My daughter Amiratih never lived in English speaking country. The first word that my daughter said when she started to speak, however, was English. Her understandable words at 24 months old were, "good", and "banana" came along after. And so were others English words came out from her. Her vocabulary and sentence are developing everyday, both in English as well as in our spoken language, Bahasa Indonesia. But she also understand our ethnic language, Javanese and Sundanese, language that we speak to older family members occasionally, but not to her intentionally. Her ability to understand and speak many different languages certainly has amazed me.
At 2 years old, she often argued with almost everything I told her to do (or not to do). She would argue in English no matter what language I spoke to her at that time. Through times Amiratih can speak and communicate with her family in very proper English structure and perfect pronunciation for a child at her age who never lived in an English speaking country nor with any English speaking people.
At 3 years old, Amiratih could use past tense and present tense in the right place. When she's telling story to me, she knew when to use "either" and "too" in the right sentence. At this age she’s also exploring another foreign language such as Spanish. Although not as fluent as English, she could count from one to five in Spanish. She used some Spanish words when she called her grandma and grandpa sometimes also some greetings in Spanish. Her favorite word in Spanish is,"espera".
What so unique about Amiratih to me is that her ability to speak other languages than our native language will only come out when she's interacting with someone that is very familiar to her, to whom she feels secure. She would only speak fluently in English, with someone she feels very secured.
by : Laksmira Bayuardi ( kuma laxmi ) .
Friday, July 30, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Late Chronomer
My daughter Amira (3 years old) and my friend’s daughter Jasmine (5 years) have something in common. For one is their habit of sleeping past midnight with or without a nap in the afternoon. Although if they ever had a nap it usually takes only about 30 minutes. Their deprival need of sleeping has started since their infant years. However, after several visits to the child psychologist, we can be sure that physically and psychologically they are healthy and making many progress in their development both physically and psychologically. Although at the other end of the spectrum, they are also very picky eaters and have better moods for outdoor activities.
There is a pattern to what Amira does during her activities time. I keep a record to her activities based on four-phase of her energy level that are more common to happen throughout her growing years. Amira wakes up at around 8.30 am to 9 am. Often times she wakes up around 6 am or 7 am. At the first-phase, in the morning until the daytime, her energy level is at her lowest. She would prefer working on art and crafting such as cutting, painting and working on puzzles. This is the time where she tends to require her privacy. She will be more quiet and introvert. At the second phase, at noon to the evening, her energy level will be rising. She will need activities that include many exercises for her bodily kinesthetic energy that is quite high, such as climbing, running or dancing. This is the time when she will be on her prime for interaction with other person outside her house such as getting along with her friends and she will be more open for communication with others. At the third phase, from the evening to midnight, her energy level is at its peak. Her high curiosity and creative thinking show at its best. She will be like any child during the daytime. This is the time when Amira has a lot better reception of any knowledge she sees and hears as she becomes completely alert. She would do unique experiments to fulfill her curiosities and get the answers with her own way that is unique that I can not imagine before. She can be very creative at thinking, solving problem, gross motor skills and fine motor skill. Not only she will move creatively but concentrate very well too, she would love to do her workbook which she loves to do writing alphabets, mazes and counting. At the fourth phase, at midnight until before she prepares herself for bed, she would love to sit quietly watching her favorite program that has many song and music in it while doing the puzzles or coloring, but talking very actively, singing, moving and dancing are her favorite things to do anytime of the day.
Jasmine stays up even longer, few hours longer than Amira. She usually falls asleep at 5 am. Jasmine usually starts her high energy about 5 hours after she wakes up in the morning. Her energy starts rising higher at 11pm, at these times she is fully alert, she likes to exercise her gross motor skills while singing with loud noise and dancing jump up and down on her bed, starts at 2 am she is at her time of her creative thinking and doing experiments to fulfill her curiosities, sometimes involve water, such as playing water in the bathroom or bathtub, and then she would end the day by watching her favorite film that has songs and musics. Like Amira, Jasmine's way of finding answers and express curiosity are unique, Jasmine also bodily kinesthetic, has huge amount of energy too. What more unique to me is that their uniqueness, is different and original.
by : Laksmira Bayuardi
There is a pattern to what Amira does during her activities time. I keep a record to her activities based on four-phase of her energy level that are more common to happen throughout her growing years. Amira wakes up at around 8.30 am to 9 am. Often times she wakes up around 6 am or 7 am. At the first-phase, in the morning until the daytime, her energy level is at her lowest. She would prefer working on art and crafting such as cutting, painting and working on puzzles. This is the time where she tends to require her privacy. She will be more quiet and introvert. At the second phase, at noon to the evening, her energy level will be rising. She will need activities that include many exercises for her bodily kinesthetic energy that is quite high, such as climbing, running or dancing. This is the time when she will be on her prime for interaction with other person outside her house such as getting along with her friends and she will be more open for communication with others. At the third phase, from the evening to midnight, her energy level is at its peak. Her high curiosity and creative thinking show at its best. She will be like any child during the daytime. This is the time when Amira has a lot better reception of any knowledge she sees and hears as she becomes completely alert. She would do unique experiments to fulfill her curiosities and get the answers with her own way that is unique that I can not imagine before. She can be very creative at thinking, solving problem, gross motor skills and fine motor skill. Not only she will move creatively but concentrate very well too, she would love to do her workbook which she loves to do writing alphabets, mazes and counting. At the fourth phase, at midnight until before she prepares herself for bed, she would love to sit quietly watching her favorite program that has many song and music in it while doing the puzzles or coloring, but talking very actively, singing, moving and dancing are her favorite things to do anytime of the day.
Jasmine stays up even longer, few hours longer than Amira. She usually falls asleep at 5 am. Jasmine usually starts her high energy about 5 hours after she wakes up in the morning. Her energy starts rising higher at 11pm, at these times she is fully alert, she likes to exercise her gross motor skills while singing with loud noise and dancing jump up and down on her bed, starts at 2 am she is at her time of her creative thinking and doing experiments to fulfill her curiosities, sometimes involve water, such as playing water in the bathroom or bathtub, and then she would end the day by watching her favorite film that has songs and musics. Like Amira, Jasmine's way of finding answers and express curiosity are unique, Jasmine also bodily kinesthetic, has huge amount of energy too. What more unique to me is that their uniqueness, is different and original.
by : Laksmira Bayuardi
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Philately
I am so glad for having such wonderful friends around the world whom are still maintaining and cherish our way of communication by sending postcards and letters through traditional mail, although we also updated ourselves by means of new communication technology. The benefits are not only keeping the tradition alive, but also my daughter Amira found herself a new love with philately. What unique now is my friends send the letters addressed to Amira instead to me. Which is good for her. She's not only getting letters which contain stories of the Grand Canyon and the buffalo, the statue of a boy in Brussels, why the Hungarians call them self Magyar, and poems from Italy. She also received presents, like Belgium chocolate, CD and pictures. So now Amira is in love with philately even more. I don't know how she knew how to peel off the stamps after I helped her cut them off from the envelope. She took a small bowl and filled it with water and she put the stamps which were still sticked to the paper into the water. She waited for them and then the next few minutes I saw her peeled them off very carefully, which is unusual for her, and she dried them and then put them in her special place for stamps. She never received any instruction or example of how to do these steps. She did the process as if she had done it many times before.
by : Laksmira
February 2010
by : Laksmira
February 2010
Thursday, January 21, 2010
About Joshua
About eight years ago, I started my teaching career for an English enrichment program for seven to ten years old children. At one day, I was told by one of the parent and the headmaster that one of my student was an autistic child. He was a new student in my class. His parents said that it was up to me on how I should teach him. They also hinted that I should give him a pinch if he doesn’t pay attention. I wouldn't do that. I tried to treat my students as my younger friends so they would speak in confident about what they like or dislike.
The little boy his name is Joshua. Joshua did make me curious to understand his behavior. He always turned his face away from me whenever I walked towards him or asked him a question. He would talk quietly to himself and moved his body to and fro. I didn’t expect him to answer my questions in class. I just wanted him to get familiar with me; in hope of that he would feel much more secure in every class meeting. Most of the times he never seemed to care and listened a word I said. He would turn away every time I sat beside him to give him task as i gave the rest of the class. But I knew and I was very sure that he actually listened to me and tried to do it as best as he could. Often times other students laughed at him and under estimated him. It’s probably because of his unique differences. I tried to teach them to respect each other and be helpful to each other. I always gave each of my students praise for trying to do the best for any task I asked them to do. This is including to Joshua.
Until one day, the exam results came out. One of my student got the highest score. It was Joshua! All of the other students in the class amazed by his achievement and praised him. We all gave him a big applause. That was the first time he started to looked at me in the eyes and smile. I cried a little. I was so proud of him. I still am today. I was so proud of how he worked so hard to change and proof himself. It was all because of love. And love set him free. Out of the shell for good. He became even more confident and happier child. I am proud of the other students, too. They finally learned to be good friends. Most of all, good supportive fellows. It was the most wonderful gift at that time from the God for me. It happened just in time when I had to leave my teaching career.
I will always remember you Joshua, with all my love.
by : Laksmira Ratna Bayuardi
21 January 2010
The little boy his name is Joshua. Joshua did make me curious to understand his behavior. He always turned his face away from me whenever I walked towards him or asked him a question. He would talk quietly to himself and moved his body to and fro. I didn’t expect him to answer my questions in class. I just wanted him to get familiar with me; in hope of that he would feel much more secure in every class meeting. Most of the times he never seemed to care and listened a word I said. He would turn away every time I sat beside him to give him task as i gave the rest of the class. But I knew and I was very sure that he actually listened to me and tried to do it as best as he could. Often times other students laughed at him and under estimated him. It’s probably because of his unique differences. I tried to teach them to respect each other and be helpful to each other. I always gave each of my students praise for trying to do the best for any task I asked them to do. This is including to Joshua.
Until one day, the exam results came out. One of my student got the highest score. It was Joshua! All of the other students in the class amazed by his achievement and praised him. We all gave him a big applause. That was the first time he started to looked at me in the eyes and smile. I cried a little. I was so proud of him. I still am today. I was so proud of how he worked so hard to change and proof himself. It was all because of love. And love set him free. Out of the shell for good. He became even more confident and happier child. I am proud of the other students, too. They finally learned to be good friends. Most of all, good supportive fellows. It was the most wonderful gift at that time from the God for me. It happened just in time when I had to leave my teaching career.
I will always remember you Joshua, with all my love.
by : Laksmira Ratna Bayuardi
21 January 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010
A Mind In Puzzle
But at what age does that ability shows up ? In her case, it is already showing up. I start to develop an appreciation of where does her surprising behaviors and knowledges to deal with something or certain situation come from. In the meantime, I will let her love for puzzles grows and provide her with good and right puzzles. I will help develop her feeling of security that I will be there for her if she ever needs my assistance.
by : Laksmira Ratna Bayuardi
13 January 2010
Friday, January 1, 2010
The Dalang Took A Bow
Amiratih Larasati fell in love with wayang kulit (javanese shadow puppet) soon after seeing them at the first time when she was a little baby. My father collects shadow puppets in his home. He likes to show his collections to Amiratih. Ever since that moment, she's in love with wayang kulit. A love that is growing within her. Kresna, the reincarnation of lord Vishnu, is her number one favorite wayang. Gatotkaca, a Pandavan hero in the mahabharat epic, is her second. Kresna's character is the opposite from Amiratih’s. Kresna's calm behavior, soft-spoken but yet friendly voice and smiling face have somehow amazed Amiratih so much. She would talk to them just like she would to her fluffy dolls. In a way, wayang kulit has a special place in her heart. She also enjoys watching wayang orang (javanese opera) on television. She enjoys the javanese traditional music showed in the opera. She curiously asked me about what the story was all about; who the characters were; what the characters were doing; what they were talking about.
One night in her grandparent’s house, she asked us to turn off the lights but not the television. She took a plain wide wrapping paper, and she dragged two dining chairs in front of the television, she insisted us to help her put some tapes on each edge of the paper to the chairs, and then..Voila! Amazingly, she made a stage to perform a show of wayang kulit with the television light used as the back light. And as the puppeteer, she did her performance together with her wayang kulit as shadows, playing and dancing. At the end of the show, she thanks the wayang by shaking their hands. Especially for Kresna, a peaceful, quiet moment together with a nose to nose kiss, and holding hands. Finally, the dalang ( puppeteer ) took a bow, behind the paper, as a shadow. She did it beautifully as we all watched her shadow show with the puppets. I am so proud of her. All of her life, at her very young age, she has been showing me her strong character and identity as an individual that is different from me, different from her father, and from any other of her family members. although yes, she has pieces of each of us in her, like pieces of undone puzzle that she will finish one day, just like her other hobby, making puzzles. Or should i say a puzzle maniac.
by : Laksmira Ratna Bayuardi
29 December 2009
Amira , God & Ice Cream
Amira was two years old. One day she asked me, "Bu,where does God live..?" Her question startled me. I wasn’t sure if I could answer that God was everywhere; or God was inside you; or God was very close to you. Those answers were too abstract for her to understand. Though I could just said that, but Amira was the kind of girl who would keep chasing me with questions further until she found it satisfactory. I decided to answer her question simple. I said to her, "up there Amira," and we both looked at the sky as we were sitting at the terrace to enjoy beautiful sunny afternoon. Then she asked me again,"God lives in the clouds?" I said,"No, up beyond the clouds." She asked again, "In the sky..?" I said, "No sweetheart, beyond the sky.” She asked again,"God's home is in the star..? I want to know God's house. How does the house look like..?" I went speechless. I thought hard of the answers with my upside down mind at that time. I tried to look wise by smiling at her, laughed a little and touched her curious looking face. But then as if she understood that I ran out of answer she ended her questions and wisely said,"O well..that's OK ibu. I just wanna give Him ice cream when we meet.."
Ice cream....?? That's it...? Asking so many questions about where God lives just because she wanted to give Him Ice cream..? I thought to myself. But yes, that's just it. It is a very simple thought of a child to God. Simplicity and sincerely. God must love her so much. And other young children who with their simple, sincere and innocent thought of God trying to get to know Him personally. Making friend with Him. Sharing some joys and love with Him, and Ice cream. It is a lovely joyful treat for every child. Cold and sweet. Making them giggle when they eat it. And Amira just wants to share it with God.
I was ashamed of myself. I thought of other grown ups too. So many requests we have been asking to God. Our happiness might just comes from a tiny simple thing but yet so powerful. It makes us smile, laugh, happy, or even peacefully drawn in the serenity of nature and togetherness with people we love. Those things. When those are happening to us, do we remember to share them with God? Although we know very well that those feelings come from God and we thankful for that. but feeling of sharing them with God is a different thing. When we thankful for our family or friends who came and brought us some delicious treats that we like so much. We would like our family or friends who brought it to have some too. We share although we know that it came from them. Sharing our food,our wealth, our attention, our love; Sharing is what God taught us to do. Why not sharing back to God of what He had given us.. I always touched and thankful when i gave Amira something that she likes so much and then she shared it with me. And said thank you..Actually..she didn't have to say it..i knew..seeing her happy is more than just gladness for me. I thank her for her attention to share the thing she loves with me. And God must feel that way too..more or less..
It's another lesson from my child,this time's lesson is for me; giving more attention to God in our joyful times. Sharing our love and happiness not only to those who we think need them, but also to the One who loves us unconditionally too. My way would be..Repeating His name in my heart.
by : Laksmira Ratna Bayuardi
18 November 2009
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