Nikki's Nurturance: Fontana Water Park and What I Learned From My 12-Year Old Nephew

Kuya Joaquin carrying Narra

There are some places that develop and improve over time, while there are others that just deteriorate. Fortunately, Fontana Water Park in Pampanga proved to be the former. When I first saw this Water Park a decade ago, I was quite impressed with it back then. Now, years later, it's even bigger and has more attractions! A decade ago, I was in my early twenties and full of thrill-seeking and adventurous drive. In the past, whenever I went to a theme park I headed to the biggest and most exciting attractions. The higher, the faster, the riskier a ride, the more I wanted it! Now, I am in my mid-thirties, and already a mother of two tiny beings still in their diapers. Nature must have designed me to develop new instincts. I am now a nervous wreck. When I saw Fontana Water Park again, I saw it as an overwhelmingly big place full of potential dangers.

Oliver, Mama, and I with Narra and Guijo at the entrance to the Fontana Water Park

Earlier this month, the Socorro - Carsi Cruz branch of my husband's family took advantage of the long weekend by renting 3 villas at Fontana Leisure Parks and Casino in Pampanga. As typical Filipino extended families go, we were quite a big group: 2 grandparents, 9 aunties and uncles; 11 nephews and nieces. While the adults played at the casino, the kids went to Fontana's Water Park. Guess where I went? I just had to go to the Water Park to make sure Narra would be ok. My husband and mother-in-law escorted us only until the entrance, then they went back to join the rest of the adults. There I was, the only aunt with a bunch of kids.

Ruby (aka Yaya Nene) taking Guijo's new stroller for a spin on the Water Park's grounds

I brought Guijo with me, and his yaya Nene pushed him around in his stroller. This is part of my "training" period, for myself and for our yaya. I have plans of traveling abroad in the near future, so I have to practice the art of touring with two tots. The only way to gain expertise is through experience which is why I take both my babies with me every chance I get. I'm hoping "inconvenient arrangements", when experienced frequently enough, can become "convenient arrangements" over time. Thank God Guijo is proving to be an easy baby to lug around, he slept through the entire affair and didn't add to my list of things to worry about!

The Pirate Ship, a great section for young children

One of the first attractions inside the park is the Pirate Ship. Located close to the entrance, this shallow pool is perfect for small children. I was quite happy to stay with Narra there. It was manageable. But I knew that I was being a cowardly hen by staying put. The park was huge, and there were more attractions waiting to be discovered. Narra's cousins were already at the big Wave Pool and I was depriving her of precious bonding time with them. So I moved my entourage out of the comfortable Pirate Ship, albeit reluctantly. With Narra and Guijo in tow, we headed deeper into the park. Oh wow! What an expansive terrifying terrain!

The Lazy River is a familiar attraction, I've seen it before, but it looks better now, perhaps because of the lush vegetation. The trees have grown more roots, and that adds to the appeal of the place. It also helps that the signage and barriers seem to have just received a fresh coat of paint. I love how the park feels well maintained. There are also new rides, like the Three Giant Aqua Thrill Rides, an imposing, towering structure composed of spiraling giant slides a couple of stories high.

The long Lazy River's start-off point

The Giant Aqua Thrill Rides

I was happy to stay in the shallow section of the Wave Pool and to just keep Narra entertained with the tiny little fountains and small slides. But then, my 12-year old nephew Joaquin, approached us. "Tita Nikki", he said, "Can we take Narra to the Water Cottage? It's fun, I'm sure she'll enjoy it". Oh gosh, I was unsure about leaving Guijo, but his yaya Nene assured me he was happily sleeping and they were comfortable in their precious shady spot under a tree. She didn't want to move him and disturb his peaceful sleep (mental note to myself: I really like this yaya).

So off we went to the Water Cottage which had 4 slides: 2 for kids, and 2 for adults. Joaquin accompanied Narra on several runs on the kiddie slides, which she enjoyed immensely. Then Joaquin put me on the spot: "Tita Nikki, can I take Narra on the big slide? I assure you it's safe". Er, em, ah, that slide up there? The one we can reach only after climbing several flights of slippery steel stair steps? Oh gosh, I was so unsure, and Joaquin (who is such an intelligent boy, and I mean in terms of Emotional Intelligence too) sensed my hesitation. "I'll go first Tita, then maybe you can go too, so you can gauge if Narra is ready for it, you can ride with her on your lap". Here's the thing, I trusted Joaquin's judgement. I did. Ever since I met him when I was just dating his Uncle Oliver I was already impressed with his maturity. So I decided to go for it! We went up carefully, I was clutching the hand rails tightly with one hand, and Narra's arm with the other. I watched Joaquin disappear down the spiraling yellow slide, then it was our turn! I had Narra on my lap, and my hand on the push bar at the top of the slide. It was time to push off and let go. I was still hesitating. "Tita it's not that steep", Joaquin shouted encouragingly.

Narra, Joaquin, and I, before going off to the Water Cottage where I re-learned to have FUN!

It felt like a scene from the movie Finding Nemo, I am Marlin holding on to the whale's tongue and Dory is encouraging me to let go. "How do you know nothing bad is going to happen?" Marlin asks Dory. "I don't!" says Dory. "It's Time to Let Go!" she shouts. And Marlin closes his eyes, hopes for the best, and lets go! They drop down the back of the whale's throat only to be thrust back out of the whale's body, shooting up to the sky through the blow hole. Wooohoooo!!! That's how I felt when we slid from side to side down the spiraling yellow slide.

Joaquin asked if he can take Narra for a second run, just the two of them. I let them. He was right. It was not a steep slide. I was nervous as they made their way up. What if they slip? What if she looks for me and gets scared? What if...what if...? - Oh I was still unsure. "Trust me" Dory says to Marlin many times in Finding Nemo. Bottom line, I trusted Joaquin. He's an MVP champion baseball player circulating in international league circuits - he's in better physical shape than I am for crying out loud! I remembered myself at 12, when I was into gymnastics, and volleyball, and swimming, and how I carried my own toddler cousins too, in pools and parks, and on all sorts of rides and slides...and how my aunts and uncles trusted me with their kids. It's my turn now, to do the trusting. So I watched them slide down, and Narra was ecstatic! And it hit me! What if Narra is a cool kid and I am turning her into a nerd with all my fears? Do I really want that for her? Maybe she's better off learning to be a kid from her cousins. For surely, I no longer know how to be one!!!

Isabel, Sophia, Narra, and Joaquin at the Wave Pool

Then I remembered my father. My ultra-cool, super fun, responsibly risky dad, Walter. He never stopped knowing how to enjoy life with a childlike enthusiasm. He was in the military, a Navy pilot, which meant he knew about boats and planes, and he approached his training with a sense of play - as a chance to manipulate cool gadgets - a plane! a ship! He was also an underwater diver 50 years ago! when diving gear still looked primitive. How did he raise me? To be adventurous. He'd take me to the deep end of the pool and encourage me to jump, and he'd always catch me. He'd instruct me to exhale, and drop down until I reach the bottom of a deep pool, and push the floor to return back up, all in one breath, and he'd be there the whole time, his reassuring presence giving me confidence to try things on my own until I become confident in my own skill. He taught me to do handstands by doing them himself at the age of 40! We'd do it side by side against the wall, making the white walls dirty with our shoes. And when I took up ice skating in the 1990's, he bought hockey skates and joined me for practice sessions at the old rink in SM Mega Mall, even if he was already in his late 50's.

It's funny how Joaquin reminded me of my dad. How could 2 people, decades apart in age, be so alike?Because in my young nephew is a maturity beyond his years; and in my dad is a childlike wonder that was never knocked off him by life's many brutal blows. Both my dad and Joaquin have the precious secret combination of good judgement and a sense of adventure - these two ingredients combined is the recipe for FUN! They know how to have fun!

That morning at Fontana Water Park my 12-year old nephew coached me gently and patiently in the art of having fun. His presence was reassuring and I relied on his judgement. He taught me to relax, to trust myself, to trust Narra, to trust another person to handle Narra. Right after that exhilirating slide in the Water Cottage, we returned to the Wave Pool to join the rest of the kids. Narra wanted to be with her caring Ates: Sophia, Julia, Bianca, and Sabel who were all good to her. I let Narra go. I allowed her to play without me hovering around. I stayed a good distance, with my camera trained on her, just so I can keep watch. The camera allowed me to zoom in on her, to focus on her, while allowing her the freedom to discover on her own, what kind of kid she is. And when the kids wanted to go to the deep end of the Wave Pool, I put down my camera, and joined them. I wanted to relax, but I also needed to constantly be alert and responsible, I am a parent now after all and kids must be under constant adult supervision. I let Narra ride the waves in her cousins' arms. I was just nearby, also riding the waves, going with the flow, still on alert but with a difference this time. Like my father, I was being a parent and actually having fun!