He’s valiantly going up the stairs, but once in a while he turns around and says: Mama I hate school. When
are the March holidays?
I tell him to suck it up.
Doesn’t seem very me, but there it is.
As much as I wish he could be
in an environment where he will love going to school every single day, as much
as that was the kind of environment I sought to create for him when he was
growing up, the fact is that we are here, in this time and place. Singapore 2013.
His father firmly believes
that his kids should tread on the hard road, so be it.
Day’s had his childhood, all
eight or so years of it since the day he was born, all lovingly documented here
from the day I quit my job. He is happy, well-adjusted, and very independent, and
maybe that is the best shield I can give him to fend off worldly troubles.
For the happy bubble has definitely
burst. The school system has him firmly in its grip and like it or not he will
have to learn how to survive on his own. What doesn’t kill him will hopefully make
him stronger. (So trite, but hopefully true)
I haven’t had to come into the picture yet. But I know it will only get worse.
I haven’t had to come into the picture yet. But I know it will only get worse.
And if Day triumphs, whether I
like what emerges is another thing altogether. (Please don’t let his friends or
the system turn him into a materialistic brat who only knows how to demand and complain
and live life through a smart-phone. Oh, wait a minute...)
How did I get here?
Oh!
I was going to write about the silly toilet roll but I got distracted by the bigger picture.
I miss the free-wheeling stuff which Day used to have some time
for. The aimless dreaming and drawing and toying around with useless junk.
He had some spare time tonight
and he does something funny with a toilet roll.
It’s a target for the Nerf
gun.
I'm the best. I AM the best. I trounced my competition, Day and Lulu.
It’s fun. He wants to
make a whole series like a bowling lineup. But I wonder when he will have the time
to make Man #2.
6 comments:
You look like a cool female assassin. (Did I spell that correctly?) ;)
u think!!!! i thot its incongruous: housewife holding gun leh.
that nerf gun looks one kind of fierce.
poor day. i can imagine his look coz isaac has the same look too. sigh.
You should think about the integrated programme when David is in upper primary. More room for the individual to develop. But the flip side to it is that these kids get too much freedom too early and I find them less regimented and less willing to listen to others when they hit the JC years. (But then that could be just me lah. I'm very big on compliance. Strange then that Riley isn't all that compliant... Haha!)
:)
Is it just me but somehow I feel a little sad reading this post. I am a Singaporean living in Oz as my husband is local. I have 2 boys and they will most likely receive their education and grow up here. People often ask me if I ever consider sending the boys back to Sg for education. My answer is always no. As much as I appreciate the education I received in Sg from Kindergarten to getting my degree at NUS, I don't think I want my kids to experience that kind of stress growing up. My older boy turns 6 this year and he only just started full time school. He can write his name and spell some words but he still can't read. In fact none of his classmates can read. The singaporean in me thinks I should perhaps push him a little since the system here is way too relaxed. But I keep telling myself to let him develop at his own pace. I'm sure he will learn to read one day. Slowly but surely!!
bliss: goodness i better start reading up on all the options available. i confess i hv very little idea!
anon: there is some sadness, yes. friends always lament how they want to send their kids to oz cos they will enjoy learning more. day has even asked if he can go to study in darwin! (but my husband is strongly against the kids going thru a more relaxed learning environment)
i guess we are all where we are for some reason. we just ride along and try to pick on the pluses rather than the minuses!
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