Speech No.8: Add Impact To Your Speech

The objectives of this speech are:
- to learn the value of props in speaking.
- to learn how to use props effectively in your presentations.
Time 5 to 7 minutes.

| Go to my Speech Bar Progress |

Later My Son
Gladdy Patawaran
Date presented: December 7, 2001

If TIME flies so fast is a BAD NEWS, the GOOD NEWS is you are the pilot.

Few years ago, I can just simply rock my son to sleep in my arms. He was still a baby then, so fragile and small and dependent on me for comfort and nourishment. He cried when hungry and wet and cling to me when he was sick. Day in and day out for the first three months, we were always together. How I terribly missed him when I started working again. That was few years ago, now, he is five years old going on his sixth birthday this coming September. I cannot imagine he is so grown-up now and no longer a baby.

Whatever happened during those years was a mixture of fun and laughter as we blew his first soap bubbles together, excitement as he road his first train ride, joy and sense of accomplishment when praises were given as he sang his first nursery rhymes, tears when Dad gave him a lesson after doing something wrong and including his share of FRUSTRATIONS…

One time my maid went home for a Christmas vacation. A mountain of household tasks would usually welcome me each day. One particular morning, my son, who was four years old at that time, came marching on my side and happily asked me if I could play with him. I said, “ Later son, I will just finish the dishes.” He quickly obliged and went back with his toys, which was all over the place. After few minutes, he shifted his attention to his crayons and paper and said, “Mommy could you draw Mickey Mouse for me?” It was already getting late for market so I replied, “Later son, I’ll do that for you” as I planted a quick kiss on his soft cheek and dashed through the door. I left him with his grandfather and saw him went back to his table and started giving his shot at the drawing. He was so ecstatic and happy when I got home from the market but could not offer full attention. New task after another my day was consumed. It was evening then when I felt a sense of accomplishment for the day and I remembered my son. I said, “Son, do you still wanted us to play?”, “Yes Mommy”, was his cheerful reply but only to see a pair of weary eyes. We played for a while but since it is late, I prepared him for bed. Few minutes later, he was in a deep slumber. As I was watching his innocent face, the feeling of guilt washed over me when I realized what I failed to accomplish for the day – those precious moments with him.

Many times most of us fail to recognize and do the more important stuff which is our family and even ourselves. We focus most of our energies on the more urgent ones – our jobs, tasks or even household chores. We always thought that we can make-up for the lost time. So when things are piling-up and becoming so stressful. We usually plan and think highly of vacation . We build-up our expectations that our time off is going to be the highlight of our year, a saving grace. We look forward to vacation to enable us to do the things we failed to do on ordinary days. Obviously, a vast majority of life is not spent on vacation, yet, many of us emphasize the importance of our vacations so much that we forget to enjoy the rest of our lives, our day-to-day, moment-to-moment experiences with our loved ones.

Work is important but let us not forget our relationship with our family, do the things we truly enjoy in our life and keep the fire glowing. Let’s tell our family, our friends how much we care for them, how much we love them. Do not delay the laughter and joy to your life.

With this I would like to share with you an excerpt from the Song, “No Rewinding No Replay” by Jose Mari Chan,

“There’s no rewinding, no replay
The chance we lose today
Will be gone
When it’s gone.

We’ll never be quite as strong
Nor as young as this again
Make them last
Make these moments last right now.

Everyday, every hour, every minute and every second counts. Time flies so fast but remember that we are the pilot. For couples, keep the love burning; for parents, play with your children ‘coz you may never have the time to do it. Don’t wait for the time when you can no longer say, “Later my son.”