Big Bad World out there!

Been more settled at home as well as with our family routine. This meant that I am now able to continue more reading and pre-planning for us and the kids. We've also been blessed by many get-togethers and meet-ups with old friends from the past (Thanks Wongs, Gohs, Gohs, Angs, Chias etc!) It's nice to just catch up with where everyone's at in their different stages in life.

One of the many challenges I faced as a parent is when my child starts life outside of home. Having dedicated my waking life to the upbringing and nurturing of the little ones, it's very human to experience separation anxiety myself. I went through it with Letitia and thought it'd get better with Mathena. It is Mathena's turn to step out on her own two tubby feet. She's grasp this "going to school" concept ages ago and only until now she's been given the chance to go. She's doing very well and having a ball everytime she goes to "playgroup", she comes home all exhausted (Mommy, I am tired!) and all mushy (Mommy, I love you!) but very happy. She is turning 3 in September and she still melts my heart. I have had reports that she is a tough cookie and has often shown "bully" behaviour towards the younger ones. She is one of the more senior ones as the playgroup only takes little ones from 1.5-3yo. She's had a few "false starts" where she decided that she's not going to playgroup but generally after a few moments, she's happy to go. This is heartbreaking for me. She's my little bubba growing up....too quickly.

Now, Letitia is a whole new story. From day one, Letitia has been our social butterfly. She's great at making friends and capturing the hearts of big people. Over the "school years" of Letitia short life, she's had no problems being accepted and welcomed amongst her peers. Being parents, we just assumed that the entire world will love our child like we do!! Yesterday, Letitia came home and quietly told me that she has been "excluded" by a few kids. These bunch of Kindy-tough-nuts apparently went around yelling and telling everyone "to go to the shops to buy Letitia rubbish!!". They also jeered at Letitia's rainbow drawing and called it "poo-poo" very much to our little artist's dismay. She's apparently had a BIG BAD day at school and she is feeling a bit sad.

Every inch of me wants to seek out those "verbally-unbridled" tikes to give them AND their parents a peace of my mind. After a few moments of ranting and breathing steam off my nostrils, I calmly resorted to doing what a mom SHOULD do.

TAKE HER OUT OF SCHOOL AND GO BACK HOMESCHOOLING!
TAKE HER OUT OF SCHOOL AND GO BACK HOMESCHOOLING!
TAKE HER OUT OF SCHOOL AND GO BACK HOMESCHOOLING!

No, instead I,
1) Reassured Letitia that she's worth more than words can describe and,
2) As long as she is not doing the same to others, we have to forgive these kids and let it go.
3) I told her that our GOD sees all these things and HE will in his time deal with them.
4) I then reminded her that NOT everyone loves God like we do and wants to please God (she immediately replied, but they all sing GOD songs like me!).
5) I told her she must believe that she and her work is valuable to us (her parents) and most of all to GOD.
6) Lastly, I remembered Colin's "In the Bible, in Ephesians, Chapter 4 vs 32, God says be kind to one another!"and it's okay to go tell a teacher when the going gets tough.

After all that, Letitia added, "Mom, I did pray about 3 times, when the kids were not nice to me!" and I congratulated her for doing that. She said it made her feel better and braver. Her faith has been tremendous recently and we've practice simple things like asking GOD for bringing us taxis (so we are not late for church) and for cool winds in our apartments (to cool our guests down when visiting) etc.

After every heartbreaking parental moment, there's always glory coming from GOD and eventually given to GOD. PTL!