A Toddler's fear and greatest comfort

It was a week before my son's first birthday that we travelled from Hong Kong to the Philippines to celebrate his first birthday with his grand parents, aunts and uncles and cousins. It was a very exciting day as it would be his first time to travel (now that he is becoming a toddler). He is very observant on his surroundings, attentive and never fails to easily befriend other people. As we arrived in our home town, his grandmother (lola) was the first to carry him in her arms. It was a very memorable moment for me as a mother. As time past by, my son was overwhelmed with the relatives surrounding us. He was not used to having this much attention and everyone wants to carry him, hug him and kiss him. I didn't realized right away, fear started to grow in him. Fear that he would be left behind with these loving people whom he just met. Fear in even taking a bath...as he would cry his eyes out when water would run through his tiny little body. It puzzled me how to help him over come these fears. It was the first time for me to see him feel fear.

It was when we arrived back home in Hong Kong that I fully realized, he was not in his comfort zone that made him felt the fears. My son loves to swim so much that I just have to find a way to help him overcome this fear. As a desperate measure, I took out my swim suit from the chest box (which probably have aged together with me) and swim together with my son. Luckily, his fear of the water went away so easily and was able to play with his toys in the water again. My visiting cousin had mentioned that my son seems to be clingy to me. But I respectfully disagree. It was at that point that I concluded...I am my son's greatest comfort.

A simple Question from a 5yr old Tricia

Being a single parent is never easy and can never be in black and white picture where everything seems simple. You hold 2 responsibilities roled into 1. In the begining, you tend to cope up with things going on like how to take care of an infant and work at the same time. Then you get sucked in by the small moments and you just suddenly realized, your child just turned 1 yr.

I just met recently a five year old beautiful, lovely and innocent little girl named Tricia. A child at her age is full of questions. To my amzement, her questions were not ordinary annoying questions of a child. Her questions were meaningful and relates to life ... her known life and world. She asked me a question that I know would be asked by my son in the future that I never put much thought for now since he is still young, he just turned 1yr old... "Where is my son's dad, where is he now?". Tricia helped me realized how to answer this question when the time comes ... answer this question honestly and directly. The time has come to face reality and we must move forward with positive thoughts and attitude. Always look at the silver lining as tomorrow brings another new day.