Category: Parenting

Why The Pope’s Name Rings a Bell

The white smoke from the most-watched chimney in Rome came out a lot sooner than most of us have anticipated and the BBC breaking news confirmed my gut-feel. Someone has been chosen but he is not our own Cardinal Tagle. I watched the TV disappointed like most Filipinos.

“Now what? Next controversial news please,” I was saying deep inside as I return to my station after grabbing a cup of free coffee from our pantry’s vendo. “We can now move on,” I conceded with the thought that this hype about the papal election is now over and to be forgotten.

It wasn’t the case.

More news about the new pope eventually spread and it caught my attention. Along with billions of Catholics and the rest of world, I soon learned that the newly elected pope is the first ever Jesuit and the first one from Latin America who will assume the highest seat in the Catholic Church. He will also be known as Pope Francis I in reference to one of the very few saints I can recall in a jiffy—St. Francis of Assisi.

Though I cannot remember every detail of St. Francis of Assisi’s life as told years ago by my mother, and religion teachers, its essence that despite being privileged he has chosen to be poor, to serve the poor remained in my memory. It made me a silent fan.

In fact, the story of St. Francis of Assisi has stuck in my mind that his name was the only one that immediately came out during our son’s christening ceremony. “Give me a name of the saint whose footsteps you would like your child to follow,” the priest asked. “Saint Francis of Assisi,” I answered without hesitation.

If I remember it right, that was the last time I heard about him and our son is now more likely following the path of cartoon characters—lately he asserts that he is Ben 10 and every now and then my wife and I believe that he is one of the monsters.

But five years later I didn’t expect that I will hear the word Assisi again. And what the Argentinean pope has told during his first press conference have been inspiring so far, just as inspiring when I first heard about St. Francis of Assisi’s meekness and compassion more than 30 years ago. So even if I am probably among the least vocal about religion I just might keep track about what will happen in the next days to come. The best of luck to our new pope.

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Mood: 2/10 Honks! (This weekend is a whole lot better than it was a year ago. Wifey’s in the hospital during this time last year.)

Marcus and the Games He Play

The weekend is once again almost over but it’s one of those days when Marcus has impressed me a lot. Last night I discovered that he can already comprehend how Magnet Adventure works. It is a puzzle game I downloaded several months back but back then all he did was just watch and annoy me while I spend time thinking how to deal each of the cases. This time, with some advice, he manages to complete some of the basics.

Marcus has also showed great improvement in PC car racing. I still have the old Need For Speed software (from our ex-company’s home PC program) and tonight he played its hot pursuit game and was able to catch 6 out of 6 bad guys. In another PC game, he has reached the tracks’ finish line although he complains that he ends up with no rank.

And now, I watch him wrap up this weekend as he plays his most-loved game — Lego. Awhile ago he finished a Ninjago cobra structure without looking at the manual and now he’s building a Lego City police car while referring to the instructions in the book that came along with the kit. I’m impressed Marcus, I’m impressed.

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Today also marks our return to La Salette. For several months we stopped attending mass there as Marcus’ frequent misdemeanor made me leave church more of a devil than a refreshed Catholic. This afternoon he showed some signs of stubbornness but not as much as before. (I laughed when my wife told me on our way to the mall that she was actually praying for me: “Dear lord, don’t make my husband snap.”)

WTW

I am just your boy next door in a typical neighborhood. The place where I live is an ideal place just like in most Western movies — it has almost everything a bachelor needs to have. In fact, my own home is furnished with stuffs I need access to at any time of the day: a full fridge, a comfy sofa and a TV (though CRT), and my own bedroom has an equally cozy bed. In the toilet, decent fixtures are installed.

My proximity to the essential places is also something that most people might be envy of. From my house, the municipal hall is just across the street; to give me the things I need for my interests is an adjacent hobby shop; few more walks, along well-paved sidewalks, is a grocery store, and a couple of meters more is a bistro just in case I feel like dining in. Finding a job isn’t that hard too. At the very least, wherever I choose work, I get paid a hundred dollars at the end of the day – more than enough to sustain my daily needs.

Remarkably, social life couldn’t be any better. Just nearby are houses of several people. I can name a few acquaintances – there’s Nina, Luke, Marcell, and Kia. Most of them are friendly as long as chatting with them remains constant and relevant. I have yet to meet the others however I am quite sure that it is just a matter of time when it will be fulfilled.

But just like anyone else, I feel that I need more. There are days when I wish to woohoo. Yes, woohoo. It doesn’t sound like a familiar word for any four-year old but it is something carnal. This item is already on queue among my other wishes like wanting to repair, to get promoted, and to plant a corn. Woohoo kid. I know you can see it. Make me woohoo.

That’s my life. I am a Sims 3 character under the control of a kid with an iPad. I don’t know when he will make me woohoo but sooner or later I know he will see figure out. Sooner or later before he turns five.

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And this is the reason, Marcus, why you won’t see the Sims 3 icon on my iPad anymore. I have deleted it. I know you enjoyed it but after seeing that ‘wish to woohoo’ I just knew that it’s a bad game son, bad game. Go play Angry Birds for now.

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Mood: 2/10 Honks! (Lunch was good. Thanks, wifey.)

Guns and Kids (re-post)

After the Colorado shooting I posted this on my blog and ever since my blog got wiped out due to my own fault I have never re-posted the old ones. And now I think is the best time that I start doing so.

Here’s why I think the issue is not just about gun control but rather more on making our kids understand what guns are for and when it is proper and not proper to use it.

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Guns and Kids

Here’s a fact: our son Marcus never owned a toy gun even until now. The things I’ve learned from experience, magazines, books, stories from friends, and especially the news have made me decide then that I will never ever allow my son to play with guns. I know that this is unfair as I am quite sure that I have had the leisure of playing with toy guns when I was his age; but yes, I have resisted buying him any toy that resembles a firearm. I was strict up the point of reminding friends and relatives that they should not give toy guns as gift for Marcus – water guns included.

I am, however, beginning to have a change of heart. I am starting to realize that boys will be boys no matter what and at some point of their lives they will start to get interested in guns. Some factors, either internally or externally, will get these young guys to be fascinated with firearms. Aside from us parents who own a gun, they will also regularly see soldiers, policemen, and security guards who will likely take the role of ‘heroes’ and thus be emulated. Not to be forgotten is the ever influential media – from print to TV – wherein our sons would see guns being advertised, used to enforce the law, or even to carry out a crime.

So how should we deal with this reality? Personally, I now think that no amount of isolation would prevent our little boys from one day playing with toy guns with other kids because whether we like it or not, they will.

It is therefore crucial that at an early age our children must be aware what guns are for and the unnecessary harm it can inflict if not used properly. Guidance is key. As much as possible spend time with them as they watch TV as even the well-meaning cartoon shows would have characters who would use a gun or an arsenal of explosives to blow their foes to smithereens. Likewise, it is important that our kids identify the real thing from the replica – a law requires that any toy gun should have a red or orange tip.

Responsible gun ownership is also imperative. Other than proper handling, guns should be stored properly. Despite their tiny fragile hands, kids already have enough strength to pull the trigger of a gun such as what happened in October last year when a 3-year who accidentally shot herself after she got hold of her neighbor’s gun. It was that incident that prompted me to lock my gun case at home.

With the recent Colorado Theater tragedy, the heated debate on guns and ammunitions acquisition and possession will surely come back to life. But while different countries have their own gun control laws, the role of parenting on this issue cannot be undermined. Whether one lives in Kentucky where anybody can been seen carrying a weapon in public or in the Philippines where ideally only those with a permit to carry (PTC) will be allowed to bring their guns outside of their residence, our kids should know that guns in the wrong hands or state of mind will spell trouble and usually the damage it will cause is irreversible unlike those Yosemite Sam and Bugs Bunny shootouts.

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I got Marcus his first camouflage GI helmet (cheap one) but did not buy him a toy gun. He said he’ll settle for a sword but I know that he is just being sarcastic. Soon Marcus, soon.

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Mood: 2/10 Honks! (Rainy Sunday. Marcus is out. I think it’s time I clean my gun.)

 posted on July 22, 2012

Thanksgiving Weekend and Fried Food

The long thanksgiving weekend in the US gave me another time to spend with Marcus. With my wife out of town to have her scheduled check-up–-also a disguised parenting day off–and with Marcus still needing to attend school, it was just me and him from Thursday until the weekends. During this whole time I assumed the entire alpha role at home including cooking – rice and anything fried.

If I am not mistaken this must be the longest time I ate the most fried food in just a matter of few days, not by choice but by the lack of it. And so today, Sunday, after just taking for breakfast the leftover we had last night–-fried meatloaf AND fried rice, I am looking forward to Batangas where I imagine myself having something green and leafy.

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Our recent father-and-son time made me discover something. Firstly, I can live unplugged. To focus on Marcus’ exam review as well as to spend more time playing with him after, I denied myself access to Wi-Fi and bedroom TV. Other than having more quality time (some usual quibbling in between), I have also proven that without these electronics inside our room, our son is able to be in bed earlier than before. This time he didn’t breach the 12 midnight period.  But if I can continue this, is now a big question.

Secondly, I realized that with the absence of wifey at home, Marcus and I would be 24X7 fast food customers. At first the thought of meatloaf and hotdogs seem exciting but just after two meals I began to accept that I am way past that enjoyment kids (and to mention that my birthday is approaching and I’ll be a lot older by then) get when they hear that sizzling sound the frying pan makes. In fact, if by some stroke of luck, wifey will be away for another day, I’ll likely grab one of those recipe books in the shelf and force myself to cook one that doesn’t have oil.

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Mood: 3/10 Honks! (Gulay please!)

Marcus Shares His Old Stuffed Toys

Finally, after much deliberation, our son’s stuffed toys will soon have their new home. It has been about half a year already when we decided, with our son’s approval, that most of the stuffed toys that used to be on our bed will be kept. But hating that these cuddly toys will just remain inside a plastic bag for good, we have been thinking of potential recipients and this week we zeroed out on one – a child institution where my employer will be having its outreach program. So with some anxiety, very normal to someone letting go of prized possessions, the three of us dusted off, tagged each toy with a personalized gift card, and packed the toys ready to be hugged by some of the kids in Sto. Domingo.

Wifey and Marcus teaming up to tag the stuffed toys.

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Stuffed toys from Marcus to Sto. Domingo.

Please don’t feel bad if you can identify one of the stuffed toys. Be proud that a toy from you that once made Marcus smile, and feel so appreciated, will have another chance to cheer someone up and that it is also a toy that has taught our son the value of sharing this Christmas time.

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FYI. One of the Spongebob stays.

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Mood: 3/10 Honks! (Exam day for Marcus. Another review coming when he wakes up. Will make it a love-one-another-warmly session this time. Will try.)

I bought a Porsche

A friend on facebook bought a Ford Escape. I haven’t told them that I bought a Porsche and haven’t used it until now. (Petron’s promo is heaven sent.)

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Shell this time is facing stiff competition as Petron has its own promo that will attract little boys in the backseat and will confuse dads like me on whether to fill up from the one gas station or the other.

Shell has been giving away Ferrari merchandise for years and this year has Ferrari  Lego items that will be available only until November 30. Anyone with a P1500 receipt (one-time purchase or accumulated) can claim one of its six (6) Ferrari Lego collectibles or one of three (3) figures. Price range is P140-180 depending on the fuel (or oil product) variant that was availed. I already got the F1 model and has been in the hands of Marcus.

On the other hand, Petron has a cheaper deal. For just P1000 (also one-time purchase or accumulated), anyone can already get scale models of Porsche cars for only P180 each. What makes it more attractive is that their promo runs until January 31, 2013. I won’t be surprised therefore if Shell will either extend theirs or will sooner sell the Ferrari Legos at a marked down price just like what it did with their other Ferrari merchandise years ago.

I already got the Porsche Cayman but has kept it away from my son as I made a deal with him that he should improve on his writing subject or forget about getting another Ferrari or Porsche. (Shhh. It’s 1045 AM and he just woke up. Got to play.)

The Alphabet Song for a Stressed Parent?

My recent weekends have been about trying to stay awake and staying late not to work but to interact with Marcus. I know that wifey at times have been sidelined but maybe this is one stage of marriage life and parenting that cannot be avoided — the kid comes first.

Having a very active kid also guarantees that sooner or later he will outrun his parents’ energy level or patience at the very least. This is the reality that we have to face especially for us who work night shifts, and without any helper, as the time when Marcus gets active is usually when we are just about to get a break or doze off. And this is when it gets stressful.

Lately, however, other than his antics, he has started doing something whenever he senses that we are about to blow our top: he sings ABC. Yes, the alphabet song. We don’t know where he learned that trick but it does make us smile and gives some kind of stress relief. Funny guy.

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Mood: 2/10 Honks! (Exchange of roles. Wifey’s in school with other parents and I’m at home with Marcus. Tomorrow’s UN day.)