bopis

Nothing against them, really. Don't get me wrong. I've got one myself and I want to believe I love her dearly. Fact is, it was her life entire that shyly suggested - voicelessly - that I teach. So my pupils may blame her. Voicelessly.

What I find interesting's how moms go with their kids to fetch classcards. Or how they get it themselves, sans the child. And I mean moms - not dads.

Oh. I teach college. I've been at it four years running and I've never seen so much mothering. I don't know how to take it. On one hand, it's all good. Kids honest with their grades and all. Also, I don't mind if they tag along to interrogate my colleagues: "Where did this five come from? My little angel was valedictorian." UP Teachers need all the checking and balancing, what with the liberties in the way of responsibility (that elusive fourth R). These teachers! Ugh, such delinquents like you wouldn't believe.

I don't mind. Maybe children nowadays, eighteen year-old, twenty-two year old children nowadays, they could do with the extra bonding.

Maybe we should consider college-level PTA. And family days.

I've been guessing at many reasons. One foremost: the Tuition Fee Increase must have left the prole kids and has begun cutting from the upper strata. Where the babies are. A hypothesis, nothing more.

Okay. Let me come off honest. I'm just pissed I couldn't get anywhere to eat lunch what with all the students and their friends and their moms crowding the queues, taking in all the aircondition. Matter of national security, my dad would say.

First day on November 14, UPLB. I'm expecting some kids to freak me out, sobbing quietly as I hand them the college tertiary level university coming of age independence day syllabus. How to shoo the mothers with their hands on the windows mouthing goodbyes. Never walking that talk.

Maybe they're mouthing I love you. Puh-lease. Let me chew your children in peace.