Busy Hands

Ahh, summer! I have always looked forward to summers as a child. No more early mornings, no more school books (time to read my novels!), no more worries about school. Although there was an absence in the daily routine of school, I wasn’t entirely lazing my way around the house. I did have my share of summer activities: swimming lessons, acting workshops, household chores and summer jobs.

When classes ended last March, the girls and I immediately trooped down to National Bookstore (one of our favorite stores!) and bought various art supplies. In the following weeks, the girls were painting and drawing and making scrapbooks on their own. They would even beg me to scrap with them!

Books were another option on our list. We got them various books from Booksale (another favorite store!) and the girls enjoy reading them. Now that Nadine reads very well, she loves finishing pocket books and the like. Raya too can now read simple words and enjoys going through the Dr. Seuss books.

Since it’s summer, we let the kids sleep later at night than usual. At first they would play with their toys til they would literally drop. By 1130pm or 12 midnight, they themselves would ask to sleep already. Then we decided that even if it’s summer, they would still need a curfew at night --- it isn’t good for little kids to stay up too late. So we all agreed that 10pm is the curfew and the girls would willing oblige once they’re told that it’s time for bed.

The girls can just stay home all day! They enjoy playing with their toys (even with the headless Ken doll!) and just watching TV (approved shows, of course!). When we were in Manila, they would spend hours in the tree house and unto their imaginative plays. We got some DVD’s and had movie marathons in some days. And they flew the kite that Lolo made for them.

There were different sports clinics and classes being offered in this city for summer but since we were vacationing in Manila for the whole month of April, we couldn’t enroll them in any of the programs just yet.

When we got back last May 1, we asked the girls what activity they would like to have. They both decided that they didn’t want to take up swimming anymore and were tossing the coin between ballet and golf. (I insisted on only one activity because poor mommy driver needs a break too!)

They checked out the Junior Golf session in Pueblo de Oro and as soon as they hit the greens, they decided that they wanted to take up golf for the rest of the summer. We explained to them that they would need to wake up early everyday because Golf lessons are from 730am to 10am Mondays to Fridays. They agreed and we got them clubs and gloves to start their sessions.

They really enjoyed it at first then they realized that golf isn’t just about hitting the ball and making it go inside the hole. That form and skill are important aspects in being good at the game. At first they would complain about the heat and the perspiration (hey! I have girls!) and later on at waking up early in the morning. But we explained to them that these are part of the course and they will have to finish the session. It isn’t right to get into something and bail out in the middle of it all. We told them to at least finish the course and then decided later on if they would like to continue or not.

So far, they’re starting to like the game again. They came home the other day with Nadine successfully putting 8 balls inside the ball while Raya triumphantly said she put 4. Yesterday, they had a putting tournament and Raya and her partner bagged the 2nd place. Yes, there is some progress in their work and someday maybe they’d be playing golf with their Abu. It has been a busy busy summer and will probably continue to be that way ‘til the end of May. But that’s ok, busy hands and busy minds are a lot better than nothing at all.