The kids have been home for too long now since the school had been closed for summer vacation about 8 weeks back. Even after shipping them to summer school for almost 4 weeks, there were still 3 leftover weeks where they had to be cooped up at home. Their routines are disrupted, and they get restless. Being restless is not good for us.

This week marks the beginning of normalcy again after several weeks of idling around (kids, not us!). They are back in school, they start their new term, in a new class with a new teacher. It’s a new beginning and another adventure!

Only, I wasn’t quite expecting a new kind of “adventure” for the kids so soon, especially so for Spud who is now in Year 1. At only 5 years old, these kids are now required to take weekly tests in spelling, English, Maths, Science and Thai. Here’s an excerpt of the letter from her new homeroom teacher:

Crazy isn’it? 5 years old and they already have to do tests. Weekly too. And then followed by a big test sometime later. I sigh my biggest sigh when I read the letter…feeling powerless to fight the school’s academic push. Tests: Are they really necessary at this age? Does it really matter if they cannot read a 10 letter word or multiply by the 100s before they turn 6? Are we already telling them at such a young age playtime is over and that their lives from here on will be judged by the scores they get for their tests and then bucket them into the “good student” pile and the “bad /stupid” student pile?

As a parent, I feel so sorry for the kids. Already, a few parents of her classmates have shared with us that their kids now don’t want to go to school and are quite afraid of all the tests their teachers have mentioned to them. Spud, for now, has not said anything much about that. She seems pretty nonchalant when I asked her about it.

Me? I’m not so happy about all this homework and test crap for those below 12 years old. What good are these tests really? At this age, they are still learning, and let them learn at their own pace – no tests required. Also, as working parents, when do we have time to drill them after school for all these tests? We don’t get home early enough, and by the time we are home, it’s time for bed. The last thing we want is to stretch their bedtime for them to do their homework, drill them to pass their tests and not have sufficient sleep for a full day at school. 

Do I then just leave her on her own to figure it out herself? Or do I then delegate this passing of test crap to our Nanny whose primarily role is to watch the kids when we are away at work? How do they expect her to do her Thai test? We don’t speak Thai at home – do we then need to send her to extra Thai class? Do they think we have money that grow on trees? How should we be splitting our already time-starved day? How much more exhaustion can we take?

Another list of things-to-do; another stress I don’t need.Brilliant.  I guess, at this point in time, I feel as nonchalant as Spud is. In fact, I’m not even bothered if she isn’t going to do well for her tests. I’m thinking she’ll probably learn to figure it out herself rather than me fussing to her about it.

And as a working parent who already doesn’t have enough hours in a day, I’m screaming I DO NOT NEED THIS FRIGGIN’ CRAP AND I DON’T CARE IF YOU LABEL ME AS A BAD PARENT BECAUSE I CANNOT SPEND THE TIME WITH MY CHILD TO DRILL HER AFTER HER BEDTIME TO PASS ALL THOSE CRAPPY TESTS! 

Because in life, there are other things to worry about. And one of them is not about that score you get on your test papers just to show the world what a bloody genius you are. Besides, these kids are only 5 years old. Chill.

Have you ever had moments when for no apparent reasons, random words just trigger a melody or a song in your head, and then you would be humming that song for days?

I’ve always have moments like that, and recently I started humming the melody of  “Top of the World” unconsciously to myself. I hummed when I was doing the dishes, when I was cleaning up the kids and on one weekend, I hummed the song (I thought to myself) when Spud and I were both walking hand-in-hand.

Despite the height difference, she apparently heard me loud enough and started asking about the song. I told her what the title was and then started singing a part of it to her.We were in a public place..but! I was feeling silly  enough to sing it out loud, despite my first class horrible singing voice. It made her smile and she said she likes the song.

We got distracted with other things soon after.

Later that evening, when I thought that the incident was long forgotten, she asked again about the song. She even remembered the title of the song. As I laid down next to her after tucking her in, I started singing the entire song to Spud and throughout the whole time, Spud was looking at me intently and was listening very attentively; not once looking away from me. I surprised myself that I still remember the lyrics after all these years. I guess, some things you just don’t forget!

This song is so, so old. It feels kinda cheesy even to know it. Let alone singing it! Still, it’s one of those feel-good songs. Singing it to Spud,  though, wasn’t as cheesy as I had thought. I was singing from the heart and I realised that the song felt more meaningful when you channel all the feelings through the eyes of a child. The lyrics say it all, and somehow the song uplifted me in ways I never thought I could.

Enjoy this video. Sponge up the lyrics and let that loving feeling consume you. 

Such a feeling is coming over me
There is wonder in ‘most everything I see
Not a cloud in the sky, got the sun in my eyes
And I won’t be surprised if it’s a dream

Everything I want the world to be
Is now coming true especially for me
And the reason is clear, it’s because you are here
You’re the nearest thing to heaven that I’ve seen

I’m on the top of the world looking down on creation
And the only explanation I can find
Is the love that I’ve found ever since you’ve been around
Your love’s put me at the top of the world

Something in the wind has learned my name
And it’s telling me that things are not the same
In the leaves on the trees and the touch of the breeze
There’s a pleasing sense of happiness for me

There is only one wish on my mind
When this day is through I hope that I will find
That tomorrow will be just the same for you and me
All I need will be mine if you are here

I’m on the top of the world looking down on creation
And the only explanation I can find
Is the love that I’ve found ever since you’ve been around
Your love’s put me at the top of the world

I’m on the top of the world looking down on creation
And the only explanation I can find
Is the love that I’ve found ever since you’ve been around
Your love’s put me at the top of the world

Credit: Lyricsfreak