Dear Customer Who Stuck Up For His Little Brother

Read this: This is cute and a story of a big brother who truly cares for his little brother. Article from the Huffington Post http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/kristen-wolfe/dear-customer-who-stuck-u_b_1190690.html

You thought I didn't really notice. But I did. I wanted to high-five you.

Yesterday I had a pair of brothers in my store. One was maybe between 15 and 17. He was a wrestler at the local high school. Kind of tall, stocky and handsome. He had a younger brother, who was maybe about 10 to 12 years old. The only way to describe him was scrawny, neat, and very clean for a boy his age. They were talking about finding a game for the younger one, and he was absolutely insisting it be one with a female character. I don't know how many of y'all play games, but that isn't exactly easy. Eventually, I helped the brothers pick a game called "Mirror's Edge." The youngest was pretty excited about the game, and then he specifically asked me, "Do you have any girl color controllers?" I directed him to the only colored controllers we have, which include pink and purple ones. He grabbed the purple one, and informed me purple was his FAVORITE.

The boys had been taking awhile, so their father eventually came in. He saw the game, and the controller, and started in on the youngest about how he needs to pick something different. Something more manly. Something with guns and fighting, and certainly not a purple controller. He tried to convince him to get the new Zombie game "Dead Island" and the little boy just stood there repeating, "Dad, this is what I want, OK?" Eventually it turned into a full-blown argument complete with Dad threatening to whoop his son if he didn't choose different items.

That's when big brother stepped in. He said to his dad, "It's my money, it's my gift to him. If it's what he wants, I'm getting it for him, and if you're going to hit anyone for it, it's going to be me." Dad just gave his oldest son a strong stern stare-down, and then left the store. Little brother was crying quietly. I walked over and ruffled his hair (yes, this happened all in front of me). I said, "I'm a girl, and I like the color blue, and I like shooting games. There's nothing wrong with what you like. Even if it's different than what people think you should." I smiled, he smiled back (my heart melted!). Big brother then leaned down, kissed little brother on the head, and said, "Don't worry, dude."

They checked out and left, and all I can think is how awesome big brother is, how sweet little brother is, and how Dad ought to be ashamed for trying to make his son any other way.


This piece was originally published on Kristen's blog, www.sweetupndown.tumblr.com.

Is Internet sex cheating? Many folks say yes

Is Internet sex cheating? Many folks say yes

Zachary's antics - at the toilet

I am teaching Zachary how to pee at the potty, his small version of the urinal by setting an example. This morning, he followed me to the bathroom. I stood near the flush lever of the toilet bowl because he touched the lever and the toilet bowl last time and I have to wash his hands after that. So he walked to my right side, I go 'sssssss' to show him that 'sssssssss' can help him pee. After I peed, he peered into the toilet bowl and went 'sssssssh' as if talking to the john.

Wrong strategy. Should change tactics next time. This kid is smart, not easy to train, but very amusing and lovable.

Zachary and ginger juice

I came home tonight to a sleeping mother and child. I had to work an extra night on Mondays because I am doing some consultancy work for an animation studio. Tina, my wife woke up and told me this incident that happened this morning.

Tina's breasts were all sore and cut from breastfeeding Zachary. Actually, he was not feeding, but latching on it as they were his comfort. If he is uncomfortable, he looks for "doo-dooh", which means, he wants his human pacifier. If he doesn't get what he wants, he cries for "doo-dooh". So this morning, Tina decided to do something about it. She squeezed ginger juice on her breasts, and when Zachary asked for "doo-dooh", she fed him with the one with ginger juice. He pulled away, with a strange look on his face. He looked at yaya, said "Yaya, punas" asking Yaya to wipe clean his mother's breast. When yaya refused, he continued to latch in spite of the bad taste.

Funny, but he's really smart to have thought of that.

Zachary's antics

Dr. Aimee Yang, the pediatric dentist advised us parents of Zachary to make sure his teeth is brushed everyday because he is starting to have white stains on his teeth that eventually can lead to cavities. Yaya (vernacular for nanny) was there also. Dr. Aimee taught her the proper way of brushing Zachary's teeth while counting from one to ten, inside and out, 3 times a day.

At first he resisted, but gradually allowed yaya to brush his teeth. One night, while he was doing this routine, he lay on the floor while allowing yaya to brush his teeth. He said "papa higa" (higa meaning lie down), and so I did. Zachary took the brush from Yaya and tried to brush my teeth with his toothbrush.

Amusing for a boy 1.7 years old.

What's in a name?

Tina egged me to write something about names, aptly titled "What's in a name?". This was shortly after Zachary was born some four months ago. You might have read my previous blogs about writing about my grandma and naming children. This is a blog that's all about naming your children.

For some years, the trend has been naming children after the first letter of the father and mother's name. Previously, it was second names, third names until the names became too long to write or too difficult or too unique to pronounce. Some parents name their children after something they are loyal to, i.e. a TV show, a TV station, or a character in a movie or a soap. I've always wondered what's the reason behind this as it would affect the children's self -confidence when they grow up.

In the Bible, names are given to a place or a person to represent something. It carries a meaning of a certain incident or a significant milestone in the life of the parents to name their children after it. Jacob named the place where he dreamt of the ladder with angels ascending and descending "Bethel" because there he saw the gate of heaven (Gen 28:12-19). Naomi called herself Mara "because the Almighty has made her life very bitter." (Ruth 1:20). God personally named Abram to Abraham (Gen 17:5). God also chose the name for 'John' - Jesus' cousin (Gen 1:11-13) and He also chose 'Jesus' to name the child Mary was carrying because 'he will save his people from their sins." (Matt 1:21).

When Tina and I learned that we are expecting a baby, we prayed for a name that would be meaningful and glorifying to the Lord, firstly because our prayers and that of many others was answered. Just like Covey, when we named him Liam Covey - Liam, Irish for "His People" and Covey is short for "Covenant". Zachary Simon meant "The Lord has not forgotten", and has shown mercy to us. We wanted a name that is a testimony in itself, and that our son will personally know this and share it to people he wil come across.

There is nothing wrong is naming your child "Attorney" (my classmate in the university's first name) or "Harry Potter" or "Cruella". Just keep in mind that is the legal name your child will carry the rest of his/her life and what he/she represents. So, for us parents, choose our children's name wisely.

good riddance to you, 2009!

It is now half past nine in the evening, two and half hours more before we usher in the new decade. For me, a sense of relief that the dark ominous cloud that hung over the world is finally leaving, bringing with it all the bad things and penning its course permanently as history and stored as news archives.

2010 has a nice ring to it. When I was small, I associated 2010 with something very futuristic and imagined the kind of life I'll be experiencing. I used to watch a TV series called Space 1999, and boy, that show floored me. It would be so cool to travel to space and carry laser stun guns and fight with aliens. As I sit here typing this blog, I can't help but be amused that how a kid's child'-like imagination works. There was no space travel, no laser stun guns, just stuff out of a set in a TV studio. Life, inspite of advances in technology, just goes on.

If there is one thing I can be thankful for in 2009, that is when Zachary was born. He was the gift from heaven that we waited 5 years for. God is like a grandfather who dotes on his grandchildren and cannot withold good things to them for long before giving in. For that, Tina and I will always be grateful.

With the going of 2009 and the arrival of 2010, it felt like we are emerging from the endless dark tunnel we trugded and finally into the light at the end of it. When the world was in the pits with the economic downturn and people perishing from senseless wars and killings, there is no other way to go but up. It has to end somewhere, some place, and the turn of the decade seems like a nice place to start.

So, to 2009, thanks but no thanks. Good riddance to you and to the things you brought. I welcome 2010 with a positive sense of hope and a bright future for the world.