Explanations, Clarifications and Assurances

I spoke with Teacher Chiqui, the directress and owner of Laila's preschool, about the incident with Teacher Reg.

Vouching for Teacher's Reg's character, Teacher Chiqui seconded that Teacher Reg's voice is just naturally loud and shrill and this was must have Ate Lyn misinterpreted as shouting. Nevertheless, Teacher Chiqui said she still advised Teacher Reg to tone down her voice a little so it wouldn't be misinterpreted as shouting.

Teacher Chiqui also offered some treats--i.e. books--for Laila when she arrives in school to help her settle down. Baby Cat's having a bout of separation anxiety again and has been crying when dropped off at school.

I really am not too worried about Laila's crying, and I told Teacher Chiqui about this, as I am about the shouting incident. Of course I will be disturbed after being told that a teacher shouted at my three-year old. What mom wouldn't be?

But since it's been brought out, discussed, resolved (hopefully) and never to be repeated then I am fine with it. Baby Cat remembers incindents when she thought Teacher was angry (but not at her specifically) and these incidents do not seem to lessen her fondness for Teacher Reg.

That's good enough for me.

Lessons from Mufasa

I never was the type of person who would take injustice, even only perceived injustice, sitting down.


It goes without saying that I will, if you may, protect Baby Cat from injustice with all the ferocity of Mufasa protecting Simba from the hyenas. I can't roar and slash and go for the jugular the way Mufasa did. But I do my best.

And, sometimes, restrain myself the best I can as well.

This morning I spoke with Teacher Reg about her supposedly raising her voice at Laila. Baby Cat's been suffering from separation anxiety again and has been bawling whenever she's dropped off at school. Ate Lyn said she heard Teacher last Friday order Laila, in an unfriendly tone, to go inside the classroom.


Teacher Reg denied all of it. She explained--her mouth tight and eyes in obviously slighted slits--that she used her normal voice and that none of the other parents have complained about the way she handled the class.


I wanted to hiss that there's always a first time for everything but instead simply told her that I find the whole incident disturbing. I used the calmest voice I could muster. I tried to use neutral words like 'raise your voice' instead of 'shout at' or 'disturbing incident' instead of 'do that again and I'll kick you ass'.


Ate Lyn, who was standing behind me, repeated everything she told me in front of Teacher Reg. And I saw Teacher's mouth tighten even more and her eyes become even more narrower slits. My jaws tensed as well. I think she saw it too. I also think she used a wealth of euphemisms on me as well.


I ended the rather unfriendly conversation with advice to let Laila cry her separation anxiety out and for Teacher not to bark commands. Laila, like me, has ths tendency not to follow instructions if she disapproves of the tone with which it is given.


I guess my not too successful attempt at exercising restraint was borne out of the desire to protect Laila beyond the shouting incident.



Now, I am wondering how my chat with Teacher would affect Laila's relationship with her. Baby Cat definitely found the incident with Teacher striking since she remembered it and even copied the scowling face Teacher made. At the same time, Laila looks like she's still fond of Teacher Reg and of school.



But I know I did the right thing. I want to teach Laila that she has to stand up for herself and not to tolerate abusive behavior. Shouting at a crying three-year old, to me, is abusive.


When she grows up, I want Laila to know her worth and that she doesn't have to take crap from anyone. I also want her to grow up to be a decent human being who respect others as much as herself. Furthermore, I want her to condcut herself with dignity.


And I think a parent can't teach these values early enough.

Turning Thwee

Laila is now officially three years old.

She's been three the past two weeks, actually. But to her, she's been 'thwee' the past several months. For some reason, she never got around to learning to say 'two' when you ask how old she is. It's always been three.

And now she really is.

We celebrated that special day with the kind of celebration she wanted--a superhero cake and clowns. Daddy Cat and I threw in some fancy balloons, Divisoria-bought loot/pabitin and catered food, but none of it distracted her from the cake and the clowns.

I set up the tables outside the house and, throughout the afternoon, she'd sneak out to thrust her scrumptious sausagey finger into the cake. That would explain the shallow creases at the backside of the cake. Well, it's hers anyway.

The kids enjoyed the clown show. The clowns did magic tricks and facilitated the games for the dozen or so little kids Laila invited. I half suspect that the clowns were a little disappointed with the limited ooohs and aaaahs the crowd gave them. Laila's guests were almost all her age and, I suppose, hadn't realized that the tricks they're seeing were, well, magic.

Baby Cat got tons of gifts and she merrily tore the wrapper from one parcel to another without seriously looking at what's inside.

What really caught her attention was a little golden puppy that barked, walked forward and wagged its tail. She stopped in the middle of opening presents to play with the puppy. We had to hide the doggie from her to make her move on to the rest of the pile.

She got a lot of new books, clothes and a few dollies.

I have a confession: Laila's not into dolls or stuffed toys. She was thoroughly excited over the new books and flipped one page after another mouth agape. The doll? She tossed it away with half the wrapper still on.

That night she crumpled on the bed tired but protesting bedtime nonetheless. But we successfully bribed her with her new Princess audio-book. That audio-book has now become a semi-regular in our bedtime routine.

Hmm. Baby Cat's thwee now. Wow.