An Learning Experience of Raising a Kid..

Little kid C is only about 4 year-old.

During one of her art-and-craft lesson in class few weeks back, her teacher gave her colour papers, a pair of scissors and markers to make a gift for someone in mind.

C knew exactly what she wanted to make and to whom. She put in all her effort to make a card cut out from the papers. The card was in the shape of a cake with candles. Special effort was made to have different coloured candles. "I LOVE YOU MUMMY" on the card, she wrote.

She kept her card nicely in her bag.

The first thing she did when she reached home was to rush to the room where her mum was.

C cheerfully said to Mummy, "Mummy, mummy I want to give you a surprise."

"Okay, okay..", Mummy replied nonchalantly, not even looking at her.
Mummy was too absorbed catching a gan-jiong episode on TV.

C hunted for the card in her bag, found the card, took it out, hold it tightly in both her hands, then with both her hand out-stretched and still holding the card, "Mummy, mummy, you see, you see."

"Okay, okay.. see already.."
Brushing the card away slightly as the card was almost pushed in front of her face by C, who was so eager to amaze and to surprise her dear Mummy. Actually her dear Mummy didn't even know that was a card.
Anyway, she wasn't even looking at her (or the card).

C couldn't take it anymore.
"You where got see? You only watching TV! You where got see? Why you like that one?"
She burst into tears. Her glassy heart was shattered. She was only hoping to please her mother and she couldn't even get a wee bit of attention from her.

C couldn't be easily appeased.

At a certain stage, she said (almost mimicking what an adult would do when teaching little kids when they are in the wrong), "I want you to say sorry."
C was already choking in tears.

"Sorry."
The mummy said in half-heartedly as her eyes were still glued to the TV.

"I want you to say again."
C was still choking in tears. More badly actually.

"Sorry."
She was getter a little louder and in a tone that appeared a little rush.

"Why you never look at me when you are saying 'sorry' one." C wailed again.

"Aiyo.. I already told you this episode very gan-jiong. How can children demand immediate attention one? Can't you just wait a little while?" The mother reasoned.

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Are you (mentally at least) siding with C or siding with C’s Mummy?

C’s reactions seemed rather demanding, too demanding for a kid. But isn’t she merely practicing how she was being taught? I mean adult always want children “to say sorry” when they are in the wrong. And many times, we (adult) demand them to do it sincerely also.

How much do we (adult) really value the word “sorry”?

Just how sincere are we when we occasionally use the word “sorry”?

When we are preaching, the little kids are watching.
Sincerity can be felt, the little kids certainly can also feel it.

But again, we are in no position to criticize anything or anyone for this is a learning experience shared by a mother who is exploring how to best raise a kid. They are now even closer than before.

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