In-Laws

Tina's parents returned to Canada on Monday night. Her mom stayed with us the past month, whereas her dad stayed with us for less than a week. Now, it's not uncommon to read or hear horror stories of in-laws visiting. I'm glad to say that I really enjoyed their visit with us.

At first, you could tell Mom was a bit unsettled, trying to adjust to a different lifestyle here. In Canada, she's always busy cooking, babysitting, looking after their students, bible study, mahjong, etc. Here it was a different story for her. The only person she had to look after was Isaac, and that was only for a few hours each day. So, you could tell that Mom was getting antsy during that first week. But eventually, she got used to the more relaxed style. She was whistling while walking from room to room. She was smiling and laughing while watching TV. I even heard her singing in the shower! She even found things to do here, as my mom would take her out shopping, to church, or even to some bible study groups!

It was cute to see Tina's mom get excited when Dad flew in. Apprently this is the longest they've been apart. Tina said she saw even saw them holding hands while we walked through San Francisco.

Tina's parents and my parents at first might seem very different, and in some ways they are! But as I get to know her parents more, I see our parents as being very the same. They both have little kookie idiosyncrasies that can be irritating. They both have to deal with being grandparents and relinquishing parenting power. Yet they also both love their children, their in-law spouses, and their grandchildren very much. Also both are still willing to sacrifice to help us out.

My mom and her siblings all take turns with housing their parents (my lola/lolo). I've always known that I would be ok taking in my parents as they grow old, sharing the responsibility with my sister. As I've gotten to know Tina's parents, I know that I would enjoy taking them in as well. Hey, it's the pinoy, extended family thing to do.

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Still tickin

I've relegated myself to lurker these past few months. Although sometimes I can say that I have been too busy to post, sometimes I just haven't been inspired to post.

Our home improvement stuff has been inching forward. I only have a few cosmetic things to do with our master bathroom (caulking here and there). We've had the new carpet installed and (thanks dad) have all the upstairs baseboards cut and painted. We have finally moved into the master bedroom, where I installed some white roman shades from Ikea. We also bought some curtain panels, but changed our mind on 'em cuz of the texture on the material.

Downstairs, we've rearranged some of our t'nalak, and I finally hung up this 10 foot blanket I picked up from an old white haired ifugao lady in Banaue.

My dad has been a great big help with the house. Now that he's retired, he's itchin for projects to do. Sometimes he's a bit overzealous, practically starving for something to do. I would let him continue on my house projects, but we have different quality control standards. Mine are maybe a little too high and don't match his pinoy, patch it together, bahala na style. But I recently relented and took him up on his offer to do the baseboards for the rest of the upstairs. Like the true workhorse that he can be, he worked like the Energizer bunny on measuring, cutting, recutting, painting, and placing all the upstairs baseboards. He took a few days to complete it, but only because we only let him work during the mornings since Tina had to babysit a friends baby in the afternoons.

As I said before, his QC standards are different from mine and I can notice a few things I would have done differently. But all in all he did a great job and I'm very greatful. As an electrical engineer, he also been the household electrician. So, he's helped us install a security light in front of the house, rewiring a wire lead from an existing outlet up through the rafters and through the front of the house. This week, he's been at the house with my mom, cleaning up the front yard: pruning, trimming, raking, etc.

Maybe it was the way they grew up in the Philippines, but when they work, my parents work. Sometimes to the point where at the end of the day, they think to themselves, "Whoa, my body is sore." I admire them for this because it's that work ethic that has given us the opportunities that my sister and I have today. But at the same time, I think it's time for them to push back those self-imposed deadlines and relax a little bit more. If they spread out the work, then they won't be left sitting around wondering what to do nex, which if nothing comes up, leads to boredom.

Some of their work ethic has rubbed off on me. When I get focused on a project, it's like I have blinders on and get into one-track mind mone. Luckily my wife often says "Whoa?! you're like go go go! take it easy!" But I am an outspoken proponent of balance, and I know and like to live with minimal stress. Hence being born with tsinelas and shorts already fitted on.

Live life, love life, enjoy life.

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