As my lady wife was looking at baby stuff, I saw a little girl talking endlessly to her mother... We were at the baby & kid section of Jusco & high on spirit of shopping for most garments available there were on sale... The girl was around the age of six, I presumed, wearing long & sleeveless green shirt that covered most parts of her thigh while her mother wore tight hot pants and loose fitting t-shirt... 

The girl talked excitedly to her mother, trying to gain attention... But, the mother just ignored her & lazily went through some kids' clothes... Trying to win over her mother from the half priced, colorful kiddy t-shirts, the little girl grabbed the mother's left hand & swung it merrily front & forth... 

Almost effortlessly, the mother swung her other hand and PAP!! Her palm left a pink mark on the girl's left cheek... 

More slaps landed on the girl's hands, as the mother scolded her in Chinese... I didn't understand the words, but by the hard look of her face, I just knew she was scolding the child...

Like how any other six year old would react, the child cried... 

I was so shocked by the mother's sudden act & felt sorry for the child...

Later on, as wifey & I were on our way to purchase some cold beverages from Chatime, I saw them again... That time, the mother was pushing a shopping cart & the girl was sitting inside it, crying... Her eyes were reddish & her cheeks were wet from tears...

If I were her child, I would be unhappy too... I thought to myself...

Wifey & I were at Jusco without baby Ubaid because he was sleeping when we were about to go out from our house... We left him in the care of wifey's sister... As soon as I got home, I felt a strong urge to hug that little guy...

Looking at his plump face, all smiling & happy, I wondered, would I have the heart to hit this sweetheart? I knew the answer to that question immediately... No... No, I will never have the heart to hit him... I wanted to always make him smile, entertain him, make him feel safe...

Though I know, I might have to, someday... As a father, I must shape him to be good... 

I might have to... I hope I won't have to...

One thing is for sure, inflicting pain will be my last method of teaching my child (or children) to be good... In my opinion, the best way to teach a child good behavior is by being a good example... 

Kids tend to pick up on things... They learn by observing & then doing... 

If I want Ubaid to always clean up his room, I, myself must be working my bum out cleaning the whole house, raking dead leaves around the yard, mopping floors & vacuuming rugs... 

I heard on the radio once, a child psychologist said that I you want your boy to grow up to be a decent man who would treat all women right, you must treat your wife right... Be the gentleman that your son will look up to... 

And if you want your girl to choose the right man in the future, you have to show her how a proper man would treat her... Before she learns how to date guys, take her out for a date yourself... Get the door for her, give her flowers, show her the meaning of respect... It will set a bar for her on how a man should act in order to win her heart...

How I want to be the best father & husband... I always envision that once Ubaid is grown enough, I will take him & wifey bowling, to the zoo, to the beach & spend all my time with them... I want to buy him a football & we'll be in the yard practising kicks... I want to buy us a couple of NERF guns & just have a game of war... Watch all the cartoons in the cinemas... 

Haaah... The perks of having a boy... :-)

Parents would definitely know this feeling that I'm having... The feeling of wanting my kid to grow up fast but at the same time, wanting him to stay cute & little...