You showed me your crafts book and told me you’re required to bring clear plastics trash bag the following day. This is at 11:50pm.
We searched frantically since our trash bag is the milky type. We have a clear one but it’s such a huge huge bag; perhaps, as tall as I am. We tried to unroll it first time, then looked around again. When we couldn’t find a clear plastic, we went back to the huge bag. And stared at it.
Then, eyes twinkling I could almost see the light bulb, you said: let’s cut a small portion, and then I can tape shut one edge.
Gasp. Such problem solving skills! Why didn’t I think of that. Awestruck.
As you unloaded your bag, you happily exclaimed to me you got a letter from your classmate (who I happen to know). On her short but sweet letter, she said sorry for suddenly crying during your task together today and that she thanks you for comforting her and that she’ll do better next time.
You looked so happy reading the letter (apparently you put off reading it until you could read it in my presence) yet confused as well. You said you didn’t say anything. That what you did was just rub her back and waited for her to cry her heart out, until she’s ready to move forward and carry on with the task.
After hearing your story, while saying it in your comical way, it’s my turn to cry. I’m so proud of you baby. Because you did the best thing a friend could do on times like that. Sometimes, all we need is just a friend who will sit beside us, pat our back, wait for us silently, support us, not judging us, wait for us until we’re ready to move forward again. Thank you for being you.
Yui already maxed out her screen time for the day (one hour for programming-related, another one hour for any video-related, and time limit for late night iPad time in which she can’t access anything, even google/safari) but I still have not finished my chores. She also read at least three books for the day already and she wasn’t in the mood to read anymore. So, she took out her colouring pencils, and created this.
Asked her if she copied them somewhere, to which she answered no, they are her “originals”. 🥰😍
Of course the strokes need quite some refinement, but it’s the creativity that I appreciate. And even more so, that she can entertain herself while waiting for me.
We were having your math drills. You’re several chapters ahead of your programming classmates who are a couple of years older than you are; you’re excellent in multiplication, and in measuring and conversions. But for some reason, you’re still struggling with addition and subtraction. And so we were working on it; and I must add that you really are putting effort on it, which is what matters.
You were so focused that for some reason, you got your feet and lower legs inside this. Yes, both of them. And you can’t get them out.
At first you were cool with it and I thought you were just bluffing. But when you were already twisting and turning yet still can’t get your legs out of the contraption, we both got concerned. And we both panicked.
I tried to gently put you and the chair sideways thinking that might help you, but it didn’t. So I carried you (and the chair) upright again. At first I tried to instruct you how to move your feet, then I tried to gently guide your feet out, but it didn’t work. I had to will myself to not touch you because I was afraid I’d panic and pull your feet out by force which will definitely hurt you.
Trying to calm my own voice, I reminded you to calm down, take deep breaths, to clear your head. You were able to get your feet inside so that means you can take them out. Calm down, take deep breaths, and think.
Like a pro, you immediate made several Lamaze breaths. Deep breathe in, exhale out. You did six cycles. And like magic, you were able to untangle your legs. Before I could hug you, you stood up, corrected your chair, flipped your hair, and picked up your pencil to continue your drill. I counted to five (I was thinking that I should be worried if you just carry on as if nothing happened). My counting didn’t reach five. At four, you broke into tears and bawled over to me. I let you cry in my arms. At some point you looked up and with a laugh pointed to me that my shirt is full of tears and snot. I said it doesn’t matter. Just cry on. And you did. After crying your heart out, you looked up to me, eyes still full of tears, but with laughter all over your face, whilst saying, “I thought I was going to spend the rest of my life stuck in this chair!”
That definitely cracked us and gave us a good laugh. We imagined scenarios of how you could have had spent the rest of your life in that chair and how we’d have to carry you (and the chair) around to school and to after-school. And that you’ll play soccer with the chair. You added you can be the goalkeeper because you can’t run.
I am thankful that you were able to get yourself out of getting stuck. But what I was more thankful was that it gave me an opportunity to share with you how calming yourself down could help you resolve tricky situations; how going panicky will not help things; how having a clear mind could help you think of solutions to your predicament; how taking deep breaths could help you clear your mind. You asked me if deep breathing could also help you calm you down when you’re trying to make friends. And I said it could. Deep breaths couldn’t really stop all the heart pumping, but at least it could calm you down a little. I appreciate as well how you capped our predicament with laughter.
There are times when, instead of calling you by your name, or “Anak”, I call you “Beautiful”. Of course being you mother, you’re always gorgeous in my eyes. There are days though when I feel that you’re exceptionally beautiful, like this evening. So I called you again, “Hey, Beautiful”.
Your face serious, brows furrowed, and with a concerned tone, you faced me squarely. What you said next made my mouth drop.
Mommy, your much more beautiful than I am, you know. You just don’t realise it because you can’t see your own face. Well, not unless you go look at yourself in the mirror.
You then turned and looked in the mirror. I was speechless. Being your mom, I know when you’re joking or not. And I know the one you just said is really what you believed in.
I just can’t understand how though. And it’s not for the lack of looking at myself in the mirror. 😂 😂 😂
