We were actually in a dilemma a few weeks ago after receiving a letter from our real estate agent that our rental fee for each week will increase again! SHEESH! Another 10dollars off my shopping money! hehehe! So we considered looking for a much cheaper place, a safe place and a good environment for our children. After all, we are paying for a house which doesn't even have an airconditioner (we felt we needed one last summer especially during the week-long heat wave!).
Anyways, I tried to look for a new house but the search results practically gave the same rental fee for the areas we were looking for. Yes I could've looked around Acacia Gardens or Glenwood, or Stanhope, but our weekly budget will not allow it. It is much more expensive in these areas!
After considering some of the pros and cons, like my niece and my nephew, Liam and Sam, budget, safety, etc., we decided to stay. And I think we arrived at the best decision. Why? Well, for weeks now I was able to see how Liam slowly came out of his shell (well, I won't be surprised if he's going to take after his Papa, the shy type). He now plays outdoors with our neighbors whom he always shoos away whenever they knock and ask if he can play with them. At least now, he gets to have a "normal" childhood like what me and his Papa had back in Manila. Naglalaro sa kalye. Hindi nakakulong sa loob ng bahay nagbababd sa TV or sa computer. I am loving it especially when he plays with our neighbors coming from different cultural backgrounds-- Aussie, Indian, South -African, European.
This is not the first time that he has encountered children from different cultural backgrounds, of course, he had friends back in Yogies and now, his best buds in Goddard Pre-School are also a mix of kids originating from different countries. I am happy with this. I was actually telling Alvin last night that it would be alright for me to sacrifice my 10dollars shopping money (hehehe) if it's for the sake of my kids. As I have said before, we want them to grow up well-rounded.
We feel that since he is exposed to different cultures and different physical attributes, he will not base his definition of beauty or handsomeness to being tall, dark, matangos na ilong, derechong buhok, maputi. Sa madaling sabi, hindi siya lalaking pintasero (or pintasera sa kaso ni Sam) katulad ng ilang (o karamihan?) ng Pinoy. He and his sister will get a wider perspective of how to define beauty and will hopefully give more importance to the mind and heart than the physical attributes. They will grow up seeing the beauty of God's creations in different forms and as parents, we are happy with this :)
Photos of Liam with his best buds in Yogies and in Goddard.
This is with Kaleb (Aussie) and Adi (Indian).
These pictures are taken today (21 March 2012) during the celebration of Liam's Harmony Day in Pre-School.
This was this afternoon at our home, with our neighbour, Jerry (who is taller but younger than him hehehe). Jerry's family is from Africa.
Happy Harmony Day!
