Batik

Having a choice

I came across these words today: "You only have control over yourself and how you choose to be a person. As for others, you can only choose to accept them or walk away."     and "Being a good person doesn't guarantee that others will be good to you as well."

It's exactly what I have been experiencing these days.
I recently encountered 2 females in my life that are just totally annoying to the max.
and those words said it all...

"You only have control over yourself and how you choose to be a person. As for others, you can only choose to accept them or walk away."  

 "Being a good person doesn't guarantee that others will be good to you as well."

What Happened at School.

Timmy and his classmates had to stand in front of the class to read a poem.
And he told me about what happened at school that day.

Here's what happened:
His friend came up to Timmy's table and the following conversations occurred:

The original conversation was in Indonesian.
His friend: "Tim, kenapa kamu ngga tepuk tangan setelah aku selesai baca puisi?"
Timmy: "Emangnya harus?"
His friend: "Harus."
Timmy: "Terserah aku dong, mau tepuk tangan atau ngga."
His friend: "Kamu mau, aku ngga temen sama kamu lagi?"
Timmy: "Ngga masalah. Aku masih bisa main sama Jonathan. Kadang Jonathan main sama aku, kadang Jonathan main sama yang lain. Ngga masalah."
His friend: "Awas ya kamu ya."
Timmy: "Kenapa? Kamu lebih tinggi dari aku...iya... Kamu baris ke 12 tinggi dari depan, aku ke 7 tinggi. Ya aku percaya kalau kamu lebih tinggi dari aku.  Tapi kamu belum tentu lebih kuat dari aku. Aku tahu kekuatan kamu seberapa, kekuatan aku seberapa."

Then his friend went back to his seat with an angry look on his face and looked back at Timmy once he sat down on his seat. While Timmy just stayed calm and sit on his chair.

I asked Timmy what did the teacher say? Timmy told me that it happened when there was no teacher in class.  Jacqueline teacher just went out from the class for a while, and the other teacher was teaching in another class.

Here's the English version:
His friend (came up to Timmy's table and said): "Tim, why didn't you clap your hands after I finished reading my poem?"

Timmy: "Why? Is it a must?"
His friend: "Yes, it is a must."
Timmy: "It's up to me, whether I want to clap or not."
His friend: "Do you want it, if I'm not friends with you anymore?"
Timmy: "It doesn't matter. I can still play with Jonathan. Sometimes Jonathan plays with me, sometimes Jonathan plays with somebody else. It's OK."
His friend: "You better watch out."
Timmy: "Why? Yes, you are taller than me. When you lined up, you are the 12th, I'm the 7th. Of course you are taller than me. But you may not be stronger than me. I know how much your strength and how much is my strength."

Then his friend went back to his seat with an angry look on his face and looked back at Timmy once he sat down on his seat. While Timmy just stayed calm and sit on his chair.

I was amazed at what happened. Because Timmy's character is totally the opposite of mine.
I would have imagined if that happened to me, perhaps this would be what happened:
His friend: "Len, why didn't you clap your hands after I finished reading my poem?"
Me: "Oh, I didn't? Sorry. Here's a clap for you. I might then clap my hand in front of him.
His friend: "Do you want it, if I'm not friends with you anymore?"
Me: "Oh no, please don't."

Note to Timmy:
Timmy, I'm proud of you that you can stand up for yourself.
I like the way you diplomatically talked to your friend about issues.
Love you Tim.

Mama.

I like it! :)

Benny's friend is getting married this Sunday,
and I haven't even think of what to wear,
and what to do with my hair.
Since my hair is short, it's sticking out everywhere now...

I was searching over the internet and I found this... I like the front view of the gown.
Fit nicely and snugly....
Not that I'm going to buy it...
I just like the way it looks... hehehehe...

Courtesy from Anne Ahira. 

Let's spend more time with our little ones...

Sometimes I wish that I could spend more time with Timmy, doing science experiments, arts and crafts, physical exercise, learning things together...

I just feel guilty for not spending enough time with Timmy...letting him play games nearly all day long...
Have you ever felt that way? Feeling that you are not a good Mom? Inadequate as a mother? Doing not as good as other mothers? I felt that way.

And apparently, there are mothers out there, who feel just the same as I do.
Hey, I'm not all alone! ;))

I just came across great blogposts, that I would like to share with you.
For the blog posts, please click here, here and here.

Well, let's make this week a screen free week and spend more time with our little ones...
Because today will NEVER be repeated again...

5 Easy Steps to End Homework Battles

By Katie Basson

From the Disney Family Editors: Set guidelines to get homework done with these easy-to-follow steps.

Ask parents what their biggest school year challenge is, and you'll likely hear that it is the difficulty they face in getting their kids to do homework. With so many other attractive ways for kids to spend their time, getting them to buckle down and complete that extra bit of schoolwork can be like pulling teeth. As with any chore, though, there are strategies you can use to get it done and make it more fun.

1. Make Time for Homework
Fitness gurus have known this for years: you are more likely to stick to an exercise regimen if you do it at the same time everyday and make it an inviolable part of your schedule. The same goes for homework. Don't leave it up in the air as to when homework will be completed. This only ensures that it won't get completed until you have an extended argument with your child about it—usually one hour after bedtime. Instead, sit down with your child and review your family schedule for the upcoming semester. Decide where homework will fit in your daily schedule and make it non-negotiable. It is always helpful to anchor homework time to some other regular activity. Good choices are: directly after school or right before or after dinner. (Scheduling homework in the hour before bedtime is usually not a good practice since your child may be too sleepy to do a good job.)

It is also important to dedicate a set amount of time for homework. This will discourage students from rushing through homework so that they can watch the latest Disney video. What is a reasonable amount of time to spend on homework? That varies with age. Check with your child's teacher. It is generally accepted, though, that First and Second graders should spend about a half hour on homework each night while Third and Fourth graders might need to spend as much as an hour per night.

2. Don't Accept No for an Answer
A common refrain from students is "I finished my homework in school" or "The teacher didn't assign us any homework today." It should not matter that they don't have a specific assignment. Homework is an extension of the learning that occurred that day in school, and what they learned that day can be extended in any number of ways. Students can read silently during their allotted homework time, they can look up information in an encyclopedia to enhance what they are learning in Science or Social Studies, or they can look at flashcards, practice math facts, and test their spelling. This is how to teach your child to be a self-directed learner. You will be giving them a gift to get them in the habit of doing this now. When they are in high school, having this extra study habit will bring them academic success.

3. Establish a Partnership with Teachers
Early in the school year make an effort to get to know your child's teacher. Make an appointment to talk with the teacher in the first few weeks of school, so that you can express your desire to be a good partner in your child's education. She will appreciate it, and you will be one step closer to a smooth school year. Find out what her homework policy is so that you know what to expect. It is also helpful to know how high her standards are, so that you can ensure that your child's homework is acceptable.

4. Provide the Right Environment
Most people's advice on homework is to set up a desk in your child's room and make sure that they have a quiet and distraction-free work environment. This sounds very reasonable, but few people seem to be able to follow this advice. I know many students who instead do their homework on the living room floor, at the kitchen counter, or at the dining room table. It seems that some people work best when they aren't isolated from household activity. If that is the case with your child, then provide a small traveling office for him so that he has all of the necessary items at hand and won't waste time running around the house looking for a sharp pencil. With all the supplies nearby, and distractions limited to the general background noise of family living, your student ought to be able to concentrate on homework.

5. Set a Good Example
"Do as I say not as I do" is no longer considered appropriate parental advice. In order to instill the proper values in our children, we must model them. If we expect our children to be conscientious, hard-working students, then that is what they must see in us. Make an effort to show your child your work ethic by reading trade magazines and business books while they do their homework. Take out a pencil and write notes as you read. Investigate ideas fully. If you read something interesting in the newspaper, look up information about it on the Internet. Always be eager to learn something new. Sign up for an adult education class, teach yourself to knit, or write that novel you've always dreamed of. The more that you can show your child that learning is a lifelong adventure that requires their involvement, the more likely it is that homework will cease being a chore and start being an integral part of a life well-lived.

If you take the time to set up these parameters around homework, you'll find that you waste less energy arguing over homework and making up for lost assignments. You'll have more time and energy for other pursuits, and so will your child. What's more, you'll discover that the benefits of hassle free homework add up to more than just scheduling efficiency, they equal a better education

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Earth Day has passed. Our earth is getting old and pollution is everywhere...
Let's reduce, reuse, recycle!

With Timmy, we reused the plastic and carton packaging into Obstacle Course.
We lined up yogurt container, biscuit boxes, drink bottles, etc.

Fun play began... Jumped over it, ran zig zag, jumped backwards, jumped forward, etc.

We had fun! :)