DNA in Manila

Me, According To My Kids

I am beautiful. Or so my kids said. Of course I know my physical flaws, but for them, I am the prettiest girl there is in the whole wide world. When my sons look at me adoringly with their beautiful, innocent eyes, and say, “Mommy, you’re so pretty”. Awww... my heart just swells with pleasure (yeah, I know- sucker!)! Well, give it another five years, or even less, I’m sure that opinion will change. But for now, I am happy being flattered. And if that flattery came from my two sons, that's the best there is!

I am fashionable. Whenever my kids see me dressing up, they never fail to say, “Nice clothes, Mom”. And whenever my five-year-old sees clothes and shoes in magazines I'm reading, he would always say, “Tomorrow I will buy you that dress and those sparkly shoes”. I have to give it to him - he has good tastes, I must say ;)

Even if that tomorrow never comes, it still makes me happy because he thought of giving me something. It’s the thought that counts, right?

I am the genius mechanic. Every time either of my sons breaks a toy, I would always hear the other tell his brother, “That’s okay, Mommy can fix that”.

And so began my hobby of fixing broken stuff. There was even a time that my four-year-old son accidentally spilled my coffee on the computer keyboard. Of course, he looked guilty and said that he was sorry. But in the same breath, he stated confidently that I can always fix it.

Luckily, I made it work again.

I know it wasn’t a big feat, but before I asked their dad to buy a new keyboard, I had to try to fix it first. I mean, I couldn’t let my kid down, right? He has expectations, you know.

I am the Princess. My kids like to play the heroes and villains. And every time they play that game, I am the designated “Princess” that the hero has to save from the evil villain. Although they would fight, of course, who gets to be the hero, it makes me glad that they are fighting over who will save me. Even in just a game.

When they can’t resolve their fight on who gets to be the hero, they will then finally include their dad in the game- to make him the villain.

I am invincible. That’s how I feel when my sons give me a hug. I feel that I can conquer the world with just those hugs inspiring me, giving me strength.

One should never underestimate the perceptions of kids. They are very sensitive; they can feel if their parent is sad. Like, today, I’ve been feeling a little down. I was so preoccupied with some problems that I was mostly quiet. My five-year-old son just suddenly came up to me and gave a hug. When his brother saw this, he too, gave me a hug and said, “Mommy, I love you”.

It brought tears to my eyes. I realized that they knew I was sad. And they gave me exactly what I needed to feel better. After that, I felt a renewed sense to strength.

If you are a parent, don’t forget to stop for a while and look at them while they are just playing. Look at their innocent faces, hear their sincere laughter, and you will be amazed at the great strength you can draw from them.

Just a smile, a hug, or even just a sweet look from them can make one invincible, ready to face life’s problems.

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