Believe me, I used to be a really, really sweet-voiced mom, back when I only had one child. My father used to admire how patient and sweet I was teaching E, unlike many demanding Chinese mothers(or using currently the most fashionable word: tiger mom) in Taiwan.
It took me two miscarriages to have the second child-L. So E and I had 5 and a half high quality time together. Everything seems so easy since she was such an observant and attentive learner and such a sponge for anything I showed her. Yet when the second one came along, everything changed! I found my voice getting tighter and louder each day trying to make E comply. Especially after the second one turned two(you know what I mean!).
I need to remember to slow down or cut short when E is introduced a new element-I would say the biggest learning struggle of this year is piano, then occasionally math. Until this year, it's always been math.
E tended to "block out" when she had to practice new piano pieces. She usually waited until I the last drop of patience perspired to tell me:"It's too difficult." And I always regretted that I failed to detect the trace of her frustration beforehand. It usually helps her learning spirit when I break down a new math concept or make her practice pacing shorter on piano.
Both children get jealous with each other, and I need to learn with it-
E, although is almost 8 and is the best older sister I can imagine. Inevitably, she gets jealous. Especially when she has work to learn, piano pieces to practice, and I am giggling and playing with the second one(although that's how a two-yr-old learns).
Two-yr-old L gets jealous when I practice cello or piano with E and immediately wants to nurse.
That's just the way it is.
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