Words unspoken....

How did we get here?  

So many babies, so much I want to say ... but can't. I don't have the words. I don't know what I want to say. I started crying when I heard and my heart still hurts. Why? May 5th is always my first memory... back to you Ngaroata, my sweet, most loved niece. You're the first person that I think of, that I can feel when I hear news like this. You're the only one that I associate this kind of pain with. I miss you too. I miss you very very much. I wish you could see how much we ache for you. To hear you sing again, to watch you grow like you should have. You took all that away from us and left us empty.

That's what I feel now. Emptiness. Again!  And sadness for a mum who is once again burying another of her sons. Why? What did she do to deserve such heartache?

Don't you know how much you were supposed to be here? You were born so that you may grow! So that you will one day have your own children. So that you will grow old, have mokopuna and share with them the joys of your own childhood.

We are still numb. Numb with disbelief! Why? I cry for you now - just like I did for your brother 2 years ago. Haere ra e tama.  He tama noa iho koe. 16 years old and gone... :( Sadness overwhelms me...

Hepa - we love you. 

When they don't say anything LOUDLY!

My kids do this! And it's annoying!

I am a talker. I need to talk to release whatever it is that goes on in my head. I went to a psychic church once and was offered 'healing'. The person didn't touch me, just sort of ran their hands slowly around my body. They spent a lot of time around my head. She was there for a good five minutes before she slumped down onto a chair and said to me, "Sorry, but there's a lot going on in your head and I'm exhausted by it." 
"Oh right," I sighed. "Make me feel good - NOT"

That experience was a negative experience for me and I became conscientiously aware of what and how much I was saying. Frustration led to seeking justification for my attempts to remain silence. To this very day my favourite is from Kahlil Gibran

"You speak when you cease to be at peace with your thoughts"

But back to my kids, and really this is about the silence that they express loudly around the house.  Let's meet all four.

The eldest who when she doesn't want to listen she responds with a nod and either hides in her room or rushes around the house loudly! Second born smiles loudly. No matter what response you expect, this one will meet you with 'that' smile.  Pursue a response and you may be met with a loud snarly smile.

Number three has learned much from watching the eldest. Stomping, rustling and loud 'sighs' fill the room with ice. And then there is the only male in our house. Our youngest. He is quite like me, loud and sometimes annoying. He's hopeless at maintaining silence.  I am proud that he possesses this trait (sometimes).

Loud kids live at my house.  Let em roar!

My son's intro to the world of English language.

He is surrounded by English speakers in a predominately English speaking country but was raised and schooled in the native language of his people.  He has not been learning English for very long, about 3 years, but if add these years to his maturity, it might equate to around 3 months!

Anyway, back to the kaupapa...

We were driving to Wellington and one of his two older sisters (his twin is one) decided that we should play a 'tense' game.  This game involves me saying a sentence in the present tense and them repeating the sentence in the past tense. Right!  The game! 
I talk.
Sister, "I talked." Son, "I ...."
I see.
Sister, "I saw."  Son, "I seed."
I tell.
Sister, "I told." Son, "I tall."
Climb.
Sister, "Climbed." Son, "Clum."
By this time I had to pull over cos my eyes were welling up with tears and my belly ached from the laughter. I could no longer concentrate on the road.

But...
Do you see the pattern here?  It wasn't until later that I realised what he was doing. My son was, inm fact, paying attention and using the knowledge he gained from what was previously said to help him solve the next problem. 

Yeah, he's my boy. 
Very clever!

Random Speaks in Kids

My most memorable conversations in class are the oral outbursts of my students. Some are funny, some are so logical, they're boring and others just make you wanna cry.  Let's look at some examples:

(Oh and I teach in Maori so these are translations of what the student said)

Year 8 students studying NZ were reading about Captain James Cook, the great discoverer of our nation when one student suddenly blurted out, "Miss! His names not Captain James Cook. It's Loo..loo-ten-tant..."

Year 7: Is Masterton in the North Island?

 Class discussion on how symbolism and what colours symbolise.
Year 9: I think this picture symbolises sadness because it has no colour. (the picture was photocopied in black and white)