Play with Andrea Day

Dear Sabrina Banana, 

Most parents looking at me would think I spend all the time with you. Not a lot of people know that even if I am technically at home with you, I do have a lot of other things going on. I go to school, I train for our church ministry, i have bible studies, I do counseling, I do parent coaching and i do corporate training. 

The time i have left is divided between you and dad. A lot of times we spend a big chunk of our time homeschooling and  talking. It is a considerable amount of time but I somehow forgot that you are a kid and you need play. The other day you told me that I don't play with you as much anymore. This broke my heart. 

A part of me wanted to get defensive and say "What? Are you kidding me? Do you know what I'm sacrificing to stay at home and teach you? And now you're saying that's not enough?"....that was my pride talking. I decided to take what you said humbly (whether or not it was accurate is not the point, you are sharing with me your   perspective and I should honor that) and say 

"I'm so sorry honey. I know I've been so busy. I really can't play with you   tonight because i have a meeting then I have to go to school but i have an idea. On Thursday, I will not work at all the whole day. No studying, no computer, no playing games on my phone. This Thursday will be the PLAY WITH ANDREA day"

You were beyond excited. I asked you to plan our day. You started making a list of games and activities which even included dancing and some snacks. 

You had a running countdown and last night you told your dad "Mom and I are going to play the WHOLE day! She is not going to work at all thy's why she spent Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday working so hard"

It takes so little to make you happy. Some games, some snacks, yet sometimes i forget. Thank you for reminding me and for loving me through my mistakes. 

Love ya, 

Momma

The Best Things in Life are Free

Dear Sabrina Banana,

4 weeks ago, I whined and whined to Daddy that I feel so bad because we don't have any decent library for you to enjoy here in the Philippines. Daddy said I should make the best out of what God has given us here in the Philippines. So I sighed...made one call and found this darling library near us for free!!

This was like a dream come true for you. You were so excited that you were literally pulling on my hand trying to get me out of the door. When we opened the door to the children's area...you looked on a bit shyly. You stepped on the rug uncertainly. It was as if you weren't sure that all this goodness is real.

We stayed there for 2 hours that first time...we have returned 4 times since. I am so happy that such little things can give you such a huge amount of happiness!

Love ya,

Momma

Conversations with Sabrina -- Home

Liv: Honey, you know what your home is in my heart!
Andrea: Huh, why? Did you eat my house?

Homeschooling Adventures

To the people who read this blog, specifically those who are emailing me and asking me to share homeschooling stories, I'm sorry but I really meant for this blog to be for my daughter, if I have anything noteworthy to share, I'd probably post it on my personal blog: Liv at Home

I hope you understand. 

In Your Element

Dear Sabrina Banana,

I have spent a big chunk of my life trying to find the things that make me happy, those that make me "me". I think people in general go through their whole life finding that place they belong, or that person that makes them more of who they are.

It's always tricky being a mother. There's that fine line between guiding you or imposing my will on you. 2 years ago for example, I made you play soccer. The moment you were on the field, I knew you didn't belong there. You weren't into it. And though you went through the entire session, I knew I shouldn't have made you  go through that. I know better now, or at least I think I do.

Last summer you started bugging me about gymnastics. I don't know where you got that idea but somehow you wanted to learn this sport. Your Wowa was a gymnast so maybe it's in your blood. Nevertheless I wasn't sold on the idea. I thought it was too dangerous, and that you were too young and that our lives were busy enough as it is without this extra activity. You persisted and I realized that it wasn't just a passing fancy. So your dad and I agreed to let you go.

You weren't great from the start darling. In fact you struggled.  Your motor issues made it hard for you but you were determined to learn it. Now 4 meetings after and you have conquered your fear of the balance beam and doing everything you need to do. It made me realize how important it is to listen to you. To be in tune with your passions and talents.

I don't know if you're going to be an Olympic gymnast one day...and frankly I don't care. I do care that you are learning how to be committed to something. The daily exercises and the long walks in the sports center are no jokes but you rally through it. I also care that you are toughening up. Last time I saw you hit your face on the beam and I asked you during your break if you were hurt and you looked at me as if I just asked you the silliest question and you said "I always get hurt in gymnastics" then you ran back to the beam as if it's the most natural thing on earth.  I care that you are beginning to understand the value of persisting on something even if it's not easy. Lastly, I care that you are happy.

Love ya,

Momma

How to Make a Bowl of Cereals

Dear Sabrina Banana,

Today you asked me to take a video of you and I obliged. This is the unedited result:

Not bad for a first timer!

Love,

Momma

Conversations with Sabrina-- God and French Fries

Today's lesson: God made me and I will live for him. After a long conversation...

Liv: Who in the bible lived for God? 
Andrea: Not Eve, not Cain. Abel did!
Liv: How come?
Andrea: Because he gave his best when he offered to God.
Liv: Who else.
Andrea:Noah cause he was different. He was nice when everyone around him was mean. 
Liv: Right, so when you're in Mc Donald's playing at the play place and everyone's being mean what should you do?
Andrea: I'll tell them to stop being hurtful.
Liv: Exactly. You don't do things just because everyone else around you is doing it.
Andrea: I have a question
Liv: What?
Andrea: When I'm in Mc. Donald's in the play place where will you be?
Liv: What do you mean?
Andrea: Will you be there buying french fries for me?

From God to food....it always ends up this way.

Conversations with Sabrina - Beauty

Liv: I think we should look really pretty when we pick Daddy up from the airport. I'm going to wear a dress!!
Andrea: But we don't need that, we're already pretty!

Conversations with Sabrina -- Vocabulary Lessons

Andrea: Mom what's a storage? 
Liv: Any place where you can store or keep things. A cabinet is a storage.
Andrea: How about your bag?
Liv: Yup! 
Andrea: And a computer?
Liv: Hmmm, why do you think it's a storage?
Andrea: There are pictures in your computer.
Liv: Great thinking! Yup, in that case it can be a storage.
Andrea: I'm a storage! I keep food inside my mouth and body. 
Liv: ---speechless----

Conversations with Sabrina - Crunchy Deers

Andrea: Mom did the hunter eat the mommy of Bambi?
Liv: Maybe
Andrea: Are deers yummy?
Liv: Some people think so
Andrea: I will never eat them because of their horns!
Liv: Okay
Andrea: Unless the horns are crunchy

A Child's Prayer

Dear God, 


Thank you for letting me learn about attentiveness and for hotdogs....

Breakfast Fun

Dear Sabrina Banana,

One of the best things about being a mom is having the license to be a kid again. Today we did an activity that was so much fun, I couldn't help wishing I had the chance to do this when I was a kid.

First, we made our own "paint". The mixing and blending was great fun but I think you enjoyed tasting each paint more!

Did we make a mess? Oh we sure did!!! But ultimately who cares? You will never remember how neat the house is at breakfast but I'm sure you will remember that day when you and I went crazy and made our own food paint.

Here's our finished work. We ate them, and dipped them in our paint. It was so yummy! We are both left covered all over with colors....we're a mess....a happy, full mess. And I'm so glad we did this.

Love ya,

Momma
p.s.
Edible Paint recipe available here

Conversations with Sabrina - Richness

Andrea: Mom, what's rich?
Liv: It's when you have everything you need and you're happy
Andrea: Am I rich?
Liv: Do you have everything you need?
Andrea: Yes
Liv: are you happy?
Andrea: YES!!!! I'm rich! I'm rich!

Conversations with Sabrina - Great Great Great Parents

Andrea: Is Nanay my grandmother too? 
Liv: Nope, she's your great-grandmother.
Andrea: Why?
Liv: Cause she's the mother of Gramma, your grandmother.
(silence)
Andrea: You're a great mother mommy...

The fact that she turned 5 today is already making me cry...add statements like this and I'm reduced to mush.

What is Love?

Dear Sabrina Banana,

A friend of mine who is a teacher in a preschool asked her students what LOVE means. I found their answer so interesting that I decided to ask you as well. I was sure you were going to come up with a crazy, funny, far-off answer but I was so wrong. When I asked you what love meant, you said:

"It's caring for someone. It's when you take care of somebody"

I was taken aback. Wow. You got it!

Love ya,

Momma

Mercury Report

Dear Sabrina Banana, Around 3 months ago, you were asked to report about Mercury. It was quite exciting because you really love planets. The thing is, I don't want you to memorize things. I think memorizing things will not be effective in reporting because if you forget one little thing, you lose the entire flow of your presentation. Also, the point of this is to teach you something, not to get you to repeat random facts. What I did was I pasted questions on the board that you would read. Then you can answer the question as you would want to. You had so much energy while I was shooting this video it was hard to capture it. You said, you weren't as "jumpy" during your classroom presentation though so YAY! Love ya, Momma

 

Conversations with Sabrina - Growing

While giving Andrea a bath I told her:

Liv: I'm going to water you now cause you're my plant. Grow plant grow.
Andrea: It's not working at all.
Liv: That's cause you have no leaves! We should color your hair green to make it look like leaves.
Andrea: NOOOOO. I love my hair. I love my skin color. I love me tummy. I don't want to change myself.

Awwwwww. Must document this and show it to her when she's around 16 and wants to put a tattoo on her nose or something

Tomorrow is Coming

Dear Sabrina Banana,

We've always had our bedtime routine. You can be sure that when it's 9pm, it's time to sleep. This routine was challenged when I went back to grad school as I would normally be home past 9 and you would try to wait up for me. Now, when I would tell you that it's time to sleep you would always ask why. And I would always respond by simply telling you that it's 9pm.

In the past, saying it's 9pm was enough. Now, you would still follow BUT you would start showing me your ever dramatic sad face. I would then say something like:

Liv: Do you know what the day is going to be tomorrow?
Andrea: Friday?
Liv: And what are we going to do tomorrow?
Andrea: (you will name the activity we have planned)
Liv: How can we do those fun things if you don't sleep now?/How can it be tomorrow if you don't sleep?

This technique has worked for months. Normally, you'd be all excited about going to sleep so that you can do the fun things we have for the next day. Yesterday, you decided to call my bluff and you said:

Andrea: I will just let Jane (your nanny) sleep tonight. I will stay awake.

I had to laugh. That was creative, I'll give you that. But no can do kiddo...you still have to sleep.

Love you,

Momma

Booby Trap

Dear Sabrina Banana,

Last Monday, out of nowhere, you asked your dad. what Booby Traps are. He explained a bit but admittedly, it is a bit hard to explain what those are!

I decided to ask you to embrace me as I was laying on the bed. Then I wrapped my arms and legs around you and said:

Liv: This is a booby trap! You're stuck here forever!
Andrea: NOOOOO. Why?
Liv: So I can embrace you and tickle you forever and ever and ever.
Andrea: (Giggling) No, let me go. I want to be free.
Liv: I'm sorry, you'll never be free.
Andrea: I can get free
Liv: Nope, you'll be here till you're 83 years old.
Andrea: That's forever!

And, you wiggled, and you squirmed, and you got free. That is how you learned about booby traps, and our new nightly trap and tickle tradition was born.

Love you,

Momma

The World's Not Nice All the Time But I Hope You Are

Dear Sabrina Banana,

I am feeling a bit sad. I just found out that one of your cousins who is just 6 years old is now refusing to go to school because he is being bullied. This cousin is such a sweet boy, very kind and polite and it's making his parents wonder if they should just teach him to fight back.

Another cousin of yours is going through a similar thing. His classmates are hurting him and kicking his bag, etc. His mother taught him that he should fight back. That's what he's doing now and I don't think it's okay but that's really not my call.

It makes me sad how we try to hard to instill the values in our kids and it leaves you and your cousins vulnerable to other kids whose parents didn't focus on disciplining their kids and teaching their kids right from wrong. YES, I blame their parents.

It makes me sad because I know you are vulnerable to this. You have such a sweet and gentle disposition that  I know I have to teach you how to deal with this kind of attitude. I don't want you to fight though, please don't think that fighting is okay.

When you were 3, your classmates would grab your toys and you would just look sadly and move on to other toys which the other kids would then grab. This is why we had a game at home. I pretended that one of your dolls (Donald Duck) grabbed your toy and we practised how to deal with it.

The other day, while we were riding your service a little boy elbowed you and you got hurt. This happened in front of me and in front of his mother. I was aghast. If the kid had the audacity to do this in front of his mom he obviously doesn't think it's not right. You wanted to move elsewhere and get away from him. I didn't let you. I know it seems cruel but you have to learn how to deal with bullies. I told you to tell him what you feel about what he did. You said loudly "Hey don't hurt me!", somehow that scared him and he was the one who moved away from you.

The smile of satisfaction in your face after you did that was priceless. I knew at that moment that you felt empowered. I hope you realize that you do have the power to make things stop, or if you don't God does. Daddy pointed out that we also need to teach you when it's time to just move away and let things go. I hope we'll find another opportunity to teach you.

Love,
Momma