I take inspiration in my parenting, motherhood and homemaker journey from my growing up years. My papa and my mama are my Idols. I am very thankful to Lord God for blessing me with my parents. Their words, advices and love have helped mold me and my siblings to become good people.
I grew up in the Philippines, in the residence of my mother and father, together with my 5 brothers and sisters. My father was a military officer. And my mother in spite of her University Degree in English language, opted to dedicate her full time to our family. I am the second to the eldest in a family of 6 and I have 2 sisters and 3 brothers. We are a middle, working class family in the Philippines.
As part of my father´s military duties and commitments, there was a time that we had to relocate. 2 of my brothers were actually born in the beautiful city of Zamboanga, in the south of the Philippines. There was a time that as we already started schooling and my father had to fulfill his military duties, he was not with us physically. We would see him at least once every two months (if my memory serves me right). And even if my father at one point in our lives, was physically far, he was always a present parent. I remember having him around during my preschool graduation, 1st holy communion, recognition days in the school year end, college graduation. It pained me so much that my youngest brother did not get to enjoy that. My father died when my youngest brother was only starting on the 6th grade. My father never had the chance to attend my youngest brother´s any graduation rites (elementary, middle school nor university).
My father was a good provider. But as the lone source of family income, I credit my mother for being able to make ends meet. My parents prioritized our needs versus our wants. We always have food on our table even if I never had a Barbie doll during my childhood years. I never really felt that something was missing just because I never had a Barbie doll. I never really asked for a Barbie doll. As I am part of a big family, my brothers and I played a lot. We played retail store games, we played outdoor games together, cards, charades, hide and seek. Maybe we lacked many types of toys when we were kids, but our bonding and playtime as a family, all made up for that.
My parents also made sure that we get educated. My father came from a poor family in the northern part of the Philippines. He lost his father (my grandfather) when he was barely 11 years old. And as the eldest in the family, my father took the lead in providing for my grandmother and my aunts and uncles. My father sent himself to school. As a teenager he worked menial jobs to send himself to school and it stuck to my mind, to my heart, to my being what my father told us once: That he works hard because he does not want his family, his children to experience the difficult childhood that he went through. My father was the 1st one to graduate in his family. So from then on, he instilled among us the importance of education. Education will pave the way for opportunities. This very same principle, I am teaching and passing on to my son.. I am very strict with school because I want my son to appreciate the education that he is receiving and because I want him to develop the discipline that will be necessary to pursue his education.
My mother is always family oriented, hard working, selfless and is an epitome of unconditional love. My mother is living her life for us (her family which now includes her grandchildren). My mother lovingly took care of my father when he was lying in sick for the last 4 months of his life. My mother was devastated when my father passed away and until now, I see sadness in her eyes. But she is a strong woman. She rebuilt our family even if my father died early. No amount of words of gratitude and of love will be sufficient to tell my mom how thankful I am for her.
As I look back in my growing up years, it was filled with so much love, so much understanding, so much support from my grandparents and my parents. Even if it was not an easy childhood, the guidance and the love of our parents lit our ways. It was typical that my siblings and I would have our "fighting moments", I guess it is part of growing up. And now we look back will laughter and with love.
How I miss my mom, my dad, Ate Paz, my eldest sister who is now a bank manager, Adeng Jon rey, who is now the Operations Manager of our Family business Pintsik Pintsik ChefRey´s Filipino Chinese Cuisine; he is ChefRey as he is working as the head chef in a 3 star hotel in Makati, he also served as a cook in the Costa Cruise for more than 5 years, Adeng Ryedel who followed our Papa´s footsteps and is now a military officer, a PMAer and is a new dad! Congratulations Adeng. Adeng Joy Marie, who is the Financial Manager of Pintsik and an experienced Call Center Specialist and of course the youngest, Rexieboy who is now cruising in the Carribean as he prepares to be a seasoned photographer. I also miss my in laws (Kuya Ronald, Joyce and Joy), Analyn who is part of our family and is a committed and faithful help to my mother and of course my nieces Abigail and Hannahdelle and my nephews Pio and Grey!!!
Writing this made me teary eyed, well, it made me cry hahaha But I know in God´s perfect time, we will get to see each other again and be complete again. In the meantime, I will continue to relive in heart all the fun memories that I have with all of you. Love you Mudra and mga kapatid ko!! mwuah!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment