Note to new readers: This post is part of my 30 Days of Writing Practice. I am allowing blocks of 10, 20 or 30 minutes of my day solely to putting my swirling thoughts on paper. No going back to edit which will only serve to stop the stream of consciousness. My writing buddy Kat and I, we call it writing from the heart. Please read my introduction for the full story.
Tonight, I had a girl-date with my Bionic Woman. Ah. This Bionic Woman is another energy source I treasure. For some reason, I see my close friends now as “energy sources”. Because that’s what they give me, more energy, more ideas. Inspiration. It’s more than the laughter and the “yeah, I get ya”. It’s the power of connection. These days, instead of just going willy nilly into group dates or one-on-one dates and come what may let’s just hang out together, I now view my catchups with much more intensity, affection and care. Yes we still (and always will) willy nilly around from one kwento to another. Laugh our heads silly, wonderful. But
it’s a different Cha sitting in front of you, that’s for sure. Oh I wanted to tell you about the qualities of this Bionic Woman. This forward thinking, laser-eyed soul sees far into the future. Sure she has very concrete logical plans in front of her, but half of her brain is focused far and wide. Her logical mind is bionic! It has to be because she looks after rather an important aspect of Sydney’s power network. The highlight of the night is her practical idea on the best way to redeem credit card rewards points (no, its not flights nor hotel rooms). Ha! You did not expect that, did you? Neither did I.
Today, I decide that we must have lightness, a nice fuzzy warm story.
The bugoy stories. Bugoy in the Visayan language is not a good word, it means “bad boy”. In our household, we use bugoy as a term of endearment. Because we are weird like that. So the bugoys I refer to here are the Migo (my sunshine) and the Gabo (my superstar).
Thanks to Yahoo SENT box, I will now flashback to 2 February 2003. In this story, you will find how Miguel transitioned to Kindergarten at age 4. It’s a light story to kickstart a brilliant weekend ahead. I did not bother to edit this email, it is what it is, Tagalog, typos and all.
Hello Grandparents,
I am so upset, I just spent 30 mins. writing my email to you, then my internet connection was cut off (Aside: It was dial up in 2003!). What a bummer! Now I have to rewrite everything!
Ok, calm down, here we go again. This time, I am going to Save Save Save ….
First term started last Wednesday. One term here being 3 months, or half a semester sa atin. It will be Gabriel’s first time to attend Kindy (or preschool) every Wednesday. And Miguel is off to Big School for the first time, five days a week.
Our little boy, Gabby, was very excited to go back to a preschool setting. Wondering why he hadn’t been to Daycare for the past 6 weeks. I had to explain to him that he is not going to Daycare this time, but to Kuya’s (previous) Kindy. He seemed to understand this, kasama ko siya dati kapag naghahatid kay Migo. He also had a one day Orientation last year. True enough, he was very excited upon arriving at Kindy. I was putting his bag in his locker and showing him where his baon was, his towel, the toilet, etc., when he said “Bye Mama!” Aba pinapaalis na ako. I was very amused. So i said my goodbye to Gabby’s teacher and off I went.
I collected him that afternoon at 3pm, and had a few words with the teacher. His day went well naman daw, and he was very independent. Wow, proud naman si ako. That meant that he knew what to do, where to go, where his things were, good toileting etc, and generally needed less attention than the other children. Mmm, it’s all good!
Now to our big school boy Migo. First Day. Uh-oh, Migo does not want to wear his school uniform. He probably thought, what is happening here … we did get him to wear it eventually. We also managed to get him into his daily school car transport (it’s free transport for SN kids) with minimum fuss, although he had this bewildered look on his face all the while. Fortunately, he had a kind and motherly driver, a Chinese lady named Melly. My, it was a hot day that day, 35 degrees and higher. At 3pm, Migo looked very tired getting off the car. I felt sorry for him.
Although the school classrooms were airconditioned, the playground isn’t. It must have been very hot. I tried to contact his teacher to find out how Migo went, but she already left the school. Oh, but we were dying to talk to her …
Second Day. Oh no, Migo does not want to get dressed! He was tearing off his school uniform and socks and had real hot tears! Ariel said – what are we going to do, hatid na lang natin. I said – No, that will make it worse. We must press on, no matter what. We must show him that crying will achieve nothing! I heard that from somewhere … So we did, press on, I mean.
We managed to get him dressed and go down to wait for his car transport. He was very teary, but I ignored it. When Melly arrived, I asked her if Miguel cries all the way to school (school is 3 mins away, layo no? hehehe).
She said no, he stops as soon as I am out of sight. mmmm. That second day, Migo got off the school transport in a better mood. Seemed like he had a better day. I found a new communication book in his bag, with messages from his teacher. Apparently, that first day, he was fine except a certain crying episode in the playground. Second day was even better. He was babbling and was smiling na. Good. Whew! We felt very relieved to hear all that.
Ariel is on leave for two weeks, coinciding with the first two weeks of school. I anticipated trouble with Migo and I needed him to help. Migo has two days off now, being the weekend. But this Saturday morning, we woke the two boys up at 7am, planning to have a day out at a park. Aba, umiyak na si Migo. He thought it was a school day! He bawled and bawled and had a pleading look in his eyes. Oh no! I think our little boy is suffering from anxiety. He is stressed because school is a new environment, and he does not know what it is all about, what’s going to happen next, etc! He hasn’t settled into the routine yet. In time, once he grasps the routine, I am very positive that he will LOVE it there. I have heard stories of other children, becoming a happier child, after attending that school. Migo is attending a school for Special Needs children. He is in a class of seven children with a teacher and a teacher’s aide. They also have additional staff volunteers when the class goes on outings (riding the train, going to a playground, to shops, taking a bus, etc). Such that the ratio becomes one adult per two child. Migo’s teacher Helen is the aunt type. Very gentle and capable with needy children. The principal is an approachable and likeable man. We couldn’t ask for a better school.
I am hoping that Migo will settle down next week. He has to. Don’t worry about the kids. They are made of strong stuff, it’s in their blood, di ba? hehehe. You take care of yourselves as well. We always think and talk about all of you. You don’t know how everyone is missed. And I mean everyone out there!
KISSES AND BIG HUGS! Your family down under
Until tomorrow comes!
All the best,
ChaR-g
I leave you with Eurythmics’ “There must be an angel”. Look past the 80s video, the lyrics are gold.
No one on earth could feel like this
I’m thrown and overflown with bliss
There must be an angel
Playing with my heart
I walk into an empty room
And suddenly my heart goes boom
It’s an orchestra of angels
And they’re playing with my heart
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