Exploring Our Children’s Potentials

Anya and I went to the playground again today for some climbing and sliding activities.

She went on the bouncy thingies without asking for help. Which was good, considering how she reacted the last time we were there.

Anyway today she went to try the steeper slide.

And to cut the story short, she sat at the top of the slide and I squatted at the bottom of the slide, taking a photo of her ‘very first attempt on the steep slope by herself’. Then Anya somehow pushed herself down (when she’s supposed to wait up there until I said go), AND landed right-cheek first on the ground!

Ooops.

Good thing the ground was kinda padded and that I caught her ‘in the air’ just in time. Well, at least it minimised the impact a little.

The whole situation was somehow very funny though, and I was laughing away while Anya looked a little confused. Haha. I guess she’s still trying to figure out what has just happened.

Anyway, she didn’t cry at all and she went down the same slide again for many times after that (with a pinkish right cheek).

Looking back, I guess if I panicked, she would’ve cried from shock and probably come home rather traumatised from the whole incident.

In her case though, judging from her reaction afterwards, somehow I think she gained more confidence.

Unexpected, but … it’s good!

There’s this Indonesian Art Festival happening on Saturday night and we’re all going to see it.

It’s nice seeing Indonesian students get together and put up this arts event all on their own. The very first one was held 2 years ago. We didn’t go, but we heard it went real well.

Btw, WILSONPICTURES is one of the sponsors supporting the event too! *WOOHOO*

Anyway, I’ll tell you how it goes next week.

One nice thing (out of many) of having a photographer as a hubby is that you get to be his photo shoot ‘guinea pigs’.

And of course, Anya and I never quite object *hehe*

‘A cheerful heart makes you healthy. But a broken spirit dries you up.’
Proverbs 17:22

Little children show their true feelings regardless of who they’re with at the time. They’d innocently laugh out loud in a quite library. Or cry in a crowded bus.

Adults tend to be ‘wiser’ in keeping their emotions at bay. Some cultures even expect men to never show any emotions whatsoever.

Adults tend to say that little children are so full of joy and laughter because they are yet to understand the problems and complex issues we adults face everyday.

While it is true in many ways, I personally think that we should still learn from the innocence of little children.

How they appreciate simple things in life. How they genuinely treasure the company of their loved ones.

How they laugh and smile … simply because they really ARE happy.

Experts recommend soothing, quiet activities just before bedtime. To get the kid ready for sleep, basically. Stuff like reading a bedtime story book together.

Anya’s daily bedtime routine goes like this:
– a quick warm shower
– drinking her last formula of the day
– giving everyone good night kisses
– praying with Mommy

Then , bedroom lights are off and our radio plays softly in the background (which always is tuned to Symphony 92.4FM since she’s still in my tummy *hehe*).
Tonight she seemed to have so much extra energy to burn though. Even before she got into her pyjamas, she rolled over, sat on bolster and purposely fell backwards while laughing her head off! A good 15 minutes of high-energy activities that got her sweating again even after her nice shower.

Kids.
She still went to bed alright after that … to my relief *hehe*

Anya is officially 1.5 years old!
Here’re a few of our little girl’s updates:

> The other day I was listing the words Anya can say and there are more than 40 words!

> When we reach home, she takes off her shoes and socks, and puts them down together near our other shoes… all by herself (Good on you, girl!)
> She can take off her pants, diapers and (after I fold it neatly so the diaper’s ‘content’ stays in the inside) she’d put her foot on our step-on bin and throw her diaper (and she’d give herself a clap after that . Hehe)
> And oh, … she’s picking up the alphabets and right now she knows A, O, I and S. And so now whenever she sees these 4 alphabets (on posters, car registration plates, buses), she’d point and go, ‘Uh..uh…uh, A! A! A!’
…

it’s always nice to see how she grows, develops and learns a lot during these 18 months.

And other than the kid, we too as parents learn how to be better and wiser in our decisions. It’s a learning journey for us too (a challenging one, yet always rewarding)

There’re some bouncy playthings at our playground area and the last time we went and played there, I picked her up and let her sit on them.
This time round, I asked her to get on them herself (while I rested on the bench nearby and took photos of her waving her arms, calling for me to help her get on them, hehe). At first, she whined and refused. I just sat there and reassured her that she can do it and that she must try and get on them herself.

And, after a few tries, she did it! *YAY* I cheered and waved my arms silly. Hehe.  And soon after, she went around and checked the others, all by herself.
I guess it all may look simple, but I know it’s a giant step for her. Another step towards independence. Towards believing in herself. Towards knowing that the people she loves and trusts will always be there to encourage and support her.

To quote from a book I read recently:
If a child lives with …
… encouragement, she learns to be confident
… tolerance, she learns to be patient

… praise, she learns to be appreciative
… acceptance, she learns to love
… security, she learns to have faith i

n her and those around her

It applies to all of us too I guess … not just to little kids.