Being a parent is the most exhausting job in the world. Not counting chores or the invisible load moms carry on their shoulders (courtesy of their partners, ahem), taking care of a child is in itself a major achievement. Ask any parent, and she will tell you that no matter how challenging it is, parenthood is worth all the sacrifice with just one smile, one hug, or a kiss from your little one.
So imagine how much it means to a parent when, on an ordinary morning, she finds some random item in her bag — a "pabaon," if you will — from her child? Whether it was put there on purpose or one of the toy soldiers only needed a place to hide, seeing the surprise and knowing that your child was thinking of you will surely tug at your heartstrings.
We asked members of the Smart Parenting Village if they remember getting such mementos from their kids, and here are some of the funniest and most "nakakawalang-pagod" anecdotes:
Nick Fury action figure
PHOTO BY Smart Parenting Village
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"My 8-year-old son Justin Tyler is very protective of me, and wants to make sure that I am safe whenever I go to work. He never forgets to slip in action figures and weapons in my bag, just in case there's looming "danger." One time it was the Avengers' Nick Fury, another time it was a Lego samurai." — Nicole Aquino, mom of two
"Every morning, yung baby girl ko naglalagay ng tinapay na may kagat na nya sa bag ko. Share kami lagi sa food nya. Hahaha." — Abby Punzalan
Baby rattle
PHOTO BY Smart Parenting Village
"I work in a hospital as a nursing attendant and that time, duty ako from 4 p.m. to 12 midnight. Habang nasa duty ako, binuksan ko yung bag dahil kukunin ko ang phone ko. Paghawak ko, iba agad ung nakapa ko. Pinabaunan pala ako ng 2-year-old son ko ng baby rattle. Inisip nya siguro, walang laman yung bag ko kaya pinabaunan nya ako ng laruan." — Mary Rose Bautista, mom of two
Fried chicken
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"My son was 4 years old then [when I would find fried chicken in my bag]. Mantika-mantika tuloy bag ko. Sixteen years old na sya ngayon, natatawa rin sya ngayon 'pag kinukwento ko." — Lerma Vanni Dela Cruz
Baby's pacifier
PHOTO BY Smart Parenting Village
"Tinuturuan yata akong mag self-soothe ng anak ko to manage my temper. Pabaon from my 3 month old back then (or more like sa sobrang kangaragan ni momshie pati pacifier nasusuksok sa bag)." — CeeJay Alva
"My 4-year-old son Yuno sneakily puts his favorite toys inside my bag. He was around 2 when I found Michaelangelo inside my bag. Perhaps Yuno assumed that I needed company that day. Another time it was one of his trusty dinosaurs." — Risse Cortez, mom of one
Baon for Mommy
"[I would often find a] small toy, a biscuit and a candy, tapos my son would ask me pag-uwi ko if I ate my baon he put inside my bag." — Cristine Dela Cruz
A handwritten note
PHOTO BY Smart Parenting Village
"One ordinary day, I found this love note inside my bag from my then-3-year-old son Mico. It could have been his way of telling me that no matter what happens, a special someone loves me so much." — Rose Concepcion, mom of one
Pink sunglasses
"Naalala ko daughter ko. Pabaon nya sa Papa nya nung magse-seminar sa Manila eh yung shades nya na color pink." — Maybel Dimailig Sapico
"May client meeting ako noon sa Starbucks. Nung mag-start na kami and I was about to get my pen inside my bag, I found this! Then there was one time also na pagbukas ko ng bag, nasa loob yung remote ng TV." — Khriz Batimana Ramirez
Hanger
"When I was still working at an office, pinabaunan ako [one time] ng panganay ko ng hanger at ng bib nya hahaha." — Sheree Baylon-Brizo
Allen wrench
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"‘Yung eldest ko ang salarin dito. Nakita ko na lang may dala pala akong Allen wrench pagdating ko sa office. Automotive ‘yong field of work ng husband ko and lagi niyang pinapanuod yung tatay niya mag ayos ng motor pati mga tools minsan pinapakialaman. He’s now 4 years old and mag-aaral na siya sa pasukan. Sana di siya magdala ng kung anu-ano sa school." — Cham Navaza
Toy train and car
PHOTO BY Smart Parenting Village
"I have two boys ages 4 and 6 years old. Sa pagmamadali kong makapasok, di ko na na-check ang bag ko. Nagulat na lang ako pagdating ko sa office para kuhanin ang ID ko, ayan ang bumungad sa akin. Kaya pala mabigat." — Mayeth Binalay
TV remote control
"Naalala ko hanap kami nang hanap ng remote ng TV Plus, tapos nilagay pala ni Jacob sa bag ko." — Dorathy Lansang
A plastic star
PHOTO BY Smart Parenting Village
"Eto yung pabaon sa akin ng 1-year-old ko na si Anthony." — April Reyes
Plastic ring
PHOTO BY Smart Parenting Village
"In our case, our 18-month-old son Jakov did not put the pabaon inside the bag; rather, he hung it on his father's motorcycle without us noticing. When my partner went to work that night, he didn't notice the toy. After his shift ended in the morning, he approached his motorcycle and was surprised to see the bright, green toy decorating it. He was so pleasantly surprised that he immediately took a photo and shared it on Facebook." — Edelyn Tingalon
Plush toy
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PHOTO BY Smart Parenting Village
"This was the first stuff she won at World of Fun, dun sa may malaking clamp. She was shouting 'I won, I won!' She was 6 years old then. I work in Cebu, and she goes to school sa Manila. I was surprised to see this inside my bag. She said, "I'm giving it to you as a gift, Mama." Lagi itong nasa office ko para ma-inspire ako lalo." — Marion M. Millarez
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PHOTO BY Smart Parenting Village"My 8-year-old son Justin Tyler is very protective of me, and wants to make sure that I am safe whenever I go to work. He never forgets to slip in action figures and weapons in my bag, just in case there's looming "danger." One time it was the Avengers' Nick Fury, another time it was a Lego samurai." — Nicole Aquino, mom of twoADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW
PHOTO BY Smart Parenting Village
PHOTO BY Smart Parenting Village
PHOTO BY Smart Parenting VillageADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW
PHOTO BY Smart Parenting Village
PHOTO BY Smart Parenting Village
PHOTO BY Smart Parenting Village"‘Yung eldest ko ang salarin dito. Nakita ko na lang may dala pala akong Allen wrench pagdating ko sa office. Automotive ‘yong field of work ng husband ko and lagi niyang pinapanuod yung tatay niya mag ayos ng motor pati mga tools minsan pinapakialaman. He’s now 4 years old and mag-aaral na siya sa pasukan. Sana di siya magdala ng kung anu-ano sa school." — Cham NavazaADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW
PHOTO BY Smart Parenting Village
PHOTO BY Smart Parenting Village
PHOTO BY Smart Parenting Village
PHOTO BY Smart Parenting Village
