I was on Bus No. 5, when I spotted a pool of people gathered outside the gates of Changkat Primary School. At first glance, I thought it was a mob of people with evil intent but a close study of faces came the realisation that they were just over-anxious parents waiting for their children.
Instantly I thought of a friend of mine and her child. She is extremely over-protective of her child. To an extent it made me a tad bit uncomfortable. She is very particular of the people who carries her child and would meet the demands of her only daughter. Her daughter can only be fed with the proper food and in a certain method. To a point when her baby is tired, she will drop any thing that she is doing and rush home to make sure she sleeps in her cradle.
I wonder. To what extent should parents limit their care and love for their children? When does it become too much?
Back when I was in primary school I detested those who would complain to their parents about the slightest mishap and those who were chauffeured leisurely to and fro school daily.
I guess my abhorrence for such acts only came because I envied the attention and knew that no one was waiting at the school gates for me.
I was the only child then, to two young adults with a hectic schedule. As amateurs, making money to support a growing boy took precedence over taking care of his welfare.
But all turned out for the better. I am glad I was given the opportunity to be independent at a very young age. I knew exactly how to make my way around the whole of Simei even before I was in Primary school.
At age seven, my mum told me she returned to an empty house and instantly dropped her dozen eggs and frantically when in search for her two children.
Apparently according to my mum, she activated my neighbours. After a frantic search, she found me happily walking with my two year old brother hand in hand at a basketball court nearby. She clearly remembered me explainint: "Abang pergi carik Mak. Mak gi pasar lama sangat. Abang teke mak hilang." (I went to search for you. Mummy went to the market for far too long. I thought you were lost)
Imagined what I was capable off at such a young age. I think soon after that I got my own house key, my own transitlink card and I was off going to religious classes alone.
My youngest brother will never experience such a responsibility. Every day since he was born, he is never left alone. Either one of us had to babysit or ferry him to his classes.
I wonder how kids will be when parents over pamper them... I hope they do not turn out wrong... because if they did, their parents would definitely have a heartbreak.
Mimin's Current Thought:
After 50 days, not even a message.
Mimin's Praying For:
Baby DD.
