"I LOVE YOU"

"I love you", Tommy ran towards Mommy, giving me a close hug with a kiss on the lips and tenderly telling me those three magic words for the first time. I smiled so happily, feeling that my heart was melting by his sweet words. Those words as treasured as pure gold were poured out from your kid's tiny mouth, who was not long ago just a tiny baby. Those words are your kid's most sincere sentiments for you and only you from the bottom of their hearts because they are too young to know how to lie. Who did teach Tommy those words? I don't know. He might have learnt them at the daycare, or in Youtube clips. But he knew how to use this very special phrase to express his love to me, his Mommy, and I was up to the heaven. I want to capture those wonderful moments and keep them forever in my heart because my kids will grow up more quickly than I could imagine and the baby-loving words that we never get tired of hearing will soon disappear.

Each time our children graduate from one stage to another (i.e. crawling - walking, preschool - school, high school - graduation) we as parents are excited and a little sad as well. We want our children to grow up, but we reminisce about the 'good old' days. I think those mixed feelings are normal for all of us. There will be parent and child peer pressure to force your children to do things early. You may not be a popular parent when you say No to something 'everyone else is doing.' Parenting is not for the fainthearted or a popularity contest. Childhood is a precious time and it is all ready much too short, keep your children innocent and protect their childhood. These are the words every parent waits to hear -- and the first time your child tells you she loves you is unforgettable. the way your face lights up when she says it to you. Once your child grasps the concept of love, he or she is no longer a pure doll baby. He or she has become a tiny man or woman who is learning the meaning of giving and receiving, of reciprocal love. Then time flies and when you turn your head, they has grown up out of your arms too quickly...

MEW'S MASTERPIECE OF ARTS

Mew has recently been passionately inspired by arcrylic painting and replicated some beautiful pictures from the Internet. She presented one of them to her classmates in her oral presentation on the theme "Commercials" and a lot of them were interested in buying it. She randomly picked one lucky buyer and sold the painting for $10. Wow, she earned her first dollars with love of arts. Now she could decide how to spend her own money without asking for our permission. How cool it is:) We encouraged her to continue painting and selling her works but she seemed to be satisfied with $10 so far. Just hope that she would continue finding a creative and fun way to earn money as such. It's great when you get money for doing something you are passionate about, isn't it?

A CHILD'S BEST SAYING

A conversation between Mom and daughter:
Daughter: Mom, are you excited about the coming Mothers' Day?
Mom: Nope.
Daughter: I will be excited about Mothers' Day when I am a mother. My children will be way better than your kids. I can enjoy shopping the whole day, buying jewellery, cosmetics, clothing. Then I will have a fancy dinner at the best restaurant in town, with candles and flowers, and my husband will pay for it. Oh, I forget, in the morning when I am still in bed, my kids will bring me a delicious breakfast tray with a rose stem. I will also receive a sweet greeting card.
Mom (laughing): Good, very nice dream. Glad that you have such nice dreams.
Daughter: Yes, and I will be better parents than you. I will live in a big house, with designer furniture, and eat out often. I will have the latest Iphone for myself, and buy Iphone for all of my kids. I will send my kids to private schools because I want them to go to the best schools. I will drive a luxury car and go on vacations often with my family. I will stay close to my family, I mean, my "own" family: my husband and my children. I will go shopping for myself and my kids whenever I want and do not have to wait for a sale or promotion...
Mom (laughing harder): Very interesting to hear so. I also sincerely hope that you will be better parents than me and your kids will be better than my kids, haha. Love your saying, it must be the best saying of the day, no, actually the best of the year!
Mom (thinking in her mind): One day you will become a mother, having children of your own, and maybe passing part of the path that I have traveled in the motherhood...and finally becoming an extension of myself, a better and happier extension...

DAUGHTER'S LETTER TO MOM

To: Mom (who don't really understand my world)

Look mom, my life is different than yours. Way different. You think surviving middle school (6 grade) is only, like, being yourself, being nice? You're wrong! So wrong. You don't understand because it changes. The world changed. Comparing my life to yours, almost if we don't know each other! Do you know that middle school and up are difficult? Really difficult? Cliques, bullies, teasers ...

It's not your nice life anymore. And when I talk to you, you don't understand. You don't even try to understand! Being yourself, be nice ... It's very good those things, but it's not really how it works anymore. I hope you understand.

Your daughter,
Talking to you by writing

IF I WERE ...

If I were an animal, can you guess which animal I would be? I could be a cute kitten or a peacock with brilliant plumage, but I would choose to be a playful dolphin instead. I would ride through the huge waves and explore the mysterious underwater world. I would jump high in the air, and dive deep into the water with a big splash! I would enjoy the companion of my family and friends and live a life of freedom to have the whole ocean as my lovely, dear home.

April 2014
(written by Mew as a writing assignment)

A SHORT SHORT STORY WRITTEN BY MEW

Hi! My name is Francine, a French dictionary. My cover is old and nasty. Clumbsy dumb kids spill water, hot cofee, snacks on me. I mean, don't they know I'm useful? Very useful?

"Hi, Frances!", Sharpey squicks. Sometimes my friends call me Frances. Sharpey is a little purple sharpener. I feel really sorry for Sharpey. Why? Imagine every minute of your life carrying the pencil crumbs, and kids spinning you round and round. Really? But I'm most sorry for Ella, the eraser. Ella is so tiny. She's those fun eraser. She was a piano eraser, but now Harlt (her owner) makes her like a piano who has been step on. Can you imagine Ella's life? You know what I mean, don't you? Then there's Penny a pencil. Don't tell this to anyone, but Penny and Sharpey don't really like each other. It's true! Penny's sister, Clara - a red crayon, is artistic. Also very pretty, too. For me, I have a sister, too! Gess who she is? She's Eglentine an English dictionary! My cousin, a thesauraus is Tori! Tori is a true poet. Tori is even like a twin sister to me. "Hi Sharpey!", I said back. It was reading time at the class, but humans can't here us. "Class! Please put away your books and write please! I want you to hand me a poem about kites ...", the teacher said. I cut her off because it's boring. She can go on and on and on, till the earth comes to a final end: Blah, blah, blah! Who cares?

"Aaah!", I shriek suddenly. A stinky boy, Nicolas, just pushed me. Clear something? I FELL OFF THE SHELF! To you, it wouldn't be higher then your shoulder's, but to little guys like me, it's like were's standing on the tower Eifel! I landed on my head. "Are you all right?", Rebecca the ruler asks. Oops! My apologie! Rebecca is so quiet, we usally forget about her. "Fine!", I said we anoyance.

"Dring!". It's recess! Moo-ha-ha-ha! My revenge! I'm like this, when someone does mean things to me, I get even! So you probably don't want me as your enemy. "Gather around!", I shouted. "Ella, erase his work! Penny, draw scribbles! Sharpey will help you. Savanah (Sorry, I forgot about her too!) cut the paper to pieces (and if you're smart, Savanah is a pear of swissors!)! Clara, you can also draw scribbles! Rebecca, you can help us get down and get up the desk! After we're done we will carry 11 pieces of paper and throw in the trash! Got it?", I scream. "Got it!", they shout in replie. So that's my revenge. "That was nice!", a small voice said. It's Garnet! She's glue. She hardly show herself. She's the shyest person I know. So shy! "Garnet! You could've help!", I said. She shruggs. "I'll help other time," she replie.

"Dring!". Class time is back. "Holy smocks!", cried Nicolas when he saw what we did. Sharpey was on his desk (still) and Nicolas threw her across the room! "Another revenge!", she screams. "Let's huddle up!" I look at Garnet. "You coming?" To my surprise she gladly came.

My life as a dictionary is tuff (but not as tuff as Ella's! Sorry for her!), but with friends, I feel happy (and evil sometimes)

April 2014

Author: Mew

(all spelling errors are kept as they are originally written by Mew)

CATCHING A FALLING STAR

The lyrics of Perry Como's hit song "Catching a falling star" are so beautiful:

"Catch A Falling Star"

Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket
Never let it fade away
Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket
Save it for a rainy day

For love may come and tap you on the shoulder some starless night
Just in case you feel you want to hold her
You'll have a pocketful of starlight

Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket
Never let it fade away
Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket
Save it for a rainy day

For love may come and tap you on the shoulder some starless night
Just in case you feel you want to hold her
You'll have a pocketful of starlight
(Pocketful of starlight, hm,hm,hm,hm,hm,hm)

Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket
Never let it fade away
Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket
Save it for a rainy day

(Save it for a rainy, save it for a rainy, rainy, rainy, day)

For when your troubles start multiplyin' and they just might
It's easy to forget them without tryin'
With just a pocketful of starlight

Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket
Never let it fade away
Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket
Save it for a rainy day

(Save it for a rainy day)
Save it for a rainy day

Writer(s): Lee Pockriss, Lee Julien Pockriss, Paul Vance
Copyright: Music Sales Corporation, Emily Music Corp.

KIDS ARE LIKE KITES

Kids
are like 
kites. You 
spend a lifetime
trying to get them off
the ground. You run with
them until you are both breathless
~ they crash ~ You add a longer tail ~
they hit the rooftop. ~ You pluck them out
of the spout ~ you patch and comfort, adjust and
teach ~ You watch them lifted by the wind and tell them 
that someday they will fly! ~ Finally they are airborne, but 
they need more string. ~ You keep letting the string out 
but with each twist of the ball of twine, there is 
some sadness that goes with the joy because the
kite becomes more distant and somehow you 
know it won't be long before that 
beautiful creature will snap 
the lifeline that bound 
you together and soar 
as it was meant to 
soar - Free and 
alone ... Only 
then do you 
know that 
you did 
your
job.  

(Erma Bombeck)  

The following is extracted from the website of  Wendy Fereday Swim School

An old adage compares raising children to flying a kite. Mom and Dad attach their string and run down the road hoping to catch a breeze. The colorful kite bounces in the dust behind them. After a few dismal (and one seriously funny) failures, they climb a hill and, with great effort, manage to entice the kite a few feet into the air. Gent tugging here and there, moving around to find the strongest winds and the little kite begins to fly itself. But just when they think it is safely underway, great danger appears. It dives toward electrical lines and spirals perilously near tall treetops. Parents are gripped by fear. But an unexpectedly timely gust of wind catches the kite, lifting it upward. Mom and Dad begin feeding line as rapidly as they can.

The kite then becomes difficult to hold. Parents reach the end of their line. The little craft requires more freedom. Dad stands on tiptoe to accommodate the tug. The string is precariously clasped between his thumb and index finger. The moment comes; it slips through his anxious fingers and the kite soars off into the heavens.

Parents stare proudly at their kite, now a pinpoint of color in the sky. Proudly and a bit sadly. Their labor – of love, of fear, of fighting, of laughing – is finished. The kite is free. And so, for the first time in so many years, are they.

Most of you are still at the very beginning of the story. Some are still attaching to your sweet little kites, other bumping along in the dust. Still others are starting to feel the winds pick up and seeing glimmers of flight in your kids. Wherever you are, be encouraged that the story doesn’t end here. You are just in a scene – some scenes are beautiful and others hard. Know that there is hope and strength for you when there is no breeze at all and it seems impossible that your little one will ever get off the ground. They will. The scene will change and you will be that parent watching your kite fly higher and higher. Until that time, enjoy this scene and give plenty of grace to your children and yourself.

Thank you for loving your children well!