A Parent's Wish

A very dear friend sent me this link some weeks ago. I just opened it this morning, and yes, it is a tear jerker but so beautiful. It’s some kind of poetry, from parents to their children, their wishes when their children grow up and the parents grow old. Here are some of the touchy words:

On the day when you see us old, weak and weary
Have patience and try to understand us

If, when we speak to you, we repeat the same things over and over again
Do not interrupt us…, listen to us
When you were small we have to read to you
The same story a thousand and one times until you went to sleep

When at some moments we lose the memories or thread of our conversations
Let us have the necessary time to remember
And if we cannot, do not become nervous
As the most important thing is not our conversation
But surely to be with you and to have you listening to us

Some day you will realize that despite our mistakes
We always want the best for you
And we tried to prepare the way for you

You must not feel sad, angry nor ashamed for having us near you
Instead, try to understand us, and help us like what we did when you were young

Help us to walk
Help us to live the rest of our life with love and dignity
We will pay you with a smile and the immense love
We have always had for you in our hearts

So honey, when you grow up and I grow old, I hope you will be there for me, just like I’m always here for you. Take a good care of me, just like I do to you now, with warm love and understanding.

IBU

Last week, you learned about poetry writing. Your teacher gave you the liberty to choose whether you want to write about Mom or about Dad. And you chose to write about Mom! 

And here it is:

IBU

Ibu
Aku sangat menyayangimu
Aku sangat menghormatimu
Aku mengagumimu

Engkau wanita yang mulia
Berbakti sepanjang masa
Mengurus keluarga
Menyayangi keluarga

Ibu
Aku takut kehilanganmu
Tanpamu aku tidak bisa tidur
Aku tidak tenang bermain
Aku tidak mau kehilanganmu

Thank you, honey. I’m so proud of you. I love you too….

Free PS3? No way......

Last week when we went to the supermarket, you asked for Fruitilllo Magic, not because you want to enjoy the colorful instant drink, but simply because there was this wordings written on the box: BERHADIAH PLAYSTATION 3.

And this morning you asked me to carefully read the terms. I scanned it through and read it outloud "....kirimkan 10 kartu silver (seri berbeda) & dapatkan hadiah langsung Playstation 3"

Your eyes beamed with excitement, "hey, that's easy, mama. I nearly have it all..!"

I felt a bit of skepticism. I thought, there’s no way that it can be that simple! Then I carefully continue reading the rest of the wordings on the box

"Periode program 1 Mei-31 Agustus 2006"

"But now it's already 2008, mama..." you asked with your big puzzled eyes

"Yes, honey. So I guess the program is over" I answered as calm as I can.

"But why did they do that? Why are they still selling it when they know that it's now 2008?" you asked sadly, trying hard to hide your disappointment.

Hmmm, good question, honey, and I don't have the answer. Perhaps they were just too busy thinking about sales target that they forgot to think about how an innocent, naïve young children like you would feel when they found out that the promotion program was over….

The Magicians Shop

Late last year, while wandering around at the Poin Square, we found a small kiosk selling off various stuff for ‘magicians wanna be’. They sell more than 1000 kind of stuff, and some are so easy that kids like you can learn to do the tricks in just a few minutes.

Since then, you have been asking to go there again and again. And it was on January 2nd – you were still on your school holiday - when you called on my mobile phone. You were whispering, full of excitement, as if you were going to ask for a very important thing.

You: mama, can we go there again?
Me: where?
You: that place….
Me: what place?
You: that place that we went to…
Me: where?
You: you know…..
Me: yeah, what place? (I began to feel impatient)
You: the shop where they sell magic stuff? Can we please go?
Me: oh, when do you want to go there?
You: tomorrow, mama. Can we, please, please go tomorrow?
Me: tomorrow?
You: yes, mama, tomorrow. Tomorrow is still a holiday, right? Please?
Me: but I’m working tomorrow….
You: oh, you are working?
Me: of course I’m working tomorrow. You know that…..

A short pause, then:

You: Yeah, I forgot that you are working tomorrow. Okay, bye.

Click. You hung up. And I felt a pang. It’s not everyday that you call me on my mobile.

Unconditional Love

Talking about tough women, it so happen that I met one of them, just last night. She is a mother of a handsome kid, who was born with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder)

I was introduced to her by Eva, who asked me a week ago if I would be interested to help out in giving a communications training to spokespeople for autism. I said yes without any hesitation. And so, I met her last night, learning more about autism and her struggle to give the best for her 17-year-old son.

Gayatri Pamoedji is the founder of MPATI (Masyarakat Peduli Autis Indonesia). She has also published a book, Meniti Pelangi, where she shared her experience in raising her kid. When I read the first few chapters, I could feel her frustration and confusion, not knowing what was really happening to her son. But as I read further, I could also feel her determination, willpower, hope and belief that there must be a way to help her beloved son lead a better life.

I salute her for her persistence in fighting for the future of her son. A perfect example of an unconditional love, from a mother, to her son.

Mother's Day?

Today is Indonesia’s Mother’s Day. An ex-colleague sent me this SMS:

Warning! This message is created only for the toughest worker of all time… but luckily you are one of them! Happy mother’s day to all multi risk, multi task and multi dimensional women I’ve ever known. May God, family and happiness always upon you :)

In the meantime, Kompas wrote that 22nd of December was actually selected to commemorate the struggle of Indonesian women in contributing to the Indonesian independence. They played their part through The Women Congress held on December 22-25, 1928 in Yogyakarta. However, during the new order era, the government has switched its meaning. They positioned Indonesian women as a domestic mother that doesn’t have their own traits, except as a supporter of their husband.

Personally, I have no interest in debating whether December 22nd should be celebrated as Indonesian women’s move in the political arena, or just an appreciation of their effort in putting together a healthy and happy family. I don’t really care whether it should be a mother’s day or women’s day.

To me, every woman is a very special person, because they have the sense, intuition, wisdom and strength to shape up a helpless, innocent human being to be a person that can excel in so many ways. They have so much love and care to give away. All they need to do is stretching their wings and reach out to the deepest part of a child’s – or person’s - heart and soul. A woman is, and should be, a strong, tough, independent person who stands on her own feet, while helping and supporting her loved ones.

I feel so lucky to be born a woman. Because a woman, is always a mother, even when they don’t have children of their own.

KidZania!

At KidZania, we had a blast!

Gio Tampi's mom was kind enough to organize a group visit to KidZania last Monday. So around 52 kids from the second and third grades with their mom or nanny were all ready standing in a queue from 1.30 pm, while they only open the gate at 3 pm....

I was actually quite worried that you would feel tired even before we enter the playground. With all your friends around you, how could I expect you to stand still and quiet for 1.5 hours?

But it was worth waiting. KidZania was not only educative and fun for kids, it was also entertaining for adults, especially when you got to watch your loved ones enjoying themselves in the various activities.


And here are the activities and professions that you experienced during the five hours playtime: being a fire fighter, gas station attendant, F1 racer, dentist, constructor worker, supermarket cashier, riding on a bus tour on your own, getting a health certificate before obtaining your driving license and F1 racer license…. And I can tell that among the various activities, what you enjoyed most was when you were able to draw kidzos money from the ATM. Wow, I could see your face beaming with excitement!

Some tips for parents who are taking their kids:

1. Book and pay in advance.

2. When you already have a reservation, you can just come in half an hour before the opening hours. Don't panic and try to rush in, there's plenty of time to wait at the main arena, after entering the main gate, before they actually open the pavilions for activities

3. Although they say that it's ok for kids to go in without an adult, I wouldn't recommend it, especially for first timers and kids under nine. The situation there was just so hectic and there were just no attendants that ensure the kids know what they are supposed to do and feel secured. (in fact, I just got an SMS from Rafi’s mom that he hurt himself while playing, and they did not give him proper care)

4. Wear your most comfortable shoes/sandals because you will be either standing watching your kids or running around with them for five hours!

Nonetheless, for you and me, five hours just flew away like a flash. There's so much to do, so many profession to be. So, KidZania, we definitely will come back.