Raising Samantha

They say you don’t compare your kids. Each child is unique.

Having different personalities, different preferences, different God-given talents, I just can’t help but see in each of my child the differences. I don’t compare. I just need to know the difference so I know where to draw the line in terms of helping my kids enhance their God-given talents.

Samantha has started going for Drama lessons. She’s one of the youngest but I can tell she’s really into it. She’s not supposed to be there because the minimum age is 5 years old to join.

But in Malaysia, they count the age by year and not by birth date.

This year, although Samantha just turned 4 at the end of November last year, she’s considered 5 this year. And so because of that fact, we  registered her and she was enrolled.

There’s one way mirror that you could peek through if you want to see how your child fares. And so, from this, my husband took photo of her first session.

At Helen O’Grady Drama Academy in Taipan.

Samantha at Her First Drama Class at Helen O’Grady Drama Academy

2 Years ago, we tried Schenker for this drama school. He didn’t last. We never forced him. At least we explored it for him.

So I say, every child is different. As parents we help to enhance the talents of each child. It’s just a matter of being sensitive to their preferences.

We do have a job to do. Discover our kids’ potentials!

Samantha has a very flexible body. And we thought she could go and learn gymnastics and ballet. I showed her once some videos of girls dancing ballet in youtube and she got interested and asked me if she could ballet dance too. So I told her I was going to find out if she could She was only 3 years old then.

We went to Federal Academy of Ballet in USJ 10 to inquire. There were no slots available for her age. Or was it because she was too young to be accepted? I couldn’t remember anymore. But last year, we got an sms announcing the opening for her age category. But when we got the message, we were out of the country and we didn’t follow through when we came back.

At the end of the year last year, we went back there to inquire for any slots for young girls and for beginners like her. The receptionist said there wasn’t any slot. But she could book Samantha if they do have in April

We went back there after Samantha’s drama school to follow up last Saturday. But the receptionist said she wasn’t even sure if there’s opening in April. It all depends whether one of them could level up that’s when they can put in one more.

And so… we went to another dance academy to check out.

I mean, hello… there are other schools that are open. So why not try others?

So we went to check Pose Dance Academy in USJ 10, Tiapan, instead. And the girl at the reception counter told us we could come the next day for trial class. That was fast.

And so, today, we went for Samantha’s trial class for ballet.

And guess what? She’s got what it takes to be a ballet dancer. She has the poise! I am so excited for Samantha.

And so this week was an introduction of Samantha’s extra curricular activities:

1. Drama class at Helen O’Grady Drama Academy
2. Ballet class at Pose Dance School
3. Swimming class in her kindergarten school

Indeed, it’s quite exciting for the family this year.

God is just awesome.

2 years ago, we sent Schenker,  Samantha’s brother, to a drama school in Taipan called Helen O’Grady Drama Academy. He was going for a few months then. And when it’s time for showcase, they were practicing for it. He wanted to be a policeman in their presentation. But there wasn’t a role for police there. He was given a magician role indeed. And obviously, he didn’t like it. On the day of the presentation, he refused to do anything. He was just standing there, playing with his magician’s stick while everybody was acting out their drama.

We never went back there with him again.

Until this Saturday.

We went back with Samantha. We waited for 2 more years for her because they only accept 4 or 5 year old kids. They just want to make sure kids can follow instructions already. And we’re glad to see from a one-way mirror that she enjoyed herself in the class.

Now we have a happy drama school student.

Will she last?

I am hoping so.

Why the drama?

Drama helps children develop enthusiasm, communication skills, confidence, social skills and self-esteem. I am hoping for Samantha to develop all those.

After I created a new domain for my son’s blog at Schenker’s Chronicles, I thought of buying a new domain for Samantha too.  But I thought it could wait for awhile… at least until I finish building up my son’s blog.

But it so happened that my friend Ruby was shopping for domains at GoDaddy and asked me if I wanted one coz she would give it as a gift. And so, I didn’t wanna refuse that offer (who could, right?) and told her yes, I wanted one for Samantha.

That’s how this domain, Raising Samantha, came up.

I realized after I imported my old posts from my blogspot blog that it’s been a year since my last letter to Samantha. I guess 2010 was such a busy year for me.

Anyways, now that this domain is uup, I am hoping to update Samantha and raising her up.

Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!

An old photo taken last March 3, 2009. I always laugh everytime I see this one.

My Girl,

You have started asking why already. I have heard you for the first time you asked why when you were pretend playing with your doll.

You said: why you cry? tell me why?

LOL. it was a cute moment. Now you watch tv and ask me why things are happening.

hmmm… curious girl, you are.