Wednesday, June 03, 2015
"It's Expensive To Be A Parent!" - Says My 11yo Son
Wednesday, June 03, 2015It was a weekend when after my 11 year old son, Dandre, came from his summer sports clinic, we rushed to enroll the younger one as Kinder i...
It was a weekend when after my 11 year old son, Dandre, came
from his summer sports clinic, we rushed to enroll the younger one as Kinder in
his school. He was quiet as he tagged
along with me and his brother to the Principal’s office. I pulled out cash from my wallet in 1000 and
500 denomination and paid the tuition fee. We went home right away after the enrollment.
That same night, while washing the dishes, he came up to
me. I knew in my heart he wanted to say
something. I was already thinking these
topics: girl problem, peer pressure, tween fashion, birthday wish list, and
other requests he may have in mind. I
was waiting for him to speak up as I glanced at him every now and then.
Until he called me, "Mommy po."
"Yes?" I asked lovingly.
"Ang mahal pala maging magulang po no?"
"Oh yes! What made you say that?"
"Imagine, you have to pay for my tuition fee and then Wes' tuition fee. That's already thousands and thousands and thousands mommy. Then you have to buy us books, uniforms, school supplies. Then you also have to pay the bills and buy our food everyday. Plus you also take care of lolo. Grabe Mommy! How do you do it? I mean, it's so expensive gosh!"
I was stunned. I stopped with what I was doing and had to pay attention to this AHA moment of my son. I would like to believe, at that very moment, that it's not usual for a tweener to come to his/her parent and talk about his realizations about parenting and taking care of the household and school expenses.
Until he called me, "Mommy po."
"Yes?" I asked lovingly.
"Ang mahal pala maging magulang po no?"
"Oh yes! What made you say that?"
"Imagine, you have to pay for my tuition fee and then Wes' tuition fee. That's already thousands and thousands and thousands mommy. Then you have to buy us books, uniforms, school supplies. Then you also have to pay the bills and buy our food everyday. Plus you also take care of lolo. Grabe Mommy! How do you do it? I mean, it's so expensive gosh!"
I was stunned. I stopped with what I was doing and had to pay attention to this AHA moment of my son. I would like to believe, at that very moment, that it's not usual for a tweener to come to his/her parent and talk about his realizations about parenting and taking care of the household and school expenses.
