108 days of Daily Mass/108 days of #socialdistancing.

When she made #blacklivesmatter poster, she specifically made one poster for each: her grandpa, her grandma, her mom, her papa, a white friend who was physically bullying her last summer that it took her quite awhile to say she loves her again and of course, herself.

She shared all the posters with me and kinda laughed when she showed how the poster for herself revealed her selflove and read it out loud.

It was an endearing moment to witness her strong sense of self: loving, inclusive and forgiving.

She loves hearing my stories affirming herself in helping me out, like forming pan de sal rolls yesterday, “Grandma, pretend you don’t know your granddaughter. I want to hear your story.” Isn’t that empathy? Validating me by listening to me at the same validating herself?

That is my daily intention- that when she comes to my house, she will feel immense love here, but with boundaries and will have the best nutrition.

Today, she beat the drums to a rhythm teaching her grandpa to do one beat first, followed by three beats and then repeat.

I was her customer today for tea and pandesal with spam. I had to pretend how to drink tea with pebbles, stones and rocks while showing my enjoyment. She loved hearing me say, “Hmm, so good, hot and sweet.” She is growing up fast. But, we allow her to flourish by emptying ourselves of expectations.

Today, before we end the day, I asked her to clean up. She negotiated and said, “after 3pm, Grandma. I still want my snack.” She is eating well these days and we made up a song for tomato superman today, that by eating tomatoes, she elbows out the viruses from her body. She asked me to sing it twice.

What a beautiful human being who is loving, who is listening, who negotiates for what she wants, who leads, but also complies with the rules and loves to help out. She is my idol.