A lot of professionals in this country are working overseas. Yes, these professionals teach, build structures, take care of the sick and the elderly as well as take care of other people’s children in foreign countries.

These kababayans are all over the world from New Zealand and Australia, other Asian countries,  to the Middle East to Europe to the Americas while others do New York  job search.

As a parent and a teacher, I ask myself: Who are left to teach the children?

Truth is, this is one of the reasons why we homeschool, apart from the fact that we only pay half of how much we would when the children are enrolled in regular school.

photohunt

*kababayan = fellow country men

One of the things I don’t particularly look forward to in malls during weekends are sales agents. No, not that I am taking it personal since I know, like me, they have to earn a living.

But then again, maybe it is that “sensitive side” me of speaking.

Who would be pleased when they approach you with a whitening cream product.

An offer to do FREE BMI analysis so you can decide whether you would like to buy that exercise machine they are selling. Some offer a free hour at the fitness center where they want you to get a membership plan.

Ok, I get it, I look like someone in need to a fitness regimen. No need to rub it in

What about free insurance quotes? Or house and lot? Nope? Condo unit?

What? A secondary credit card? I don’t even have one, lol!

Like I even  need a new car huh? Oh, a van? Low interest rate?

“Oh, you mean I can get a chance to win a vacation package if i just fill out this form”. Hmmm…no thanks.

I know I’m rambling. Good thing the view is wonderful in this place we went to and I didn’t get to encounter a sales agent

Stuffed toys are cuddly, no doubt about it.

Here is the Animal Alley in a Toys “R” Us store, that part where lots of plush and soft toys are displayed. I have other photos of the cuddly toys but my children are there. They don’t want to be shown in blog photos anymore.

We were here last Saturday and the kids hugged every stuffed toy they wanted. We went home without buying anything. Yes, it is possible!

They especially love the Disney character toys.

No need to go to Orlando theme parks to get these toys All we need travel would be around 15-20 minutes to see these toys.

The love for reading books and spending time playing toys that are not battery-operated and/or plugged seem lost in this young generation because of the presence of tech gadgets and fast-paced television shows (ok then, web TV for some) which most of the time, occupy their spare time.

One of the reasons why we have decided to go cable tv-less is to minimize the TV viewing of the children so they have time to read books and play with their toys.

Yes, my kids  are missing out on some fad animation shows that “everyone was raving about”. So?

I know we miss a lot of great shows too.

The educational shows they can’t watch, we get the DVD.

The animation shows they don’t get to watch can also be watched in the web or again, DVD, at a controlled time, when they have finished their homeschooling tasks.

The breaking news can be watched through the news sites. (My Twitter feed is a wealth of breaking news by the way)

Not all catv channels are good anyway because there are some who just show ads about the latest fitness equipment, the best weight loss products and even the latest kitchen equipment. Yes, and if you call now, you will get a 10% discount

We are learning about animals, we watch one of our collections like the BBC documentaries on animals.

We are learning about the planets, we read “The Universe” book and look at planets taken from satellite images.

So  there, I don’t think they mind not having cable tv which is losing revenue due to web TV so the companies are now thinking of new ways to lure more/new customers.

No can do.

I read this article entitled How Social Gaming is Improving Education.

I agree with most of the points raised in the article. Learning about difficult concepts through interactive means is one of my “tools of the trade” when it comes to homeschooling my two younger children.

We have watched videos of blooming flowers, a spacecraft lifting off, looked at the photos of the different planets and learned about different historical places to visit in the country, among others.

Not only that, my youngest daughter learned to draw difficult figures otherwise not (normally) possible for children her age. Oh, she can now play difficult songs using her recorder whereas a few weeks ago, she was learning three-note songs

Thanks YouTube for having drawing and music teachers who are oh-so-patient.

The son, on the other hand is becoming more savvy with money matters, budgeting and calculating how much he will earn through his Cafe World. We have incorporated budgeting and mentally calculating how much we will pay when we check out items at the supermarket. He loves statistics which is a key factor with some of the game he loves playing with.

Despite these electronically-attached and internet-based learning, they still managed to play with things that are unplugged. Once a week ( i know, this should be more frequent) we de-stress by running.

And yes, we read books too, especially since they are required to do oral book report for the English subject.

Yes, we are running out of books to read as of the moment.

I am a bit tired of the usual (read: average) pasta dishes. When I went to watch Dona Elena Cuisinera Club cooking class last Saturday, I made the dish they presented, Almond Crusted Tilapia Fillets and Pasta, with a few tweaking to suit what I have at home.

Here are the adjustments I made.

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