Be Slim and Fit

Hurray!

For Him

“Raising kids is a humbling process.  You’re trusted, so you question yourself every moment of the day: Am I making her a better person? Am I making him a better person?” said Patrick Dempsey in an article about him on Men’s Health Best Life, January 2008 issue.

For almost half an hour I just stared at Dempsey’s words awed and somewhat clueless.

Suddenly, the thought of being a parent struck me with alarm.  Questions flooded my mind.  Am I doing the right things for my little boy?  Will he benefit from the love and attention his dad and I have been giving him?  Will my presence as his full time mom guarantee the kind of teaching and learning he needs to equip him with essential knowledge and skills, good qualities, and amiable character? These questions pushed me to review what Arvid and I have been doing sun up and sun down.

For a healthy body his Dad and I take turns in feeding him nutritious foods and exposing him to morning sunlight and exercise.  He eats mostly vegetables and fish and enjoys walking, biking, climbing and soccer.  He’s also crazy about taking a bath.

For a sound mind he reads books, watches news on tv and learns from everyday experiences.  He likes Pinocchio.  It’s his favorite book and he eats it too, sometimes.  He points to his nose and head and looks up at the sky when asked.  He shows interest in new things.

For a refreshed outlook in life he sings and dances with Barney and friends, plays with his cousins and dragonflies at some grassland, and giggles and laughs while someone tickles him.  He looks forward to chatting with his grandparents, aunts and uncles too.  Seeing them makes him happy.

For a healthy spirit Dave and I bring him to church every Sunday if we could.  There, he mingles with little children like him and listens to stories.  He also finds good company with the elderly members who enjoy his charming smiles and friendly yet shy overtures.

With these in view, I returned to Dempsey’s question “Do these make my son a better person?” and still found a weak answer.  Somehow, in my heart I believe that kindness bears fruit to goodness and love begets love.  But my mind dictates that one’s failure or success in life can only be partly influenced by his or her upbringing, and largely depends on how that person sees the world and the way he reacts to circumstances.

Looking at the same question as a mother, a daughter and a sister now, I insist that parents can only go as far as preparing their children for the Herculean task of decoding the meaning of life by nourishing their body, mind and spirit for as much as they can.  Yet in the end, it will be their offspring’s view of life that will prevail because each of us sees the world in a different perspective.

In conclusion, how I wish I could go back in time to follow a few of the things my mom taught me but which I never did…and afterwards live with the conviction that my little Arvid will not have to travel back anymore because he already learned from me and his dad.

Green on Purple

This poem is inspired by the way Palestinians live at the Gaza Resettlement Areas.  My friend, Bob May lived there during one of his mission trips and he showed how one’s freedom is taken away to the point that even popping one’s head out of his house is considered offensive.

Visit Bob May’s site at http://www.bobmay.info

Little Lillies