Dear Jeerux Vol. 1–Re: Your Father

Dear, Jeerux. 

Your father left us. It has exactly been 2 weeks, 1 day, an hour, and 12 minutes since. 

We're coping, baby. Mommy is a bit independent now. See, I can drive you to Waltermart. Or SM already. We just have to leave really early like 9.30 AM or else, mommy will have a hard time finding a parking spot. 

Well, more like an empty parking lot. See baby, mommy is not that confident of a driver yet. Although I park like a boss head first with just one smooth turn–our car's exactly between the two lines, front, and center (mommy's amazing, huh?), I need it to happen with only a car on the next slot, or better, no cars beside us at all. 

This is just the start of mommy's amazing driving skills, baby. Don't worry. 

As I gaze at you, you're now a little two inches longer than our largest pillow. You grow so fast. It's such a shame that your daddy didn't get to see how you grow these days. 

Your head now pops on top of your carrier. Before, your chin used to brush the front and you didn't like it. You end up biting it. You always loved it when all the restrictions have been removed. You always wanted to be free. 

Anyways, this is our life now: you, me, your lolas, and tito F. We requested him to be here until I polish my driving skills. I need someone who'll guide me, to let me know if the parked car beside the street is too close or too far. 

Your father was always the one who would drive us around. We had Arya for more than 2 years already and mommy didn't learn how to drive properly. 

It is also mommy now who withdraws money from the ATM. The first time (after a pretty long while) mommy did it, she can't withdraw money because the PIN is wrong. Daddy always does it for her. For us. Ugh. 

So I decided to get money from our emergency fund account instead. The last time mommy and daddy talked, daddy mentioned that the PIN is now at 6 digits. So why was the PIN wrong?

I almost thought daddy played mommy and ran off with all her money. I wanted to call your daddy right then and there. To demand an explanation. But I knew that he wouldn't answer. 

When we got home that day, mommy realized that she used an old ATM card. Silly mommy. It's the mommy brain, baby. Mommy thinks about a lot of things, especially now that daddy's away. 

Mommy also does the laundry now. I have to spend a few minutes up in our laundry area to load our used clothes. I sneak up (with my cup of coffee) when you're finished eating your breakfast. Mommy usually has a tight schedule so she makes sure she does everything fast. Sometimes, mommy would also throw in our beddings and pillowcases. 

This used to be your dad's task. And speaking of beddings, it's also mommy now who does the changing. It's a bit of a chore for mommy, but don't worry. Mommy eats a lot of rice and chows down breadsticks after to store up energy for the day. 

I take care of you in the morning, during my work breaks, and in the afternoon. Before, when your dad gets home, I can sort of concentrate on my work because he takes care of you.

When your nani-la also finishes ironing our clothes, I put them in our cabinet. It was also daddy's job before. When I do it, he'd tell me to stop. Because I can't do it properly, according to him. 🙄

I missed it when your daddy is around. 

All mommy has to do is take care of you. Daddy takes care of everything else, including mommy. 

Oh, did I mention that he was just going to the US of A for some training? He'll be back 2 or 3 weeks before your birthday. 

House chores are not only part of mommy's job. Well, mommy also helps daddy clean the room once in a while. 

Daddy is just spoiling mommy so much. That's why mommy is having a bit of a hard time when he's not around. 

Be like your father, okay? He's a truly, amazing person.