Alexander does not like homework and it usually takes him a long time to finish it.
Daddy’s car broke down in the morning, and we had to get the kids from school. Then we were busy shopping for a new car and had dinner. By the time we got home, it was almost 7:30 pm. Luckily, the next day there’s no school (Veteran’s Day), and I asked Alexander if he could work on his homework on the following day. Alexander started to panic and insisted that he must finish his homework first. No matter how we explained to him, Alexander was insisted he had to finish it, and sure enough he did.
I was surprised it only took him 15 minutes to get it done. Just like “follow the rule” rule, he had to follow our home rule – homework first, then play – even though we were all tired. ;)
Friday, November 12, 2010
See them in Heaven
Alexander created a lot files on Wii. His sister, Meiying, would like to delete some of her game play pictures from Wii to free up some HD space. (These were “freeze frame” shots taken during their games that caught various animated characters, and not of great significance. At least that’s what we thought). When he found out, Alexander cried and could not let go of these images. It took a while for him to agree that Meiying could delete some of her files. But at night, Alexander cried and asked me: Mom, will I see these images when I go to heaven? I told him: “Maybe, I am not sure. I haven’t died and gone to heaven, so I do not know. If I die, I will not be able to tell you. I really do not know.” Two days later, Alexander whispered to me: Mom, I prayed to God last night, asking him to let me see these images when I go to heaven. And he had a shy smile and started to giggle.
I do not know what or how to explain. Again, who knows? I saw his happy face and I think that’s all that mattered.
I do not know what or how to explain. Again, who knows? I saw his happy face and I think that’s all that mattered.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Sensory – the sound hurts
When our slippers slide on the cement, it makes very minor scratch sound. The sound make Alexander cry, because it hurts his ears.
When our cell phone was in low battery and just started to beep, Alexander jumped out of his bed from his sleeping and started to cry in the middle of night. The sound hurts his ears. It was only one beep and his bedroom is next to ours. We closed our doors. It happened few times and every time he react the same – Jump out his bed and cry.
When the pencil scratched the paper, Alexander started to cry. It hurts his ears. I had to find soft lead pencils for him.
When I shout at him and ask him to take easy and ignore the sound. Alexander would try to manage his emotion at first, but when the sound make again, he would cry and cry, and told me: You do not understand how it hurts my ears and my skin. It really hurts!
What should I do? I could not stop any of these situations happen in public place and school. But I could not see him cry and in painful reaction. What should I do?
I have to make sure no low-battery peep sound from any cell phone. Try to walk carefully when I am with him. I could only advice him to walk away or cover his ears when the sound happens in public place and in school. Alexander try and really try do his best to handle the sound in public place.
Yesterday, Alexander told me that Mr. Hurley let him eat his lunch at Mr. Hurley’s office because Alexander could not handle the shoes scratch sound at lunch time in school. Alexander told me that he felt much better that he did not have to hear the terrible scratch sound. It really hurts. I was very touched, we are very lucky to have nice group of people in school to help him. Thank you, Mr. Hurley. Thank you!
When our cell phone was in low battery and just started to beep, Alexander jumped out of his bed from his sleeping and started to cry in the middle of night. The sound hurts his ears. It was only one beep and his bedroom is next to ours. We closed our doors. It happened few times and every time he react the same – Jump out his bed and cry.
When the pencil scratched the paper, Alexander started to cry. It hurts his ears. I had to find soft lead pencils for him.
When I shout at him and ask him to take easy and ignore the sound. Alexander would try to manage his emotion at first, but when the sound make again, he would cry and cry, and told me: You do not understand how it hurts my ears and my skin. It really hurts!
What should I do? I could not stop any of these situations happen in public place and school. But I could not see him cry and in painful reaction. What should I do?
I have to make sure no low-battery peep sound from any cell phone. Try to walk carefully when I am with him. I could only advice him to walk away or cover his ears when the sound happens in public place and in school. Alexander try and really try do his best to handle the sound in public place.
Yesterday, Alexander told me that Mr. Hurley let him eat his lunch at Mr. Hurley’s office because Alexander could not handle the shoes scratch sound at lunch time in school. Alexander told me that he felt much better that he did not have to hear the terrible scratch sound. It really hurts. I was very touched, we are very lucky to have nice group of people in school to help him. Thank you, Mr. Hurley. Thank you!
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Homework (Sep, 14th)
Alexander got home around 2:30pm. At 6:20pm, I started to get mad that he still not finishes his homework. Most of time, I was working & helping him to keep “focus” !!!
Mom: Alexander! You got home at 2:30 and now it is about 6:30, it already four hours and you can not finish your home work… you do not have that much homework and you….!” (Loud voice)
Alexander: Mom, it is 6:22. It is not four hours yet.
Mom: You know what I mean!!! It takes forever for you to get homework done!!!(Louder voice)
Alexander: It does not take me “forever” to get my homework done. “Forever’ is infinite, till the whole universal reset and start again. I do not take "Forever" to finish my homework.
I look at his serious face and I started to laugh. How could I get mad if he does not get it at all? We finally finish his homework at 6:50pm.
Mom: Alexander! You got home at 2:30 and now it is about 6:30, it already four hours and you can not finish your home work… you do not have that much homework and you….!” (Loud voice)
Alexander: Mom, it is 6:22. It is not four hours yet.
Mom: You know what I mean!!! It takes forever for you to get homework done!!!(Louder voice)
Alexander: It does not take me “forever” to get my homework done. “Forever’ is infinite, till the whole universal reset and start again. I do not take "Forever" to finish my homework.
I look at his serious face and I started to laugh. How could I get mad if he does not get it at all? We finally finish his homework at 6:50pm.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Split a Hair
Alexander: Mom, what does “split hair” mean?
Mom: Well, it usually means “almost on the target”, something like “with very tiny error, it’s almost perfect”.
Alexander: I still don’t understand. What does “split a hair” mean?
Mom: Well, let’s check the dictionary. On page 1017, number 8: split hairs: to concern oneself with small unimportant differences, esp. in arguments.
Alexander: No! It does not mean that! I still don’t understand.
Mom: Could you let me know where do you see this? What is the sentence?
Alexander: I saw it in the Simpson’s comic book, Bart said: “Did I mention I can shoot an apple off the bartender’s head without splitting his hair? “And Millhouse (Bart’s friend) said: “he is bald, Bart.”
Mom: Oh…it is like an old cowboy show or shooting training trick, people put an apple on someone’s head and shoots the apple without hurting the person, (with a hand gesture to show Alexander) it means he shoots so well and it is on the target (the apple) and did not even make the person’s hair split.
Alexander laughed and laughed…then said: Millhouse (Bart’s friend) said “He is bald, Bart!!!!”
Mom: Well, it usually means “almost on the target”, something like “with very tiny error, it’s almost perfect”.
Alexander: I still don’t understand. What does “split a hair” mean?
Mom: Well, let’s check the dictionary. On page 1017, number 8: split hairs: to concern oneself with small unimportant differences, esp. in arguments.
Alexander: No! It does not mean that! I still don’t understand.
Mom: Could you let me know where do you see this? What is the sentence?
Alexander: I saw it in the Simpson’s comic book, Bart said: “Did I mention I can shoot an apple off the bartender’s head without splitting his hair? “And Millhouse (Bart’s friend) said: “he is bald, Bart.”
Mom: Oh…it is like an old cowboy show or shooting training trick, people put an apple on someone’s head and shoots the apple without hurting the person, (with a hand gesture to show Alexander) it means he shoots so well and it is on the target (the apple) and did not even make the person’s hair split.
Alexander laughed and laughed…then said: Millhouse (Bart’s friend) said “He is bald, Bart!!!!”
Friday, September 3, 2010
Sound that make skin feel hot and cold
Alexander was sitting outdoor and doing his home work while his sister is practicing her swimming with her team. I helped him to move the plastic folder and his home work over to other side of table. Alexander covered his ears and shouting: “Mom, you make the sound make my skin feels hot & cold!!!” I could not believe how this minor scratch sound would do that, so I did again to see how he does. He really shaking his body and told me again, “Mom, stop it! You make my skin feel hot and cold again!!!” I looked at him and amazed by how sensitive he is. I felt so sorry and would not do it again.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Summer vacation 2010 – fireflies
In summer, we visited Taiwan for six weeks and spent some time with my part of family (Alexander’s grandmother, aunties, and relatives).
We wanted to see some fireflies at evening in Taiwan. I thought it would be a great experience for kids. I prepared Alexander with the idea few days before the event, then, that morning, reminded him, again, a few hours before we went. It was a beautiful day and everything went as planned. We drove to the country side of Kaohsiung city (South of Taiwan) and it was getting dark. We walked along a small path in grass field and farm houses. We waited and saw some blink lights flicking in the grass. It was beautiful. Meiying, Victor, and friends started to use their caps to catch fireflies. Alexander started to panic and kept asking to go home. I tried to keep him have fun and showed him fireflies and the starry sky at this beautiful place. Alexander started to shake his body, cried, and walked away like he was lost. My sister followed him, held him, and walked with him to the car. I had to collect my kids and informed my friends we were leaving, then went after Alexander & my sister. As I watched him, he looked as though he were lost and panicked. I felt as though I was going to cry along with him. I held my tears and used my calm voice and held him in the car for a while. I asked him and found out: Alexander panicked because he was worried we would get lost in the field and never find a way back home. Alexander cried because he could not handle the mixed smell of dirty water, soil, and grass. And it was dark, and we are in a very strange place. Alexander could not handle it at all.
Here we go, we had to leave even though we just got there. I held Alexander and could only assure him we were fine and would be home soon. That night, I cried and watched him sleep with his body curled in a blanket. I kissed him and make different plans for rest of summer vacation activities – No more evenings in a strange place.
We wanted to see some fireflies at evening in Taiwan. I thought it would be a great experience for kids. I prepared Alexander with the idea few days before the event, then, that morning, reminded him, again, a few hours before we went. It was a beautiful day and everything went as planned. We drove to the country side of Kaohsiung city (South of Taiwan) and it was getting dark. We walked along a small path in grass field and farm houses. We waited and saw some blink lights flicking in the grass. It was beautiful. Meiying, Victor, and friends started to use their caps to catch fireflies. Alexander started to panic and kept asking to go home. I tried to keep him have fun and showed him fireflies and the starry sky at this beautiful place. Alexander started to shake his body, cried, and walked away like he was lost. My sister followed him, held him, and walked with him to the car. I had to collect my kids and informed my friends we were leaving, then went after Alexander & my sister. As I watched him, he looked as though he were lost and panicked. I felt as though I was going to cry along with him. I held my tears and used my calm voice and held him in the car for a while. I asked him and found out: Alexander panicked because he was worried we would get lost in the field and never find a way back home. Alexander cried because he could not handle the mixed smell of dirty water, soil, and grass. And it was dark, and we are in a very strange place. Alexander could not handle it at all.
Here we go, we had to leave even though we just got there. I held Alexander and could only assure him we were fine and would be home soon. That night, I cried and watched him sleep with his body curled in a blanket. I kissed him and make different plans for rest of summer vacation activities – No more evenings in a strange place.
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