The Little Boy Who Couldn't, CAN!

Read the article on Weekend Today about Michael Phelps.

Apparently this eight-Olympic Gold medalist was terrible as a child by his teachers (unfortunately) He couldn't sit still and concentrate when it came to sit-down-and-read-and-write type of tasks, didn't get along with other kids in school (he was bullied according to his mother) and was eventually diagnosed as ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder). His mother agreed to have him put on medication and thought he improved somewhat then but he requested for it to be stopped. The journalist also made clear that there was a lot of communication between the Phelps children and Mrs Phelps. At the same time he was excelling in swimming and could sit patiently for 4 hours just to swim a 5 minutes race.

That's the gist of the article and as a gist goes, it's really diluted so if I were you, I'd read the article if I can be you a student, a parent, a teacher or in any other role.

Page 26, Weekend Today, THE LITTLE BOY WHO COULDN'T.

As a Mother and a Teacher, one thought hit me the hardest: Every child has a talent no matter what label they have been stuck with by whom. It is so so so so important to look at and listen to our children without judgement (By that I mean NOT PIGEON-HOLING THEM). Guide (NOT MOLLY CODDLE, SHIELD THEM FROM RESPONSIBILITIES AND DEFEND THEM UNTHINKINGLY!!!) them with their best interests at heart.

That was one thought and its elaboration...

As a pragmatic and cynical Optimist, I go on to think: Even if we the supposedly all-wise and knowing group of the human race found the patience and humility to do the above, nobody can guarantee that our children will be the success Michael Phelps is. So what do we do then? Well, Optimistic Me says that the process (bringing up of the children) is still key and if the process is done with compassion and guided by sound values, the children should be able to take care of themselves as grown-ups. So adults, let us not have unduely heightened expectations and be disappointed. And children, let you not let us the adults assume all responsibility for your lives because as you have read correctly, it 's YOUR LIFE.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD!!!!! :)

Disclaimer: Due to a lack of time, this blog has not gone through the vigorous rounds of editing it should and thus might contain grammatical errors or worse, not make sense. Apologies in advance an if you do spot something amiss, kindly point it out. CHEERS!