I actually wrote the Chinese version first before deciding to translate it into English. I hope my English version still reads authentic.
Since I will need to enrol my son in Primary One next year, I unhesitatingly made a big life decision: change jobs to be a primary school teacher.
Actually, I was once a primary school teacher for three years. During that time, I profoundly realised that my inclination lay with teaching teenagers. Disciplining naughty children is part and parcel of the job for elementary school teachers. I didn’t really like having to instill positive habits in impressionable minds. It’s not my cup of tea, and I feel there are easier ways for me to make a livelihood.
However, I found myself engulfed by an inexplicable stress whenever I thought about taking my child to and from school. Not to mention supervising his homework. I would rather take control of my destiny and be a primary school teacher. This would keep him closer to me and empower me to streamline my life.
I’m approaching 50, so a life lesson I have internalised these few years is that I only have the bandwidth to do one thing superbly well even though I may be brimming with ambition about the direction of my life. I shouldn’t be greedy but instead practise gratitude. Otherwise, the Goddess of Mercy would not be amused with my ungrateful attitude.
I feel blessed that everything has turned out to be what I had hoped for. Beside Yishun Primary (my new workplace) lies another primary school called Ahmad Ibrahim. I can even agonise about which primary school to enrol him in - Yishun or Ahmad Ibrahim?
小孩明年读小一，所以我就义无反顾地转职，重新挑战当上小学老师。
其实，在军港小学任教时，我早已感觉到我比较擅于教青少年。教小孩子们，很多时候得严厉地管教他们。this is not my cup of tea. 很累。钱难赚。
不过，我在考虑既要接送孩子上下学，又要督促他们的课业，就头大大。干脆索性做小学老师，要的是streamline my life. 我也没有顾前思后的余地。
我年纪已迈进50大关，已了解到人生不管野心在怎么大，也只能有bandwidth 做好一件事。不要贪心，要知足，不然观音妈应该也会不高兴。😒
很感激一切如我所愿。义顺小学的旁边竟然是Ahmad Ibrahim Primary School. 我可以很奢侈地烦恼着： Should I enrol him in Yishun or Ahmad Ibrahim Primary?