keyt,
Actually, I think that kids nowadays are more fortunate. True, more is expected of them academically, but conversely, they have more things to play with. I remember when I was young, our toys are not so sophisticated or creative or expensive. Sometimes, we even invented our own toys or games to entertain ourselves. Our kids now don't even need to use their brains to play. They also have more and better malls to shop at, nicer clothes to wear. Who in her right mind would want to go climb trees, catch spiders and grasshoppers or play catching if she has sophisticated stuff to play with? I don't think that our kids are deprived. We think that our childhood is carefree, but they think that their childhood is better and more comfortable.
EHYMum,
It may seem like a good thing that my kid likes to read, but it's also very frustrating that she's oblivious to the rest of the world when she reads. When she reads, she ignores you, she doesn't eat, doesn't sleep, doesn't do her homework, doesn't bathe, doesn't change out of her uniform. You scream at her, demand that she finishes her lunch or dinner. The moment you are not looking, she goes back to her book again, and you scream at her again and so on. Her English and Chinese teachers also gave me feedback that she reads on the sly, under the table. They often have to ask her to put away her books. We always say she makes reading look like it's a bad thing. We get angry that she reads without considering the circumstances and time. We threaten not to buy books for her. I even had the experience of keeping a storybook my sister bought for her as a birthday gift for half a year till I forgot about it, until I stumbled upon it again.
I can only console myself that I'd rather have a kid who is obsessed with reading than one that totally doesn't read and it's difficult for a kid to strike a balance.
VQ,
Can I ask you: did you cry during your confinement? I'm asking this bcos you said you started to wear specs after giving birth to your kid. I'm just wondering if it's true that your eyes become bad becos you cry during confinement.
Janet,
Sometimes I thought I'm crazy. I want her to do well, but I don't want to pressure her too much. But usually excellence emerges under pressure. So I thought I was being contradictory. Now I know I'm normal.
Last time where got the same? Our parents were usually not very highly educated, and they didn't coach us at home, so they also didn't expect too much from us. But now, everybody is like so clever. If don't give a bit pressure, how can?
