I just got back from Gold Coast Australia last night with the family. It was the first time that we joined a "package" tour in the last 13 years. We would usually rent a car and do the F&E thing. We did differently this time cos' we figured we were going to be at the theme park the whole day anyway and it was cheaper with all the free breakfasts and stay in a 4star hotel thrown in.
As it was a family orientated tour, I could quietly observe all the interaction that the other parents had with their children and I have come to the conclusion, SINGAPOREANS ARE MOTHERING THEIR CHILDREN TO DEATH!!!!
At the only group dinner on the first day of arrival, I had the misfortune of sitting with 2 other families with 3 kids between them, ranging from 7 to 10yrs old. Consider the following exchanges:
"Ma, I don't like the onions in my eggs, please remove it" and the mother obliges
"Don't touch the tea pot, its hot, the waitress just refilled it"
"Y you want to hold the teapot, its heavy, the waitress just refilled it"
"Eat your dishes with your rice"
"Don't just eat your rice"
"If you don't like the food here, mummy will buy other things for you to eat after we leave this restaurant"
"Eat your vegetables"
"Ma, can you help me peel the prawns?"
"Eat your chicken, don't forget to remove the bones"
AND ON AND ON IT GOES for the 1hr dinner!!! It almost drove me crazy!!!
What happened to common sense????
Tell the kid once and if he is STUPID enough to touch the hot teapot, let him burn himself to learn it the hard way. That's how we train our kid.
If you don't eat what's on your plate and dinner time is over, you will starve. I will NOT BUY any other bread for you.
If you don't eat what's available, you will go to bed hungry.
If you do this or that, we are going to tell you the consequences once, and you will bear the burden and learn from your mistakes/foolishness.
Sigh.... no wonder our kids are growing up so sheltered with a lack of opinions.