In Another Life

“Good morning, mom! I woke up by myself today!” I smiled as I see my son walking towards me in the kitchen as I slice his favorite for breakfast. “Wow! Egg and bacon! Is that for me?” I watched him climb up the chair to sit in front of me. At three years old, my child is already attending his preschool and as for his progress, he can now speak his words fluently without stuttering when he is around the people he is used to be with. He still gets so shy and speaks gibberish when we are with new people and that is understandable. I certainly put no pressure to my son’s development. I smiled at him and offered him his plate to eat. “Of course. Who else am I gonna prepare this delicious breakfast? I only love you, baby.” “Oh, I know, I know. I love you too, mom! Thank you for my breakfast!” Andre has always been so energetic ever since he learned how to communicate. He would always talk in his high pitched tone, play around with kids his age and not getting tired at all, he is so wonderful as a child. “Yummy.” He complimented while we were eating. I smiled at him. Andre’s full attention is knocked down on his plate and I cannot help but watch him enjoy the food I made for him. I mean I need to be true to myself, I am not that great in cooking and I needed to ask my friends or take him to a restaurant for him to be able to eat a real tasty food but my son still enjoys what I cook for him. And it is his favorite on top of everything. “Mom, why are you not eating? Are you busy?” “Not at all. I’m just watching you eat your egg and bacon. You really wanted that mixed together when cooked but you patiently separate it both before eating.” “Hmm, I love it mom.” I am sure he tried to understand what I said but his young mind just did not get it. I mean who would? Even I do not get why he wants his favorite egg and bacon scrambled together only to eat it separately after. But I must not be affected. Habits are a part of every person and my son is still young. Maybe someday he will be able to explain why he wants his food done like that. I can never tell. After eating, I took Andre to shower, I dressed him up for school and we drove away from home. “Mom can we go to the book store later after school?” I looked at my rearview mirror to see him at the backseat playing his toys. I guess my son is interested in books now. “Sure, we can do that. But may I ask why?” “Miss Sarah told us yesterday to think about getting a book to read which we do not have at home. And I realized I have read all our books except for the book you own at the top shelf so I will be needing to find a new book at the book store.” “You really kept in mind that one huh?” “Yes? Because you told me to, mom.” Yes, and I am really sorry because it contains all the things that will tell you who your father is, and I do not want you to get hurt. I cannot let you get hurt at your age. I hope someday you understand. I wanted to tell him. I wanted to let him know but I cannot just take away the happiness that he feels inside just because he needs to know that I left his father for his father’s own happiness. I cannot do that to my son. Especially on Andre. That is why I filled him with all the love that he needs just to be sure that he will never ask for his father’s presence. Because as much as I wanted to give him a complete happy family, that will be too much of a blessing already. As we reached his school, he went off the car and I happilly followed him inside until he reached the door to his classroom. Wherein he greeted his classmates who are still outside crying and begging their parents to take them home. “Hi Marco! I brought toys for us to share and play together. Let’s go?” I can never be proud enough of my son handling his classmates like he is the eldest in their group. He is actually one of the youngest and he became one of those who help their teachers calm the other students who throws tantrums basically every morning before their classes start and every parents adore my son for being the support system of their chidren at a young age. “Athena, I really don’t know how you manage to teach your son to be as optimistic as he is right now.” “It’s funny because I really don’t.” I laughed with the other parents as we bid good bye to our children inside the classroom and made our way to the preschool’s pantry to get coffee before we all start our days at work. “Your son knows what to do even when the teachers don’t. What’s your secret? Why does Andre loves to do those things?” I can just shrug them off if I want to but I want to help them too. But I honestly do not know how. I mean, I just asked Andre before the enrollment when he turned three if he wants to go to school already and he said yes so we enrolled and now we are already halfway through the school year. “All I can say is communicate with your children. Do not just tell them what to do because they’re not your robots at home and you’re not raising a dependent scared children are you?” “Of course not.” “Then ask them what they want and then start working with that.” After my coffee session with the other parents, I drove off to my office where Mikaella, my business partner is waiting for me. “How’s Andre today?” She asked as we made our way into our office. “As usual. He’s still excited for school.” “That’s great. I’ll be the one to fetch him later so you can focus on this project.” I looked at the folder she placed at the top of my table. “What’s this?” “A rushed project, waiting especially for you.” I looked at her and back to the folder before opening to see what is lying inside. “They are getting married next month. They were scammed by a fake wedding planner when they thought we’re charging huge on our projects.” “Scammed by how much?” “2000 more or so. And everything was fake. No bookings made at the church, no venue reserved, no invitations being processed, even the gowns and suits were just measured by a fake tailor. They absolutely have no wedding waiting to happen next month.” That is not good. Especially to a wedding that is supposed to happen next month. And before I forget, I am gonna introduce myself first, I am Athena, 28, a single mom and a wedding planner for 3 years and this is my story.