I told him to think it over. Our conversation went this way:

Me:  Kuya, are you sure you want to buy that?  Isn't it a big expensive for a coinbank?  Why not buy something a lot cheaper and then save the rest of the money?

Rod (in a quiet voice): Gusto ko kasi talaga siya, Nay.  Iba kasi siya, pag ihulog mo yung coin may maglabas na cat. (I really like it, Mom.  When you drop a coin inside it, a cat comes out of the thing.)

Me:  Yeah, I get that but isn't it insanely expensive though?  Can you think it over? You think it over, you still might change your mind.  After a while, you'd get tired of it anyway.

Rod: Inisip ko na talaga siya, Nay.  

Very quietly, he added, "Gusto ko talaga siya, Nay."

Me:  Yeah, but still think it over,  It's too expensive and Lola's money should not be wasted that way.  She should use it to buy stuff for herself.  She worked hard for that money.  She deserves to spend it on things she likes for herself.  And she's old, Rod.  What if she gets sick? Do you get me?

Rod: Yes, Nay.  Gusto ko talaga siya. 

Me:  Okay if you and Lola have agreed on it already.  But this would be the last time you'd ask her for something this expensive, do you get me?

Rod: Opo.  

Then as if he remembered something suddenly, he quickly added, "Si Forest gani.  Nagpapabili kay Lola ng dollhouse sa birthday niya na tag 1,200 pesos!"

I nearly fell off my seat! It turned out it her request for her birthday.  Lola's gift.  I launched again on my "it's-too-much" speech. Really, these kids, without me there, they're getting very much spoiled.  

Forest then asked to take the phone so she can talk to me.  

Forest: Sa birthday ko, Nay. Di ba nandito ka na?

Me:  Oh, so sorry, Anak. I won't be.  I will be home for your graduation and then we can celebrate your birthday early.  Just you, me, Kuya, Ate Janin, Lola, Tatay...

Forest:  Ay! Gusto ko andiyan ang mga pinsan ko. Si Kirk, si Mia.... para masaya, Nay! Gusto ko may handa! Gusto ko may birthday party!

I'm like, "Oh my gas!" :)

 

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