THE WORLD IS A PIMPLE

Do you remember the short story  entitled, The World Is An Apple by Alberto S. Florentino?  It is about a father who stole an apple just to give to his child as his Christmas gift.  I love this short story because I, myself, had experienced how an apple could mean a world  when I was a child.  This post is quite nostalgic for me since it is the month of December now.  In the past, I only had a taste of Apple during Christmas.

I even remember whenever  former First Lady Imelda Marcos comes to Tondo, Manila during Christmas time to distribute goods to us with an apple as one of the most awaited.  Yes, apple meant more than gold that time.  It meant everything to a poor Tondo boy like me.

photo taken from the Internet

But this post is not about an Apple.  But it is about a thing that meant a world to my son.

Amen Learn is 12 years old now.  He is at the puberty stage.  And one mark that he is already in his teens are his PIMPLES.

Photo taken from the Internet

Yes, No,Why, How (Pimples)!  He is now at the stage were he has one but repetitive question.  "Papa, are my pimples gone while brushing up his hair and showing his forehead."

My constant answer is, "Yes, it is."

But to a boy who is beginning to be conscious of his looks, a mere "yes" is not enough for an answer.  He never believed me.

Soon, he started asking me to buy facial cleanser, moisturizer, facial soap and other stuffs that are anti-pimples.  When he is not satisfied with the result of all the stuffs that he applies on his face,he would tell me, "let us go to a dermatologist and have this treated."  Perhaps he is not aware that skin problem treatment is one of the costliest to treat.  Oftentimes, I see him  facing the mirror, rubbing his face, picking his pimples and asking me his classic question.

I have to change my answer.  This time, with a tone of advice.  "The more conscious you are of your face, the more you are making people conscious of it too.  Try to focus on something else."  But again, he is not focused on my answer.

His problem affects  his social life too.  He is beginning to miss church activities and is avoiding people.  The best consolation I told him was, "I love you very much son whether you have pimples or not."

I heard before from a friend that we cannot just dismiss a concern of our children as petty things.  It could be for us, but not to them.  Thus, a broken heart or a broken toy to our children can mean a broken world.  Yes, as a father, there are times I almost lose my patience and burst out my anger just to silence my son.  But I know that it will never help.

How I wish that his concern right now is like my concern when I was a child.  That is, to have a taste of Apple on Christmas.  Because these days, Apples are not a world to children anymore.  Should I be glad that we can now afford to have an Apple a day?  How I wish too that Apple can  cure a pimple so that I can solve my son's problem easily.

YES, THE WORLD IS NO LONGER AN APPLE.  AND HOPING THAT IT WILL CEASE TO BE ABOUT A  PIMPLE TOO.

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