The (Mis)Adventures of Dr. D

Daughter Duties #50 Conversations with my 82-year old parents are like this: Every Sunday, I make sure that my parents eat at fancy restaurants,  but it’s been awhile since our last buffet.  So I decided to bring them to this 5-star hotel buffet yesterday. Whispering to me, my very frugal Mom asked, “Magkano dito? Mga 5?” I replied, “No, Mom. Ang mahal naman nun.  Mga 2 lang.” And she answered back, “Ay, mura lang naman pala.  Masarap na, mura pa.” It took awhile for me to realize that she thought it was two or five hundred and not in the thousands. Today, during breakfast, she chided me and said,”Sabi ni Dad hindi lang two or five HUNDRED. Seven HUNDRED daw! Mura pa din kaya naman sa anniversary namin, dun tayo.”

Teacher Tales #15 I always love the first day of school - new challenges to conquer and new students to teach.  One of my favorite activities is to ask my students to introduce themselves with one fact that is unique to them.  One Filipino-looking student answered, “Mam, I am Canadian.” So I asked him, “Really? How are you Canadian?” He replied, “My parents always tell me: Magluto ‘ka na dyan’, magsaing ‘ka na dyan’ and maglinis ‘ka na dyan’.” I can’t wait for what this sem has in store for me. 

Petite Pedia Plots 143 This 7-year old is very healthy and loves to eat.  We’ve been trying to curb his appetite. Since it was already past dinnertime, I asked him whether he had already had his meal. Kid answers enthusiastically: “Oh yes, Tita Doc! And I’m moving on to dessert after my check-up.” Me: “Good for you! What did you have for dinner?” K: “Beef  and rice.” M: “So, what’s for dessert then?” K: “Chicken, french fries and ice cream!”

Petite Pedia Plots 142 A mother comes in with her 2-year old for a check-up. Mom claims that her daughter can count til a hundred at her age.  So, I asked the child to count for me. It was going well until, “thirteen, fourteen, fifty, sixty, seventy, eighty, ninety, one hundred!”

Petite Pedia Plots 141 A precocious 2 year old came in for a check-up.   Being an only child, parents have ended up spoiling the child. For this consult, I needed to stress changes in her diet - no more softdrinks or sweets and more vegetables.  Because the child kept on playing, I ended up repeating myself in order to catch her attention.  After the nth time of saying it, child looks at me and says, “Ang kulit! Paulit-ulit!” Needless to say, the parents were very embarassed.

Petite Pedia Plots 140 It’s Prince Elsa’s 6th birthday today! Over the past few months, his Mom has been continuously reinforcing masculine influences in his life.  This included hiding his Barbies, Princess dolls  and the dollhouse. Mom claims she’s been making headway.  More blues in his clothes, his toys are now cars and soldiers, and he’s a lot more masculine in his body motions. For his birthday today, his wishes are:  (1) Jollibee lunch of spaghetti and burger steak  (2) to ride a P2P bus roundtrip And.....  (3) playtime with his Barbie dolls and dollhouse. :)

Petite Pedia Plots 139 An 11 month old was brought in due to changes in bowel color. Baby was playful, active and happy.  Me: “Bakit po tayo andito ngayon?” Parent:  “Ang concern ko yung kulay ng poops ni baby, Dra. Kasi naging green.” (Looks around the clinic and spots my new expensive jacket and points to it.) “Ganyang-ganyan ang kulay ng poopoo ng anak ko, doc!”  Thought Bubble: Di ko na susuotin tong Jacket  na to uli. 🙃