Last Thursday (Feb 17th), Matthew had his first experience in photojournalism. Their Journalism Club hosted a contest in time for their Foundation Day in school and they had to take pictures using a manual camera. We let him take our one and only camera (the LX3) only after an endless sermon on how to be careful with things and not be forgetful. Matthew has this awful trait of forgetting where he put things and he can be careless at times. All the time he was out, I was praying he will return the camera in one piece.

And he did! He even had this surprise for me:

He gave me this because he didn’t have a Valentine’s present and a birthday present. And I was touched because he took it off his allowance for the day.

Here are some shots he took:

I would like to post more but there are other kids involved and I would not want to post their faces here without permission

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Sorry this is so late. Trying to make sure I’ve got everything covered.

June 16,2010

It was your first time to go to school alone – no Mommy to wait with you before the school bell rings and to wait for you once the lobby door opens. I was anxious but you seem to be taking it pretty well. You would throw tantrums, yes, but with a little distracting you can forget that Mommy wont be riding in the bus today. After a minor spat with your jogging pants (you thought they were too loose) and your rubber shoes (you wanted it to be boots), we waited outside for the bus to arrive.

As I look into this picture I can’t help I’m getting to be useless with my children these days. They eat on their own, they have playmates, and well, they are starting to think Mommy is not as cool as they initially thought I would be, with all the “rules” I have implemented with school. But you guessed it, Martha saves my deflating Mommy ego by saying:

”Mom, iyak ako pag wala ka.”

Of course when the bus arrived, her bus mate told on me:
”Umiyak po yan kahapon.”

She immediately butted in:
”Di na nga ako crcry today eh”
And turned to me:
”Bye Ma!”

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First day today when I didnt wait for her. I never realized I would make such a big deal out of it – but here I am, making it one. I know sooner or later I need to do this, I just need to make sure when I do,I’d not be coming back the next day to accompany her again.

I need to trust and have faith she will handle herself well. And well, the mommy is having a hard time letting go. If only you can walk away but still have your magic strings around them.

Pero ika nga, with all things – cut clean.
Martha will be fine.

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Both kids are going to school this June and this is where having kids five years apart start to manifest some challenges. For one thing, they would require entirely different study spaces. Matthew is on the 4th grade already and would require a more structured area (with a space for computer) while Martha needs smaller workstations in generally more colorful tones. I am still deciding where to place Martha’s study table but I will be getting her a table like the one in her school to show continuity in study practices (I am hoping it will encourage her to follow along class rules and be more comfortable in school).

I’d love something like this for Matthew:

We have several of loft design beds saved for future reference when we have a place of our own. In reality, Matthew will get the general study tables you see at the mall plus shelf.

Martha will get something like this:

Our terrace is also conducive for learning. We might get outdoor chair cushions for our adirondack chairs if we have the extra money.

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