I was selling balloons and cookies with Sihui when a child suddenly snatched the balloons in my han and demanded to his mother, to us, to the whole world that belonged to him, that he WANT.
I always thought that a child like him would be spoilt only because his parents spoilt him. Since he was so spoilt, his mother is sure to buy the balloons to (continue) spoil(ing) him.
Not in this case where the mother refused to get a balloon for charity because "must pay leh".
And so I realised that the real reason a child is so spoilt is that he thinks that everything MUST come free. It could be because parents overindulging their child heads to him thinking that things come cheap and easy. It could also be, as in this case, the parent expecting things to be free, and thus the child wants things free: its free, I want, I snatch.
Sure enough, there are also other cute little kids who come to us and ask politely if they could have a balloon. After telling them that it costs $2, they look disappointed and walk away. It is sad, if only they can work to get the balloon deservingly. Simple "work" such as drawing a picture for the elderly or something for a balloon. This would teach them the importance of working for what you want, and that nothing in this world comes free. Children that are not spoilt might grow up to become parents who are not kiasu.
Maybe such a campaign would be good.
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2 comments:
Working for something does not necessary mean that person understood the meaning? Maybe underxtanding it would be more meaningful though it is almost impossible to measure understanding accuractly...
Thanks.
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