Mom’s Daily

The other day I had the opportunity to have breakfast with Kak Teh who is residing in UK.  She was back here for a short holiday and it has long been my wishes to meet a wonder woman like her.  Her children are grown up now, the youngest being 17 years old.

I always like to know moms like these so that I can hear how they manage their roles as mom to many kids.  It is tough so when I hear from others about their misadventures and achievements, I feel human and normal.

So, I told Kak Teh that my little boy who is going to be 5 years old next month is not going to kindie yet because I am reluctant to have my little baby thrown in routines like going to school, learning and doing homeworks.  Yikes, we have homeworks for five years old.

What Kak Teh told me is very assuring.  She said none of her kids went to kindie!  I was so glad that I am not being selfish in keeping my boy at home.  I notice that he learns better witout a routine.   For example, he may not be interested in a topic this week but suddenly, the next week, he seems to know what to do, how to read and has the interest to write.

If he has gone to school, he will be following a set routine and whether he likes it or not, whether he knows it or not, he has to do it.  In all my years of parenting, I never realise or notice this point until now because previously, I don’t have the luxury of time to spend at home, observing my boys.

Now, I have all the time to laze around with him and we only take out the books and ‘go to school’ when both he and I are in the mood.  For an inquisitive boy like him, it is not a problem as he loves to ‘go to school’.  We play pretend, ‘the bell rings’, ‘it is break time, let’s have a picnic’ and ‘school is over’.

Tags: Childcare, homeschool