Texas Museum of Natural History and Happy New Year

Albert was very happy to visit the Texas Museum of Natural History the second time. It's a little treasure in UT Austin, we are sure we are going to visit it in the future.

Happy New Year to all!

Albert's first stage appearance and competitiveness

Albert became a flag boy to hold Chinese flag in the Christmas party. He was quite happy and followed other kids waving the flags while walking in a circle.

Albert went up stage during the Christmas sing along. To our surprise, he was not shy at all, but he's not interested in singing either (Albert loves to sing though). Albert was looking around, looking up and down, he then started walking on the stage (the only kid who moved during the performance, we as parents were a bit surprised). The teachers had to protect him from falling off since it was a very tiny stage and full of kids. Albert walked around the edge of stage for a couple of times, he cut through kids back and forth, then finally settled in a spot which was the other end of the stage of his original spot, and started to sing a bit.

Albert suddenly became very competitive. He always wanted to win, and always claimed that he won the games. It's amazing to observe the changes. And since neither Yuqi or I encouraged it, we have to say he's born competitive and it just started to show.

All-Time Bestselling Children's Books and Dr. Seuss

http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA186995.html

Bought a few Dr. Seuss's books for Yangyang, he really loves them, and has me read them every day. We are going to collect Dr. Seuss's best children's books from the list. We do have a long list though.

Green Eggs and Ham
The Cat in the Hat
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish
Hop on Pop
Oh, the Places You'll Go!
The Cat in the Hat Comes Back (done)
Fox in Socks
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
My Book About Me (by Me, Myself)
I Can Read with My Eyes Shut (done)
Oh, The Thinks You Can Think! (done)
Oh Say Can You Say?
There's a Wocket in My Pocket!

学习别人的教育方法

Came across this article. Liked the view point, the principle and way to education kids. Save here to share and learn from it.

http://www.unknownspace.org/article_t/Parenting/31361401.html

我们看书，结合自己的成长经验，相信给孩子自由与爱，尊重孩子。难得的是在基本的
理念上，LD和我的观点是一致的。不赞成严厉的家教。

从两岁起，我们开始注意让儿子对自己的事情做决定。“你想要哪一个自己选。”他在
做决定方面做的很好。后来注意到出去活动让小孩子自己选东西，在有些孩子不知道该
怎么样做的时候，他总能做出自己的决定。并且只要是他决定了的事情，即使不是他想
要的，他也不会反悔。

不强迫他，除非是一定必要的事情。他不喜欢吃的也不逼他吃。两岁的孩子吃东西都很
费劲。看到很多家长哄着骗着花很多时间哄孩子吃饭。因为效果是明显的：哄了他就多
吃点。不哄他就吃一点点，吃的少身体就不壮。我们不哄。把东西给他，他不吃了就不
吃了。限制他吃零食。攒几次，他自然会吃多。没有小孩子会傻得把自己饿坏的。发现
这样我们也省心。人的精力总是有限的。要把有限的精力用到对付他其他更难缠的方面
。但这样做的坏处到四五岁的时候也表现出来了。他的食性很窄。只吃他熟悉的几样。
花了时间精力哄的那些孩子，到了四五岁的时候吃各种各样的东西。有劳总是有获啊。

不怎么管教他。更相信要影响孩子而不是管教孩子。 他是胆怯的孩子。很难跟别人打
招呼，说再见。我们只提醒一句，“和老师说bye。”他不说，我们也由他。要是家长
都很害羞，和别人讲话不自然，怎么让孩子做到啊？所以我们也尽量自然的多同别人讲
话。要是在一个不熟悉的场合我们和别人聊天很随便，他就更自然一些。几年过去，现
在他会很自然的和刚见面的人讲话。用影响力比用管教见效慢，但更深远。

儿子做的不对的时候，我们很少说他。相信只要他的心里知道什么是对错的，长大他自
然会懂得选择对的事情做。很多时候他做了不好的不对的事情他本身是知道这是不对的
。只是一时调皮而已。他发脾气，往地上乱扔东西。扔的都是枕头，书，不怕摔的东西
。我们不管，随他，只要他不破坏东西。“你要把你扔的东西都收好才能出来玩。”
过了些时候，他要出来玩了。
“东西收好了吗？”
“可是太多了。要人帮。”
我们不计较，和他一起把东西摆回去。

我们不希望他是个“听话”的孩子，而是个听从道理的孩子。爸爸妈妈做错了，爸爸妈
妈会承认错了。在我们长大的环境中，更多强调的是听从权威，尊敬师长。但我们希望
儿子长大的环境中，相信真理，坚持真理，不盲从权威，独立思考。

看起来，这点是做到了。他很能独立思考，有自己的想法。

但另外一方面呢，前段时间发现了问题。也许我们做的有点太过了，以至于他觉得他有
道理，不必听我们的话。不是所有的事情都有道理可讲的。

他要看电视，我们计划要出门玩。
“我不去，我要看电视。”
“回来看。我们要出门了。”
“我不去。”
“我们需要去。 妈妈说了，给你三分钟时间我们上车。”
“妈妈说了”是我用来向他表示爸爸妈妈说了话必须要听。我们坚持了几年希望儿子不
要听话，现在却发现父母的话，孩子还是一定要听的。五岁的孩子还好管。孩子到了11
岁，习惯了不听家长的话，是不是就真的没办法了？

总的看来儿子还是很好的。很多常年积累的效果渐渐显出来。他很自信。也常让我们惊
喜。 比如练钢琴，我说要强迫他每天都练，这样以后就会成为习惯。LD说，不要破坏
了他对钢琴的喜爱。让他感兴趣为主。想弹就弹，不想弹也不逼他。这样的兴趣才是真
实的。我听了LD的。 果然，半年过去，儿子对钢琴表现了真实的兴趣。不需要练琴的
时候也会去弹。没有硬性的强迫他，每天很自然的养成了练琴的习惯。

Soccer Practice and Dinasaurs

Albert loves playing soccer every Sunday morning with a team of little soccer players organized by Michale's Daddy. However he seems to be confused between Soccer and Football, for he always tries to knock Michale down in the soccer practice. Albert doesn't care too much of scoring, he feels happy running around and chasing friends.

After last Sunday's game, Daddy took Albert to see dinosaurs in Texas Natural Science Center http://www.utexas.edu/tmm/. Albert became a fan of dinosaur after Grandma brought him a book of dinosaurs from China. For the past two months, he's been listening to the book at least once a day. In the Science Center, Albert recongized many of the dinosaurs listed in his favorite book. Mom needs to search for dinosaur books now.

Little Superman

Out of the desire for candies, reluctantly Albert agreed to put on his Superman consume and go trick-treating. He carried his McCain basket and walked two blocks, and finally when it's totally dark outside, Halloween lights sparking everywhere, and most of all, basket was full, Albert agreed to go back home. As soon as he arrived back home, Albert immediately started counting his collection of candies.

It's already 9:00pm, but there were still some kids knocking at our door after climbing the long stairs. Albert was very eager to give candies away(of course, not those he collected). He gave each kid two hands full of candies, and kids were all very happy. The climbing was worth while. : )

一件旧事

扬扬大约俩岁的时候，奶奶总当着我和宇奇的面问扬扬，“爸爸和妈妈，你喜欢谁？”。 扬扬也总是回答，“都喜欢“。 从来没有人教他这样回答，是个聪明的孩子，妈妈很暗自得意。