Monday 10 August 2009 Brag brag brag!

This is Cathy

That's Cathy. She is number 2. Well, not really. They are both number 1. At least that is what I tell them and I believe it. Now this young lady, not yet 3, spent most of the day over the road at school with her elder sister. The reason? Piano practice and lessons. For mum. So, as I had the day off work and had to be over at the school to help out and mum really needed to get into the piano, I took Cathy with me. Mum was of course a tad worried as to how Cathy would get on. She didn't need to be. Cathy did what Cathy always does. Took life in her stride. She rejoiced in her life in Christ, had a ball and entertained the masses. In the morning I was working in 2 classes hearing the kids reading. I love it. Cathy stayed with Michele and "learnt" what Michele was learning. Now Cathy is 2.5. However, the teachers kept on commenting on how clear her speech was. Is it just me? I thought all 2.5 year old kids were, or at least should be, clear with their speech. Cathy had no problem making herself understood and did exactly as shew was told when she was told without argument. How good is that? But then she is the more compliant of the two girls. I must confess though, to being worried when I wasn't hearing any noise. But I needn't have. I praise God for that little girl. She has brought me so much pleasure. She is really easy to train and loves a good play session. At 2.5 she is well on her way to knowing her entire alphabet and can count quite well. If she is asked to get 4 spuds, she will get 4 spuds. She is also so eager to help. She will most times do stuff, like getting the scrap bucket or setting the table without having to be asked. In fact the worst time of the day is the evening meal. Which, I might add, we don't fuss too much about. After all, she starts eating when she gets up in the morning then eats all day long. I think they call it grazing. But she "grazes" on healthy stuff, like fruit and cheese and so on. So who are we to worry.
The there is the fun stuff. Like she will look sad and say "I'm not happy", which we know is a put on. So I will ask her "Do you want me to pick you up, turn you upside down and shake the unhappiness out?". Of course the answer is yes. She is usually laughing her head off before I have even got that far. Then there is racing down the passage way of our house with her going "You can't catch me", knowing not only that I can and that she wants me to. Then there is the "daddy broke" game. That entails me flopping on the bed and saying "Daddy's broke". She will then jump upon the bead and "Kiss daddy better" followed by me grabbing her at exactly the same time as she plants the kiss and rolling her over and blowing a fat raspberry on what ever bare skin I can find. That is followed by mother shouting at us to "stop squealing and will you stop rough housing that child. Is it any wonder that the kids wont obey." Actually that parts not true. Ours do.

And then

This is Michele

Dear daughter number 1. Where does one start? Today I was most disappointed. I didn't get to hear her read at school. I like listening to her read. Yes, I know she is 5.5, but she is an excellent reader. And she comprehends everything she reads. It is always a pleasure to listen to her. She has been reading now for almost 12 months. Michele loves life and cooking and reading and writing and dressing up and playing piano, at least for the moment. Playing the piano that is. Now we have been branded un-schooler's because of our approach to early learning. Michele is a prime example. When she was around Cathy's current age, we were looking at how we were going to school her. We were examining our options. Would we home school, would we public school, would we private school her? So many options and such a difficult decision to make. In the process of exploring we found, or the Lord guided us to, starfall.com. Michele was around 2.5. She wanted to climb up on my lap when I was looking at this site. She showed interest in the screen and with what was happening. I encouraged her. Six weeks later she knew her entire alphabet. I couldn't believe it. But, we didn't push her. Later, when it came to transitioning to and then sentences, we let her govern the rate and amount. Later we looked at Hooked on Phonics. Again, this was a learning mile stone. Some days she would want to do lots, other, none. We let her govern the pace and amount. We noticed that if we pushed her she would stop. If we let her go, she would fly. Now some would treat this as obedience, or the lack of thereof. And, to a point it was. But I looked at it this way. If I pushed it and outlasted her and said "you will do this, she might have done it, but it might also have put her off learning and school for life. Obedience and be sorted out in other areas. My approach is that learning should be fun. If it is fun, she will want to learn. If not, she wont. And which is better, a kid who enjoys her book, or a kid who hates school and all it stands for.
Today was a good day for Michele. She had her sister at school, and in her class and at assembly in the morning. She was one happy and proud little girl. And good on her, so she should be.
That brings me to another brag. (Did I ever mention I brag about me kids a lot?) These two girls get on real well together, they are best of mates. Yes, occasionally they do disagree, but not often and not for long.
This is Mum. How could I ever forget the best woman in the world. She is my standard of beauty, on the outside as well as on the inside. We have been married for near on 8 years now. I don't know her very well. Oh, it's not that I don't know her. It's that when I think I know it all, she blows me away with something new. Now that photo is blurry. Sorry 'bout that. Try taking a photo of a moving target. You see, Mrs Wonderful has decided to go back to school. She wants to study grade 8 piano plus grade 6 theory plus get a diploma in teaching piano music. Why? Coz she can. And because she wants to put something back into other students and coz God is calling her to that. And she wants another baby. Well, we both do. Just requires more practise is all. Now each piano lesson cost A$60 per hour. But if she can achieve, and I know she can, what she wants then that is cheap. Her teaching can all be done at home if she chooses. That accomplishes her goals of being a Proverbs 31 woman and a keeper of the home. This also accomplishes something that I want for her. I want my Love to be fulfilled in every area of her life. She is not my slave. We are a team. She is my "help meet". What does that mean? Go look it up. You will be amazed at what you find. Stephanie is my "other" self. I am her "other" self. We fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. Exactly as Christ called us to be and designed.
OK, enough waxing lyrical.
Oh, no it's not. Did I tell you she is good looking. And a good cook. And I enjoy just spending time in her presence. And she is good in (wash your mind out). Now every man should have a lady as good as mine. Well, they do, they just don't know it.
Time to go.