School vs Holidays
I think I'm qualified enough to give provide some commentary on the life of a parent of school-going kids, and what the differences are between being in school term versus being on holiday. The differences are as drastic as classical and rap music or the choice of a cold dessert over a hot cup of kopi-siew-tai.
School-days
Pros: Quiet in the morning, quiet on some afternoons, kids
are kept busy with homework and having to study for tests and exams, one can focus
on other work and take conference calls in relative peace.
Cons: Having to wake up very early to send them to school,
parents are also kept busy with homework. Studying for tests and exams, kicking
backsides to get people to study for their own tests and exams, stress for
everyone from homework, tests and exams, lots of driving to and from school to
pick up passengers.
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| On a family holiday not too long ago |
Holidays
Pros: No need to wake up early* to send kids to school, no
tests and exams, less driving to and from school with passengers, can go gallivanting with family to the museums, theme parks and shopping malls without the need to rush home to complete homework (unless it's the regular weekly Chinese tuition - also still need to practice piano)
*Some kids have internal alarm systems that insist on waking them up early even when there is no school and as such, responsible parents would also be forced to wake at around the same time.
Cons: Still some driving to send kids to holiday camps and
training sessions. No more peace at home but constant noise and squabbling,
expensive holidays, lots of costly eating out and shopping. While working from
home and/or on conference calls, need to constantly go on mute in order to minimise disruption to million dollar deals being made on the phone.
Bottom-line
Life as a parent is tough. Suck it up and try to enjoy it. Or live a miserable, moody existence.