27 September 2013

My Abstract Sequential Child

As what I have posted here, almost a year ago, LB was assessed by her former teacher as an Abstract Sequential (AS) child. AS kids need a quiet environment to think and work and like to debate about ideas and controversial issues. I automatically thought of her father when I read about it. Rhambo must be an AS adult. Hihi. Anyway, today was the second day of the issuance of their Developmental Assessment Checklist and narrative reports. Unlike other schools, parents of each PSS preschooler has the opportunity to understand their child better through a one-on-one conference with the teacher. 


Her being an AS still manifests even on her second year in PSS. Her teacher, TS, actually told me it's much more obvious now; such as getting grumpy when disturbed in the middle of being busy about something else. Well, that's an "okay" attitude but we, her folks, must practice her to adhere to a certain schedule. My being a very spontaneous parent must have something to do with this. Speaking of, it is advisable that AS kids have to have a parent who has structure. That's an oops moment for me. What kind of structure could a spontaneous momma give her AS child? Oh well, it'll be a real challenge. But guess what? Challenge accepted!

We also discussed the new format and category of their assessment checklist, which is divided into five developments: Physical (large and small motor); Social-Affective; Intellectual-Cognitive; Creative and Self-Help Skills. TS noticed that I delved more on the second development than on the third. Why? It's not that I am not after my daughter getting high grades or being very academic but as a mom of a 5-year-old, I focus on what she is a person and how she relates to people. I also joked TS that "wala naman siyang pagmamanahan ng low IQ eh". Haha! Here's a fact: I flunked one grading period on one subject during my 2nd year in highschool but it had nothing to do with my IQ --- I was super lazy to make my drawing plates because I didn't have art materials! Don't blame me, blame it to my being poor. LOL. OK, I'm blabbering.


TS backed me up with my stand on focusing more on LB's social skills, saying that a real intellectual child also knows how to relate with people well. Don't get me wrong, I do my best in training her to write her name, the rest of the alphabet and numbers but I also make sure I'm not being pushy. My mom told me I was like her when I was five. I loathed the "scheduled" writing session at home. I was as grumpy as LB. But you know what, bragging aside, I was a consistent first honor student from grades 1 to 4; and when I transferred to a public school on my 5th grade, I excelled as a part of the school paper and was on star section, too. Forget about highschool though. Hehe. And well, I semi-aced college; I've been in the President's List once. I also became the VP for a school org of nerds aka scholars. Let us not forget Rhambo: the other producer of the genes that LB has. My husband passed the high academic standards of Philippine Military Academy, where he became a Dean's Lister for one semester. That's a big deal there, fyi, with all the rigorous training and stuff. Sorry, nililipad na ba kayo sa hangin namin? Hihi. #loveyourown

I'm just trying to make you moms understand that an apple doesn't fall far from the tree. If you are having trouble with your kid, who has poor study habits --- kindly go back to what you were during his age. What has gone wrong then? Weren't you motivated because your parents were not there with you during study time? Did you feel lazy because you didn't have enough school things? Were you always compared with your siblings who always aced the exams? Perhaps, he's experiencing what you, too have gone through. Then it's time that we do something about it; something that is appropriate for our child. 

We are not perfect parents. There's no perfect parent! If you think you are or there's somebody you know who thinks she is, can I barf in my pink bucket first before talking to you? Kidding. Well, I am in all admiration to parents of honor students (like my mom! lol) and I am not losing hope in my own child just yet. She may be an abstract kid but it doesn't mean she can never get academic honors like what her parents got. She will have it at her own pace. She will have her own time to shine. Right now, I'm enjoying the sticky dining table because of her clay-molding and the sight of our fridge full of her artworks. After all, she's only five. Who's in a hurry? ☺

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