My Adopted Son

See the boy in the pic? Not the one in the beige shirt, that's me (duh!). The boy in the red is Joy. Actually, his real name is Fernando. I changed it to Joy because everytime you ask him his name, he replies with 'Fernando po' (Fernando Poe, get it?). Joy is my adopted son. Well, sort of. I send him to school, give him his baon, provide him clothes, feed him (this boy can eat!), buy him presents on Christmas and give him parental advice when needed. In return, he helps out around the house. He helps me wash my car, shine my shoes, run errands (buy stuff at the sari-sari store) and feed our two flea-infested mongrels. So does this make me a surrogate parent? One thing for sure though, it's no easy job bringing up a kid. You have to be strict and firm, yet patient and sensitive. It's a lot of fun though, especially when I see the positive influence I have on this kid. His grades are improving, he is obedient and courteous, and growing up with direction in his life. He's come a long way from being the skinny- scrawny-malnourished-sun burned-little shrimp who showed up at my doorstep from Tagum a couple of years ago.
The best part of having Joy around though, is that I get to practice my parenting skills. Which I can put to good use in the future when I become a real dad.
My Adopted Son
Originally uploaded by rodster31.