His first ever short story

Now he wants to be a writer

You can be anything you want to be

You can be anything I want you to be

You can be an astronaut, 

a teacher, or maybe a captain or a pilot

You can be an artist that 

you seem you are right now

Or you can be a writer

like I am, or a priest

even if with that you raise a brow. 

You can be a hero, 

not the Power ranger kind, 

but someone with a huge heart

for a kid that nobody minds. 

You can be a teacher 

that every learner would surely love, 

Or you can be a painter 

that paints the sky above. 

You can be someone not in this crazy list 

Anywhere you go someday I know 

you will make life a bliss

God wants you "to bring joy wherever you go" 

I'm sure that's what you surely know. 

Getting the feel of the art exhibit

It was a privilege meeting Nunelucio, one of the Philippines national artists.

Planning for a one-man show :)

Gabriel is going to spend the summer raising funds for his enrollment next school-year. I want to teach him the value of hard work and using our talents and skills for a greater purpose. This will also teach him the value of being responsible, and so many other things I am hoping he would learn, understand, discover. Today he attended his first session on Summer Art Workshop and in the coming days, he hopes to start drawing for his exhibit already! Can’t wait!

Happy Places II

My Dear Gabriel,

These days you have been giving me more and more joy. It's not that you haven't done ever before, it's really hard to compare. When you were just a year old, when you were in kindergarten, now that you're turning nine. There is really not much of a difference when I think of how happy you have made me. The only thing right now is that you are more capable of expressing yourself through words and that gives me a lot of assurance that indeed, I have done well, thanks be to God. The way that you are right now to me, in such a very young age, almost gives me a full view of what you are going to be someday. I am so blessed and so privileged God has chosen me to be your mother, and has chosen you to be my son. We are a perfect team. Together we will do as God wills us to do. Thank you for the joy of your kisses and I love yous, they come more often these days and more sincere since they are absolutely voluntary! Being your mother makes me wonder what good I have done in my life to deserve such a joy. I praise and thank the Lord for all that you are to me, for the dreams going on in your little head, for the cute and funny moments in between our serious conversations about life and the world and what our mission is while we are here. I praise and thank the Lord for allowing me to witness such a beautiful unfolding of life by your smiles, by your sleepy smooches at dawn, by your cheerful laughter. There is so much that I oftentimes lost count of how many times you remind me God is miracle. Indeed you are a miracle. 

Love always and forever,
Nanay

A Penny for your thoughts...

What are the thoughts 

inside that little head of yours,

what are you thinking about? 

Do you dream of adventures

and robots and toys?

Of growing wings and flying high

in the sky, and even higher?

What are your thoughts

in that age, so little

so fragile and still yet like a baby

to me? 

Don't grow up too fast, 

I want you here

your arms around my neck

and your kisses on my cheek. 

What are your thoughts, 

how far have you gone by now? 

In this minute, this few fleeting minutes

of watching you sitting there

like an old man bothered

about the problems of the world. 

Filofax Boy

Someone's started using my planner!

My thoughtful son

I  was reading a book on child  sexual slavery  one night and Gabriel was a bit concerned why I was crying almost nonstop. Whenever I am engrossed in my book, Gabriel knows how to keep his distance. He would try not to be all over me and just do his own stuff. I kept asking him to "please just let me be alone for now, till I finish this" and he would look at me worried why I have tears in my eyes. But he would most of the time respect my request. He sat quietly beside me and played in his Ipad. In a few minutes he showed me this:

I smiled and melted and gave him a tight, lingering hug and told him "Thank you for your love and understanding. He hugged me back and said "Just tell me the girl was freed from her captors in the end." :) He only wanted a happy ending to what I was reading. 

Ipad card :)

I came home with his little surprise :)

Why household chores are good for the kids

The best way to inspire kids is to work with their natural, intrinsic drive to be productive -- even creative -- contributors to the household. Kids will feel like they are a part of something larger than themselves. "Here's why household chores are good for kids," writes Dan Pink, author of Drive. "Chores show kids that families are built on mutual obligations and that family members need to help each other." (www.parents.com)

boys and guns

I know that I shouldn't let my son play with toy guns. And I have to admit it has really been a great challenge keeping him from getting fascinated with these things. He grew up conscious about the fact that toy guns and any toy weapons are not really a good idea. Sometimes he would receive gifts like these on his birthday and I would see to it that he is properly guided when he's playing with them. There came a time in school last year when he was in grade one, when he got into a fight. It was supposed to be a karate pretend-play  and his "opponent" kicked him hard on his side. He got hurt and punched that classmate on his side, too. I was asked to see his teacher in school. His teacher said he is not a violent kid. He just plays with all his might most of the time. But his teachers and I came to agree that I had to stop power ranger movies or anything that involves fighting in the scenes. I got Gabriel to gather and relinquish all his CDs and toys that says "violent" after a heart to heart talk with him. He is right now almost finished with second grade and no more news of similar incident in school. Thank  you so much Lord :)

A couple of weeks ago he was asking if he could have wooden toy guns. I didn't know what to do or what to say to him in that instance. "In today’s society, it is difficult to shield a child from “expressions of violence,” whether they come from television shows, video games or even older siblings and friends, Weiner notes. “Boys are likely predisposed to respond.” I read this in a parenting article recently. It says there that as parents we only need to make sure that our child's interest in these things doesn't get out of hand.

What amused me was when I brought these wooden toy guns to him as my surprise, he instantly got to work and colored them! My cute little artist. Never fails to melt my heart.  And you know what, he only  played with these toys for a few hours and then forgot about them the following day.

Feeling loved with these old cards

He made these when he was still in kindergarten. Somehow I feel nostalgic. His priorities are changing. In his own list of things to do, I often times take a backseat these days *sad smile*. But there is nothing than cuddling with him at bedtime, praying with him, sharing reflections with him. That is how he likes to bond with me these days and I celebrate that. One day soon, it will be different yet again. And I look forward to celebrating it also. Of all the things in this world that is constant, it is love.

anime