Vigilant Parenting

I’ve long recognized that raising kids these days is quite challenging given the many negative influences that surround us today. But last Sunday, this truth was emphasized to me even more by God when a family friend visited my parents’ house and conversed with my brother. Both of them uttered a bad word while talking to each other and exchanging friendly banter. They were totally oblivious to the fact that my baby and I were in front of them while they were conversing. I was so concerned because my son is at a stage when he likes to imitate so many things around him including the things that he hears from people. I talked to my mom about it and asked her to remind my brother and our family friend to be extra cautious with their speech when my child is around. My mom said that she has spoken to them already in the past; but because they have been so used to speech that is peppered with bad words or curses, they forget to refrain from doing that even when children are around.

Then, I realized today that I really need to be extra vigilant even in our own home because sometimes there are family members or other people who get near my child who do not realize the impact of their words or actions to the little ones. I told my mom that I will confront them the next time I hear them say another bad word or curse in front of my son. They may not agree with my views and parenting style but I will definitely put my foot down on this issue because it concerns my son. If I need to screen all those who will visit our house every time Yanthy is there, I will do it.

I take my role as a parent seriously because I believe that it is a sacred duty entrusted to me by God when I got married and when He blessed me with a child. I want to do my best to help my son build a strong foundation, a good conscience and a deep relationship with God. More than wealth and riches, I believe that this would be my best legacy to our son. That’s why while he is young and he still has a lot to learn, I do my best to expose him only to what is good. I screen the music, shows, literature, places and situations he would be exposed to. And now, because of this recent incident, I’ll be stricter as well in screening the people who can get near him.

I strongly believe that children are like sponge. They absorb almost everything around them. They’ll just surprise you one day with new words they have picked up from their environment. Sadly, my son learned to say one bad word that he heard his uncle say. He doesn’t know what it means or that it’s bad. It simply had impact on him when he heard it last Sunday and it stuck. I hope and pray that he stops saying it and gradually lose interest in saying it soon just like some of the words he learned in the past that he stopped using for one reason or another.

They say that it takes a village to raise a child. I’m in the process of building that village. I’m choosing very carefully whom I will invite to be part of our village. I’m choosing people who can and will support the values and teachings I impart to our son so that one day, when it’s time for him to leave our village, he would be equipped to make wise decisions. He would not be confused between right and wrong, good and evil. He would be guided by truth and wisdom. I pray that in spite of the many challenges we face in raising a godly child, I would someday be rewarded by hearing God tell me that I have done well in my duty of raising a son.

TG

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Yanthy’s Guardian Angel

Yanthy is exactly 17 months old today. How fast time flies! It was just like yesterday when we were watching him learn and take his first few steps inside his crib. He’s such a persevering baby. He kept on trying even without our help sometimes. He seems so eager to walk, run and explore the world around him.

Now that he runs very well, he speeds around the house a lot. I’m almost always on the brink of having a heart attack! He runs so fast without looking at where he’s going sometimes. Watching over him is much like riding a roller coaster with my heart jumping up and down inside my chest. I guess that’s how many little boys are. They’re so active that whoever is watching over them should be physically fit to keep up with them.

My little boy moves so fast. He darts from one place to another and one toy to the next. Last week, he gave me the creeps again. He got the pictures of Jesus from our altar and he kept saying, “Jees... Jees...” He can’t say Jesus yet; only the first syllable. But He is very familiar with Jesus’ pictures and statues. After turning around repeatedly while holding Jesus’ pictures, Yanthy dropped the pictures on the floor and went to his shelves. So I picked up the pictures and placed them back on the altar.

To my surprise, as soon as I turned around to look again for Yanthy, I saw him standing on top (back rest) of our arm chair while holding on and looking out our bedroom window. It was just a split second but he got there right away. I kept myself from reacting because it might excite him more which might cause him to slip and fall from where he’s standing. I walked slowly towards him as if there’s no big deal. Then, I embraced him tightly and brought him down from the arm chair. I told him not to go up there again unless Mom or Dad is right beside him because he might fall and hurt himself. I’m not sure if he understood. I just know that he was happy with his feat and that he enjoyed looking out the window watching the birds fly around the bamboo trees.

He could have gotten off balance. He could have broken an arm or leg or whatever if he had fallen from the chair. Thank God Yanthy was holding tightly at the window, he kept his balance and did not slide. And thank God for guardian angels. I know in my heart that although I do not see with my physical eyes, Yanthy’s guardian angel is watching over him and protecting him. I could no longer count the number of times that Yanthy fell or hit his head but did not seriously get hurt or didn’t get hurt at all. There were also times when we were able to prevent him from hitting the floor after falling from something. Those are heart-stopping moments! And yet, I’m grateful for all those times; for God never left our son’s side by sending him a guardian angel who dutifully protects him. Yanthy’s guardian angel must be so swift to keep up with him. He continues to run with Yanthy even when Yanthy has gone ahead of me or everyone who is watching him. I hope he doesn’t get tired watching over my baby because with Yanthy, he needs to work doubly hard.

I can’t thank God enough for the gift of guardian angels. So today, as we celebrate Yanthy’s gift of life, I celebrate the gift of guardian angels in our lives as well. I hope they don’t get tired guiding, helping and watching over us not only while we’re kids but until we get back home to “Jees.”

Our Little Assistant

We went to the grocery last night with Yanthy and just like in the past, he insisted on carrying something with him. So his Daddy gave him his diaper pack. It’s quite heavy for his size because it’s a 52-piece pack. But he eagerly pulled it all the way from the parking lot to our building. His Dad carried it as we went up three flights of stairs. But when we got to our floor, Yanthy took over again and pulled it from the hallway up to our condo unit. It’s so touching to see our baby very eager to assist us not only when we do the grocery but even when we are doing other chores in the house.

He also likes to help unpack the grocery bags and put the purchased items on the shelves. I remember one incident when he placed his things in the kitchen shelf instead of bringing them inside the bedroom. His Dad and I just laughed it off and said that his things looked good in our kitchen shelf but we need to bring them to the bedroom and place them in his shelves.

Another time, I was putting clothes inside the closets after the laundry delivered them to us. Yanthy excitedly got some of our clothes and placed some inside the closet. Since he doesn’t know yet where each type of clothing is placed, I simply thanked him and told him to watch Mommy first. And later on when he’s older and he could remember where things are kept; I would let him assist me.

This morning, while his Dad was getting ready and dressing up for work, Yanthy got a pair of socks from his Dad’s drawer and handed it to his Dad. My husband was very pleased. He encouraged Yanthy by asking Yanthy to get a handkerchief and a face towel also and by teaching him where they are placed inside the drawer. Yanthy happily obeyed and gave the requested items to his Dad. How sweet!

Our son is such a helpful little boy. He lightens our load both literally and figuratively speaking. I hope that he continues to be like that until he grows up to become an adult. Surely, he would capture not just our hearts but the hearts of everyone around him. I’m so proud of our little assistant!

TG
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