When shaved, her comment was, "Hey, I look just like the guy from Avatar!" |
Case and point when it comes to raising very gifted children:
discipline is necessary when needed; not abuse.
I have come to a realization that my child is going to be the
way she is. Regardless of how much I had reflected on my past, it only led me
to depression, frustration and bitter resentment. I have lashed out. I’m not
very proud of myself. I do not want to be the image of my mother.
I’m grateful I have a very understanding daughter. She looks
up to me and imitates everything I do. I do find it annoying at times, though I
am somewhat flattered. I’ve never been considered in that manner before. I’ve
been brought up to think I’m the most worthless piece of vessel to ever set
foot on earth. Needless to say, it was not a very happy childhood.
I’ve always told her the truth. Even when I provide her with
answers to her questions, she still has a level of skepticism looming over her
head. I have considered ignoring the idiosyncrasies she has, but there are some
habits I still have to nit-pick. Maybe she has been overwhelmed by praises
where by she believes she doesn’t need to pick up after herself. I don’t tease
to belittle, but there’s a certain tone to get your point made clear. She
clearly doesn’t like to be called “stinky monkey”. She has improved her daily
routine. That’s more than enough to get that habit nipped.
We’ve tried to get her interest level in the arts. She has
this disposition in a sense that she’s already good at what she does because
she knows how smart she is. (O_O)?! Okay, let me clarify what my mother thought
about my talent as an artist:
“Is that the best you
can do?” She would retort with a scoff whenever I showered her with
hand-made greeting cards.
When it came to playing musical instruments, my mother
believed I was being difficult by not wanting to learn from the teacher. I
already made it clear to her that I did not like the teacher’s methods; one of
which was hitting my knuckles with a ruler. How can anyone play properly with
swollen knuckles? According to my mother, it was just all in my head. I may have
been a prepubescent child, but I had weighed the option: pain versus paying
attention to details of the lesson; Pain wins.
Before I start fuming emotional exasperations, I play better
by listening. I was playing on my own one day on the piano. It was right after
my sister had finished her piano practice. I pretty much imitated what she had
played. My mother came over to me with surprise.
“How come you can’t
play like that when you’re having your lessons?”
I responded, “I don’t have anyone hitting me.”
From then on, I would practice after my sister finished her session.
That was thirteen years ago. I play the guitar now. I’ve tried teaching my
daughter. She hasn’t picked it up since she complained her fingers hurt
pressing on the strings. We tried having her play the drums. Even then, she
gets bored beating on it. I guess she has yet figured out how to improvise. We
told her practice makes perfect. She told us that she would rather play or read
a book. We bought her books she enjoyed reading; one of which was the “Diary of a Wimpy kid” We even took her to
see Kate DiCamillo when she told us she loved reading the book we gave her for
her birthday, “Tale
of Despereaux”. To my horror, when I took it upon myself to clean her room
one day, the books we gave her were marked, dog-eared and mangled at the
binding. I know it’s a small thing, but as a book-worm, it was heart-wrenching.
That was then. The summer came, and I’ve noticed she has
gotten better about her attitude towards herself and her worldly possessions.
She has been practicing her recorder. She does go out of tempo, but it was
better than before. Her books are no longer in messy heaps. Her hair is looking
healthier. Her table manners have improved. Sometimes, she would grab herself a
book and sketch a copy of the cover instead of tracing over. Honestly, I am
awfully proud of her. I can also hug her without a stench smearing on to me.
It was exactly what the professions have said, “Structure,
positive reinforcement and most of all, patience.” The one virtue, I was never
showered with when I was a child. Patience was all it took.
8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.
~ Psalm 37
I know I would be asking too much, but it wouldn’t
hurt to wish she could do this everyday; not only when she wants something to
gain from being “good”.
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