Mia and Anastassia

A lot of things happened for the last 3 weeks. Let me just share the ones that concerns my eldest 2.

Mia

Mia turned 14 on February 22. I sent her, a Secret Recipe's Muddy Chocolate cake and a couple of Domino's Double Decker Chicken pepperoni pizza on Sunday for her to share with her dormies and kakaks.

Mia seems to enjoy her 2nd year at college esp since dah ada 1st formers. Hehe. She said she's not into the 1st formers, takdala nak ambik adik angkat or nak garang2..... banyak lagi important things to attend to, she said. On the adik angkat, she said that having 3 adiks at home pun is more than enough! (Haha. Memang Helena tau dia pening melayan kerenah adik2nya)

Mia also seems to be more focused in her studies, syukur. Sejuk rasanya, , I really want my kids to study atas kesedaran sendiri, without having me to nag.


Anastassia

This child of mine is really busy. Dulu masuk Bahas competition, then bowling, and then syarahan. Now cuti sekolah ni everyday pergi sekolah. She has to practice for her Pidato DiRaja competition, Choral Speaking AND Robotic.....

I do pity her as she is the type yang cepat penat. Is it because of her small built? Kakak Mia dulu lagi tiring schedule dia but she can handle it. I started to give her vitamins early this month.

We (the school and I) found out something recently. That Anastassia is really at ease with standing in front of a crowd and talk. Tak de rasa malu, takde rasa tension, takda rasa gemuruh.

And end Feb, as the Ketua Pengawas, she was asked to give a speech during a function, which was attended by the Pengarah Pelajaran Negeri, pegawai2 Jabatan Pelajaran, Guru Besar2 from other schools and other para jemputan. TV3 came, reporters too. (It was shown on TV and was in the papers)

The day before the function, I asked her.

"Anastassia, have you practised the speech that you're going to give tomorrow?" I asked.

"Ermmm" Anastassia responded.

"Anastassia????" I asked again.

"Ala, mama, nak practise apa. Just cakap ajela....." Anastassia said sambil buat muka boring.

"Eh you better practise, ramai VIPs datang tau, TV3, reporters, nanti buat malu aje kalau tergagap2 atas tu."

"I know what I'm doing la mama, dont worry about it" Anastassia said, while sambung buat homework dia.


On the said function, Anastassia was the first to berucap, then the YDP PIBG, Pegawai Jabatan Pelajaran, Pengarah and then Guru Besar.

When her name was called, she walked up the stage confidently, gave her speech confidently, smiling at the VIPs when addressing them, malah siap berpantun lagi. Her voice was clear and loud. She looks like a pro up there. (Bab2 public speaking in bukan senang, kan, esp for a child that age)

Later that day, I asked her.

"Anastassia tak rasa tension ke cakap atas stage to a hall full of people, ada VIP, ada reporters and cameraman?

"Duh?..... nak tension apa?" Anastassia reponded shrugging off her shoulder.



I remember that I always try to get Mia get involved in activities that require her to speak in public. Being a prefect, dia selalu kena bercakap kat mike infront of the school. And nampak okay aje Helena tgk dia bercakap atas stage. (during her primary days)

But Mia doesnt seems to warm up to my suggestion. She did tell me once that although she doent mind public speaking, its not what she likes to do. "Its just not me, mama" But this child of mine understand that it would be important in later years to be good in public speaking. And being Mia (yang selalu dengar nasihat mamanya) she is in the debate club in college.

However, Anastassia seems to embrace public speaking naturally. Helena takde encourage sangat pun. (Not as much as how i pushed Mia) Having a loud voice is another plus for her. I still remember her English teacher said when she was in std 3. "I would always ask Anastasia to read in front of the class. Her voise is so loud, its like she's using a microphone". And seriously speaking, suaranya yang kuat tu memang tak padan dgn her size. Hehe.

And it got me thinking. Each child has their own strengths, own specialities. Each child is different. I knew this before, but I understand it now.