It was around 2001. I was still a bit of a workaholic — bringing work home, computing budgets in my head non-stop. My cousin Maxine was about 5 years old, maybe younger. One of our favorite activities was reading books together — I would read to her and she would avidly listen.
One of the books I read her was “So That’s How I Was Born.” It’s about the birds and the bees, in storytelling form. We would read that almost every evening when I’d get home from work. I enjoyed every minute of it. I’m sure she did too since she’d ask me to read the story over and over.
One evening, I came home very drained. Maxine came into my room with the book. I told her I was very tired. She was insistent though, so I gave in. I started reading out loud but a few pages into the story, I fell asleep. Maxine woke me up, then I reread the parts I had missed.
I was rambling on with the story with my eyelids closing when I caught myself saying, “…and we look at the budget.” My eyes flew wide open. Did I just say “budget”? Maxine looked at me doubtfully. “Where’s budget?,” she asked, pointing at the page. I don’t remember how I replied. All I remember is that she had a look of disappointment on her face as she closed the book, then walked quietly out of the room. I was too tired to call out to her.
I still look back at that moment from time to time with guilt and regret. I should have exerted more effort. Should I apologize for yesterday’s mistake to a now 12-year-old girl? I’m not even sure she remembers. What I can do is to avoid this with future children, future readings.
I’m sorry Maxine! I will make it up to you by not doing the same to other kids. 😀
Hi! I'm Toni Tiu,
and I've been blogging at
at Wifely Steps since 2003. This started as a blog to help newly weds adjust to married life. It has evolved into a home and parenting blog. I write about things close to my heart -- good eats, good reads, family, marriage, and the little things that make everyday happy.
fruityoaty
July 16, 2007 at 2:14 am (17 years ago)Hehe… but maybe that magically mundane word should be mentioned in children’s stories, LOL. When you seriously think about, kids should learn the value of a dollar earned… and how to save money at an early age, as soon as they’re old enough to understand.
Some of my little nephews, nieces and friends’ children are so extremely spoiled by their parents… USD $1OO+ running shoes, gadgets (that they don’t really need), designer clothes… anything they whine for… they get. And then the parents complain out loud that their kids don’t appreciate the value of a dollar earned.
I ask, “Who are parents? Who’s setting an example?” You reap what you sow. (Alright, I’ll get off my horse. HEHEHE.)
Cookie
July 16, 2007 at 9:04 am (17 years ago)Me naman I do it on purpose, sometimes. Hahaha. Bad mama moment. When the asungots are a bit makulit na, I’ll say something high-falluting and they shut up. Sama ko ba?
kaoko
July 16, 2007 at 4:26 pm (17 years ago)I haven’t seriously written children’s fiction since college, but is this a challenge? 😛 J/k sadly no time. Ironic, considering your post topic, no?
rolly
July 16, 2007 at 7:59 pm (17 years ago)was that your alter or just your working self (if there is such a thing) reading? Here’s a secret of mine. I cannot go to sleep without the sound of the tv. I usually put the tv on auto off so that it doesn’t keep running even if I am already in wonderland. And wonderland it is. I would be dreaming of something which turns out that is being played on the tube. It’s my own story but the dialogue’s not mine. Honest! hah! Can you beat that?
Monina
July 17, 2007 at 6:51 am (17 years ago)Makes me want to buy the book for my sons. Maybe it’ll help with my ‘budgeting’ skills.:)
Seriously… this happens to me too! Buti nalang, my kids are too young to catch my boo-boos.
meeya
July 18, 2007 at 2:02 am (17 years ago)nowadays i can’t deviate even a little from the stories i read to ninna. like one time, sobrang pagod ako, we were reading the story about noah’s ark, tapos i edited out the middle part para matapos kagad. she looked at me with sad and confused eyes and told me that i left out this and that animal, and that they will be “iwan”. nyeh! inulit ko na lang from the start kasi baka ma-trauma kung iiwanan ko yung ibang animals hehehe.