I have been informally homeschooling my two daughters from 3rd trimester on my tummy up to now — my first born at 2.9yo and my youngest at barely seven months. The problem, however, with not having a curriculum to follow is that anything goes, anytime, and anywhere. Although I didn’t call it “homeschooling”, I think the kind of developmental milestones that I am seeing on my daughters (esp. my 1st born) will fall into the category of homeschooling. My toddler sings, dances, watches movies, talks in English, sometimes Spanish, and Arabic, plays with her toys, solves puzzles, plays the piano, and guitar, watches youtube, plays with the iPad, iPhone apps, and now, the laptop (although occasionally).

For over a year now, I’ve been looking for the pre-school or nursery to enroll my 1st born. She’s now 2.9, and has been “pretending” to read. She recognizes the letters, the alphabets, and knows some phonics, but when it comes to teaching her how to read, she does it on her own. She doesn’t want to be taught! She’s so independent (a trait that I can also see in my 6months old), you know, almost in all aspects of her life. The only thing that she doesn’t know at this stage of her life is to bath herself, but she knows how to brush her teeth, wash her hands and face, change her clothes, remove her soiled diaper (she still uses diaper especially when she sleeps), prepare her milk (I saw that when she prepared her milk, and I got too excited and maybe she got too nervous that she threw the milk from the bottle). She also knows the word “exercise”, and what it means, and she does find time to exercise by following Leslie Sansone’s DVDs. Recently, I bought her a VCD containing Jazz steps for kids. She’s not much into it yet, but I think she’ll love it, too, soon.

I thought that by enrolling my 1st born to a nursery or playschool will make her learn more. But I think that I’ll just continue and upgrade what she’s learning at home (from me, if her mood is right), and mostly from herself, and other DVDs/VCDs. Why? I don’t think it would be a good idea to let her start formal education outside home. We’re living overseas, and majority of the playgroups, nurseries that I found (online) were far from where we are residing. I really don’t want to stress out my child in commuting everyday or every other day.

So for 2012, I resolve to “really” focus on her “homeschooling”. I’ll create a curriculum (Overseas Homeschooling Curriculum) for her that we’ll follow for a year, and let’s see about the developments. I’ll also check if there’s an online homeschooling curriculum that my toddler can follow.

Why the sudden focus on formally homeschooling my toddler and baby (not much formal homeschooling though since the youngest is just 6months old)?

I’m a firm believer of lifelong learning, and early learning. But this quote has enlightened me more than ever.

Now is the only early childhood you will ever be able to share with your child.  These are golden years. It might be worthwhile to once again thoughtfully consider how you really want to spend your time.  What could you put off until later in order to maximize and preserve these few precious years with your child?  Your sacrifice today will mean a stronger academic and emotional future tomorrow.  Your love, time and attention mean so much.  In a child’s world, there is simply no substitute for you!

~ Jane Claire Lambert

After all, it’s just a matter of proper allocation of time. Now, it’s time to put into good use the 8 triple rule I read long ago but haven’t practiced yet: 8-8-8 (8 hours for my work & personal development); 8 hours for my sleep and home obligations); 8 hours for my family (recreation, bonding, homeschooling, catching up).

How about you moms? How do you divide your time? What’s your take about homeschooling?

T H E  94th  L E T T E R

Dec. 17, 2011 @ 3:20p.m.

Dear Baby1,

Howdy, baby! How are you now?

Ohhh, I wish you will eat well. When you were 1.4 years old, you’d eat by yourself, and you would chew your food properly. Now at barely 3 years old, it takes you 2 hours to finish your food! Ohh no…You also don’t chew your food. You just let them stay on your mouth for ages. However, when we eat outside, or when there’s a party, you tend to eat properly and you chew your food well. Is it just the venue or the food, baby? This reminds me to print the PDF of foods for toddler.

At your little sissy’s christening, you impressed the guests with your wits. You spoke in straight English when asked. You were so behaved, at first. After awhile though, you mingled with the visitors, and you played with them.

There was a funny incident last week.  I told you that I’d be giving you a new laptop, Mommy’s old Dell XPS, newly reformatted so it’s as good as brand new. I was trying to help you when you pushed me to go away from you. You told me to do my thing in my Apple Macbook Pro, and when I was seated on the sofa (in front of my laptop), you told me to turn around, meaning to face my laptop so I wouldn’t mind what you’re doing. You just don’t want to be taught. You’ve long wanted to be independent – in reading, writing, and in learning anything. But, baby, you need me to teach you first.

There was an instance in reading your book when you insisted that the sound of the letters “am” (aaaammm) was “sa” (ssaaaa)…Haha.

I hope that you’ll be reading anytime soon. Just allow mommy to teach you, baby. I’m glad though that this morning, you were trying to mimic the instructions on the DVD of shapes and colors. I think every morning we’ll be doing that.

This is all for now.

iloveyou,

mommy

T H E  4th L E T T E R

Dec. 18, 2011 @ 3:00p.m.

Dear Baby2,

Hi baby! It’s a week to go and finally it’s Christmas! Your first Christmas with daddy, mommy, and ate. Wow.

You’re now six months, and you have been eating solid on your first day as 6-month old baby. Thank God you just love food but lately I controlled what you eat because I want you to drink more milk than eat your solid. At this stage, milk should be your main source of nutrients.

Ten days ago, you had your christening. Thank God for the blessings. You cried a lot during the ceremony at the church. I will upload the selected pics as soon as I receive the last set from the photographer.

At six months, you started to roll over every time there’s poop on your diaper. You also “talk” a lot, nonstop, and you sing a lot, too. As always, you adore your big sissy so much. Lately though, when Mommy goes out of the room, you cry. I make it a point now to be with you for at least 7 hours a day. You now sleep with your yaya at night so Mommy will have enough energy in the morning to take good care of you and Ate, and in the afternoon, I can do my work.

It’s so cold outside so it’s just daddy and mommy who go out at night or even during the day. There are times that we bring Ate along with us. Soon, baby, when you’re big enough to weather the freezing cold of the night or day, you’ll go along with us – anywhere. Promise. I’m just scared to let you go out at night because majority of the people outside have colds. I still could not forget the time that you were admitted at Al Salam at 3 months with drip attached on your hand.

You have been wanting to sit down, and you just couldn’t yet. But nowadays, you’re sitting on your side, your left/right arm on the bed for support. You could not last a minute or two without doing something like watching Baby Einstein, or toying something with your hands, or humming a song while doing another thing. You’re just like your big sissy. You’re both like daddy and mommy. We hate wasting time. We just don’t like it when our minds and hands are idle.

This is all for now, baby.

iloveyou,

mommy

T H E  3rd  L E T T E R

Dec. 3, 2011 @12:42a.m.

Dear Baby2,

Howdy! After 17 days, I finally hugged you last Nov. 27. Uh-oh. Glad though that you and your big sis Ate didn’t get the flu from mommy.

Baby, I’m soooo sorry for lately, I haven’t been cuddling, hugging you after Mommy got sick. It’s because Mommy and Daddy are very busy crafting your Web site for your special event 5 days from now.

You’re five months now. I just heard you say the word “yaya” yesterday. When will you utter Mommy’s name, “mom”, “mommy”, or “mama”? Like your Ate, she uttered my name at a latter part than Daddy’s, her previous yaya, and ninang J as “lola”.

This is just a quick letter. I just miss you so much. Daddy will get you from your yaya’s room later. You will sleep beside Daddy and Mommy tonight. Last night, Ate slept beside us.

This is all for now.

iloveyou,

mommy