好好学习 Study Well

Suddenly, being a student is the only MO for anyone in this family.

eeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrt. (that was a screetching halt.)

I'm cutting what was the very last paragraph, and pasting it right up here because this is the most important idea that I want to share with you. If you continue reading after this little explanation, cool! Thank you!

By Way of Explanation

During the Monday-Friday work week, there may be one full or half-day each week I'll keep the boys home with me. Otherwise they're in school basically 8:30am - 5:30pm M-F. It's a long time, at a young and formative age. Sometimes it worries me a little to have them out so much...will we regret it later? But this is our intentional choice -- to afford them the indispensable gift of Chinese language and culture. We've witnessed many foreign kids living in China who are isolated with zero friends and little ability to interact with the world outside their nuclear family and English-speaking enclave. Every family is in a different situation, with different needs and values, different kids, different abilities and assignments from the Father, and choices to make. For us, we are in a good position to encourage our boys towards deep immersion in their Chinese community. To accomplish this, anyone would need consistent language environment and shared experiences with peers. So for us, I guess it feels like a bit of a concession to have them out of our home many hours each day, but we believe it's the very best choice for our family and the specific assignment given to us. Trusting in Father's wisdom directing our paths and our kids' paths.

As I was saying... being a student is the only MO for anyone in this family.

Drew, although he is working full-time ("paid internship"), is still on a student visa, still on a full scholarship with small stipend and still needs to write his thesis!

Rachel, that's me, I'm now the same as Drew with a student visa + full scholarship + stipend. I'm struck now with thought that I many not have mentioned this on this blog yet? Tomorrow I begin a 3-year master's degree program in Cultural Anthropology. Good to know, huh? My pace is moderate enough, still this is going to be an intense challenge. It's only possible because all three of my boys are in preschool...

Titus is in his third and final year of preschool, in the 5 year-olds class. Senior Year! He's had the same excellent teacher, Mrs. Zeng, and basically all the same classmates since he was 3 years old. This fall we registered him for a Monday & Wednesday afternoon elective course, "Shared Reading" to pump up his interest in Chinese stories and increase his expressiveness. Titus was ecstatic about joining the reading class because apparently they get cool toys. :)

Jonathon's plans changed to work out beautifully. Back in June we had to withdraw his pre-registration from preschool because he didn't meet the requirements of being potty-trained and able to eat somewhat independently. Arrangements were made for Jonathon to attend the Butterfly Home's preschool way on the other side of Changsha, but after a trial week we found that transportation was prohibitive. Thankfully, by the end of August he had basically potty-trained and was again eating purees and soft foods, so we tried to re-register him at Central South (where Titus & Mike go), but classes were already at capacity. The best alternative was to take Jonathon to another school, Gold Harmony, about a half-mile from Central South. We found that it's a better environment for Jonathon after all, with a smaller class size and patient teachers like Mrs. Wen who are pleased to accommodate his extra needs. (There are no special ed. programs or paraprofessionals/special ed. assistants in Chinese schools. The administrators were stretched to grant permission for Jonathon, a 4 year-old, to be in the 2-3 year-old class where developmentally he fits well.) Because of his need for semi-solids, I pack and send along all of his meals and snacks every day. Jonathon thinks being in school is fantastic -- unsurprisingly, he likes dancing best. Mrs. Wen says he enthusiastically joins every activity, and is especially good at learning action songs.

Mike has started in the 3 year-olds class with bright and capable Miss Li at the helm. It was an adjustment for our youngest to say goodbye to his mommy, but he found out that preschool is a safe, fun place with lots of friends and cool things he's never done before like working with clay in art class! He's already proven himself as the class champion lunch eater. Mike has two special classmates: 1) Our neighbor friend Rui Rui, who we've played with since he and Mike were barely walking.  2) Yan Yan, Titus' teacher Mrs. Zeng's daughter, is in Mike's class! It feels homier having family connections within the school. 

We bounce out the door before 8am every day, together. Drew gives Jonathon a lift over to Gold Harmony and then continues biking to work. 

I escort these two fellas to Central South and chain their bikes to the school fence so they can ride them back home in the evening. (Note that Titus' training wheels are OFF as of yesterday!) Soon as I hug them goodbye, I'll be sprinting over to something like Western Sociological Theories and Classic Readings.

5:25pm I'm back at Gold Harmony picking up Jonathon, then we jog to Central South by 5:35 for Titus and Michael and romp around on the school playground or outside on a field. This is a happy, relaxing reunion after school with nothing urgent. Wandering leisurely, we return home and Drew joins us for supper at 6:45 or 7pm. We rejoice that evenings and weekends are unhurried, designated for family togetherness.

counting the graces

thank you Father for

Grandma Elvie's handmade sage green braided-pattern afghan throw blanket making our living room cozier and feeling closer to family thinking of the loving aged hands that constructed it

live salmon, inexpensive, at our rinky-dink vegetable market! unbelievable! and a treat for the supper table

reading lamps, tea and books in both quiet twilight and calm nightfall

Yang Cong offering to drive her car, taking me to the supermarket at just the right time so I could collect materials for Titus' birthday party

three tiny pet turtles, one for each boy

not having to try to figure out everything in life and then bear regrets, but instead trusting in a wise Leader