the good news

Ibit has stopped writing since the day she received the rejection letter from the publisher she wanted to publish her writing with. I did my best to tell her that it happens to writers. Even to the famous author, and she was only just beginning. But it didn't work. So I just let her take a break. 

It was Unge and Momo who held a fun writing game, #15HariNgeblogFF (15 days blogging flash fiction). The rule was you had to write one flash fiction a day for 15 days on your blog, with the tittle that the hosts made. I thought it was fun and would be a good way to practice gaining ideas in limited topics and time. I asked Ibit if she would join it as I did, and she would. She was so enthusiastic, she didn't want to skip a day. Even when she was having examination at school, and when she had toothache, she still worked hard to write and submit before the daily deadline.

At the middle of the game, the hosts announced that chosen flash fictions would be published together in a book. This has hit Ibit to write better and harder. At the end of the game she asked me. 'do you think your story will be picked?'. I said I just hope so. There were over 100 participants and they all wrote great. Ibit thought she had some flash fictions good enough to be chosen and hoped she will be picked.

Yesterday evening I was watching time line on twitterland and found a news I shoud check. The contributors for Book 1, and taadaaaa....

I showed Ibit what I found. She smiled. She laughed. She cried. 

She was so happy.

Now she just needs to wait for the book to be published. She deserves it.
Thank you Unge and Momo for bringing Ibit's writing passion back :)

Cuci Cuci

Lagi pada rajin. Cuci mobil cuci motor. Tapi langit mendung. Jadi sisakan satu yang tidak dicuci. Untuk pergi-pergi kalau ternyata hujan, nanti.

The Blanket

I'm jealous with this red blanket.
It comforts Dek Ai' better than I do.

digigit tikus

agak nggak percaya juga ketika dapat telpon dari gurunya Ar Ir, bahwa Ar digigit tikus. I mean, ngapain tikus iseng ngigit orang?

yap, karena orangnya iseng. Ar dan Ir dan teman-temannya sedang bermain di kebun belakang sekolah. tiba-tiba ada tikus lewat. entah siapa yang punya ide, tikus dikejar. Ar berhasil nangkep buntutnya; dan digigit.

terima kasih pada Pak Guru yang mengantar Ar ke dokter untuk berobat.

tikus itu emang nggemesin sih ya?

The Big Girl

Sekarang kami sering bertukar baju.

Lalu kami bercanda, dan kusadari...

Sikap dan pemikirannya semakin bukan anak-anak lagi.

Dia sudah besar.
Dia sudah remaja.

The steps

He knows now he can walk. And he seems to be very excited and proud about it. He keeps walking around and in and outta the house. Laughing. Clapping hands.

Grow strong, baby.

posted from Bloggeroid

the present

this is the best present
for Bapak's birthday, yesterday
and for everyone's new year

he, finally walks.

***

baru bisa jalan di usia sembilan belas bulan, itu jelas telat. apalagi mengingat kakak-kakaknya sudah bisa lari pada umur yang sama. tapi setiap anak istimewa dengan caranya. dan kata ibuku, omnya juga baru bisa jalan pada usia tujuh belas bulan. dan Dan, juga sempat sampai dilecut belut karena telat jalan juga.


to start walking at the age of nineteen months, is definitely late. especially considering his brothers were able to run at the same age. but each child is special in their own way. and my mom said, my brother  also started walking at the age of seventeen months. and Dan, he was whipped with eels because he was late in walking too.


iya begitulah. katanya, orang-orang tua jaman dulu melecut kaki anaknya dengan belut supaya cepat jalan. untung tidak ada yang menyarankan begitu kepadaku; sudah tahu pasti ditolak. jangankan mau melecut pakai belut, lha megang belut aja ogah. terima kasih.


yeah, ancient people said whipping babies' legs with eels will help them to walk. thank God no one suggested it to me; they knew I would say 'no'. how can I whip an eel on my baby's leg, I can't even touch it. thank you.


ada tetangga yang  menyarankan terapi ke kyai, yang selain memberi pijatan pada kaki, Dek Ai juga akan diberi doa-doa. ada teman baik yang suatu sore datang membawa sebotol air yang sudah didoakan, yang katanya harus diusapkan ke kaki Dek Ai' setiap hari.


a neighbour suggested to give Dek Ai' a therapy in a cleric, who will massage his legs and give prayers (or spells?) at the same time. a good friend came one evening with a bottle of prayed (or spelled?) water. he said the water should be rubbed on Dek Ai's legs every day.


semua adalah wujud support, bentuk kasih sayang, ikut prihatin dan ingin Dek Ai' cepat jalan. tapi aku memilih mengikuti saran embah-embahnya, yang alhamdulillah sekarang pikirannya jauh lebih terbuka, dan yang kebetulan sejalan dengan ideku: membawa Dek Ai' ke spesialis tumbuh kembang anak.


it was all a support, an affection, a feeling pity and a will to help Dek Ai' to be able to walk soon. but I chose to follw the advice from the grandparents, who thank God are now muchmore open mind, and that happened to be in  line with my idea: bring Dek Ai' to a child development specialist.


***
kurasa Dek Ai' sudah siap untuk tahap terapi selanjutnya: wicara


I think Dek Ai' is now ready for the next therapy: speaking


***


HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERY ONE!