Let’s begin with Justin. It has been an adjustment with him going to university. I am trying to treat him like an adult, but he is not always acting like one. He leaves his dirty clothes and rubbish on the floor in his room. I am continually asking him to put things where they belong. He says, “Yes Mom”, but he does not actually put anything where it belongs.  Needless to say, his room at the end of the hallway is avoided. 

I think that most university students spend way too much time on YouTube watching ridiculous videos. Justin is no exception to this. The other night he told me that he identified with with being black and female. I assume that he watched something on YouTube and thought it would be funny to share that with me. I looked at him and said, “You are look male and caucasian!” He was amused by my comment and walked out of the kitchen. I do love this child’s sense of humor!  
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Have I told you this story? When Justin was about 5 years old, he liked cuddling with me. We were cuddling, and he looked up and said, “Mommy, we are having a moment!” I said, “Yes dear. We are having a moment” and laughed to myself. A little less than five minutes passed. “Mom, the moment is over! I am hot!” Of course, I let him get up, and I was laughing hysterically.

Aidan has been a very studious student through elementary school and this continues in middle school. He goes to class and then goes to study room after school. He eats dinner with us, and then spends about three hours studying in the evening. I suggested that he take Friday night off and come swimming. I could see the eyes darting back and forth. He was thinking if he could afford to do that. 
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I am more than glad that he is ambitious. I am not sure that it is normal to sit and study that much in grade 7. I am also thinking he is going to burn out with all the studying before he even gets to high school. I realize these are Canadian standards of what is normal for a 13 year-old boy to do as opposed to Korean standards. 

He also had a birthday this month! Chocolate cake, Andong chicken, and new airpods! He will be in his own little world for the next two months with those airpods.

Jordan has been a trooper over the past two weeks. He had COVID. He started to feel like crap on Saturday, running a fever and complaining a bit. He tested negative on Saturday, but positive rather late on Sunday afternoon. It was a weird week of sliding food into the library room. There would gasps of delight when the food was something he liked and absolutely nothing when the food was something that he did not like. Still, I love this child’s enthusiasm. He never complained, read every single comic book we have in the house, and he was able to deal with the heat in the room. I think my husband believes that the heat was going to help him sleep, so the temperature was turned up. I could see the relief on his face the following Sunday when he was told that he could eat with us. Lots of hugs were happening.
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Myself? It has been recommended that I put in a proposal for a new course. Many of my colleagues have been sweating through the paperwork to get new courses into the university’s portal system. I am working on something as we speak. And I am hoping to finish it this afternoon…

It has been an eventful summer for the Kim Clan with everyone doing something. First, I have finished a Masters of Education in TESOL with Framingham University! The last push was three courses back to back. The last class was a Language Structure class (yes, linguistics) and it was struggle to get through as I was tired from teaching and taking classes along with the regular schedule of taking care of a home and doing things at church. I finished on August 23rd! This made for an exciting last week as my birthday was August 18th and I was vaccinated the day before. 

But I am sure all of you want updates on what has happened with the boys. So, let’s get started!

It makes sense to start with Aidan as many of you directly messaged about what was going on with the sexual harassment suite. First, he had a great summer off from the stress at being at school. Second, when he went back to school, he found out that his teacher had been moved to teach science for the children in grade 5. Aidan also seems to be better in terms of controlling his temper. He can control his tongue. I think we can all appreciate that!

An interesting development from the whole problem was that my husband and I found out that Aidan has a tendency to take over the classroom during quiet moments. He has learned that it is not good to speak more than the teacher does.

These are lessons that have been learned the hard way. He is settling in with his new teacher, a rather cordial female, who everyone likes.

Justin has started his last semester of high school. He seems a little more relaxed with everything now, and is looking forward to the end of high school. I can’t believe how fast the time has gone. It seems like yesterday that we brought that child home from the hospital.

Earlier in the summer he kept saying, “Everyone is having a hard time right now.” Yes, my son. Life is a little difficult, and your parents have done what they can to take care of you and make you strong. Hopefully, the strong part will kick in over the next few months. I am hoping and praying that he is going to rock his SAT (수능 in Korean) in November.

Also, Justin grew a mustache over the summer. I had fun telling him he was my little French man. The mustache looked French, so what can I say? Mais oui? He shaved it off Monday afternoon. Apparently the mustache was tickling his face. His friends had something about the mustache and my guess is that is what drove him to shave it off. I was pleasantly surprised to see my handsome boy's face.  

Hansung also had a development over the summer. He has been made the Dean of Planning for ACTS. I am sure this means many hours in YangPyeong and less time at home as he will be charge of recruiting students for the college he teaches at.

Jordan has had some trouble with his tummy over the last few days. It started on Thursday when everyone went back to school. He went to school to tell his teacher that he had a stomachache and then Daddy took him to the doctor. Friday he went but was sent home mid-morning. He spent most of the weekend lying on his stomach watching his device. There were many hot water bottles and cold compresses to make that child feel better. He finally had some energy on Monday afternoon and was very sweet when he went to bed.

“I love you Mom. Thank you for taking care of me.”

​That child could make anyone’s heart melt. I am glad it was my heart that he focused on!
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Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.  Proverbs 22:6