Boys Will Be Boys...

Something I just realised about raising a son.

It brings back floods of memories of growing up with my two brothers.

Mikhail’s not even 2 yet, but I’m remembering those days when I had to help chase after my boisterous, cheeky, frustratingly mischievous brothers, Ayman and Irfan.

I remember when Ayman and Irfan were at pre-school age.
Mealtimes were hell. The maid (poor, frazzled little thing) had to chase after not one, but TWO boisterous boys. They took real pleasure in whizzing past her legs and going in separate directions. Their giggles were annoying… and the messes they left… sigh… worse than a herd of cows.

Mikhail usually eats at the dining table with us. But on those days when he eats earlier, he sometimes refuses to sit still. Why sit there when no one else is?


1.5 seconds after this picture was taken, he had run off to the playground

I’ve always vowed never to be one of those mommies who chase after a running child with a plate in one hand and a napkin in the other. But these days, I seem to indulge the tyke. (Only at home, though. Such behavior is still not tolerated in restaurants. )

Nowadays Mikhail loves playing car. He’d run around and screech to a halt in front of me, where I’ll be ready with a spoonful of food to feed into his waiting mouth. His mouth would’ve been open a few seconds before he reaches me so I’d better have the food ready or a loud bellow will come out of it.
Sometimes, he’d play airport. And Mommy will be the plane, zooming in for a tunnel landing. This is where the Mommy will be doing the running around because this ‘airport’ is one that moves around a lot…

I also remember the occassional weekends we went to the arcade.
Oh my God. My brothers went berserk.
With the generous amount of coins they received from our dad, they went on a rampage. Shooting games, racing games, dancing games, ball games, all games.
They did ‘em all.

I remember the din of the arcade. And the annoying mechanical songs that played for the merry-go-round. And the nauseatingly sweet smell of cotton candy and popcorn. I would be sitting in the corner, reading my book while the boys had the time of their lives with the arcade games. The ringing in my ears after we left the arcade is still, you know, ringing in my ears…

Last Sunday, we took Mikhail to the arcade in Mid-Valley Megamall. OH my, he had a blast. He’s still a bit scared of the bumpy rides with loud noises but he went on the patrol-car ride twice. Then the Daddy played all the arcade games with him. Speed racing, banging on alligators, shooting hoops, popping ping-pong balls into a green frogs mouth (games are so much more interesting these days)…


Let's get a superbike, Dad.
Mommy tak kasi la, Mikhail.
Mommy ni boring la.
Not so loud, Mikhail.


They had a lot of fun while Mommy documented everything via video and photos. And no, we did not feed him cotton-candy or popcorn…

Then there was the Superhero Era.
When my parents bought Ayman and Irfan matching superhero pyjamas... Superman and Spiderman. That was the time when big sister Diha felt like running away from home.

They had those pyjamas on 24-7.
No cupboard was left unclimbed. No curtains were spared from attempts of ‘Spidey-clambering’. No tablecloth was left from being a cape.
No sister was left un-annoyed.

And now Wan has bought my son a Spiderman suit and a Superman suit.
Sigh…
Mikhail has yet to be exposed to WHAT Spiderman and Superman are, so it’s still fine. He just thinks they’re colorful, cool clothes to wear.
Wait till he’s old enough to read Marvel comics…


I don't know what this get-up is all about but people scream with delight seeing me in it and I'm cool with that...

I’m sure that as Mikhail grows older, there’ll be more boy-things that will remind me of my brothers when they were young.

And believe it or not, I’m looking forward to it.


Uncle Fan, Mikhail and Uncle Man... Superman, Spiderman & Batman?