There is this really mischievous Chinese boy in Lil Shauna's music class. He takes a lot of coaxing to get him to pay attention and behave. He disrupts the class alot and the teacher thus spends alot of time trying to get him to behave so that class can continue. To do so, the teacher praises him a lot and uses praises to entice him to behave. As a result, he gets a lot more attention and praises than the rest of the kids.
His mother attends the class with him but very much left it to the teacher to control his behavior. In one of the particular classes, the teacher finally couldn't take it and punished him by making him stand at the naughty corner. He cried shortly and his mother went to his rescue by pulling him back to his seat. It was a pretty awkward situation.
About 3 weeks ago, a new boy joined the class and he is very vocal. He makes comments and wants to talk to the teacher very much while she tries to instruct the kids the next task to do. Many times, the teacher had to cut him off so that she could carry on with her lesson. There is afterall only 1 hour.
The next week, there is a Parent-Teacher meeting and the parents were asked to fill up the feedback form before the meeting. I took the opportunity to gently remind the teacher to not give so many praises to that misbehaved kid. I thought that her behavior indirectly suggest to the other kids that it is ok to misbehave bcos you will get all the praises when you finally behaved. I also suggested that maybe she can work with the child's mum to better control his behavior.
However, I started to struggle during class on whether I should hand in the form with the comments. I felt bad for pinpointing her teaching methodology and not at the course content itself. And it is seriously not easy to try to conduct the class, try to control the kids, yet not be overly fierce to the kids since their parent sit right in that same class. But I still handed in eventually. And I realised that it is seriously tough to be a teacher, especially when they meet parents like me. It is even more so for teachers who conduct parent-child classes bcos the parents are in the class to witness how the class is being carried out, how their kids are being treated. Poor teachers.
I have to admit that I am probably going to be one of those difficult parents that teachers have to handle in the future. This is deduced from how difficult a customer I can be when my tail is being stepped on. Well, I probably wouldn't make a police report when my kids' hair is being cut by the teachers but I am quite sure that I would complain.
I wonder how the music teacher will react to my comments. I wonder if she will target Lil Shauna in the future or treat her extra nice knowing that she has a difficult mum to back her up. I will find out bcos we are going back for another term of music lessons. I do hope that the mischievous kid and the talkative kid will drop the lessons. Oh, I will remind my kids to not be teachers in the future, bcos by their era, they would not only have to deal with difficult parents but also difficult grandparents.
Mummy Lim
Friday, September 28, 2012
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
She Cut her Own Hair
Lil Shauna had her hair cut less than 5 times in her entire life. She adores her long hair. Me too.
She is helping to fulfill my childhood dream. I had always wanted to don long hair when I was young but it was too much of a hassle in my mum’s eye. Thus, I was always wearing that typical mushroom head hairstyle until I was in my Secondary school years.
Lil Shauna inherited my straight hair, which I don’t know if it is a blessing. She had so wanted her fringe off her forehead, just like her friend, Faith, who dons natural curl. But Lil Shauna hair is stubbornly straight and we hadn’t been successful trying to create that look. The only time that her fringe stays away from her face is when we secure them with pins, which aren’t comfortable after a while.
I have been faithfully snipping off her fringe when they get a little too long and in the way. I have become quite an expert and things are much easier now that Lil Shauna knows how to stay still.
On Monday night, during shower time, Lil Shauna complained that her fringe is getting a tad too long and asked for a snip. We keep the scissor in the bathroom and I told her to wait in the showers while I changed out of my working clothes. I joined her in the bathroom within minutes and was mortified to see her with the scissors and chunks of hair on the floor. Lil Shauna still exclaimed excitedly that she had cut her own hair!
She only realized that her act wasn’t appreciated when she saw the horrified look on my face. I couldn’t help it and when “oh no” umpteen times. Her hair was wet by then and I couldn’t assess the damage done. I asked her which part of her hair did she snap off and she pointed to her fringe. She then innocently said that she doesn’t like her fringe and wanted to cut all her fringe off. Well, I suppose that is a logical reasoning to a 4 YO – don’t want fringe, so cut them all off.
To deter her from doing similar acts in the future, this evil mummy then went on to tell her that she probably look uglier now bcos her hair has been snapped off and that I had to bring her to the hairdresser to cut her long hair to salvage the situation. And it was her turn to be mortified. Hehehehe (evil grin).
The damage isn’t that bad. She ended up with hollows in her fringe at parts that she snapped off chunks but little girls seem to look nice in whatever hairstyle. Well, hair do grow. I am just glad that I got to her before she cut off more hair or hurt herself with the scissors. At least I didn’t bring her for any $60 haircut prior to the episode and there is definitely no need to bring her for a $60 haircut thereafter to save the situation. I hope she learns her lesson.
Sorry for the little gross picture. These are the chunks that she snipped off. Looking at the amount of snapped off hair, I bet you will be just as horrified if you were me.
Mummy Lim
She is helping to fulfill my childhood dream. I had always wanted to don long hair when I was young but it was too much of a hassle in my mum’s eye. Thus, I was always wearing that typical mushroom head hairstyle until I was in my Secondary school years.
Lil Shauna inherited my straight hair, which I don’t know if it is a blessing. She had so wanted her fringe off her forehead, just like her friend, Faith, who dons natural curl. But Lil Shauna hair is stubbornly straight and we hadn’t been successful trying to create that look. The only time that her fringe stays away from her face is when we secure them with pins, which aren’t comfortable after a while.
I have been faithfully snipping off her fringe when they get a little too long and in the way. I have become quite an expert and things are much easier now that Lil Shauna knows how to stay still.
On Monday night, during shower time, Lil Shauna complained that her fringe is getting a tad too long and asked for a snip. We keep the scissor in the bathroom and I told her to wait in the showers while I changed out of my working clothes. I joined her in the bathroom within minutes and was mortified to see her with the scissors and chunks of hair on the floor. Lil Shauna still exclaimed excitedly that she had cut her own hair!
She only realized that her act wasn’t appreciated when she saw the horrified look on my face. I couldn’t help it and when “oh no” umpteen times. Her hair was wet by then and I couldn’t assess the damage done. I asked her which part of her hair did she snap off and she pointed to her fringe. She then innocently said that she doesn’t like her fringe and wanted to cut all her fringe off. Well, I suppose that is a logical reasoning to a 4 YO – don’t want fringe, so cut them all off.
To deter her from doing similar acts in the future, this evil mummy then went on to tell her that she probably look uglier now bcos her hair has been snapped off and that I had to bring her to the hairdresser to cut her long hair to salvage the situation. And it was her turn to be mortified. Hehehehe (evil grin).
The damage isn’t that bad. She ended up with hollows in her fringe at parts that she snapped off chunks but little girls seem to look nice in whatever hairstyle. Well, hair do grow. I am just glad that I got to her before she cut off more hair or hurt herself with the scissors. At least I didn’t bring her for any $60 haircut prior to the episode and there is definitely no need to bring her for a $60 haircut thereafter to save the situation. I hope she learns her lesson.
Sorry for the little gross picture. These are the chunks that she snipped off. Looking at the amount of snapped off hair, I bet you will be just as horrified if you were me.
Mummy Lim
Monday, September 24, 2012
Sibling Rivalry
It is starting.
Every night, Lil Shauna will complain that Lil Isaac is imitating her. She will tell us that she doesn’t want didi to follow what she is doing/ has done and that he is a copycat. Her complaints are getting very farfetched. One night, she complained that didi is copying her when he is due for his last bottle of milk before bedtime simply bcos she had her milk before him. On a couple of occasions, she forbids didi to sing along with her. What??!!
Then, there is the usual snatching and fighting. Sometimes, it seems as if they purposely snatch and fight to see how their parents would react and who their parents will side. Maybe it is a test that they are putting up for their parents. Hmmm…
There are of course the times that didi wanted jiejie to do something or do something together with jiejie and the latter is willing. Other times, their role switched. Then we can expect the usual “you see didi” from jiejie and/ or the frustrating “eh, eh, eh… jiejie, jiejie” from didi. It must be another test for the parents, to see if they will coax the unwilling one to give in or the insistent one to give up.
Well, well, this is what all life is about, right? Such exciting challenges. I must work out some tactics with Daddy Lim to counter the kids. Hohoho.
Mummy Lim
Every night, Lil Shauna will complain that Lil Isaac is imitating her. She will tell us that she doesn’t want didi to follow what she is doing/ has done and that he is a copycat. Her complaints are getting very farfetched. One night, she complained that didi is copying her when he is due for his last bottle of milk before bedtime simply bcos she had her milk before him. On a couple of occasions, she forbids didi to sing along with her. What??!!
Then, there is the usual snatching and fighting. Sometimes, it seems as if they purposely snatch and fight to see how their parents would react and who their parents will side. Maybe it is a test that they are putting up for their parents. Hmmm…
There are of course the times that didi wanted jiejie to do something or do something together with jiejie and the latter is willing. Other times, their role switched. Then we can expect the usual “you see didi” from jiejie and/ or the frustrating “eh, eh, eh… jiejie, jiejie” from didi. It must be another test for the parents, to see if they will coax the unwilling one to give in or the insistent one to give up.
Well, well, this is what all life is about, right? Such exciting challenges. I must work out some tactics with Daddy Lim to counter the kids. Hohoho.
Mummy Lim
Book Worm
We wanted to read daily to the kids. We want to visit the library every week to loan new books. However, we are humans and humans are lazy. It gets even more challenging now that the little tiger is older and wants to “read” too but loses interest quickly and is disturbing more than listening. Well, we still try. Though less frequent than desired or as compared to the past, we are surprised to see the progress than Lil Shauna is making.
I am still adding on to the list of sight words that I am teaching Lil Shauna but at a slower pace. Most of them are 2 or 3-letter words. She may sometimes take a few repetitions on different occasions but is remembering most of them. This I am glad but am more excited to realize that she can pronounce 3-letter words through phonics! I felt that our investments are showing results. Hehe.
She could hear the first, middle and last sound most of the time now. A while ago, she couldn’t blend the sounds to make out any of the 3-letter word but could spell by sounding the first, middle and last sound. She isn’t fantastic with her alphabets yet and still makes mistakes in her writing but she is only 4 and we could live with that for now. A few months back, I started asking her to blend and read 3-letter words. She needed some help at first and recently, she could blend and read quite a few 3-letter words. Daddy Lim was very impressed when she first did that a number of nights ago while we were at the story books. I am so proud of my little princess.
I have to agree that I am a kiasu mummy in the making. Lil Shauna is taking on phonics, music and swimming classes now and I will be adding on Chinese and Maths classes next year. I don’t need her to be ahead of her peers (but I wouldn’t mind if she is lah). I just need her to be ready for primary school and not have to chase after her peers then.
Lil Shauna is picking up momentum with her music classes and I am enjoying seeing her play simple pieces with one hand in the class. The term is coming to an end and I have received the bill for the next. I thought that I should ask for her opinion on continuing the class and was very confident that she would want to continue. She seems to be enjoying the class as much as me. To my surprise, she didn’t want to but I still want! Itchy backside mummy. Don’t care, I will override her views this time round and sign her up for another term. If she really doesn’t want to continue then, I will consider dropping. Hehe.
Mummy Lim
I am still adding on to the list of sight words that I am teaching Lil Shauna but at a slower pace. Most of them are 2 or 3-letter words. She may sometimes take a few repetitions on different occasions but is remembering most of them. This I am glad but am more excited to realize that she can pronounce 3-letter words through phonics! I felt that our investments are showing results. Hehe.
She could hear the first, middle and last sound most of the time now. A while ago, she couldn’t blend the sounds to make out any of the 3-letter word but could spell by sounding the first, middle and last sound. She isn’t fantastic with her alphabets yet and still makes mistakes in her writing but she is only 4 and we could live with that for now. A few months back, I started asking her to blend and read 3-letter words. She needed some help at first and recently, she could blend and read quite a few 3-letter words. Daddy Lim was very impressed when she first did that a number of nights ago while we were at the story books. I am so proud of my little princess.
I have to agree that I am a kiasu mummy in the making. Lil Shauna is taking on phonics, music and swimming classes now and I will be adding on Chinese and Maths classes next year. I don’t need her to be ahead of her peers (but I wouldn’t mind if she is lah). I just need her to be ready for primary school and not have to chase after her peers then.
Lil Shauna is picking up momentum with her music classes and I am enjoying seeing her play simple pieces with one hand in the class. The term is coming to an end and I have received the bill for the next. I thought that I should ask for her opinion on continuing the class and was very confident that she would want to continue. She seems to be enjoying the class as much as me. To my surprise, she didn’t want to but I still want! Itchy backside mummy. Don’t care, I will override her views this time round and sign her up for another term. If she really doesn’t want to continue then, I will consider dropping. Hehe.
Mummy Lim
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Homework
I know that I just blogged about being excited about Lil Shauna having to do homework not too long ago. However, this excitement did die down very quickly. This is so when Lil Shauna needs lots of coaxing to do her homework.
Lil Shauna has been given homework since last weekend. She is given 3 pages of letters to write each weekend. She has done "A, B & C" last week and was given "D, E & F" this week. Her writing is atrocious but I can live with it than to constantly erase and ask her to re-write bcos shortly into writing, I hear her familiar, "mummy, I am tired". -.o" Errr, I am tired too, tired from the coaxing and repeating which stroke to write first. Hoho.
It is no joke when we have all forgotten about her homework and only to realize it shortly before bedtime on a Sunday night. It doesn't matter how atrocious her handwriting is anymore bcos I just need her to get her homework done. In fact, I was even tempted to write her homework for her. Lol. Doesn't this sound familiar?
I must remember to ask her to do homework next weekend before we go gaigai. I hope my pea brain works then. Shoo, gold fish...
Mummy Lim
Lil Shauna has been given homework since last weekend. She is given 3 pages of letters to write each weekend. She has done "A, B & C" last week and was given "D, E & F" this week. Her writing is atrocious but I can live with it than to constantly erase and ask her to re-write bcos shortly into writing, I hear her familiar, "mummy, I am tired". -.o" Errr, I am tired too, tired from the coaxing and repeating which stroke to write first. Hoho.
It is no joke when we have all forgotten about her homework and only to realize it shortly before bedtime on a Sunday night. It doesn't matter how atrocious her handwriting is anymore bcos I just need her to get her homework done. In fact, I was even tempted to write her homework for her. Lol. Doesn't this sound familiar?
I must remember to ask her to do homework next weekend before we go gaigai. I hope my pea brain works then. Shoo, gold fish...
Mummy Lim
Sand Art
Lil Shauna loves sand art. Using sand art as a temptation or bribe usually works. She even know which are the shopping malls that have sand art and never fail to drag us to let her do sand art.
Sand art isn't cheap. It cost about $6.50 for a small piece (about A5). But I quite willingly spend on her sand art. I supposed it is at least better than some random toy that she buys. The toys that she buys now are usually on impulse and I wouldnt be surprise if they get thrown aside shortly after. At least e sand art trains her fine motor skill.
Some of her sand art are very nicely done. Sometimes, they are just a random concoction of colors.
Mummy Lim
Sand art isn't cheap. It cost about $6.50 for a small piece (about A5). But I quite willingly spend on her sand art. I supposed it is at least better than some random toy that she buys. The toys that she buys now are usually on impulse and I wouldnt be surprise if they get thrown aside shortly after. At least e sand art trains her fine motor skill.
Some of her sand art are very nicely done. Sometimes, they are just a random concoction of colors.
Mummy Lim
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Spoilt Brat in the Making
Lil Isaac got complained yday.
When Popo fetched him from school yday, his teacher complained that he snatched a friend’s toy and threw it away/ at him after snatching it. Faint. The teacher made him apologized to the boy, which Lil Isaac refused to. Double faint.
Popo said that Lil Isaac cried at the end of the class. Isnt he the villain? But he did eventually apologize to the teacher.
We have seen this at home too. Lil Isaac will fight with jiejie and when he finally secured the loot, he threw it away. We don’t know where he learned this from. Similarly, he refused to apologize, not after plenty of coaxing. He was disciplined by Daddy Lim the last time he did this but it seems like there isn’t much effect. Daddy Lim spent a lot of time repeating to him last night that he is not supposed to beat his friend, not supposed to snatch and throw toys. We don’t know how much of it got into him.
Popo is one super protective grandmother. Popo didn’t rebuke the teacher on the spot but tried to provide an explanation for Lil Isaac’s behavior to us subsequently. She suggested that maybe the boy was the one who started the toy snatching, which the teacher didn’t see. It was only when Lil Isaac retaliated by snatching back that the teacher saw. And in the fit of anger, Lil Isaac threw away the toy. Popo has such wonderful imagination and we all know that our son is no angel. -.o”
Our son is turning into a spoilt brat. The little time that we spent with them doesn’t give us much allowance for discipline and they are generally well-behaved when they are with us. And he is receiving plenty of love and attention (and also leeway) from Popo who spent a lot of time with him. Being the only grandson earns him an important spot in Popo’s heart, the Popo who favors boys over girls. Somehow, he enjoys the same status with Nainai, who go gaga over his every little action and achievement. Just last Sunday, Nainai was all praises over how well Lil Isaac can speak when the irony is that I am suspecting that he has speech delay. We all think that his speech is atrocious and we couldn’t make out what he is talking about most of the time.
Is he turning 2 soon? Is the Terrible Two monster lurking in the corner, waiting to make his grand appearance? It is ok, kids grow up. We will survive. Toast to parenthood!
Mummy Lim
When Popo fetched him from school yday, his teacher complained that he snatched a friend’s toy and threw it away/ at him after snatching it. Faint. The teacher made him apologized to the boy, which Lil Isaac refused to. Double faint.
Popo said that Lil Isaac cried at the end of the class. Isnt he the villain? But he did eventually apologize to the teacher.
We have seen this at home too. Lil Isaac will fight with jiejie and when he finally secured the loot, he threw it away. We don’t know where he learned this from. Similarly, he refused to apologize, not after plenty of coaxing. He was disciplined by Daddy Lim the last time he did this but it seems like there isn’t much effect. Daddy Lim spent a lot of time repeating to him last night that he is not supposed to beat his friend, not supposed to snatch and throw toys. We don’t know how much of it got into him.
Popo is one super protective grandmother. Popo didn’t rebuke the teacher on the spot but tried to provide an explanation for Lil Isaac’s behavior to us subsequently. She suggested that maybe the boy was the one who started the toy snatching, which the teacher didn’t see. It was only when Lil Isaac retaliated by snatching back that the teacher saw. And in the fit of anger, Lil Isaac threw away the toy. Popo has such wonderful imagination and we all know that our son is no angel. -.o”
Our son is turning into a spoilt brat. The little time that we spent with them doesn’t give us much allowance for discipline and they are generally well-behaved when they are with us. And he is receiving plenty of love and attention (and also leeway) from Popo who spent a lot of time with him. Being the only grandson earns him an important spot in Popo’s heart, the Popo who favors boys over girls. Somehow, he enjoys the same status with Nainai, who go gaga over his every little action and achievement. Just last Sunday, Nainai was all praises over how well Lil Isaac can speak when the irony is that I am suspecting that he has speech delay. We all think that his speech is atrocious and we couldn’t make out what he is talking about most of the time.
Is he turning 2 soon? Is the Terrible Two monster lurking in the corner, waiting to make his grand appearance? It is ok, kids grow up. We will survive. Toast to parenthood!
Mummy Lim
Rant
I think I need another good break. I am starting to feel the weight of routine bearing down on my shoulders. This makes me lose motivation and interest. The feeling is so intense that I wanted to do something different over last weekend as an immediate relief measure but I was too lazy. Routine requires less effort.
I love holidays. They punctuate my life of routine and inject momentary periods of uniqueness and break the monotony. I need that to keep my sanity. I love the feeling of looking forward to holidays, it keeps me going. That is why I plan a few small holidays throughout the year. However, we are cash poor now and are in the midst of tightening our belts. Holiday doesn’t come cheap and doesn’t go well with our agenda to save $$. Boo. My Korea holiday is in sight but it is too far away to provide that energy boost that I so needed now.
This is probably a phase and it will pass. Afterall, life goes on. Or maybe you are hearing my hormones talking now.
Actually, come to think of it, there are many exciting things happening in the near future so why do I not find them exciting? For a start, I am going to start on a disciplined month-long regime to lose weight starting from tomorrow. I will lose weight! Then again, maybe that is why I am irritated? The thought of little food, coupled with the constant battle with weight. I probably have been dieting since I was in my teens. Delicious food is always sinful. So, please stay off my radar for the next month. Lol.
Mummy Lim
I love holidays. They punctuate my life of routine and inject momentary periods of uniqueness and break the monotony. I need that to keep my sanity. I love the feeling of looking forward to holidays, it keeps me going. That is why I plan a few small holidays throughout the year. However, we are cash poor now and are in the midst of tightening our belts. Holiday doesn’t come cheap and doesn’t go well with our agenda to save $$. Boo. My Korea holiday is in sight but it is too far away to provide that energy boost that I so needed now.
This is probably a phase and it will pass. Afterall, life goes on. Or maybe you are hearing my hormones talking now.
Actually, come to think of it, there are many exciting things happening in the near future so why do I not find them exciting? For a start, I am going to start on a disciplined month-long regime to lose weight starting from tomorrow. I will lose weight! Then again, maybe that is why I am irritated? The thought of little food, coupled with the constant battle with weight. I probably have been dieting since I was in my teens. Delicious food is always sinful. So, please stay off my radar for the next month. Lol.
Mummy Lim
Monday, September 17, 2012
No Work
Daddy Lim didn’t have to work on Sunday, which is so rare, so we brought the kids to JBP on our own without Popo or Auntie. The weather was reasonably nice and we wanted to utilize the annual pass to make our $$ worth. We spent about 2 hours at the park and opted to pay for the tram ride this time. Pushing the kids in the stroller is too much hard work. The kids enjoyed the ride too.
Lil Isaac’s bad experience at the Lory Loft the last time scared him badly. One of the birds bit him while he was trying to feed them. Henceforth, he doesn’t like to be in close proximity to the birds. Interestingly, he is the more timid one as compared to jiejie. Monsters and witches videos scare him senseless. So do mascots, even the really cute ones. Jiejie will be dragging us to see the mascot and say hi. Lil Isaac screams even if we are 20m away. Eh, you boy leh. Faint.
He clung tightly onto Daddy Lim at the Lory Loft. He buried his face into Daddy Lim’s shoulder and tucked his hands in front of his chest so that they are away from the birds. The sight was actually quite hilarious. He was silent and refused to talk.
Then I tried bringing the kids to the Crowned Pigeon enclosure. These were the same big fat hen look-alike birds that I was talking about the last time. Lil Shauna rushed in and tried to catch one of them with her bare hands. I am so glad that she didn’t catch any. On the contrary, Lil Isaac refused to enter and stood at the door, chanting “no, no. no” and holding me back. This is the same Lil Isaac who was chasing the same birds with jie jie some months back. Aiyo.
We ended the trip with waterplay. The kids love waterplay and had great fun. The sun and the trip knocked Lil Isaac AND Daddy Lim out. Jiejie was still full of energy and went for her phonics class and thereafter nainai’s house. I am constantly impressed at where she gets her energy from. She must have some battery compartment somewhere. Lol.
It was a good Sunday. I had wanted to do something different, something out of the norm. However, I was too lazy. Hohoho, try again next Sunday.
Mummy Lim
Lil Isaac’s bad experience at the Lory Loft the last time scared him badly. One of the birds bit him while he was trying to feed them. Henceforth, he doesn’t like to be in close proximity to the birds. Interestingly, he is the more timid one as compared to jiejie. Monsters and witches videos scare him senseless. So do mascots, even the really cute ones. Jiejie will be dragging us to see the mascot and say hi. Lil Isaac screams even if we are 20m away. Eh, you boy leh. Faint.
He clung tightly onto Daddy Lim at the Lory Loft. He buried his face into Daddy Lim’s shoulder and tucked his hands in front of his chest so that they are away from the birds. The sight was actually quite hilarious. He was silent and refused to talk.
Then I tried bringing the kids to the Crowned Pigeon enclosure. These were the same big fat hen look-alike birds that I was talking about the last time. Lil Shauna rushed in and tried to catch one of them with her bare hands. I am so glad that she didn’t catch any. On the contrary, Lil Isaac refused to enter and stood at the door, chanting “no, no. no” and holding me back. This is the same Lil Isaac who was chasing the same birds with jie jie some months back. Aiyo.
We ended the trip with waterplay. The kids love waterplay and had great fun. The sun and the trip knocked Lil Isaac AND Daddy Lim out. Jiejie was still full of energy and went for her phonics class and thereafter nainai’s house. I am constantly impressed at where she gets her energy from. She must have some battery compartment somewhere. Lol.
It was a good Sunday. I had wanted to do something different, something out of the norm. However, I was too lazy. Hohoho, try again next Sunday.
Mummy Lim
Sunday, September 16, 2012
My Kids' Future
Singapore will increase the number of university places. In the not too long future, 40% of a particular graduating cohort will be graduates as compared to the 27% now. This is excluding those who obtained their degree after gaining working experiences. The Government confidently claimed that there are enough jobs for graduates even with the surge in numbers.
I wonder if this is good news. With the increase, it would really mean that almost everyone is a graduate in my kids' era. In recent years, I already see many young graduates pursuing a Master bcos everybody else is a graduate and a Degree is not enough. Out of my siblings, I am the only one without a Master. So how much more true this will be during the kids' time? I don't even know how they will do in primary school and now I have to worry about them not getting a Master?
I see plenty of news about high unemployment for young graduates in countries, Korea and China. I supposed one of the reasons is bcos they have a high % of graduates for every graduating cohort, exactly what Singapore is moving towards. The graduates would only take on white collar job "fit" for graduates, even if such employment brings them lower salary as compared to what they would have earned if they had taken up a blue collar job. However, the graduates rather be unemployed than to take on these blue collar jobs. Will this be the future Singapore? My kids future?
I can't help but worry about my kids' survivability even though they are only 4 and 2 years old. Living cost skyrocketed in Singapore. HDB flat cost $1m, COE hits $80k. Maids are suing their employer for not paying their minimum wage as agreed in the contract. Employers are to bear the maid's placement fees and pay through their nose. Yet it all voiced down to luck. That maid who dug a hole in the employer's pocket could also be the same one who drove him up the wall, helped to boil his blood and accelerated the onset of his heart disease. Well, I will save my rant on maids for another day.
It makes me wonder, how then will my kids survive? Somehow, I have the feeling that we will be the one helping our kids with their first flat and car financially. Are we really to earn enough money to buy 2 houses so that the kids can inherit one each in the future? Someone also told me that we will mother our kids' kids in the future. I am no critics, yet with simple reasoning, I can see the various obstacles in kids' rearing. Motherhood is the start of endless worry. And did I hear the Government ask why is the birth rate dropping? Haiz.
Mummy Lim
I wonder if this is good news. With the increase, it would really mean that almost everyone is a graduate in my kids' era. In recent years, I already see many young graduates pursuing a Master bcos everybody else is a graduate and a Degree is not enough. Out of my siblings, I am the only one without a Master. So how much more true this will be during the kids' time? I don't even know how they will do in primary school and now I have to worry about them not getting a Master?
I see plenty of news about high unemployment for young graduates in countries, Korea and China. I supposed one of the reasons is bcos they have a high % of graduates for every graduating cohort, exactly what Singapore is moving towards. The graduates would only take on white collar job "fit" for graduates, even if such employment brings them lower salary as compared to what they would have earned if they had taken up a blue collar job. However, the graduates rather be unemployed than to take on these blue collar jobs. Will this be the future Singapore? My kids future?
I can't help but worry about my kids' survivability even though they are only 4 and 2 years old. Living cost skyrocketed in Singapore. HDB flat cost $1m, COE hits $80k. Maids are suing their employer for not paying their minimum wage as agreed in the contract. Employers are to bear the maid's placement fees and pay through their nose. Yet it all voiced down to luck. That maid who dug a hole in the employer's pocket could also be the same one who drove him up the wall, helped to boil his blood and accelerated the onset of his heart disease. Well, I will save my rant on maids for another day.
It makes me wonder, how then will my kids survive? Somehow, I have the feeling that we will be the one helping our kids with their first flat and car financially. Are we really to earn enough money to buy 2 houses so that the kids can inherit one each in the future? Someone also told me that we will mother our kids' kids in the future. I am no critics, yet with simple reasoning, I can see the various obstacles in kids' rearing. Motherhood is the start of endless worry. And did I hear the Government ask why is the birth rate dropping? Haiz.
Mummy Lim
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