Matt Is Starting to Grasp Math

When counting, for example, six fingers, he would sometimes do it this way:
"One, two, three. One, two, three. Six!"

---

Or when he is bargaining to sleep some more because it's still too early.
Matt: "Mama, ten minutes pa."
Mama: "No, Matt, five minutes lang."
Matt: "Tapos isa pang five minutes, para ten minutes." :)

---

This Monday morning, we tried out the addition flash cards with him.
The card says 2+1.
"One, Two," holding out 2 fingers in his right hand.
"One," holding out 1 finger in his left hand.
Then counting all fingers that are held out, he goes, "One, Two, Three!"

He went on perfectly with 3+1, 1+1, 5+1 and 4+1.
Then the 6+1 card was flashed.

Matt went on doing what he did with the first 5 cards.
"One, Two, Three, Four, Five," holding out 5 fingers in his right hand, then
"Six," putting down the 5 fingers, then holding out just 1 finger in his right hand.
"One," holding out 1 finger in his left hand.
Then counting all fingers that are held out, he goes, "One, Two."

He stopped and asked, "Bakit ganun, two na lang?" :P

Hitching a Ride

A girl in a soap that was being shown on TV was trying to hitch a ride.
She was hailing a truck, and then a car.
Both did not stop to give her a ride.
The girl was getting frustrated.
Then Matt commented,
"Dapat taxi parahin mo para titigil sya!" :)

Spelling

We were on our way to SM Clark.
And Matt was on his makulit mood as usual.
Then out of nowhere, he blurted.
"Daddy! I know how to spell SM."
:D

Something Wrong?

Matt was pulling my hand, asking me if we can go to Metrotown mall.
When I wasn't budging from my chair, Matt asked:
"Mama, is there something wrong with your... (pause) bones?"

Waiting for Taxi

We were waiting for a taxi. And all of the taxi that we hailed declined us.

I was already getting a bit frustrated. Then Matt said, "Tatlo na yun. Pag yung susunod, ayaw pa din, apat na!" :-P

Assurance

I hugged Matt quietly. I was feeling sad again.

Then he looked at me and said. "Mama, what did I tell you? Don't be sad. Daddy loves you. He is just confused."

He Remembered

Matt and I were already lying in bed. Then out of nowhere, he asked me, "Mama, ayaw mo ba tawagan si Daddy?"

"Hmm.. yes."

He repeated, "Mama, ayaw mo ba tawagan si Daddy?"

"Yes." I said again.

Because he was still not sure with what I meant, he asked again.
"Mama, pili ka. Gusto mo ba o ayaw mo tawagan si Daddy?"

So I said, "Ayaw. "

But he insisted. "Hindi, gusto mo eh. Sige na, tawagan mo na sya."

"Ano naman sasabihin ko?"

"Kahit ano. Tanong mo kumusta sya sa office."

So, despite my effort to stop the urge of calling him, I finally gave in. In my mind, I was already thinking he was busy (with someone else). His phone just kept ringing. But finally, he answered.

Then Matt said he wanted to talk to his Daddy.

"Daddy, bakit hindi mo na love si Mama?"

He remembered!

"No Matt, love ko sya."

"Eh bat sabi ni Mama hindi mo na daw sya love. Nung isang night, naglalaro ako tapos umiyak sya. Sabi nya hindi mo na daw sya love."

"No Matt, di ba every morning, I tell you that I love you and Mama?"

"Ok, sige." And then he said goodbye already.

I'm not sure if Matt was convinced by his dad's answer. I didn't ask him, nor did he try to assure me that his dad still loves me.

104 Pick Up

yup! matt threw 2 decks of cards on the floor.
guess he wanted to play double 52 pick up!

in college, orgmates would ask me if i knew the game 52 pick up.
even when they try to explain, nobody really attempted to throw the cards.

but i guess this was fun in a kid's mind :-P

Saved Once Again

Once again, Matt saved me.

The knob of our bathroom door was not the usual door knob, where there was one key to open it. It had a hole which you had to stick a very small screw driver, and somehow figure out how to turn the lock. I never learned how to open that door.

And tonight, Matt accidentally locked the door. "Uh oh, it got stucked." He said.

"Oh no! Why did you lock it Matt?!" I was very upset. Yes, I know he didn't mean to do it. But in my mind, I thought of the difficulty of having to figure out how to open the door.

I was not a tinker. Not like Matt's dad. If he were here, he'd be able to open it in a jiffy.

But he was not here. He was almost always not here.

And all I could do was scold Matt. And panic. And instantly call Matt's dad (even when I swore to myself I wouldn't). But as usual, no answer.

And in a shaky voice and teary eyes, Matt said: "O sige Mama, tatawagin ko si Mamai (his lola) or si Ate Gemma (his yaya). Ipapa-open ko yung door. Dito ka lang." And went down to call for help.

For a moment, I froze in embarassment. I was so helpless in such a very trivial situation. And there Matt was, taking charge of the moment again! In a few minutes, he was back with his yaya. And Ate Gemma was bringing a screwdriver and effortlessly unlocked the door.

I asked here how she opened the door. "Pasok mo lang ate, then turn." When I just tried to remember that, Matt took the screwdriver from Ate and re-enacted the steps of unlocking the door. "Pasok, then turn." Easy!

Then looking at me, he asked, "Hindi ka na galit Mama?" And I hugged him, and said sorry.

In Charge of the Moment

I was crying, and Matt immediately rushed to my side. He kept on wiping my face and trying to form my lips into a smile.

"Mama, stop crying na. Ayaw ko na umiiyak ka."

"Matt, Daddy doesn't love me anymore."

"Love naman kita Mama. Pwede mo ba tawagan si Daddy sa cellphone nya. Kausapin ko sya. I'll ask him 'Bat di mo na love si Mama.' I'll tell him what's happening."

Like a big boy, he took charge of the moment. For a long time, we just cuddled until I stopped crying.