learnings from my student

I need a complete overhaul in terms of relating with the boys.

I cannot keep up with their energies specially in the early evenings when I come home from school. I think they still act normal for their respective ages with Andres and Ponso relating by ganging up on each other for television control or who gets to transform the fucking Optimus Prime into a truck or a robot. Its a mystery how they always, I mean always, want to transform the fucking Optimus Prime at the same time and space. Why most of the time, I see the robot just lying down on a pile of toys while the two of them just sit down and drink their Yakults. Why can't they want to transform the Autobot at different times? I get ill-tempered with that situation and gets to release negative energies that I am sure affects the boys in a definitely negative way. I also feel bad on how I handle such situations and how I react to their antics.

Man, I was looking for some answers to this situation, meditating, and contemplating over bottles of beer while checking my students' reflection papers on their experiences being with less privileged children. One said: "At first, I got tired trying to control these children telling them the do's and dont's while they continue to disobey me. Then, I learned that what is important is to really just be with them and play with them. After that, it all became easy."

I have to read more reflection papers.

Breastfeeding Philippines

I am a Breastfeeding advocate. My friend is an active proponent of the idea that mothers should breastfeed their children at all cost and that the milk formula is the devil's way of putting humanity astray.

I have read the positive effects of natural way of nurturing children, of the natural way of feeding.

But we had limitations at home that made us succumb to the devil's food, the milk formula. After three months of maternity leave (because of the C-section operation that allow mothers a 75 day rest), its back to work and back to the chain gang.

This situation gives the impetus to resort to milk bottle formula to continue the baby's sustenance, in spite of the negative effect of cow's milk. The magic of breastfeeding cannot be matched by the formula but we did not prepare ourselves to adjust to the requirements of feeding the babies with mother's milk. We did bought two breast pump but it was sparsely used because of the stress that came with the change of schedules. No milk would come out!

Breastfeeding requires preparation, practice, and rhythm to ensure that it is incorporated with the mother's lifestyle. We tried it but we were not very successful in that field.

To learn more about breastfeeding, visit this link

http://breastfeedingphilippines.com/

Andres and Mr. James Brown

Michael Jackson died. And our Vigan tiled floor was never the same again. Andres wants to learn how to do the moonwalk ala-Michael Jackson circa early 1980s when he rocked with you with everyone in his sequined white glove and flowing dance moves. I only know how to Walk on the Moon as sung by The Police.

Andres would watch the MTV channels to catch a glimpse of MJ’s moonwalk moves then discuss the cause of his death and contribution to the world. Not wanting to remove his nascent interest in music, I would segue my Michael Jackson opinions to what I think is more essential to the music world, James Brown.

I told him of a great man named James Brown who redesigned the landscape of dance as he grooved to his soul funk groove breakout style. A good singer that bridged the color divides between black and white America of his time with his style.

I thought he just let the spirits control his body for his funky steps in an oido manner but he actually named his dance steps and even had a video clip to save it for future James Brown wannabes. I’m glad and it is not only for Andres but for me as well. I feel good!