Mum ukona tumbooooooo!

He walked into my room the other morning after having his breakfast.

"Goodmorningggg!" he starts with a smile.

(Fun fact: Energy levels in our household at this time of day nowadays are enough to run the Masinga hydroelectric powerplants.This being the effect of this boy joining school.He lives for school it seems of late.Saturday mornings are characterized by tantrums and questions as to why "hakuna shule leo"

"Goodmorning baby.How are you today?"

I ask as I scrutinize his school uniform,if it's been put on properly.I adjust his sweater.

"I'm fine thankyou Mrs. Otieno......Ooh Mrs.Mum"

We both start chuckling.(Mrs.Otieno is his class teacher.)

"Mimi ni Mrs.Otieno love?"

And he continues to laugh.

"How did you sleep?" I ask after we're done with the laughter.

"I slept very much!!" is his confident reply.

Guffaws just from me.

He doesn't understand why I'm laughing so much.

"No baby..say I slept well."

"Ohhh I slept well! And you mum?"

"I slept well too." I say as I go on to comb my hair.

"Mum na ukona tumbo." He says while touching my tummy(which is where his head reaches)

He's being the scrutinizing one now.

Pause pause pause.

I look at him, "Ati nikona tumbo?"

 Surely I wasn't dressed in any way that reveals the unnecessary fat on my belly.The fat that is evidence that I failed terribly in the roller sessions I had started a while ago.

Working out is the synonym of discipline.For example we should be allowed to say self-working out when we want to say self-discipline.

I'm afraid my self-working out levels are in the negative when it comes to matters of sweating and jumping around. I'll start working out after the next baby.Or maybe after the third one.Or maybe....

So I clutch at my tummy and tell him,"Love unajua nilikubeba hapa?"

"Ati ulinibeba???Aje?"

I laugh.Nilikubeba tu and I stop that conversation as I realize that I'm going into a topic that will not be understood up until maybe a decade from now.I'll sit then and wait until he asks THE big "Where do babies come from" question by himself.

I take two..

The feigned cry I always do when he says something mean.

"Nalia Jeff.Ati nikona tumbo?"

Sob sob sniff.

He looks at me sadly and lifts his hands to hug me..

"Sawa mum hauna tumbo."

Yes!I win!Jubilee in my head.

Surely son I look like a super model.Stop that talk about tumbos so early in the morning.

I keep misplacing my wrist watches.The one before this one just uum fell off my hand.How does a wrist watch fall off your hand?When you have tiny wrists and hands.My friends (...and family-imagine!) tell me my hands,wrists and fingers are just too small compared to other parts of me. So ya'll think I'm unproportional huh.Meanies.Even my watch thinks that too.Betrayal.So it slipped off and disappeared.I got a new one.I could have sworn it was well fitting.Until it also pulled a 'now you see me now you don't' on me. (Malaysian?).Last I saw it was on the weekend on  my bedroom couch.

Last night I was on a mission to find it.Of course with Jeff as my mission mate.

"Baby..umeona watch yangu?"

"Apana"

"Nisaidie tuitafute please"

"Sawa....Inaitwa?!" he stands up all macho.

Welcome to my world guys!

I had a one of those heart to heart talks with my mother the other day.Being the only girl we have those moments a lot Especially now since I'm all grown and past the "I hate my parents" stage.We talk about all sorts of things...love,parenting,politics,friendships.

We went into the topic of Jeff.Her words to me will stay in my heart and mind for probably the rest of my life.

She said, "Take time to form a bond with your child from this young age.Let him grow up knowing that he has a friend in you from the word go.So that he'll always be open with you with his issues in life.Remember this is a male child who has no father.You have to step in and be both mum and dad for him until when you are sure you've met someone that will take the father role.Bond with him now that you are still young and have the time.."

These words have been ringing in my head ever since.I read somewhere that the first seven years of a child's life are the most sensitive..because these are the years of character development.These are the years when they firmly need to be made to know that they are loved,wanted,highly valued,protected and secure.

My mother,albeit widowed, has managed to be there for my brothers and I.All three of us.Who I'm I not to be the best I can be to one child.

So here's to being there some more for this little boy.To friendship between a mother and her son.To being introduced to girlfriends without being feared.To giving warm hugs when hearts are broken.To cheering him on during his sports days.To being proud of him for his achievements.To encouraging him even when he fails in some matters of life.

Here's to taking my position as mum!