Dear Nanay,
I don’t like firecrackers because I think they are dangerous and unsafe. However, my husband thinks they are okay and lets our children — ages 10 and 12 — play with firecrackers every New Year. I don’t want to wait until someone gets hurt. Am I right or am I just being overly protective?
Ana
Dear Ana,
Personally, I agree with you. I also do not like to play with firecrackers. Natatakot ako. Kung watusi lang siguro, okay lang. Pero yung mga malalakas pumutok, hindi ko iyon gusto. (I’m afraid of them. If it were just watusis, that’s okay. But the ones that explode with a loud bang — those I don’t like.) I think it is better to just watch the big fireworks displays because with paputok (firecrackers) you never know.
But if your husband and kids like it, then it might be difficult for you to stop them. You know it will be three against one! Maybe as a compromise you can ask your husband not to buy the big firecrackers anymore. And perhaps you can also ask him not to let the children handle exploding firecrackers. Maybe you can teach the kids the difference between “kid’s paputok” and “adult’s paputok” so they can have fun but hopefully be less exposed to the dangers.
Also, don’t forget to always remind your children that safety comes first. Keep reminding them to be careful and always supervise them. Even if you don’t want to take part in the festivities, if your children are out there playing with firecrackers, you need to supervise them. You can watch one while your husband watches the other. Mabuti na yung sigurado. (It’s better to be sure.)
Sincerely,
Nanay
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Gift-Giving: Better Late Than Never?
Dear Nanay,
Every year, even after Christmas, I still receive gifts and I always remember the people whom I forgot to give gifts to. So sometimes I send my gifts after Christmas and even after New Year. Is that too late? Or is it better late than never?
Marie
Dear Marie,
If you ask me, I think it is better late than never. Even if the gift is late, at least you didn’t forget to send something.
And if you really think about the spirit behind giving gifts, it doesn’t really matter what time of year you send a gift. It doesn’t have to be Christmas. Maybe you were just walking in the mall and you saw a little something that reminded you of a friend or a relative and you bought it for them. Sigurado matutuwa yung pinagbigyan mo. (I’m sure the person you give will be very happy.) They will be even happier because the gift was unexpected and is a surprise!
So go ahead and send your gifts even after the New Year. Sana lang, huwag mo nang palampasin pa ng Three Kings! (I just hope you finish all your gifting by Three Kings!)
Sincerely,
Nanay
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