I watched all your school activities. I attended all the Parent Teacher Conferences. I was always active in the parent council. I helped you with all your homework and projects. I love you so much. I'm sorry if I cannot attend your big day at school this weekend. Mom has to go to her own school and I have exams.
As part of finding my independence, second childhood, whatever you want to call it, I had decided to enroll back in school ( aside from going back to work part time). I love it ! I look forward to this one whole day every week. I have classmates who I have lunch break with, take down notes, listen to the teacher, I learn, carry a school bag... the works. Brings back my childhood and makes me feel young again specially since the classmates are mostly half my age. I enrolled in a course I always wanted to take before. Not that I regret what I took. I just couldn't take them both. Comparing myself then and now, I'm more serious about studying since I always try to apply what I learn to real life. In short, I can now relate. Makes me want to suggest that students nowadays need 1 year work experience before they go off to college so they can better decide what they prefer to take. Isn't that more practical?
Showing posts with label kids. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kids. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Tiger Wife and Tiger Husband
Been reading a lot about the controversial Tiger Mom Amy Chua and her article Why Chinese Mothers are Superior. It amuses me to also have read the article by AnnMaria De Mars Why American Mothers are Superior. It is an example of the more common reactions to this latest controversy.
In our family, we broke all the golden rules of the Tiger Mom. We have playdates, allow sleepovers, my daughter starred in a school play, they are not top of the class nor straight A students but have 85-90+ averages, allowed to choose extra curricular activities and have sports training EVERYDAY after school. Like the American mom ( as per Ann Mari De Mars article), I aim to teach my children to learn well, live well and love well. But I admit they need to be guided sometimes by an iron fist. I believe in discipline but not in a military fashion. More of like making them understand the benefits of the virtue and holding their hand while helping them try their best. Like Amy Chua, I believe in pushing them to their limits but definitely not in the extreme that she does. In short, for me a combination of both is working well with my kids. So far so good.
According to Amy Chuas daughter Sophia Chua-Rubenfeld in her article Why I Love My Strict Tiger Mom, the approach of the Tiger mom worked well with her and she loves and thanks her mom for all her efforts. Am happy for her if she feels that way.
What about being a Tiger wife with a Tiger Husband (Tiger woods-like husband)? Would that work? Okay so hes a far cry from Tiger Woods ( I hope!) but nevertheless Im sure my pain is the same pain Elin Woods must have felt. She chose to leave him... If I were to be a Tiger wife and stay and try and try and try my best to make it work, would that work out too?
In our family, we broke all the golden rules of the Tiger Mom. We have playdates, allow sleepovers, my daughter starred in a school play, they are not top of the class nor straight A students but have 85-90+ averages, allowed to choose extra curricular activities and have sports training EVERYDAY after school. Like the American mom ( as per Ann Mari De Mars article), I aim to teach my children to learn well, live well and love well. But I admit they need to be guided sometimes by an iron fist. I believe in discipline but not in a military fashion. More of like making them understand the benefits of the virtue and holding their hand while helping them try their best. Like Amy Chua, I believe in pushing them to their limits but definitely not in the extreme that she does. In short, for me a combination of both is working well with my kids. So far so good.
According to Amy Chuas daughter Sophia Chua-Rubenfeld in her article Why I Love My Strict Tiger Mom, the approach of the Tiger mom worked well with her and she loves and thanks her mom for all her efforts. Am happy for her if she feels that way.
What about being a Tiger wife with a Tiger Husband (Tiger woods-like husband)? Would that work? Okay so hes a far cry from Tiger Woods ( I hope!) but nevertheless Im sure my pain is the same pain Elin Woods must have felt. She chose to leave him... If I were to be a Tiger wife and stay and try and try and try my best to make it work, would that work out too?
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Counting My Blessings
I just feel so down right now. Let me count my blessings, hope that gets my spirit up.
1. I have wonderful kids. They are what I live for. They help me bear all the trauma I've been through. I love them so much and hope that they will love me forever too. Maybe one day they will understand why I have been the way I am lately. I hope I can hang on for their sake. I always want them to be happy. I wish them a great life ahead and hope they never experience the sadness I am in now. If they do, I hope they can get up, be strong and survive it. I hope I can be an good example and survive my own trials.
2. I have a job. It may not pay much but it keeps me sane. Something to look forward to almost everyday. Its something I have always wanted to do. It empowers and challenges me. It gets my mind off my depression even for awhile.
1. I have wonderful kids. They are what I live for. They help me bear all the trauma I've been through. I love them so much and hope that they will love me forever too. Maybe one day they will understand why I have been the way I am lately. I hope I can hang on for their sake. I always want them to be happy. I wish them a great life ahead and hope they never experience the sadness I am in now. If they do, I hope they can get up, be strong and survive it. I hope I can be an good example and survive my own trials.
2. I have a job. It may not pay much but it keeps me sane. Something to look forward to almost everyday. Its something I have always wanted to do. It empowers and challenges me. It gets my mind off my depression even for awhile.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Look Mom !
The sweetest words for the day : Look Mom!
Makes my heart melt everytime... I can hear the confidence in his voice...my little boy is so sure he created a masterpiece out of the blocks he constructed...he is so sure I would get up to go check it out... he is so sure I would love it! and he is so sure that I love him.
Wish he would love me forever and ever. Wish he never outgrows his innocence. Wish I could protect him from all the hurt in the world. Wish I could find the courage and perseverance to keep his parents marriage alive. Wish I could be sure of The Husbands love and fidelity to me.
Wish I could say Look World! We are one big happy family !
Makes my heart melt everytime... I can hear the confidence in his voice...my little boy is so sure he created a masterpiece out of the blocks he constructed...he is so sure I would get up to go check it out... he is so sure I would love it! and he is so sure that I love him.
Wish he would love me forever and ever. Wish he never outgrows his innocence. Wish I could protect him from all the hurt in the world. Wish I could find the courage and perseverance to keep his parents marriage alive. Wish I could be sure of The Husbands love and fidelity to me.
Wish I could say Look World! We are one big happy family !
Friday, August 19, 2005
Many Kids and Coping with Clutter
Having a lot of kids automatically leads to having a lot of clutter. At least thats how it is in our house. Dont' get me wrong ... I love my kids ... its the clutter that stresses me out. Thank goodness I found the flylady website http://www.flylady.net. She has so much practical advise about how to cope with clutter. I have been subscribed for several years now and constantly get all these reminders during the day to do the clean up routine or kill my "hot spots" or messy mounds growing around the house. She recommends working in 15 minute sessions so as not to burn out. A great idea indeed. I would
say that I have already accomplished so much with her guidance. I havent totally eliminated the clutter but I am getting there ! There is also a target zone for each day like say the dining room cabinet or the porch or under the bed or the bathroom cabinet. It somehow feels lighter when you know that all around the world there are thousands struggling to accomplish the same task. The best part is she always reminds us to do it in "baby steps" and not obsess or to "jump in where you are. " Perfect for me who can't promise to finish everything all at once. In short , no pressure.
say that I have already accomplished so much with her guidance. I havent totally eliminated the clutter but I am getting there ! There is also a target zone for each day like say the dining room cabinet or the porch or under the bed or the bathroom cabinet. It somehow feels lighter when you know that all around the world there are thousands struggling to accomplish the same task. The best part is she always reminds us to do it in "baby steps" and not obsess or to "jump in where you are. " Perfect for me who can't promise to finish everything all at once. In short , no pressure.
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