Friday, 23 June 2017

Another instalment of (School) Year-end Reflections

2016-2017 has been a year of accomplishments as well as disappointments. I am going to pick one moment per child to sum it up – a moment that I believe captures growth (and maturity) on their parts and pride on my part!

ASid’s Moment

Craigley started giving allowance to the boy once he started high school. A few months ago, Craigley felt that ASid was being totally disrespectful to him and cut off the boy’s allowance completely. ASid was like FINE! I don’t care! However, the boy started feeling the dearth of money in his life. He kinda got used to a certain lifestyle. He really missed the ability to buy his Yu-Gi-Oh cards each month. So, to supplement his purchasing power, he started selling some cards! This drove Craigley crazy as the boy was wasting time trying to set up appointments at various public places to meet with people interested in buying cards he wanted to get rid of! I was like he is not selling drugs or anything illegal, so chill Craigley!

As is my habit, I shared this info with my parents. They were like you are ASid’s parents and you know best! I am sure they wanted to say more, but they held off! God bless them! A few days later, ASid ended up at my parents’ new home to set up their Wi-Fi environment. He spent a good 4-5 hours. When he was ready to leave, my parents gave him some money for helping them out. Instead of taking the money, ASid returned it to them and told them that they are his grandparents and he was happy to help them out.

ASid feels so frustrated and so deprived without his allowance that it would have been very easy to take that money. But he didn’t! Instead, he actually decided to look for a summer job. Of course, he didn’t do his applications on time and he doesn’t have a summer job. Technically, he doesn’t need a job! However, I must admire his sense of self respect and dignity. He could have easily negotiated with his dad. But then again how does one determine when a child is being respectful or not or simply faking it to get what s/he wants?! Even as this issue remains unresolved, I am happy with the way the boy is dealing with it.

So proud of you!

Hans’ Moment

This boy is the dramatic one – he is a mini me!

Hans went through a crazy year. I have said enough about his trials and tribulations. After everything, he recently informed me that he would try in Grade 4 to get into the CW. They sometimes have spaces available when kids drop out of the program. This time around though, I will let Hans be. We will focus on his academics as we realized that that is what the school is really about. They are not looking for kids who are passionate about the Arts; they want “trainable” academic students!

The fact that Hans didn’t give up his Art and Piano lessons, and wants to retry something that he failed the first time around shows an undefeatable spirit! I am not a quitter and I am glad the little guy is not a quitter. I am so proud of him right now. I don’t care about what the future has in store for him.

As they grow and learn, I am growing and learning as well. It is amazing how they were once little babies and it seems like only yesterday, and then I see this tremendous growth! ASid is taller than me now, and some days wiser than me. Hans is still my baby in many ways, but not for too long. As much as it feels like they don’t need me anymore, I have to remember that all it means is that I have done my job well. Once in a while, I got to pat my own back.
 

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