What Dino wants

At one year and five months, Donat and I noticed that Dino already shows signs of a strong personality. Strong, as in, he expresses very definite preferences for certain kinds of food, tv shows, clothes, toys, shoes, and even people. He also wants to have his way most of the time, which the baby center website explains as part of toddlers' need to establish their independence.

Yesterday, for example, we went to SM Dasmarinas to pick up some stuff and again, for someone who has yet to talk, he showed us clear enough what he wanted. While walking past a Jollibee store, I thought of showing him the larger than life Jollibee figure. After all, he always points and claps his hands at the Jollibee signages along Aguinaldo Highway. So of course he loved Jollibee and wanted to touch the face and hug the body.

A few steps away was a McDonald's store with its own Ronald McDonald figure. I couldn't even get the yaya to take a photo because he so wanted to get away from Ronald -- fast!

We then went to a baby clothes store because items were on sale at 50% off, and I always grab these opportunities to get quality children's clothes at more realistic prices. He liked the blue pants that I chose for him, but then set his eyes on a pair of shoes that he absolutely refused to let go of, and insisted on trying on. The shoes were rather pricey and the design looked rather funky to me (read: not my type). I tried to distract him with the pants and other things, but noooo, he kept pointing at the shoes and asked to be let down so he can try them on (all in sign/toddler language of course). The salesladies loved him and kept giving him various sizes to try on. Donat was no help: he actually liked the shoe design and was so proud that Dino was exerting his choice. (Exerting his will was more like it.)

We bought the shoes. Fortunately, it was also on sale at 20% off and it came with a free umbrella giveaway, but my nagging concern was more on whether we were raising him right by giving in to what he wants --- at least, most of the time. At home, when he insists on playing with the electric fan cord and I unceremoniously take the whole fan and hide it in the next room, I give him this lecture: "Anak, hindi lahat ng gusto mo sa mundo, makukuha mo." And the next sentence would vary from "it's not safe," to "it's too hot," or "it's dirty (!)" He cries, of course, so I distract him with something else (sometimes works) or I remove him from the "battle of wills" situation by bringing him to the car and allowing him to tinker with the hazard light, the car horn, or the stereo (always works).

Anyway, back to the shoes thing. Dino insisted on hanging on to one shoe, so we leave the store with one shoe in its shoebox and the other preciously cradled in his hand. He holds it even during a carousel ride with Donat (exhibit C) and only lets go when we walk towards the car (again because he got excited and started pointing at all the cars and SM delivery trucks in the parking area---his current passion).

I thought he would lose interest in the shoes altogether, but this morning at work, Donat sends this text:

"Ma, ang Dino takbo2 suot ang new sapatos, galak na galak."

I text back: di ba siya nadadapa? (The shoes were a size too big for him, to allow for his fast-growing and large-for-his-age feet.) Donat jokes that 1) the shoes should already be Dino's Christmas present for Christmas 2008, and 2) it's ok for Dino to have large feet, because "you know what they say about men with large feet." Anyway, Donat responds back:

"Takbo ok lang pag-ikot ang di ok, malaki pa. Natumba nga, ayaw pa rin pahubad.
Paghubad naman, ayaw pa rin bitiwan."

One thing about Dino, he also shows his appreciation in a huge way when he gets what he wants. Oh, well. Maybe dealing with each thing on a case-to-case basis will do for now.