Meet-The-Parents Session
Just came back from the Princess's kindy's MTP session. True enough, there wasn't any major surprises. Ya, she's a social butterfly now and super TALKATIVE - something both teacher affirmed. Hmmmmm....
On the positive note, she's:-
1. Confident of herself, something I'd always wanted to develop (being a victim of low self-esteem myself, this trait has always been the No.1 thing I want to build-up in her).
2. Has great influence over her friends, esp. the girls = ring leader (what her form teacher said. Sounded negative, though teacher mentioned it's a compliment. Ring leader??? Like head of gang). Yes, put to good use, this can take her far in life but I reminded her it's a double-edged sword and she should always use this strength for good causes.
3. Can articulate her thoughts well.
4. One of the stronger ones in Chinese class, though she obviously prefers to converse more frequently in English (but it's very difficult to teach her to recognise English words, though we read every night. Could it be the genes???)
5. Last but not least, she eats her meals provided by the school. Sometimes she'll even ask for more. That's good, for there was a period whereby she asked to bring snacks from home but used it as a lunch replacement. Till I found out and forbade her to do it again.
Frankly speaking, I'm quite the hands-off Mom, meaning I don't study with her a lot (esp. after the arrival of No.2) nor send her for loads of enrichment to build her brains. Being a Singapore Kid is stressful enough, my belief is that she should enjoy her childhood as much as she can, while she can. Once she enters P1, that's when she'll be pushed into the inevitable fate of Studying, Studying, Studying, like all the children of our nation, just so she makes the cut and becomes a "successful" person, someone whom her family can be "proud of" (of cos the term "family" does not only include your father, mother, brother etc.), more so she can be an acceptable part of our elitist society.
She may never be the brightest, or the smartest, with tonnes of awards under her belt. But she can feed, dress, bath herself (and many more) and helps to take care of her brother sometimes. Occasionally, she came back telling me her teachers praised her for being able to clean-up the mess independently and that "Mommy has taught you well". Raised in a society of 衣来张手，饭来张口 kids, I'm glad she surpasses many in these basic life skills (although this is also very much forced by the circumstances we are in).
Darling, Mommy is PROUD of you.
