As I’ve mentioned in my previous post Expat babies Travel 101 and Don’t Mess With Immigration Officers, that for Thailand-born babies to travel out of the country they need to have a passport.  Summer and Derick are no exceptions.  Summer already has gotten her Philippine passport last 2010.  Derick, on the other hand does not have yet.  Due to time and financial constraint, we were unable to procure him a passport early on. Consequently, he was unable to come with us to the Philippines last November.  My husband had to stay as well to look after him. All my boys were left to fend on their own.

So what happened?

Derick had to stay with his Thai nanny during the day while Papa goes to work.  During weekends, Papa needs to work extra to eke out the finances, Derick stayed with very helpful and generous Filipino couple Mai Mai and Martin.  Thanks a bunch to you guys.  So, this was the set up for 25 longs days.

When I finally came home, I was so sad because Derick did not recognize me right away.  It took 10 seconds of trying to make him remember me because he just looked at me for a second and looked away the next. I have to call his name again in the usual intonation and pitch I use, and did the gesture I usually do everytime I pick him up from his nanny. Oh gosh, that moment broke my heart.  I had a lump in my throat.

He eventually recognized me. I saw happiness and relief in his face. This probably explains why for the next few days, he just wanted to be held by me.  He cried everytime I’m out of sight.

 

Here’s a video of Derick with Martin in one of those weekends.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2Ld2xFmbrs&feature=youtu.be

 

 

Were you ever been away from your child? How did you feel about it?

 

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