KENNETH IS GOING TO SCHOOL

Few years back, I was just coddling a little angel in my arms.

His eyes were simply reacting to peoples’ voices, noises and music as his arms stretching up, reaching out to feeding bottle and anything colorful.

I remember at his infancy stage, he cried out loud when he was in pain or hungry, he threw his feeding bottle if he was mad, he closed his eyes when he was afraid of something and laughed out loud when he was happy.

A couple of years passed and this little angel started to run after puppies and cats and trying to catch colorful butterflies.

He is also catching up with words not just Mama, Lola, Tita, Tito, Kuya or Ate but words like flowers, dogs, mineral water, milk, thank you, good night, sweet dreams and a lot more.

Humming a familiar tune from a television commercial and popularized by Donna Cruz surprised us, but what shocked us most when he can sing the whole stanza with correct lyrics.

“Ang gabing payapa lahat ay tahimik… pati mga tala sa bughaw na langit…”

At the early age, my mother said that my angel will become a popular singer or a musician, “wag lang mapabayaan ang kanyang talento.”

Yet he loves my pampering, carrying him like an infant, feeding him with solid foods and helping him to bath.

A year passed and he is helping my mother to clean the surroundings by picking up dried Talisay leaves and plastics.

Assertive and very vocal, this little angel started to show his dominancy but still all his demands are subject to negotiation.

Once hooked with his favorite television show at Nickelodeon like Backyardigans, he cannot be lured to take his meals or noontime nap.

He loves compromises, allowing him to watch the shows for an hour or two and afterwards, he will personally put off the television, get his favorite pillows and on his own he will go to sleep.

Today, he woke up early, took his earliest breakfast made of cereals and milk, took his bath and dressed for school.

Kenneth is now going to school, of course with Mama assisting him.

What inspired me is that Kenneth is very excited to be in school.

All laughs and talks along the way as his school is just within the community where three elder women, all retired school teachers are running the facility for humanitarian reasons.

Once he got in and met his Teacher Michelle, he almost forgot that Mama is around and waiting outside the school.

He was so engrossed in building blocks, drawing books and meeting new friends.

My once little angel is now growing up as a fine young boy and soon more challenges will come along the way.