When you thought I wasn't looking...

I read this in a billboard some place and I enjoyed it.  It's so true how children pick up so much from the things that we don't even realize they are observing, imbibing and learning as they see it happen.

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Author: Unknown

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator,
and I wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw you feed a stray cat,
and I thought it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw you make my favorite cake for me,
and I knew that little things are special things.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I heard you say a prayer,
and I believed that there was a God to talk to.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I felt you kiss me goodnight,
and I felt loved.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw tears come from your eyes,
and I learned that sometimes things hurt,
but it's alright to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw that you cared,
and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I looked....
and I wanted to say thanks for all the things
I saw when you thought I wasn't looking.

9/11 conversation between six year olds

We went to the local park last evening where KB's friend also joined us.  There was a small gathering of people for a 9/11 memorial speech.  Police officers were standing around in the periphery.  I had talked to KB about 9/11 that morning.  I happened to over hear the conversation between KB and his friend.

KB: You know S, ten years back, some bad guys came in a plane and knocked down two towers by ramming the plane into the towers.  Lots of people died because of that.

S: Oh!

KB: Yeah, and now they have made a big water fall in that spot to remember all the people that died.  And they have built another humongous tower next to it.  It is 1776 feet tall.

S: Is this real life stuff?

It was such an innocent and simple line from his friend.  But it is so true.  The insanity of such terrorist acts makes you really think, "Could this be happening in real life?".  It has to be the stuff of violent comic books. Not real life.  I hope some day in the future that becomes a reality - that such things do not happen in real life. 

New schools for KB and KG

The new academic year has begun! Summer holidays are over! Sigh! I did have a good time with the kids at home and not having to rush to school in the mornings but I think now we are all ready for school in a way.  I have renewed admiration for homeschooling parents now! How do they manage to instill discipline in their children and make sure they go through the curriculum and more while the kids are home all the time with them!

KB is starting first grade in a different school.  He did not get into first grade at the school he was in because they changed it to a lottery system in the middle of the year and he did not get it in the lottery.  Just couple of days back they called and told me that he did get a spot from being on the wait list in the lottery line but at that point I was not interested because KB was mentally prepared to join the new school.  His best friend is going to be in the same class, so he is very excited about it.  School starts tomorrow!  At least I have one friend (mom) who will come to the same school.  I know there are a couple of ultra competitive Indian moms in this class who ask a lot of questions and even ask exactly what grades your child got (in KG that too) in the report card.  I have to find ways to avoid those types because they really do irritate me and somewhat stress me out.  I lucked out for KB's Kindergarten because at least no one was explicitly so competitive with their kids/comparing etc.  I feel like I am the one going to school with every passing year!

KB was sick with his usual Bronchitis type coughing on Monday night.  I was so worried that we would end up in ER but thankfully we got through the night.  I made a donation to one of the organizations in India as a mark of my thanks for us getting through the night without having to rush to ER.  Every time KB starts coughing that deep cough, I just dread it.  The poor kid goes into these spasms of coughing until he throws up a lot of mucus and only then can he sleep for a few hours.  And in the process his stomach muscles hurt.  I gave him ginger with honey twice that morning and he kept drinking a lot of water.  God knows what helped or didn't help, at least thankfully the next morning he woke up feeling much better.  I was so relieved when he ate his breakfast without having to throw up because the previous night he could not eat a bite of his dinner.  I have ordered an Oximeter to keep track of his Oxygen levels during such episodes to know if it is serious enough to go to ER or not.

I changed schools for KG also because for the same money I was able to get her to go four full days and that way I could pick up KB and then go and pick KG back to back.  In the old school she could only go half a day for the same money.  KG has joined a Montessori school this time around.  I don't know if this is a good Montessori or not - I just don't know how to judge if I can't volunteer in the class or observe from outside.  I am just going by the recommendation of two of my friends who seemed to have liked it.  I feel bad for KG because she is really missing her friends (not close but at least she considered them friends).  She had lost a puzzle piece the second day of school and she started crying the moment she saw me because she was afraid the teachers might be mad at her.  The next day again she cried because one of the girls told her that she would not show her stamp to her.  Today she says two kids said they did not want to sit next to her - but she did not cry about it.  Also, she is very stressed out about having to clean her lunch mat with a sponge. I don't know why that is so stressful for her.  She knows how to do it but somehow she keeps talking about it.  I am praying she adjusts well and makes one or two friends because right now she seems to not be having fun.  But at least she does not cry and also she seems to enjoy doing puzzles and some of the pouring activities there.  Keeping fingers crossed.

Well, more updates on the new schools once they settle in! How has your new school year been so far? For the ones who have already started school.  Eager to know!