Under Pressure!
I am quite a slacker mom. But, lately, I’ve been finding that there are other factors surrounding me that is slowly but surely (yikes!!!!!?) turning me into one of those kiasu moms.
Example 1 : Yesterday, No.1’s school principal called me and said, "You know ah…No.1 did not do his homework the other day. Did you know he has to do homework EVERYDAY??". I was panicking shit… it sounded as if I didn’t do the homework. "But..but.. but….I sit with him everyday and make sure he finish wor…", I mumbled. "Hmmmmm…nope..he didn’t. You must make sure he finishes all his homework everyday."
AIKS…kena scolding from principal. Feels like I’m back in school again. Buttt…wait a minute, just a few days ago, this same woman was asking if I read about the Boy Genius who made history by being the youngest to attend Caltech…and then he..ermm.. passed away (sudden death). She then told me not to give children too much pressure. Hmmmmmmmmmm…………………
Anyway, I was SO under pressure, I got abit kiasu and made him do more than he was required to. To be honest, sometimes they don’t mark what is to be done as homework..so how the HECK was I supposed to know? Anyway, Kiasu bug bitten…must do more homework! POOR KID!
Example 2: During the blogger’s meet, Amah was telling me about the chinese schools she wanted Kieren to attend…but couldn’t get. Apparently, the school I wanted No.1 to attend is quite a good Chinese school. But then Annie Tan told me of the pressure the kids goes through…*sweats*. Then she told me they will announce in Chinese Newspaper, when the enrolment is opened. I tell ya…becoz I don’t read Chinese..I panicked panicked panicked…HOW WILL I KNOW????????!!!!! So, the Kiasu bug approached the school principal and asked her to inform me when the enrolment would be opened. The pre-school is located opp. the Chinese school. So..now, I’m so pleased with myself..because I’m got so kiasu.
Aiya…so much pressure just to enrol kids in school, do homework.
You know ah..when I finished all my exams in Uni, I wrote myself a note to be opened whenever I felt an urge. It read, "Don’t you EVER think of going back to study. STUDYING SUX BIG TIME!!!!!!"
I’m thinking now…no need to study already feel the pressure…how more when there are important exams!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OH!!!! This is all so new to me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
aiyo…chinese sch very pressured! are u sure???? samo u dunno how to read chinese..how to do homework with him?
*thinking…thinking..thinking….*
Comment by Sasha — January 18, 2007 @ 3:18 am
Like you I do not know how to read chinese and hence how to know when to enrol my son. So I call up the school and ask them when enrolment begins. BUT.. the weird thing is I don’t call them up once, I call them like twice a year just to make sure that these ppl give me the right info or that I heard them correctly. So is it Kiasu/kiasi or just plain stupid?
I really do not look fwd to the day they go primary school. Hence, I am enjoying this honeymoon period-that is what my colleagues call it.
Ahhh…so THIS is the honeymoon period!!!!!!! *gulps*
Comment by WMD — January 18, 2007 @ 3:24 am
Ryan goes to a Chinese school but my son is kiasu himself. One time, he came back and told me he did not score 100 and the second I asked him why, he was almost in tears giving me excuses. I kept quiet and just brushed the matter away. From then, I believe I should not pressure him too much so cannot be too kiasulah. No 100 marks also oklah.
“No 100 marks also oklah”…aiyo..my standard EVEN lower…as long as PASS, can la!!!!
Comment by Immomsdaughter — January 18, 2007 @ 5:34 am
Talked to my friend the other day about pre-school homework. My friend doesn’t believe in giving homework pressure to preschoolers. Some times when her kids couldn’t finish their homework after they come home late, she would telephone the teacher and tell her not to punish her kid for not doing homework… When the teacher tells further, she would tell teacher that she’s the one paying for the fees, please dun punish them….
Got punishment??? WHAT IS IT??? I never even bother to ask!!!!! YIKES!!!! See how slack I am!!!
Comment by Annie — January 18, 2007 @ 6:07 am
Aiyo I’m also under pressure now cos my son is going to Std one next yr still thinking Chinese or Kebangsaan stress man as I need to work and also dunno Chinese lor
I think as long as got good Kebangsaan..why not send there? But for me…the nearest Kebangsaan is ..errmmm… not very good la. No choice!!!!!
Comment by Desperate Mummy — January 18, 2007 @ 7:14 am
wey! that kindergarten military school or what? homework everyday?? for crying out loud..they are only in kindy..ayo…no more childhood leow! definitely grooming the kids for the chinese school homework torture!! i’m suffering it now!!!!
Actually..the homework not so BAD la…just writing exercises, for now. But..I think u’re right..they are prepping these kids for Chinese school!
Comment by laundryamah — January 18, 2007 @ 9:38 am
Hi! Got no choice…we r forced to be kiasu! *sigh* so stressful hor? I’ve made up my mind…not sending my son to a chinese school. So much work n pressure…not only my son…me too, I cannot tahan la i guess! I just want him to enjoy school like we did.
GOOD FOR YOU!!!!! Less stress for the entire family!!!!
Comment by Mika's Mummy — January 18, 2007 @ 1:33 pm
You are quite farnee lah…
Farnee meh?? How come I don’t feel so farnee???
Comment by nomadicmom — January 18, 2007 @ 2:41 pm
We live in a kiasu society:D People have been saying that it’s a lot of pressure for the child if he/she were to attend a Chinese school. When I was Std 1, my parents sent me to a Chinese school and I cried everyday for 3 wks. I told them I want to go to an English school so I got transferred and was so happy. No regrets. Guess I won’t force Ashley next time (fingers crossed).
Hmmmm….U r lucky!! Ur parents listened to you!!!!
Comment by Mommy to Chumsy — January 18, 2007 @ 4:37 pm
Kindergarten also have h/w? Wah! That’s too much pressure on young kids. Makes me think twice coming home (for good).
U better stay there for GOOD!!!! U can come back here for Makan holiday only..
Comment by Vien — January 18, 2007 @ 7:58 pm
U are not the only one under-pressure. I’m feeling the pressure too after sending my girl to kindy. It’s true dat it’s as if WE are doing the homework. My girl’s kindy has a lot of homework for her too. I’ve to guide her every nite and make sure she finishes her homework and then double check. Haiyo yo, it’s worse than I’m at work!
Hahahaha..you ver hardworking la…double checking. I’m so slack..whatever he does, is good enough for me..although when the teacher marks it..a lot of “X” !!!!! Sigghhhhh…at least he’s doing the homework..NOT ME!!! HEE HEE HEE!!!
Comment by Tracy — January 19, 2007 @ 1:42 am
I was from a Chinese school before but I have never felt it was that pressurizing. It was during my secondary kebangsaan school that I felt pressure. My neighbour is a Malay, all their kids speak and write perfect Chinese. If a Malay family can nurture kids lidat, I am sure you could too.
Reallly???? That’s good to know!!! I have cousins who went to Chinese school also..and they are actually ok with the whole thing!!!
Comment by allyfeel — January 19, 2007 @ 2:45 am
hahaha
you made it sound so funny, but then arr, i think it’s the same with all parents lar, being the ‘i wan the best for my kid’ kinda thinking….
hahaha..really? My parents were like..”as long as NO RED MARKS”…that’s y la..I turned out so slack one!!!!
Comment by Shannon — January 19, 2007 @ 8:43 am
I have to sit down for 2 hours every day to guide my son in his homework….didn’t have to do so with my daughter. All kids are different
I wonder…is a boy thing? Girls seem to have better concentration levels than boys, in terms of studying/homework!!!! Boys love action/active (explosive) experiments! I wish the school system would adapt to the different gender characteristics! HA HA HA!!!
Comment by just me — January 19, 2007 @ 12:18 pm
OK… time to watch ‘I’m Not Stupid’! hehehe
I used to stay with my uncle (in S’pore) and he has 2 school going kids… both my uncle and his wife have to sit with a cane next to their kids almost every night! Their homework were like endless! His eldest son was in this ‘gifted’ class so more homework! Should be thankful that M’sia don’t have such classifying of students… gifted, express and normal… the so called EM1, EM2, EM3.
My PiggyBeng was from NUS (8 years somemore!) so now he also phobia and vowed never to return to S’pore!
EM1, EM2, EM3???? oh dear…I think Malaysia will have one more class… EM4…for “special” students..like moi!
Comment by Angeleyes — January 19, 2007 @ 5:11 pm
yea, yea, yea !!!! same here !!! i get reprimands from Kimberly’s teachers all the time about the homework thingy. really embarassing , isnt it?
Comment by allthingspurple — January 24, 2007 @ 12:34 am
I’m sending Joseph to kebangsaan school next year. One thing is his playfulness… i don’t think he’ll be happy in a regimented environment. And another thing is for him to mix well with kids of all races.
Comment by Bernard — January 27, 2007 @ 2:59 am