Childhood Rules

Yesterday, I read about Chelsea Clinton's childhood rules which were given to her by her parents.  One of the rules that she had when she was young was "no cartoon shows during weekdays".  Aw!  Good for her.  After reading the article, I also remembered a few rules that I needed to follow when I was still young.

One of the rules I can distinctly remember is GO HOME RIGHT AFTER SCHOOL.  I went to a public elementary school, and our dismissal time was around 4PM.  Most kids would stay at school and play or hang-out with their classmates but I had to go home right away.  This rule, however, was only until I was in Grade 4.  When I was in Grades 5 and 6, I was allowed to stay at school until 5:00PM.  Hooray for that!  I believe that this is a pretty reasonable rule. It was for my own safety.  Also, when I was allowed to stay a little bit after school, it was as if my parents were telling me that they trust me to use the one hour wisely.  It was a practice in responsibility.     

Another rule that I remember is NO TV DURING SCHOOL DAYS.  Yes, it was that bad.  For Chelsea Clinton, it was only "no cartoon shows".  For me, it was NO TV.  The only time that I was allowed to watch TV during school days was when Dayuhan came out on RPN (not so sure about the channel).  Dayuhan was a sci-fi TV series which starred Hero Bautista.  It was on at 4:30 - 5PM.   My father allowed me to watch the show because I begged him about it.  All the other kids at school were talking about it, and Filipino sci-fi back then was something new on TV.  It was shown in 1987.  I was in Grade 1 at that time.  The truth is my father was against the idea of letting me watch that show but I had good grades and I was well ahead of the class.  It was kind of a "reward" for me.

My mother and I during my
grade school graduation. 1992.

Another rule for me was STUDY FOR TWO HOURS EACH SCHOOL NIGHT.  I had a study room and I had to study for two hours after dinner even if I had no home work, no quiz or test the next day, and no assigned readings.  My father told me to either review our previous lessons or read ahead.  I could also choose to read my other books.  Other than the required school books, my parents acquired school books for me that, I guess, were being used in the US at that time.  At first, I could not understand why my parents had to be so strict about my studies.  But, as a grow older, I began to understand.  When we are given an opportunity or a privilege to do something, we must give it our best.  Not everyone has the opportunity to go to school and study/learn.  Not only that, I also learned to enjoy studying.  That's why whenever my students ask me why I still go to school (I am still pursuing something at the UP Open University) after having finished so many degrees, I tell them that I simply enjoy studying.

During our Recognition Day when I was in Grade 3.
I think this was an intermission number. 1989.
Lindy Ibañez is holding the copy for me. 

If you think that my childhood rules were only limited during school days, you are wrong.  My father had another rule for me during summer vacation:  ONE HOUR OF PIANO PRACTICE EVERYDAY.  No, we didn't have a real piano at home.  What we had was actually an electric keyboard/organ.  This rule started out as a burden for me.  I really didn't enjoy playing the keyboard that much.  My parents hired several piano teachers for me (and I didn't even like all of them).  But as I grew older, I learned to love it, and I still enjoy it until now.