Letter to My Daughter

My darling Kaelana,

Today, I got to thinking about how fast you are growing. I read somewhere that, when you become a parent, you should never blink. You should always keep your eyes open, you should always be an awed witness to your child growing up and becoming her own person - the person she was always meant to be. I know I will write you a lot of letters over the years but today, I want to tell you seven things I hope you will remember. These are not guidelines on how I think you should live your life because, by all means, write your own rules, and chart your own course, my love. These are just things I want you to hold dear to your heart because they will always, always be true.

1. You will always have a home to come to.

No matter where your path takes you, and wherever your dreams and aspirations bring you, know that you will always have a home to come to. True, home is where the people who love you most are, but in your case, it comes with a roof, too. Our happiest memories as a family have a physical, tangible cocoon borne out of the hard work of your parents, and I hope you know we're part of the lucky few. Home for you is not just felt, but also touched. That's a blessing.

2. You can talk to me about anything. And I mean anything.

We are only 22 years apart, anyway. There is nothing too embarrassing/crazy/horrifying for the woman you have already threw up/spit/pooped on. Tell me, I can take it. I will pass no judgement, I will listen, I will always be on your side. Always. Even if it doesn't become obvious right away. I am wired to love you unconditionally and I wouldn't want it any other way.

Which leads us to...

3. I will be your mom first, though, and your friend, second.

Trust me when I say "When in doubt, don't." If you feel uncomfortable and iffy about it, or weirded out by it - whatever "it" is - , then firmly say no, and walk away. It doesn't make you any less beautiful, smart or popular to stick to your guns and stand up for what you believe in. Believe me, girls who didn't know how to set clear boundaries for themselves and ended up regretting their rash decisions are a dime a dozen.

4. Please, for the love of God, and all things good, marry someone like your dad. Or someone like your two lolos. A combination of these three wonderful and amazing men would be golden.

Marry someone who loves you and isn't afraid to show it. Marry someone who will go to the ends of the earth for you. (Your father quit smoking for me without going back to lighting up - ever. Do you know that?) Marry someone who makes you laugh, who encourages you, who believes in you. Marry someone who cannot live without you. Marry someone who is a good provider. Marry someone who will dream and aspire with you. Marry the love of your life, your absolute best friend in the universe. I did.

5. Wear sunscreen, good underwear and real jewelry.

SPF 50, my sweet, should be part of your skin care regimen forever. There's a reason you have been wearing sunscreen every day since you were three. Wearing good underwear is a must. There is no rhyme nor reason for that. It's just what a proper lady does. And for you, my dear Kaelana, I will forego shopping for too many Charles and Keith shoes that will just fall into disrepair after three seasons. Instead, I will continue to grow my jewelry collection because someday, I will pass them on to you.

6. You are beautiful.

No matter what Hollywood, fashion magazines, the scale and the mirror tell, and will tell you.

7. You don't have to be anyone else but you.

I promise to continue to guide you and cheer you on. I will not live your life for you. I will also not live vicariously through you. I promise to let you blossom into the person and the woman that you are destined to become. I will let you make your own choices. I will protect you and I will always be there.

I wish you a happy, long, healthy, prosperous, adventure-filled, meaningful and fulfilling life.

You are my everything, and I love you so, so much.

This is not how I want to start my week

Bouts of asthma. Tremors due to nebulizations. I had to take a much needed sick leave. I'm working on a very important project right now and I need all the focus I can get. I was pretty much knocked out the whole  morning. I just got up to pick the little girl up from school with The Husband. He bought us milk teas to make ourselves feel better. I actually contemplated going to the emergency room but I have to listen to my body and just rest.

Thankfully, I had a weekend chock-full of family time. Saturday was spent sleeping in then taking the little one to the story-telling session sponsored by Adarna House at Parkmall. We didn't catch it because we were an hour late but the little one didn't mind because Adarna House participated in her school's book fair. She and her classmates were able to listen to a story there. She did catch the face painting, glitter tattooing and coloring sessions so she had a blast. Plus, my college friend, Ergoe, who works for Adarna House, sent her a package full of Adarna House goodies - books, markers! Thank you, tita Ergoe! We had lunch at the mall then we went home to watch DVDs and I cooked my family dinner. I must say, I'm getting pretty good at preparing them homemade meals.

Sunday. Well, I made them breakfast and we told stories and lounged around. In the afternoon, well, I'll let the photos do some of the talking.

We went to mass at the National Shrine of Saint Joseph. The Husband then took this photo because the church was so packed, we had to stand outside. Doesn't he have a good eye? 

Then we went to SM to scout for Christmas presents for our godchildren. We also wanted to have a look at their Christmas tree. Every year, they put up massive ones and they're always a sight to behold. This year's tree didn't disappoint. Look at that!

Of course, the little girl loved it! On a side note, she's wearing the same dress from last weekend. I'm letting her wear her dresses that I know she'll outgrow very soon. She's getting so tall!

We then spent some time ogling the Christmas Village of Hope for Kythe. Everything looked Christmas-y! Look! Look! Look!

Dinner followed and it was at family favorite Simply J's. The Husband had baby back ribs, I had cream dory with salsa and the little girl had seafood pasta. Banoffee was for dessert.

And here's me sans makeup but with my greatest pride and joy - the little person who makes my days - weekends or not - COMPLETE and HAPPIEST.

Here's to more rejuvenating weekends from my loves to yours!

How was YOUR weekend?

Random Memories Quatre

- I rode on airplanes alone - well, with my brother - as a child. My dad was an OFW and there were no direct flights from outside the Philippines to Cebu then so it was custom for us to meet him in Manila when he would come home. There were times my mom would fly ahead to Manila because she didn't want my brother, Jhzryl and I to miss school. She'd book us a different flight and we would fly to Manila - just my brother and me - without any adult. We would fly Philippine Airlines and because we were unaccompanied minors, we got special treatment. We wore badges pinned to our shirts that said, "I am a PAL junior jet setter!" My brother was twelve and I was seven. We sat in front and the flight attendants gave me coloring books and crayons and stuffed animals. They gave my brother gum. Ha. One time, we were allowed to go and see the pilots in the plane's cockpit. My mom and dad would then meet us at the Manila airport.

- When my sister, Lynnth, was five years old, she got lost in Robinson's. I was the one tasked to watch her and she had wandered away while I was looking at cassette tapes. I was terrified my mom would get mad at me over what an irresponsible older sister I was. I was more terrified of the fact that my sister might have gone to a dressing room where the floor opened up to make her fall into a pit where she was eaten by Robinson's giant snake. We later found her sitting under a mannequin, unharmed and oblivious to the scare she put us through.

- I never learned to ride a bike. I tried to learn, but I just couldn't do it. I'm just not wired to do it.

- I had Ninja Turtles shoes when I was ten. They were leather and looked like oxfords. They were black and had neon green laces. I loved them.

- I wore retainers in high school. My mom had to have them replaced twice because I would lose them. How? I took them off before eating somewhere not at home and placed them in tissue. I'd forget about them and of course, the waiter would come and throw them away.