Birthday party

Bela started the day by waking up late, because its holiday and mom allow her to be late. Dad like always, has already sat down doing his comic projects in front of the computer. Usually Bela likes to ask for computer game during holiday because that would be the only day she could have chance to use dad’s computer. Though she has her own but it’s a bit improper so couldn’t do much with hers, but this time she was just quiet by the couch. Everybody was wondered …..
Mom came n asked what does she want for breakfast, she was just waved but mom prepared “pisang penyet” it’s her kind of fried banana with choc rice n again cheese on top….. After like half hour finally she talked. She want Dee-dee to fed her eating the banana.
When she finished taking a bath, she looked fresher n like always mom gives her kisses on her cubby cheeks. You know what words she said….? “Mom, can I have a birthday party?”… Mommy was quiet for a while then “yes off course bel… if things are possible”. Bela was very happy and started planning about kind of party she wants. “I want to send invitation cards to all my friends from the school and my friends in the neighborhood, having piñata, decoration with colorful balloons and birthday cake with princess character on it”.
Morning passed n mom didn’t say anything yet about her plan.
Dad and Mom sometimes have tea in the afternoon, mom is a bit crazy with tea, she is a tea lover. And dad was just trying to accompany her drinking. They called for bela and tell her that it will be ok for her to have a birthday party but they wonder why wouldn’t bela just asked their neighbors by afternoon, have cakes together and give them some goody bags. Bela refused the idea instantly and insisted to have one like her plan. Besides, mom thought that she would not have enough money this time to have kind of party but she also wondered about her aim of a party.
Dad finally asked “why should we send invitation Bel..? “ “Off course we have to, I want to have as much presents as I always see in a party” bela replied quickly. Oops… mom and dad understand about what she had in her mind, they were just smiled.” All right then, but how about your friend who doesn’t have enough money for buying any gift? they will be ashamed to come”. Actually mommy know that bela didn’t understand that question yet, so she explain about when we want to have a party means that we will share joy and happiness and all people who attend the party should be happy as well, no one shall be sad because couldn’t give something.
“ Bela, in a party we shall give not ask… let your friends enjoy it without thinking of should give something to you” again Mom tried to convinced her and dad add it by saying that around their neighborhood still there are many people who are not as lucky as bela’s family in having things in materials. Though the family also just a bit luckier than them.
Bela was crying and go to her room, mom followed her and take her in her arms and kissed her hair top while saying “ would you like de’ fitri’s parents, our neighbor be in trouble because instead of using their money to buy rice and food, they buy present for you and the next day they couldn’t eat” mommy should take an example that bela could understand easily, and she did… she understand it quickly as always. Mom know that she would, her effort all this time to teach her some values to understand again came into success. Mom knows her daughter more than anyone do… again bela show her big open heart as a little girl.


May 19th 2008
“Finally I could tell you what a party is, HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY DEAR “

Who are they, Mom?

Bela is a bright and active 5 years old girl but you would not think of things she might have done if you read this story. She is quite nice but sometimes she can be a bit naughty and kind hearted little girl as well.
Her mom is a teacher and her father is an artist. He paints and writes books and comics. Her mom is quite busy everyday with her English teaching schedule. She is a very active woman and of course she loves Bela very much. While, her father, is around her many times since he does all his art activities at home. oopps almost forget, actually Bela has a big brother, named Kanaka but he lives with their grandparents.
Last Friday night, Mom took her to “her favorite” meat ball restaurant because Mom had promised her before. Finally Bela went with Mom and her Nanny “Dee Dee” that’s the way she calls her. They went by motorcycle. It was evening and the road was a little bit crowded with vehicles.
When they got there the restaurant was almost full so, Mom chose a table by the entrance. Just like always, Bela ordered “big cheese meat balls”. She’s got a bit crazy with cheese as a Mather of fact. While they were eating and enjoying their meat balls, a middle age woman and a little girl came closer to their table.
Bela was a bit confused of this situation. She didn’t understand why did those people seems like asking something. Mom said something to her “give one of your chocolate you’ve just bought”. “No it’s mine”, Bela replied upsetly. “Come on Bela , you have two anyway, give one to the girl”, mom insisted. Bela was about to cry until mom said that she would buy another one to replace it. Bela finally gave one of her chocolate and she also saw mom give small money to the woman.
They walked out from the restaurant after that. Mom knew that Bela was even more confused. She knew that Bela didn’t want to give her chocolate. Mom looked at her and smashing her hair while saying, “Did you know who they are? Bela was just waving. “They are beggars”. “What is beggar mom?” then mom explained that beggars are just some of unlucky people that have to live in poverty. Mom also told that what we have given might be used for them. Even though mom would really like to tell that sometimes the beggars were not always unlucky but another time caused by laziness but she only let Bela learn about sharing not only with someone you know but also everyone, even you don’t know them. Mom told Bela that whenever we give something we would get something, instead of lose something… actually that’s the idea of sharing. Mom believed that her little girl could get the message, she looked at her and wondered about things in her mind, … they looked each other and they smiled happily.

Fasting month 2007
“Giving is about getting not losing, HAPPY LEBARAN DAY”

How do I start…..

Today is just like any other day, nothing much. Many thoughts had crossed my mind since couple weeks before, when the Government released the issue of “kenaikan BBM” by June 2008
Thinking of some changes in many aspects had made me upset. Not only because I have to again review my family expenses but also more about how we as citizens should cope with those new coming problems…. Feels like I want to cry seeing these uncertainty that happened in my beloved country, but I’d rather think of what I could possibly do in order to get new understanding regarding of the conditions. I don’t want to live in “ignorance” like those people who rules the country, though my hands are too small to do things in changing the situation but I want to do something in giving views through my activities. At least I would not let my family, friends , people we love and Indonesians be “ignorance” of a kind of situation.
The best way to start building the “empathy sharpness” is from our self, our own community. As a frame, I would say that I’m a bit lucky in material conditions since my neighborhood is a kind of mix communities which I may say that the unlucky people are still more than 50%. The area is quite enjoy full with kinds people even though the street isn’t considered as proper street but it’s quite safe especially for my kids who are always left by me and my husband for work, besides it’s not an easy thing to find more comfortable area nowadays with small money.
My experiences as a teacher who’s always get in touch with middle up class of people in teaching, had taught me to learn more about coping with kinds of life. I’ve proof that those who never get in touch with poverty would not be easily able to use their empathy instruments as its use. They are trapped in the condition of “prosperity” which had made them dull in seeing another life besides theirs which are even more unluckier than them.
As parent, I don’t want it happen to my kids, as possible as I can, I always try to create condition that make it possible “memungkinkan” for my kids be in touch “bersinggungan” or living aside with the unluckiness which I believe that it would automatically sharp their instruments. My duties also as teacher, to give understanding about those to my students on how should they react.
Many experiences happened between me and my little girl and also my students finally had created many ideas in bringing up “moral values” and lighting up today’s realities, especially for children. Here I try to brief those into stories which I call “Wiwin’s Diary”