HE'S GROWING TOO FAST

He's recently turned four and keeps claiming he's already eight. He's a trying-hard adult when he talks, raising arguments that almost always amuses those around him. Most of the time they're hilarious. Like one time, I brought him with me to work. My office mate brought him to a store nearby and they passed by a group of young gentlemen playing basketball. This was how the conversation went:

Abe: "I also have basketball at home."
Gentlemen: "Really?"
Abe: "Yes, I play with my Tatay."
Gentlemen: "Oh, so you have basketball ring!"
Abe: "What ring?! Only Saturn and Jupiter have rings!"

He likes hanging out with adults. Whenever kids around the block pass by our house and invite him to play, he would call out to them and say, "You should be home sleeping!"

One night, we were with grannies, on our way to a birthday dinner for my sister. Inside the car, my mother was talking, my sister was talking, he was also talking. He suddenly blurted out in a much louder voice, "You are talking, I am also talking, that can't be possible!"

Indeed there is so much wisdom you get from a child. Many times, he's tamed my raging spirit just by holding me and telling me his sweetest I love yous. There's been a bit of a storm in my life lately and my son has reminded me of Jesus sleeping in the midst of it all. He would sit on my lap, dry the tears in my eyes with his tiny hands and would tell me, "Let me dry your tears...there..it will be okay..." and would embrace me. It's such a wonder how much strength I would muster from his slender, almost skinny arms around my neck.

Just this week, he's been sick again. Eight days of unrelenting fever. One midnight, his temperature soared to 39.6 and it scared the hell out of me. I prayed hard to God, crying out to him all my fears and worries. For the first time in my life, I bargained with my faith. I promised God to give up 'something' really important and special in my life, if only he would let the fever go away, even just for that night. It did go away in an instant. I can't help but think of how one night, I was having terrible stomach pains. We were all alone in the house, with nanny home on a day off. He got so worried that he knelt on the bed and prayed: "Jesus, please heal my Nanay. I promise I will eat more, promise I will finish my milk, poo-poo on the toilet, drink my medicines, sleep early and won't shout at night. I will be a really good boy. Just please heal Nanay" He then turned to me and said "You should be okay by now, because I prayed already. Next time be sure to poo-poo on the toilet so you won't get stomache."

One day soon, he will be a real grownup correcting me like that. I won't mind at all. While I am his mother, I want him to be my best buddy.

Sharing his birthday cake

Batman lovers

I carried him for nine months in my tummy... look how much he's grown! I always go sentimental on his birthday.