Boys

Dericke has Jed pinned against the floor, his wrist at an unholy angle. Jed is screaming, "It hurts. It hurts. Let go!"

I run in and shout at the top of my voice to "Stop it and let go RIGHT NOW!"

Both boys stop instantly, look at me like I'm crazy and then they speak over each other. "No, mom, it's okay." "We were just playacting, auntie." "We're fine really." 

Then they run out to find something else to play with. 

I go back and sit at the kitchen table, my heart racing. I congratulate myself. Because, hey, Im not strangling myself to death. Or slitting my wrists. Or mindlessly banging my head against the wall. 

Boys. I will never understand them.

Dear Mommies with Grown-up Kids

Dear mommies-with-grown-up-children, 

Is it true that all mommies will miss the mess when the kids are grown up and move out of the house?

Please encourage me.

Catching a Magic Moment

God called me to work-from-home five years ago and homeschool two years ago. Today, I have the greatest privilege of leading my second heathen (Jed being the first, of course) to a saving knowledge of the Jesus.

Me: (stage auntie mode) It's true lagi, Sam. I almost died last night.

Samantha: Hahaaaay.... Anti, teacher said 'Dont tell a lie. Or God will send you to hell on the last day of earth'.

(catching a magic moment and swiftly changing to serious mode)

Me: And if we want to go to heaven on the last day of earth, what should we do then?

Me: The Bible says in Romans 10:9, "If we say with our heart that 'Jesus is Lord' and believe with our hearts, then we will be saved." Do you say it? And will you believe it?

Bent head. Closed eyes. A prayer made. A savior accepted. A life entrusted. Celebrate with heaven and me.

Childhood Hurts and Prayers

The two boys burst into my room, with Jed Elijah Sean Tan leaning slightly into Dericke for support. Dericke Gwaine Tan burst into a convoluted tale, Jed burst into tears.

After many questions, I managed to piece the story together.

They were biking the 500 meters from Elleane Tan-Dicdican's house to my apartment. Two kids started to chase them.

My precautionary tales of kidnappers, syndicated children begging on the streets, organ harvesting, pedophiles & toxic poisoning resulting from ruptured colons set them on the defensive and they pedaled faster to get away.

Dericke evaded the hump after the curve of the road and called out a warning but Jed didn't hear. Of course, Jed howled like a banshee as I dressed his wounds.

I shushed him, hugged my boy closer and thought,"This hurt, at least, I can heal."

I sent a quick prayer (one of many others) for all the little boys and their mommies in the neighboring islands.

Fish with Taosi

I lie. I lie a lot. And I lie often. I lie about food. Ten years as mom to Mister-Picky-Eater will do that to you, make you choose between your morality - or your sanity. 

In this morning's breaking news... 

Jed: Mom, what's for breakfast? 
Me: Fish with taosi. 
Jed: Bleh! 
Me: Oh, my mistake. It's chicken with taosi. 
Jed: Chicken is okay. What's taosi? 
Me: Grapes. 
(silence while I hold my breath and shoot a prayer to the miserly god of picky eaters)
Jed: Okay. Let's eat.

Because, Mr. Shakespeare, while a rose by any other name will smell just as sweet, little boys will only eat fish & black beans if they think it's chicken & grapes.

And we lived happily-ever-after... (or so I'd like to think.) 

Six Tremors in One Hour

Six tremors in one hour. 

Matthew 6:25,27 Therefore I tell you do not worry about life. Can anyone of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 

This morning, I overheard Jed repeat to his little cousin Samantha what I had told him yesterday: "We have to trust him, Sam. He is too wise to be mistaken." 

Last night's talk went something like this: 

"Mom, why is God not answering my prayer to make the earthquake stop?"

"Come here." A backrub and a soft song is the best medicine for a young (and not-so-young) heart filled with worry.

"God is too wise to be mistaken. He is too good to be unkind. So, if you dont understand, if you can't see His plan, when you can't trace his hand, trust His heart." 

After the EarthQuake

After the eathquake, Jed calmly and methodically started evacuation procedures. He prepared, on his own, the following:

-his Cars backpack with his collection of 5 Geronimo Stilton books, clothes, underwear
-a pitcher of chocolate milk, a loaf of bread
-an insulated bag with our cellphones and wifi in it (took me 2 days to find the charger of my tablet afterwards)
-a box with 2 rolls of tissue
-a plastic with Donald Duck, teddy, Panda and Nimrod the penguin ("Elijah, leave my Rapunzel doll alone. She'll be safe where she is.")
-another plastic with rubber slippers and bedroom slippers
-yet another plastic with noodles, all the canned goods he could find and a can opener
-the last plastic with a ski mask and winter gloves. ("In case, they will evacuate us all the way to China and it's winter there.")

These he dragged all the way down three flights of stairs, singing loudly, "I will surviiiiive".

Then he returned up the stairs to get his most prized posession (me!) and quoted from After Earth the movie: "Danger is real. But fear is a choice."

Magnitude 7.0 Earthquake Five Minutes Ago

Five minutes ago, a strong earthquake hit Cebu City and neighboring provinces. As my luck would have it, I was in the shower when it struck. 

Down the stairs, I rushed together with my fellow apartment-mates ---- they in slippers and house clothes, me in a towel with shampoo suds in my hair, soap on my face and a soap bar in hand. 

As I write this, tremors continue to rock our building as the aftershock rolls through. We are back in the apartment. Apparently, my son has inherited my ability to stay calm in the midst of stress and distress. He is now packing our emergency bag with his clothes and canned goods from our pantry.

"We also need to bring money, Mom. Should we bring a matchbox or a lighter? Im going to miss all my books if the building falls down."

And me? Im on the desk writing this, like a good, little, crazy writer should be.

(Click post. And now Jed & I go back down to the parking lot with our hefty emergency bag. Stay safe, everyone.)

When Jesus Fed Five Thousand with Five Loaves

Jed reads his Hands-on Bible daily now. And the most precious questions been cropping up...

Jed: Mom, what do you get when you mix holy water and holy ground?
Me: Uh... holy mud!
Jed: Mo-om, come on. There's no such thing as holy mud. 
(quick prayer to heaven for answers)
Me: There is such a thing as holy mud! It's in (googling 'Jesus mud blind man'...) John nine six.

And now, dear mommies, I need help with today's Question of the Day:
"Mom, when Jesus fed five thousand people with 5 pieces of bread and 2 fish, did the bread grow back each time he broke a piece?

Laptop Grounded

Jed listened patiently as I grounded his laptop for one week explaining, "The Bible says whatever is pure, honorable, lovely - think of these things" and that too much gaming would not help him do this. 

He kept a rested & obedient heart. Then, one bright morning, he pumped his fist in the air, "Yes, finally! I can use my laptop again!". No hint of anger or frustration. I praise God for his obedient spirit.

I have seen what indolence can do to young men who prefer to waste away the day with video games and such tomfoolery. These boys never master their full mental prowess, physical strength or social skills.

Indolence is dangerous and insiduous. It robs families of the best of these young men's hours. It nips in the bud everything that a young energetic gentleman may champion & accomplish in this world.

(Jed peered over my shoulders as I wrote this. "Tell everyone, Mom," he insisted, "that I am not angry. I understand why you grounded my laptop." Then, he sauntered off to pick up a book to read, even though the restrictions against his laptop had been relaxed.)

The Eye of the Tiger

The nice thing about homeschooling is that we can customize the learning environment. 

Jed is learning his multiplication table now and has put Eye of the Tiger on infinite replay. 

3 times 3 is... "It's the eye of the tiger, it's the thrill of the fight, rising up to the challenge". (It's the funniest thing ever!)

Sunday School Quiet

I snuck out of the main sermon and peeped into yesterday's Sunday school, as I always do. 

Jed was seated quietly, listening intently to the discussion and taking down notes (taking down notes!!!) on his own initiative. To my added delight, during lunch afterwards, he wanted me to look up the verse so he could tell me about his lesson. 

This used to be my super-active young child who could not stay still in one spot for a microsecond. The child I secretly referred to as my "weapon-of-mass-destruction". Such a HUUUUGE moment of parenting & homeschooling fulfillment, to see my son listening intently & absorbing his lessons.

Before They Grow So Big

"Before they grow so big, the baobabs start out by being little."
...When it is a bad plant, one must destroy it as soon as possible, the very first instant that one recognizes it. - The Little Prince

Three weeks ago, Jed got a perfect score in his vocabulary. I should be happy, right? Except there was no way he could have known what "vivid" and "engrossed" mean.

"How old are you?" is a dreaded question in my house. "Divide it in half since you were honest to tell me you cheated." And that's the formula for a spanking. Jed barricaded himself under the bed for two hours. After that, he came out and apologized.

I shared with him about the time I, too, cheated in Chinese class when I was his age and I was caught by my teacher. I promised to never do it again. This helped me to become the best student I could be.

I am happy to report that Jed now presents all his workbooks with pride and gives a good account for all his answers. "Cheating is for losers, Mom."

I Am Forgiving

My life is not a movie and I'm no Mary Poppins.

Jed refused to talk to me last night but relented at bedtime. "Mom, I am angry because you didn't even ask me why I was coming to you. You just yelled at me to get back to the car."

How to explain a mother's fears to my son?

"It was wrong of me to yell. But, when I saw you walking out of the car and into the rain, I also saw you lying sick in bed last year with very high fever, gagging while you forced yourself to take those huge bitter pills. I was angry because I was afraid."

Silence. "Oh." Hug. "I forgive you."

Math with Touch

While I take in calls and respond to emails, I have one hand draped over Jed's shoulders as he does his Math lessons. Touch helps him to focus. 

It must work because Jed did three pages of multiplications today, ZERO mistakes. 

We celebrated with a happy dance to Whoops Kiri Whoops, hahaha! 

Homeschooling is fun!!! 

(Sorry, no pics or vids to this, Jed says he's too embarrassed...)

A Toe Family

"Look, mom, a toe family! See the eldest girl is a rock star, the eldest boy is a gentleman and the mommy & daddy are kissing. "

Philemon

Jed is valiantly struggling to memorize the books of the New testament

He always pauses after "I & 2 Thessalonians. Titus. Uh?" 
So, I said, "Pokemon!"
"Oh, that's right. It's Philemon. "

I promised him a hundred pesos if he could get it right. *wink

Link Love: Homeschool statistics

Over 170 years ago, almost all children were homeschooled. 

Check out the promising statistics on homeschooling children today. 

http://www.topmastersineducation.com/homeschooled/

Game Master in the Making

Over dinner, Jed & I talked about why our attempt to tandem teach science lab was, in game parlance, an "epic fail".

I was throwing out suggestions: "Maybe we can do this next time. Or next time, I will do this instead."
But, Jed got straight to the heart of the matter: "I think it's because I dont really want to be a teacher. I want to be a game master."

Ooops. I am reminded that a child must be molded in his own image, not in the image his parents want to project on him. 

So, Jed and I will set aside teaching for now. We signed up for a kid's course on Basic Game Programming. Plus Coursera has in September: Basic Game Programming using C#. 

Let's give Jed a go at his dream, shall we?!

Teaching Jed to Save Up

Since I am investing in homeschool books, materials & classes, I told Jed he has to buy his own toys now, if they cost more than a set amount. 

So, Jed has been saving all his allowance to buy this fighting robot. Thanks to Tita Maureen Apple Diaz for shipping to Cebu.

First Day Algebra

Started teaching Algebra to Jed today. 

He's only 9 years old yet he did not hesitate to go head to head with his mother and grandfather, both Engineering graduates. 

"Mom, this way is better. See?!" 

Twice, his solutions were more elegant than mine, no mean feat for his first day. 

God is good. And homeschooling keeps getting better and better.

I am Patient

Because, everyday, Jed memorizes one Virtue and one Bible verse to start his homeschool routine...

Because, I must have 'a place for everything and everything in its place'... 

Because, after 2 successive weddings, 1 sick housekeeper and 1 active, whirlwind of a young man, our house was a huge mess...
Because Monster mommy had emerged in a terrifying episode that put Naruto and the Ninetailed Demon Fox to shame...

So, therefore, in addition to the day's required reading, Jed also turned to "I am Patient" and, of his volition, read solemnly:
" Proverbs 14:29 Anyone who is patient has great understanding. But anyone who gets angry quickly shows how foolish he is".

Then, with the somber air of a village priest presiding over a funeral, he looked at me, sadly shook his head and pronounced
"...or how foolish she his".

This is definitely one of those I-cant-wait-until-you-grow-up-and-have-kids-of-your-own moments. Hah!

C.S. Lewis on Teaching Fewer Subjects

"I think this wise; the greatest service we can do to education is to teachfewer subjects. No one has time to do more than a very few things wellbefore he is twenty, and when we force a boy to be a mediocrity in a dozensubjects we destroy his standards, perhaps for life."C. S. Lewis

Friday Freebie: Beginning Geography Lessons

The material is too basic for Jed now. But, if you're the mommy (or daddy) of a 5 to 7 year old child, this is a lot of fun!

The first 12 pages are free with permission to print. Goody.

Beginning Geography by Evan-Moore publishing

Classical Education: An Overview

"The early years of school are spent in absorbing facts, systematically laying the foundations for advanced study. In the middle grades, students learn to think through arguments. In the high school years, they learn to express themselves. This classical pattern is called the trivium."

What is Classical Education? 

Classical education is a three part system of training the mind.

These three stages are called the Trivium, which is Latin for "where three roads meet".  The ancients called them Grammar, Logic and Rhetoric. The Bible calls it Knowledge, Understanding, Wisdom. 

For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. —Proverbs 2:6

The first stage is called the Grammar stage. Here, a child must first memorize information as a way of building to his knowledge, just as learning grammar is the building block to learning language. The young child enjoys learning facts and rules: spelling, phonics, grammar, math addition, multiplication table, history facts, etc.

The second stage is called the Logic stage. Here, the child begins to understand cause and effect. His capacity for abstract thought and logic begins to grow. He begins to learn the Logic of reading, including a criticism of texts; the Logic of Writing, such as paragraph construction; and the Logic of History, why a war was carried out instead of just memorizing the what, when, where of the war. The logic of science is to learn the scientific method: observe, make a hypothesis, experiment, conclude.

When a child moves from the grammar stage to the dialectic stage, they begin making connections and asking lots of "Why?" questions. This happens usually around the fourth or fifth grade, although it can happen much earlier or 

The third stage is called the rhetoric stage. It is the Socratic level. Here, the child learns to be self-thinking, self-learning. In the previous two stages, he was given the facts, then taught to catgorize the facts. Now, he must begin to internalize those facts so he can express his own opinion and thoughts. 

What is the goal of classical education? 

The goal of classical education is for the student to surpass the teacher. He learns to teach himself. This is the ultimate goal of all teaching. 

Thus, the Trivium is not so much a kind of learning, as it is a way of teaching the child how to learn. 

Thus, the student is equipped to join the "Great Conversation" - the ongoing conversation of great minds down through the ages. 

“The beauty of the classical curriculum,” writes classical schoolmaster David Hicks, “is that it dwells on one problem, one author, or one epoch long enough to allow even the youngest student a chance to exercise his mind in a scholarly way: to make connections and to trace developments, lines of reasoning, patterns of action, recurring symbolisms, plots, and motifs.”

We need more than academics to make a complete education. We need to balance academics with the three goals pursued in a classical Hebrew education. These are: 1) teaching children the Word of God, 2) preparing them for marriage, and 3) training young men for a practical trade and young women for managing their household.

Some very good readings on Classical Education
The Lost Tools of Learning by Dorothy Sayers

The Well-Trained Mind

The Three Pillars of Classical Education

Best Way to Teach Math

"Teaching reading is best done with a child on someone’s lap. Teaching math is best done sitting near a student as they work through a text. Teaching writing is best done through sharing the joy of words on paper."
- Echo in Celebration: A Call in Celebration

Looking Back on a Homeschool Year of Reading and Spelling

I posted about Spelling City which we will continue for Jed's second homeschooling year.

This is a free online tool and a deceptively simple but very powerful one at that.

I prime the page up by typing a series of words for Jed, between 15 to 20 words usually. Then, the computer speaks each word clearly and uses each word in a sentence. Jed loves it because it is an online game. He will often do a list twice or thrice to make sure he gets a perfect score, without any prompting from me.

It takes Jed a good half-hour to go through the list. I use this half-hour to check emails or tidy up the kitchen, while keeping an ear out for any words that are too difficult for him.

I gave Jed a spelling inventory last week and was glad to see that Jed did waaay better that I expected. I asked him how he knew to spell so well and he answered nonchalantly, "I just know. I cant explain it."

I think this is because last year, I focused on a lot of reading for Jed. And kept the spelling to three, four and five letter words. Just like a computer program, this little boy needed a lot of word input so he could process them and then create output in the form of well-spelled words.

At the start of the school year, Jed's mind could not read the words and make sense of them at the same time. He would struggle to understand the sentence and lose himself in the middle of a paragraph. What worked for us was that I (not him) would read aloud and his eyes would follow along with my finger to the words on the book.

After a few months, we read paragraphs alternately. From paragraphs, we progressed to alternating pages with Jed bargaining for him to read one page for every two I read. Fine by me, except I always stopped at the very exciting parts. Jed would read aloud and get so engrossed that he would go on to read three pages without realizing it. I enjoyed tricking him in this way.

Jed tore through a lot of books. We went through the illustrated Bible, my Narnia and Oz collection and several devotionals. Jed eagerly lost himself in these sessions and I often had to beg to continue the next day because I was exhausted.

It was just like giving Jed an audiobook. Except I was the audiobook. And better, because we got lots of cuddling and bonding time, too.

Later in the school year, as Jed got the hang of reading, he gained confidence to start reading comics by himself. The Tomo collection which was lent (donated?) by Uncle Jerson, who was just 2 years older than him, is a great book that shadows the Gospel. I also indulged his request for Avatar: The Last Airbender books. The Geronimo Stilton: Kingdom of Fantasy books were a godsend and I had to hunt all over to complete the collection, but it is so worth it.

I indulge Jed in comics if they espouse bravery, courage, combat, heroism and honor. All worthy subjects for a young man to read.

But, when he brought home an Archie comics, I drew a firm line. I will not allow that kind of literary trash into my house.

I am excited for Jed to start reading books without photos in them. I cant wait to share with him my well-loved copies of Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates, and Little Men and Wrinkle in Time.

All in good time, no rush.

(Thanks to ninang Gingging and Tita Boots for the new-to-us books. Jed has started digging in already!)

Settlers of Catan

Finally, thanks to the world's best auntie - Anti Eve-, we finally get to see what all the fuss is about.

We opened the box at 8pm, tore through the manual and ended at one in the morning. There is a lot of inherent strategy and logical analysis and addition, multiplication and division going on during the game. So, the boys without knowing it, got a huge dose of practical learning while having loads of fun.

Best fun ever! Cant wait for the next round!

Patience and Silk Chinese Pajamas

A certain young man, who will remain nameless in this post, was naughty today.

In a last bid to make mama happy before lights out, he put on his authentic silk China costume as jammies. The same costume he had pronounced as "ugh!" while in China and which I had to bribe him to wear back in March.

As we drifted off to sleep, he also remembered to say, "Congratulations, Mom! Thank you for being very patient today."

(I struggle with patience on days like these and have asked him to congratulate me whenever he thinks I have done a great job of being patient. We try to actively practice the habit of catching ourselves doing what is right, instead of pointing out our mistakes.) 

The best thing about homeschooling is that my son and I can learn from each other. He learns his math and I get to practice my patience. We both learn to build our character. 

Which Shape is Best for Flying?

Which Shape is Best for Flying? from the Big Book of Science Experiments.

The blue airplane sailed 50 meters into the sky and landed on the construction site beside us. Well-made, Jed!

I love that Jed has this "lets-try-this-and-see-what-happens-then-try-something-else" gusto approach to Science. He truly is a little scientist.

Sock Puppet

When Jed pulls out his craft box, I never know what he's going to come up with.

Today, it seems, we are in for a puppet show.

Tartin et Chocolat

While Jed had his haircut at the barber store, I waited at the nearby thrift store.

And found a thick oh-so-soft bath towel. I sent it to the laundry shop and instructed them to dose it with lots of bleach and disinfectant.

I'm a simple mama but I know quality stuff when I see one. I especially love the extra lace bib that came embroidered and attached to the towel. I snipped the bib off and tucked the buttons away into my sewing box.

Looked up Catherine Painvin online, and found myself inspired.

A soft bath towel, some lace and embroidery and an inspiring story. That's very, very good for thirty five pesos (80c). I suddenly find myself looking forward to Jed's next haircut.

Bedtime reading

Absolutely, unequivocally, without a shadow of a doubt,

Jed loves to read.

Loud Bang inside the Airplane

The plane taking us back to Cebu suddenly lurched and a loud bang was heard inside the plane, rudely interrupting my nap. 

The intercom crackled to life. "This is your pilot speaking. I have checked our instrument panel and everything looks... " and then came the longest pause in my life "... normal". 

I calmly asked Jed to show me the brace-for-impact position and corrected him. "Hands on your nape, Jed, not over your head." And we patiently waited.

In about thirty minutes, we touched down and everyone in the airplane chuckled loudly in relief as Jed shouted, "Yehey! We're alive!!!"

"For me to live is Christ, to die is gain... for to depart and be with Christ is so much better." Philippians 1: 21, 23.

Monster University

Jed and his cousin Dericke got inspired to make their own monsters, after seeing the life-sized Monster University display at the movie theatre.

Mom, You Rest. I'll Make Breakfast

Mom, you rest. I'll make breakfast.

God Fixes Bad days

Last week, I was at OMF to pick up more copies of The Power of a Praying Wife. 

I also picked up another book that I now see was a divinely inspired choice. 

There was a heavy downpour on Friday night while Jed & I were still at the mall. The taxi could not make his way through the flooded street. 

So, 20 paces away from the apartment gate, l hoisted Jed up on my back and made my way cautiously through the strong current that threatened to sweep us off. I

t was tough going and by the time we were warmly bathed and snuggled in, it was already 2AM.

But l delayed sleep a little longer because it was the perfect opportunity to open our new book- 13 Very Bad Days and How God Fixed Them.

Great Wall, Little Man

This is Jed's finest moment, as a little man.

Not only because of his accomplishment. But, more importantly, because he showed courage, boldness and perseverance.

We originally planned to visit the Mutianuy section of the Great Wall of China only for a look-see. But, when we got there, Jed remember the scene from the Karate Kid movie where Jackie Chan had Jaden Smith running up the wall to train. He said to me: "Mom, I'm going to be a legend. I will climb the Great Wall of China."

Such a huge heart for a little boy! The final steep part was agonizing. Grown men beside us were giving up.

But, in the middle of the climb, some ladies Jed had befriended at the foot of the long climb saw him lose heart and they raised their fists and cried out, "Forward!" Those ladies didn't make it to the top. But, their cries of encouragement gave Jed the energy boost he needed to finish the climb.

And then, when he had gone and accomplished what very few 9-years old accomplish, can you guess what he did?

Why, he found a shady nook and proceed to astound all the adults who were still huffing and puffing by calmly pulling out his PSP and playing his favorite video game. Ha!

One Country, One Nation

We use One Country, One Nation for Philippine history.

I am infinitely glad that Jed has his Philippine history and social studies in English. I still have nightmares of my elementary social studies in Filipino, a language that was then as foreign to me as Swahili.

I came from an English-speaking family. Thankfully, I grew to learn and even love Filipino, in my own time. Almost 10 years after I first encountered it. And more than five years after I first started speaking it. For the first two years, I listened but would not speak it, as the teasing and harassing was too much for me.

I would love for Jed to learn to love this language in his own time, too.