Q turns 10 today and I can't be there with him. Sob! Sob! Sob! :(He offered to come back to KL with me last Monday. I thanked him for his thoughtfulness but reminded that he'd be bored at home alone. He suggested that we take Aiman along so they could entertain each together. Ooo... that sounded like lots of fun ..... and trouble. A BIG NO flashed in my head.
The record has been that the longest the two could be at peace together is 15 minutes. Then the war starts - either small, big, silent or loud. Aiman is small in size and he's super-duper sensitive. He normally gets his way riding on d size factor, that and his innocent look. But we know most of the time he is not t h a t innocent. Q - big size - generally penyabar, unfortunately not with aiman. When Q strikes - he strikes hard!
It could be a good try from Q - to come back to KL with mom :) but I reminded him that Aiman is soon to start his tajwid class. As for Q - I re-confirmed that he's attending a motivational program soon, too. Schedule clashes and therefore i'd have to leave without him and aiman, tq :)
Q has been calling to check on my coughing - so nice of him :). I feel accommodated already by this young man. Need to instill lots of such related values in preparation for his future. I have discussed with Q of a few 'things to do' (actually more of my REQUEST from him) during the school hols.
One: to learn ride a bicycle - yes - my 10 year old son could not ride a bike!!! Details soon. Two: to attend the motivational program at a sekolah with "pondok" concept (islamic teachings).
On learning to ride a bicycle - Adik (my brother; Q's father) has bought Q the bicycle for his 8th birthday. It has been rounds of prep talk to get Q to learn ride a bike. Without attempting to hide his reluctance while sweating all over, he made a few small attempts and would just shut down and give up after the 3rd fall... Pujuk, challenge or whatever tactics wouldn't get him to touch the bike again for the session. Tergelempang le basikal tu kat tengah laman. He wouldn't even pick it up.
I have tried all sorts of approach - without success. Q is the type who expects things to go smooth and right from the beginning. It bothers me - because life's not like that. So after 2 years of hoping he'd overcome his fear for 'hickups' - I put it to him very clearly this time that it's not an option - he HAS to make sure that by the time he comes back to KL - he could ride a bike. It's important to me - for his confidence and trust in himself.
Wickedly – I whispered that i'd tell his classmates about the 2 year secret if he fail this time. Thunderous HAH! HAH! HAA! Evil huh? Well - it works! Even before i left the other day - he has survived cycling straight - and i mean straight - into anything that comes before him :).
It's such a big deal for me to see this progress - afterall i have waited 2 years. I was really worried. I don't really care about him riding a bike - it's his approach in life i am concerned about. Haahh! such a relief. One down - many more to go. I suppose by this time - he would have picked up some tips on 'cornering' - (from aiman! yeah this boy rides a bike like nobody's biznez) tangan tu keghaeh bebeno! For my recollection i shall include this - on d 2nd day of raya - beloved Q left a few scrathes at the left rear of my new car... aduuus! My reaction: told him "no worries Q - ur duit raya collection this year shall be all mine" ;) Thunderous HAH! HAH! HAA!
On attending the motivational program. The sekolah 'pondok' - is organised by Ustaz Mutalib - a penceramah bebas who has been running the pondok in Kubang Semang, Bukit Mertajam. It's really a modern pondok - not those with atap nipah ~ which would have been more 'thrilling' for Q - i'm sure. The first time Q heard of the program - he responded 'Mom, tak dak aircond', 'tidur ramai-ramai busuk', and a couple of other valid and ‘understooded’ excuses. I happily added to his list - no tv, no games, no screaming 'bibiiik, ambik tualaaaa' or 'bibiiik, mana bajuuuu?' - semua sindri mau buat.
The program is actually meant for the existing students of the pondok. It's by our request that Q is enrolled. There shall be 50 of them staying there from Monday to Friday, starting 18th Nov for a month. Don't know about the other kids but i really hope this would give different perspective of life to my beloved son.
Maktok consoled Q (ke herself?) that ‘tak pa laa.. malam-malam bila ummi hantag aiman pi ngaji tajwid, boleh la maktok pi tengok qayyum’. Haa - dia buat daahh – mak aku ni. Macamana la cucu tu tak lomah!
Having said that - gotto admit that x and i had our share as well. Last year, we enrolled Q into a summer camp. It was his first - conducted in Ulu Yam, organised by AJK Masjid Al-Falaq of USJ9. There were about 100 students mainly of year 4 to Year 6. Q was among the 4 participants from Year 3. They were sleeping in tents, about 12 tents altogether including the facilitators'.
Generators were used at nite - and turn off after mid nite. Toilet is some 100 meters aways from the camp site, then on pelita ayam were lit (tahu ke apa ke benda pelita ayam tu? i just gotto know of such thing when i was there). So bebudak yang nak ke toilet at nite kena pakai torchlight (yes toslet) and pergi berteman. Thee hee..
As much as we wanted the exposure for Q, could not bear letting him out of sight just like that. We ended-up volunteering jadi facilitators ~ minus the sleeping in the tent la. We check-in into one of the challet - no aircond - no fan, luckily ada toilet. It was quite an experience making the nite-rounds with only small torchlight. Siap tersuluh babi hutan lagi - no joke! I swear I wouldn't be there if its not for Q..
It has been 2 years now that Q left his parents, siblings and mak to come live with me (and x). i believe it's not easy for him. I never experienced being pregnant - donno if i ever will, but all the same I feel I am very much a mother to Q. He equates an amanah based on my brother and his wife’s love for me. Not to mention - mak's sacrifice to let go of her beloved first cucu away. I am thankful to God to be blessed with all these wonderful people in my life.
Qayyum, Happy 10th birthday. I love you so very much.
Hugs and kisses, Mom
