All I Really Need to Know

A few nights ago, as we were getting ready for bed, Morgan, clutching his trio of straws,went out of the room to their play area looking for more toys. I followed him out with Garret right behind me, eyes getting droopier by the minute, already wanting to sleep. I called out, "Morgan, come let's go back inside the room na...Time for bed." Morgan, as usual, naughty, as ever, did not heed my call and walked round and round instead. I repeated, " Morgaaan... come na.", this time with a higher pitch. At this cue, Garret approached his little brother and poked him on the arm, seemingly prodding him to come. At this move, I quickly motioned for their papa to see what Garret just did. We were so amused by Garret's action, we were all smiles until we laughed our hearts out. We were so happy at the idea that Garret understood so well that I really wanted Morgan to come to the room, to the extent that he physically poked his brother to come. This is a big deal for us. Another milestone for our little Prince. Think Theory of Mind, to actually understand what I wanted his brother to do. His brother and not him to do, and to actually make his brother do what I wanted him to do. Correct me if I'm wrong but I seriously think this is one of the very basic foundations of abstract thinking and problem solving. A big "yay!" for our Kuya Garret!

After we recovered from our hearty laughter at what just transpired, I immediately remembered how I've been asking Garret to hold his brother's hand while walking around the school before going in for Sped class. So I asked him after he poked Morgan that night, "Garret, hold Morgan's hand." He so willingly complied and held Morgan's wrist, for how could he hold his brother's hand when it was closed tight around his favorite straws. Then they walked hand in hand back to their bedroom. We finally got ready for bed, turned the lights off and settled in for the night.

I smile at the very memory of it now. I smile as I see my boys walk hand in hand around the preschool campus in the morning. My heart is so full, I don't know whether to cry or to laugh. My heart is full because whenever I see them holding hands, I just feel that the universe is working towards what we need. When my Little Prince and Feisty King hold each hands while walking, looking at their surroundings, Garret smiling at the other kids running and playing around, Morgan with the perpetual frown on his face, I feel everything is right with the world again. What's that term I'm looking for? Grace. Blessed. I feel with all my heart how truly blessed I am. How Grace is abundant in our lives. As I am looking at both my sons, I am looking at the very face of joy and grace. And more than anything, I am once more filled with that purpose that drives me to wake up every single day with a passion in my heart and fortitude in my soul. Whenever I am filled with doubt as to whether or not I know what I am doing in my work, in my family, in raising my boys with my partner, in my relationships with friends, I am comforted because my boys are teaching me all the basic things in life... They are teaching me all I really need to know. Robert Fulghum was right, you know...:-)

All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten

Most of what I really need

To know about how to live

And what to do and how to be

I learned in kindergarten.

Wisdom was not at the top

Of the graduate school mountain,

But there in the sandpile at Sunday school.

These are the things I learned:

Share everything.

Play fair.

Don't hit people.

Put things back where you found them.

Clean up your own mess.

Don't take things that aren't yours.

Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.

Wash your hands before you eat.

Flush.

Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.

Live a balanced life -

Learn some and think some

And draw and paint and sing and dance

And play and work everyday some.

Take a nap every afternoon.

When you go out into the world,

Watch out for traffic,

Hold hands and stick together.

Be aware of wonder.

-Robert Fulghum-

I still don't know what the future holds for us. For Garret and Morgan. But what I can do is to teach my boys to always hold hands and stick together. I know in my heart, they will always have this innate sense of innocence and wonderment about the world around them. In fact, everyday they are my teachers and I their student. I only hope as a mother, I can teach them well and enough about what they need to know in this life as they are constantly reminding me everyday all I really need to know.