MANILA, Philippines — Nakakapagsalita na ang four-year-old apo ni Marjorie Barretto sa daughter na si Dani Barretto-Panlilio at husband nitong si Xavi Panlilio.
“Millie has developed so much with her speech.
“She suffered with speech delay for basically her whole life. So itong year, last year, she started talking. And then this year, improving na. Nakikipagkwentuhan na sa amin, nagsasalita na, may conversation na,” sabi ni Dani sa nasabing celebration ni Kryzl.
Dagdag niya “So parang hindi pa kami ready na isalang talaga siya sa big school. We want her to fully develop muna with her speech before ipasok namin siya sa big school. Para hindi din siya mahirapan,” diin pa Dani.
Kasalukuyang preggy ang eldest daughter ni Marjorie sa second baby nila ng mister, isang baby boy.
May nerbiyos silang nararamdam ng mister sa tuwing pag-uusapan ang anak nilang si Millie pero marami silang natutunan sa mga pinagdaanan.
“Parang the more na nagiging in denial ka, mas pinapatagal mo, mas nahihirapan ‘yung bata.
“Kasi may year lang kasi na, I think ‘pag 3 years old na medyo late na ‘yan eh. So parang ‘pag napansin mo na ng 3 years old, do all the necessary things para sa anak mo. Isipin mo na lang na this is for their future, para hindi sila mahirapan. Kasi kami, we’ve gone through like, it was a struggle for the past 5 years. But seeing her talk to us now, every single new word, naiiyak talaga kami. Every improvement, it’s like she’s one again. Kasi ‘di ba ‘pag one year old, ‘pag parang development ng anak mo, naiiyak ka ‘pag may bago siyang ginagawa. Kami late kami dun eh. Five years (na silang kasal) kasi sa amin ‘yung nangyayari ‘yun eh. Four years old na ngayon palang ‘yung new stuff, new words, conversation,” na tinuturing na rin niyang new beginning.
Hands-on mom si Dani at hindi niya raw talaga kayang iasa sa ibang tao ang pag-aalaga sa anak lalo na sa pagti-therapy.
“Meron kasi siyang day job (husband) so ako naghahatid sa kanya sa school but on different days he takes her to therapy parang hindi pa rin talaga namin kayang iasa sa ibang tao. So kami pa rin ‘yung naghahatid sundo sa kanya sa therapy, sa school or whatever activities. We always make it a point na priority talaga siya, si Millie.”
At malaking tulong daw ang ginawang pagpapalaki sa kanila ng inang si Marjorie. “Siguro talaga ‘yung bonding moments vina-value ko ‘yun kasi ‘yung Mom ko, we grew up na ginawa niya lahat para lahat kami close. Sa isang kwarto kami, family trips. Talagang my Mom made it a point that she spoiled us with experience. So iyon ‘yung ginagawa namin kay Millie na bini-vacation namin siya, ini-expose namin siya sa vacations, family time. We always want her to feel na nandun kami, present kami at all. Because my Mom was always present.”
Ready na ba sila sa another baby? “Yes, so we are, we are.
“Well, we thought we weren’t at first,” sabi ng mag-asawa.
So nagulat ka nung dumating ‘yun?
“Yes, because we really didn’t plan to have a baby this year. Although it’s God’s will and we’re so grateful. Because when we found out that it was a boy, we were like, okay, we’re done. We’re done.
“We’re happy because I think ever since we found out then that we were expecting, parang tuluy-tuloy din naman ‘yung blessings sa aming dalawa and sa family namin. So parang binack up-an kami ni God, ako bahala sa inyo.”
Gaano na sila katagal kasal? “Limang taon na. 7 taon na magkasama, 5 taon na kasal.”
Kaya naman din inilipat na nila ng kwarto ang anak.