Parents are invited to attend a seminar each year to learn about the latest school activities, directions, goals and most importantly, their kids’ performances at school.
Every meeting with the students’ parents never fails to break my heart.
If you think that we take this opportunity to ‘complain’ about you (students), then I urge you to think again. The last thing that I want, is to see how disappointed and sad they are. AND I DON’T LIKE THAT!
But when I complimented their kids about their strengths (which I did to every parents because I believe every kid is gifted and unique), their eyes glowed.
Though I am not a parent but my heart goes to them. To see how desperate they are to communicate and reach out to their kids is heart-wrenching. Even before the question “how does my kid do?” is asked, I can already see how worried they are when approaching me from far.
When I first joined the teaching force, I thought it was a joke to hold a meet-the-parents seminar at a college level. (read this – exactly 1 year ago!) I mean, back at my school, they stopped meeting the parents after primary school!
But I have changed my mind now. I think it is THE ONLY way that some parents can understand, learn more about their kids and seek help, especially those whose kids do not talk to them.
The common concerns are:
“My kid plays game till late every night. And I can’t do anything about it! He will be mad at me!”
“He didn’t get to sleep for days because of ‘rushing a project’..”
“He throws tantrums whenever I ask him about school..”
“He listens to teacher more than listening to us..”
“Please cane him if you need to…” (NO!! We don’t cane students!)
“How do I know when his exam is?”
“He always plays games and don’t do school work!”
“Is there some sorts of softwares that I can use to shut down his computer, say, after 10pm?”
“Er…can you tell him that I will support him in …??”
“Er…don’t tell him that I spoke to you about…..”
HARLOO!!! What have they done to their parents?? Until they need us to be some sort of messenger!!
Can you see how much they wanted to communicate with their kids but are challenged to do so?
When I was young, my mom once told me that whenever I threw tantrum at her, I literally broke her heart into millions of pieces. I’ve never thrown/yelled/banged the door since then, because I hate to see her cries.
So next time, when you (to the students who are “related” to above statements) see your parents knocking on your door and to check on you late at night, think twice before you scream at them. They are just concerned.
Like most of them said to me:”Which parents do not love and care about their kids?“.
Posted under Thoughts & musings , Work | [10] Comments
