I was at my ob-gyne’s clinic the other day. It was a real trip down memory lane as I remember seeing her too on the same date 29 years ago.
My estimated delivery date for Cae was March 28 (that was a Holy Monday). But when I had an ultrasound that day, Dra. Antonil said, “Mataas pa.” That was when we knew we were having a girl. I was overjoyed. We wanted a girl. It’s a story I will never get tired of telling. Bata pa ko, alam ko na ipapangalan sa future daughter ko - Caitlin (after a Sweet Dreams pocketbook title) and later on, I added Anais (from the Cacharel perfume Anais Anais, which my good friend Nessa sent me from Australia nung HS pa kami), with CAE as her nickname, from Alex’s initials – Capiz, Alexander Edmund (ahhhh, ayun pala, kaya pala ganun ang spelling ng Cae nya 😂).
So after I was told hindi pa ko manganganak, we went back home, baka raw after Holy Week pa. Yet, Wednesday that same week, bigla na lang siyang lalabas pala. I was in labor though for 31 hours. Sabi ng ob ko, konti na lang ma-c-CS na ko. Pag 5pm na, wala na choice. But she came out 4:55pm, March 30, 1994.
Cae is actually in a league of her own. She is smart (wag na natin isali yung beautiful, kasi obvious naman), kind of stubborn but sometimes in a good way naman. Born under the sign of Aries, she is passionate, courageous, no filter, what you see is what you get. Aries is known for an explosive temper, and how she can explode. But otherwise, she’s upbeat, positive, and very thoughtful, very caring. Bata pa yan, ang tawag namin dyan si Tea Party. Kasi mahilig mag-event LOL There was a time when she was in kindergarten, bigla na lang may dumadating na classmates sa bahay. Nagulat kami, yun pala she invited them to a “tea party.” OMG hahaha buti na lang napakiusapan namin yung parents na naghatid, apologizing dahil wala naman talagang party.
But you know what, her event-planning skills would come in handy when she got older. Birthday parties, bridal showers, kahit anong event, kaya niyang i-organize. Sometimes to a fault. Siya yung laging pagod, yung punong-abala. Ganyan sya ka-reliable, and it’s how she shows her caring ways. Lahat ng gamit na pwedeng hiramin or kunin sa bahay, lahat ng pwedeng gawin. Naisip nga namin, sana when it comes to her (or when her time comes), ganun din yung friends niya sa kanya.
As a student, she was a year younger than her classmates but she was able to cope. As our eldest, ang hirap pakawalan nung nag-college na sya. Naaawa ka tuwing aalis, tuwing uuwi ng gabi, tuwing magcocommute. Eh Thomasian pa, so may BAHA adventures din. Laging nasisira sapatos, laging pagod pag-uwi. Lahat na yata ng transpo, na-try niya – bus, train, LRT. Naka-body brace pa siya nun, because of her scoliosis. Nung nagdorm naman, syempre hindi mo rin maialis na mag-alala. Was she eating properly? Is she safe? May time nun na hindi siya makauwi kasi may Habagat, sobrang baha sa Manila. I think she had 3 dorms? Yung last, tumutulo pa yung kisame pag umuulan. And she made it. How she aced it. She graduated cum laude.
When it comes to work, I think she got her work ethics from me. Although I wouldn’t want to grab the credit, pero parehong-pareho kami. Hindi mo yan mapapa-absent kahit gumagapang na sa sakit ng ulo or dysmennorhea. For her, work is something that you don’t fool around with, take for granted or take lightly. Kahit saan sya mapunta, she always excels. I remember during the pandemic, nakikita ko siya while working and na-a-amaze ako pag naririnig ko sya talking to her clients. Napaka-professional and nakakabilib talaga. Good job!
Year of the Dog, she is very loyal. I don’t know if Cae knows that she is fearless and strong. But she is. Minsan she can be bossy and self-assertive, and rebellious. Very opinionated and outspoken. Minsan we argue about things, we differ in opinions. She is not the type who would back down, kasi ipipilit niya yung paniniwala niya. Sa labas, she may seem tough but she is also soft hearted and she can mingle with all sorts of people. Napaka-iyakin, lahat na lang ng panuorin, iniiyakan. Hay naknik.
Of all the things I have experienced, being a mother for 29 years is by far the greatest. If I were to live again, maybe I wouldn’t have gotten married or gotten pregnant at a young age. But one thing I’m sure of is I will always choose her to be my daughter, I wouldn’t have it any other way. She has taught me a lot, I learned a lot from her. Walang school or university para maging mabuting magulang, you just learn things as you go along. Sabi ko nun, ang gusto ko lang mag-aral siyang mabuti and maging isang mabuting anak. Yun lang. But she has done more, and she has become more than that. Yung makita mo lang na masaya siya sa pinili niyang path sa buhay, I am ok with that.
HAPPY 29th BIRTHDAY, NAKNIK! No matter how much I say I love you, know that I always love you more than that. I will always be your biggest fan.
Love, Mommy
#talesofthegoodgirl
