LIFE LESSONS FROM LI'L SOLEIL

Soleil is my 4 year old daughter…. She’s in kinder a right now. And I’m a bit surprised that for the past 7 months In kindergarten, she and her class were constantly given a battery of tests… a few days ago, they had their 3rd quarterly exams. EXAMS??? For a 4-year old girl? Well… that’s how advanced our educational system now. But this is not this blog’s topic ok?

After reading numerous self help books, a few days ago I learned through Soleil the real meaning of “don’t sweat the small stuffs” principle.

She had to take 4 different tests in 4 consecutive days. Exams started Thursday and ended on Tuesday. Being the doting mom that I am, I racked my brains in making reviewer for her. I didn’t stop reviewing her until she got all the answers right. And yeah… I will admit, I even came to a point that I scolded and shouted at her when she failed to answer my questions right. Yes, I also admit, its unfair… but to my mind, she HAS to learn. “the end justifies the mean”… and yes again, I was MEAN to her… [excuse the pun if you may]

Day 1 of the exam, she didn’t bring home a star. A star medal is given to students who get perfect score. In the first quarter exams, she got 2 star medals. In the second quarter exams, she didn’t get any medal. I was pressured now… [subconsciously, my mind was saying, “saying the 30,000 tuition fee going down the drain!!!]

Day 2 of the exam, still no star. I bombarded her with information during the weekend, but still Monday exam number 3, still no star. Until finally, Monday evening, I went nuts. She had this terrible temper and didn’t want to study. I was exhausted, and in exasperation, I surrendered. We stopped reviewing. I told myself, its FUTILE. So Tuesday afternoon, I went to work, while Soleil took her last exam. When I called home to check on the kids, the yaya happily informed me that Soleil got the elusive star medal. I was SHOCKED. I even told Soleil…. “nangopya ka ano!” which is quite unfair to the child. But after the initial shock, a VERY BIG SMILE registered on my lips. The reason being… I got what I wanted. But later on, I realized something….

It takes a 4 year old girl to teach me life’s little lesson… there are things in life that are destined to happen. And it happens for a purpose… there are things in life that you work real hard to achieve, but if its not meant to be, you won’t get it. I’m not being fatalistic here. But to my mind... Its not as if it’s the end of the world when you don’t get what you aspire for… but maybe… God has some wonderful things reserved for you. Better than the goal you’ve been aiming. The experience with Soleil also taught me to focus on the more essential part of life… that is the joy of being able to teach a 4 year old girl and really enjoying the experience; the connection and relationship we are developing beucase I become her second teacher; those are the important things that I should remember… not the grades, not the star medals… coz sometimes, when you focus on things like “star medals”, money, popularity and the likes, you missed out on the lessons of life’s journey, and you missed out on the simple joys that each day brings.

For that… thanks a lot Soleil!
For that… you deserve a big big STAR and lots of kisses!