One of my IG friends asked if my work daw ba is flexible kasi I get to watch Anika’s games.
On the contrary, I have a strict 8am to 6pm job. As I see it, time management lang talaga the reason why I’m able to watch and support Anika.
Tingnan niyo mga bakla ha? Given my structured office schedule, I am still able to bring Anika to school in the morning. We got her a school bus but even though I don’t need to wake up extra early to bring her to school, I do it. Bakit kamo? I like spending time together. Our kids grow up fast. Sinusulit ko lang kahit na magsacrifice ako ng ilang oras na tulog pa sana. I wake up extra early so I can bring her to school. Kahit na nagKoreanovela ako nung gabi. Lelz.
May sacrifice talaga na ganap in exchange for the extra minutes spending time with her. Nagkukwnetuhan kami sa car or minsan nagcoconcert because we listen to her playlist in Spotify. Believe me muthers, those are the moments that she will not forget. She will forget all the things that I bought for her pero hindi niya makakalimutan yung tawanan and chismisan namin sa kotse.
Plus, it strengthens our bond as mom and daughter. If I don’t do that kasi, magkikita na lang kami sa bahay after work. Pagod na ako nun. Minimal kwentuhan na lang.
Being parents to an upcoming hard core athlete to be, Alvin and I readied ourselves that we will be sacrificing more our time to support her. There’s that word again, sacrifice.
Sacrifice talaga mga bakla.
Instead of heading straight home from a hard day’s work, Alvin and I take turns picking up Anika at school after her practice. Pag walang tutor, tuturuan ko pa yan si Anika pagdating niya sa house around 8pm.
And then there’s the waking up early for the games. Feeling ko varsity ako ulit all over again. Hahaha! Difference is that hindi ako ang naglalaro.
Pero when I look at it, worth it siya sa dulo eh. Sabi din ni Alvin yun. Wait, ano nga ba ang pinost ni Alvin sa FB regarding this?
“Being parents of an athlete is also a big commitment… Some people may say that you don’t need to watch every game but for us, watching every game gives us this certain happiness… My advice to the other parents: give time to watch their game. Work and money will come and go but time spent watching them play is far more precious than any of that. Because your child is doing this not only for themselves, but also for you. They give their best and work hard so that you can see them succeed. Because they know that it will make you happy…”
Makata ang Mr. Sombrero, di ba? Ang dami naming hindi pagkakaintindihan pero dito, agree na agree ako.
Iba din ang positive effect sa mga bata especially the millenials ngayon when they see their parents supporting them.
Di ko naman alam kasi when I was playing before, wala akong pakialam if may nanonood sa akin or wala. Hahaha! Basta ako, gusto ko lang maglaro ng maglaro ng volleyball.
But kids today are different, don’t you think? Our parenting styles should adjust too.
For Anika’s games during weekdays, I just choose which ones I will watch because gusto ko sulit yung paalam ko ng leave sa office. Whatever parenting books say, I am still a working woman and I also have commitments to my job. Hindi pwede absent lang ng absent kung kelan gusto. I want to be a responsible employee balanced with being a good parent.
So how do I do this?
I am sensitive to what my company expects of me. I do my job well. I finish the tasks given to me. My reports are updated. And I don’t ask permission for leave to watch Anika’s game during days na alam ko naman alanganin. For example, Anika was playing her very first Makati Meet game on a Tuesday. Negative na talaga ako pagTuesdays because ManCom. Every Tuesdays, I report to my boss in the morning and naka-standby ako in case he will need me. Therefore, hindi ako nagleave. I asked Alvin if he can watch. Sadly hindi din siya pwede. We asked the lolas, hindi din pwede. Walang nanood kay Anika. Yung mga ganitong times, I let it go. I don’t dwell on it. It doesn’t mean we’re bad parents. Kung may magsabi niyan, hahamunin ko ng sapakan. I asked one of the parents to do an FB live so I can watch it afterwards. Pinanood ko and then I discussed it with Anika when we saw each other at home. Nagkwentuhan kami ng parang nandun din ako. Anika understood that we were working and she understood why we cannot be there. Na-explain kasi namin ng mabuti and hindi sumama loob ng bata.
However, on the next day, dun ako nagpaalam sa boss ko if I can take a day off to watch Anika’s game. Pumayag naman. Kaya nakanood ako ng weekday.
It’s all about balancing everything. It’s not easy pero it’s very doable. Avail of other people’s help. Next time kasi, dadating ang time na ikaw naman yung hihingan ng help nila so give and take lang yan.
So there. Nadagdagan ang many hats ko in my life but I am definitely enjoying it.