National Anthem

Rama sings to me O Canada.

Me: Alam mo pa yung sa Pilipinas?

She proceeds to hum the melody.

Rama: It's beautiful. I don't know the words. But I know the story. There's a war. And somebody died. And it's your fault.

She was remembering the last line, "ang mamatay nang dahil sa 'yo."

Earth Hour 2009

I didn't want to needlessly lecture Rama about Earth Hour and Saving  The Earth; I figured they had somehow already talked about it in school. Indeed, they had. She already knew about it. And then some.

Me: Earth Hour tonight. Do you know what that's about?

Rama: Ya. You turn off the lights, everything, for an hour, to save energy. Because the earth needs saving.

Me: Korak.

Rama: But I think it's not enough. The earth is too big to be saved just by lights.

I don't think she fully appreciates how bang-on her statement is. 

Heirloom?

Rama: Mommy, I love you so much. When you die, can I have this?

Gimme A Break

Sunday night, the last night of Spring Break. Tomorrow, back to school

Rama: I think I have to do homework.

Me: Wala. You were on break. Your teacher won't give you homework over the break.

Rama: Why did we have a break?

Me: Everyone needs a break, every now and then. It's good to rest and not do anything or worry about anything.

Rama: Why don't moms have breaks?

Motherhood, a 24/7 gig. A fact that my little one appreciates. Yes!

Barbies

I know it's your 50th, dear Barbie. But, sorry na lang. Rama has issues.

Me: Rama, lapit na birthday ni D (a friend, 9 years old). Ano kaya gift natin?

Rama: What do girls like? Barbies! Except me. I don't play with Barbies. I only play with stuff that can stand up. Barbies can't stand. They just do this (proceeds to demonstrate falling forward). Ya, they just fall. 

I just thought about all the arguments against Barbie, that the dolls set unrealistic standards of beauty for girls. If she were a real woman, with her proportions, Barbie wouldn't be able to stand. Turns out, Rama gets it. 

Rama-speak

According to Rama, her mom is now "payatot-er."

Teenagers

Rama: After summer, I'll be in Grade 2?

Me: Yes. And then Grade 3, Grade 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and then you're a teenager! 

Feigning despair. Waaaaaa! 

Rama: Remember my promise? Even if I'm a teenager, you can still kiss and hug me. 

Me: But all teenagers do is play on their DS (Nintendo) and never talk to their parents. Waaaaa!

Rama: I don't even have a DS. 

And then she proceeds to comfort and reassure me. "I decided I don't want a boyfriend. And I'll still talk with you. I'll spend more time with you than my friends... We'll still kiss and hug Etc Etc."

A couple of hours later, I plop on the couch with the laptop. Silently surfing, mumbling absent-mindedly when she says something. Rama notices.

Rama: Hey, what are you doing? You're like a teenager. 

A Super-Uneventful Weekend (With Lots of Pictures)

As the title suggests, it was a wala-lang weekend. Holed up on Saturday. This is what cabin fever can do to someone.

Rama rounds up the usual suspects.

On Sunday, after breakfast, we manage to pile on the layers for a walk outside. 



Spotted a tagged swan. This was number 155. 


Didn't go over that bridge. Instead, went under it. This bridge crosses Humber River. This area is where the river meets the lake. And the riverside path (biking, running trail) is an ancient First Nations' trail. We like the metal animal sculptures embedded in the walls - turtles, snakes...

Rama likes picking up rocks along the way. Some of them made it home with us. 
Lunch was take-out pizza from the local trattoria. This was apparently a highlight for Rama, as I read in her journal. She still managed to write enough to fill up a page, even if we really didn't do much. 

Free!

So up here in Canada, Tim Horton's is a national donuts-and-coffee chain. At this time, they're running their annual Roll Up The Rim promo, where you can win a boat, a car, or other prizes - you find out by rolling up the rim of your coffee cup. Rama's papi won something and was quite enthused while telling us about it over breakfast at home.

Papi: I won a free cup of coffee!
Rama: How?

And a brief, animated discussion of the promo ensued. By this time, coffee was ready and I set it out on the counter.

Rama: There's your coffee, Papi. It's free.