Category Archives: life

Oh, The Places You’ll Go! 小学校2年

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You were giggling with the fact that you and your peers are not the youngest in the school, anymore. You were even more excited with the fact that your wish of being in 2年2組 came true (you were 1年1組 before).

I was actually late in picking you up; you were the remaining student in the schoolyard and two teachers were speaking with you, wondering why you’re staying put and where your mom is. I was still caught up in an online meeting and had to run out the house to meet you. But you were beaming and all excited so you easily forgave me. Good to meet your new home room teacher too.

My dear daughter, I haven’t wrote about this yet, but we are currently living in an uncertain time, one filled with fear and worry, as the world goes in lockdown and isolation, to fight the coronavirus. I have been working on remote for a week now and your Dad’s about to start remote work tomorrow. You’ve been requesting the parties we’re gonna have after this is over, planning the trips we’re gonna take. Oh, the places we’ll go. But for the mean time, I wish you well as you start your second year at grade school. Keep that lovely, beaming smile on your face.

life with a grade schooler: on time travel and Beethoven

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During dinner, I told you about the movie I watched on U-Next while you were napping: About Time (2013). Told you it was about a man who can travel back in time.

you: (eyes wide) he can travel to the future?!

me: no. But he can travel back to the past.

you: ooohhh! Did he travel back to see Beethoven play? I would want to travel back to hear Beethoven in person!

Dear young lady, when I was your age, I didn’t have any idea who Beethoven was, not have I even heard of him. You are remarkable.

life with a grade schooler: Wisdom beyond your years

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Late last night, I told you how I had a tough day and how my boss rudely scolded me in front of the whole project team because of a (minor) mistake done by one of my subordinates.

With an indignant huff, you said you cannot understand this. That I should tell my boss today that another person’s mistake is not my mistake.

My child, please do not loose that fire.

Life with a grade schooler: on abiding by the rules even when nobody sees you

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So we tackled a critical life lesson this week.

There’s this school rule to never bring toys to school, beloved or otherwise, big or small. Then the other night, you tried your might to convince me to allow you to bring your latest favourite – a teeny weeny figure of Cinnamon that came free inside a bath ball (which, by the way, you were able to convince me to buy for you after a year of “NOs”).

Me: You know you’re not allowed to bring toys to school.

Yui: Why is it not allowed by the way?

Me: Because other kids could bring really good toys which are expensive and other kids could get jealous because they could not afford it. Or kids could fight over one toy. Or it could get broken. Or get lost.

Yui: K-chan (your friend at your after-school care) brings her toys.

Me: How come she’s able to bring it?

Yui: She puts it in her edou-pocket (a small clip-on pouch). I can do the same. I can put it in my edou-pocket and will not take it out at school and will not show Sensei and will hide it from other kids.

Me: Yui, now listen. You know there’s a rule to follow. The important thing with rules is to follow it even when no one is looking, even when no one sees you, even when no one knows. Because more importantly, you know. That’s character, that’s integrity, that’s honesty (now this last sentence I’m not totally sure you understood).

Yui: But how come K-chan brings her toys when nobody sees her?

Me: Well, you should ask her, and remind her that it’s not good to disobey rule even when nobody sees you.

Lo and behold you raised the topic again last night.

Yui: I asked K-chan why she disobeyed and brought her toys. She said she’s always in a hurry in the mornings “Shikoku da, shikoku da”, that she forgets to put back her toys out of her edou-pocket. It’s not intentional.

Me: oh, okay, thank you for reminding her.

And then you went off to play and left me to my kitchen chores.

But the suspicious adult in me didn’t buy K-chan’s alibi. Especially since the toys are different, every day. And of course I cannot tell you of my suspicions. That’ll be another lesson for the day. In the mean time however, I will have to ask more about your conversations with K-chan.

life with a grade schooler: Anger reared from your head

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You’ve been fervently packing your dolls this evening. Tomorrow’s a school holiday so you’ll be spending most of your time at your after-school school. Which means you can bring anything you want. And hence you’ve been packing your dolls so you could play with your new friend.

Then you told me how a boy was teasing your new friend and was making fun of her name. You then told me how anger reared from inside your head. And that you scolded the boy for his bad behaviour. Yes, he was older than you, but it didn’t deter you from giving him a piece of your mind.

So proud of you, my little warrior. I can only pray you’ll always be safe.

life with a grade schooler: Keeping them all in my heart

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You found a cd and asked me what it was.

Told you inside was a copy of all the slide presentations during your graduation.

I then asked you if you’d like to see them as Tito JM already had it converted to one that’s accessible online.

You: it’s ok. I’m keeping all the memories of my friends at daycare inside my heart.

Wow, my baby.