why, oh why?

I call him motor mouth. That’s my Ichiro. He never rans out of something to say, ask and comment to. He replies right after he hears a question. He comments after a reaction. He gives suggestions as when he feels its necessary. His ears pick up easily and he always has something to say. Most  of his suggestions are really okay and very helpful you’d feel his concern. But when the conversation turns into a question and answer portion, that’s when I’m running out of things to say. Sometimes I find myself laughing at myself for trying to come up with the cleverest of all answers. Here, my creative juices are always put to test.

I: Mama, I hope we have snow here.

M: No baby, it’s only in the Antartic and North Pole where it usually snows. In some countries there are also snow but only for those who are on the upper part of the earth. Our country is in the mid part that’s why we don’t have snow.

I: So Mama, when the cloud is heavy there will be snow?

M: (–not sure!) Baby, when the raincloud is already heavy the rain will fall.

I: Why can’t it be a snow?

M: Because we are not on top of the earth. You see just like in the refrigerator the ice is in the upper portion. Since we are just in the middle it’s just rain not snow. (–this i have to chuckle at myself! )

I: Hmmm…

Tita Xa: You know baby it snows at those countries because the sun can’t reach them as much as he can in the tropics. When the rain falls it is water because the sun already melted them. (hmmm…i forgot that.)

Sigh… i think i need to read more about the stuff  kids love to ask. I remember back in my grade school days I love Science and i’m amazed at all the wonderful things about nature. Ichiro is more on the planets and animals.

Tsk, i remember he’s been reminding me to help him on his plant. He wanted to plant a new mongo seed so he can take care of it. I told him I need to find a good soil first. I’ll be including that on my to do list this week.

the walls have ears

Ditse mentioned that Ichiro and his lolo had a very interesting conversation last time.
Ichiro: Lolo, you should be with us in Rial (-that’s the street of the house we are currently staying in.)
Lolo: If you want me to be with me, you shouldn’t have left me here.
Ichiro: Eh kasi Lolo you are making Mama angry and you are always scolding ate Akai.(-a cousin who takes care of my sons when i’m out)
Lolo’s reaction? oh well, he just smiled.

I always tell everyone in the house to be very careful with their words esp if the kids are awake coz they easily pick up words and actions that they can immitate. Ichiro is a keen observer. Even if he appears to be busy with something,  he would butt in if he has an opinion or a suggestion about what’s being discussed. I’ve always wanted my kids to be able to make their own decision. If there is something that needs to be done I always ask  them to choose and why. In KUMON I agree that we parents should tell our kids what is to be done but my approach is to lead them to the right choice. I’m not the imposing type coz I don’t like it if someone pushes me to do something and i don’t want my kids to develop that resistance to follow just because they are being forced.

Of course he was reprimanded for butting in. Even if I so appreciate his opinion or suggestion he should not join in adult matters. The only problem with motor mouth kids is  they are so excited that they tend to forget to say “excuse me” before diving in the conversation.

A-va-o-na

The last time I fetch Ichiro in school the teacher told me how he remains to be the top in his class. She said he’s the only one who can already read well  and she can’t move the lessons ahead since his classmates are still catching up. She then informed me that she plans on  teaching him phrases next time. I was asked if I teach him at home. Well, I do bought him reading materials and sometimes teach him when he asks but mostly the initiative comes from him. I think it rooted mainly from him knowing the alphabet at 18 months. He loves identifying letters even at a young age and now he loves to make up spelling of words according to the sounds. Most of the time it’s ridiculous but we get surprised when he spell some words correctly. What I like about him is that he is very persistent in asking if he doesn’t know the answer but when he already knows he makes fun of it by using it as a substitute word in a song.

He is funny. Last sunday when we were in the church and waiting for the priest’s final prayer, my Ichiro said: “Today is Oct. 12, 2008. Today is Sunday. Mama what is the spelling of Sunday?” I said: “s-u-n-d-a-y, sunday!” Then he goes singing: “Sunday…I’m gonna be your lover, Sunday, oh,you’re gonna be oh mine, Sunday….” And yes, it is a Jason Castro original composition. I tried not to laugh at that moment since we were inside the church and he was simply making funny faces at me while singing that. I don’t know but he loves substituting new words to songs he knew just to amuse me.

When he came from school today he said that they are already reading the “ar” family. I didn’t understand at first but when he started enumerating the words like far, bar, car, i got it! Whenever and wherever he see familiar words he tries to read it. One time he said: “Mama, look! I’m gonna show you what i’ve read: A-va-o-na. I can read already mama. :). Guess what? He was reading A-V-O-N. Yes, that’s AVON! 🙂