I recently made an important decision. I resigned from my night job at abs-cbnnews.com, i
n spite of the fact that I love the job, enjoy the people I work with, and badly needed the extra income.
But the longer the days pass, the more that I realize that my decision was right. Now, I have more time to do the things that really matter—like, hmm let me see…like watching TV with my nephew, Morning!
Of course, it does matter. I first realized how big it mattered when Morning was about 4. (He's 8 years old now.) He was already attending nursery school, and I made it a point to praise his works to encourage him: “Very good!” “Perfect!” “Wow!” But nothing beat his reaction when you tell him: “Fantastic!” When I figured how he loved the word, I made it my term of endearment to him. I would tell him, “You’re my fantastic,” and he would always unleash a big smile then roll his eyes in delight.
Still, one TV show convinced me how much he's affected just by hearing the word. One day he heard actress Geli de Belen said “fantastic” in a teaser of comedy show “Nuts Entertainment.” He waited for that show, which airs about 11 p.m. When Geli’s segment came, he pleaded that I watch it:
“Ninang Joy, Ninang Joy, bilis, panoorin mo sasabihin ni Geli ‘yung fantastic.” (Come fast, watch Gelli, she will say the word fantastic.)
n spite of the fact that I love the job, enjoy the people I work with, and badly needed the extra income.But the longer the days pass, the more that I realize that my decision was right. Now, I have more time to do the things that really matter—like, hmm let me see…like watching TV with my nephew, Morning!
Of course, it does matter. I first realized how big it mattered when Morning was about 4. (He's 8 years old now.) He was already attending nursery school, and I made it a point to praise his works to encourage him: “Very good!” “Perfect!” “Wow!” But nothing beat his reaction when you tell him: “Fantastic!” When I figured how he loved the word, I made it my term of endearment to him. I would tell him, “You’re my fantastic,” and he would always unleash a big smile then roll his eyes in delight.
Still, one TV show convinced me how much he's affected just by hearing the word. One day he heard actress Geli de Belen said “fantastic” in a teaser of comedy show “Nuts Entertainment.” He waited for that show, which airs about 11 p.m. When Geli’s segment came, he pleaded that I watch it:
“Ninang Joy, Ninang Joy, bilis, panoorin mo sasabihin ni Geli ‘yung fantastic.” (Come fast, watch Gelli, she will say the word fantastic.)
That alone made me curious, but since I was preoccupied with something else, I just listened from the kitchen.
It was actually the segment where Joey de Leon’s “Balakubak” girls would drop names of people and things that their guest Geli would have to describe in one word. Morning was apparently not interested in how Geli described Regine Velasquez--the way I was.
But I almost melted the moment I heard Ariel Rivera’s wife said “fantastic.” Before I knew it Morning was already beside me.
“Ninang Joy, Ninang Joy, narinig mo? Sinabi niya ‘yung fantastic,” he excitingly told me as he rushed to where I was. (Did you hear that? She said fantastic.)
Before I could respond, he dropped THE QUESTION: “Ninang, ano ba ‘yung SEX? Kasi sabi fantastic daw ‘yung sex.” (What is sex? Because she said sex is fantastic.)
Whew! I had to think fast and good. But I couldn’t. So, all I told him was: “Anak, hindi mo pa ‘yun maiintindihan kasi bata ka pa.” (Child, you won't understand it yet because you are still young.)
Grrrrrrrrrrr. That was the lousiest answer I ever had for Morning’s never ending questions. His Ninong Rico told me that I should have told him that sex is about being boy or girl. My friend Melody told me that I should have told him the truth in a kid’s language because we really cannot underestimate the wisdom of children.
But if there was one thing I was so thankful for that moment, was that Morning did not follow it up with his usual “whys.”
Had he asked: “E bakit fantastic daw ‘yung sex?” (But why is sex fantastic?) I would have probably turned frenzy: “Hello, ma at pa! Hindi kaya lahat ng bagay na alam ko ang spelling e alam ko rin ang pasikut-sikot!” (How would I know? Not all things that I know how to spell, I also know the ins and outs.)
Grrrrrrrrr more.
It was actually the segment where Joey de Leon’s “Balakubak” girls would drop names of people and things that their guest Geli would have to describe in one word. Morning was apparently not interested in how Geli described Regine Velasquez--the way I was.
But I almost melted the moment I heard Ariel Rivera’s wife said “fantastic.” Before I knew it Morning was already beside me.
“Ninang Joy, Ninang Joy, narinig mo? Sinabi niya ‘yung fantastic,” he excitingly told me as he rushed to where I was. (Did you hear that? She said fantastic.)
Before I could respond, he dropped THE QUESTION: “Ninang, ano ba ‘yung SEX? Kasi sabi fantastic daw ‘yung sex.” (What is sex? Because she said sex is fantastic.)
Whew! I had to think fast and good. But I couldn’t. So, all I told him was: “Anak, hindi mo pa ‘yun maiintindihan kasi bata ka pa.” (Child, you won't understand it yet because you are still young.)
Grrrrrrrrrrr. That was the lousiest answer I ever had for Morning’s never ending questions. His Ninong Rico told me that I should have told him that sex is about being boy or girl. My friend Melody told me that I should have told him the truth in a kid’s language because we really cannot underestimate the wisdom of children.
But if there was one thing I was so thankful for that moment, was that Morning did not follow it up with his usual “whys.”
Had he asked: “E bakit fantastic daw ‘yung sex?” (But why is sex fantastic?) I would have probably turned frenzy: “Hello, ma at pa! Hindi kaya lahat ng bagay na alam ko ang spelling e alam ko rin ang pasikut-sikot!” (How would I know? Not all things that I know how to spell, I also know the ins and outs.)
Grrrrrrrrr more.
Seriously, we better take the “Parental Guidance” advice seriously. And even with the GP shows, it is important to be there for the children when they pop the magic questions, and explain to them what are real, good and bad in shows they are watching.
Otherwise, don't be surprised if one day they will just greet you mimicking their favorite cartoon character: "Hey Dad, your ass is bigger than mine."
Be ready to tell the truth then.:) hahaha
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