Things I learned from my two goddaughters

This weekend was one of the trips that I had with not a lot of preparations. Well, it was weather dependent and with my car only passing the minimum requirement for a winter tire, I was very hesitant to go. Moreover, the prospect of seeing my two goddaughters and Con was very exciting. We have been having snow in the last week here in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley which in February is unheard of or in my co-workers terms "useless". He thinks that snow in February has no purpose anymore, it is not fun anymore, if, it was in December before and after Christmas then it would be fun but right at this time of year, it is deemed useless.

So I slept early Friday night, early for my system which was about 9 pm while binge-watching a previous favourite show of mine. The action-packed Nikita still remains an all-time favourite. I woke up at 5 am and looked at the weather update and it says that Coquihalla is dry but hey, it is the highway, weather conditions can change due to its elevation. I packed my stuff and left at 8:30, I made it to Kelowna in 4 hours. It wasn't bad of a drive. I enjoyed it, thank God, Mahal was so awesome (that's my car's name, I can't think of a lady name for her, so I called her Mahal in my native tongue which means Love in English).

I came to the door and Yessa's pretty face was just glowing. It has been almost a year since I visited them in Kelowna. This kid has always been so welcoming and the words "Ninang" (godmother) gave me chills when she said it. Then here comes Allaena. She is a little dynamo. She was curious enough to let me carry her and of course, gave her tons of kisses. I saw her face and furrowed brows which I think means "stop squeezing me."I let her go and she continuously looked at me, studying my face as I am pretty sure in her brain she was like, "I have seen you last year but wait, you seem friendly so I will try and not do my usual tantrums with unfamiliar faces."

Seeing these little kids this weekend gave me with life lessons mainly: Kindness, Bravery, Mindfulness, and Thoughtfulness. I am so proud of Con and Aj for giving these two girls a good heads

Ate Yessa at Big White

tart. I have experienced it this week. I watched these two girls interact with each other and to the people around them. I am sure that little kids in every household are hopefully given examples by their parents on how to be kind, loving and giving.

I have learned that saying please and thank you show gratefulness. You can be insistent but also kind. You know, instant gratification for a 15-month- old. This includes a lot of, please. Lae loves her ice cream and she calls it "ice". We were at Barcelo's, Yessa, the older sister, got a treat- an ice cream with mango. Lae as a toddler wants ice cream shove in her mouth. One after another, take note no breaks but we gave her breaks and she will scream, "Ate, please! " Of course, Ate gave in and kindly gave her a little taste of ice cream. We are still teaching her how to say "thank you" nevertheless she mumbles her way through it. Please and thank you are so important, as we grow older, it should not come only as a habit but should be embedded in our minds to show genuine appreciation of things that come our way even if it is just a spoonful of ice cream.

Kids are a perfect example of bravery and mindfulness. Yessa was my tubing buddy. I was so excited to go tubing again and this was my second time doing it at Big White. I admire her bravery. There were two areas for the tubing, the first one was a shorter run and not steep, while the second one was longer and steeper. I was courageous enough to do the steeper run but I only dare to go straight down and not spin. When I asked her, "Ate, would you like to do a spin?" She answered, "Yes I will try the spin, we are not coming back here tomorrow. I'd like to try and enjoy it just like the other kids." A 5-year-old spoke those words, so brave and was living in the moment wherein here I was an adult, scared of puking or stumbling on my face. I should have been daring as Yessa despite that I still enjoyed it. I am now wondering what would have happened if I tried the spin, she was right, we did not go back there the next day. She was still telling me her spin. She was so animated and very lively explaining her experience while her biscuit was spinning from the top of the slope going down. I am inspired to be fearless next time, whether I do a straight down or a spin.

It was Valentine's Day a few days ago. These kids did not have to give me anything; however, I received chocolates and a hug from Ate Yessa. It was unexpected and truly my visit was incredible. The thoughtfulness of these kids, as well as Con, was just beyond. I am truly thankful. It was a Family Day celebration and a mini-break that I needed. They have impacted my life in so many ways, those virtues are going to be my motivations in trying to be a better person. From Lae's gracious giving of potato chips teaching me that giving is meaningful, it does not matter whether you give big or small. Their uninhibited joy is so refreshing that their silliness and ability to express joy is incomparable and they do it as if no one is watching. They taught me that tomorrow is a new day, and furthermore, we should be willing to start our day with a clean slate.

These kids have shown outburst as well just like any other kids but I know they are starting with a good foundation. I am quite sure that they will grow up as kind, loving and giving kids because this tough Ninang is going to be there to see it first hand.