Every Singaporean Mother and Exams

“Have you done your revision? Why are you playing now?” I have been repeating these statements so frequently for the past month that it has become quite an automated response whenever I see my child playing with his Lego. 

My child’s favourite activity.

Yes, it is the time of the year again where households with school-going children put every other plan on hold and focus on examinations preparation. Some parents take leave to help their children with revision, while others provide support by cooking more nutritious food to make sure their children stay healthy. Inevitably, tensions will rise, tempers will flare, and there will be screams and frustrations. This is normal, especially if you have a young child in primary school who is still trying to grasp the concept of examinations and what it all means. For me, this is also the first year that I have to deal with examinations since my child is in Primary Three and the examinations will be graded.

Assessment books to aid in his revision.

This season is no doubt a stressful period for the family as everyone is involved. My younger child sacrifices mummy time as I need to supervise my older child in his revision. My husband has to give up his personal time over the weekend to help with Mathematics revision. And even my dog has fewer outings as we are staying home on weekends to clock in that extra bit of revision, instead of going out. As for the protagonist, he is feeling the heat from me as I nag at him all day to revise his work. 

Actually, I do not think that primary school examinations are that big a deal. Nonetheless, I put in the effort to prepare my child for it simply because I do not want him to make a mockery of the school system. Like it or not, this journey called life has many trials and tribulations and I see examinations as one such trial that every child has to go through. It is a checkpoint for them to assess if they have learnt effectively and see where they can improve on. And I believe the success will taste sweeter if he has put in effort. 

My child does not need to pass with flying colours. He just needs to set a goal and put in effort to achieve it. Cliché as it may sound, I do believe that every child is unique and has the potential to succeed in whatever they enjoy doing. Academic achievements may not come easy for some, but I do not want my child to not even try. 

Examinations preparation is also a test for the family. We learn to prioritise the needs of others over our own. We learn to be patient with one another. As a parent, I learn to not impose my expectations on my child and let him take the lead. This is a real struggle everyday. So to get through each day of revision, I remind myself that this is only for a season. It will soon pass and I should enjoy the journey with my child.