Hope, expectation, Bright promises.
The Star is one of the great cards of faith, dreams realised
The Star is a card that looks to the future. It does not predict any immediate or powerful change, but it does predict hope and healing. This card suggests clarity of vision, spiritual insight. And, most importantly, that unexpected help will be coming, with water to quench your thirst, with a guiding light to the future. They might say you're a dreamer, but you're not the only one.
What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.
I have a hard time to get the kids going to school every morning! Not much problem with the boy though... they are now sleeping in their own room now, can't recall since when... perhaps it started after my Taipei holiday.
Every morning, either the boy or the girl will snuggle into my bed. This morning the girl whined a bit, asked her whether was nightmare or any ailment, she just ignore me(as usual, and I don't like that behavior either). The boy normally finished his milk withing a min, the girl prefer to take her sweet time. Then they'll have their 7 Seas Multi-vit. The girl had it for some time already, the boy just started to take it after a few viral infection. I reckon he now knows the downside of rejecting 'protection' from the fish oil/ vitamins, which he did before he got sick that often.
They will have a simple breakfast later, usually biscuit(fast and easy for lazy mama like me). This morning my girl had two cream puffs and the boy insisted of having biscuit. When the boy was done, I got him cleaned up and changed, not a single problem. While the girl still fooling around, blooding on the couch. When I badgered her to get change and keep going, she started to give hell lot of excuses that she was not ready(claimed she hasn't finish her breakfast). The time was ticking, it was almost 8am, and their school starts at 8:15am. So, it seems I was the only one panic and worried for her. Once I open the front door, my boy eagerly dashed out while my girl still slowly munching her 2nd cream puff(sounds like I'm siding my boy?! Not at all, it's the truth after all).
Finally when my girl was done, it already past 8' o clock, that tells why we often late for school. She has no initiative to pick up her own back, let along get it organize the day before school. I seriously feel tired to keep pestering and yelling at her... wonder what's her problem, where did she get the attitude from. I hope she shows some improvement next time when I try to write about her again, sigh~!
Monday, 9th of May, right after I fetched J and just about to leave her Montessori, Teacher Pathma rushed from the other building(There were 2 Montessori building opposites to each other) and stopped me. I got startled then she explained, J refused to do some letters writing which seems to be part of the practice for next week assessment. According to Teacher Pathma, J claimed that I already revise with her at home and she was positive that she doesn't need to revise anymore (slapped forehead)!
I was puzzled and stared at my girl, I felt sorry for her as her happiness(she never fail to hug a lovely smiling face whenever I fetch her) vanished the second her teacher complained about her, she was down... then I looked up at the teacher, " What can I do then?" Teacher Pathma gave me a smile and she didn't reply!
I'm not sure what have gone wrong ... but it seems my method(revising at home with her school syllabus) just didn't work with my girl, I'm really worry now, especially for next week assessment! I'm not afraid she doesn't do well, but there is a big chance that she might pass up a blank paper then get negative response from her teacher, which stands a potential to alleviate her self-esteem!
This is something I received from my girl( 3 years 8 months old) for this Mother's day(8ve of May), it's a paper plate letter box. With a little help and touch from her teacher(apparently the colouring part and the stapler), she pasted the hearts and word on the craft!
Once she reached home on Friday(she handed me this 2 days earlier), she eagerly explained and showed her masterpiece to me. On top of that she sang me the "Mommy and Daddy I love You" song, how sweet~! Love you too, my sweetie pie!
Oh Noooooo! This afternoon when I drove to fetch J from her Montessori, her teacher caught up with me and complaint about her again! She told me J was 'naughty' (right in front of her), my girl was staring blankly, looked unhappy since her teacher betrayed her. Her teacher actually told me J didn't want teacher complain anything about her to me... sigh~!
Again, her teacher has high hopes on her, and she wishes J will behave in class and stop being influenced by other children who were more active and playful! Along the way back I just kept quiet, she prompted me to talk by distracting me with other subject, but I ended up warning her again, " You are not going any where(outing) if I heard your teacher complain about you again!"
I'll have to observe how she would behave after the 'lecture', hopefully the situation can improve... end of story(for now)!
It's our daily sleep routine that J will give me a peck on my mouth before she sets off to her slumber land. Just now right before she went to bed, she gave me warm and slimy kisses as usual. Since her father(TK) was lying by her side, I prompted her to give him a kiss as well.
But since her father has a bad breath(due to gastritis), she seems reluctant to do so. To my surprise she gave another incredible excuse instantaneously, she answered nonchalantly, " I don't want, papa's face is OILY lar!"
Immediately TK frowned and muttered, " You don't like papa?" She paused for awhile and replied, " No lar, I'll give you a hug, A HUG IS BETTER!" Seriously, I don't think my rusty brain can twist and turn so fast... and certainly not at her age!!!
I'm so happy today! Again my girl J showed me another new achievement, after struggling and practicing her numbers for umpteen times, she can now write from number 1- 4 without guidance!!! Yahoo! I reckon she did a great job especially for number '3', which she struggled and being restless when practicing it week ago( I blogged over here)!
J's "1, 2 ,3 , 4"!This afternoon after J came back from her Montessori... or was it after nap(getting more absent minded these days)?! She requested for some plain paper and a pencil, then she was liked sketching hard on her student table while I was watching American Idol season 10 or perhaps Yummy King?!
Later she brought me the paper and happily told me she can write 'B' already, I was like 'ya'(in a rather unconcern tone) then took over the paper she passed to me... my eyes widened when I sported a big and neatly written 'B' on the paper, transiently my attention has drawn from the TV and focussed on my girl's writing! I gave her a tight hug and pat her head, "Well done! Mama is so proud of you!" that was what I muttered to her emotionally. It might be nothing to shout about for other mommies who their children can already write at the age of three or younger, but for my rebellious little sweetheart, it's certainly a break through!!! Yay!
I'll never forget how proud and happy she was that moment, before long she ran back to her table and continued sketching. This time she has successfully distracted me from the idiot box, I can't stop getting excited what she is going to show me next. True enough, she put a big smile on my face when she showed me her 'E', 'y', 'e', 'f' and 'd'. Indirectly she has prompted me to crave for more from her, I requested her to write my last name 'Bee'(since she can write 'B' and 'e') and she didn't disappoint me!
I can't wait for the time when she can spell words, make sentence and write a diary(since I'm now helping her to write her diary). Man, it's sure excited to see how our child grows... I love you my girl!
Yesterday J(3 years 6 months old)drove me up the wall, I didn't mean to be a 'Tiger Mom' but guess anyone would go nuts if she spent more than an hour coaching her child yet she still unable to write a '3' (Roar)!!! She have no problem tracing the '3' nor having problem writing it with her index finger, however she can't write it with pencil no matter how much encouragement or even yelling I have given(Thuh)!
This morning when I sent her to school, I honestly informed her teacher that she didn't complete her homework and I didn't sign for her. Her teacher got startled then she gave me a smile, she said she believes my girl can do the homework without flaw but might be tad too moody(huh?). Frankly I can't totally agree of what she said, I actually think they didn't put much effort to coach J how to write. Every time she brought back her homework, I found her words or numbers were written nice and neat, but when I asked her to write for me the exact word without tracing line, she can't do it without my coaching(instance her 'e' and '2')! When I questioned her teacher, she admitted she held her hand to guide her with the words...... at time I really wonder why I have to pay so much(while her father kept mumbling the fee is expensive) yet I still have to put lots of efforts to coach her writing?!!!
I don't mean to push J, but really hope she can change her attitude. She is over assertive and always assumes she knows everything!!! For instance this evening when I tried to teach her some piano lesson for beginner, she didn't comply to what I ask her to do and kept insisted she knows already! Sigh... just wonder when can my sweet little girl learn her lesson!
This evening we were invited to my cousin's 1st baby Fullmoon party. At my cousin's little warm and cosy house, both unbashful X and J treated it as their own house and chasing around like running 'amok'. They played with the wooden door(the main enrance) and for twice they banged it hard and jerked the little fullmoon baby while I was not aware, they played under the altar table and throwing question like, " Why is there no 'Di Du Gong'?" since my cousins only praying Guan Yin but not other deity. I found what they have done were rather embarassing, I can't help myself to stop thinking that my cousin's family and other guests might thought I didn't educate them well( I did gave my kids some stern warning). But in the other hand, I was grateful that it seems my kids know how to occupy themself and enjoy the party in their own way(compared to kids who cries in unfamiliar ground)! I personally think the playful, adventurous, and sociable self they portrait play a big role in their future success(especially when they join the society).
A little incident that worth mention was X had totally mesmerized by the fresh little Fullmoon baby. When I asked him to 'sayang' (stroke) the little fellow, he gently hold his hand without saying anything but later on his way back home he can't stop reciting, "Baby~! Baby!". In the party, he innocently followed (staying close at minimum distance)and stared at the baby, he didn't attempt to touch the baby but his expression was priceless, he was like looking at precious and newly discovered species on earth, naive and crueless!
Since my mathematic(during school days) was rather lousy, I used to think it is probably the last subject I'd pick to 'teach' my girl! But ever since I visited SG Homeschooling, who started teaching her son(about my girl's age)timetable, I was motivated to expose my girl to early maths(call me Kiasu or anything).
Last night before off for bed, I tried to relate some basic math's concept to her and her response amazed me(probably I didn't aspect she'd pick up easily since she inherited my gene *grin). I asked her what if she has an ice cream and I gave her another one, her answer was 2! Then when I asked her what if Ah Ma gave her 5 sweets and she gave 2 to her lill bro, she replied 3... not bad! however when I started to increase the quantity to 7 or more, she started to confuse and I saw she actually started to count with her fingers(giggle).
I reckon she has a rough start for maths and might still confuse with certain basic concepts, but I am positive that if I constantly revise the maths with her, she will soon sail through these basic calculation! Ganbatte my girl!
J appeared(noted it was past tense) to be an apprehensive girl who didn't dare to try anything new and unfamiliar. During our Genting trip these 2 days, she amazed us as she willing to take the long curvy slide down to the wading pool in Rain Forest Splash World, indoor Theme Park of Genting Highland.
It was me who prompted her to take the slide. Initially she was reluctant to comply, and I had to drag her up the staircase that led to the pool. But after her 1st attempt, she enjoyed it so much and even went up the staircase and slide down all on her own. It might not be something to shout about for other parents, but being able to overcome her scaredy-self is definitely a HUGE achievement for either her or me and TK!
Moreover after she was encouraged by TK, she even took the risk adventurous enough to dash in and out the water falling mushroom(which she would never do it if it was her old self). We are proud of you, our lovely girl... really! Another incident that show some changes on her was, when I prompted her to try on hand waxing(after a few pestering) she agreed to give it a try. However she didn't get her hand wax done since she can't take heat of hand waxing procedure, and failed to maintain a certain hand posture before her hand wax was sculptured.
Nevertheless it's a very valuable attempt, I really feel grateful that she has finally start to overcome her fear of trying newbies! Congratulation to you my dearest sweet heart!
It's never been easy to coach my 3 years old to read nor write, as she is a highly egoistic child! Despite we read to her a lot and she enjoyed listening to the books we recited and explained, she can't read... not even a single word. However she is gifted with incredible memory, to be precise she has amazingly good selective memory. She can memorized the most difficult(for me and papa)books' titles, storyline and content, and even chanting a Buddhist mantra that would take an adult ages to memorize it!
I have tried with flashing word cards( when she was much younger), phonics, and even words game that sort of like playing scrambles, yet still she has problem to identity which direction should a word start!! For instance, 'DOG'... she will arrange it as ' GOD' (slapped forehead)!
This post is actually to record an incident that happened this Sunday, when we were in Popular IOI mall. She took a paper back book and pestered me to buy for her, I looked at the price, it's RM9.90?!!(for such a thin paper back book) I didn't want to upset her with a stern 'No', thus I tried to reject her with a more indirect trick. I told her if she got to read the title of the book, then I'll buy her that book(of course in my mind I actually thought she can't never get it right) else she has to put it back from where she got it from!
To my surprise, She pointed at the title words by words and pronounced, "Dora's Picnic!" She got it all right, I know she might have tricked me with her intelligent as the front page showed a picture of Dora was having a picnic, but nevertheless it's a good reading attempt! Well done my lovely girl!
Sunday morning, right before we off for the Mickey Mouse Road Rally Exhibition, the commotion happened!
Before we packed and get the kids into the car, I noticed J didn't put on her socks but since she didn't make a fuss that time I ignore it. However right after papa locked the house door and grill, she started to look for her socks(slapped forehead). We didn't succumb to her request, but emphasized that she should tell us earlier before the door is locked and the alarm is armed. Then she started to throw tantrum, continuosly storming the back of the front seat(as she sat at the back).
I ignored her and went to open the front gates and waited for TK to reverse the car. When I got back into the car, TK gave me a grumpy look and swore angrily, " She SPOILT my day!" I turned my head to the back( I sat at by the driver seat) and found Juan Juan was pised off, with trails of tears in her eyes... apparently, she got 'bamboo' from her father again, sigh~! Luckily when she reached MIL's house, they have a spare socks for her to call her fretfulness a stop!
But still, J was rather 'down' that morning until she had a joyful trip in the PETROSAINS. When we asked her whether she wants to come again next time, she shoke her head and replied, " Don't want, next time I want to go to another new Science Centre!" we burst into laughter right away!
Nowadays, I have no longer got my nerves on when my kids fuss or whine. Whenever they repeat the 'despicable attitude', I'll just remind them, " This doesn't work on me anymore..." then they will keep their mouth shut... most of the time! (smile)
It's actually a shocking news to me, after reading Domesticgoddess's Our World My World today, I hopped straight to "What We Have Learnt About Gifted Children" and found that J is actually a Visual Partial Learner while X, an Auditory Sequential!
All these while although I have sensed that she is gifted, but I never thought she is a VPL! I used to play jokes with family and relatives, telling them that J might not do well in her study, as she would encounter the same problem as Albert Einstein and Thomas Edison had at school! Now touch wood, my words are probably came true... no wonder I found it's hard to coach J with her study and homework, she just couldn't accomodate with those serious syllabus and proper teaching, which she learns complex concepts easily and struggles with easy skills! Sigh~!
Great! Now I have to really crack my head over how to guide her through her future study...
Below are some characteristic of X- AUDITORY-SEQUENTIAL(A),
and J- VISUAL-SPATIAL(V):
Thinks primarily in words
Thinks primarily in pictures
Has auditory strengths
Has visual strengths
Relates well to time
Relates well to space
Is a step-by-step learner
Is a whole-part learner
Learns by trial and error
Learns concepts all at once
Progresses sequentially from easy to difficult material
Learns complex concepts easily; struggles with easy skills
Is an analytical thinker
Is a good synthesizer
Attends well to details
Sees the big picture; may miss details
Follows oral directions well
Reads maps well
Does well at arithmetic
Is better at math reasoning than computation
Learns phonics easily
Learns whole words easily
Can sound out spelling words
Must visualize words to spell them
Can write quickly and neatly
Prefers keyboarding to writing
Is well-organized
Creates unique methods of organization
Can show steps of work easily
Arrives at correct solutions intuitively
Excels at rote memorization
Learns best by seeing relationships
Has good auditory short-term memory
Has good long-term visual memory
May need some repetition to reinforce learning
Learns concepts permanently; is turned off by drill and repetition
Learns well from instruction
Develops own methods of problem solving
Learns in spite of emotional reactions
Is very sensitive to teachers’ attitudes
Is comfortable with one right answer
Generates unusual solutions to problems
Develops fairly evenly
Develops quite asynchronously
Usually maintains high grades
May have very uneven grades
Enjoys algebra and chemistry
Enjoys geometry and physics
Learns languages in class
Masters other languages through immersion
Is academically talented
Is creatively, mechanically, emotionally, or technologically gifted
Is an early bloomer
Is a late bloomer
This afternoon after J woke up from her nap, we had a decent chat. She told me the terrible incident she experienced yesterday evening, when TK caned and threatened her after she chucked a pillow on his laptop, below was what J recited to me...
"Yesterday mama got angry with papa and scolded him, 'THAT ENOUGH'! Mama said. Papa got angry with Ji Be De and said 'SHE IS NOT YOUR DAUGHTER', Ji Be De was angry too! Ah Gong was yelling and Ah Po was sad... I must say sorry to papa..."
After listened to how she feel, I gently stroked her hair and didn't know what else I could tell her beside my usual quote, "Papa loves you, just he doesn't know how to talk to you!" before I gave her a hug and she hugged back tightly.
p/s: In order to nurture a child, LISTEN and PATIENCE are part of the virtues!
These few days I had a terrible backache, it was an previous injured site at the right lower back. This evenig I felt the aching and discomfort again, I lied down on the couch while leaving X and J playing freely in the living room.
After a short while, J(3 years old) approached me and wanted me to trace dotted line with ehr, I refused by telling her that I was experiencing backache. She replied, "Mama turned around..." her little hands hold my body and tried to guide it to another side, with my back facing to her. She continued, " I'll rub your back..." while her palm started to stroke in circular motion on my injured site, bluntly but warm. I was touched...
Later when I lied back on my back, she blurted, "Mama, tomorrow you must go to see a doctor, so that you can get well soon!" those were the most touching and precious words that I didn't expect to hear from a girl at such a tender age. I gave her a hug before she told me it was raining outside. I sat up and tried to get up from the couch, telling her that I have to collect the clothes. She gently hold my hand and exclaimed, " I'll help you to walk, liked I helped Ah Dou and Po Po!" Oh yes, she is such a gentle girl who always helped my grandmother in law to walk by leading with her hand.
20 August, 2010
That afternoon when I passed J(2 years 11 months old) a pack of scrap art, she flipped flopping the packaging and asked, " Mama, do you remember this?" while excitedly pointing to the words that printed on the packaging. I stared intensely on the word printing but has no clue what was that resembled with, until she grinned and told me that it's similiar with the words that printed on her school uniform!
I paused for awhile then walked to the laundry basket and picked her uniform up, a little stunned when I found she was right, the words' font of both her uniform and the packaging were exactly the same! Again she proved to me that she has outstanding memory and nevertheless... a very detail and observant little girl! I really wish she could carry this stunning ability along her life time!
(Above) Font of the scrap art packaging; (Below) Font of her school uniform.
Since X was born, I found the pressure as a SAHM is way too harsh for me... to the extend I feel I'm strangled! I used to work in ICU, somewhere people would consider it's a work place with tremendous pressure... hahaha! SO WRONG! Eventhough with taxing work loads and horrendous atmosphere, the tension in ICU is nothing like I have at home... with 2 little rascals, one is the mischievous, who loves to whine without any apparent reason; and the other is clingy and whimper from time to time! Worst part, the eldest always intimidate the youngest and make him a crying baby that would really spoil my mood!
I'm kind of curious how other SAHM( who has more than a child)manage to handle their children, as from my observation... none of my family member would able to handle either of my child wihout any helper! While I have to babysit them with a bundle of house chores awaiting for me... I always feel guilty when I was forced to leave X in the cot or barricade him when I bathed J, 'wrestled' in the kitchen for meals or trying to clean up the front yard, leaving him cried and screeched! Whenever I have done, I'll be haunted by the sight of his face covered with sweats, mucus and tears whilst streching his arms and begging me to carry him!!
I'm getting impatience, especially with J! The 'terrible 2' in her is choking my breath... except when she has gone to her Montessori or sleeping soundly. For instance yesterday(when she came back from her school), she took her own sweet time dilly dally with a tiny winy burgle I made for her, yet she didn't manage to finish it... nevermind; she grabbed a bundles of rattles and toys into her bedroom during nap time, I have to threatened her before she put it back ... nevermind; she left her cup with Horlick on the TV cabinet( I warned her before), later the drink spilled on X (when he tried to grab it)... nevermind; until when I was busy preparing dinner, she filled water in a ballon then poured it into the washing machine and on the dining chair, whilst X was crying cause I barricade him from the kitchen... my pressure raised beyond my threshold, I grabbed J and kept her in the storage until time for dinner!!
I found weekend becomes so crucial for me... to give my strenous brain and muscles a 'time-out'( My backache is getting worst recently with my trapezius cramped up too)! I really wish to have a day out, just for myself... but how can I enjoy my rest day if I can't stop worrying J and X! I prefer family outing, just the four of us... I told Tk I want to get some books for J this weekend, he sulked miserably, " When am I going to finish painting the house?!" I continued, " Do you know what day is this Sat?" he replied, " You thought I don't know, it's your birthday!" I was rather startled, it's my birthday and I was craving to have some quality time with him and the little sprouts... can't believe that's the best answer I can get from him?!! I'd rather he said he forgot than telling me he knows but he still have to continue with the painting job!(frown)
I really wish someone... would understand and care for me(weep)! MY BODY IS SO TIRED... I just need someone to value and appreciate me... more!
I hung the clothes after lunch, then I brought J and X upstair for an afternoon nap. I was exhausted after a taxing day of house chores and yelling at J's mischievous(Phew. I lied down on the mattress hoping to get a good rest, leaving J and X messing around in the room. On and off I would pester J to lie down with me, I didn't force X to take his nap but plan to bring him down to rock in a spring cot after J fall asleep.
However, when I was halfly dozing off... X crawled to me with his head burried into my chest. Obviously he was signing for milk, I held him close to my breast and fed him in my favourite lying position. Moment later, I opened my eyes and found him dozed off while clinging on my chest. I turned to the other side to look for J, she was sleeping soundly right beside me too... I closed my eyes and rested my mind.
When I woke up, I found X was sleeping away fom me. I was thinking of getting out of the room to continue my usual routine(Blogging and blog hopping when they fall asleep), before I was able to step out the room, I got startled when X sat up suddently while rubbing his eyes. He turned around and gradually crawled towards me, I had no choice but lied down with him and continued to nurse him, hoping that he would fall back to sleep in no time. At the mean time, J woke up then she looked around, seeing I was still in the room, she lied down and fell back to her dreamland.
X still suckling whilst keeping his eyes closed, then he broke the suction on his own, rolled and leaned on my left arm. He was asleep with his eyes partly open while his pupils were moving vigorously as he was in REM state. Later I heard J mumbled and she stood up and walked to my side, against she lied down on my right arm... I gently storke her with my hand. They were both sleeping soundly which put off my idea of leaving them in the room for my cold electronic gadget, the computer!
This afternoon, they broke their records for approximately 3 hours of sufficient sleeps, in which J slept from 1300 to 1600 while X till 1630!
