A dedication to all mothers and parents who are here in Australia, as well as anyone who is considering moving...
A few weeks ago, an ex-colleague visited me in Melbourne, Australia. As we chatted over coffee, he found that my personality has changed from what he used to know me years ago.
He noted how happy and chirpy I am and not the grumpy person I used to be in Singapore. He also noted that children here enjoy themselves a lot. When we were driving to Yarra Valley, he saw children rolling down the plains and laughing away.
He asked me why the parents allow their kids to sit down and play in the grass. Isn’t the grass dirty? Are there dog shits on the grass? Aren’t the children going to tuition class, swimming class, piano class or violin classes?
He said, “Is that what you call happiness’? “ [pause]...
“The children need to go for curriculum to groom for skills so that they do not need to worry about tomorrow” (lunch) – a quote I borrowed from a Singapore minister.
I told him, “Well, there is a time and season for everything. Isn’t the grass green? But even if there is dog shit or cow shit on the grass, (I don’t care), the children are themselves, and they have a childhood that they will go through life knowing how grass and flowers smell. They will appreciate nature and the creation of life because life is more than just academic pursuit. These memories will etch in their hearts because when they become the leaders of tomorrow, they will have a moral compass to protect what is right because their childhoods are filled with happiness.
I further elaborated my point. I shared with him that someone told me that in a particular state in America, there is an airbase that is situated across a highway. As the F16 jet fighters fly low to land, it will fly pass the highway and the cars that are driving in the path of the fighter jet will feel the roar of the jet engine. So to pacify the drivers, the US Air Force put up a sign to inform drivers about the noise of the jet engine and the sign read.
“Pardon the noise; that’s the sound of freedom”
I told him, “you see the children laughing and playing away, Pardon the children noise, BUT that is the sound of freedom!”
The children are free from the propaganda that we live with in Singapore. The things we hated and were forced to do in our childhood days are now being pushed to our children because we are afraid that without these extra tuitions or extra curriculum, they will fail in life.
I told him that I have tasted and seen freedom here and that is one of the reasons why I am happy.
I know that there are still many mothers and parents who have made the move here that are paying the price. They are going through hardships and are uncertain if they have made the right decisions.
I also know that there are many people in Singapore who may be considering moving but are uncertain whether they should take that leap of faith.
I want to encourage you, when you hear your children laughing, rolling through the plains; I want you to remember the noise and laughter for it is the sound of freedom.
Freedom is never free. We all pay a price, but it is worth it.
Singaporean in Melbourne
*The author started a blog that is still work in progress at: http://migrantjourney.blogspot.com