Please Don't Grow Old For Me

One night, while watching a movie at home just to pass some time, my son jumped on my lap and said something to me with a very serious face and pleading tone: "Mommy, don't grow old for me." The moment I heard it, I did not exactly know how I felt. The feeling of happiness, sadness and wonder suddenly spun around me like a whirlwind!

I was happy to learn that he wanted me so much to take the journey of life on earth with him and sadness felt knowing that it will not be forever. I could feel the love of a son to his mother and how much this child looks up to his mom. I know that he feels more secure whenever I am around and I am a "very cool" mom. He loves my cooking, adores the art of sandwiches I make for him everyday and he enjoys the way I prepare his milo drink every morning (he likes to watch the milo bits slowly melt in his hot milk, then I stir it fast). He thinks that I know everything and sees everything, I have the answers for many things, I know many songs to sing (in fact, we always compete in singing inside the car), I have many reasons for him to believe me, I can do magic and I have the power to expel the "bad man" (or the big bad wolf) whenever he listens and follows the rules. He loves the "tickle me" games, reading the books with him, showing him how great I can colour the pictures, and have so many conversations with him. Yes, I am a very cool mom.

It makes me wonder, maybe he doesn't want me to get old because he knows that old people do get frail and sick and he has to look after us when Noel and I are old. Maybe because he thinks that looking after old people is very difficult, becoming frustrating and less things to enjoy with. Maybe he thinks that looking after old people requires plenty of understanding, patience and time. Maybe he doesn't want the fun to end , as for him while he is still a child, fun is doing things together and exploring new things together. Maybe he thinks because when I am old, I will have bad hearing and will not hear him. Maybe he thinks, when I am old, I won't be a cool mum anymore. I guess he is quite scared for the time will come that I will be old and frail. It breaks my heart but this will come in due time.

So, I aksed him with almost teary eyes of why he doesn't want me to grow old for him. He quickly answered, "Because I don't want you to have wrinkly skin like Mama (his lola)".

Ah okay, forget what I had written before, held back all the emotions I had few seconds ago and those teary eyes effect. Let me check out the Avon catalogue and invest some of my money on those beauty, anti-ageing and anti-wrikle creams.