Benedict's Montessori Experience

Now that Benedict is going through Montessori, I must say that I should have signed Augustine up for Montessori when he was younger. The Montessori does not focus so much on linguistic and numeracy development, like the Shichida or the Rightmind programmes that Augustine went through, but it focuses on self discipline and self-care.

All the children are required to do self-directed work, be it having snacks, playing with Montessori toys, or simple handicrafts, or even simple household chores. But every child has to follow certain groundrules, such as taking turns, washing hands the moment they arrive and before they take their snacks, putting their hands behind their backs as they move from the classroom to the playground and queue up in an orderly manner, only working on their mats and keeping one item before they embark on another one. This really instils self directed discipline, and this carries over at home. And the children were allowed to handle delicate things like glass and vases and flowers and animals, just like adults, so they learn to be gentle with things. So Benedict can handle delicate things much better at 20 months, like a real steel fork, and pour water from a glass jug, than Augustine at 30 months. And he is better at putting away things and keeping things in their rightful place too.

If only Augustine learnt all these when he was younger! Then I would probably have an easier time disciplining him now. Alas, I wasn't around for him when he was younger to explore the possibilities of Montessori education. I just hope that Benedict will stick to the good habits he learnt at Montessori, and not follow his big brother's (sometimes) bad example.

Sweet Child(ren) of Mine

Haven't updated my blog in a while...but for the sake of remembrance, I have to start recording stuff before pregnancy amnesia or old age completely obliviate my sweet memories of my children's childhood...

So lets start with Augustine...he was really sweet to his classmates recently. He made it a point to wait for the last girl in class to meet up with her caregiver before he comes home with me. And he helped the last girl put away her shoes on the shoe rack because he thinks that she was being too slow. :) To think that I have to tell HIM to put away his shoes when he reaches home! And he offered to bring candies to the monthly birthday party celebration, because we have lots of candies at home (thanks to the kind aunties who showered him with candies), and it made him so happy to receive so many thanks from his classmates, he radiated a kind of genuine, quiet joy and pride that day, that could have only come with sharing with other people. Oh I am so proud of him.

Benedict is getting more and more outgoing with each passing day. He enjoys playing with and learning from Augustine, and he is picking up much faster than his peers in the IMS playgroup and the Rightmind programme. Even though he lags behind in physical development (he is still between 10-25%tile), and still can't walk very well at 20 months, he is charming everyone he meets with he readiness to make small talk, and his intelligent response. And his smiles...because he had never tasted the sweetness of the only child and the bitterness of being dethroned, his smiles were much more innocent than Augustine's. He smiles just because he is really happy to be around, and not because he wants to gain affection.

And the brothers have really grown to accept each other. Although not a day has passed without some kind of squabbling, but I think their relationship has genuinely improved. Augustine has learnt to speak nicely to Benedict when he wants something from Benedict, and Benedict and kindly obliged. And being the sweet nature child he is, Benedict offers Augustine his toys, and Augustine does nice things for Benedict once in a while, like feeding him...and the next picture is quite a classic one of Augustine helping Benedict wear his shoes...



I feel so priveleged to be able to watch them grow up day by day...now enjoying motherhood in all its simplicity...

為救其他孩子 醫生失去女兒

為救其他孩子 醫生失去女兒 2008年5月17日

【明報專訊】「爸爸，我沒死！爸爸，救我！」地震當天，36歲的四川南壩鎮醫生郝興軍聽到女兒在瓦礫下呼喊，但還有更多孩子的呻吟和呼救聲此起彼落。最後他救出了很多孩子，卻再聽不到女兒的聲音。

新華社引述郝興軍說，他當時離女兒就讀的南壩小學很近，地震發生後第一時間趕到現場，雖然明明聽到女兒在大叫「爸爸，救我！」但他覺得別人的孩子生命同樣寶貴，「先救一個算一個」，直到他回頭再尋找女兒時，已沒有了女兒的聲音。

「女兒才6歲4個月，去年剛上小學。」郝興軍抱覑女兒破損的紅書包，在已倒塌的南壩小學前呆坐了3天3夜了，「我對不起女兒啊，可那時候聽見別的孩子喊救命，我怎麼能見死不救？」南壩鎮屬於平武縣，地震後與外隔絕，救援人員直至前日才進入，南壩小學870名師生死傷近半。

Remember that I love you

母捨身救女 手機留遺言
「要記住我愛你」 2008年5月17日

【明報專訊】互聯網上日前流傳一段「短訊遺言」的故事，搶救人員在一片廢墟下發現一具女屍，被塌下的房屋壓住，身體保持雙腿跪地、雙手撐地的姿勢。救援人員摸到她已無氣息，又向廢墟內高聲詢問，沒有得到任何回應。救援隊員正準備撤離，但救援隊長忽然察覺有異，再次把手探進女人懷中，高聲喊﹕「有人！有個孩子，還活覑。」

經過一番努力，救援人員將壓在她身上的重物移去，發現她身體下面躺覑一名約三四個月大的嬰兒，包在一張紅底黃花的被褥中，不僅毫髮未傷，而且被救援人員抱出來的時候正在熟睡。隨行的醫生解開被子做例行檢查，發現有一部手機塞在被子裏，醫生看了手機，發現屏幕上是一條已經寫好的短訊 ﹕「親愛的寶貝，如果你能活覑，一定要記住我愛你。」這條短訊在救援隊伍中傳閱，令看慣了生離死別的救援人員都不禁落淚。

业勤语录（三）

今天我们到游乐场玩儿的时候，我不小心拐到了脚，一屁股坐在地上雪雪呼痛。勤勤见状，连忙坐到我身边，一手按着我的膝头，用关注的眼神看着我，说：

“妈妈，你的脚受伤了吗？”

我：对呀，妈咪的脚扭伤了，动不了了。

勤：那你要吃多一点饭咯，脚才会好！

我：（一时语塞）

Our 3 seconds of fame on Channel News Asia

Ben and I on TV...cameo appearance...if you can find us...:p

Sweet children of mine

Why did God make children so beautiful? They distract me to no end. Even their tantrums look heart-wrenchingly cute, especially when both cry for my attention at the same time. And their smiles...oh their smiles...I just want to do nothing but gaze adoringly at my children, so lovely they are to me...How do I ever discipline my children, when I feel like indulging their every whim?

But their lovely childhood is so short...it is like spring, one moment you gasp at the glorious bloom and the next moment, they are gone and the tree starts to bear fruit. They are now beautiful buds, waiting to bloom...and soon they will start their own families and bear fruit...and my babies will be no more...

Pretty babies, enjoy my caress whilst you may too, for soon you will fly the nest and seek out your horizons...parting is such sweet sorrow...and each beautiful day I share with you slips away like a shadow...