SAY THAT AGAIN!!!

I treasure each moment with my children. Being with them, at any corners of the earth (in the breakfast table, in the mall, in the beach, in the bedroom or even in the car) is just an absolute bliss for me. But the experience of actually conversing with them - giving them your insights and waiting for their retorts - is just like flipping through a book with a much-anticipated climax. You will never know what they'll say until you really hear it. Their naïve ideas, blurted into words, are always full of surprises. It amuses me though that their candid and ingenuous words often times make real sense. Below are just some of the many memorable yet comical remarks they forthrightly said:

1. "I THINK YOU'RE JUST NOW THE 'LITTLE' BEST MOM IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD"-- My 4-year old daughter said to me when she thought I bought a book only for her 'kuya' and did not get her anything...

2. "I PEEPED THROUGH HIS DOOR AND MOM, HE'S NOT WORKING, HE'S JUST READING A NEWSPAPER" - My then 4-year old son was telling me about my boss (a justice of the Court of Appeals) when I brought him in my Office.

3. "CAN YOU JUST BUY ANOTHER ONE" – My impatient then 4-year old son was telling his Tita O, who was looking (under the seats of a darkened movie house) for her still amortized-ring which she accidentally dropped.

4. "MOM, IS IT REALLY HARD TO BE A GROWN-UP?" One difficult question, my son asked me when I went frantic over a trivial issue.

5. "WHY CAN'T YOU JUST GET MONEY FROM THE WALL IN THE MALL" - my son (age 7) referring to the ATM, wondering why his parents still need to go to the office.

6. "WHEN WE'RE RICH, COULD YOU BUY ME A REAL PINK PONY?" – straight from the mouth of my 4 year old daughter who at that time owned a small pink pony doll.

7. "DAD, CAN YOU GET ME A BIG BOOK ABOUT ALL THE JOBS IN THE WORLD, I HAVEN'T DECIDED WHAT I WANT TO BE WHEN I GROW UP!" – uttered by my 8-year old son while in the car during one of our long drives.

8. I CAN'T BELIEVE A NORMAL ADULT WOULD BUY SOMETHING LIKE THIS! - very well said by my son when his Tita E. bought him a black slimy (almost real) toy mouse.

9. “IT'S TIME TO CALL THE FIXER!” – my daughter referring to his handyman lolo J when something was broken in the house.

10. "DEAR JESUS, THANK YOU FOR ALL MY TOYS, FOR MY OLD TOYS, FOR MY NEW TOYS AND FOR ALL THE TOYS IN THE WORLD. AMEN". - a night prayer said by my then 3 year old daughter as if only toys and only toys really matter in her world.

11. “DEAR JESUS, PLEASE DON'T MAKE MY MOM AND DAD GROW OLD BECAUSE I KNOW THEY WILL SURELY DIE”. --A night prayer said by my then five-year old son already worrying about unimaginable things... (Morbid indeed)!

12. "WHO DO YOU THINK IS WEALTHIER, Auntie M or Tita E? – a baffling question asked by my son, awed by the so-many gifts showered to him by his Auntie M and Tita E...(initials supplied, for privacy)...

13. “YOU DON'T LOOK PRETTY TODAY MOM, BUT MAYBE TOMORROW YOU WILL...” - Ouch!!! Uttered by my daughter when she saw me with “un-brushed” hair with a big zit in the middle of my nose

14. “REALLY? ONE CLICK OF THAT BUTTON AND MY MOM WOULD SEND SOMEBODY TO JAIL?" – a bewildering response of my son to his Tito P, the latter explaining to him the nature of my job when my son asked me why i keep on typing many words in my office computer.

15. "GROSS!!! EEEWWW!!! MOM, BOYS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO KISS GIRLS"- innocently commented by the 4-year old daughter when she saw her dad kissed her mom, one cold lovely evening…

FROM LAMEST to GREATEST

It was a cloudy Saturday morning and we are all getting ready for my son's soccer culminating activity at his school in Colegio San Agustin, Makati (CSA, for brevity). Excited mom as I am, I went to the nearby mall (as early as it opened) to buy food for the "picnic cum agape" that would be held after the awarding of medals. The mall was already bustling with eager-beaver people anticipating to get a catch in the mall's 3-day sale – (up to 70% off). And I have to deal with these shoppers as bravely as I can… Deliberating what to get for the picnic, i settled for 1 dozen hotdog waffles, 15 pieces yummy empanaditas, liters of lipton kalamansi-flavoured iced tea and gallons and gallons of water (one would never know how soccer players guzzle water when they're super tired).

The whole family (grandma tagging along) and my two angels rushed to the football field to show our support to the family's champ. My son was in high spirits vowing to eat alive all his worthy opponents! (Yes, he brags when nervous). He was even more thrilled when he saw his other team mates warming up for the game. Jogging, stretching and kicking some balls….

CSA's Coach Mario divided all the players into two categories, the big-built group, consisting of red, yellow and blue team and the medium-built group, consisting of white, orange and gray team. My son was with the medium-built white team. At exactly 2:30 pm, all the players rallied in the field with Coach Mario giving important instructions. In the medium built, there would be three elimination games. First game: Orange vs. White; second game: White vs. Orange and third game: Orange vs. Gray.

The soccer game begins, with everyone showing his own mettle and skill, with everyone doing his own David Beckham in the field. I was "deafened" by the shouts and cheers of other parents chanting their son's name. I was busy capturing the whole event with my digital gadgets. My hubby, on one hand, was pre-occupied with posing as an 'unofficial' assistant to the assistant coach of the white team. Go, Go, Go… All players unrelentingly run for the ball. My son was his team's defender. No lucky kick for him. I sensed disappointment. The eliminations game was a cardiac-finished… The tally result:

First game: Orange vs. White = Orange team won

Second game: Gray vs White = Gray Team won

Third game: Orange vs Gray = Gray team Won

TOTAL: Gray Team : SIX (6) points; Orange Team: THREE (3) points

White Team : ZERO (0) point

But it ain't over til it's over. The Gray team garnering the highest point is assured of the finals slot. The next big question is: Which team will compete with the gray team? There goes the rematch between white team and orange team. This game is truly spine- tingling and nerve-wrecking! It's anybody's ball game now… Edgy and panicky as I am, I watched from the distance. Bhaamm…! the white team made their first goal… Everyone applauded, everyone cheered. Time is of the essence. The orange team's star- player was close to exhaustion. Then came the white team's second goal… Yes, it was my son! My son made that winning shot. My hero… The white team's hero… Everyone tapped my son's back… My hubby, the proud father was jumping in joy… I was near in tears…. White team advanced to the finals!

The championship match between white and gray is not as nervy as the previous. At least, (I thought) silver is better than bronze… Gold is surely a bonus. First goal came from the white team. I rejoiced! Run… Kick….Run…Kick!!! Go for the ball… Orange team then scored… One minute and forty seconds left. Tic- tac- Tic- tac.. And before I knew it, white team made another goal. And time's up…. White team won! My son's team and their avid supporters were all roaring wildly. VICTORY!!!

I was able to video the whole awarding ceremony. With the gold medal still hanging in his neck, my son approached me and hugged me. And in his very own childlike but proud, little voice, he retorted: "It's awesome, mom.., from lamest to greatest"! I hugged him even more… We went home with big smiles in our faces… The mom, beaming with unfaltering pride!!!!