LESSONS FROM A CHILD

MAMA… NO SMOKING PLEASE?

We, meaning Kenneth, my almost 4 year old son and I were watching a news program on television when something catches his attention.

In between breaks of the said program, an ads on cigarette brand flashed on screen where a sexy woman in red luring a male friend to fetch her for a date.

After the ads, a white bold letters appeared on screen advising viewers that “smoking is dangerous to health.”

Suddenly out of the blue, my son innocently inquired, “Mama ano ibig sabihin sa nakasulat dyan, yung white na letters ba?”

“Aah! Ibig sabihin nuon, masama ang manigarilyo,” was my short reply.

“Bakit?” Kenneth asked still not convinced with my translation.

Choosing proper words for answer, I explained that “kasi masama ang smoking, magkakasakit ka tulad ng ubo, serious pag cancer na.”

“Mama wag ka na mag smoke, magkaka-cancer ka, tingnan mo o umuubo ka na, me cancer ka na siguro, no smoking na Mama ha?”

With his instant reaction, I realized that small kids like my son (a keen observer and meticulous) noticed everything I do inside our home.

I also realized that whatever I forgot or misplaced something inside the house, he is the first to locate it and get it for me like my pair of eyewear, a cellular phone and even my car, bedroom or cabinet keys.

Whenever I watch television or listen to radio and (unconsciously) I could utter such negative or positive words against a certain tv or radio personality, he could easily recall it.

He was then 3 years old when President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo declared Proclamation 1017. I was muttering some words to myself while my son snugged quietly at my lap.

The next day, he said, “Mama look at Pangulong Arroyo, she is there again o, she might be harassing again reporters like you, she is not good.”

Lately, when Efren Bata Reyes went home victorious, I told his yaya that “hey that’s my real idol, a humble person!”

After that, every time Reyes is featured on television, my son immediately shouts “Mama, your idol is on tv, hurry you might miss him!”

Well, Kenneth keeps on surprising me with his intelligence, with him, my mother does not need to remind me the do’s and don’t’s. I have a son whom every time he calls my attention, not only embarrasses me but actually reminding me what I am supposed to do as a mother to a child. (end)