From couch to a distant star

He’ll brave quests both near and far

   All monsters beware

   His roar and his stare

As he roams Where The Wild Things Are! 

This limerick written by husband captures who Leon is at 3. We can imagine how this will probably still apply when he turns 16 or 40. All our children seem to be living up  to their names! Leon, pronounced Le-on, not Leeeyon, is the Filipino word for Lion. And he roars just like one! There is a sense of conquest in him that you won’t miss. He plays, runs, jumps, and climbs with no fear which explains all the mishaps he has gotten himself into. 

The book Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak was his favorite read before nap time. It’s about a boy named Max who sailed to an island and enjoyed a playful romp with other beasts called “Wild Things”. After intimidating these beasts, he was then hailed as The King of all Wild Things.

Leon would “read” along (the ones in red) with me…

That very night in Max’s room a forest grew

and grew –

and grew until his ceiling hung with vines

and the walls became the world all around..

And when he came to the place where the wild things are 

they roared their terrible roars and gnashed their terrible teeth

and rolled their terrible eyes and showed their terrible claws

Till Max said “BE STILL!”

And now.. let the wild rumpus start!

(at this point of the story, Leon would dance and jump all around the room, pretending he is in a jungle, and King of all Wild Things!)

You know how the story goes, little boy Max from the story gets tired of all the rumpus and starts missing his home..

And Max the king of all wild things was lonely and wanted to be where someone loved him best of all…

so he gave up being king of where the wild things are.

…Max stepped into his private boat and waved good-bye

and sailed back over a year

and in and out of weeks

and through a day…

***

This Lion of ours would make sure his Tatay kisses him every day before he leaves for work. A kiss on the lips, then a hug, then a wave goodbye, and lastly, a high-five is how the drill goes.

This Lion of ours often wakes up before the sun rises. He quietly walks to our room, climbs my side of the bed and snuggles with me until all his other siblings wake up and joins us over in our bed.

This Lion of ours would lie down beside his Kuya (big brother) and and fall asleep hugging him.

This Lion of ours would roar at his Ate (big sister) and, the next moment, nudge for a hug.

This Lion of ours becomes a gentle big brother to his baby sister, loving her like she’s his cub and protecting her from all “danger”. A great Kuya in the making.

***

Happy 3rd year, Leon.

May you grow and never tire of seeking adventures that glorify Him alone.