Christmas Photo

Until this year, I have chance to have both of them to take photo with Santa together. It tends to be a really nice one.

The first violin song

Caleb has learned the violin for 2 months. My goal for him to learn violin is to help him fall in love with classic music and appreciate music. I do not force him to practice every day except for first two weeks. The practice time every day is about 15 minutes. To my surprise, he asks for practice almost everyday. It is now part of his evening routine, but only 10-15 minutes, cannot be longer. This 15 minute do cause a change! Today, he plays his very first violin song:
see the pretty flower,
growing in the garden,
see the pretty flower,
red, black, purple.
Although it is very simple, it does involve a lot of basic practice to be able to get here!
I am as happy as he is!

Skating

Caleb has a skating class every Sunday. Although It is only a 30 minutes lesson and I have to equip him with skating shoe, helmet, snow pants, etc., It is still an enjoyment to see his progress from not being able to stand up by himself to skating alone. The most important thing for me is that I know my own son better from observing his lesson. To my surprise, he is so different from being at home. From skating class, I see an independent and diligent learner Vs a clinging boy.
This discovery made me feel bad, I might be too strict on him at home. Accepting him being clinging would not harm on him being independent outside. this might be the so-called "balance".

Twinkle

It has been one month that Caleb started to learn the violin. He seems very to be enjoying the group lesson. However, getting him to practice is not easy at all. After coming back from school, he looks tired and wanted to play his

discipline and empowerment

Often I am puzzled by the boundary of discipline and empowerment。

Build up interest in math

The key for parents is to help a kid to build up interest in math or language. Once the desire of learning comes from inside, he will excel the expectation.

"invent"

Last evening, there was a big thunder and lighting when we drove home from a concert. Henry and I had a little discussion on collecting lighting and making use of it.
Caleb has read the book about thunder and lighting for many times, he seemed to be happy to see them in person. I also told him about "lighting conductor". When henry was talking about the effort "Benjamin Franklin" made to collect the lighting, caleb joined the conversation:
Caleb: Frankline?
Henry: of course, it is not Franklin the turtle, It is Benjamin Franklin
Caleb: who is he, and where do he live?
Henry: Benjamin Franklin is no longer alive, but do you know that he invented "lighting conductor"?
Caleb: what is "invent" mean?

I guess "invent" is still hard for him to understand. I had explained once "invent" to him. Obviously he did not quite understand. I need to use that word in our daily life to help him understand.

The Golden Rules

The Golden Rule, the ethic of reciprocity, exists in two forms: positive and negative.
Positive: do to others what you would like to be done to you
negative: do not do to others what you would not like to be done to you

I am blessed

I am blessed to have Isaac! he was such a good baby, now as a toddler, he brought me surprises every day. He also impresses daycare teacher and every day they are eager to tell me things (good things, of course) happen with Isaac which makes me feel so proud. I feel like to write down some before I forget.

story 1:
he made friends in Day 1 when I was still in daycare. I saw Isaac came to a boy called Anton, Anton was not happy because her mom just left. Isaac gave him a toy that he has been playing. After Anton accepted, he tried to hold his hand to walk to another corner.

story 2:
On one day in May, he has attended daycare for 1 month. The teacher told me that in playground, Isaac talked to Anton. they both talked in baby language ( both are 2 years old, barely speak). After a while, the little boy cried and called "mommy, mommy..". Isaac then patted his back gentlely and said " it's ok, it's ok".

story 3:
In playground, a little girl tried to grab the ball Isaac held, Isaac did not give to her, then the girl cried. Isaac looked at the girl, he went and got another ball for her.

story 4:
When a kid is crying, Issac always hugs the kid to comfort him/her, even it is not his fault to make the kid cry.

Having a big heart 2

I actually do not know if I made a correct statement: a big heart is not born but brought up. In many aspects it might be true, but I do feel that some characteristics in one's personalities are born. it can be seen since one was a baby.

Having a big heart

Henry and I had a meaningful talking tonight. He told me that his boss Chris has very high IQ and EQ, although he only has college degree. He feels that he has a big heart! very clam, nothing really bothers him, always face difficulties with smiling, treat others so nice. I guess he is very confident too.
A big heart is not born but brought up. parents are the role model of kids, if parents want their kids to have a big heart, they need to have big hearts!

Diaonosr 2

It is very interesting and inspiration to have a conversation with 4.5 years old. Often it is quite challenge for me. One day, he said: "mom, why did not God make human being along with diaonosrs? " It seems that he is still thinking that maybe the fire fighters can save the diaonosr if there is human being at the diaonosr era. It is a tough question which I do not know either.

The most important thing -- Health

It is such a shocking and sad news for me to know the sudden death of an elementary school friend.
I was told that he died of blood blocks in brain ( do not know the medical name ). It is such a painful feeling for his family. Without knowing why and how he could develop such disease, I realized again that living in a healthy life style and doing exercise are so important.

Dianosor

After the visit to ROM ( Royal Ontario Museum), Caleb is fancinated by dianosors and has been asking questions that I could not answer immediately: where were we when dianosors were alive? Why did dianosors disappear?
Me: Dianosor might be disappeared because the big fire on earth caused by a space rock killed all the plants and dianosors had nothing to eat.
Caleb: where were the firemen and fire truck?
Me: Oh, there was no human being at that time.
Caleb: what about dianosor's fire engines? where were they?
(he seemed to get into fire and fire engine... )
Me: fire engines was invented and used by human being, dianosors did not have fire engines.
Caleb: what does "invented" mean?
Me: .....

Decision for learning instrument?

Before yesterday, I had no doubt that Caleb is going to learn violin starting this September since he has shown great interest in it. I am hoping that through the journey of learning, he will build up a strong personality with patience, persistence and self-confidence. Now, reminded by Wang YongHui, I realized for the first time that it might be a problem for a leftie to learn violin. As we know that a young child usually has a remarkable adaptability, it should not be a problem for a leftie kid to play violin with the string in his left hand and the bow in his right hand. The main problem is that playing violin seems to be focus on left hand finger's movement on string, which helps the development of the right part of brain. However, a leftie has enough practice on the left hand, instead, he should practice more on his/her right hand and the left part of brain more. Apparently, Caleb uses his left hand on everything: writing, eating, using a scissor, playing balls, etc.. I really need to create more opportunities for him to practice his right hand.

The decision needs to be based on balance among development of EQ, IQ and Caleb's interest.

One of those days!

Although I admit that most of time my boys are so cute and lovable, today, both threw tantrums one after the other when I picked them up in the evening. I did not quite expect these in public and did not know how to handle it well. I just waited until each one got himself together. The consequence was that we were locked in the playground (the doors are always locked after 6PM). Thanks for another parent to open the door for us. Even more, Caleb had another one when my friends and their kids paid us a quick visit and I had to put him to timeout. What a day!

March Break

Off on vacation for a week, just stayed home and tried to relax and made up for sleep. With two boys around, it was not a relaxing vacation at all. Apparently it was a good nice stay with mommy for Isaac. Although we did manage to have some activites such as swimming and playing with friends, I wish I had brought them to Ontario Science Center or Royal Ontario Museum.

Ready for daycare

After much procrastination I finally registered Isaac to Bright Horizon daycare today and he will go there a week later. Unlikely last time with Caleb going to daycare, I do not have much worries, instead, I feel so excited for him. With sociable personality, I am sure that he will enjoy being playing with other children as he always does.

Stuck in elevator

After being stuck in elevator for two hours on Monday evening, I promised myself to avoid taking elevator as possible as I can. It happened when I left for picking up Caleb from the school and I was alone inside elevator with no access to sametime or phone. The only communication is the intercom with security department and knocks on the door with another security stuff. Nevertheless, I was able to do the arrangement of picking up Caleb by Bill and they seemed to have a good time in talking and playing in Bill's PWA.

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