Re-living

The challenge of the busy and crowded streets leading to the schools had me counting the days for the winter break to start, and today is the day that I am temporarily relieved of the morning left turn struggles to make sure Lemuel makes it to class on time, bring Abraham to his, then finally me – to work.

Its going to be a relaxing short drive to work starting the 26^th but me acting “emo” (this is how they brand emotional teenagers at middle school) is having a pinch of missing the youth atmosphere already. I am going to miss that group of long-haired pretty lass mirroring me when I was young (uggh! Indulge me) standing by the gate. I am going to miss those boys greeting with Hey Bro! or the formal handshakes of the geeks (I bet they are in Magnet class like Lemuel) when they meet in the morning. I’m going to miss the elites, those who arrive in cool rides, and clad in branded outfits from head to toe. I am going to miss the look of youth.

You may wonder, how long do I park on the street to witness all these? Twenty seconds maybe, or just enough that Lemuel and Abraham can get off the car. But as I approach the school gate and as I leave, my eyes wander around a lot, looking for similarities of the youth back in my time and now. I am re-living my own youth in my mind. Maybe I am really getting old because I delight in the long gone memories of my happy carefree days.

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WISDOM OF THE YOUTH (a while driving scene - Brack took an alternate route to our destination…)

Me: Why did you pass this way? It’s going to take a lot of time…
Brack: It’s the same distance.
Abraham: Yes Mommy, it’s the same and you get to see beautiful houses (while cruising Windsor Square). You loved to look at beautiful houses right?
Me: I do, but nothing will happen because I am not buying.
Abraham: And why do you enjoy window shopping? It’s the same thing, you look, spend time, but don’t buy.
Me: (quiet)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THIS WITTY TEEN!

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MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND A GOOD AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR!

what's the upside?

There are times when your nerves make it hard for you to remember to be thankful for having children especially when your little dragons at home start to breathe-out fire. However, under normal circumstances, I still think being a parent is priceless. It has its payoffs that compensates for the pains and heartaches of child-rearing.

Children bring certain happiness to their parents even without trying or exerting extra effort. Parents are crazy about their kids - just seeing them having fun and enjoying life, or thinking about what will they become as they grow older. It doesn’t matter if their children resents it, parents delight in being overly involved with their children’s life, and even if they macro manage at work, they practice 100 % micromanagement when it comes to their children’s affairs.

What do children give their parents? For me the biggest upside of being a parent when the kids are at their tender age is the experience of innocent love, it is also the time you feel their total surrender. This stage brings extra happiness to control-freak parents (I’m not!), unfortunately, this doesn’t last long. There is also the experience of innocent wisdom, the time when you savor the words and opinions of your youngsters as precious treasure, like everything that comes out of their mouth clicks.

I have two boys at their puberties. I heard from other parents who have children passed this stage that this is the most challenging period for them. They talked about their difficult times, their complaints when their kids were teenagers, but didn’t mention a single moment of the joys of parenthood during the time. I guessed, a case of overlook, parents were overwhelmed with the downside, they forgot the good times.

It might be premature for me to speak about the rewards of parenthood at this stage when children are at their teens, but so far from experience, it is positively rewarding. This is the stage that I am learning from them about everything, a million things, from their perspective. Interestingly enough, some of them, I never encountered or heard of in my whole existence. Being a tech person, this is also the time that I am starting to rely on my kids, they have natural gift in running electronics without reading the manuals. This is the time they begin to express themselves and on certain occasions, challenge your viewpoints and tests your authority. It takes a stretch of patience and an open mind to deal with but once managed, adds up to the fulfilling moments of parenthood.

The joys and pains, the color and the drama, you'll find altogether in one package called CHILDREN.

(I got inspired to write this entry because of a recent scenario which I'm writing about next. Till next blog!)