A few months ago, my husband placed a white paper bag on my lap with a note that says “For the best mommy in the world! From Dad & Naj”, when I got home from work. It’s my husband’s gift when he learned that we are having baby #2. I realized that this is the 4th watch my husband gave me. He loves giving me watches. Before our wedding, he gave me a pretty gold Casio watch. He remembered the time when I messaged him through BBM messenger (and he is in the Philippines while I am here in Singapore) that I passed by in a Casio Singapore boutique and I am totally in love with a gold watch I saw there. I am not really into watches but I really really like that watch! I didn’t know he will remember that short conversation that we had. Even I forgot about it. But when I went back to the Philippines for our wedding, he surprised me with the Casio watch that I have been crushing on.
My husband has given me four watches in total that reminded me of 4 significant dates in my life: our 1st anniversary as a couple, my 1st birthday as a married woman, our wedding day and now, another milestone of another baby along the way.
I realize how symbolic how he loves giving me watches. I am never a picky gift-reciever. A simple flowers and cards can make me go over the moon. I only splurge on cosmetics but hey, men would never venture into buying makeup for his woman not unless his woman was very very specific. But a watch is something precious. A watch is a beautiful thoughtful gift. It symbolizes Time. And come to think of it, my husband always tries to make time for me and our son no matter how tired he is from work. He makes time to message me in his short breaks at work. He makes sure to kiss me good night even how sleepy he is or kiss me goodbye when he is off to work even if he is running late.
Time does fly by so fast in an urban place like Singapore. It feels like you just woke up, cramming to get to work in time and later you are hastily preparing your stuff for another hectic work day for the next day. But my hubby tries to squeeze in quality time for us or he would schedule family day-outs for dinners or even just some leisure strolling around the mall. He and I would often say how time flies by so fast when we see how Naj is growing before our very eyes. We used to carry him around in a baby carrier and now he can run so fast, our ageing legs are struggling to keep up.
Time is valuable. Time is irreversible. Time allows things to grow and heal. Time is ironic in away. Time is ever-moving and hard to catch up at times but also long and winding. It is a new year and it made me think. I want to take advantage of every present moment. I want to make time of what matters most. I will put down my phone when I am playing with my son or when I am having my evening talks with my husband. I will allow time to heal my heart that has been broken by some loved-ones and people who matter. I will allow time to make me grow into a better person and not allow impatience to harbor. I will allow Naj and soon, Fynn, to grow into the men they are destined to be and not pressure them in a pace they are not comfortable with. I will allow the love that my husband and I have to grow and blossom as time goes by and not make other peoples’ marriages or relationship as basis for our journey.
Thank you hubby for giving me the gift of time. Let us watch each other grow in love and maturity in this life we are building with our kids. I love you, now and timeless….
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