Laziness or Child Depression?

Finally, I have my 2nd official student today. Well, she hasn't enrolled yet but her parents came here tonight, with my student of course, so they could meet and talk to me.

I asked her name, she told me her name but she didn't smile. It felt like she was angry or something. Then I asked her what her problem is, she said she doesn't want to go to school. I told her she has to finish grade 2, she's got a few months left before summer starts, it would be a waste if she just stops and then repeat grade 2. She had this demeanor that was tough, like she was angry at someone but trying hard not to show it. She was wearing pambahay clothes and a cap. Her father removed the cap, her hair had these colored rubberbands, like someone fixed her hair before she went to school in the morning but it all got messy somehow and she doesn't really care how she looks.

While her mother and I were talking about her and her experiences in school, she appeared disinterested. She fidgeted, sang to herself softly, gazed at all the corners of the room but tried to avoid looking at me except for a few times when her mother and I discussed the possibility of transferring her to another school. Not my idea, of course.
I can't help but think that she is depressed. I did some research and found this on the website of Oregon Counselling, written by Michael G. Conner, Psy.D. She seems to have some of the signs of depression namely:
# Crying, feeling sad, helpless or hopeless
# Feeling discouraged or worthless
# Loss of interest or pleasure in others or most activities
# Drop in school performance
# Inability to sit still, fidgeting or pacing (she stood 2 times to go to her father, she wanted him to carry him or sit on his lap; it seemed like she felt safer sitting on her father's lap but then she would go back to her seat after a while)

She wasn't rude or anything like that, I sensed that she's unhappy and was trying not to show it, she was indifferent. She seemed angry and she definitely was disinterested in anything that was related to school.
From what I gathered she was harassed/bullied in school... By some school officials. Hmmm...

Her mother doesn't want her to repeat grade 2 due to obvious reasons: waste of time and money among other things. Her parents are definitely worried because they don't know how to help her. I just hope I can help her.

Good luck to me! Hehehe.

Oh No!

Oh no... Right after I posted my first post for 2006, I got a msg from my sister. Sinisingil ako ng contractor for the materials, twice ng cost that he quoted!

#$%@*&^%+=?><@!!!!!!!

IBALIK NYO AKO SA PILIPINAS!!! Waaahhhhh!!! Ayoko na dito!!! Akala yata ng mga tae dito sumusuka ako ng pera! Pati karpintero sobra singil! Mabuti pa yung karpintero namin sa Manila maayos kausap. Grabe!

I made a terrible mistake, and expensive one at that! It's pretty clear now I shouldn't have moved. I want to move back to Manila but I can't, I don't have money anymore and I don't want to go back to our house there, not after having my own place.
I have no one to blame but myself. Palpak desisyon ko! Ang tanga ko! I frustrated over this kapalpakan. Sumasakit sikmura ko, nasusuka ako but I can't afford to go out. Heck, I don't have money for an antacid tablet! Que lastima!

Hay buhay!

Happy New Year

Manigong Bagong Taon sa lahat!
New year, new look for my blog. I'm still fixing my template. It's quite hard to do stuff online when one has no unlimited internet access. Bagal pa ng dial up. Haayy syet.
Lots of new changes in my life, positive ba or negative? Wait and see muna, too soon to say. I hope things get better, I hope I learn soon if my decision has been good or not so I can just go back and continue my life there.
Oh well...
Btw, my template does look like my friendster's template! Hehehe.