First Day of Preschool Jitters (Mine, Not His!)
Welcome to the Sherwin M Podcast, Episode 12! I’m Sherwin. Today (when I recorded this, end of August ’17) was a big day – the first day of preschool for my youngest son, my bunso! I took the day off work, not really for him, but more for my nerves. I did the same thing when my oldest, my panganay, started school. Even though he’s my second kid going through this, you’d think I’d be used to it, but nope! They have such different personalities. Being away from them always makes me anxious.
Puyo Power: The Mischievous Cowlick Theory
Speaking of personalities, my bunso is definitely the more confrontational one. He loves to instigate things with his older brother, who usually ends up being pikon (easily annoyed/loses patience). There’s this Filipino superstition about kids born with two puyo (cowlicks) – they say those kids are mischievous and love starting trouble. Well, my youngest has two puyo, and honestly, it seems pretty accurate for his personality! He’s a good kid, just very… curious and likes to push buttons. That’s partly why I needed the day off – just to be available in case pre-school chaos ensued!
Don’t Mess With Big Brother!
He might be an instigator with his brother, but he’s also fiercely protective. I remember a time at a party jumper when some bully kid was picking on my oldest. My youngest, who was only three then and much smaller, stepped right in and made the bully cry! It wasn’t just protective instinct; knowing him, it was more like, “Hey! I’m the only one allowed to mess with my brother!” It seems common among my friends too – the youngest sibling often ends up being the tougher one.
Studio Update: Welcome to the Dad Cave!
On a different note, I’ve revamped my recording space! I cleared out a spare bedroom and turned it into a “Dad Cave” – a place for me to work and, importantly, a dedicated spot for both my kids to do homework right next to me. The only potential downside is my microphone is now closer to a window facing a busy street, so apologies if the background noise is worse than before! I’m still organizing, but excited about the potential to create more content here. Maybe even revive my YouTube channel (after 2+ years!) with a Dad Cave theme? We’ll see.
Episode Focus: Manood Tayo (Let’s Watch Movies!)
This episode’s title is Manood Tayo, which means Let’s Watch. The idea came about because summer (blockbuster season!) was ending, and I realized that despite my busy schedule with kids and commuting, I actually managed to watch three movies in the theater over the summer – a rare feat! This got me thinking about comparing my movie-watching experiences here in the US versus back in the Philippines.
Starting Point: The US AMC Dine-In Experience
We recently watched Despicable Me 3 as a family. We went to an AMC Dine-In theater. If you haven’t been, it’s quite the experience:
- It was a 3D showing (extra cost).
- The theater itself felt smaller, more intimate.
- The seats were amazing – big, leather, fully reclinable!
They have servers who come to your seat…
Tagalog Words
- Puyo – cowlick
- Sine or Pelikula – movie
- Pikon – quick tempered, sensitive
Wrapping Up (For Now)
So, that’s the start of my thoughts on movie watching and a big update on family life with the first day of preschool!