Sweet Child of Mine

I wonder what you'll become when you grow up.

Everywhere we go, you never get unnoticed.

Love letter to Teacher

Stage mother says my inlaw. Am not naman. Am just scared, worried, paranoid.

It's also my first time to have a child in school.

And so I wrote this letter for the teachers of Kenzo.

June 17, 2008

Dear Teacher Jenny and Teacher Pia,

Thank you for having Kenzo in your class. I am really praying he could fit in the group even if he is the smallest and the youngest by far J I cannot explain the feeling of seeing my son in school for the first time. It was like he was my baby all the time until today.

However, the scared mommy that I am would like to raise some minor concerns before I totally turn over my son to your care in the next coming 2 hours of everyday. I hope you understand my thoughts as I really have the tendency to become paranoid when it comes to his safety (which I am sure is just a normal feeling of every mom sending her child to school for the first time especially at a very early age).

1. Self Care

o Please assist him in putting on and taking off his shoes. Sorry, but I really haven’t trained him on this yet. Kindly try doing it for me, please?

o Washing of hands in the sink. He is too short to reach the faucet.

o Potty training. He still poops in his diaper and when this happens in another place, he isolates himself from the group until he sees his yaya. When you feel he has pooped, please call his attention in private and tell his yaya to clean him up. Kenzo is very conscious with anything that is unclean and unpleasant to the smell.

o He is still learning to eat by himself.

2. Discipline

o I understand that there will be some occasions that would require him discipline. May I request you to please talk to him in private and in a gentle manner to correct his misdeed as it has been proven effective that way as practiced in our home.

3. Bully vs Bullied

o The one thing that scares me the most especially because he is mixed with bigger and older boys. I am scared for him to experience physical hurts (like being spanked, pushed very hardly, stabbed by a pencil etc.) Thus my extra request for you to please keep an eye on him all the time while he is too young to protect his self yet.

4. Meal time

o Until he is ready to do it on his own, kindly extend assistance to him during meal time.

I hope my concerns will help you deal with my son in an easier way. I would also appreciate if you can keep me updated of his behavior in school. Most of all, I hope this could be a good start of a partnership with you in helping my son grow to become a good person.

Sincerely,

Kenzo's Mom

Gummy Smile

My baby doesn't care if this is all that her smile can bear.

May those teeth come out soon :P

Kenzo and School

He was supposed to be in a toddler class at the Hopeful Beginnings Development Center but because the other 4 enlisted did not show up, the school had to cancel the program and move Kenzo to the nursery level.

The school administrator told us if we are to accept their proposal, they are willing to give Kenzo a 1 month trial in the nursery class. If after a month we find that the program is too tiring and stressful, we can take him off the class with a guarantee of full refund on our fees.

Not bad, noh?

The nursery class had 11 pupils majority of which were 4 years old and Kenzo was the youngest and smallest at just 2.5yo. There were 2 teachers for this class. The program was a mix of Montessori and the classroom style.

The two hours program is divided in this manner:

10:00 Play/socializing time.

10:30 Story time

11:00 Snack Time

11:30 Singing/Dancing/coloring time (it varies everyday)

12:00 Before you’ll know it, it’s going home time

On his 1^st day, Kenzo was excited and scared. Excited, because there were many toys he can play with. Scared, because the place was new to him and some kids were crying and screaming to get out of the room.

On his 2^nd day, he was a bit brave already. I left him without him noticing me leaving. But yaya was just around for him to cling on just in case.

On his 3^rd day (just a while ago), he was confident already. He forgot about us and he just mingled with his classmates. Yaya said she tried hiding in a corner where Kenzo couldn’t see her. And Kenzo was too busy he didn’t actually call for yaya anymore.

And that’s it! Teacher was so happy to tell us how quickly my boy has adjusted. We are getting ready to buy his uniforms now.

Btw, we will be having our PTA meeting this Saturday. Am excited!!!

For My baby Arisha

I love you, Anak.

And even though I seldom write about you, I hope you know it's because I try to manage my time at work as wisely as I can to be able to go home early so I can play with you.

I am so proud of you.

And I really, really love you so so much.