Author: smartandpracticalparenting

While we were in church today, my son said:

son: oh no, i forgot to make a card for “tatay” (means father in our language)

i: that is ok, u already said happy father’s day to him when u woke up this morning…

son: i know, i know but i was planning to make a card for him…

i: it is ok, i dont think he will mind…

son: u are right! i do have a gift for him, it is more precious than the card…

i: i didn’t know u have a gift for him…

son: my gift is more than enough…it is my LOVE..i tell him that everyday…

i: that is so sweet…that is more important than anything else…

I received a txt from my mom saying that my friend/godfather passed away. The news was shocking to me… I am really saddened by this news. ..The only thing that i can offer is prayers…In as much as i want to go and visit him and pay respect on his last day here on earth, i couldnt because it is way too far from where i am. North America is way too far from Asia, it will take 24 to 36 hours to get there…

I would like to take this time to say these things to u…

• thank u for being a friend…although, u were being feared by most because of ur strict and serious demeanor, u were so nice and thoughtful to me and my family…
• thank u for teaching me on how to handle money…u made millions because of ur perseverance and being savvy with money…
• thank u for making me realize that it is ok to be blunt as long as u are honest…u were always feared because of ur bluntness but behind that hard exterior, u were very generous and u always have a heart for those people in need…
• thank u for showing me the value of generosity, u were always generous to the church
• thank u for showing me the value of books… u always tell me of the books u have read and u always make recommendation about what to read and not…
• thank u for introducing to me the value of travelling…u were always encouraging about going to different places…
• thank u for sending gifts to my husband and i despite the distance…despite being in a different continent, u never fail to remember us…

Please know that u are and will always be remembered… I know that u are happy to where u are right now…

So as a continuation of my conversation with my son about this, i asked him a very important question…

i: what will u do with the money that u have if lets say u have more than what u need?

son: i will invest it and give it to charity…

i: but there are a lot of charities, how will u choose?

son: oh, i dont know…maybe ill give it to the people who has no money…those who doesnt have the money for food/house…

i: that is a good idea…but what if after u give them the money…they will use it to buy food or pay for a place to stay then they will have no more money left….will u continue to give them?

son: i dont know…maybe i will tell them to work and not be picky about it….i will tell them that it is easy to have a dollar as long as u work…or i will teach them some household chores…

i: that is so cute…i wish it is that easy…

One of the things that my son is teaching the baby is the word kiss…So, after a few days, the baby now knows what kiss means and she does kiss when u say kiss….A few hours ago, i saw my son saying to the baby ” give me a kiss baby ” then he said…

son: mom, the baby knows how to kiss…did u see that? she needs more practice though because she gets saliva all over my cheek…

i: she is just learning…

son: i know…she also kissed me so quick…

i: yes, she did…what is wrong with that?

son: nothing…what i mean is that, the kiss is quick but the love remains…

While we were going to the grocery store, my son asked me this question..

son: mom, is it hard to get 1 dollar?

i: what do u mean? 4 quarters is 1 dollar…

son: i know that, what im asking is if it is hard to make a dollar…

i: u mean…earning or getting 1 dollar?

son: yes, because no one will just give u a dollar for free, right?

i: right! no one will hand u a dollar for free…it depends on the person looking for the money…if a person is lazy, it is hard for that person to make money…if the person is very picky with work then it might be harder…

son: so u mean to say, i can make 1 dollar if i want to?

i: yes…

son: oh? or i could sell my paintings, right?

i: right! why are u asking me this question?

son: i was just wondering because we have to pay for everything…just like the gas. food and other things..so if a person doesnt have money, then that person might not be able to eat, sleep in bed or even travel…

i: yes…u are right about that…

son: so, what happens to them? does anybody help them at all? maybe the people with much money should share to those people who has none as long as the person who has none is not lazy…

I enrolled my son in baseball and soccer this fall because he wants to be part of it and because he wants to try it for the 1st time. My only requirement for him to join, is to enjoy the game and learn something from it. To my surprise, he outdid himself by exhibiting or developing good insight towards the games. Please see conversation below:

i: son, today is ur baseball and soccer game…it is also at the same time…which game will u attend?

With this question, my husband and i seemed to know the answer already. He is surprisingly good at baseball and he knows that he is not good at soccer, he would often tell us that he is scared of the ball but he would run after it… So while i was preparing his uniform for baseball without waiting for his response, he told me this..

son: i will go to my soccer game…

i: why? (i was really surprised)

son: i know i am better in baseball and i suck at soccer but i will go to my soccer game so that i can improve my soccer skills… it is not about winning…u told me…as long as im learning and enjoying, that is all that matters…

I didnt expect this response and was humbled by him. To be honest, if it was myself, i would go to the baseball game knowing that i will enjoy it more because the chances of winning is great. My son really taught me something during that moment…such awesome insight…

My son was asking me this morning if it was already sunday…I told him it is still saturday…

son: that is good, i still have time…

i: what do u mean by u still have time?

son: i want to make a card for u for mother’s day…

i: thank u but u dont have to…as long as u and baby are healthy and good, i am content and happy…i dont need any card from u…

son: i know, but i just want to make a card for u so u will always remember that i am thankful that u are my “nanay” (this word means mom in our language) and that we will always love u…there are times when baby and i dont listen to u but it doesnt mean that we dont love or care for u…sometimes, our mind wants to listen and obey to u but our body doesnt…we cant control it…

( i was laughing when he said this, it is too cute coming from a 5 year old)