Ate's Boy

I'm the only girl among my siblings but I never found it in my self to complain about not having a sister. For some reason, I actually like being the only girl. Stereotypically, people would think that my parents treated me like a princess. But nope. They get a little more overprotective with me than my younger brother but to my dad, it doesn't give me the eligibility to splurge on girly pleasures. I get my fair share of material benefits as the boys. Despite my mom and I's close relationship, I grew up with more than half of my heart dedicated to boy activities (like sports and a whole teenage life of trying to avoid estrogen-induced drama). I take the idea that I get along better with the opposite gender because I grew up with boys. I'm only two years older than Mackoy, and ten years older than Mico. I wouldn't admit to playing favorites but I think the reason why I'm more attached to my youngest brother is because I practically raised him. I was ten years old when mom conceived him and I was just ecstatic to have a baby brother. I carried him, made him formula, played with him, watched him as he made his first baby steps, melted when he cooed and uttered his first word. I volunteer to be his chaperone on his field trips. On his fifth grade, I went with him to Subic. He banned me thereafter for being "too strict", probably because I always stood vigil, reprimanding him when he was 5 meters away from me or when he was leaning over in a slightly risky angle whilst feeding the alligators. (That says a lot about me being a mom one day)

I think it's also why I'm really proud that my brother grew up to be this intellectual and witty adolescent he is now. I know I took part in his upbringing. When he was ten, he already comprehended adult conversations, understood what most kids can't, and even comforted me through a really tough breakup. He already made a lot of sense and tagged a lot of things as "immature" as if he was an adult. I know he's very sensitive and too opinionated for his own good, but whoever dares to lay a finger on my baby brother will get a nasty piece of me. 

Now he's celebrating his 12th birthday and I feel like a mother who's getting emotional over her child growing up too fast. :'(

Happy Birthday, honey!! You'll always be ate's boy. ❤️