I’m not getting more involved in my oldest child’s schoolwork because I want him to feel like his academic performance is the only thing that matters, because it’s not. I’m also not upping the ante just to “motivate” him.
Instead, I’m doing it simply because he asked, which shows me that he’s taking ownership of his own studies.
To me, this is my responsibility as a parent – not to take over the wheel completely, but to give my child the tools and resources he feels he needs in order to give his very best effort and be proud of whatever that may look like.
With the PSLE just three short months away, I make sure to remind my child that the prize we’re keeping our eyes on isn’t a perfect score. Instead, it’s the attitude and mindset he’s forging to approach life’s challenges.
Will he face them with determination and resilience, taking responsibility for and pride in his own effort? Or will he let himself be led by resentment, fear and frustration?
In 20, 30 or even 50 years’ time, I believe these are the things he will still carry with him from this PSLE journey – not how many AL1s or 2s he scored, hours he spent mugging or practice papers he completed.
This, to me, is the true prize: the understanding that the most valuable things in life aren’t merely quantified by a grade or a score. The journey matters more than the destination.
Kelly Ang is a mother of five and a freelance writer.
