By Kabelo Mollo
I have spent the last week of my life in a jet lagged haze. A week ago to the day I flew in from Missoulla, Montana, a lovely but really far part of the world, I landed on the continent just in time for my boy’s second birthday! Yuup, JK II is 2. Time really flies when you’re having fun.
I have remarked on numerous occasions how outrageous it is that somebody has allowed me and many others in my generation to have children and be adults. It seems incongruent to me that a generation that not long ago was doing the “twalatsa” and “tsipa” dances should now be responsible adults caring for and shaping the future.
Every time I look at my boy I’m stunned that I had the temerity to create a thing so perfect. It genuinely beggars belief. My boy is the spitting image of his dad, in fact if you were to place a picture of me at two and a picture of him now side by side you’d not be able to tell who’s who. This is my wife’s least favourite thing about her child. He looks absolutely nothing like her.
She says she is simply his minder. Of course, this is absolutely false. Apart from being the most loving, and doting mother, the dude also is a mirror of his mom in terms of personality. He’s big on cuddles and affection and has a wonderful joie de vivre about him. He’s also tenacious and headstrong, you might even say stubborn, exactly like his mom. But let me quiet while I’m ahead.
The two most significant events in my life have taken place in Bloemfontein hospitals. They are on opposite sides of the spectrum. One is the birth of my boy JK II, the other the passing of my dad JK original. These two things have impacted me greatly. But I’m talking about my boy now. An energetic, inquisitive guy who brings so much joy to our happy home. He really is such a character which is what makes me sure we gave him the right name.
His namesake was a great character. When JK wakes up in the morning there will not be a dull moment until he goes to sleep. Dude is going to demand to watch his things on TV, he’s going to sing, laugh and cry at the top of his voice. He’s going to demand to share my food (something I’ve had to accept begrudgingly) and he’s going to have his mom and I wrapped around his little finger all day long!
Being a parent is the most fulfilling thing ever. It’s crazy to see the guy’s mannerisms taking shape. He’s actually got his own personality. One of my favourite things in the world is when he comes back from his evening bath and almost announces his arrival in the lounge. He creates such hype and fanfare for himself. It’s almost as if he’s telling us, his adoring fans “the long wait is over, I have returned from my evening bath”. It’s hilarious! He’s fascinated by light switches. He can turn lights on and off for minutes at a time. But the best is listening to him sing along to nursery rhymes. Who woulda thunk it…
As previously stated, I had been broody for a long time when my then girlfriend told me we were expecting and I don’t think to this day I’ve ever been more excited to hear anything in my life time. Speaking of excitement. When JK was about 5 weeks old the English Premier league restarted. Our beloved Man United (him and I) had just resigned Cristiano Ronaldo.
When I went to go visit him and his mother who were still at my mother-in-laws during the setsoetse period I discovered the guy was wearing his new Man United kit bought by his aunt’s in Jozi. It was the most emotionally satisfying thing I’d ever seen. Silly me, I got caught up in the moment and blurted it out to his mother. Suffice it to say, she’s never let me live in it down or forget it. She claims I was more emotional seeing him wearing the United kit than when he was born. Try as I might to explain that I was both overwhelmed and completely knackered when he was born, old girl doesn’t hear my story. Anyhow, we continue to shout for United with my little Red devil!
Every year this guy grows is a blessing for us and him. We obviously can’t wait for all that he does in the future, but seeing him develop and grow in the present is the most precious thing. We are eternally grateful for his life. I said and reiterate, if he’s half the man his namesake was, then he’ll be one helluva guy. A very happy 2nd birthday to Joseph Kaibe Mollo the second.
