uniquely ours
My colleague has been sending her son who's only 18 months old to weekly enrichment classes. And she remarked that her son is the eldest in the class of 16 month olds. She said, "When your daughter turns 16months, you'd better start sending her to class or she would be left out.." Aisyah is already 16 months and wow...I didn't know that 16 months old toddlers can be sent to class already. During my time, I was running around the house, driving my emak crazy. Of course time has changed. My mom-in-law often remarked how her kids dulu-dulu will sit down quietly, not bothering her much. I must say I'm one hell of a kid last time; throwing tantrums, disobeying my parents, etc.
My colleague's reason to send her son to school was simple; to allow her son to interact with other kids and be sociable, able to share, active, adventurous. Her son is the type who will cry at social gatherings and prefer to play alone. She hopes that by sending him to a weekly enrichment will help him develop these good traits which will make any parents proud. Those whose kids who don't have the above desirable traits will probably lament and have that sorry look on their faces.
Aisyah has many undesirable characteristics...she is shy and screams when strangers try to get close to her. She took months to overcome her fear of my mum-in-law. She's a lil miss fussypot and hard to please. Well, basically she's not the kind of baby that would be a good example in the book of Baby. i get peeved when people commented about so-and-so's child who have good social skills. Or so-and-so's child motor skills are already surpassing many kids. Well, good for them then.
What's wrong with a crybaby? When she grows up, it's good that she can release the tension and not supress it. A less active kid can be an observant kid while a less-adventurous kid can be an analytical thinker. And being a fussy eater can be someone who has a strong opinion on what she likes and what she don't. She knows who she likes and who she doesn't want to associate with if she's not too receptive with strangers.
I prefer to see that every child is different and we know what's best how to nurture them as parents. We'd be in our best behaviour when our mothers showed us the cane last time. But a colleague just related how his kid just replied, "You won't have anymore son if you strangle me, papa..." when he jokingly said to his 7-yr old son that he will strangle him if he carries on being naughty. mamasarah's entry on the different characteristics her children have is one fine example. Even siblings can have different personalities. I know me and my adek are 2 very different persons.
Very good piece of writing! I agree with every sentence you wrote and - exactly how I feel about people "berlumba-lumba" to send their babies to school - whatever they call it.
Agaknya in 10 years time, they will send their newborn to school just to stop them from crying.
*malu* got my name there :)
Eh, the title u snitch from the "uniquely singapore" tagline issit? :)
alah, mama sarah, malu? u suka, kan, kan, KAN??
You have the absolute right to educate your own child (or let someone else do it for you!) but our children is special (yes, just like everyone else's child) in their own way. Sometimes we think too much about getting them ahead of others that we forget to savour the moment, while they are little, embrace their quirks and be grateful to god.
anne: malu, tapi mahu. hihi...
You're right. No need to rush them. Just let them enjoy their early childhood. They can get sick of school-life later. :D
even orang yang dilahirkan dengan sama badan ada keinginan yang berbeza. apatah lagi orang yang darah dagingnya tidak tercantum secara fizikal ye tak? hehe..
hi ibu aisyah, to answer your question in my blog, yep, i tried the bahulus, and they were crispy and nice. :)
i thk arshad is the shy observant type..heheh but its ok with me, because that has its strength..
saying that, i mite send him to a playgrp just for him to have fun with other kids when he is bigger becoz he is the only kid in the house..not like the time when i was a kid, i grew up with my cousins.
just wanna wish you a happy belated birthday :)
» Post a Comment