Questa è Enida

For some reason…
Today I got thinking of a parenting story my Mom once told me.

.

She got a call one day from a teacher who caught my brother stealing money from his friend. It was a two-ringgit-crime. And it was 1992 or a year after. A two-ringgit-crime was huge for a ten-year-old boy. Any-amount-of-ringgit-crime was huge in our family. She couldn’t say a word and was so anxious waiting for my brother to come home.

.

My Mom didn’t say much to my brother when he got home from school. She sat him down after feeding him lunch and all she asked was, “What is it that I have not given you enough?” And then she hugged her son. She hugged him and rubbed his back, asking him the same question very very gently.

.

My brother broke down and finally told Mom that all he wanted was her attention.

.

I remember the story to this day and when Edrick is not being himself, a tight squeeze and a back rub is all that he wants.

.

I know.

.

.