Tuesday, February 26, 2008

tyrannosaurus vs diplodocus

One night, a month ago, arriving from work, David bombarded me with a mega-hysteric “let’s play dinosaur mama, let’s play dinosaur!”, door still wide open. When this picture is right in front me there are two options:
 first, I can’t play with you, I’m exhausted, perhaps we can read books or listen to music, or watch a film, or,
 second, ok, let me change first and wash my hands and we’ll play together. 
But for David there can only be one absolute choice: the second.
He wouldn’t let go of me of course. He doesn’t trust my words or just too impatient to wait that he would help me changing clothes, look for my slippers and accompany me to the bathroom to wash my hands! With mouth rattling nonstop “let’s play maman, ok? Ok, maman?
This night, a month ago, I was in for a big surprise. The game was very specific:
David: “maman on va jouer au dinosaure!” (he only speaks french, grrr!)
Me: “ok, let me change first and wash my hands and we’ll play dinosaure”

David: “maman, je suis le tyrannosaurus  et, toi, toi, tu es le diplodocus!”

Me: Whooaaa, where have you been all day, gone hunting some dinos?
 I felt so damn stupid at that moment really. There are only things I honestly know about dinos: a dino that eats meat and a dino that eats plants! And my vocabulary is limited to one fucking noun only, dinosaur.

David, very very excited, I mean, hysteric: D’accord maman, d’accord? Tu es le diplodocus et moi, moi, je suis le tyrannosaurus!!”

Me, making a mental note to visit wikipedia and check out these animals, how to pronounce them properly and how they are written: Ok, wait, what is ah, ah, what was that again?
 David repeated it to me.
Ok, what’s the difference between a tyrannosaurus and a diplodocus! Why do I get to be the diplodocus?
David: Maman, le tyrannosaurus, il mange des viandes, et le diplodocus, il mange des herbes.
Me: Ok, why do I get to be the diplodocus?

David: Parce que, le tyrannosaurus, il est tres, tres costaud! Et je vais te manger!
Shit. He is almost four and he already has this mentality that the sex I belong to is the weaker kind! Tsong, humanda ka paglaki mo he he he!

Posted by Lynneth at 20:56:14 | Permalink | Comments (5)

Monday, February 25, 2008

An Alien is dwelling in the Elysee!

First man said: Don’t touch me! You’ll dirt me!
Second man replied: Get lost then, asshole, get lost!
Well, that’s how close I could get to the French version. Although I prefer the orginal version, kasi mas madugo sa tenga!
For ordinary human beings, this could just easily be seen as an ordinary brawl. Or a fight between a cheating spouse and the cheated-on spouse ha ha ha!
But the second man happens to be the President of France. And hearing those words. There’s an ultimate WRONGNESS in the picture!
Maybe aliens are dwelling in the Elysee Palace !
 Oh God help the froggies!  Err, that would be including me!

P.S. i wonder if mr president reads this, would he deport me? maybe not. maybe he’ll tell me: “shut the fuck up you stupid brown monkey!” and then, well, change his mind and send me off to the amazon forests! ha ha ha!

Posted by Lynneth at 13:07:01 | Permalink | Comments (3)

So many interesting reads, so little time

From blog to book, petite anglaise is out. In full force! And I still yet to procure a copy, the brit version. Amazon france says it’s “bientot disponible” while amazon uk sets delivery dates. Rather quick.
Question is when can I read it? I’m still on page 75 (out of 636 pages) of Rowling’s HP and the Goblet of Fire. The dvds I finished already, but the book is more delicious. Then T told me she’s got more two if I’m done with the rest. I have no idea how thick the last two of Harry Potter’s books are, but I imagine more than a thousand pages.
 Then the four books I ordered, as part of my 2008 “achievement” arrived. B said “atonement” is a good read.  Which my subconscious registered.
 Considering that I only read during my train rides to work, which normally runs a full 35 minutes, butt-glued in the seat, I may actually look forward to 2009, with a blog starting “books I missed out reading in 2008″. Didn’t I say I’m that good at keeping NY resolutions?!
But next week, I’ll be Home Alone, no rereading on “three little pigs, the gingerbread man, red hen and her lazy friends or dinosaurs”, as my very own piglet will go skiing with pa and lola.
 Let’s see what speed means ;-)

p.s. don’t wonder why my eyes are blood-red!

Posted by Lynneth at 11:25:17 | Permalink | Comments (2)

It’s done mare!

51 words

Speed test

Phew, it’s not bad, considering that work keyboard is english and home keyboard is french, fingers madly confused!!! thanks cil for the tag!

Posted by Lynneth at 10:48:10 | Permalink | Comments (2)

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Detoxifying the Mind

I try to keep a self-imposed-rule that work-related stress should be left outside our home. Every time I wipe my shoes off on the rug outside our door, the day’s stress should be left there too. But it is easier said than done. Normal working couple would talk about how the day went. And we are no exemption.
I don’t know how it is with working fathers, but for a working mother, there’s not a single moment in a hectic work schedule that your thoughts wonder about your child left at home or school. In a day’s journey, no matter how my face is buried in bills or paper works or sending emails, my eyes wonder at the clock on the lower right-side of my screen and my mind picture along scenarios of David: “he must be playing at the school playground now; he must be sitting around listening to stories; he must be having lunch now, I wonder if he eats well; he must be having a siesta now, I wonder who is sleeping next to him; he must be having his afternoon snacks now; he must be waiting outside the classroom for lola to pick him up; at least he is at home now, perhaps having a bath or watching his favourite film”. Still images of him conjure a hundred questions and one, with just a single underlying hope. That he is ok. Then work stress seems like a cool breeze of spring wind.
 The moment I open the door, my ears perk up searching the now so familiar sound. An excited laughter coming out from that tiny bouncy head gazing up to me, hands held up, warmly and lovingly welcoming. Yes, this is the best detox I could have.
 I’m just glad he doesn’t have the true powers of a wizard. Because for the next two hours every night I find myself transformed into a dinosaur, a police car chasing a bandit, a very sick patient, a very disobedient pupil, a dog, or some poor animal eaten by a monstrous tyrannosaurus. (something I’ll post about next time).
I don’t deny physically burnt out, but I feel my heart bursting with happiness and my mind at its utmost peace. And I sleep a most peaceful sleep.

Posted by Lynneth at 15:09:37 | Permalink | Comments (3)

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Evaluation Result

I bumped into Papa just outside the gate as I was rushing to go to work.
Me, excited: So, how was it? Was it ok? Quick, don’t give me the details, just the wrap up! I’m late for work!
 P, facial expression I can’t bloody read: Well, it was ok, apparently he is ready for the big school!
Me, semi-panicked: What?! What big school?
P: Well the teacher said David’s is mature for his age and that his overall behaviour, well he behaves well, he can go to a higher level. Do you think he can skip one stage and go directly to the bigger class?
Me: That’s serious pa and I have to run, I’ll call you later! (Gave him a quick sticky-lip-glossed kiss on his lips)

In the metro (city-train), the conversation continued over the cellies:
Me: Well, tell me the details!
P: The teacher gave her evaluation first. She said that David is quite timid and very choosy with friends. He only hangs out with two other kids J (a girl) and B ( boy).
Me: Well I’m not surprised. During the first weeks of school, he really liked this kid V and S. But he seemed to have a change of heart and didn’t talk about them anymore. As you know, he talks about B a lot! And I know why. V is wild, and hyper, David is hyper, but V is worst. I don’t know what happened to him with S. He likes B a lot because they seem to have similar temperament and he is also timid. So what else?
P: Well, apparently he listens when the teacher talks and he does his own activities. The teacher told me that there are children in her class who are wild. They shout back at her, even threw things at her, and say big words! I don’t think it’s good for David this kind of group.
M: Yeah, the other day, when I dropped David off, I overheard the teacher talking to a parent and complaining that his son was rude, he was pulling the teacher’s dress, and threw something at her. And when she got really angry, he said big words! I mean he is what 3, 4 years old?
P: You know now, why David sometimes says things, when he plays alone. We’ve got to transfer him to a private school!
 Me: We’ll see. But to have him skipped a stage and go to a more advance group, I’m not sure. He might get overwhelmed. You ask the teacher if it’s a good idea. They should know. So what else?
P: I told her that David can recognize all the letters in the alphabet, and that he can type few words on the pc, and that he search things in youtube! And that he spends so much time playing memory cards game, puzzles, and knows where to click on his favourite websites. She was really surprised, and told me, now she understands why David seems more advanced. So do you think, what they do at school is impeding his progress?
 Me: I don’t know. Maybe, it’s not that they are impeding David’s progress; I think David is just too exposed to mature stuff. Pa, we might be raising a geek! I mean, it won’t surprise me really if he turns into one! That’s how we behave around him and his exposure to children is just school. And it’s not even free exposure where they can be children, wild and free. It is structured with strict rules and regulations and authorities.
 P: Well, it’s gonna be even far more serious if he goes to a private school!
Me: Let’s see about that, right now, I’m just happy that he behaves well at school. Although, I hope time to time, he does something naughty, he he he! Like what every kid does!

Posted by Lynneth at 07:47:08 | Permalink | Comments (1) »

Monday, February 18, 2008

EQ

He is in Ecole Maternelle. I don’t actually know its equivalent in the Phils or in Anglo-saxon education. But it’s a school for children aged 3-5 years old. When the teacher asked me to choose a date for David’s evaluation I was taken aback. Can this be really serious that we need to have a rendezvous weeks in advance? I mean what do 3 year olds do at school? Can we just have a quick chitchat about how he is at school?

I wrote papa’s name on the chosen date. He is available on Saturday, I am so not.

Friday night, in the darkness, with our heads semi-conscious on our pillows, papa popped out the subject.
 P: Ma, can you list down the questions you want me to ask to the teacher first thing tomorrow?
Me, drowsily: I don’t have to write them down pa, you just ask how he behaves in the classroom and with other children.
P: Yeah, but you need to be really specific. Does he learn to write, read and count?
Me, waking up suddenly, went with my litany: What?! For God’s sakes, they are only 3-4 years old; I hope to God they don’t harass the children with books and pens already! I mean they have decades ahead of them to learn and get bored on those stuff! Anyway, so far, David brought home only artworks, and clippings and whatever.
P: So what do you want me to ask?
Me, eyes glued back together: Hmmm, well ask her how he behaves with his group and with his teacher. Does he obey? Does he listen? Does he follow what he is told to? Does he initiate things? Does he say “sorry”, “excuse me”, “thank you” and “please”? Does he get angry? Does he show sympathy? Is he patient? Does he ask the teacher if he wants to go to the toilet, or thirsty or whatever! Pa, just ask questions that show if his EQ is ok! I’m not so much concern of his IQ!
P, surprise in his voice: What is EQ?
Me: What? You don’t know what’s EQ?
P: No, what is it!
Me: Emotional Intelligence. IQ is to know how brainy you are! EQ, it’s all about emotions. Emotional Intelligence Quotient. It shows how you behave with yourself, with groups, with authorities, with other people in certain circumstances.
P: You are so geeky!
Me: Yes, I am.  Right now, I’m concern how David behaves emotionally. I don’t care if the school doesn’t teach him how to read and write. He is so young. You know, EQ is very important when you grow up. You can be the richest man in the world, but if you are an asshole, you’ll find yourself the loneliest person alive! And that’s terrible!
P: Gosh, mama, you are so grandma! Look at Bill Gates, he is so rich, but he doesn’t seem lonely!
Me: Well maybe because his IQ is just as good as his EQ. And good for him! Anyway, why are we talking about him? Tomorrow, you let the teacher talk and listen about what she thinks about David. Don’t interrupt. Listen and observe. When it’s your turn you can fire up your own questions, but stick to EQ pa! Well, you can ask her about their school activities, and if he eats at the canteen at all.
P with a suppressed laugh: Yes boss!


Posted by Lynneth at 14:22:07 | Permalink | No Comments »