Funny Talking Habit

You have this funny habit. When you are sleepy, you become more talkative. You will talk and talk and talk about whatever – a lot of times about silly things that I don’t understand - and then suddenly….., quiet…., you fall into a deep sleep.

Another habit that I found it so amusing is when you pretend to be super heroes, jumping here and there, trying to save the world. You talk so loud and fast while “fighting with the bad guys”, that sometimes the words are just missing, mis-pronounced or not in order. And then you would giggle with your dancing eyes, before we both burst into a good laugh. And I would feel so blessed to have this chance of living each day of my life watching you grow.

Thank you for making my life so meaningful, and full of laughter.

Pop-Up Card

Last night, when I got home from a farewell of a colleague, you showed me your latest artwork: a pop-up card! And you did it all by yourself, just by following the step-by-step shown on a TV program (not sure what it was, but you said it was similar to Faber-Castell – but it’s not)

Your pop-up card showed Four-Arms (one of the super heroes Ben 10 can transform into) at the center, talking to you, standing on his right. You are surrounded by other kids, and I think there’s also a little monster behind you. In front of Four-Arms, there is also another kid – yes, it is a two-dimensional card. I think it was so cute and so smart of you to make it all by yourself.

So what are you going to be when you grow up, honey? An Art Director?

Kartini Day

Today is Kartini Day. What does it mean? To me, it is a reminder that there is no difference – in terms of opportunities – for men and women. Women can – and should - decide for themselves, fight for themselves, and be an independent individual. And for men, I guess it is also a reminder that they should respect women in any way.

And this is what I would like you to be when you grow up, a man who respects women.

But how do you show respect? I believe women want to be listened to, to be trusted, to be understood. Though at times they like to feel that they are being lead, guided and protected, they want to - and should – be an equal partner to men. And when a man can value what a woman want, that’s when he shows respect, and consequently, also earn it.

Trust me, women respect men who respect women.

(pic from here)

Quality Time?

Sometimes I wonder how it feels to be the only child, with a working mother. I remember when I was little, the nicest thing when coming home from school was to find my mom busy in the kitchen preparing my lunch. Until now, I can still feel the warmth of having a hot meal each time I got home.

I can also still vividly remember the family tradition of having afternoon tea. Your grand dad was a civil servant, and he usually got home at 2 pm. So, after having his afternoon nap, we – me and my bros - all got together at the front porch, having tea and warm snacks - fried cassava or banana, or my mom’s specialty, fried lumpia – while talking about the day’s activity.

Now, how can anybody afford having that kind of family tradition nowadays? And this is what you do when you want me to come home early, you draw a picture of a wall clock, pointing at the hour you want me to get home, and ask me to sign on it.

Hmmm, I really hope that what they say about quality time is better than quantity is true.

The Dinosaur Story

Saturday morning, we were watching a Hallmark film with dinosaurs.

You: I want to be a dinosaur, a young dinosaur
Me: Why a young dinosaur?
You: So that nobody would kill me. And you can be a fairy
Me: Why?
You: So that you could save me if somebody wants to kill me….

and then.....

You: But, I want to be a fairy too….
Me: Why?
You: So that I can do magic……
Me: Such as……?
You: Well, with magic, I can have any toy that I want. So that you don’t have to spend anymore money for my toys

(Hmmmm…..)

Anyway, the Hallmark story was about a mother who thought that a dinosaur had eaten up her two children. She was really desperate and wanted revenge by stealing the dinosaur’s eggs. She was so busy finding ways to destroy the eggs that she actually didn’t look for her children at the right place. And just when she was about to destroy the eggs, her children showed up.

Morale of the story: when you are sad, desperate, confused, angry, disappointed, try not to fill up your heart with hatred. It would be hard, but if you do, you might take the wrong decision, and therefore make others feel sad, desperate, confused, angry, disappointed. We certainly don’t wanna make others feel what we don’t wanna feel, do we?

(Pic from here)

Spending Time Together

There was an interesting story in Nickleodeon last night, about a mother who wants to do things with her 12-ish year old daughter. This was their conversation:

Mother: I thought we are going do it together today? You’ve been putting it off for several times

Daughter: Why can’t you just go with your friends? Don’t you have any?

Mother: Well, excuse me for wanting to spend my time with my daughter!

Daughter: And excuse me for wanting to spend my time with my friends!!!

I guess in a few years, we will be facing this kind of situation. I just hope we don’t have to go through that kind of conversation. I will try to understand. I hope you will, too.

(picture from here)

Citos

I believe many would have the same opinion that Citos (Cilandak Town Square) is one of the most convenient place to hang out in Jakarta. I used to come here regularly with a buddy and really enjoyed the day just sipping glasses of cappucinos while surfing the net.

Yes, in addition to its nice, comforting ambiance, what I like most about this place is that we can connect to the net from almost every café. My favourite spot is Mister Bean Coffee, where they have comfortable sofas and a lot of electric plug. This is very important for those who come to browse the net, so they won’t have any problem when their computer battery is down.

So this Sunday morning, I took you to this favorite place of mine. We enjoyed a good breakfast at the Coffee Bean, before moving to Mister Bean ‘cause the Coffee Bean apparently does not have any electric plug for me to charge my Viao (too bad, Coffee Bean, you guys should have thought about this…..).

And on Sundays, Citos usually have a special program for children. Today, there were clowns and a lot of children games and a Lego promotion where they let children play with it. Lego is one of your favorites, so you were really having a good time.

Hmmm, I love this place, it’s a perfect place to spend a lazy Sunday. I’m glad that you like it too.


Picture taken from here

MTV, Is It For You?

I think everybody agrees that TV programs can affect the way you think, they way you act, both in a positive and negative way. That’s why I try to be very careful, yet liberal about it.

When you began watching TV regularly, I only let you watch Disney Playhouse, and sometimes, Disney Channels. Then, when you were nearly 6, I let you watch Cartoon Network and sometimes, Nickleodeon. Some people misunderstands, you know, that as long as it’s cartoons, it’s save for children to watch. Well, I don’t think that’s the case. There are actually a lot of violence even in cartoons.

But as you get older, it will be more difficult for me to make restriction on what to and not to watch. That’s why whenever I’m home, we always watch the TV together, and I try to explain about the scene whenever I feel I need to. Usually, you just said ignorantly “yeah, yeah, I know, it’s only on TV…….”. Well, at least I tried.

These past few days, however, I notice that you began to stop clicking the channels at MTV. You seem to enjoy the music and the programs where people do silly things. I’m not sure if it’s a good thing, but I let you watch it anyway. In fact, I think it would be better if we watch it together, rather than you watch it when I’m not around. You know, sometimes people keep on doing something just because they get more curious (of the reason why they are not being allowed to do it). And I don’t want that to happen to you.

Anyway, I can perfectly understand when you want to watch Cartoon Network or Nickelodeon, but MTV……, with all those sexy music shows and wacky programs? Aren’t you too young to enjoy it?

The Ben 10 Watch

I’m sorry, honey, the Ben 10 watch that I promised to get you if you have good grades is sold out every where. Even Tante Shilla couldn’t get it in Singapore. Apparently it is such an “in” thing.

You have been asking for this thing since about 2 weeks ago. Some of your friends, including your best friend Rafi, already got it. And it was sooo cool you said. Just like in the TV series, with that watch you can make-believe that you transform into a super hero just by pushing the button, either to be xlr8, canon bolt, upgrade, fourarms, ghost freak, diamond head, heat blast, grey matter, stinkfly, rip jaws, wild mutt, wild fin (what strange names they have…!!!)

So I told you, I would buy it for you as a reward if you manage to have good grades in your mid semester test. And you made it! You called me on my cell when the results was announced. “Mama, I have 9.8 for math, 9.5 for English, 9.2 for Bahasa, but only 8 for science….,” you said excitedly. Well, what do you know, it is a much better result than the last mid-test. Unfortunately, the watch is sold out everywhere. I know you are so disappointed.

But honey, in life, there will be disappointments. Things will not always turn out as what we want to. And when this happen, there is nothing we can do but make the best of what we have, be grateful of what we have. Don’t loose hope though, who knows, the best is yet to come.

Just like in your case. I really want to keep my promise for getting you that Ben 10 watch. But since it is nowhere to be bought, I was thinking to buy you the Ben 10 character instead. It will cost me twice the watch……, so…., I don’t know….., I haven’t decided yet…..

PlayStation

You are always good at making stuff, and very creative too. Yesterday, when I got home, I found you with something that I first couldn’t figure out what. But when you hold it in the proper way, I couldn’t help but smile, a make-believe-play station!

You know that I wouldn’t buy you that game, yet. You never really whine for it, but I know that you actually want it, very much. Hence, this silly make-believe-playstation, made from two plastic photo frames (got them as a game prize in my last office away day), complete with a cable that you can plug into the TV.

I think there is still a controversy on whether this kind of game is good for kids your age. I once read a child expert (Kak Seto if I’m not mistaken) commenting that playstation can actually bring a positive impact, because it involves strategy and quick decision. But of course, as long as the kids are not addicted to it.

And now, there is this new kind of playstation at a quite reasonable price, Rp399 thousand. The game comes in various cartoon character version, such as the Hot Wheels, Avatar, and many more. Toy City and Metro display this new version of playstation at strategic spots and kids are allowed to try and play that game. In fact, just this afternoon, you spent almost an hour at Toy City playing that game (it was the Avatar version, your fave).

Seeing how much fun you had when playing that game actually makes me so tempted to buy it for you. But I’m not sure that you will not get addicted. And you know I will not always be around to remind you to stop if you are playing the game for too long. So until I am absolutely sure that I can trust you with that game, I will not buy it for you. I hope you don’t mind. (I still think your make-believe-playstation is so cute though……)

My Blog, Your Blog

I started this blog since August 2006 for two months, then I stopped for about 6 months, and decided to get active again on your 7th birthday last March. Since my first posting, I haven’t really told anybody that I have this blog, mainly because I think this is a very personal thing, from me to you.

But two of my trusted friends told me that I should share this blog. She wrote on her blog, “I saw her blog. I can perfectly understand how personal it is to her. In fact, I can say it is so beautifully personal. From a mother to a child. I can feel the emotion. The abundance of love.” The other friend said that I should go public and that he would link it to his blog. Well, thanks for the encouragement, guys, now I feel like I want to share it to the rest of the world.

Anyway, about a week ago, just before your bed time, I have explained to you about this blog and why I started it. We were looking at this site from my O2, and you were really excited to see your pictures and some of your favorite cartoon characters in it. And I was really touched when you tried to read some of the posting out loud. Your comments to this blog was that I should have put more cartoon characters (hahaha…, this is so you….).

I just hope that this blog – our blog - will be what it meant to be, to warm up your heart and cool-off the burning questions you may never find the answers. When you are old enough to write, I certainly would like to see you chipping-in as well. Can’t wait for that moment to come…..

Bending the Rules

Last week, I came to your school to see you practicing soccer. It was really fun watching you running here and there, having a good time with all your friends. And you glanced at me every now and then, as if to ensure that I was watching all your silly actions.

When I knew that your time to practice was over, I asked you to go home. You were stalling for some time and when you finally agreed, you told me that you need to tell your coach that you are going off. Fine, I thought, that was a very polite thing to do. I’m proud that you are actually doing what you are taught in good manner. However, your coach was busy being the referee for another game. And despite your attempts to get his attention, he didn’t notice that you were asking permission to leave.

And so I told you that it’s ok to go home without telling the coach. You insisted, “I have to tell the coach that I’m going home. Otherwise, how would he know? What if he were looking for me? I have to tell him first, mama. That’s the rule”.

Now, how do you draw the line on exceptions for rules that you have been taught? It must be difficult for you to understand that sometimes it is okay to bend the rule a bit for a good reason. For you, it’s either good or bad, right or wrong, white or black There is no such thing as “Yeah, that’s the rule…., but…..”, as what we, adults, often say.

Unfortunately, as you get older, you will be facing this kind of situation more often. There will be times when you know what you are supposed to do, but it would be better not to do it. Or you know that it is not a nice thing to do, but you got to do it anyway. All for a greater good. But then again, how do you draw the line?

I guess only a wise person can draw the line properly and only time can teach you to become a wise person. Until then, you might just have to follow your heart and learn from your mistakes.

(picture shows you were waiting to get a chance to talk to your coach)

Comics

I think you have just begun to like reading comics. I bought you comics before -Batman, Cars - but you did not seem to be too interested. After flipping a few pages, usually you just let it lying there.

But with the one you bought last week end, I can feel the difference. It was a comic on Avatar, The Legend of Aang. The size is quite handy, with colorful pictures.

You began reading it as soon as we paid for it. You kept on reading it on the car, and you read it again before going to sleep. And yesterday, when we went to the mall, you brought it with you and you just sat down reading it whenever possible. You told me what the story was all about, and you asked me to buy you the second series.

I wonder though, whether comics are good for kids your age. Some people said that comics are good as an introductory to the habit of reading. The colorful pictures will make kids like you enjoy the book and eventually, enjoy reading. But other people said that it makes kids lazy to read real books, because with comics, they can tell the story just by reading it a bit and looking at the pictures.

Hm, I wonder whether there is a study on this issue.