Encouraging and Not-so-Encouraging Articles in Tempo

By now, everybody knows that Pluto is no longer a planet in our galaxy. The decision made by the International Astronomcal Union (IAU) is widely spread globally and there is no way that people that has access to internet or print media have not heard about it – unless they are damn ignorant.

This is why I was really disturbed when I read Tempo this morning. Not by the scientific part., but the part about how our teachers are going to explain Pluto’s new status to their pupils. Their response – as written by Tempo – startled me.

A teacher from Padang said that he’s now more careful in reading the newspapers. He is waiting for the news from Ministry of Education whether they should explain this latest development to their students. Otherwise, he will just stick to the 9 planets, as this is what the formal guide book from the Ministry says.

I am speechless. This is so “the old regime”, whereby there have to be guidance and approval from the top level. If this is the kind of attitude our teachers have, what would become to our children?

Fortunately, Tempo also carried out a very encouraging news about Indonesian students that have just won the Foreign Minister’s Award in Asia Cup International Court Moot Competition. The team consists of four law students of University of Indonesia. And they are all very young, one is aged 18, the other three aged 20. It’s not easy to be able to shine in that kind of competition.

The competition required them to debate and argue, just like real lawyers in court. That’s why they have to be very fluent in English and know inside out about what they are talking about. Their competitors come from renown universities, such as Kyoto and Osaka University, National University of Singapore etc. And they beat them all. Wow, their parents must be very proud.

Now, I am picturing you being a lawyer in a reputable firm - about twenty five years from now. Would I like that?

(Written on September 8, 2006)

Mountain Talk

One effective way to wake you up in the morning is by making a conversation about a subject that you are interested in. So this is what we talked about this morning:

Me: Wake up, honey, the sun is already up. Do you know that the sun is actually a very big fireball? You should never see the sun directly or your eyes will get hurt
You: And I will be wearing glasses?
Me: Yes. It’s actually very bright, and it’s very, very hot there. Next to the sun is planet Venus. Because of its proximity to the sun, Venus is also very hot and it’s red, just like a charcoal. Next to Venus is Mars, and then our planet Earth
You: What about our planet, Mama? Is there fire in our planet?
Me: Not exactly. The fire is inside the earth. We can only see it when there is a mountain erupted
You: Is there any mountain erupted?
Me: Yes, recently, Mount Merapi, nearby Jogja.
You: But I didn’t see it…..
Me: Yes, because it’s far from here
You: Where?
Me: Well it is located between Bandung and Bali (the two places outside Jakarta you have been to).
You: How far?
Me: It takes you around six hours by car
You: How long does it take by plane?
Me: About an hour
You: But I didn’t see any fire when I was there (you must have confused it with Tangkuban Perahu)
Me: That’s a different mountain that we went to, honey. That one is Tangkuban Perahu, near Bandung, and it’s an in-active mountain. So there’s no fire in Tangkuban Perahu (I later found out that Tangkuban Perahu is actually an active mountain! Mild eruption occured in 1969)
You: So what’s in Tangkuban Perahu?
Me: Well, there’s still some hot stuff there, I’m not really sure. There is a lot of sulphur, which is quite smelly, remember? We call Merapi an active mountain, because sometimes it still erupted, while Tangkuban Perahu is called in-active mountain because it doesn’t erupted anymore
You: But has it erupted before?
Me: Yes, it did
You: Were there people then?
Me: Must be, I don’t really know, it’s a long time ago
You: Before I was born?
Me: Yes before you were born
You: Before you were even born?
Me: Yes, honey

With that last words, you started getting ready for school.

First Evaluation Test

You are going to have your first evaluation test this week. The first test will be on the subject of PKN (Pendidikan Kewarganegaraan - Nationalism), whereby you have to understand - or in your case to memorize - the five religions in Indonesia, also what their house of worship and religious celebration days are called. You are also required to know about different culture in Indonesia, their local songs and traditional dances. The subject is aimed to make us respect differences in our country.

On the subject of religions, I can see that all those words are hollow to you. Otherwise, you would have asked me why there are so many religions, while they all have the same intention. Or what makes one choose one? I don’t know how, but there must be a better way – rather just than just asking a kid to memorize what each house of worship are called – to make a kid understand the concept of respecting others’ belief, isn’t?

And when we talked about culture, I asked you whether your teacher have explained about Indonesia as the biggest archipelago, have your teacher showed you a map of Indonesia. And surprisingly (well, actually I’m not really surprised), they haven’t! Now, what good is it to know that the song Ampar-ampar Pisang is from South Kalimantan and Tari Piring (the Plate Dance) is originated from South Sumatera when you don’t even understand that Indonesia is the largest archipelago? Not to mention the words Bhinneka Tunggal Ika which must sound meaningless to you?

Another thing that I found it strange is about the number of books that you have for the various subjects. According to the national curriculum, first graders are not supposed to master reading and writing. You are supposed to begin learning about it. But contradictively, your entire lesson requires you to be able to read and write. You have books for every subject. You even have a multiple choice as part of your day-to-day practice. Isn’t it strange? Luckily, you have no problem in reading or writing since I hired a teacher to give you extra lesson twice a week when you were in the kindergarten.

---ooOoo---

Anyway, after dinner, you picked up a book about our planet, different countries and different seasons. Now, this was more interesting to you. You studied a picture of planet earth carefully

You: There is a lot of water on our planet
Me: Yes, our planet mostly consists of water. That’s also why you should never litter, to prevent flood
You: No, I never litter (Good!). If I litter, there will be flood, and when there’s flood, we will have more and more water on earth

You paused, still looking at the picture, then:
You: But how come the water doesn’t fall off from our planet?
Me: Because there is gravity. This gravity also makes us always stand on the ground

Then I went on explaining excitedly about galaxies and universe, up to a point that it’s getting too much for you. So you just laughed and shouted “Mama, I’m getting confused, you are being too animated …..!” Ha…ha…ha, this reminds me that I am talking to a 6-year-old, I shouldn’t be too excited!

Hm, I wonder whether you will turn out to be a good citizen of the universe, rather than just being a good Indonesian citizen as what the subject of PKN is trying to achieve. Who knows, maybe you will be the first person encountering a friendly alien? Or maybe you will be the one discovering a new planet with human beings? With the kind of interest and enthusiasm that you showed me, I believe it is not impossible.

(Written on September 4, 2006)

Mommy’s Almost Perfect Day

Yesterday was my off-day. And it almost turned to be a perfect day. It begun with you woke up smiling, get dressed without a fuss and we even have 15 minutes to watch Sponge Bob together while you were drinking your milk (how I wish this can happen everyday). Then you told me that you don’t want to arrive too early at school because then your friends weren’t there yet.

After you left, followed by your dad, I have my own time: reading Jostein Gaarder’s The Orange Girl on granpa’s rocking chair, while sipping tea and listening to January Christie’s jazzy voice. I could also hear the birds chirping just outside the window, while the cool morning breeze gently touched my skin. What a beautiful morning! At 10 am, I went to the bank and finished my errands just in time to pick you up from school. You always looked so happy when I stand there at the gate waiting for you. As planned, we then went to Gramedia bookstore to buy colorful pens and had lunch at HokBen where we met Annisa and Bea. It was fun.

In the afternoon, while you were having your swimming lesson, I went for a foot reflexology at Ka-ki-ku (literally means my foot). It was my first visit there and found it to be extra nice and comforting. Not like the noisy salons, this place was very serene, dimly lit with some jazz oldies to soothe you. And it’s not only for foot, because the masseuse also gave me a back massage and complete the service by offering a cup of hot ginger tea. It was just right. I like this place and will certainly come back.

Going back home, we cooked cheese omelet for your dinner and together we did your homework. It was a fun day for us and it almost turned to be a perfect day for me. Unfortunately, you got too sleepy. You refused to change into your pajamas and I end up putting off the light and TV without your consent. You were mad at me and I was mad at you. Oh, how I wish we had ended that day with me telling you a story until you fall asleep. That would be a wonderful way to end a perfect day. But like they say, nothing is perfect, right?

(Written on September 1, 2006)

Picture from here

Drawing

I was amazed. Yesterday, as I came home from the office, I found you with a drawing. It may looked like an ordinary drawing of a 6-year-old. But then I realized that it was actually a copy of Einstein Kristiansen’s drawing that you saw from the Faber-Castell VCD. Which means that you can actually memorize and visualize what you saw in the VCD and then put it together on your own!

The drawing is actually quite complicated. On the VCD, Einstein begins by drawing ten straight lines which then turned out to be the feet of two dogs standing opposite each other. On top of the dog, there are three penguins, two hens and a smiling face (supposed to be Einstein’s). And below, hey, it's a monster!

(Written on 30 August - on my way to the office)

Late Again

Bad Habit No. 1
I always feel distressed when I know you were going to be late for school. Like yesterday. It was Monday and you are supposed to be on time for the Monday ceremony. But no, you were late for nearly half an hour. When I got home at 8 pm, your nanny told me that the school wouldn’t let late comers to come in until the Monday ceremony was over. So I had a chat with you:

Me: Honey, you cannot be late for school, especially on Mondays when you have the Monday ceremony
You: But it’s okay mama, the teachers were not angry with me
Me: Well, it doesn’t feel nice isn’t it when your friends are in there and they won’t let you in?
You: Many of my friends were late too: Ube, Pancar, Rafi. So we played together, and we had a good time. So, it’ okay, mama
Me: But next time you have to be on time
You: But I love playing with my friends who are also late

Hm...., I cannot go on talking about this. He got a point, you know.

Bad Habit No. 2
The reason of you being late for school is because it is very difficult for you to wake up in the morning. To be on time, you need to go off by 06.40 latest. Theoretically, you would need 10 minutes to bath and 5 minutes to get dressed. And you can always have your breakfast on the car. So theoretically (again), if I try to wake you up at 05.45, it should be okay. We should have plenty of time to chit chat, play a bit and spend longer time bathing (since you love playing with bubles from your bath foam so much)

But it is so damn difficult to wake you up. And I'm not kidding when I said you sleep like a log! Half of me want to let you sleep, but the other half said that I need to discipline you. For the first half an hour, I usually play it soft, telling you funny stories, tickling your toes, kissing your hairs and softly pat your cheeks. Sometimes it works, you wake up smiling and we can start a good day. But when after half an hour of trying to wake you up and you still sleep like a log, what do you expect me to do? I begin shouting and start threatening you with a day without TV or your other favorite toy. And usually it ends up by you not taking a bath and I’m dressing you up while you are still in bed. Bad, bad habit …….

Bad Habit No. 3
The reason of you not being able to wake up in the morning is because you sleep late at nights. Like last night. I came home at 8pm, finding you playing in the bedroom. We then did your homework, coz you always refuse to do it without me. It was just five line of writing, yet it took you an hour. Then we played some games again, had a chat for awhile and finally you doze off after I told you a story at 10 pm.

So what should I do? Do I have to come home earlier every day? Even so, you don’t get sleepy until 10 or 11 pm, even when you don’t have afternoon naps. And for me, I really enjoy spending time with you after a day in the office.

This is like a circle of bad habits. I need to break it somewhere.

(Written on 29 August 2006, on my way to the office)

Question of the Day

You: Mama, why is the sun always following us?
Me: Because the sun is so big and it is on top of us, so we can see it from wherever we are

You paused, as if you were really thinking hard about something. Then come the next question:

You: Mama, why is it the shape of our planet round?
Me: ……..???? (anybody out there can help me explain this very smart question?

(Written on 26 August 2006 – a conversation in a car on our way back from your swimming lesson)

The Most Important Person in My Life

How would you know who is the most important person in your life? Sometime you just know it, but in many case it’s hard to substantiate it.

Well, now I know how to substantiate it when I said that you, my son, are the most important person in my life.

Last night, my office threw me a surprise birthday party. Well, actually, I wasn’t really surprise, knowing how nice and creative all my colleagues are. I was just wondering who would come to my surprise birthday party.

So the party went, one by one my ex colleagues and clients showed up, and it was really really nice to meet them again. I’m really touched that they come for my birthday.. The food was also extra yummy , we had pasta, fruit salad, shrimp and mussel…..plus some wine. But something was missing ……., I wish you were there, surprising me with your big hug and a loud shout “mama …..!!!!,” And I long for you even more when friends, colleagues and clients who knows you asked me how were you doing.

When I got home at about 11 pm, you were already in your peaceful dream. Your dad told me that you kept asking about me. That was also your first question when you woke up in the morning “Mama, why did you come home so late last night? I was waiting for you.”

Honey, I was actually waiting for you too the whole night, though I know it’s a wishful thinking knowing that it was way past your bed time. Then I realized why I wanted to see you so much on that special night for me. It’s because you, my son, are the most important person in my life. The person I want to share all my precious moments with.

(Written on 26 August 2006 - Picture shows flowers from Daisy of Pfizer beside one of my favorite photos)

That Annoying Tooth

That tooth has been bugging you for weeks. It was weak but it wouldn’t come off. And tonight, you got really annoyed by that tooth and asked me how can you get rid of it quickly.

I didn’t know how, so I suggested that you eat an apple. And on your third bite, it came off! Phew! You were so relieved – and so was I, for I really didn’t know whether eating apple would work out.

(Written on 23 August 2006)

The Batman Cloak

The tailor has promised you that your Batman cloak would be ready today. And so, that was your first question when you woke up this morning “Mama, let’s pick up my new Batman cloak, let’s go now, mama. It’s Wednesday isn’t?”

You were all excited and restless over the new cloak, which made me silently pray that the cloak would turn out exactly as what you expected. Looking at your eyes and smiles and wiggles, I wouldn't be able to bear it if you were dissapointed.

You actually already got two Batman cloaks. The first one was made by your Bude Diana. Very nicely done, compared to the batik cloth that you used to wear as a cloak. Then a few weeks later, I found a nice Batman costume in Metro. Wow, you were so proud wearing it, and you showed it off when we went to the malls. You looked very proud when people look at you and said: “Hey, there’s Batman …..”. But both cloaks are not as big and long as you wanted it. So, I decided to make you another one.

Back to that day the cloak was ready, I had to attend the parents meeting, and while I was at your school, you kept on calling me asking the same question again and again. Only when I got really firm that you stop.

When I got home, I found a paper attached to the stairs with your drawing of a wall clock pointing at 5 o’clock, the time I told you you could pick up the cloak at the tailor.

And for the rest of the evening, as everybody can foresees, you proudly wore the cloak, jumping here and there, refuse to put it off, until you doze off …… I wonder what was in your mind when you were wearing that Batman cloak. Hmm ……

(Written on August 23, 2006)

A Super Duper Time at Disney Lantern Fun-tasy

Last night, we went to the Disney Lantern Fun-tasy. And I know that you enjoyed a super duper time there. From the very beginning when we arrived there at 4.30 pm until we went home at 7.30 pm, you couldn’t stop laughing, wiggling and humming. You tried all the games, and patiently stand on a queue. You bravely tried the high slide and wall climbing, but your favorite game was the ‘magnetic suit', whereby you wore a special suit that made you stuck to the wall. You also made a new friend, Shelly, whom we shared a table while having dinner at HokBen stand.

We arrived home at about 8.30, and as usual we had a little chat, played a little game, and you dozed off soon after I told you a short story about Cars. However, at about 11.30 pm, I was awaken by your cough. And I realized that you threw up, poor darling. I think you caught a cold, because it was a windy night. So I changed your cloth, gave you a glass of water and cuddled you up. And a guilty feeling slowly creeping up on me while I was hugging him to sleep. I’m so sorry that I didn’t bring you a jacket to protect you from the windy night. I should have known better. With all those activities, you were all sweaty, and it was really windy ...... Well, I learned my lesson.

(Written on August 18, 2006)

A call from a Big Boy

Today, I received a call from you, asking where I put the vcd that your dad bought you the other day. And I just realized, hey, you’ve grown! You’re not that little guy anymore. There was no whining, no mumbling or shouting, just a straight forward question. You talked so clearly, so confidently that I feel like talking to a 12-year-old.

And when I answer your question, you repeat it and hung up the phone. Just like that! Hm, I think you have made a big step.

(Written on August 14, 2006)

Pic from here

Swimming Lesson

I’m so proud of you. It’s been only your third swimming lesson since I enrolled you two weeks ago, and I can see that you are beating your friends (who’s been taking swimming lesson earlier) already. Between the four pupils, you were always ahead.

On your second lesson, your teacher told me, “He’s a fast learner, very diligent and obedient”. And then he said that you can begin using the flippers right away, which make me happily spent 250 thousand rups for your flippers.

So, do you think you want to be a professional athlete? I would be proud. But then, I would be proud of you whatever you do. I just want you to take swimming lessons so that you can swim safely, ‘cause I know how you love to be in the water. Besides, they say swimming is good for your posture. And good swimmer can also attract girls you know… ha…ha.. ha.

Anyway, I think 6 is a good age to start the swimming lesson. I really hope you wouldn’t end up like me, who cannot swim, and therefore missing all the fun of water activities.

(Written on August 10, 2006)

About Precious Moments

I have been very excited since I became familiar with this blogging thing earlier this year. I think blogging is a great way to keep notes of all those precious moments in your life, so that it’s always there for you to come back. And for me, of course, my precious moments are moments that I spent with and for my kid.

Born in March 2000, he has become the smartest and most adorable kid a parent could ever want. A little guy with big curiosity, I know that sooner or later he will pop up the big question. And when that moment comes, I hope this blog can give him an answer, for I actually have only one answer to all the questions he would have.

And my answer would be, because I have fallen in love with you, my son – and keep on falling deeper every day – from the first moment I saw you, in June 2003

Now, like I said in the introductory part of this blog, Precious Moments is created to warm up your heart and cool-off the burning questions you may never find the answer. And when you cannot find the answer you are looking for, my son, let’s just move on and be grateful of the precious moments that we have shared together.

(picture of mother and son from here)
(picture of waterfall from here)