It’s true that once you get to become a mom, you get to know what you are truly capable of. God knows what. Seriously.

Never in my life had I fitted (still so nicely like a well-raised woman should) to my son’s rescue.

Today, I had to take him to school (same where I work) to have him take the exam for kindergarten. So, while walking hand in hand with my Bori back to the office, a crowd of 3 students (mind you, these are ladies) called my son in such a manner that any mother would surely loathe – like a dog (“choo-choo, tsk-tsk-tsk, baby, yoohoo”; and done twice) and they made it sound in such a ridiculously laughing manner to their delight. I swear, the blood rush to my head was inexplicable. I felt more than I could speak. I neither know nor have seen them before in my entire life for them to just deliberately play an insult on my son. Colleagues who love my Bori just as much also became furious upon knowing, but not as much as I was. They asked if I needed their assistance (as much as I know that they care dearly and won’t take such lightly) but I knew I had to do it myself.

I went back to the students and confronted them, saying, 

“Mga ineng, I happen to work here. (That makes me) a professional, BUT I AM ALSO A MOTHER… hindi ko nagustuhan ang manner ng pagtawag nyo sa anak ko – like a dog. And even if I wasn’t working here, kung nagkataon na I was a VISITOR, lalong hindi maganda ang magiging image ng ating school sa ganyang asal.”

(young girls, I happen to work here. That makes me a professional, BUT I AM ALSO A MOTHER… I didn’t like the way you called my son – like a dog. And even if I wasn’t working here and it happened that I was a VISITOR, such manner would not serve as a good impression to our school.) 

I also knew that being young was not an excuse to such incivility but still I accepted their request for forgiveness. They apologized and I knew they were sincere.

I left them my final say,

“Sya sige, mga ineng, wag na lang mauulit ang ganyan ha. Ako ay kilalang napakabait na tao PERO ISA RIN AKONG INA.”

(Okay girls, just don’t let this happen again. I’m a very nice person BUT I AM ALSO A MOTHER.)

I finally shook their hands and left them my name – for I was not afraid. I know I did the right thing. I shook their hands while Bori was holding my other – YES, my son was there during the whole thing because he wouldn’t part from me and I had no choice but to look after him for the day while at work. He smiled during the handshakes. I walked away with a light heart, hand in hand with Bori and a heart-melting sight of my colleagues who were all the while just few meters away (in cloak-mode) in case all else fails (haha! I love you, guys!)

God knows what I could’ve done at that moment as a mom but GOD Himself immediately patted me on the shoulders and told me what I SHOULD do – as a responsible professional with values imbued and as a role model to my kiddo Bori.

I hope this experience serves helpful to the whole lot of supermoms out there! In case of T.O.D. (toddlers in distress), always remember to defend, protect and epitomize for the greater good of our kids.

*feeling super —

 (On the same day, a photo of Bori sleeping after a hard day’s play.)