It’s June. And I am back in the groove for school.
Yesterday, Thirdy came home with news. He was elected class president. To him, it was no big deal. He actually said, “I’m naiinis nga. I don’t want to be the class president.” At first, hindi ko din pinansin ang news. After a while, I thought, “When I was in Grade One, I lost to being a class secretary. Hindi ko naman ininda un pero nag – isip ako, bakit ba tatlo lang ang bumoto sa akin non? Kasama na ako dun ha. Ayaw sa akin ng classmates ko?” So I knew that my little son, who is in 4th grade being chosen as a class leader means something.
So while driving home, I asked him, “Did you vote for yourself?”
Thirdy: “No, I don’t want to be class president nga eh.”
Me: “But someone nominated you?”
Thirdy: “Yes, it was Rafa.”
Me: “Ok. How many voted for you?”
Thirdy: “Eight.”
Me: “Eight? How did you win with 8 votes?”
Thirdy: “Kasi we were around 8 nominated candidates, I got the highest vote.”
Me: “Aha! If you voted for yourself, that would have been 9. And why don’t you want to be president?”
Thirdy: “Eh I will just shout and shout in the classroom for them to keep quiet.”
Me: “Ayaw mo ‘yun? Just like your dad!!” (Dave is a military man so the little one sees his dad giving orders to his men.)
Thirdy: Oo nga no!
And then I launched into a sermon of explaining to him that it’s a good sign that someone nominated him, that 8 people believed in him, that he is capable of leading the class, that from now on, he should be extra conscious of setting a good example.
I elaborated, “That means you can’t wear any faddish hairstyle to school.”
He said, “Oh no. I told you I don’t want to be class president eh.”
Natawa ako sa, “Eh I will just shout and shout in the classroom for them to keep quiet.” Cute boy!
Often times, our children bring us hearty, comical cheers!