The first plan was simple: visit Singapore on December 2019 to watch the annular solar eclipse. But after a wonderful holiday experience in 2018, Gab wants to be in Bacolod again during December. This is how Gab’s Grand 2019 Plan started. It will be tiresome and expensive but this will teach Gab some life lessons he won’t forget.

Gab’s Plan

As early as 2017, we agreed to visit Singapore on December 26, 2019 to watch an annular solar eclipse. However, this means that we won’t be going back to Bacolod during the holidays. We already told our folks that we won’t be spending Christmas and New Year with them in 2019.

I am personally excited to watch another solar eclipse. I first witnessed a Partial Solar Eclipse last 1988 in Bacolod. The Annular Solar Eclipse on December 2019 is the closest and most accessible solar eclipse in the next 10 years or 20 years. There will be other solar eclipses every year but it will be far or unreachable. The next Total Solar Eclipse in the Philippines will be in 2042. Thus, watching the eclipse in Singapore this year makes sense to us.

However, after several Christmas gatherings, family parties and the New Year road trip last 2018, Gab had a change of heart. He also wants to be in Bacolod again during the next holidays.

I reminded him about our agreement to only be in Singapore this December. Going to both Bacolod and Singapore will be expensive and the travel will be exhausting.

He cried and told me that he wanted both. He slept with a heavy heart that night.

Nice Try Wise Guy

The next morning, he told me he has a plan. I wonder what he dreamed of last night.

He told me it was possible to be in Bacolod early in December. Then on December 25, we can take an evening flight to Singapore. We could arrive in Singapore early in the morning with enough time to catch the solar eclipse in the afternoon.

What a childish idea! He thinks like the trip from Bacolod to Singapore is as easy as a taxi ride. So I told him that his idea sounds good but it will be expensive. We only have the budget to go Singapore. We need additional budget for our trip to Bacolod.

I thought that will shut him up.

But Gab grinned and reminded me that I have plans to cut my coffee expenses for this year. I can use the money I will save to fund for our Bacolod trip. He knows how much I spend on coffee shops every month. He started computing how much I can save in a year. When he got the numbers, he told me that it will be enough to buy the plane tickets. He smiled and beamed with satisfaction.

I was the one who turned silent. His idea was not that childish after all. It was as if he had the whole night to think it thoroughly.

I just told him that I heard his plan and I have to think about it. Gab has made his move. Now it’s my turn.

Daddy’s Move

I expected Gab to whine, nag or have a tantrum. This is what I often do when I was his age. No wonder I never got what I was screaming for. But Gab acted differently. He showed some life skills I have encouraged him to have.

He is a problem solver. He understood the problem and offered a solution. It was even a two-step process since he figured out the schedules and how we can afford the expenses for additional Bacolod trip.

He is persistent. He knows what he wants and will find ways on how to get it. When I told him he might need to think of other ideas, he accepted the challenge and said yes.

He values relationships. This solar eclipse will be the closest one we can witness in the next 10 or 20 years. It is a rare phenomenon. But when I told him he might need to choose one, he chose to be in Bacolod. He wanted more to be with his lolos and lolas, titos and titas, cousins and friends. But, of course, Gab insists that he wanted both.

If I say no, Gab might lose these skills. He may no longer be confident in solving real life problems. He may be reluctant in pursuing audacious goals. He may think family is not that important.

I have to be careful of my decision.

What say you…

Quennie and I talked about Gab’s Plan. We agreed that it is best to follow Gab’s Plan but with conditions. After our research on the fares, airline routes, it was time to pass the decision to Gab.

I called Gab for the “talk”. I can see he was both excited and nervous.

First, I told thim that Quennie and I liked his plan. It was great that he came up with the plan and it is possible that we can both visit Bacolod and Singapore on December. I explained that while his orginal plan was not exactly perfect, Quennie and I did some research and looked at several options. We were able to modify his plan and found ways to make Gab’s Plan possible.

Second, we told Gab the main condition. He should help save his part of the additional cost to travel to Bacolod. I showed him how much he should save and the ways he can save for that amount. It’s a significant amount but it was attainable. We have some unneccesary expenses for Gab that he agreed we can remove or reduce. We offered activities were he can earn or get allowance from us. He even offered to put the money he received last Christmas for the trip.

Lastly, I explained that despite all the plans and the preparation, there might be some roadblocks and hindrances. It is possible that the flights get cancelled, or a bad weather will delay our departures. Worst of all, it could be very cloudy in Singapore that we can’t even see the eclipse happen. Sh*t happens, but I did not use this phrase on him.

At the end of our “talk”, Gab was beaming. He agreed to the plan and was excited to work on it. He started telling his lolos and lolas, titos and titas, cousins and friends that he can meet them again on December and still watch the eclipse.

This Year’s Lesson

This was a good oppurtunity for me to hand down some life lessons for Gab. This is something he can only learn from experience. No books or online tests can provide this kind of learning. I hope he will embrace the experience and be enriched by the lessons it can provide.

Find solutions. If there is a problem, there will be a solution. Instead of whining or complaining, it is better to think of ways to solve a problem. If you really want something, you can find ways to attain it.

Work together. Gab’s first plan was not perfect. But when we combined our ideas and did additional research, we were able to find a way to make the plan possible. The solution was a lot better with our combined effort.

Sacrifices are important. To get to the destination, he may need to let go some things. Part of the condition is he needs to remove one online account for IXL to save on monthly recurring fees. He also was willing to let go of old books and toys which can still be sold online.

Expect roadblocks. I gave scenarios that our journey may not be on a straight line. We are preparing him of the possible problems that can happen. Hopefully, he will be ready when these happen and continue to find solutions for them.

Ready, Set, Go

Gab’s 2019 Plan gave me a headache. But it was a good opportunity for Gab to learn these life lessons. I have learned from this experience too. I learned to be open-minded to his suggestions, and to be patient with his requests.

Looks like Gab’s 2019 plan is all set and ready for execution. Quennie and I are excited as he is. What scares me now is whatever grand plan he has in mind for 2020.