Tuesday, September 28, 2004

Made the band

RG made it to the Wind Ensemble Band, playing the flute. He also made it to the Jazz Band, playing the Soprano Sax. Meetings on both, a total of four days a week.

Saturday, September 25, 2004

hmmmnn

Niece A: Tita, did RK tell you about Terry Fox Day? I went. Amica said that RK has a girlfriend.
Me: Did you mean Amelia? He said that she was his girlfriend in kindergarten. But she’s in the Bilingual (French) class now.
Niece A: No, he walked with Brooklyn.

At home..
Mom: RK, do you have a new girlfriend?
RK: Yeah, I think.
Mom: Who did you walk with at Terry Fox Run?
RK: I wanted to pick Amica, but Skye picked her. Then Brooklyn picked me. (was embarrassed)
Mom: That’s OK.

Thursday, September 23, 2004

audition

RG auditioned for the wind ensemble choir on Tuesday and for jazz band on Thursday. He had to be in school early on both days, so we had to wake up at 6:00 a.m. On Wednesday night, he gave me Lori's phone number, which was given by Mr. K, the band teacher. Mr. K was impressed with RG's audition piece since he learned it on his own and it was a hard piece. He suggested that RG take private lessons with Lori.

Wednesday, September 22, 2004

autumnal equinox

Fall officially started today. Temperature in the morning was 5 degrees C. Highest temperature was 18 degrees C. Some leaves were already turning yellow.

Monday, September 20, 2004

Of mosquitoes and last names

RK played outside with his cousins after school. When he came back inside, he had several mosquito bites on his legs. On his right leg, he had one on the knee, and just below, four big ones in a row on his leg. And then two more close to the ankle on his left leg. This morning, he wanted to wear shorts, but I was reluctant because I didn’t want him to be bitten when they have outside recess at school. He decided to wear long pants anyway.

RK: I know Jordan’s last name, it’s Young.
Mom: Oh, I like that name.
RK: I know Amica’s last name, L----. Ancie’s last name is the same, also Gaudie.
Mom: They have the same last names because they’re brothers and sisters.
RK: Mommy, what’s your last name?
Mom: The same as yours, S--------.
RK: Ooh! (and he flashed a smile.)

Friday, September 17, 2004

Thanks for the memories

I bought my washer and dryer at a garage sale about ten years ago. They were still in good working condition after all those years, although the outside of the body have patches of rust. I changed the washer fan belt shortly after I bought it. Two weeks ago, my sister asked me if I wanted to buy her washer and dryer since she was buying new ones. R have always wanted to buy a new set of washer/dryer because he claims that our old ones could be very noisy and they distracted his music listening down there in the basement. He agreed to buy sis' washer/dryer. Her new ones were delivered today. I have to get rid of my old ones. I was thinking of giving them away to charity or to any friend who might be interested. But instead, I asked the delivery guys if they could dispose them off for me. They agreed to do it at a reasonable price.

As I watched the two delivery guys carry off my washer with two wide yellow belts strapped on their shoulders, choreographing their steps up and down the basement stairs, I felt a lump rose in my throat. I was sad to let the washer/dryer go.

Once or twice a year, I clean out our storage in the laundry room. Some clothes and stuff - I give away to my sister, or to charity. I don't have a hard time giving those away. But this time I was really having a hard time letting go of our washer/dryer. They were one of the first appliances I ever owned. I used them every single week. I was always the one who washed our clothes. They stood there in the basement as I tried to remove apple stains on baby shirts, green grass stains on my children's jeans, and red chapstick marks on RG's sleeves. They were there when I tried to shake out shredded tissues that were left in pockets and when I tried to soak RG's light grey Power Rangers shirt that turned pink when R did the laundry while I was in the hospital with my second baby. That's why when I delivered my third baby, I was anxious to get home so that I could sort the laundry myself before he washed them.

I guess it's the memories that come with my washer/dryer that makes it hard for me to let go. Anyway, those memories will stay with me even though I part with my old rusty appliances. I'm sure that I will make new memories with my new ones.

Thursday, September 16, 2004

15th anniversary

Today is the 15th anniversary of my migrating here in Canada. I was 6 and a half months pregnant with RG then. I brought only one box. I carried a heavy handbag and another huge, long bag were I put a statue of Mama Mary, which Ma asked me to bring. Mama's friends greeted me at the airport that Fall evening. We then all headed to her apartment on Partridge Avenue where she prepared a small feast for all of us. I left R in the Philippines with the hopes of sponsoring him later on. The first few weeks were very emotionally hard for me. There were times when I thought that I wanted to go back home to the Philippines. But I stayed strong and here we all are now.

Tuesday, September 14, 2004

Amazing Race

I watched the Amazing Race 5, 1st of the last 2 episodes. The 11th and 12th pit stops were shot in the Philippines. I enjoyed watching it. My mouth was wide open as I watch the finalists assemble and ride the jeepney, plow the field with the kalabaw (ox), interact with Filipinos and drive on the busy streets of Manila. Hay, sarap yatang magbalikbayan.

Monday, September 13, 2004

RK is reading

RK is starting to read words. Today he learned the words "red" and "school."

In the Philippines, we learned reading like this: a-e-i-o-u (uh-eh-ee-o-oo); ba-be-bi-bo-bu (buh-beh-bee-bo-boo); ka-ke-ki-ko-ku (kuh-keh-kee-ko-koo); da-de-di-do-du (duh-deh-dee-do-doo); and so forth...

Children learn what they live

"When you think you don't feel their (children) pain when you hit her (wife), they feel her pain, " said Dr. Phil to a physically abusive husband.

I know that, because I felt her pain when he hit her all those times. I can still vividly recall.

"Children learn what they live," added Dr. Phil. Their children are taking on the ways of the husband. The 16-year old calls his girlfriend names, the 8-year old slams the door, and the 5-year old throws tantrums.

I came from a broken home but I'm glad that I turned out pretty good. In contrast to the ugly things that I witnessed at home, I was surrounded by family who loved and cared for me.

I've heard people say, "I've become my mother." In my case, it's "I've become 'Auntie C'. " Part of my teen years were spent with my aunt. She had a short temper and snapped at us when she was upset. ( I love my aunt dearly and I am still grateful to her. I'm just trying to make a point here.) I sometimes lose my temper at small things and snap the same way she did. I am working on it, though.

I try to set a good example to my children, but I am human and I have my faults. I hope that they will see beyond my imperfections. I try to instill in them good values and I hope they will apply them to their own lives.

Here's the complete version of "Children Learn What They Live" by Dorothy Law Nolte, Ph.D.

Wednesday, September 08, 2004

First day of school

I made the kids go upstairs last night at 8:30 p.m. They were in bed before 9:00 p.m.

It was RG's first day of high school. He's in grade 10 (Senior 2) now. It's only an orientation day. They had free barbeque for lunch.

RK started grade 1 under Mrs. S, who was also RC's grade 1 teacher. RK and cousin Amica are in the same class, so are most of their classmates from kindergarten. RC (grade 5) and cousin Angelus (grade 6) are in the same (multi-age) class as well, grade 5/6. I went to school with them in the morning to help them carry their school supplies. When they were in line outside the back door, Mrs. L, their kindergarten teacher came by the English Grade 1 line and said "Hi" and "You've all grown taller."

Tuesday, September 07, 2004

We're raising adults, not children

Dr. Phil said, "The deal with parenting is, we're raising adults, not children." We should teach our children how to be independent. Like teaching them how to do chores, so that when they grow up, they will be ready to go out there in the world.

I do believe in this. Probably because of my personal experience growing up. My parents taught me how to do chores when I was a little girl, even with helpers (maids) in the house. I was 12 when my parents separated. My mother was a single parent and she would sometimes leave me and sis while she worked. I think knowing what do around the house made it easier for me to cope and to be independent. She went abroad when I was 15 and sis and I were living by ourselves when I was 18.

Now, I find myself teaching my children chores while they're young. Not just chores, but doing homework as well. I taught them how to use the dictionary when they want to know what a word means, or how to spell a word instead of telling them the answer myself. It's like the saying, “Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime.”

Friday, September 03, 2004

Passed away

I went to viewing (lamay) of Roberta, my kumareng Gloria's sister, who died of a heart attack last week. Roberta was from England and her children flew up here to attend her funeral. There were only a few people at the funeral home. I don't think that Gloria told her friends about her sister's death. Parang nakakalungkot tuloy. That's the sad thing when you die away from home. Your family and friends won't be around. I hope that when I die, I will be surrounded by my family and friends.