Hi, mate.

So I’m ENFP and we are physical hugs people. Your words felt like a virtual hug across the miles. I hope you could give me a comforting hug in real life too haha

For better or for worse, I hail from Singapore, an academically competitive country. First graders in elementary school are expected to read, write and count when they report to school on the first day. It’s crazy 🤪. I recognise the benefits of spontaneous, unsupervised play. Because my son is half-Japanese, he spends the school holidays in Singapore attending preschool in Japan. But I don’t think he finds it torturing. He rides the tricycle, goes on strawberry and chestnut picking outings, and plays catching. No formal teaching. He doesn’t even learn the hiragana alphabet!

But it’s okay. As long as he is carefree.

I think I am decidedly more chill than other Singapore parents. I haven’t sent my son for enrichment classes yet. Yes that’s what people do - send their preschool kids for tuition. I think it’s f***ed up. I am determined to delay tuition for as long as I can.

About the playpen, it’s aimed to keep my baby girl safe since my wife and I will be busy doing the thousand and one chores before we can call it a night. Don’t worry about her. These days, because she knows how to walk, she has been advocating for herself, crying and screaming until I let her out of the playpen and a spunky grin spreads across her face. Indeed, we are born to be free. Haha