“Tapos na po ako mag-aral,” a respected magazine editor famously said when talking about parents doing their kids’ homework.
Both she and I have three sons enrolled in the same school.
I can honestly say the editor is intelligent and accomplished. I myself didn’t do well in school. I was a mediocre student, but I don’t think I did badly as an adult. I am still a work in progress. However, I don’t want to study again.
I have two college degrees—one from Assumption and one from The New School for Social Research. I have three sons. Two of them started as honor students—now is a different story.
My youngest son, however, is struggling to pass his subjects.
I try to help my kids in school when it is necessary, such as completing an intricate Chinese lantern that only one who went to art school could possibly accomplish (read: a Chinese lantern that only a pattern maker of Viktor & Rolf could understand!! How can my 7th grade son without an art background do this on his own?? It took me three tries to finish it!)
My son’s school project
Viktor & Rolf gown
While my two sons pass all their subjects without really trying, my youngest son is harder to teach. He has a short concentration span. I blame YouTube and Pewdiepie. How I wish my son had never held an iPad.
I am much older compared with the parents of my youngest son’s classmates (read: I have less energy!!) My body gets tired at 6 PM and I am simply too exhausted to helicopter parent.
I feel so pressured and inadequate whenever I see the devotion of younger parents in our Viber group, how sincerely concerned they are about their sons’ homework etc.
I grew up without a tutor. I was simply left to my own devices when I was in school. A couple of times maybe the yaya helped me with math or an art project. But my parents didn’t do my homework or school projects. That’s why now I don’t think I have to do it for my kids. Sure, I’m ready to do the costumes and the art stuff. Other than that, tapos na ako mag-aral.
When I get home, I just really want to lie down and relax. I also pity my kids who wake up at 5:30 or 6 AM and come home between 4 PM to 8 PM. Sometimes they just want to play basketball and sometimes they just want to lie down and look at their phones. I really don’t blame them.
How I wish life, school, parenting weren’t so difficult.
That said, may I repost once again a clip from Michael Moore’s documentary why Finnish school rank highest in the world. Cause maybe we’re doing it wrong!