As good as it gets

Amongst my many challenges as a homeschooling mum is that everyone has 101 suggestions / "advice". From the "take it from me, I have been there before..." (well, it would make sense if our situations are totally alike) to "it is pronounced as Van Gorrr not Van Goe".

There were also some instances when I'd end up debating with some over "spelling" and "grammar", etc. "Leaped" versus "Leapt" ("leaped is so totally wrong!" - well it isn't, just that British favours "leapt" more), the role o f silent "e", etc.

It does get very tiring at times at best and at the worst, it is downright infuriating because some of these people would totally not be receptive to ideas and opinions and think that only their views are right and they do not need to learn anything new.

Image from: http://thefraternityofstgenesius.blogspot.com/2012/01/prayer-for-humility.html

This essentially is one of the many values I try to teach Dumpling - to be teachable i.e. humble. For Dumpling, she sometimes gets very bossy and argumentative. She'd argue that she is right and everyone else is wrong. I am still trying to to unteach that.

For we can only be as good as we can get if we were to be locked within our own world. If one is unteachable and thinks that his / her view is the best, then to me, the person is and will forever remain stagnant. This applies not only to Dumpling but also to myself. Though trying, I always take a step back and try to be receptive to new ideas / thoughts as I'd remind myself that I do not have all the answers. It is good to always have a healthy dose of information from someone else as well as to have a robust exchange of ideas so that we can better ourselves.

With this belief, I ended up creating a group on Facebook which is one of the best things that I have ever done for myself and I hope, for many members. The wealth of information in the exchanges is just tremendous. Being in Kiasu Singapore, some have asked me why I am so open to exchanges of resources, etc. My answer to that is there is only 1 of me and 24 hours daily. If we have an open exchange of ideas, thoughts and sharing of resources, it saves so much time for everyone. And of course, I choose to trust the better side of humans where the information/sharing is not being abused.

Because of this belief and group, I learnt a lot too; from ex teachers to early childhood educators to professional storyteller to facebook webstore books sellers, the expertise and opinions shared is mind boggling. So to all of you, thank you. :) (Edit: gonna claim bragging rights here by staking claim to say that we form this Facebook homeschool/homelearning community first! lol)

Wherein humility, I learn. Wherein sharing, I receive. Wherein giving, I am blessed. Many many times over. :)