Poem by Anonymous Singaporean Mum

Read this poem on Singapore Nominated MP Yee Jenn Jong's blog.

JJ is an old school friend of hubby's and we have tremendous respect for what he stands for and how he is living out his values in politics.

I Wish My Children SUCCESS!

Expectations of society
I have energy, lots of it, to invest into the lives of my children.
I have resources, lots of it… how to use them for my children?
I have networks, lots of it… how to turn them into an advantage for my children?
I am afterall sucessful, well-off and what I do cannot-go-wrong.

Do I need more Math, more Science, more English, more MotherTongue?
Do I need more worksheets, more tuitions, more studies, more drills?
Do I put my children to be analysed, examined, tested, medicated?
School is afterall, well-defined and cannot-go-wrong.

The Tyranny Of School
School has a formula for suceess,
Well-defined pathways, the broad and straight roads.
Is there a road less well-travelled or more windy,
Yet leads to a beautiful destination, a happy and meaningful journey?

The children I have are gems, destined to hold the future of the world,
They are spontaneously imaginative and confidently creativity,
They have fresh perceptions and ingenuis ideas.
The excellent grades in school can wait.

I wish them happiness,
I wish them the world,
I wish they love themselves, I wish they love people.
The excellent grades in school can wait.

The Power Of Our Children
Let’s get our children to connect with people,
To communicate,
To negotiate,
To show empathy.

Help our children gain perspectives,
To know the unwritten,
To understand the unsaid,
Starting with family, friends then the world.

Show our children how to care for the world we live in,
To see how interconnected we are with everyone and everything around us,
To see beauty around us,
To soak up the colours, the warmth and the groans from Mother Earth.

Be a role model to shout the importance of simplicity,
To separate the clutter and the gems,
To keep the things that endear,
To plough through the mandane to reach the light at the end of the tunnel.

Tell our children to be confident and unafraid.
They are good in whatever they are good in,
Follow their hearts and deep desires,
The excellent grades in school can wait.