Happy 7th Birthday, Zek

To Our Everdearest Zek,

Amazing how time flies!

It seems just yesterday when your mom and I were relentlessly storming heaven with prayers for our first child which we have been waiting for fours years. And now, here you are, seven years old and on the very cusp of boyhood who is raring to explore and discover the world to quench your ever-expanding curiosity and to openly accept more responsibilities befitting your age.

You have brought unspeakable joy and innermost pride in us as your mom journaled your every bit of milestones and achievements. Each single smile and giggle of yours resulted into our own smiles. I can never forget those days when your mom excitedly and proudly narrates to me your gimmicks-of-the-day highlights as soon as I arrived home from my work.

We were blessed to have been given the rare chance to be completely together even as I worked in this foreign land. We have traveled to a few known destinations, enjoying the food and friendly people along the way. We’ve have seen modern and scenic spots as well as traverse through all modes transportation – airplanes, high-speed trains, normal trains, fast ferries, slow yachts, fast cars, slow cars, big bus, small bus, big bus that looks small because of too much people forcefully packed inside, a dirt-bike and a dirty bike.

When you entered your wonder and discovery years, we started to have lots of adventures as we fought each other as Spider Zek and Daddy Oc. We also became buddies and goofed around a lot as Sponge Zek and Patrick Dad only to be each others nemesis once again as Obi Zek Kenobi and Dad Vader. We ruled the Kingdom of Far Far Away as Zhrek and Dadkey and we defended Cybetron from the attacks of the Decepticons as Optimus Dad and Bumble Zek. We raced and won over cars as Lightning McZek and Dator. Sometimes, I stayed on the sidelines to watch you fight the forces of darkness alone as Zek 10. Whew! Being a full-time partner of your heroic pursuits and exploits can be tiring, so in our lives away from our secret superhero identities, we just let ourselves be father and son to thumb-wrestled with each other, play kick-ball while running or visit your favorite toy-shops to look at the latest editions.

Homeschooling is another on-going memorable opportunity for you and your mom to bond in an educational set-up. Yes, there were tough moments and, at times, road-block experiences for her along the way but I stood witness to how far and enriching your sessions with her have been. All your first vocabularies, words, phrases and sentences were lovingly and patiently taught by her. You made her proud with every step of the way. You loved art-attack activities very much and I will never forget you putting a small blanket over you paper and color eagle art so it will not be cold during winter time (Believe me, it speaks volumes about the kind-hearted boy you are J ). We went to a lot of educational places but I will always remember how you felt sad to leave the train museum which you really enjoyed visiting. However, the pinnacle of our joy in homeschooling is the opportunity to be your very first “evangelizers” in knowing our Lord from whom everything comes and to whom everything will end. We have been training you to become a prayerful person in the future who will have a deep personal relationship with Him which is the most important choice you will ever make – to be for Him always, in anything and everything that you will do.

Not all the time was light and warm for us though, and in a way, we thank God that you were spared from the deep hurt that befell your mom and I after your sister Maia’s sudden departure. We know that you continue to miss your sister a lot as you oftentimes asks us when will she come back and how far is heaven so that we can try to fetch her already. In your own innocent ways, you have made her short stay with us memorable for her and I always imagine her looking down after you, totally proud for being your young sister.

As your sibling is just a few months away, your mommy and I are pretty sure that you are going to be once again a great kuya to him/her. You never hide your excitement as you often ask when he/she will be out of mommy’s tummy. But sorry buddy, our new baby is not a quadruplets as you giggly hoped for so you have your undivided attention when he/she finally arrives.

I would also like to take this opportunity to apologize for any short-comings that your mommy and I have shown to you. Particularly for me, I know that you remember the times when I lost my temper and snapped at you during some of our study periods. I promise to work extra hard not to do that anymore so that you will be more encouraged to enjoy your learning rather than to be fearful in forced learning.

Zek, know this well - if I try to narrate all our happy, funny and bonding moments, it would take me more than 7 years to do it. So now I must stop and simply let you know how your mommy and I feel at this moment for you.

We love you so much and we will always love you in our uniquely-for-Zek-only love, as we also have our uniquely-for-Maia-only love and a uniquely-for-new –baby love. There is nothing in this world that can ever take away our love for you, no matter if we are strong and able enough to show it or if we are already gray-haired, toothless and too-old to even remember your name.

So seven years is over and your next 7-year chapter starts today.

We wish you all the best.

God bless you, son.

Day 7

7 Birthday prayer-wishes for you

1.      1. May you continue grow knowing and loving God.

2.      2. May you continue to be a sweet and kind boy as we have known you all these years.

3.      3. May you continue to increase in wisdom and knowledge

4.      4. May you continue to improve your focus to your studies and tasks

5.      5. May you continue to be more obedient,responsible and helpful.

6.      6. May you continue to be confident in your talents yet humble in your accomplishments.

7.      7. May you be safe and healthy at all times (read - learn to eat more vegetables).

Day 6

7 Strong personal virtues

1.      1. Prayerful

2.      2. Sweet

3.      3. Kind

4.      4. Trusting

5.      5. Happy

6.      6. Truthful

7.      7. Friendly

Day 5

 7 Favorite activities / hobbies

1.      1. Lego building

2.      2. Kung-Fu play fight

3.      3. Solving mazes and abstract reasoning

4.      4. Basketball

5.      5. Football

6.      6. Sword fight ala Star Wars

7. Electric Guitar playing ( well this one is not yet a hobby but he has been itching to hold and play one the past few months or so

Day 4

 7 Favorite expressions

1.      1. Hay naku, ano ka ba dyan, Daddy?

2.      2. Balik kayo dito kami!

3.      3. Hmmm….I think I want to buy a…. ( as Daddy and Mommy start to become nervous ha ha)

4.      4. Wow, ang pogi-pogi (everytime we comb his hair)

5.      5. Is that funny, Daddy?

6.      6. Finally, the moment of truth (with matching imitation to Squidwards’ victorious voice)

7.      7. Punta ka na diyan dito (everytime he invites someone to visit us in China)

Day 3

 7 Favorites Songs

1.      1. Ama Namin

2.      2. This Fragile Breath – Todd Agnew

3.      3. Seasons of the Heart - Westlife

4.     4. The Way that you Love me – Boyzone

5.      5. Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head

6.      6. The Great Divide – Linkin Park (Transformer 2 theme song)

7.      7. Baby – Justin Bieber

 Actually,  Zek is quite good at memorizing catchy tunes and rhymes that we just hear him singing something he heard from the TV or PC programs for a few times. This is why his mommy is encouraging him to discover his musical inclinations.

Day 2

  7 Favorite Movies or Shows

1.     1. AFV – Americas Funniest Videos (he would religiously wait for this show)

2.     2. SpongeBob (he is watching this too much that he starts to think I am Patrick )

3.     3. Spiderman

4.     4. Transformers

5.     5. Star Wars

6.     6. Jackie Chan cartoons

7.     7. Clutch Power – Lego DVD

7-Day Countdown to Zek’s 7th Birthday

Our Zek will be celebrating his much-awaited milestone which is his 7th birthday and so his mommy and I decided to make a 7 day 7-item pre-birthday trivia revelation about our eldest son. This is gonna be fun for us in this present time and a gem of a memory in Zek’s future recollection time.

So here we go…..

Day 1

7 Favorite Foods:

1. Fried Chicken

2. BBQ Chicken

3. Hainanese Chicken

……pause…(don’t worry, this will not end in all 7 items being about chicken )

4.  Pepperoni Pizza (see )

5. Hamburger (nowadays including the pickle inside)

6. Sweet Pork

7. Bread (nearly all kinds)

Bless the Children

My favorite priest-writer Fr. Jerry Orbos has once again struck my innermost passion as a father with his latest Sunday article coinciding with the celebration of the Feast of Sto. Nino.

Fr. Orbos said:

“Is your child well-fed?” Good question. “Is your child well-led?” A doubly good question. Someone once said that children are like wet cement—whatever falls on them becomes a part of them, forever. Raising children who will become good persons, God-fearing citizens of our country, and responsible stewards of nature is the mission of each and every parent.

Now that is a straight-forward reminder about my mission over all other missions I wanted to accomplish.

God bless us all parents in our primary and most holy mission.

To read the entire article, please use this link -  http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/columns/view/20110115-314692/Bless-the-children

G1-Q3 Progress Report

Sessions/Activities:

Mondays, we let Zek sing the Phil. National Anthems all by himself.

Fridays, MAPE lessons as required from textbook then do some outdoor games and exercises based on current lesson.

Saturday, we do attend Chinese-English library class.

Our day started with a prayer as he wakes up then breakfast which ends up to 9:30am then we can start do our scheduled studies according to the lessons plan. We do first some physical exercises or outdoor activities according to his likes before we begin our daily lessons and worksheets.

Progress per subject:

CLE:  He is learning more and more about God’s love each day with CLE, he has more control of himself now by knowing what he only wants and what is necessary. We are encouraging him to prioritize on what is more important and pray always in what everything he do including the needs of others.

Math: Zek is now familiar with Division, Fractions and Money but is still with some confusion with the different solutions used for application depending on the problem given especially when it comes to money computations though he know the difference between PESOS and CENTAVOS now.

Language: Zek is more confident now in comparing persons, places, objects and animals using adjectives with correct pronunciations. He can identify and describe nouns by their sizes, color, shape and numbers. He can answers to situations and questions that ask WHERE, WHEN and HOW more clearly now.

Reading: He loves to read more of his short story books now and answering questions after in sequence of event, names of character and places in relation to the story. He can retell more clearly about the book he read on his own words and identify subjects.

Science: He is interested doing our projects in “Heat and Light” and learning fast about forms of Energy, properties of matter with the sound and motions. But still puzzle in some theories with regards the subject unless it is practically represent in daily task.

Filipino: He easily understand now Filipino more clearly and always trying his best to speak the language confidently but still needs assistance with translation on new words for describing everything in details especially using nga salitang kilos na naganap na, nagaganap pa lang at magaganap pa lamang.

Sibika: He learns more about “PAMAYANAN” this time and how to help in relation with basic needs of the family like us. He’s trying hard to explain himself in Filipino language and making a lot of progress.

MUSIC: Zek can now identify pitch names of notes on the lines and spaces of the staff in G-clef but still need a lot of practice for mastery and memorizations of clue words or sentences for both lines and spaces of musical alphabets.

ARTS: He has more ideas now in expressing his feelings or emotions through arts, respect the works of others and can handles art materials properly according to instructions.

PE: Zek is now have more mastery of his basic skills, developed rhythmic skills and has improved locomotors skills with given directions.

Problems Encountered / Solutions:

1. Zek easily gets bored doing a lot of writings or do coloring worksheets

As he do his writing or coloring activities I let him listens to his favorite music so can stay calm and focus on what he’s doing for our time out or sing along together.

2. He easily forgets our lessons that are not interested with him.

We do play games (ex. Teacher Zek & student – mommy & daddy) of subjects that are least of his interest or talks about it whenever we can get the chance to incorporate whatever topic needed to be discussed for his mastery.

3. Most of the songs in our CLE books are not familiar to us even if we do searching online.

For our alternatives, we do let Zek watch “A Smile of Child” TV program to learn some related songs and additional stories according to the Bible that are also needed to be discussed with him.