Clean and Serene

Showing posts with label children. Show all posts
Showing posts with label children. Show all posts

Friday, September 20, 2024

On Being a Parent

Job Description:
This is hysterical. If it had been presented this way,
I don't believe any of us would have done it!!!!

POSITION:
Mom, Mommy, Mama, Ma
Dad, Daddy, Dada, Pa, Pop

JOB DESCRIPTION:
Long term, team players needed, for challenging,
permanent work in an
often chaotic environment.
Candidates must possess excellent communication
and organizational skills and be willing to work
variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends
and frequent 24 hour shifts on call.
Some overnight travel required, including trips to
primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities!
Travel expenses not reimbursed.
Extensive courier duties also required.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The rest of your life.
Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily,
until someone needs $5.
Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly.
Also, must possess the physical stamina of a
pack mule
and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat
in case, this time, the screams from
the backyard are not someone just crying wolf.
Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges,
such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets
and stuck zippers.
Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and
coordinate production of multiple homework projects.
Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings
for clients of all ages and mental outlooks.
Must be a willing to be indispensable one minute,
an embarrassment the next.
Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a
half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices.
Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.
Must assume final, complete accountability for
the quality of the end product.
Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and
janitorial work throughout the facility.

POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION:

None.
Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills,
so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE:

None required unfortunately.
On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.

WAGES AND COMPENSATION:

Get this! You pay them!
Offering frequent raises and bonuses.
A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because
of the assumption that college will help them
become financially independent.
When you die, you give them whatever is left.
The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that
you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.

BENEFITS:

While no health or dental insurance, no pension,
no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and
no stock options are offered;
this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth, unconditional love,
and free hugs and kisses for life if you play your cards right.

Forward this on to all the PARENTS you know, in appreciation for everything they do on a daily basis,
letting them know they are appreciated
for the fabulous job they do...
or forward with love
to anyone thinking of applying for the job.
** FOOTNOTE **
THERE IS NO RETIREMENT -- EVER!!!

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

i heart my son's Waldorf Daycare

As a mum, you want your child in a safe, nurturing place that is a home-away-from-home. My heart leaped for joy when we found Waldorf-inspired St. Michael Playgarden when Benny was two years old. He is now 4 and a half and it is his last semester there, but if you are looking, searching and praying for a place for your little one- like i was- this may be the answer ;)



Nurturing the Whole Child … Head, Heart and Hands

Waldorf/Steiner Education views each child as a growing human being of body, soul, and spirit, all of which must be nurtured by education in thinking, feeling and willing.

ST. MICHAEL PLAYHOUSE (formerly MIKAEL PLAYGARDEN) places human development of Head, Heart and Hands at the center of its work and daily program. It prepares young people to meet the world with inner confidence, to trust in the value of each human being, and to think and work with initiative in their lives. Following the indications of Austrian scientist and philosopher, Dr. Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925), the children learn through creative play, imitation and rhythm in the context of their own stage of development. The capacity for serious academic work and thinking in formal school is first nurtured through healthy play and artistic learning at the day care in preparation for the kindergarten and lower school. Children are encouraged to learn in awe and wonder about the world around them.

Between birth and age seven, the child learns mainly through imitation. The atmosphere surrounding the child is filled with beauty, morality, and role models worthy of imitation. At this age the children need warmth and protection to develop their capacities in a natural, supportive, non-competitive and free atmosphere for creative play and work.

The arts and practical work are the bedrock out of which Waldorf/Steiner education nourishes creativity, thinking, feeling life, self-discipline and health in its students. By educating the whole child in these rich and creative ways, we hope to encourage young people to bring the highest human capacities into their adult lives as they become citizens of the future.


My little big boy Benicio doing his laundry in the sunshine

MISSION/VISION

To nurture and educate responsible individuals who are free-thinking, purposeful and compassionate, working in community towards social transformation.

• Our program integrates the child’s developmental needs to enhance intellectual skills and inner strength.
• Our deeply committed nurturers work together to foster each child’s sense of self-reliance, concern for community, and moral purpose.
• The child’s educated, disciplined imagination will be the foundation for leadership into the future.


Tita Winnie telling a story for the children

School year 2011-2012, Second Semester

Daycare:
Tue-Fri, Nov 8, 2011 – Mar 30, 2012 (with holiday on Nov 30); Christmas break: Dec 17, 2011 to Jan 9, 2012

Half Day 8:30 - 12noon
Full Day 8:30 -4pm

Fees are per semester and inclusive of all education materials and 3 (full-day)/ 2 (half day) healthy organic/bio-dynamic meals per day

Parent-Child:
Saturdays, Nov 12, 2011 – Dec 17; Mondays, Nov 14 – Dec 19
Parent chooses either Sat or Mon. Fees are per 6-week block and inclusive of all materials. The child must be accompanied by one parent.

Saturday, 9:00am-11:00am
Monday, 9:30am-11:30am


Tita Josie letting the children assist in preparing the meals

For more information:

G/f, ISIP Center, 6241 Palma cor MaƱalac Sts., Bgy. Poblacion, Makati City
Mobile: 0917 847 0848; Email: St.Michael.Playhouse@gmail.com
Facebook: St Michael Playhouse Makati

Meanwhile, we would like to share with you these wonderful articles on Steiner/Waldorf education:

Waldorf Education in Public Schools
Harvard Education Letter
Harvard Graduate School of Education
http://www.hepg.org/hel/article/515#home

The article above gives good insights on the state of the American public school education, and how Waldorf/Steiner programs are being implemented in public schools with positive results

A Silicon Valley School that Doesn't Compute
The New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/25/us/screen-time-higher-than-ever-for-children-study-finds.html?_r=2&emc=eta1

This article talks about the interesting choices of top computer techies and executives to send their children to a Steiner school

Preschool Tests Take Time Away from Play - and Learning
Scientific American
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=the-death-of-preschool

Finally, the article above makes no reference to Steiner education, but makes a strong case for why more play, and less direct instruction and academics, is critical for a young child's development


Benicio the park sweeper during a trip to the park

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

On Being a Parent

Job Description:
This is hysterical. If it had been presented this way,
I don't believe any of us would have done it!!!!

POSITION:
Mom, Mommy, Mama, Ma
Dad, Daddy, Dada, Pa, Pop

JOB DESCRIPTION:
Long term, team players needed, for challenging,
permanent work in an
often chaotic environment.
Candidates must possess excellent communication
and organizational skills and be willing to work
variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends
and frequent 24 hour shifts on call.
Some overnight travel required, including trips to
primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities!
Travel expenses not reimbursed.
Extensive courier duties also required.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The rest of your life.
Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily,
until someone needs $5.
Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly.
Also, must possess the physical stamina of a
pack mule
and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat
in case, this time, the screams from
the backyard are not someone just crying wolf.
Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges,
such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets
and stuck zippers.
Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and
coordinate production of multiple homework projects.
Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings
for clients of all ages and mental outlooks.
Must be a willing to be indispensable one minute,
an embarrassment the next.
Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a
half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices.
Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.
Must assume final, complete accountability for
the quality of the end product.
Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and
janitorial work throughout the facility.

POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION:

None.
Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills,
so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE:

None required unfortunately.
On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.

WAGES AND COMPENSATION:

Get this! You pay them!
Offering frequent raises and bonuses.
A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because
of the assumption that college will help them
become financially independent.
When you die, you give them whatever is left.
The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that
you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.

BENEFITS:

While no health or dental insurance, no pension,
no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and
no stock options are offered;
this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth, unconditional love,
and free hugs and kisses for life if you play your cards right.

Forward this on to all the PARENTS you know, in appreciation for everything they do on a daily basis,
letting them know they are appreciated
for the fabulous job they do...
or forward with love
to anyone thinking of applying for the job.
** FOOTNOTE **
THERE IS NO RETIREMENT -- EVER!!!