Are you frazzled?

"Frazzled" is probably the best word used to describe parents today (especially Singaporean parents). Not only do we run the rat race, we make our kids do it too. We are constantly reminded that faster is better, but is it really?

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My neighbour's daughter is such an adorable little girl. She has just started primary one. She loves to come over to our place to play with our Yorkshire Terrier, Tyke. Upon her last visit I told her that the holidays were starting soon and that we should be seeing more of her. Unfortunately, her grandma stepped in to say that she was too busy. Too busy? I thought... Apparently, this poor dear has a more hectic lifestyle than I . She has ballet classes, piano lessons, sports and etc. My Good Lord, she is only seven!

Many children today, face similar lifestyles. Should parents be well off financially, you will find their children loaded with extra (unnecessary) activities. Come to think of it, I used to know a lady who had two girls. They were a middle class family and lived comfortably, for the Singaporean lifestyle. But she insisted that her daughters took up all kinds of lessons even if they could not afford it. Eventually, since she had to tighten her purse strings to pay for the extra classes, she stressed the girls a lot to do well in them. Resulting the children to be miserable and she to become a grumpy lady.

Why all this I ask myself? What's the benefit?
Why do we subjugate our precious babies to such trauma. Of course, should your child show interest in a particular sport or so, encourage them. My boy showed interest in Takewando, I signed him up. After a year, he said he didn't like it anymore. I asked him why and we discussed about it. After much discussion, we took him out. I didn't want him to be a quitter, but at the same time didn't see a reason to force him to attend the class with no interest. That was why we pondered over it, and discussed for a long time.