Shengliver’s Note: Is this what is termed a Chinese-tiger-mum phenomenon?

A perceptive girl, I am able to detect moods.

This Monday evening, I was dog tired, after a long school day (7 am – 10 pm). Getting home, I found Mother teaching sis to recognise Chinese characters in the living room. At the beginning, my mother was very patient, and sis was putting in a good effort to learn. While they were working, I took the time to go and take a shower.

Shower done, I perceived that the ambience in the living room had changed. There was something different in my mother. Although apparently she was still all smiles, I felt in the bones that she was going to blow up.

Having started to sort out my homework in my study, I heard Mum yelling, “Why didn’t you do it better? Why can other kids do it while you cannot?” I hurried over to the living room and, picking up my sister’s book, said to Mum, “I can coach sis for a while, Mum.”

Mother went away with a stern long face. I helped my sister for about ten minutes before she came back. “It’s time you went to bed, Ivy,” Mother said. “You’ll have to be up early tomorrow. I’ll see to it in person.” Because I had to go to school the next day, I retired. In no time I was fast asleep.

In my dream I heard someone sobbing and someone shouting. Struggling to open my eyes, I realised that it was Mother and Sister out there still working on the Chinese characters. I sighed a helpless sigh before I drifted back into slumber. There was nothing I could do but ignore it all.

The next morning, I was woken up by my sister’s tender voice. She was practising the Chinese characters in the living room! I checked the time. It was still 5.30. Oh Lord, she should be up even earlier than me.

Poor sis! I bet I was served just as well by Mother when I was her age.

Horrible!