Friday, August 6, 2010
Mommy, how did I get to this world?
Have you watched a Singapore movie named "I Not Stupid" before? This time I'd like to share a little dialogue from the movie "I Not Stupid 2".
Jerry is an 8 year old student in a primary school in Singapore. His parents do not praise him very often, but he never think of himself as stupid. One day, the students had to get together to rehearse for the National Day's performance. Just when the teacher walked away for a moment, two of the mischievous kids pushed Jerry towards a girl who was sitting opposite him. He then kissed her cheek accidentally. They both blushed, don't know what to do but kept on wiping their lips... The other kids on the other hand, took it as a joke and laughed at them.
However, this "joke" doesn't end here. During their break time, the children were taking a nap. This time, two of the mischievous kids grabbed the opportunity and carried Jerry to that girl. Then, they put him down beside the girl as if they were being intimate. When they woke up and found each other in such intimate position, they just got set up in a fiasco atmosphere. When Jerry got home, he saw a TV show that tells a story of a woman who got pregnant after she kissed and slept with a man. Hence, he thought that the girl might be pregnant since they kissed and "slept" with each other. The other children were always laughing at them that they were going to be parents soon.
Jerry couldn't find the true answer anywhere, then, he decided to ask the people around him.
Jerry: Grandma, where do babies come from?
Grandma: Babies are collected from rubbish bin. You'll know when you grow up.
Jerry: Yati (maid), how do we have babies?
Maid: Rubbish bin!
Jerry: Rubbish bin?
Maid: This kind of things don't need to be taught, you'll know it soon.
Still, he couldn't find the right answer. Getting more and more confused, he walked to his brother's room where his elder brother was watching pornography with his friends.
Jerry: Brother, why is that man banging that lady?
His sudden appearance scared his brother and friends to death. They were afraid, and Jerry was locked outside the door.
Jerry: But I just want to ask a question! Where do babies come from?! ....
Getting rejected, he had no choice but to look for his mother. However, Jerry wasn't having a good relationship with his mother. He couldn't speak his mind directly to his mother. All this while they've been posting little notes on the fridge to contact. This time, he wrote "Mom, how did I get into this world? - Jerry"But at the end, the reply was "You'll know when you grew up.".
The other day after school, Jerry met his teacher who's currently pregnant.
Teacher: Hi Jerry, are you waiting for your maid?
Jerry: Yes.
Teacher: Are your parents coming to see your performance?
Jerry: Teacher, can you give me some more time? I haven't discuss with them yet.
Teacher: What happened? You have a big business you need to handle and you don't even have the time to talk to your parents? (with a joking tone) Well you better hurry, there's not much seats left.
Jerry: Teacher, can I ask you one question?
Teacher: Of course.
Jerry: How did you get pregnant?
The teacher's happy smile faded away, and she started to felt embarrassed. She replied: Ermm... It's... It's when a worm from the father and an egg from the mother combined to form a embryo. The embryo then starts to grow in the mother.
Jerry: Is it your father's worm?
Teacher: No....
Jerry: Who put the worm inside?
The teacher idled for a moment and replied: This will be taught in your syllabus next year. I have to run now, bye!
Once again, Jerry was disappointed.
Few days later, Jerry heard a pregnant woman saying that eating pineapple could bring abortion. Thus, Jerry bought a lot of pineapples and asked the little girl to eat it. The little girl ended up getting a drastic stomach ache. They had no choice but to see the doctor soon.
Doctor: Little boy, did she eat a lot of pineapple?
Jerry: The baby should have come out now.
Doctor: Little girl, tell me, is there anyone bullying you? Boy, can you tell me who bullied her?
Jerry: No one bullied her.
Doctor: Then baby...?
Jerry: It's mine.
Helplessly, the doctor explained why she had the stomach ache and both their parents went to the clinic furiously to get them home.
Jerry thought to himself: Abortion by eating pineapple doesn't really make sense. If dad and mom told me this earlier I wouldn't have make this mistake.
Postscript:
From the beginning of the story, we know that Jerry doesn't think of himself as stupid. He seems to be confident of himself. As we could see, his parents never praise him much. From here, we understand that Jerry always wanted love from his parents. Actually, contributing to the school's activity isn't a bad thing. Parents should have supported the children and not telling them that it's a waste of time. We must always remember to try and understand what the children are thinking, and to support and encourage them. After all, children do what they can so that we agree on the things they do. Other than that, communicating through the post-it notes is already a big communication problem. Communication problem isn't a short term problem. Possible reasons may be the kid lacking of love from the family. Just as our mentor has always encouraged us to have dialogue with the people around us. This is how we should treat our children too, to have dialogues with them. Only through continuous dialogue can we nurture the them into the bright "suns". Mother and child always has a special relationship. If we found that the relationship is being worse, we must act fast to recover it.
What do you think of Jerry? Do you think of this story as a plain comedy? But for me, I'd think that this story educate us a lot from the children's aspect on the things that happen around us. For the PICs out there, what if you encounter the same questions from here? How would you react or answer? We might feel ashamed, but still, we have to explain it in the right way.
Have you ever think that it's essential for the kids to know it? Once they enter the age of adolescence, their knowledge grows with curiosity. From here, most of the teenagers go for pornography to satisfy their curiosity. If this persist, things could go worse. Till then, parents would then have to take up the responsibility and blame themselves for not telling what should have been told earlier. These are the things that's happening in our society. Why throw away the future of our kids just because we feel embarrassed? Thus, we must our children as adult and give them the knowledge they need. This is the purpose of education. The children has to grow up in a healthy environment that provides them the right education they need. We must never mislead our children with answers like "Babies come from the dustbin". So now remember, we must never say this kind of answers anymore.
Our mentor once said:
To a mother, to worry for her children is a hard and painful thing for her to do. Whenever they encounter problems that couldn't be solved easily, this pain will never end. Just because they're in worry, she's lost the confident to trust her child. But for the kids, there's only one mother. If the mother couldn't even be strong, the children would have lost their only support then. Even if there doesn't seem to be a way, just stand up strong with your children. This is an essential phase to tighten up the relationship between the mother and the children. Every tunnel has its exit. Mother and child should keep moving forward together, moving towards the light.
Shared by,
Indian Sister.
Jerry is an 8 year old student in a primary school in Singapore. His parents do not praise him very often, but he never think of himself as stupid. One day, the students had to get together to rehearse for the National Day's performance. Just when the teacher walked away for a moment, two of the mischievous kids pushed Jerry towards a girl who was sitting opposite him. He then kissed her cheek accidentally. They both blushed, don't know what to do but kept on wiping their lips... The other kids on the other hand, took it as a joke and laughed at them.
However, this "joke" doesn't end here. During their break time, the children were taking a nap. This time, two of the mischievous kids grabbed the opportunity and carried Jerry to that girl. Then, they put him down beside the girl as if they were being intimate. When they woke up and found each other in such intimate position, they just got set up in a fiasco atmosphere. When Jerry got home, he saw a TV show that tells a story of a woman who got pregnant after she kissed and slept with a man. Hence, he thought that the girl might be pregnant since they kissed and "slept" with each other. The other children were always laughing at them that they were going to be parents soon.
Jerry couldn't find the true answer anywhere, then, he decided to ask the people around him.
Jerry: Grandma, where do babies come from?
Grandma: Babies are collected from rubbish bin. You'll know when you grow up.
Jerry: Yati (maid), how do we have babies?
Maid: Rubbish bin!
Jerry: Rubbish bin?
Maid: This kind of things don't need to be taught, you'll know it soon.
Still, he couldn't find the right answer. Getting more and more confused, he walked to his brother's room where his elder brother was watching pornography with his friends.
Jerry: Brother, why is that man banging that lady?
His sudden appearance scared his brother and friends to death. They were afraid, and Jerry was locked outside the door.
Jerry: But I just want to ask a question! Where do babies come from?! ....
Getting rejected, he had no choice but to look for his mother. However, Jerry wasn't having a good relationship with his mother. He couldn't speak his mind directly to his mother. All this while they've been posting little notes on the fridge to contact. This time, he wrote "Mom, how did I get into this world? - Jerry"But at the end, the reply was "You'll know when you grew up.".
The other day after school, Jerry met his teacher who's currently pregnant.
Teacher: Hi Jerry, are you waiting for your maid?
Jerry: Yes.
Teacher: Are your parents coming to see your performance?
Jerry: Teacher, can you give me some more time? I haven't discuss with them yet.
Teacher: What happened? You have a big business you need to handle and you don't even have the time to talk to your parents? (with a joking tone) Well you better hurry, there's not much seats left.
Jerry: Teacher, can I ask you one question?
Teacher: Of course.
Jerry: How did you get pregnant?
The teacher's happy smile faded away, and she started to felt embarrassed. She replied: Ermm... It's... It's when a worm from the father and an egg from the mother combined to form a embryo. The embryo then starts to grow in the mother.
Jerry: Is it your father's worm?
Teacher: No....
Jerry: Who put the worm inside?
The teacher idled for a moment and replied: This will be taught in your syllabus next year. I have to run now, bye!
Once again, Jerry was disappointed.
Few days later, Jerry heard a pregnant woman saying that eating pineapple could bring abortion. Thus, Jerry bought a lot of pineapples and asked the little girl to eat it. The little girl ended up getting a drastic stomach ache. They had no choice but to see the doctor soon.
Doctor: Little boy, did she eat a lot of pineapple?
Jerry: The baby should have come out now.
Doctor: Little girl, tell me, is there anyone bullying you? Boy, can you tell me who bullied her?
Jerry: No one bullied her.
Doctor: Then baby...?
Jerry: It's mine.
Helplessly, the doctor explained why she had the stomach ache and both their parents went to the clinic furiously to get them home.
Jerry thought to himself: Abortion by eating pineapple doesn't really make sense. If dad and mom told me this earlier I wouldn't have make this mistake.
Postscript:
From the beginning of the story, we know that Jerry doesn't think of himself as stupid. He seems to be confident of himself. As we could see, his parents never praise him much. From here, we understand that Jerry always wanted love from his parents. Actually, contributing to the school's activity isn't a bad thing. Parents should have supported the children and not telling them that it's a waste of time. We must always remember to try and understand what the children are thinking, and to support and encourage them. After all, children do what they can so that we agree on the things they do. Other than that, communicating through the post-it notes is already a big communication problem. Communication problem isn't a short term problem. Possible reasons may be the kid lacking of love from the family. Just as our mentor has always encouraged us to have dialogue with the people around us. This is how we should treat our children too, to have dialogues with them. Only through continuous dialogue can we nurture the them into the bright "suns". Mother and child always has a special relationship. If we found that the relationship is being worse, we must act fast to recover it.
What do you think of Jerry? Do you think of this story as a plain comedy? But for me, I'd think that this story educate us a lot from the children's aspect on the things that happen around us. For the PICs out there, what if you encounter the same questions from here? How would you react or answer? We might feel ashamed, but still, we have to explain it in the right way.
Have you ever think that it's essential for the kids to know it? Once they enter the age of adolescence, their knowledge grows with curiosity. From here, most of the teenagers go for pornography to satisfy their curiosity. If this persist, things could go worse. Till then, parents would then have to take up the responsibility and blame themselves for not telling what should have been told earlier. These are the things that's happening in our society. Why throw away the future of our kids just because we feel embarrassed? Thus, we must our children as adult and give them the knowledge they need. This is the purpose of education. The children has to grow up in a healthy environment that provides them the right education they need. We must never mislead our children with answers like "Babies come from the dustbin". So now remember, we must never say this kind of answers anymore.
Our mentor once said:
To a mother, to worry for her children is a hard and painful thing for her to do. Whenever they encounter problems that couldn't be solved easily, this pain will never end. Just because they're in worry, she's lost the confident to trust her child. But for the kids, there's only one mother. If the mother couldn't even be strong, the children would have lost their only support then. Even if there doesn't seem to be a way, just stand up strong with your children. This is an essential phase to tighten up the relationship between the mother and the children. Every tunnel has its exit. Mother and child should keep moving forward together, moving towards the light.
Shared by,
Indian Sister.
Labels: k. little angel dialogue
The Curious Kid
The following is a piece of dialogue adapted from a japanese drama series, "Edi No Haha" (Edison's Mother). In a fine sunny day, the kids planned to get out to a small house to play. Unfortunately, they got the house on fire. Coincidentally, their class teacher passed by that house...
Teacher: Kids!!
Children: Teacher!
Teacher: Why are you all here?
Children: This is our secret hang out place...
Teacher: Secret hang out place? Did you set the house on fire?!
Student 1: No! It's not us! It's Hana! He brought a lighter and set it on fire!
Student 2: That's right! He asked us to play fire together!
Teacher: Hana!!
Hana: Teacher... The fire is great! It's so great! A few drops of water can't put out the fire, covering it with a mat doesn't put it out either! It's yellow and red and it dances too! The sound of it is funny, as if it was talking! But it's very hot and scary sometimes. But it dies away when we use the fire extinguisher.
Teacher: Hana! Did you set the house on fire!?
Hana: Yea, I lighted up the candle...
Teacher: Did you ask the other children to play fire with you!?
Hana: Yes... Yes I did... (with a regretful tone)
Teacher: Why? Why do you always do these kind of things?!
At this moment, the teacher saw that Hana's hand had a burnt wound and hugged him tightly.
The next day, Hana was sitting alone by a side. A university professor saw him sitting alone and went over to him.
Professor: Cheer up! Don't be sad and down just because you face failure on your discovery and learning process. How your invention on the time machine?
Hana: (Started crying) If only I had a time machine, then I could go back to yesterday and tell myself not to bring the lighter to the secret hang out place.
Postscript:
This incident made the school and parents so worried. The parents were afraid and asked for Hana to leave the school for their children's sake. However, the children don't want Hana to go, hence they got together and went back to the house and searched for some proof. They found out that it wasn't all Hana's fault on this incident, thus they got back to the school and decided to tell the truth. At the end, Hana get to stay in the school.
All he ever wanted was to share his knowledge with the other children and to make people happy. All this while the other children has learned and grew with his influence. It's the same as Thomas Edison when he was little. His actions were unacceptable and was thought to be troublesome. The people rejected him and neglected his curiosity. However, his mother believed in his potential and gave him the right education. And at the end, he's a famous person who had contributed a lot to the world now. If we could just protect our children patiently, and to believe them from within the heart, to support and to encourage them continuously, we could all be Edison's mother then.
It is important for us, PICs to discover their possibility and potential, to listen to them when they needed us. If you haven't done that, let's start from today. When we start to listen to the children, they build their trust on us. The future division is our treasure, our sun, our successor. Their growth is our organization's development and future, hence, we need to foster and encourage them into confident individuals. We should train them to be a person who could do things of a thousand people, meaning to say that they have a great ability to contribute and carry out their actions. This is the capable people we need in the organization!
There's a Youth Division who once asked the Sensei "How should we foster the future division in this low birth rate era?"
Sensei said: "This is an important issue, I'm thinking about it too! Future Division decides the organization's future. Every single person is even more important now since it's a low birth rate era. Hence, we have to value every single person, and we must foster every person to have the ability to do a thousand people's work. This is also why I exerted myself fully on education, to foster the future division. I depend on all of you!"
Shared by,
Indian Sister.
Labels: k. little angel dialogue
Friday, July 30, 2010
A Heart of Curiosity
This is a piece of dialogue adapted from the Japanese drama series named "Edi No Haha" (Edison's Mother). This drama talks about a standard 1 boy who's always curious about the things that are happening around him. He has a curiosity as big as the one Thomas Edison had. And this little "Edison" is named Hana. Ever since Hana switched to a school in Tokyo, he has been doing things that makes everyone worry. His actions made the teachers and the school feel troubled. It has also caused many problems to the school.
One day, Hana's mother decided to pay the school a visit so that she could have a talk with Hana's teachers. Hana's mother and his class teacher decided to have a talk in the classroom.
Hana's Mother: That's Hana's drawing! It's on the board! Before this, his drawings would only be torn apart by his teachers.
Class Teacher: Torn apart?
Hana's Mother: There was once he was asked to draw a portrait of his friend, but at the end he coloured his friend's face in purple. It has no special reason, it's just that he likes purple. His former class teacher got so angry and asked "Isn't this a monster?". This is why I felt happy to see that his drawings are allowed to be tagged on board.
Class teacher: I see.
The teacher was curious about Hana's drawing and asked "What is this drawing about?"
Hana's mother laughed and replied: This is a drawing about me and Hana. It was about the day we moved here to Tokyo. It was a snowy day, I could still remember he said....
Hana: Mom, why?
Hana's Mother: Yes? Now what's troubling you?
Hana: Why did dad left us? Why do we need to move? Why?
Hana's Mother: I'm sorry Hana, I don't know why either. Even if I don't know why, and I don't know what to do, we still have to keep moving forward.
Hana: Keep moving forward?
Hana's mother: Yes. We could only get to see new things when we keep moving forward. Everything will be better, so let's keep moving forward.
Hana: OK!
Hana's mother smiled and told the teacher: That time might be tough for me, but I know that Hana's happy.
Class Teacher: What a tough challenge you're facing.
Postscript:
When I first watched this drama, I admire this child a lot. It's not often to see children behave this way. But there's a common curiosity that every child has. It's not unusual for the children to keep on asking questions, questions even the parents couldn't answer. What's important is that parents do their best to answer the children, and carefully explain the details about what they've asked. When you encounter some questions that you don't have the answers, you should then seek the answers for them. Remember, if we hide the answer from their questions, they might think that we're hiding something from him. From here, they might lose their trust on us.
The child might have agreed to keep moving forward, but still he'd like to see his parents getting back together. We could often see "imperfect" families nowadays, but have we forgot that children always wanted a perfect family? Nevertheless, being the outsiders, all we could do is to explain things and make the children understand the situation, and lastly encourage them to face things positively.
Actually, I'm a person who likes to ask "why" too! This always annoys people. Whenever I ask "Why? Why? Why?", most of the people only answered me superficially. There's not much people who could patiently explain the answers to my questions, but I'd get a great satisfaction. I never think that this could be disgraceful, because I'm just curious. At least I get to know more than the others, learn more than the others. Why throw away an opportunity to learn just because the way people look at you?
As our Sensei said "Questioning is an opportunity for the us to think. The person who's questioning and the one who's questioned could also build more faith. Hence, worry nothing, and ask whenever you want to."
Shared by,
Indian Sister.
Labels: k. little angel dialogue
Children Are Our Role Model
Due to the worsening problem of H1N1, meetings and activities has been cancelled. JD Meetings and activities have no exception too. Thus, we have to be more active on home-visits. The following is a piece of dialogue between 2 JD PICs, Happy and D, and a Junior Division named Mei Mei.
Happy: Hi Mei Mei, we haven't seen each other for a while.
Mei: Is it?
Happy. Yup. I could still remember that you sounded sadly on the phone when I told you that the JD meet was cancelled.
Mei: No, that didn't happen.
D: How are you lately?
Mei: Not well.
Happy: Why? The year is coming to an end, when is your school holiday starting?
Mei: Next year.
Happy: That far?
D: Why is it so far? When will your exam takes place?
Mei: Last year, I got 100 marks.
Mei didn't really pay attention whit the dialogue, but she grabbed a pen and started drawing on her leg.
D: Why are you drawing on your leg? Why don't you draw it on a piece of paper?
Mei: Because I like to do so.
Happy: You like to draw?
Mei: No.
Happy: Then which subject is your favourite?
Mei: Erm.... I like Chinese subject.
Happy: Why is it particularly Chinese?
Mei: ... (She didn't say anything but kept on drawing)
D: Why don't you draw something and we'll make a wild guess of what you're drawing?
Mei: OK. (She took a piece of paper, and started drawing.)
D: Oh! I know what's that! It's an iron.
Mei: Haha.
Happy: What are you going to draw next?
Mei: I don't know.
D: Why are you so quiet?
Happy: Yea, do you have anything that you want to tell us?
Mei: I don't know.
Happy: Just remember to always look for us if you have something that you want to tell us.
D: Yes.
Postscript:
Parents being the role model of their children is an ordinary thing.Could the children be a role model for their parents? But before we get into the main topic here, I'd like to ask for your opinion after reading the above dialogue. What do you think about this little girl?
Actually, Mei Mei's parents aren't Soka member. She get to attend the JD Meet through he aunt. Because her parents weren't Soka member and that they don't have Gohonzon in the family, she has lesser opportunity to chant and do gongyo. Thus, whenever she was asked about the organization or the Buddhism, she'd say "I don't know.". Whenever there's a JD meet, Mei Mei's aunt will let her mother know so that she could attend the meeting. But as JD PICs, we do not only train and help the kids grow, but we should let the parents know more about our society.
When the parents went out to work and had a long and busy day, wouldn't they be happy if someday they found out that their children has changed, and achieved growth. This is what we need to achieve! When the parents could see how much their children has grown, they'll understand that Junior Division is not just another daycare centre, but a platform for their growth. When we gave our best effort, together with the power of daimoku, we could touch the people's heart someday. This is the opportunity for the parents to learn more about the society, and it depends on us to decide how to use this opportunity well.
You might think that kids like to say things on the opposite intention and it's ordinary for them to do that. Come to think of it, aren't we ignoring the true words that lies behind? There are lots of reasons for the children to say things with the opposite intention. As for Mei Mei, she could be just seeking for people's attention. After school, she'd stay at her aunt's house and her grandmother would take care of her. Everyday her parents would pick her up after they came back from work. Her family and relatives' busy life kept her from having contact with them. They could barely share time together. This is the possible problem that I noticed from this family. Till this point, we should never forget that the children don't know how to express themselves. Is it usual to see the kids express their feelings through their actions, through what they do. Here, we're only focusing on the habit of saying something of the opposite intention. What about other little habits that we haven't notice? Have we understand our children well? Or are we just preparing and having the JD meet for the sake of doing? What's worth thinking is the aim/intention or feeling when we first joined the JD PIC's team. Have we forgot or are we lost from our very first intention? Have we treat this "job" seriously?
The children's hearts are whispering. We'll know their story if only we pay attention to them.
Shared by,
Happy.
Labels: k. little angel dialogue
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Getting Into High School
The following is a dialogue between 3 JD PICs and a JD that's going to enter secondary school soon. (RD, KQ, and Happy as JD PICs, and Xuan as JD.)
RD, KQ, Happy: Hi, Xuan.
Xuan: Hi.
Happy: Hey Xuan, you've finished UPSR and you're going to get into secondary school now.
Xuan: Yes.
Happy: Have you chosen any school that you would like to enter?
Xuan: Well, temporarily I'll be registering under the SMK Pandan Indah. I'm going to try for the Confucian Secondary School.
RD: How about your UPSR result? Is it good?
Xuan: OK I guess.
Happy: How do you feel now? You've finished your studies in the primary school.
Xuan: Of course I'm a little nervous.
Happy: I was just like you back then. I wasn't sure of the things in secondary school. But don't worry too much, because you have something that other people don't, Gohonzon. You can chant before you start studying in high school and gather your courage to face what's ahead of you.
Xuan: Yes, I'm also chanting lately.
KQ: What about gongyo?
Xuan: Yes, I'd do my morning and night gongyo everyday.
KQ: Good.
RD: What do you expect to get before your result came out?
Xuan: Err...
RD: Well actually, we have to be sure of what we're doing. This is the same for studies and results. We have to know why do our parents and teachers always ask us to get a good result. Have you ever thought of that?
Xuan: Err... I don't know...
RD: To me, I need to get good results to repay my parents. My parents have been taking care of me for so many years, and I have to give my best effort, achieve good result, get a job in the society, and repay them.
Xuan: Oh.
Happy: But don't give yourself too much pressure. Just do your best, and you please don't need to compare yourself. It will be fine as long as you've worked hard and gave your best effort.
KQ: Right. Everyone has their own talent. Just like you, you could dance very well.
Happy: That's right! What about your sister?
(At this very moment, Xuan's little sister came over and happily shared her colour pencils with us. She even sat down and drew something.)
RD: Wow, you're very good with colours.
Little sister: Hehe...
KQ: Now you see, everyone's got their own distinctive talent. Even though you achieved a result that was out of your expectations, don't give up and keep on challenging.
Xuan: Oh.
Happy: Don't worry too much about high school, just do the things step by step. You'd be a YWD after you entered high school. If you encounter anything or if you have anything you want to say you could always look for KQ.
KQ: That's right. We're all joining the organization's activity happily just like a big family.
Xuan: I know.
Happy: Now that you're going to enter high school, you're the big sister now. You must learn to take care of your little sisters. You can try to encourage your sister to draw more often. You will found yourself being encouraged when you started encouraging people.
Xuan: Ok. She really likes to draw.
Little sister: Hehe...
Postscript:
Those who are going to enter high school soon are always full of worries and being nervous. Too much insecurity and unknown lying ahead and this always makes us worry. But this is not a phase that we could neglect. It is very important that we give the children some reminders or to share some of our experience with them as they undergo massive changes from the inner environment and the outer environment. It is often that the parents might neglect the elder kids of them who are also growing. They tend to care more for the younger ones. But let's not forget this is an important phase when our children start to face different problems and challenges. As JD PICs, we don't just hand the children over to the HSD/YMD/YWD after standard 6 as if it has nothing to do with us anymore. What we should do, is to attentively keep track on them and to grow together with them. Hence, we should always keep on caring for our children even though they're not in the Junior Division anymore.
This child tends to answer us with a single word "Oh", "Ok" and so on. These little habits are the signs telling us that we need to care more about them. There are always lots of unknown things around them in this moment, and as JD PICs, we must help them to grow as they walk forward. Knowing what we're fighting for (aim), is one way to let us share and grow with them. For example, exams and studies. We must always remember to let them know they aim and reason as they understand more and more about their mission. But of course we can't push them too hard. We could only give them suitable motivations and encouragements or else it might turned out wrong.
It is up to us when it comes to cultivating the ("There's nothing more valuable then the youth who face daily challenges in their lives and still being active in the organization's activity.") youth praised by President Ikeda.
Shared by,
Happy.
RD, KQ, Happy: Hi, Xuan.
Xuan: Hi.
Happy: Hey Xuan, you've finished UPSR and you're going to get into secondary school now.
Xuan: Yes.
Happy: Have you chosen any school that you would like to enter?
Xuan: Well, temporarily I'll be registering under the SMK Pandan Indah. I'm going to try for the Confucian Secondary School.
RD: How about your UPSR result? Is it good?
Xuan: OK I guess.
Happy: How do you feel now? You've finished your studies in the primary school.
Xuan: Of course I'm a little nervous.
Happy: I was just like you back then. I wasn't sure of the things in secondary school. But don't worry too much, because you have something that other people don't, Gohonzon. You can chant before you start studying in high school and gather your courage to face what's ahead of you.
Xuan: Yes, I'm also chanting lately.
KQ: What about gongyo?
Xuan: Yes, I'd do my morning and night gongyo everyday.
KQ: Good.
RD: What do you expect to get before your result came out?
Xuan: Err...
RD: Well actually, we have to be sure of what we're doing. This is the same for studies and results. We have to know why do our parents and teachers always ask us to get a good result. Have you ever thought of that?
Xuan: Err... I don't know...
RD: To me, I need to get good results to repay my parents. My parents have been taking care of me for so many years, and I have to give my best effort, achieve good result, get a job in the society, and repay them.
Xuan: Oh.
Happy: But don't give yourself too much pressure. Just do your best, and you please don't need to compare yourself. It will be fine as long as you've worked hard and gave your best effort.
KQ: Right. Everyone has their own talent. Just like you, you could dance very well.
Happy: That's right! What about your sister?
(At this very moment, Xuan's little sister came over and happily shared her colour pencils with us. She even sat down and drew something.)
RD: Wow, you're very good with colours.
Little sister: Hehe...
KQ: Now you see, everyone's got their own distinctive talent. Even though you achieved a result that was out of your expectations, don't give up and keep on challenging.
Xuan: Oh.
Happy: Don't worry too much about high school, just do the things step by step. You'd be a YWD after you entered high school. If you encounter anything or if you have anything you want to say you could always look for KQ.
KQ: That's right. We're all joining the organization's activity happily just like a big family.
Xuan: I know.
Happy: Now that you're going to enter high school, you're the big sister now. You must learn to take care of your little sisters. You can try to encourage your sister to draw more often. You will found yourself being encouraged when you started encouraging people.
Xuan: Ok. She really likes to draw.
Little sister: Hehe...
Postscript:
Those who are going to enter high school soon are always full of worries and being nervous. Too much insecurity and unknown lying ahead and this always makes us worry. But this is not a phase that we could neglect. It is very important that we give the children some reminders or to share some of our experience with them as they undergo massive changes from the inner environment and the outer environment. It is often that the parents might neglect the elder kids of them who are also growing. They tend to care more for the younger ones. But let's not forget this is an important phase when our children start to face different problems and challenges. As JD PICs, we don't just hand the children over to the HSD/YMD/YWD after standard 6 as if it has nothing to do with us anymore. What we should do, is to attentively keep track on them and to grow together with them. Hence, we should always keep on caring for our children even though they're not in the Junior Division anymore.
This child tends to answer us with a single word "Oh", "Ok" and so on. These little habits are the signs telling us that we need to care more about them. There are always lots of unknown things around them in this moment, and as JD PICs, we must help them to grow as they walk forward. Knowing what we're fighting for (aim), is one way to let us share and grow with them. For example, exams and studies. We must always remember to let them know they aim and reason as they understand more and more about their mission. But of course we can't push them too hard. We could only give them suitable motivations and encouragements or else it might turned out wrong.
It is up to us when it comes to cultivating the ("There's nothing more valuable then the youth who face daily challenges in their lives and still being active in the organization's activity.") youth praised by President Ikeda.
Shared by,
Happy.
Labels: k. little angel dialogue
Do you procrastinate and drag your work?
Procrastination starts from childhood.
I had a friend who told me that his kid tends to procrastinate his work. He then asked me to have a word or two with his kid. When I first saw his kid, I didn't talk anything about his homework. Instead, I gave him a chocolate bar. He received the chocolate bar and ate it in just a few moment.
"Was it delicious?" I asked. Then he started nodding his head. "Do you want more?", this time he nodded even harder. I pulled out another chocolate bar and said: "Here, I'm giving you another one. But this time, you could only have your second bite after you stand on the chair, and sit down." After he understood what I've said, he grabbed the bar immediately.
As he chewed off the chocolate bar, he started standing on the chair, and sit back down. He finally finished the bar after he went up and down for many times. He started sweating and had chocolate all over his mouth.
"Was it delicious?" I asked. He thought for a moment, and said: "It seemed not as delicious as the first one.". Then I asked again, "Aren't they the same chocolate bars?". "Ya!", "Then why is the second one not as delicious as the first one?". He started scratching his head, and said: "I don't know..."
After that, I took out a sheet of paper and gave him 5 mathematics questions. He answered all the questions correctly in just 1 minute. "I'm going to give you 5 more questions. Only this time, you'd have to stand up again after you write a number.". "I have to do the same like the chocolate?", "Yes.".
And so, he did what was told. When he got back to his question after standing up, he lost his track on the numbers. Hence, he used 3 minutes to finish the questions this time. This time there were only 4 correct answers.
"The purpose of asking you to stand up after you did something was to disconnect you from what you were doing. As the number of getting disconnection increased, the time you took to finish a task will also increase. Other than that, the outcome could also be different. What seemed to be tasty could turned out bad."
Then I continued to explain: "If you drag your work and procrastinate, it will affect your performance and the outcome. If you wish to finish something, do it and make sure you finished it before you do the rest. Procrastination takes away your time and you might not reach what you aimed for."
That child understood what I told him to do. I think he will start to make up his mind to finish off something when he should.
Thoughts:
Of course, I don't suggest that you use this method, but this is really a good example. The main thing we learn here is the way and method he treated the kid. He demonstrated the disadvantages of procrastination in a more easy way for the kid to understand. This really produced a good effect as the kid had a taste of what it's like to procrastinate. Compared to the scolding and nagging method, this could teach the kid not to repeat the same mistake.
One small habit could show your characteristic and determine your future victory. If you like to procrastinate, it means that you're not responsible and sincere enough while you carry out your duty/task. If this bad habit keeps going on, it doesn't just hinder you from finishing your task, but you would only be a failure in the end.
As JD PICs, we must always use our brain, and think. Or else, how are we going to lead the children? Other than thinking in the children's position, we must read more often to elevate ourselves. This way, we could come up with new and creative ideas that we could use in the Junior Division.
It is very often to get disconnected from something for those who like to procrastinate. This reminds us to finish off something when we're determined to. It is always a good way to cut down the time taken and to increase our efficiency. We need to take quick action in Kosen-rufu, to create a great value in a short time.
I had a friend who told me that his kid tends to procrastinate his work. He then asked me to have a word or two with his kid. When I first saw his kid, I didn't talk anything about his homework. Instead, I gave him a chocolate bar. He received the chocolate bar and ate it in just a few moment.
"Was it delicious?" I asked. Then he started nodding his head. "Do you want more?", this time he nodded even harder. I pulled out another chocolate bar and said: "Here, I'm giving you another one. But this time, you could only have your second bite after you stand on the chair, and sit down." After he understood what I've said, he grabbed the bar immediately.
As he chewed off the chocolate bar, he started standing on the chair, and sit back down. He finally finished the bar after he went up and down for many times. He started sweating and had chocolate all over his mouth.
"Was it delicious?" I asked. He thought for a moment, and said: "It seemed not as delicious as the first one.". Then I asked again, "Aren't they the same chocolate bars?". "Ya!", "Then why is the second one not as delicious as the first one?". He started scratching his head, and said: "I don't know..."
After that, I took out a sheet of paper and gave him 5 mathematics questions. He answered all the questions correctly in just 1 minute. "I'm going to give you 5 more questions. Only this time, you'd have to stand up again after you write a number.". "I have to do the same like the chocolate?", "Yes.".
And so, he did what was told. When he got back to his question after standing up, he lost his track on the numbers. Hence, he used 3 minutes to finish the questions this time. This time there were only 4 correct answers.
"The purpose of asking you to stand up after you did something was to disconnect you from what you were doing. As the number of getting disconnection increased, the time you took to finish a task will also increase. Other than that, the outcome could also be different. What seemed to be tasty could turned out bad."
Then I continued to explain: "If you drag your work and procrastinate, it will affect your performance and the outcome. If you wish to finish something, do it and make sure you finished it before you do the rest. Procrastination takes away your time and you might not reach what you aimed for."
That child understood what I told him to do. I think he will start to make up his mind to finish off something when he should.
Thoughts:
Of course, I don't suggest that you use this method, but this is really a good example. The main thing we learn here is the way and method he treated the kid. He demonstrated the disadvantages of procrastination in a more easy way for the kid to understand. This really produced a good effect as the kid had a taste of what it's like to procrastinate. Compared to the scolding and nagging method, this could teach the kid not to repeat the same mistake.
One small habit could show your characteristic and determine your future victory. If you like to procrastinate, it means that you're not responsible and sincere enough while you carry out your duty/task. If this bad habit keeps going on, it doesn't just hinder you from finishing your task, but you would only be a failure in the end.
As JD PICs, we must always use our brain, and think. Or else, how are we going to lead the children? Other than thinking in the children's position, we must read more often to elevate ourselves. This way, we could come up with new and creative ideas that we could use in the Junior Division.
It is very often to get disconnected from something for those who like to procrastinate. This reminds us to finish off something when we're determined to. It is always a good way to cut down the time taken and to increase our efficiency. We need to take quick action in Kosen-rufu, to create a great value in a short time.
Labels: k. little angel dialogue
A Sharing From The Indian Sister
I don't have much experience being a JD PIC. I wasn't very active in hom-visits and I don't really understand the children's psychology. The following is my first home-visit. (Indian Sister as JD PIC, Ling Ling as the JD.)
Indian Sister: How are you lately?
Ling Ling: Great! But UPSR is getting near, and I'd have to work harder.
Indian Sister: You must give your best effort! I will chant for your victory! I know you can do it!
Ling Ling: Hehe, I hope so.
(Ling Ling came from a single-parent family. I could only say things in an indirect way as I don't really know her background.)
Indian Sister: About the things that happened in your family, will it affect your studies?
Ling Ling: Well, a little I guess. But I think I can get over it. But sometimes I just wonder why and how could they be so bad.
Indian Sister: Who?
Ling Ling: My parents! Let me tell you something, my father left us when I was in standard 3. At first I thought that he would come back, but it's been years and I don't think he's coming back. I know that he doesn't want me anymore, he doesn't like me. Mommy's always working. She doesn't have the time to take care of me. I always starving when I'm home alone!
Indian Sister: Well then what does she do after she got home?
Ling Ling: Mommy's bad! She doesn't even have the time to talk to me! She knows nothing about me! I hate them!
Indian Sister: Please calm down Ling. Did your grandmother tell you anything about your father?
Ling Ling: Yes, grandma told me when I was born, mommy's having another family. So I guess I do have a brother. But even grandma doesn't know why mommy's having an affair. Then I stopped asking. What am I? I think I'm just a lonely kid from a single-parent family, just like the story in a drama. I'm really sad! It's good that I moved here and live with grandma so I don't feel worse. Grandma's a good person...
Indian Sister: Since you know that grandma's treating you good, then you'd have to cherish her. What you have to do now, is to study well. Just don't think much on those things about the adults.
Ling Ling: Sister, you're so dumb. I'm not a fool, and I won't let those adults affect my studies.
Indian Sister: Well then it's good that you focus on your studies. Actually, what kind of childhood do you look forward to?
Ling Ling: About this, I would like to have a childhood that is a total opposite with the one I'm having now! I hope that my parents could love me, cherish me, take care of me, and don't leave me. This is my little dream! And of course I won't leave my kids alone when I grew up. I want to be a good person!
Indian Sister: Right! Just don't give up ok? There's a lot of children like you, and some may be even worse. Even thought your parents are not with you, but you have a great grandma. Just don't think too much if you don't wish to repeat their mistakes.
Postscript:
After the visit, a piece of my childhood emerged in my mind. After having a dialogue with Ling Ling, I realize that I'm having a happy life. I started to feel guilty as I kept on complaining when I was a kid. My parents couldn't satisfy my expectations as the economic wasn't so well. This is just a tiny little thing compared to what Ling Ling is facing. At least I have a happy and joyful family. Other than my caring parents, I still have my brother and sister. This made me think of what President Ikeda said, "We don't look for 'mere happiness', but we're looking for the 'absolute happiness'".
If the family affairs isn't handled well, it could have cause negative effect on the children, and the children would even start to hate their own parents. Hence, we must be very careful while encountered problems like this. We should implement the positive thinking to the children even though we don't have experience on such problems. We could start from the affection of the family.
President Ikeda said: "Only those who be filial to their parents could be great and victorious person!" We're only practicing Buddhism correctly when we know how to be grateful. Children who came from an "imperfect" family should also be grateful to their parents. Hatred couldn't solve any problem, and it couldn't bring our parents back to us.
If we don't get ourselves relieved, we'd always get the bad feeling every time we think about our parents. That isn't a really good life isn't it? It could even affect our trust on marriage when we grew up. Thus, I'd have to continue encouraging Ling Ling and enlighten her with the Buddhism.I hope that she could open up her heart, and be grateful, then she would cherish the things in her life. Since then, I've determined to be a good daughter, not to keep on complaining and ask too much from people. If I, myself don't even carry the positive thinking into action, how am I going to show it to the other people?
I'm happy to have given my first step, and I'm glad to still have the chance to be grateful to my parents. No matter what happens, I'm going to stay and protect them. President Ikeda said: "I'm a professor of 'filial', all of you must also be the professor of 'filial'!" President Ikeda has always been praying that we could be grateful to our parents!
Shared by,
Indian Sister.
Indian Sister: How are you lately?
Ling Ling: Great! But UPSR is getting near, and I'd have to work harder.
Indian Sister: You must give your best effort! I will chant for your victory! I know you can do it!
Ling Ling: Hehe, I hope so.
(Ling Ling came from a single-parent family. I could only say things in an indirect way as I don't really know her background.)
Indian Sister: About the things that happened in your family, will it affect your studies?
Ling Ling: Well, a little I guess. But I think I can get over it. But sometimes I just wonder why and how could they be so bad.
Indian Sister: Who?
Ling Ling: My parents! Let me tell you something, my father left us when I was in standard 3. At first I thought that he would come back, but it's been years and I don't think he's coming back. I know that he doesn't want me anymore, he doesn't like me. Mommy's always working. She doesn't have the time to take care of me. I always starving when I'm home alone!
Indian Sister: Well then what does she do after she got home?
Ling Ling: Mommy's bad! She doesn't even have the time to talk to me! She knows nothing about me! I hate them!
Indian Sister: Please calm down Ling. Did your grandmother tell you anything about your father?
Ling Ling: Yes, grandma told me when I was born, mommy's having another family. So I guess I do have a brother. But even grandma doesn't know why mommy's having an affair. Then I stopped asking. What am I? I think I'm just a lonely kid from a single-parent family, just like the story in a drama. I'm really sad! It's good that I moved here and live with grandma so I don't feel worse. Grandma's a good person...
Indian Sister: Since you know that grandma's treating you good, then you'd have to cherish her. What you have to do now, is to study well. Just don't think much on those things about the adults.
Ling Ling: Sister, you're so dumb. I'm not a fool, and I won't let those adults affect my studies.
Indian Sister: Well then it's good that you focus on your studies. Actually, what kind of childhood do you look forward to?
Ling Ling: About this, I would like to have a childhood that is a total opposite with the one I'm having now! I hope that my parents could love me, cherish me, take care of me, and don't leave me. This is my little dream! And of course I won't leave my kids alone when I grew up. I want to be a good person!
Indian Sister: Right! Just don't give up ok? There's a lot of children like you, and some may be even worse. Even thought your parents are not with you, but you have a great grandma. Just don't think too much if you don't wish to repeat their mistakes.
Postscript:
After the visit, a piece of my childhood emerged in my mind. After having a dialogue with Ling Ling, I realize that I'm having a happy life. I started to feel guilty as I kept on complaining when I was a kid. My parents couldn't satisfy my expectations as the economic wasn't so well. This is just a tiny little thing compared to what Ling Ling is facing. At least I have a happy and joyful family. Other than my caring parents, I still have my brother and sister. This made me think of what President Ikeda said, "We don't look for 'mere happiness', but we're looking for the 'absolute happiness'".
If the family affairs isn't handled well, it could have cause negative effect on the children, and the children would even start to hate their own parents. Hence, we must be very careful while encountered problems like this. We should implement the positive thinking to the children even though we don't have experience on such problems. We could start from the affection of the family.
President Ikeda said: "Only those who be filial to their parents could be great and victorious person!" We're only practicing Buddhism correctly when we know how to be grateful. Children who came from an "imperfect" family should also be grateful to their parents. Hatred couldn't solve any problem, and it couldn't bring our parents back to us.
If we don't get ourselves relieved, we'd always get the bad feeling every time we think about our parents. That isn't a really good life isn't it? It could even affect our trust on marriage when we grew up. Thus, I'd have to continue encouraging Ling Ling and enlighten her with the Buddhism.I hope that she could open up her heart, and be grateful, then she would cherish the things in her life. Since then, I've determined to be a good daughter, not to keep on complaining and ask too much from people. If I, myself don't even carry the positive thinking into action, how am I going to show it to the other people?
I'm happy to have given my first step, and I'm glad to still have the chance to be grateful to my parents. No matter what happens, I'm going to stay and protect them. President Ikeda said: "I'm a professor of 'filial', all of you must also be the professor of 'filial'!" President Ikeda has always been praying that we could be grateful to our parents!
Shared by,
Indian Sister.
Labels: k. little angel dialogue
The Cute Little Singer
Ah Wang is a JD PIC who's very welcomed by the children. One day, she notice a girl who likes to follow her here and there. She started to get close with this child and she would look after her quite often. The following is a dialogue (from MSN) of Ah Wang and the 12 year old girl, Jenny.
Jenny: Sister... are you free to talk? I'm bored.
Ah Wang was in the middle of something and didn't reply her message, but Jenny was still waiting for her.
Jenny: Sister... are you free now? Can we talk now?
Ah Wang: Oh, I'm sorry. Ya, anything you want to tell me?
Jenny: Yes, I have something that I want to say, but I'll only tell you if you really want to hear it.
Ah Wang: Yes, I would like to hear it.
Jenny: Do you really really really really really want to listen? If you're not interested then I won't say anything...
Ah Wang: Yes, I really really really really really want to hear it. Tell me!
Jenny: I was blamed that I've betrayed my friend today. I'm really sad, what should I do?
Ah Wang: You don't have to be sad Jenny. Maybe it's just a misunderstanding. You're a big-hearted person, just give your friend a candy tomorrow and it'll be fine.
Jenny: Really? Great! Then I'd treat her a candy tomorrow.
After that, Jenny got happier as she shared the things she encountered. She asked Ah Wang if she likes to sing and she even recorded her own voice for Ah Wang to listen. Ah Wang suddenly thought that this child is so cute.
Jenny: What do you think? Do you have any nice songs? Can you send it to me?
Ah Wang: You're voice is great. You like singing?
Jenny: Why don't we have a concert for the Junior Division? This way many people could get on the stage and we could sing together! Haha. (She's a member of RJPA)
Ah Wang: You really like to do that? If there's a concert, would you be the first to join?
Jenny: Hehe, only if you're going to sing with me.
Ah Wang: Well then I'll go to your house someday and we'll sing together.
Jenny: No, don't sing in my house. Mom will say that my voice sounds horrible. That's why I'm singing quietly at home. Why don't we go to your house? Let's sing in your house then.
Ah Wang: Haha, then what's your favourite song?
Jenny immediately sent her several songs. She asked if Ah Wang could also record her voice for her to listen. After that, she told Ah Wang that she could also tell her anything when she want to.
Ah Wang always send her some songs so that someday she could really perform on the stage. She hope to be her best friend and do everything together.
Postscript:
As JD PICs, we must be aware of the mission to cultivate the JDs, to train ourselves' patience and to challenge on the kosen-rufu. We have to attentively observe the children, to understand them, and to see things with their perception.
The Buddhism teaches us "The heart is the artist (心如工画师)". The "heart" is an artist that can draw and construct a lot of things. Hence, human beings are drawn by the "heart". "Heart" is the art of creation. I hope that all of us can follow our Mentor's footsteps and grow happily!
Shared by,
KL R3 H2 C2, Ah Wang.
Jenny: Sister... are you free to talk? I'm bored.
Ah Wang was in the middle of something and didn't reply her message, but Jenny was still waiting for her.
Jenny: Sister... are you free now? Can we talk now?
Ah Wang: Oh, I'm sorry. Ya, anything you want to tell me?
Jenny: Yes, I have something that I want to say, but I'll only tell you if you really want to hear it.
Ah Wang: Yes, I would like to hear it.
Jenny: Do you really really really really really want to listen? If you're not interested then I won't say anything...
Ah Wang: Yes, I really really really really really want to hear it. Tell me!
Jenny: I was blamed that I've betrayed my friend today. I'm really sad, what should I do?
Ah Wang: You don't have to be sad Jenny. Maybe it's just a misunderstanding. You're a big-hearted person, just give your friend a candy tomorrow and it'll be fine.
Jenny: Really? Great! Then I'd treat her a candy tomorrow.
After that, Jenny got happier as she shared the things she encountered. She asked Ah Wang if she likes to sing and she even recorded her own voice for Ah Wang to listen. Ah Wang suddenly thought that this child is so cute.
Jenny: What do you think? Do you have any nice songs? Can you send it to me?
Ah Wang: You're voice is great. You like singing?
Jenny: Why don't we have a concert for the Junior Division? This way many people could get on the stage and we could sing together! Haha. (She's a member of RJPA)
Ah Wang: You really like to do that? If there's a concert, would you be the first to join?
Jenny: Hehe, only if you're going to sing with me.
Ah Wang: Well then I'll go to your house someday and we'll sing together.
Jenny: No, don't sing in my house. Mom will say that my voice sounds horrible. That's why I'm singing quietly at home. Why don't we go to your house? Let's sing in your house then.
Ah Wang: Haha, then what's your favourite song?
Jenny immediately sent her several songs. She asked if Ah Wang could also record her voice for her to listen. After that, she told Ah Wang that she could also tell her anything when she want to.
Ah Wang always send her some songs so that someday she could really perform on the stage. She hope to be her best friend and do everything together.
Postscript:
As JD PICs, we must be aware of the mission to cultivate the JDs, to train ourselves' patience and to challenge on the kosen-rufu. We have to attentively observe the children, to understand them, and to see things with their perception.
The Buddhism teaches us "The heart is the artist (心如工画师)". The "heart" is an artist that can draw and construct a lot of things. Hence, human beings are drawn by the "heart". "Heart" is the art of creation. I hope that all of us can follow our Mentor's footsteps and grow happily!
Shared by,
KL R3 H2 C2, Ah Wang.
Labels: k. little angel dialogue
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Listen to your mommy
One day, I saw a little 4 years old girl hitting another girl who was only 2 years old with a book happily. That little girl didn’t cry, but she laughed when she was being hit. Curious; I went over and talked to her.
Primitive: Why are you hitting her head?
Little girl: We’re just playing.
Primitive: Do you know that she might get hurt if you hit her too hard?
Little girl: I don’t think so, she’s laughing. She doesn’t even feel any pain.
Primitive: She’s laughing because she wanted to play with you too. But she’s too small and she doesn’t know that she could get hurt. Her head will hurt. You must protect her.
Little girl: Really? But I don’t want to listen to you. I want to continue hitting her.
Primitive: Then let me ask you a question. Do you like your mommy?
Little girl: Yes, I like mommy.
Primitive: Then would you listen to your mommy?
Little girl: Yes.
Primitive: Right, then do you think mommy will let you continue if she sees this?
Little girl: Er…. No…
Primitive: Then that’s right. Your mommy does everything for your own good. So, you must listen to her where ever you are. You must remember what your mommy says. You’re very clever. So, you know that this is not good to your little sister, don’t you?
Little girl: (Nodding)
Primitive: Then why don’t you go play some other thing that is not harmful?
Little girl: Ok! Follow me! Why don’t you chase me, little sister? Then I’ll run!
Little sister: Ok! Hehe!
After that, they held each other’s hands and went to look for mommy. Children below the age of 5 can’t judge what’s right or wrong. But when you see them doing something wrong, you don’t have to be furious or yell at them. This will only scare them, and things might even turn the other way round. However, if we treat them with understanding and slowly explain the situation to them, they will easily understand.
From the beginning, she refused to listen to me because I wasn’t even close to her. Actually I didn’t know her mother either, but I knew that the child would listen to her mother. But I didn’t want her to know that I was using her mother as the reason. So I thought for a while, and told her “your mother does everything for your own good”. Lastly I told her “I know that you’re very clever, and you know what to do” in a way to let her feel that she was trusted. I was just giving suggestions; she was the one who made the decision. I didn’t even say “Don’t hit your little sister’s head!”.
My motive was to enlighten her, not to just stop her temporarily. And so, I was just talking to her in a form of question and answer.
Shared by,
Primitive.
Primitive: Why are you hitting her head?
Little girl: We’re just playing.
Primitive: Do you know that she might get hurt if you hit her too hard?
Little girl: I don’t think so, she’s laughing. She doesn’t even feel any pain.
Primitive: She’s laughing because she wanted to play with you too. But she’s too small and she doesn’t know that she could get hurt. Her head will hurt. You must protect her.
Little girl: Really? But I don’t want to listen to you. I want to continue hitting her.
Primitive: Then let me ask you a question. Do you like your mommy?
Little girl: Yes, I like mommy.
Primitive: Then would you listen to your mommy?
Little girl: Yes.
Primitive: Right, then do you think mommy will let you continue if she sees this?
Little girl: Er…. No…
Primitive: Then that’s right. Your mommy does everything for your own good. So, you must listen to her where ever you are. You must remember what your mommy says. You’re very clever. So, you know that this is not good to your little sister, don’t you?
Little girl: (Nodding)
Primitive: Then why don’t you go play some other thing that is not harmful?
Little girl: Ok! Follow me! Why don’t you chase me, little sister? Then I’ll run!
Little sister: Ok! Hehe!
After that, they held each other’s hands and went to look for mommy. Children below the age of 5 can’t judge what’s right or wrong. But when you see them doing something wrong, you don’t have to be furious or yell at them. This will only scare them, and things might even turn the other way round. However, if we treat them with understanding and slowly explain the situation to them, they will easily understand.
From the beginning, she refused to listen to me because I wasn’t even close to her. Actually I didn’t know her mother either, but I knew that the child would listen to her mother. But I didn’t want her to know that I was using her mother as the reason. So I thought for a while, and told her “your mother does everything for your own good”. Lastly I told her “I know that you’re very clever, and you know what to do” in a way to let her feel that she was trusted. I was just giving suggestions; she was the one who made the decision. I didn’t even say “Don’t hit your little sister’s head!”.
My motive was to enlighten her, not to just stop her temporarily. And so, I was just talking to her in a form of question and answer.
Shared by,
Primitive.
Labels: k. little angel dialogue
Monday, September 21, 2009
The Curious Scientist
I always get the chance to be in contact with lots of children since I’m a JD PIC. Other than seeing them on the JD meeting, we will also home-visit them. One day, I went to home-visit a girl named Britney. I noticed several problems when we started talking about school life.
Me: Are you happy at school? Do you have a favourite subject?
Britney: I love going to school. I feel so happy to have lots of friends. I love science. I could gain a lot of knowledge in science class. Our teacher was teaching us about light bulbs lately.
Me: Good, then you can develop in this field.
Britney: Impossible. I think I’m stupid and I know nothing.
Me: Why do you think so?
Britney: My parents said so. They said that I’m a “busybody” because I always ask lots of questions.
Me: It’s good to ask. You get your answers when you asked for it.
Britney: But my family members won’t care about me when I ask them questions.
Me: Then you could ask your teachers, tuition teachers or even friends. You’re also welcomed to ask me, and if I don’t know the answers I will search it for you.
Britney: Really? (Quickly grabbed the science textbook) Why some batteries are big and why are some small? Why do bigger devices use bigger batteries? Why are some light bulbs dimmer or brighter because of batteries? Why and how do batteries work? What’s in the batteries?
Me: Batteries have different sizes because of the different quantity of energy content. For example, I’ll be full with just a plate of rice, and maybe some other people will only be full with 3 plates of rice. So this is the same for batteries. Understand? Other than using petrol, a car uses batteries too. Usually your mom would fetch you to school and maybe she will head to some other places after that. Being required to go so many places, and using lots of energy, a car needs a bigger battery. Different devices require different amount of energy, and so there’s different sizes of batteries. The light bulbs get dimmer when the energy is running low. It’s just like you when you get tired. You just don’t seem to have the energy to do anything, and want to rest and gain back your energy. This goes the same for batteries. The energy in the batteries will be finished someday, and so we need to recharge it or buy another new one. The batteries could work because of the chemical reaction in it. Just like our body, we have liver, heart, stomach, blood capillaries and so on. We could breathe and live because the organs in our body co-operate with each other. There’s chemical in the battery, and there’s also positive and negative polar, thus a battery can operates and provide electrical energy.
Britney: What’s positive and negative polar?
Me: Positive and negative polar is just like our parents. Our family is in good state because we have our father and mother. Battery has positive and negative polar which send and receive energy to provide an energy flow.
Our dialogue ended very soon. After I reached home, I kept thinking about what we’ve said just now. Luckily I could manage to answer her questions. What if they were harder? I felt that I don’t still have enough knowledge in other field and that I don’t know how to explain them in a creative way. Hence, I’ve decided to enrich myself with knowledge. This is not only our responsible but the family members’ too. It’s not that the children have lost their curiosity in this 21st century, but it’s us that have terminated them with unreasonable excuses. Do you think that their questions are silly? Do you think that they’re childish? Or do you think that they’ve thought too much? But haven’t we thought of ourselves who used to be a child too? What about those people who kept on investigating and satisfying their curiosity, and ended up inventing great inventions? Children are great person in the future, so their questions are not at all silly, but it’s us that haven’t been answering their questions. Our mentor never stopped reading all the time. As disciples, as JD PICs, we should read even more! We could only enhance and enlarge our vision by doing so. Hence, we could answer our children’s question and making them interested in learning.
Shared by,
Hope.
Me: Are you happy at school? Do you have a favourite subject?
Britney: I love going to school. I feel so happy to have lots of friends. I love science. I could gain a lot of knowledge in science class. Our teacher was teaching us about light bulbs lately.
Me: Good, then you can develop in this field.
Britney: Impossible. I think I’m stupid and I know nothing.
Me: Why do you think so?
Britney: My parents said so. They said that I’m a “busybody” because I always ask lots of questions.
Me: It’s good to ask. You get your answers when you asked for it.
Britney: But my family members won’t care about me when I ask them questions.
Me: Then you could ask your teachers, tuition teachers or even friends. You’re also welcomed to ask me, and if I don’t know the answers I will search it for you.
Britney: Really? (Quickly grabbed the science textbook) Why some batteries are big and why are some small? Why do bigger devices use bigger batteries? Why are some light bulbs dimmer or brighter because of batteries? Why and how do batteries work? What’s in the batteries?
Me: Batteries have different sizes because of the different quantity of energy content. For example, I’ll be full with just a plate of rice, and maybe some other people will only be full with 3 plates of rice. So this is the same for batteries. Understand? Other than using petrol, a car uses batteries too. Usually your mom would fetch you to school and maybe she will head to some other places after that. Being required to go so many places, and using lots of energy, a car needs a bigger battery. Different devices require different amount of energy, and so there’s different sizes of batteries. The light bulbs get dimmer when the energy is running low. It’s just like you when you get tired. You just don’t seem to have the energy to do anything, and want to rest and gain back your energy. This goes the same for batteries. The energy in the batteries will be finished someday, and so we need to recharge it or buy another new one. The batteries could work because of the chemical reaction in it. Just like our body, we have liver, heart, stomach, blood capillaries and so on. We could breathe and live because the organs in our body co-operate with each other. There’s chemical in the battery, and there’s also positive and negative polar, thus a battery can operates and provide electrical energy.
Britney: What’s positive and negative polar?
Me: Positive and negative polar is just like our parents. Our family is in good state because we have our father and mother. Battery has positive and negative polar which send and receive energy to provide an energy flow.
Our dialogue ended very soon. After I reached home, I kept thinking about what we’ve said just now. Luckily I could manage to answer her questions. What if they were harder? I felt that I don’t still have enough knowledge in other field and that I don’t know how to explain them in a creative way. Hence, I’ve decided to enrich myself with knowledge. This is not only our responsible but the family members’ too. It’s not that the children have lost their curiosity in this 21st century, but it’s us that have terminated them with unreasonable excuses. Do you think that their questions are silly? Do you think that they’re childish? Or do you think that they’ve thought too much? But haven’t we thought of ourselves who used to be a child too? What about those people who kept on investigating and satisfying their curiosity, and ended up inventing great inventions? Children are great person in the future, so their questions are not at all silly, but it’s us that haven’t been answering their questions. Our mentor never stopped reading all the time. As disciples, as JD PICs, we should read even more! We could only enhance and enlarge our vision by doing so. Hence, we could answer our children’s question and making them interested in learning.
Shared by,
Hope.
Labels: k. little angel dialogue
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
A Dialogue with Ah Ji
Ah Ji (Standard 4) & Ah Ji’s elder brother (High school)
Primitive: So, do you guys have anything to share?
Ah Ji: Brother, where does a baby come from?
Ah Ji’s brother: (Glanced at his brother) Actually he’s been asking the same question for quite a time but he didn’t manage to get an answer. Hehe.
Primitive: Actually, a baby is formed by two cells, one cell contributed by the father named sperm, and another cell from the mother named ovum. They combine and form a little foetus. After 3 weeks, there will be a little “tail” growing out from the foetus, just like a seahorse. Have you seen a seahorse? It’s the seahorse father that gets pregnant. It’s the opposite way from human. The foetus is only 0.4cm long at this stage.
Ah Ji: Wow, that’s very small.
Primitive: Yea, at the 7th week, you could start to differentiate the head and the body, and the tail starts to disappear. At the same time, the organs starts to form, such as nose, eyes, and the nerve cells started to develop rapidly. At the 3rd month, the head, body, and feet will be even more obvious. The internal organs started operating, and the blood started to circulate. You could even see the heartbeat with an ultrasound system. The baby will be 8-9 cm at this stage. At the 4th month, the most of the organs would have been formed and the limbs would be more agile. The mother will stop vomiting and have a bigger appetite at this time. At the 5th month, the hair and nails will start growing. Furthermore, the skin glows reddish, and it will have response for the sound. You could even talk to the baby now and it will give response by kicking naughtily. It’s around 25cm for now. In the following months, the brain, the sense of light and sound starts to develop. We could determine the gender by using ultrasound now. At the 10th month, the baby and mother will be expecting the happiest moment in life.
Ah Ji: Then how do the cells combine together?
Primitive: Do you know how flowers give birth?
Ah Ji: No.
Primitive: Plants don’t have the ability to move, and so, they depend on bugs, animals, and wind to distribute the pollen to other flowers. Then it will form fruits and when the seeds fell onto the ground, a new plant grows. When the bees get the honey from flowers, the pollen will stick on them. The pollen follows the bee to another flower and fertilizes it.
Ah Ji: Oh….
Primitive: Have you seen 2 flies or other bugs flying together?
Ah Ji: I think I had.
Primitive: I’ve seen it. The bugs were mating. The male bug transfer the sperm into the female’s body, and the ovum gets fertilized and form a little bug baby. In this nature, the plants and animals are the same, a baby can only be born successfully born by people’s hard work. Hence, we must be grateful especially to our parents. So, now you understand?
Ah Ji: Understood!
Postscript: Just because we’re feeling shy and embarrass about certain topics, no adults have ever answered a child’s question probably. In my opinion, explaining these things with nature is a good way of answering. This does not only provide a chance for the children to understand the mysterious life of nature, and could also avoid the embarrassing part of it. So we must all work hard and open up our vision. In this way, we could recharge ourselves and provide the “electricity” for our children.
Shared by,
Primitive.
Primitive: So, do you guys have anything to share?
Ah Ji: Brother, where does a baby come from?
Ah Ji’s brother: (Glanced at his brother) Actually he’s been asking the same question for quite a time but he didn’t manage to get an answer. Hehe.
Primitive: Actually, a baby is formed by two cells, one cell contributed by the father named sperm, and another cell from the mother named ovum. They combine and form a little foetus. After 3 weeks, there will be a little “tail” growing out from the foetus, just like a seahorse. Have you seen a seahorse? It’s the seahorse father that gets pregnant. It’s the opposite way from human. The foetus is only 0.4cm long at this stage.
Ah Ji: Wow, that’s very small.
Primitive: Yea, at the 7th week, you could start to differentiate the head and the body, and the tail starts to disappear. At the same time, the organs starts to form, such as nose, eyes, and the nerve cells started to develop rapidly. At the 3rd month, the head, body, and feet will be even more obvious. The internal organs started operating, and the blood started to circulate. You could even see the heartbeat with an ultrasound system. The baby will be 8-9 cm at this stage. At the 4th month, the most of the organs would have been formed and the limbs would be more agile. The mother will stop vomiting and have a bigger appetite at this time. At the 5th month, the hair and nails will start growing. Furthermore, the skin glows reddish, and it will have response for the sound. You could even talk to the baby now and it will give response by kicking naughtily. It’s around 25cm for now. In the following months, the brain, the sense of light and sound starts to develop. We could determine the gender by using ultrasound now. At the 10th month, the baby and mother will be expecting the happiest moment in life.
Ah Ji: Then how do the cells combine together?
Primitive: Do you know how flowers give birth?
Ah Ji: No.
Primitive: Plants don’t have the ability to move, and so, they depend on bugs, animals, and wind to distribute the pollen to other flowers. Then it will form fruits and when the seeds fell onto the ground, a new plant grows. When the bees get the honey from flowers, the pollen will stick on them. The pollen follows the bee to another flower and fertilizes it.
Ah Ji: Oh….
Primitive: Have you seen 2 flies or other bugs flying together?
Ah Ji: I think I had.
Primitive: I’ve seen it. The bugs were mating. The male bug transfer the sperm into the female’s body, and the ovum gets fertilized and form a little bug baby. In this nature, the plants and animals are the same, a baby can only be born successfully born by people’s hard work. Hence, we must be grateful especially to our parents. So, now you understand?
Ah Ji: Understood!
Postscript: Just because we’re feeling shy and embarrass about certain topics, no adults have ever answered a child’s question probably. In my opinion, explaining these things with nature is a good way of answering. This does not only provide a chance for the children to understand the mysterious life of nature, and could also avoid the embarrassing part of it. So we must all work hard and open up our vision. In this way, we could recharge ourselves and provide the “electricity” for our children.
Shared by,
Primitive.
Labels: k. little angel dialogue
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Little Angel’s Dialogue
There's a special feeling when we chat and experience something with the children. It doesn't matter if it's just for a short period of time, it will still be deeply engraved in their heart. We never have to worry about the formality while we're talking to the children. The important thing is to have a sincere heart to create two-way communication. We prepared this column for everyone to share their dialogue process amongst you and the children.
Regardless of what it may be; a motivation, little funny things, an interesting sharing or a just a simple touching moment, we do hope everyone could promote the trend of dialogue through a wonderful sharing here. With that, each and everyone can carry out individually the one-on-one home visit activity together.
Home-visit & dialogue list:
Editor: Cherry
Regardless of what it may be; a motivation, little funny things, an interesting sharing or a just a simple touching moment, we do hope everyone could promote the trend of dialogue through a wonderful sharing here. With that, each and everyone can carry out individually the one-on-one home visit activity together.
Home-visit & dialogue list:
- A Dialogue with Ah Ji
- The Curious Scientist
- Listen to Your Mommy
- The Cute Little Singer
- A Sharing From The Indian Sister
- Do you procrastinate and drag your work?
- Getting Into High School
- Children Are Our Role Model
- Mommy, how did I get to this world?
Editor: Cherry
Labels: k. little angel dialogue
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