At the Library

The internet connection has been pitifully ambling along lately, for reasons I have yet to comprehend. So it's quite a waste of time sitting at home trying to prod the Online School. I gave up. We went to the library. If it takes that long to wait for the OLS to process the hours I log in, my time is better spent driving to the library and back.

S was enthusiastic as soon as I said that we might just do school at the library.

"I like doing school at the library because N and H HAVE to be quiet there, so I can do my work."

So there IS a noise problem. Not really from N I think. I think it's more from H. He's the kind of person who likes to chatter endlessly when he's doing something, especially something dull like a worksheet he has no problems doing. I sometimes even cringe in contemplation when he responds to me in a sing song manner and silly chatter.

Does he get it? Does he understand? Is it too easy for him? What's behind those big grins and gibberish chatter? He seems to be aware of what was asked, and when pointed out, he does realize his mistakes. So far so good. At least he asks more questions than the other two.

I told S and N to do as much as they could at home, rather than lug everything to the library. I didn't want to spend so much time at the library because I'd have to come home and cook dinner. So S did most of her work at home and the only things that were left to do at the libabry was History, Math and Study Island.

While we were getting the books out of the van, I warned them, fearing they would all just dash for the computers and abandon their school work,

"When you get it, start your school work right away. No computers until you do."

Inside, I told myself, yeah right. They'd most probably take advantage and not listen to me.

What a nice surprise I got when they all, like good school children, headed for one of the tables and put down their rucksacks, after hashing out a short decision-making discussion over which tables to sit at. The rectangles one turned out to be more spacious than the round ones. The two girls situated themselves comfortably across each other and H went to get a basket of crayons. I got ready to hit the computers.

I left them, trusting them to finish their work, while I checked my mail and did my homework. Who woud have thought googling 'Lucky Buddha' and Elephant-headed Ganesh' would take such a long time? Even then, I still couldn't find anything on the omen of seeing a person who looks like you, though I have an inkling of it from a conversation I had when i was a child.

So now I have to write a 'report' before my next class this Saturday.

While I was seated in front of the computer, forehead crumpled in a frustrated wrinkle, S came with problems with her math. Well, in my frustrations, I snapped at her nd how bad i felt when she actually dilligently finished all the required work for the day with no complaints or sulks. I made sure I commented on it later in the day.

We got to the library at 1 pm. Time goes by so quickly when you are absorbed in something. True enough, it was already 3 pm when I gave up on google and the kids finished their work. Before we left, I told S to look for books pertaining to Birds, Mammals, Reptiles, Amphibians and Fish while I looked for video cassettes pertaining to weather.

My search was unsuccessful. Before I left though I directed her to the magazine rack. When I met her again, she had quite a number of Zoobooks mags. I noticed her leafing through my National Geographic one night. She does have a fascination with animals, and I dub her the 'animal expert'.

For her writing, I had her do brainstorming and then narrow down on a topic. She chose to write about the Snowshoe Hare. I learned something new from her.

"They eat meat," she said confidently.

"What??"

"Rabbits don't eat meat!" I was feling incredulous at her statement, thinking it both disgusting and scary to hear a rabbit being carnivorous.

"Yes, they do. In winter, when they don't have enough food," she replied, undaunted by my skepticism.

Questions darted from me to her as i tried to comprehend what she was saying, and as she enlightened me, I nodded my head dumbly.

All the while I think she was enjoying herself at my expense. One, she was amused by my reaction. Two i think she was inwardly feeling quite proud of herself, and I have to give her credit for standing up for herself. She's not the typical American kid with 'Barney' attitude.

We got home at 4 pm and I was thoroughly exhausted. For some reason i felt utterly sleepy and decided to nap for abut 15 minutes before cooking. I told S to wake me up as i surrendered to my weary eyes on the couch. When she did wake me up, i said,

"15 more minutes," and dozed off. I was that tired.

"Ummi, it's 5:15!" She woke me up again. I stirred a little but went right back to sleep.

I only woke up when F came home and the first thing I said to him was,

"Belum masak lagi," because I knew he would be expecting dinner.

I got probably like half an hour's nap but it was very deep. F helped me cook and thank God i had the wisdom to prepare for the next day before we left for the library. I had figured i'd better do it then. One lesson I learned in homeschooling is to never procrastinate because it will all catch up to you in the end and you wil be stuck to rot in the rut.