No Longer Mommy's Baby

Rap went with me to Pasig yesterday as it was a holiday and he had no classes. I still had to work though because my students have their periodical exams coming up this week and in the 1st week of September. I brought Rap so he can swim in the village's clubhouse as we have promised a week ago. He went to the clubhouse with his Tito Lloyd and baby cousin Clyde. I was worried on him swimming in the pool without me but I had to work the whole day. When they came back after two hours or so, my brother told me that I was overacting on reminding him to look after my boy. He said that there was no need for that as Rap was already swimming by himself in the 6 ft. deep part of the pool. We enrolled Rap in swimming lessons since last summer but still I was worried that he might get cramps. By the time Rap went inside my classroom, he had already taken a shower and was handing me the change from the cash I gave him for their snacks. He even gave me an accounting of the fees and the snacks that he bought for him and Clyde. I was staring at him in a daze and in my head plays the tune of "Sunrise, Sunset". My baby is now a big boy.

Even at home, I notice that my baby has grown into an independent young man. He can now do things without me. Just this weekend, I woke up to the sound of him playing the piano in his room. When I went in to check on him, he proudly announced that he has already eaten his breakfast. When I go home in the evening, his homework is done and is ready to be checked. He eats my pasalubong while watching the Olympic games on TV.

I also noticed that he spends most of his time with my husband lately. They have started to bond more especially when it comes to Taekwondo and the latest video games. It's not that I'm jealous of that. I even think that it's healthy for both of them. It's just that these moments almost get me to go down on my knees and plead God for another child. And I hope it wouldn't be too much to ask for a girl this time. At least I'll have someone to spend kikay moments in the future.

There goes the line "Is this the little boy I carried?" playing in my head again as I look at these pictures.