TEN years ago, I received one of my most treasured gifts from God -- my first-born son Marco. It was February 16, 2011, around 2 a.m., when my bag of water broke. I was immediately rushed to the hospital, and after a few hours of labor at exactly 7:19 a.m., I delivered a healthy baby boy. He weighed 2.98 kgs and measured 48 inches.
As the eldest grandchild in my family, he was dearly adored and loved by my parents and siblings. Marco was everyone's baby. He was the answer to our prayer to be blessed with a baby boy for our first child. We thanked God for granting our request. I could not imagine how 10 years just passed us by. The baby whom I used to hold and cuddle in my arms is now a grown-up boy. Our married life is really blessed having our children by our side.
I just can't seem to believe that now, I already have a 10-year old child. With this milestone, I would like to honor my child and describe him the best way possible.
His complete name is Marco Miguel Anthony Catap Lacson. His long name actually has an origin. Marco is from my father's name Mario; Miguel is derived from my name; and Anthony is from my husband's mother name Antonieta. He seemed to have acquired my talkativeness and my outgoing nature as he easily charms anyone he meets. Even kids seem to be magnetized by his confident disposition.
Marco is such a thoughtful boy. From simple gestures of giving us a glass of water when eating to taking care of his brother Lance, his sweetness is really beyond measure. Once, he even surprised me with a handmade card with a heartfelt and loving message he penned himself.
My first-born is also a talented child. I can surmise he got some of his Lolo Bong's singing talent, and at a young age of five or six, he was singing some classical and old-time favorite songs in the karaoke. During one of our family reunions in which I was the emcee, I gave him the microphone and he amazed us all with his hosting skills which he definitely inherited from me. Sadly though, he did not seem to have gotten his father's dance moves.
He is fond of supercars that at his young age now, I am still in awe how he is able to identify the cars as we see one on the road. In fact, he is really drawn to racing and supercars that his ambition is to be a race car driver. He also loves watching TV and movies that he can spend one whole day in front of the television.
In school, he quite excels in English, but struggles in Filipino, Araling Panlipunan, and other subjects which uses our language. He is an average student, and we don't really mind at all (me being an honor student when I was in elementary and high school). As a couple, we do not really focus on grades, but we want to focus on the social and emotional skills that we want our children to develop.
On Marco's 10th birthday today, I just simply want to thank everyone for helping me raise a good-hearted boy. Firstly, I would like to laud my husband for being such a hands-on parent to our boys. It is so much easier raising two kids having his help in almost all chores for the kids. I would also want to thank our parents for being there for us in every way possible. Lastly but most importantly, I would like to thank God for blessing me with a child whom I would love dearly for the rest of my life.