MY SON'S LITTLE HAPPINESS WITH MAX'S RESTAURANT

Kyle in his most serious photo to date.

 You’ll see such a contagious joy on my face when I start talking about Kyle, my dear nephew whom I consider as my own. I’ve been happy tending to him than being the career woman I ought to be. I’ve been Kyle’s surrogate mother since I’ve learned about my elder sister’s pregnancy at my college baccalaureate mass. I remember there used to be times when I’d go home late at night and I’d still find Kyle waiting for me even if it’s already past his bedtime because he didn’t want to sleep without me. 

My family: Mom, Kyle and moi

When my nephew Kyle came into our lives, my life has completely changed. I had someone to look after and cared for. Kyle is a special child. He’s got Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD. So even if I had to sacrifice my own life (pursuing a career of my own, having a love life—among all the other things I had to give up to focus on him) I had no regrets that I had been present during his most crucial times—his childhood—where his foundation of character had been developed. He’s been my source of strength, pride, and joy. What I had lost far outweighs what I had gained plus more.

Kyle and I love to ham up before the camera.

At certain points, Kyle would run to embrace Mom and me and simply cling to us—wanting every minute to be with us as he always does, and I feel all warm and fuzzy inside as I always do when that happens. I relish it as much as I can because I know that the way he hungers for our time, our company will not be the same forever. Time will come when we will be clinging to him, and love him dearly though he may, he will want to spread his wings and fly on his own. 

Having fun at the Halloween Photobooth

Kyle, Mom and I—we were always together, for many moments of our lives, we were hardly apart from each other. We’re inseparable—traveling together, living together, sharing the same room, and loving each other.  The two of them are my only family. 

We love to do things together as Mom and son

We like photobooths such as this.

Every Sunday, I would bring Kyle to Max’s Restaurant as this is the little one’s only request to his aunt (like a little baby asking his mother). It’s a pass on tradition from my mom to me and from me to my dear adopted son Kyle. In a way it is a form of bonding and quality time with Kyle and my mom. We definitely enjoy savoring the goodness of golden crispy chicken and its sarap-to-the-bones taste that we have grown to love all these years. We love Max’s fried chicken and it would undoubtedly be our last meal on earth. 

Our favorite chicken of all time!

Sour yet tangy Sinigang na hipon

Our Sunday hangout place-Max's Restaurant

Creamy and peanutbuttery Kare-Kare's such a comfort meal.

Budget friendly value meal for everyone.

 

As a writer most of my life, I have experienced the loneliest moments where I was always limited to a social lifestyle and wide networks of friends. I was just grappling with my computer, my articles and my thoughts. As a result, I needed to cling on to Kyle and my mom who gives me moral support, where I get my emotional dependency. 

 

 I was sent to cover an event out-of town which requires me to be away from my son.  And I received a call on my mobile phone from a distant relative. The dreaded news came that Kyle had met an accident. A vehicular accident at that! He’s been wounded. It turned out he was about to buy an ice pop for an older cousin. Since he’s pretty excited for his upcoming dance performance in school,apparently he wore the Jabawockeez mask as he crossed the street, if one realizes he is a boy with special needs.  An Isuzu vehicle driven by an old man had ran over him. Upon hearing these words, my world crumbled in a way I had never imagined. I was in shock! I was blaming myself for leaving him in the company of my other relatives who were slack and not as vigilant as I am.

The mask that my son used when he crossed the street.

I headed straight to the hospital’s emergency room to check out on him as soon as I returned from the province. I brought a Max’s take out bag for his dinner but the hospital prohibits food inside the premises. That was one of the worst scenarios I’ve ever been into: I was forced to eat the food outside. Imagine I had to eat the entire Max’s takeout chicken by my lonesome self.  It actually felt like I had been munching on paper instead of my favorite dinner meal. 

Kyle lying helplessly in the hospital

It was indeed the worst dinner I had in my lifetime. I did not have the appetite for it but I had no option but to eat just so I could finally see my dear nephew in such a pity state. When I was finally allowed to enter the hospital premises, my heart sank. Kyle looked so helpless with an avulsed (read: unskinned) wound on his left foot along with black and blue bruises here and there. If I could turn back time I vow never to leave him out of my sight.  The feeling was unfathomable—I was totally overwhelmed with the rollercoaster of emotions. 

I thank God Kyle’s guardian angel had been there all along when the incident happened. He didn’t have fractures to begin with and that’s something to be happy about.

 

After a few days he was discharged from the hospital. He used crutches to be able to walk normally again for about three weeks, Kyle had that desire to get his life back. Soon after, I was called back to my job.

Kyle using crutches for weeks.

 

As his surrogate mother, I wanted to make my son smile again and in order to make it up to him, while I had been busy with work and even if I wasn’t home yet I decided to place an advance order to give some sort of a small “Welcome Home” party for Kyle by ordering our favorite Max’s specialty meals online at www.maxschicken.com I’ve ordered Crispy Pata, Pancit Canton, Fresh Lumpia, buko pandan and of course, Kyle’s ultimate favorite: Max’s spring Fried Chicken + his fave dessert, a box of Max’s caramel bars (yes, he can finish the entire box by himself!).  That night proved to be fulfilling, knowing fully well how I had made Kyle and my relatives happy as they indulged in such delectable feast. So when I got home that night, it felt good seeing that familiar awe in Kyle’s eyes as he delighted on sumptuous meals he’d missed. (Hey, we all know how hospital foods are, right?) It’s my way of thanking the Lord for giving my beloved nephew another chance to live and be with us. 

Our ultimate favorite Max's Fried Chicken

Crispy yet juicy Lechon Kawali also tops our order's list

Who can forget about Pancit Canton?

Kyle bites on his fave sarap-to-the-bones chicken

 

In a nutshell, no matter how busy life can be for most of us, this incident in my life had taught me how to cherish my family more. LIFE is so precious. Anyone could simply disappear from our lives in a matter of seconds.  Make your loved ones know how much you love them. 

Mom and Kyle eating their fave food dine-in

My family and I

 

With the emergence of e-commerce and online social media platforms (you could get in touch with them on real time wherever you may be on this planet) as well as innovative online delivery services such as Max’s Restaurant’s website where one could send, order and pay meals even bulk orders online, regardless if it’s for dine in, take out, deliver later  (meals delivered at specific date and time so you’ll never miss out on any special occasion) or deliver now—making your presence felt by sending their favorite Max’s goodies is simply just within your fingertips. Filipinos living overseas may now be able to surprise their loved ones anywhere in the Philippines by placing their orders online via www.maxschicken.com or calling Max’s express delivery service at 7-9000. And I can assure you; each meal tastes even better when you’re in the company of those whom you love (even thru Viber or Skype). #Salo-salo Kahit Malayo.

Disclaimer: I am not compensated for this post. Opinions expressed are 100% my own.