Teaching in my country isn’t easy. We work harder and experience more stress than our counterparts in many other countries. The data even supports our predicament.

Coupled with the fact that I prefer teaching teenagers to children, I doubt if I will ever fully acclimatize to teaching life in a primary school. So, I feel like a person being pulled by four galloping horses in different directions. Personal and societal factors work against me, and I might just split open.

Nonetheless, I have always tried to maintain gratitude towards my latest stint because the things that I will pick up from now on will help me marshal my children through the intense and competitive educational system. And then, something happened today, which turned out to be the icing on the cake.

Both my children were diagnosed with hand foot mouth disease. Since we had no helper, my wife had to work from home and take care of them simultaneously. She was quite grouchy, her grunts sounding more piercing than usual. Since my mission these days is to make her happy, I left my workplace at 11.45am, had lunch at the nearby food court and reached home an home later.

No other job will allow me to reach home with a full stomach and caffeine addiction placated so soon. It was when I realised that this job has an unique feature that trumps all other considerations.

Proximity.

The flexibility for me to be with my family when the occasion calls for it.

I need to do likewise for the rest of this week. So, my latest career choice has alleviated a lot of stress from my parenting life.

How about you?