Since the time my daughter took the over-all number one spot last year, my wife’s been working hard so Bea could retain it this year. My wife considers it as a matter of “family pride”. For her, attaining less might be frowned upon by Bea’s relatives who are academic achievers themselves. For me, I think “insecurity” plays a major role.
I really don’t care what my daughter gets as long as she understand her lessons and pass each one of her subjects. As I observed, she doesn’t need extra “encouragement”. On her own, she already possesses curiosity and the drive to understand and excel. But with all these qualities, she’s still naïve to the real meaning of “academic excellence”. I once asked her why she wants to be number one. Her answer was something to ponder about - “I like to get on stage and wave to people while they clap their hands”. Hindi kaya gustong pumasok sa politika ng anak ko?
In spite of the discipline my wife imposes, there are some lighter moments in their sessions. Instances that makes me laugh, resulting to my wife’s annoyance. For example in Math;
Wife: Kahapon pa natin pinag-aralan ‘tong “quantitative” at “associative” na ‘to ah. What did you drink at para kang hilong talilong dyan?
Bea: Water lang, Teacher Mommy.
In social studies, they were discussing the different regions of the Philippines when my wife suddenly asked:
Wife: What is the forest region in the Philippines?
Bea : Cordillera!
Wife: Cordillera? Bakit yan ang sagot mo?
Bea: Di ba Cordillera is mountainous, maraming trees?
Wife: Forest, Bea. Pinakamahirap!
Pasensya na po. Bisaya po kami.
As I’m writing this, my wife called to inform me that Bea got the number one slot on their Quarterly Examination. Tomorrow, she’ll again go on stage and wave at the clapping audience below.
I like your daughter's attitude. You've got yourself a winner. Congrats.
ReplyDeletethanks, Bert. I'm all there, what ever she wants to become.
DeleteWow, young achiever si Bea! Noon pa alam ko nang matalino sya. Siguro ngayon mahusay na siyang umawit ng Lupang Hinirang.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Bea!
Haha, meron syang kinakanta, doc, pero hindi ko alam kung ano, with "trembling voice" pa. : D
Deletegaling magsasagot ng hija mo. bilib ako.
ReplyDeletei really like the name bea.
Thanks, Photo Cache. I'll relay what you said to Bea. : )
DeleteAng galing. Thousand claps for her. Pero I know the feeling of being pressured. Ang hirap mag-meet ng expectations pero sabi nila ang pinakamahirap na critic daw ang ang iyong sarili dahil once na nasatisfy mo ang sarili mo eh wala ka na pakialam sa pressure ng ng iba :)
ReplyDeleteLOL on the forest.
Alam mo, Lawstude, I have my reservation kung minsan with regards sa mga achievers at a very young age. My daughter's EQ is not developed for her age. Just the other day, her teacher told us she cried because her classmate got 100% and she have 2 mistakes.
DeleteKnow what, I'm thankful my kids are doing good in their school despite my absence and lack of time with them. I also want my kids to enjoy their school and I really do not care much about ribbons now, it is a huge bonus if I went onstage to pin their ribbons, though I always do naman. My daughter tops 2nd in class on their first recognition day. The funny thing is, there's this parent who makes my kid a big competition, which makes my daughter feel the pressure. Kainis lang because I don't want my daughter to feel that way.
ReplyDeleteAy naku, sheng, marami dito nyan. Ginagawa nilang "sports" ang ranking and then gloat kung ang anak nila ang #1. Ang bata ang under pressure at ang babaw. Kung minsan gusto kung tanungin kung ganyan din sila nung nag-aaral pa. >: D
Deletenatawa naman ako sa "forest region" na yan lol ok yun ah! miss your blog ngayon lang uli nagkaroon ng chance na magsurf ng internet hehehe
ReplyDeletedito sa US sumobra naman ang iwas sa competition kaya walang mga awards dito at walang ranking ang mga students only pagdating lang ng high school graduation, kaya you're lucky! at congrats kay Bea!!
Sardz, long time no hear! Kumusta naman ang buhay ng isang "corporate executive"?
DeleteNakakapressure pag may mine-maintain na position sa student ranking. Pero the way I gathered the story (linked to other posts of "educating Bea"), enjoy ni Bea ang pag aaral. She'll enjoy the journey. :)
ReplyDeleteOw yes, Ms.Jo. She likes it. It's just like a game to her. Ang Mommy nya lang ang "kill-joy".
Deletehagalpak ako ng tawa sa forest region. bwahahahaha!
ReplyDeletehamo na, pag nasanay si bea sa taas ng grades niya, iyon na ang normal sa kanya at di na siya papayag sa less than number one.
I don't know it that's a positive attitude, atticus. Masama ang loob nya kung merong mas mataas sa kanya sa test. I tried to explain to her na "hindi lahat ng araw ay pasko".
Deletehayaan mo lang siguro. ako kasi dati ganyan din. ang laban mo na lang sa ganyang competitiveness ay paliguan mo ng libro about "real" life. iyong mga autobiography kasi ng mga taong in-idolize ko, nakita kong peppered with failures din bago maging successful. when i read their stories, that's when i learned about the more important things in life. oo, kasama si steve jobs doon.
Deleterun forest run hehe
ReplyDeletehinay-hinay pre. i have witnessed a number of students who suffered from burn-out brought about by the pressure of maintaining grades. learning should be fun and its own reward. yung grades eh bonus nalang.
That's what I tried to remind her mother all the time. Kaso "competitive" ang mag-ina ko. > (
Deleteha ha competitive ang 'mag-ina' ko. that's very funny.
ReplyDeletei love the exchange between Bea and her mom. those brought back memories when my children were in the primary grade. i have to admit, i was equally pressured. but the bottom line is, it helped the child develop an attitude of desire to yearn for more knowledge and learning. it is not good however, for a student to be bookish and not understand anything at all.
what Oman said about being a self-critic happened to one of my children. indeed, it's more difficult than anything else. buti na lang, college na nang matuklasan nya yun. :D
beatburn is very right about how studies and learning should be for children. :D
Alam mo, bing. May dis-advantage din if you married late in life. Nakakapagod. I can't keep up with my child's energy. Buti ka pa, malalaki na ang mga anak mo. : )
Deletecongrats bro... good that your daughter is an achiever at such a young age.. ganyan yata ang mga nanay.. same with my wife..masyadong alala sa anak at gusto excellent parati.. for me as long as my daughter understands ok na since she still has to mature over time... ako hinay hinay lang ;)
ReplyDelete