I AM GRATEFUL!

Today, having a bit more time to myself, I was able to recap. The last few weeks have been quite a whirlwind experience, the major one being Letitia attending a local Singaporean Mission Public school.

Being a home-schooler at heart and having had Letitia at home with me the last 1.5years, I have grown so accustomed to her being with me. I miss her at home with me. I have always known how well she does, and that she's doing not too badly (according to the Aussie stuff). You see, homeschooling allows us the freedom to excel at what we enjoy at a higher speed and efficiency while it also allows us the freedom to slowly plod along the bits we struggle with. It's different now in the mainstream system. We have to retrain our thought patterns to fit the masses and their expectations!I do have to admit I was the one who stressed out the most. Initially mainly in concern for her adjustment and fear of any 'horror' characters she may experience, then later, the fact that she has no clue towards the chinese language and what happens during the week etc. Letitia is now just picking up on the speaking and the writing of the chinese language and though I am absolutely PROUD of her abilities, I am aware that she is no way near the standards of the kids in Singapore.

It has been 3 weeks now and I have been so blessed with seeing Letitia blossomed in school. She is doing so well, mainly as an encouragement to the teachers as she is the only one who eagerly responds and absorbs the lesson but also, in her ability to do well and excel in class and ESPECIALLY in chinese. Letitia has managed to catch up with 2 terms worth of work as well as have been successful with her tests and assessements.

We have put in the work and being the 'worried' mom, I have asked her to revised but was often told off as she knew the 'stuff'. A few days ago, she went to school for a chinese test, having only gone through the texts ONCE. I had to let her go, reminding her that it's okay if she does not know the answer etc (also reminding me that I should trust her! and that it's okay if she fails etc). She came back with 40/40 in her results!!! I am so shocked, so pleased and so grateful to GOD at the same time. Wow! One more proof that God has blessed her with the father's brains (and my looks!)!! We now only have 8 more weeks to go....I have to relax a bit more!

I am also reminded that GOD HAS answered ALL of Letitia's prayers via the Prayer of Jabez! In all schemes of things, it's the stuff of eternity that we HAVE to strive for (esp when we chose to homeschool), it should not be DIFFERENT, even when we go mainstream!!

Someone out there, remember to keep me on track?!?

Yes, she is still playing with the violin, every chance she gets. $6 well spent and do we REALLY have to consider this instrument?..??

A Season of Life

It usually takes a visit or a blast from the past to make one recollect and take stock. I have had the privilege and fun of having 2 our my 'younger day' friends come visit. They brought along another lovely lady and stayed for a few nights at our home.

We've been friends since our early twenties, before the time of careers and husbands. One girl, I knew from my secondary school years (MI) while another, in my very first REAL job (CHING) back in Malaysia. It felt like old times though the settings and the 'attachments eg kids' are different. We had a lovely time just relaxing and catching up. It was a nice change of the busy season. I was lovely to have met you too, ManXing!3 Kuchingites in Chinatown!

F1 Season in Singapore

Kids version of the Ferrari!

Taking the scenes in with Piick Ling!

Our home in front of the girl's masterpieces!

Happy 5th Mathena

We had a simple celebration at the LO's then a dinner with friends.

Mathena's been asking for a violin (S$200) which we could not afford.

Who would have thought that a simple $6 replica can amuse her WHOLE day!!

Cheh-cheh gets to share her walkie-talkie toy too!

No time to write

So pictures will speak for us..

Mathena had her Toddler B class viewing. She did us proud!
She had to change teachers a few times due Letitia's school timetable but she kept up and did extremely well!

Mid Autumn Festival. We did not join the marching at 9pm around the neighbourhood!

We've been blessed with new clothes!

School Holidays!

We now have 1 week of NO SCHOOL!

Yippee! Except I am now homeschooling Letitia with the text books she missed out on Term 3 as well as walk through the sample assessment sheets with her.
I am slightly concerned for her, just slightly....

When Letitia goes back to school, she'll have one week of practice runs in class for English, Maths and Chinese. She will also have a few papers per subject including oral and comprehension etc. My job at the moment is to expose her to the types, examples and style of questions (which is miles different from the Aussie stuff!!) she will be exposed to, as well as teach her NOT to WORRY if she does not know how to answer them. She has in reality missed out on the entire year of schooling as they have stopped teaching in Term 3. Term 4 is dedicated for assessments, assessments, exams, exams.

Primary school assessments has Part A, mulple choice, Part B, Short answers and Part C, Long answers. I may live in the era bygone but wasn't our university exams like that?!?

PRAY FOR US!

These are images of what happens when daddy is in charge of putting girls to bed!