This boy is five

This boy is five. He can eat on his own. It may take him about an hour to finish a meal but that also means one hour of vibrant chatter.

This boy is five. He can change on his own. He may not be able to fold his shirts and shorts but he can surely dunk these straight into the hamper.

This boy is five. He can hop on one leg. He may get unsteady and trip occasionally but his sense of balance is remarkable.

This boy is five. He can write his complete name. He may write in uneven strokes but the letters are outrightly legible.

This boy is five. He can draw and paint. His doodles are about monsters, aliens and spaceships but the stories that come with them are just as warped.

This boy is five. He can sing really well. He may have forgotten his Bahay Kubo but he has mastered the first two lines of Lupang Hinirang and the chorus of Won’t Give Up.

This boy is five. He can solve 42-piece puzzles. He may need a little help but he solves them faster than other adults can.

This boy is five. He can remember a lot of things. He may sometimes forget to say Thank You but he never forgets who, what, where, and when.

This boy is five. He always asks why. He can be overly curious but there’s no escaping his inquisitive mind.

This boy is five. He loves to play with other kids. He can sometimes go “This toy is mine” but he knows how to be polite, respectful and kind.

This boy is five. And we can’t wait to find out what he will be like when he turns six but, now that he is five, we are simply ecstatic.