Chapter 7: Elementary Days

Catherine and her brother are very close to each other, me and Carlos observed. Well, my thought was right, and Catherine was studying very well. I applied to be a teacher at their elementary school, and it seems that my job will push through next year. This year passed through well, and Catherine made it in the top 10!

By the way, I had returned to my teaching job, where I continue teaching Grade 2 students. It has some perks, especially when Junior reached Grade 2. I shared my knowledge to him, and it helped very much in her grades.

Junior was also doing well, and he was very friendly in school. The children are doing their assignments well, just until Catherine slumped. She said she was tired, and then she’s not doing her assignments anymore. I was disappointed by this, and it led to our first fight.

She had failed her Math test, her first one. And of course, I was disappointed by this, especially that I am a teacher. The children had never saw me like this before. Catherine said nothing, and it made me even furious.

It was a fight that led to three days of silence. It was that long, and Carlos and me talked about the problem. In that third day, we all sat for breakfast, and Catherine suddenly said “Sorry, Mom. I’ll do better next time.” Carlos and Junior were then relieved to hear that me and Catherine were finally ok.

From then on, I always tried to help my children in their studies. But of course, not too much, and the children improved. Me and Carlos were always proud parents each and every graduation, and they kept rising on the ranks.

Along the way of their education, there are some bumps and obstacles. There was this one time when Junior said something that he needed the next day so late, Carlos had to be awaken at his sleep and buy those things. And then, Catherine slept so late at night because she wasted an hour doing other things.

After six years of joy and trials, Catherine has finally graduated. She became valedictorian, and everyone in the family was very proud for her, sending messages of congratulations to me and Carlos. Her grandparents even travelled all the way from Pagudpud, just to be with my parents, side by side, in seeing her graduate. Walking down the stage, saying her valedictory speech, and receiving the most-awaited diploma; the six years was all worth it.

After that, and all of the celebrations that happened after, me and Carlos have to think of her high school. Catherine has proven her knowledge and wits, and she passed one of the most prestigious high schools in the country. Me and Carlos, were once again, proud parents as we received another wave of messages of congratulations from our friends and family. Even though the new school is quite far, Catherine wants to explore a great, new school.

While Catherine spends her first days of high school, Junior continues to strive finishing his last years of elementary. He finds those years quite hard, spending hours on studying, especially in Math and Science.

Meanwhile, Catherine enjoys high school, where she always mingles with her friends. Even though she comes home late in the afternoon, she was always telling us a happy story.

She is doing exceptionally well at school, even to the point that she is also amazed at her own work. She rose up the ranks, even though there are a lot of requirements and projects that always stressed Catherine’s head out.

However, as times passed, Carlos told me that he was worried by Catherine’s, and later Junior’s, health. And I have seen that both of our children had been sleeping so late, and I actually want to see them sleeping already when I finished making my lesson plan late in the night.

And finally, we can’t take this situation anymore. While eating on a restaurant one Sunday, I opened up the situation to the children, and how it affects their health. “But Mom, how about you?” Catherine said. How about me? “Well, I’m 40, and you and Junior are just 14 and 11. What a large age difference.” I replied back. Then, our family talk went on to discuss what are the doing aside their assignments, and fortunately, we had come to an agreement.

Well, the children had followed for some time, and Junior had finally graduated from elementary school. Walking up the stage and hearing his name, Junior made us yet again, proud parents. It marked the end of our children’s elementary days. They are not even children anymore; they are already teenagers.

And before I forgot, Junior had passed the entrance examination on the school where Catherine is studying. What a relief, they will still study in the same school!