Sometimes I wonder. Why do parents send their kids away to enrichment classes? Do they honestly think their kids can really benefit from such sessions or are they merely shooing them off so that they can have some moments of peace?
I ask this because I recently came across this three siblings who told me flatly that they weren’t interested to come to my session. They were only there because their father wanted them to attend. And judging from their conversations and from the little bits of work they did, these kids are bright and really have no need to enrich themselves. I’m certain their father was well aware of this fact and yet chose to send his kids to waste everybody’s time.
Perhaps I’m just outside his league to understand his motives and that’s why I’m not getting it. Of how this whole concept of using money to do what’s best for his kids, even when it’s clearly against their wish.
When I was young, my dad would whisked me off for my piano lessons though I hated it very much! But to parents, they probably know better and want the best for their kids, but as kids I could never understand the good intention of it and finds it boring instead.
msff: But in your case, you were sent to learn something you otherwise won’t learn in school. In these kids’ case, it was clearly a waste of their time and they ended up disrupting the session for the others!
Comment by msfairface — Wed, 4 Apr 2007 @ 3:19 pm
I’ve no kids myself so I wouldn’t hazard a guess what the father’s motives are, but I do know some folks who do that just to get the kids out of their hair, especially on weekends when they want to unwind from the whole week of hectic schedule.
DT: Maybe this father is better than some I’ve come across. I’ve seen a case of the parents leaving this boy behind at the club lobby with the maid and both parents went to play golf. And playing golf takes a blardy long time. The poor kid told me it wasn’t his first time.
Comment by DT — Wed, 4 Apr 2007 @ 5:59 pm
Maybe the parents are just worried that if they do not send their kids to such enrichment classes, the little ones might lose out in the long run. It’s a since I can afford it, why not situation.
DR: Perhaps…but I think he just want them to get rid of them for the day. Cos the way he spoke to them kind of said it…
Comment by domestic rat — Wed, 4 Apr 2007 @ 9:15 pm
Yah.. you know lah.. as parents.. we think we are giving the best to our kids.. and if they do have the money.. i guess it is no problem.. sending them to these enrichment classes.. so they are way ahead of others.. on the way to the road of success..??
MB: Okay if the kids are interested. Otherwise, they come to the session creating havoc and disrupting everybody. That’s the whole trouble.
Comment by Mama Bok — Wed, 4 Apr 2007 @ 9:40 pm
Hmmm… precisely the same reason why I did not continue Nutty’s violin lesson after it ended. Cz’ she told me she wants to try something else…and so we are moving on to something else.
It’s like an exploration period now, till she finds what she likes to do. Jazz dance is the next on the list
I know what it’s like to be forced to do something against one’s wish cz’ when I was young, I had to learn ballet, TKD, piano, computer ( yes, even at that era when only Apple programming was used), swimming and u name it…yuck!
In the end, I rebelled and didn’t complete any of them..kekeke
SSF: I never understand these cos my parents never forced me. They used to ask me, like about piano lessons and when I told them I didn’t want to, they just stopped at that.
Comment by sunshinensunflower — Thu, 5 Apr 2007 @ 7:56 am
I sent Damien to piano lessons, because he told me he wants to play the piano. To me, i don’t think i would spend money on something that my kids are not interested at all…
Eileen: Ya, the money can be better used elsewhere too…
Comment by Eileen — Thu, 5 Apr 2007 @ 10:57 am
maybe the parents didn’t have time to ‘enrich’ their kids so they send them to such classes, hoping what they can’t do, other ppl can help them do..
ZM: Hahah…perhaps…
Comment by zara's mama — Thu, 5 Apr 2007 @ 3:07 pm