'C' is for cookie and that's good enough for me...

Phew! I survived my first official week of "soccer-mom"-ish life, i.e., the ferrying of child to school and his activities; adding role of chauffeur to my existing host of managerial roles as mom and director of OOM [One's Own Home].

What has life been like under this scope, you say? Well... I was enlightened to several things, primarily Kimo's so-called development... and of course, as always, the minutest details of his life impact mine; so that, I, too, have been enlightened as to my own self-development.

Kimo received a daily progress report, at my request. But to re-cap: Yes, he is very, I mean VERY, excited to go to school each and every day. And no, he did not cry on his first day of school. In fact, we've been on the opposite receiving end: we seem to totally fade out of his mind each time we arrive at his school. The invisible giant springs under the soles of his shoes make him literally bound up to the school gate; gurgling babbles of delight audible as he scans to see toys, friends, and teachers. But before some of you envy me to no end; due to a still-low language production, those sounds of joy quickly escalate to shrieks, and piercing shrieks at that!!

And so, I have been told that Kimo still has "a long way to go". Will all that shrieking ever transform into articulate words that all can understand?

This week I realized that parents are at the mercy of their children's teachers. For the very moment that we committed to that thought of sending our kids to school; we've crossed that line of no-return where we hand-over some of the responsibility of training our children to behave better and essentially, do better in all that they do. So, any remark, stinging or not, are taken in by parents and these do dwell in one's thoughts; internally prodding one's conscience to that loaded question of "Have I done and am I doing enough for my child?"

Unfortunately, the more ignorant we are, as parents, on these matters of schooling and our children, the more we yield to whatever the authorities have to say about our children. Hence, we accept the labels they dish out, the on-the-spot evaluation teachers like to give, and other forms of sometimes criteria-less kid judging of our kid. The brunt of that kind of interaction between parent and school oft times translate into needling heartache and stress. Again, one wonders, whether what he/she did, or was remiss to do, as a parent prior to their child's schooling days resulted in this child being found "not polite", "rough", "too active", "dumb", "cannot focus", "worse than this other child", "naughty", among others. Back home, the poor child gets the once-over and for parents with a giant hole in their self-esteem, they will take it out on their kid and berate him or her for "shaming mummy or daddy" ['bikin malu'].

On the other hand, as a teacher myself, I have been on the other side of the buffet line having dished out lukewarm dishes of assessment now and again; I can empathize with both teacher and parent. However, as a parent now, the major difference I find when I am in my teacher role is that I aim to offer positive responses to demands for on-the-spot evaluations; whether from parents or my superior. If there is anything to say about the child that requires parents to take a seat; by all means, do so. Otherwise, interactions ought to be positive notes - Even as each child is different; each situation should also be deemed "unique" to the individual and be given adequate attention.

Back to my role as a mother, I am truly pleased to see that a child's developmental milestones are scattered with non-scheduled "resting spots". These spots represent pockets of time that intersperse throughout one's learning period to allow the child [and I suppose, the parent] to allow shifts in learning, and so enable the child to go into the next gear. In other words - at his pace, at his time; with your guidance and patience :)

You know, they say, your child's your best teacher? Well, I am studying hard! So, while others' grading of my child continues; the Kimo-and-mom team continues... where my desire is for Kimo to evaluate me and grade my parenting with an "A+" :)

As the waitress came back with a spoon, I said "Thank you" in the usual absent-mindedly way. She began to retreat when I realized that I was also missing a fork at my table. "Kasi garpu juga, ah? [Please give me a fork also, ok?], I said, in a polite tone. When said waitress came back, I took the fork. Waitress took leave and then we heard Kimo say, "Thank you"! Each and every day, when Kimo picks up a new positive word, we are rendered speechless... in awe and amazement at the little cogs turning in his mind. Okay, next - how do you teach the word "Sorry"? You know, even adults have the hardest time using this word...