“E-li-kan-ter talaga yun! (It was really a “helicopter”!)”, she was very happy telling us.
We laughed over Aisha’s “e-li-kan-ter” for helicopter. Then Eric said, “Aisha, it’s HE-LI-COP-TER.”
Aisha: E-li-kan-ter
Eric: HE-LI-COP-TER
Aisha: He-li-kan-ter
Me: He-li-cop-ter
Aisha: He-li-cop-ter! He-Li-cop-ter! Heli- copter!
Yeheyyyy!!!!! We all cheered. That was quite a word.
Suddenly, I just wanted to test if she can say “ha and he” well.
Me: Aishe, say LU-HA (tears).
Aisha, thinking, paused for a while, then she said, “LU…. YA”.
We all chuckled. She couldn’t say “HA” correctly from Lu-HA. She kept on saying Lu-YA.
Finally, we were laughing too hard and she was almost giving up for not being able to say it correctly. Eric, Alia and I were trying to convince her to say “lu-HA” over and over but Aisha kept stuttering: LU—YA.
I told Aisha that she cannot go to school if she won’t be able to say it correctly. I told her that we won’t give her a fourth birthday party if she’s still “bulol”. She was furious! She threw her pillows from the bed. I just turned my back and left her like that- upset as she was.
I didn’t know how long I was already sleeping beside her but facing on the other side. I suddenly woke up and I heard Aisha whispering behind me. She was murmuring softly on a sad tone: “he-li-copter….lu-ya…lu…aaa…lu-ya….ang hirap naman… heli- copter….lu—aaa…lu---yaaaaa… di ko naman kaya”. She was practicing!!!!!
I didn’t know how long she did that. She just kept repeating the words and she had a hard time. I knew she was sad…I sensed it in her tone, but she was determined to say it right. I wasn’t sure how to react so I just pretended that I didn’t hear her and I went back to sleep.
Next morning, she woke up early. I was preparing for work and she came to me, smiling. “Mama, listen…. Lu…HA… luha! Luha!!!!” she said happily! “Wow! Very good, Aisha!!!”, I cheered.
I hugged her. My little baby sure did her homework last night and I’m a proud Mom as ever.