I attended a parent’s seminar last week. You know, a seminar where you “meet the parents” to discuss their kids’ results. If you have been reading my blog, I refer to my students sometimes as “kids”. I didn’t notice it until someone pointed it out to me. I guess, my perception towards “higher-level” students has changed.

Before I come to Singapore, I tutored at university back in Perth for awhile and it was a very different experience. No matter how much we wish to treat our ‘kids’ like adults, it is just different. (Is it the upbringing, the system or the environment?)

Frankly, I thought this kind of seminar only applicable to primary and secondary. Don’t get me wrong, though I am confused with the system, I do want to help my kids.

Anyway..when I first received the RSVP from the school, I sighed. Not many parents turned up. Those parents (whose kids were not doing so well) whom I wished to speak to can’t attend the seminar due to various reasons.

It is always difficult to break the “bad news” to the parents. It is heart-breaking! The moment they saw an “F” on the paper, their expressions changed and their thoughts wondered. Before the actual session begins, we had a quick refreshment. One of my colleagues was talking to a mother and her son and obviously he was not doing well. His mother was holding his hand so tight all the time and worries were all over her face.

I must say I was grateful that my kids were doing alright generally. When I first met the parents, the first question came to me was always “How did my boy do?” Their pupils dilated and anticipation was shown through all over their bodies. Poor thing… It was exactly like waiting for a deadly answer from a doctor. Gah…

When they heard their kids were doing alright, the atmosphere changed instantly. They became more relaxed and very opened to share their experiences with teaching their kids and how they behaved at home and etc. We had a light-hearted conversation and laughter was exchanged.

It was a wonderful night but it left me wondering if my “kids” know how concerned their parents were. Do they actually know how disappointed they are if they know they do not turn up at school? Do they also know how worried their parents are when seeing them stayed up late to do their assignments? Do they even know how much hope that have been put on them since the first day they were born?

I have seen students who skipped classes, played truant. I feel for their parents after attending the seminar. In another words, I also learned how my parents felt for bloody 18 years!!

Posted under Work | 1 Comment