Moms are the best teachers!

Blessed with 3 beautiful little people that changed my world

When I decided to place my eldest son to a Montessori-based school, I know right at the beginning that I was at peace with it from the inside. Somehow, I felt I don't need to be too pressured with

1. just wrongly believing that homeschool is the ONLY way to teach! Of course not, it isn't always the school, it is also the parents responsibility.
2. finding the "perfect school" that matches with my belief for my children - if there's peace in it, it simply mean it doesn't always have to match any religious belief I have with the school.  God loves my children regardless of where they are.
3. feeling that my children might be too pressured with school work and lose their freedom on enjoying their childhood - nope!

Although, pulling my son out of regular school and doing homeschool and deciding to place him back to a Montessori-based school was a personal choice.  That choice wasn't because of any social or spiritual "boundary" belief like most people I knew felt that it was my basis for homeschooling. No, it was plainly - a choice.  A choice on the specific season my son needed to be.

I have entirely no problem about having my children deal with the world they live in when I decided to homeschool them. As a matter of fact, that was the main reason I love homeschool.  I do not want them to be stuck in their little classrooms for more than 6 hours a day and having to deal with the same people everyday.  With homeschool, kids have so many time to socialize and see the world more because of the freedom of time they have.

With my choice, I have gained insights out of it. Education is not just getting high grades, being advanced in this and that, comparing what your child can do and other's couldn't.  Education is not a race, it is actually a marathon.

I felt lousy as a mom when I brought my son to his 1st school, I really thought since he was just 3 that time, he can just be whatever he knows he could be.  He is anyway, very advanced for his age, he knows all his letters, numbers, and shapes from circles to pentagons at 2 (at 3 months old, I was reading and counting to him and bombard him with educational videos!). I thought, it was alright for him to be occasionally tardy, absent or simply - not to be too serious with school.  My only concern was to pay for the tuition fee or extra-curricular activities, make sure he has the best snack, or just not flunk his exams.  Every Parent Teacher Conference that time was a breeze, that Ice was alright, he's okay, he's a sweet little boy.  So, I went home thinking feeling okay as well.  It was just pre-school, anyway.

This continued into kindergarten.  But, at a PTC, the teacher mentioned that Ice was lagging.  He doesn't know the letters, couldn't write well and thus needed a tutor!  I was shocked when I heard this. My smart son has totally changed from a little whiz kid to someone who was almost the least of his peers?!  I was pressured to talk to Ice (to ask a 4 year old, what's wrong is not a very good idea.  At 4, everything in life is wonderful!). I blamed it on everyone else but not with myself.  I was wrong.

Looking back, I felt it was nobody's responsibility but myself.  I was too busy with my day job and too tired to help my child.  I've simply forgotten that even a preschooler needed to do reviews at least 2-3 times per week.  To cultivate a routine of studying and that 30 minute after-school tutorials won't do him any good forever.

I decided to slow things down for him.  Homeschooled him and left my busy life to just partially busy (I worked-at-home).

I realized, my son needed a mom (or at least a loving person) who is fully dedicated to start his life about studying.  Knowing the ABCs and 123s doesn't end when they know it. It is simply the beginning of their life and yours.

Kids do not run on auto-pilot.  They need wings - sturdy wings to help them get through the turbulence.  They need a mom or someone to teach them to fly so they can learn to fly on their own. It all begins at pre-school or at an age that they start to become curious with their world.

My son needed me to find his weakness and his strengths. To have someone check on him and not to compare him with other kids.  I am reminded of this verse,

Listen, my son, to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching. Proverbs 1:8 (NIV)

Mother's are natural teachers (Father's are great life application leaders).  It is my season to be a mother, it is my season to teach.  It is not my season to pressure him to ALWAYS (with no reservations) have high grades or be in the honor roll.  But, just to know what he is aiming for and direct him of what he wants to achieve.  To know where he is weak and to find a way to divert that weakness into strength.

I remembered, 3 weeks ago.  My son went home very sad because for the very 1st time he got 1/5 on one of their weekly spelling quiz (normally, he would either get 3/5 or 4/5).  Memorisation is a struggle with us already - more so, with Spelling (dang it!).  That's why we would review at least 3 days before the quiz for 10-20 minutes per day with all the means to make him remember it (I can just imagine!).  But, on this specific quiz we have only reviewed the night before. So I knew, that he isn't going to get a high grade for it, then it did happened.  I knew he did his best when I saw his answers and he was totally devastated.  He said "Mom (with a very sad voice).  I got a low score... Mom, I only got 1/5". I looked at him and all I could say was, "I don't mind.  I am happy with the correct one you did."  His face lit up, he still felt bad.  Then I told him "C'mon, because of that 1 point you got correctly, you deserve a prize!" He was confused but he lit up a bit.  Then I gave him his favorite - 3 pieces of cherries and that made him feel a lot better.  Of course, deep inside of me I felt I failed my son but thank God, God gave me 3 cherries too. :) The next week, we studied spelling and guess what - he got a perfect score for the very 1st time! We we're both hugging and kissing like slugs glued in together the entire afternoon.

It's a roller coaster ride teaching my memory-challenged little boy.  While I am starting with the twins, I am more certain now.  That my greatest achievement in life is to know each one of them.  I just praise God that He has given me (and all mothers) the capacity to teach with love unconditionally (if you would let it).  Although, Ice and I had many (a whole loooot) of crying moments in teaching (I am not the most patient mom).  But, I try to be the mom I am for them.

I still work because it is my passion.  I do get tired (really tired, well who doesn't) with juggling things but I move on because I know that every time spent with my child is time invested for his/her future.

Happy teacher's day, moms! And to all the teachers who teach with a heart (not to hurt), thank you for your love, it is your day as well.

I am very serious when I teach him, I hope I don't overuse it.
I do pray to have extra patience, right now!

PS. Ice got 94% in Language, 97% in Math and 93% in Cultural Arts in his exam.  I almost cried, I felt that wow! I can really teach! :) It was a reward for me as well.  I am one proud, Mama Mia!