Kuya!!!!!
My dear Kuya! 2013 is half-way thru and it only means that you're now five and a half years old! I plan to continue writing letters to you and your sister every year. I am more excited knowing that you can already read a lot of words with ease and you can easily read now my letter for you.
Happy ka na no? You're too excited to turn six years old because you're excited to start losing your teeth-- your baby teeth, not for any other reason, but because you're eagerly awaiting what the Tooth Fairy will be giving you. How much the Tooth Fairy will be giving you!
Well, before you turn six years old, allow me again to write to you the highlights of the year as I remember them. I might miss some again, but hopefully I don't miss out on the big ones.
Early this year, we went to my friend's house with your Lolo and Lola. Unfortunately, their child who cannot still speak well was so "violent" when you guys played together. Nakita ko at ng mga Lolo at Lola mo, kung pano ka nagpigil kahit sinapok sapok ka na at sinakal nung batang kalaro mo. Ilang beses ka binatukan pero di mo siya pinatulan. Nagpigil din kami ni Papa. When I talked to you about it in the car, you told me: "Yes, I was about to cry Mama but I stopped myself. He is younger than me." You gained my respect that night, anak. I was very proud of you. Yes, he is the same age as your sister, but technically you are still a kid too, and you could've easily hurt him, grabbed the toys he grabbed from you or cried or tell him in to his parents every time he hit you. But you didn't. You totally controlled yourself. Bravo, anak!
This year, you started attending the big school and boy, did you like it! No, make that, LOVE it! You brought home your first Blue Award on the second day of school! Earned 15 Blue Awards for the first two terms and earned an Assistant Principal's Award after one semester. You really do continue to make me and your Papa really proud. Your initial reading level is at Level 10 whereas most of my Kindy students can't even read Level 2 books! You were one of the students chosen by your teacher to read the longest parts during the Kindy assembly when your class was the host! Galing galing ng stage presence! And I saw how you tried to overcome reading and pronouncing the difficult words like "cooperative" until you mastered and perfected it. Good habits anak, keep it up!
You love to write and you eagerly share your story especially on Monday afternoons after you have written your Recount in school. Now on school holidays, I saw how interested you are in writing. Hindi na pwede i-claim ng Papa mo yang area na yan! Yung Math, fine sa kanya na, pero ang writing? Sa akin na yun! hehehe Keep it up anak. Continue to improve yourself on the things that you love to do.
Yes, initially we had little arguments as we tried to establish your study habits -- doing homework, etc. -- but by and by you got the hang of it. Now, you can pace yourself well, not doing a lot on day one and not being too relaxed too.
But I think I still need to follow up your skills in packing up your things especially after doing your homework. ;-)
There was one major event that happened early this year when I saw how high your EQ was. I was called at work to fetch you from school because you were ill. I was in a dilemma because it was my first day back at work after all the cancellations I made the week before. To make the long story short, when I arrived to finally pick you up, I was expecting you'd cry as soon as you see me or that you'd be panicking already after the long wait you did...but no. You were composed. You had grace under pressure. Ako pa nga yung na tense and naiyak. Ikaw pa yung concerned if I was okay to think ikaw yung may sakit. I wish I had the same anak.
You have become more independent and I am now assured wala akong magiging problema when your sister starts big school. Kasi ngayon pa lang, kaya mo na alagaan sarili mo e.
At home, you and your sister have your episodes, aso't pusa moments, but when you've had a good afternoon nap or night's rest, you willingly give way and spoil your sister. Yung requests and whims ng kapatid mo, pinagbibigyan mo. Pag bati kayo ng kapatid mo ang saya-saya namin ng Papa mo kasi grabe yung level ng kulitan niyo ni Sammie e! Wrestling, habulan, hay!
May mga cheeky moments ka rin. Like one time I caught you making faces and trying to imitate me while I was lecturing you about something! Lokong bata! Pero natawa kami ng Papa mo. Anak, please be patient with Mama and Papa when we lecture you and re-instill values we want you to grow up with. Mahaba-haba pa ang lalakbayin natin. You're only 5 years old!
Papa and I observed that for a time you were getting addicted to the gadgets at home. There was one incident when Papa told you during one of your silly moments that you MIGHT not be allowed to use the tablet or iPad anymore, we were surprised when you actually followed it and reminded me about it when we got home and I told you to use the iPad first so you won't be bored anymore. Your exact words: "Mama, Papa said I can't use the tablet or iPad." When I told the story to your Papa, pati siya nagulat kasi he was just using it para "umayos" ka...not really serious about it. But well, because of that you proved that we can trust you. Now, even after Papa and I decided that no gadgets, iPads or Xbox from Sunday night up until Thursday night, you have no BIG issues about it. Well, sometimes you do, but when we explain things, you follow kahit labag sa kalooban mo hehehe :) Anyway, sometimes you get exemptions especially after you did good in school or at home. :-)
Lunch orders were part of your prize for getting Blue Awards but one time, after you brought home one Blue Award after the other, I joked about having no money anymore for your lunch order. You know what your reply was? "Mama, it's okay. I won't have lunch order anymore." Syempre, natameme na naman ako. Na-guilty tuloy ako. Instead of buying my lunch at school I decided to just prepare my lunch at home. Kung ikaw nga nagtitipid, e di ako din.
Your personality is still evolving. Ngayon, ayaw mo na ako halikan sa harap ng mga schoolmates mo huhuhu dami mo ng tanong...you have the tendency to compare yourself or our family with others...it's something that we will be working on...it's something we will be praying for. Remember what I always tell you, you don't have to do or you don't have to have what other people do or what other people have. God will give you what you need and what is best for you. Speaking of which, around March or April of this year, you learned how to pray the Rosary. I am happy anak. When Ben was blessed by Fr. Ruben, he was surprised when he heard you recite the prayers with ease. Another new fan! :-)
When my left eye got injured, you were so concerned. You always reminded your sister that I was not well and willingly did errands one of which was being my guide everytime I moved around the house especially when I go up or down the stairs.
I hope that as you grow older and even if you see other kids doing things that your Papa and I do not permit you to do, you'd stick with our rules. I hope that you'll continue to mature in a responsible and good way. I hope too that you'd not grow up so fast! Don't wish to grow up and get old quickly, enjoy your childhood anak.
I know that we've told you a lot of times how lucky you are for having to enjoy a lot of things that your Papa and I only got to enjoy when we were working already! Kaya, appreciate everything that you have now anak.
Hopefully, as you get older, we can instill in you the value of hardwork, love for work, giving your best and never giving up especially now na mas marami ka ng naiintindihan :-)
Thank you anak for being you.
Till my next love letter.
I love you Kuya!
Love,
Mama
