A few days ago my eldest daughter asked me something that really got me worried. For me, it meant the end of her being smart.
“Dad,” Mika called out. I knew from the tone of the “Dad” that she was about to ask for a big favor.
“Umm?” came my nasal answer.
“Dad, can I like, ah, um… change the, ah… the SIM card of my cellphone?”
That wasn’t so big a favor after all. I would have raised a timely, “Objection, Your Honor,” if it was her cellphone that she wanted to change. But a 30-Peso SIM card? No problem. But wait. Why did she suddenly think of changing her SIM?
Before I could ask the next logical question, Mika continued: “Dad, I have money to buy a new SIM card. I won’t ask money from you. Promise.”
It sounded like she had a hidden agenda somewhere. So I probed.
“But there’s nothing wrong with your Smart SIM card now. So why are you getting a new one?”
“Kasi po,” she started reasoning out like a whining puppy, “all my friends have Globe. Ako lang po yung Smart. Mas malaki po yung charge ‘pag Smart to Globe ang texting.”
Her explanation was persuasive, but not enough to convince me. The text charges were the least of my concerns. Liza and I and all our children are Smart. (Pun intended.)
“Mika, you might be forgetting that Mommy and I are using Smart. Your siblings, too. If you change to Globe, you’ll be spending more when you text or call us. That’s the catch when we are no longer on the same network.”
I suppose my explanation was as persuasive as Mika’s. However, the text charges seemed to be the least of Mika’s concerns. All her friends are not Smart — er, I mean they are on Globe.
“I know, Dad. That’s okay with me,” Mika assured me. “So can I buy a new SIM card now?”
Just as I felt beaten to the draw, it suddenly dawned on me that my eldest daughter is now a young lady. 13 years old, to be exact. The issue, therefore, was not really about my daughter changing her SIM, but her changing into a TEEN.
I could not deny it any longer. My eldest baby is now a certified teenager. She’s starting to make choices different from mine and Liza’s, as well. Pretty soon, too, I am sure she’ll be hanging out more often with her peers. There’ll be more group assignments outside of the home, and definitely more teen stuff (and cute boys?) to get giddy about.
Probably, before I know it, she’ll be texting her Globe contacts in a hip lingo that will be Greek to me. Even so, I will still text her every now and then. I’m sure she won’t mind a little aide-memoiré composed of one number and two letters: 7Bs. Or the longer form of it which is made up of seven letters, BBBBBBB: “Books Before Boys Because Boys Bring Babies.”
Mika will understand that. Because even if she’s already switched to another network, I would want to believe that, in her core being, she’s SMART.
Quote for the week:
“Good parents give their children roots and wings. Roots to know where home is, wings to fly away and exercise what’s been taught them.” – Jonas Salk
“Dad,” Mika called out. I knew from the tone of the “Dad” that she was about to ask for a big favor.
“Umm?” came my nasal answer.
“Dad, can I like, ah, um… change the, ah… the SIM card of my cellphone?”
That wasn’t so big a favor after all. I would have raised a timely, “Objection, Your Honor,” if it was her cellphone that she wanted to change. But a 30-Peso SIM card? No problem. But wait. Why did she suddenly think of changing her SIM?
Before I could ask the next logical question, Mika continued: “Dad, I have money to buy a new SIM card. I won’t ask money from you. Promise.”
It sounded like she had a hidden agenda somewhere. So I probed.
“But there’s nothing wrong with your Smart SIM card now. So why are you getting a new one?”
“Kasi po,” she started reasoning out like a whining puppy, “all my friends have Globe. Ako lang po yung Smart. Mas malaki po yung charge ‘pag Smart to Globe ang texting.”
Her explanation was persuasive, but not enough to convince me. The text charges were the least of my concerns. Liza and I and all our children are Smart. (Pun intended.)
“Mika, you might be forgetting that Mommy and I are using Smart. Your siblings, too. If you change to Globe, you’ll be spending more when you text or call us. That’s the catch when we are no longer on the same network.”
I suppose my explanation was as persuasive as Mika’s. However, the text charges seemed to be the least of Mika’s concerns. All her friends are not Smart — er, I mean they are on Globe.
“I know, Dad. That’s okay with me,” Mika assured me. “So can I buy a new SIM card now?”
Just as I felt beaten to the draw, it suddenly dawned on me that my eldest daughter is now a young lady. 13 years old, to be exact. The issue, therefore, was not really about my daughter changing her SIM, but her changing into a TEEN.
I could not deny it any longer. My eldest baby is now a certified teenager. She’s starting to make choices different from mine and Liza’s, as well. Pretty soon, too, I am sure she’ll be hanging out more often with her peers. There’ll be more group assignments outside of the home, and definitely more teen stuff (and cute boys?) to get giddy about.
Probably, before I know it, she’ll be texting her Globe contacts in a hip lingo that will be Greek to me. Even so, I will still text her every now and then. I’m sure she won’t mind a little aide-memoiré composed of one number and two letters: 7Bs. Or the longer form of it which is made up of seven letters, BBBBBBB: “Books Before Boys Because Boys Bring Babies.”
Mika will understand that. Because even if she’s already switched to another network, I would want to believe that, in her core being, she’s SMART.
Quote for the week:
“Good parents give their children roots and wings. Roots to know where home is, wings to fly away and exercise what’s been taught them.” – Jonas Salk
