Kaya lang the pattern my daughter found was an upsized amigurumi. She did not realize how big it was until she was running out of yarn. So excuse the leg warmers (had to resort to powder blue).You can find the pattern here Thanks to Shannen Nicole Chua of Sweet N Cute Creations!
We tried not to wake up Tatay (my husband) as we giggled whenever we made mistakes, and told stories just to keep us awake. I had lots of pending deadlines but everything is pushed aside whenever this daughter of mine asks for my help. I thought these were opportunities when a young heart gets tender and teachable. I wanted more moments like this. It can get frustrating as I'd like to have more time to get her to run with me, or choreograph some dance moves together, or try more difficult guitar chords, or play better badminton. I've been wanting to mentor her more through a regular DDD (this is what we call our Darling Daughter Date) studying the Word of God, and praying for each other just like old times. Since she went to mainstream school (I homeschooled her from birth to 5th grade), and my youngest was born, I couldn't find much focused time with her. This makes me really sad.
Then I recall how it was with my mom and me. I am very happy that I am close to her. I would tell her that I would mother my children exactly the way she mothered me. Of course, with a little improvement. Mama did not mentor me the way I wanted to have been, maybe that's why I wanted to something more towards this daughter of mine. Mama did not teach me every crochet or embroidery stitch. She refused to orient me on Kapampangan cuisine, when I asked her to give me cooking lessons. She said I will eventually learn when I marry, and when I am forced to cook. But she modeled all the arts and the crafts (and the repairing of torn garments, broken or dirty stuff), and the character I often surprisingly find myself doing, emulating and being. More is really caught than taught.
But I also remember the many times when she would stop what she was doing to answer my queries. She would teach me a new thing or two with the needle. Even in writing business letters, or relating to people, she would coach me with the exact words to say. I think that Mama was a woman of wonderful timing. She would always seize the day. She was not an ally of procrastination. One would really know she must be dead-tired to leave something undone.
As I pulled the needles, looped the yarn, prickled myself numerous times with the pins, and gently held my daughter's hands to guide her, I was asking God to help me be a good example to my child. I won't always have the luxury of being able to puyat (staying up late), but I will show her that there are reasons worth the puyat.
If my mother who was a busy career woman had such a great positive impact on my life, I think I could have the same on my children, even more. When I was running out of energy and time for family because I was attending to my sick brother, I wanted them to aim to be a sibling who sacrificially cares. Whenever I would do anything and everything to help my parents out with work they needed, I was hoping they would desire to be helpful loving sons and daughters. Whenever I go out of my way to meet with friends, and celebrate their happy events with them, or grieve with them in their losses, I am beseeching God to create in them a longing to be loyal, faithful friends. And as I mother my daughter, and live out life day to day, I pray I will model excellence, not so much perfection. I pray that God enables me to train her to be godly and gracious, not self-righteous and overbusy. To influence her to hate laziness, and love productivity. To inspire her to pursue eternal values, and shun temporal happiness.
I wish I had all the time to do this. This is something I cannot postpone. Growing up cannot be procrastinated. It happens so fast. It happens right now.
And then, Mother's Day came.
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