anna owe (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} ahnnabanana) wrote,@ 2007-05-06 13:21:00 |
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| Current mood: |  contemplative |
parents and children.
My professor is trying very hard to convince his students not to have children. "Sige, mag-asawa kayo. Pero at the very least PLEASE, huwag kayong magka-anak. 10, 15 years from now, just remember: I TRIIIIIEDDD TO SAAAAAAAAVEEEE YOUUUUUU!" He asked why some of us want kids. "Para matuloy yung dreams ko," one student answered. "That's wrong! You should fulfill your dreams first instead of burdening your kids with your dreams!" he retorted. "Girls, have kids when you're like 40 na! Para natapos niyo na yung mga gusto niyong gawin sa buhay." "But sir, won't most women be pre-menopause by then? And the older you are, the harder it is to have kids." I pointed out. "EXACTLY, Oposa! Kaya nga, DON'T HAVE KIDS."
Most of my friends know they'll be parents. They have an idea of how many kids they want, what they'll name them, where they'll go to school, etc. My idea of the future includes finding my passion, an MA from Columbia University, then making a contribution to the Philippines. A husband and kids? Maybe, maybe not. But if I do have children (and that's a big IF), I don't want to forget what it's like to be a child. If I become a mom (eek just the thought it makes me shudder) I hope to stumble upon this entry so I won't stress my kid too much.
(feel free to add, oppose, or react)
1) Much of who we are is a reflection of who you are and how you raised us. We always say we don't want to end up like our parents, but inevitably we do.
2) We appreciate everything you do for us. Maybe not immediately, but we do. From the stories you told us before we slept to the hard-earned money you give us for allowance.
3) Don't laugh at our dreams. If we are four years old and we tell you we want to become a dinosaur after watching Land Before Time, understand that it's a phase. If you laugh at us, we will be ashamed to dream without inhibition.
4) Don't use us to fulfill your dreams. If you didn't take piano lessons when you were kid, you can make us try it but don't force us to study piano for ten years if our heart's not in it. And (I got this from my dad) don't expect a 16/17/18 year old to know what s/he wants to do for the rest of his/her life. The least you can do is guide us, believe in us, and encourage us if you see potential.
5) We will not let you rot in a Home for the Aged. Not because you won't give us inheritance if we do but because we want to take care of you the way you took care of us.
7) We can't earn your trust if we're not given a chance to.
8) You're not ALWAYS right and we're not ALWAYS wrong. Maybe 95% of the time, but still! Please don't rub salt on our wounds; it doesn't help at all. Listen to what we have to say. Sometimes listening is more than enough.
9) There's gotta be some balance between the material stuff and abstract, intangible stuff. Buy us the Barbie we want but show up during school programs. Get us the Wii but attend our graduation.
10) We love you not by default. We love you because. We love you unconditionally. We love you with no expiration date.
*
Completely out of topic but RODIC'S IS BACK IN BUSINESS. When I saw it open last Friday I almost heard angels singing. I bought a tapsilog right away. Rodic's tapsilog is the only meal I eat with rice. It's at the top of my list for comfort food, along with McDonald's fries and FIC Green Tea ice cream. One scoop of FIC in UP is only 18.00! I proudly tell my elitista cousin this and she says, "Omigod why?! Is it like... fake?" ANO BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA.
