Dad and Mom always get angry with me.

Author: Zhao Jing / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: Mom tore up the "Mickey Mouse" kite I made. In front of you, I don’t dare to speak loudly, nor can I be lively and cheerful, but I’m so lively and cheerful at school. Why is that? It’s because you don’t understand me at all! I remember once, I held up a "Mickey Mouse" kite that I had worked so hard to make for you to see, but you tore it to pieces in just a few seconds. Do you know how much effort I put into this "Mickey Mouse" kite? It took me three weeks to make it! When a lively and adorable "Mickey Mouse" appeared in front of me, my heart was so excited, so eager! But you— you tore it to pieces. Mom, you always think scores above 95 are so important. I remember once, I got 99 points, and you smiled broadly while buying me all sorts of things. But the next time I got 93 points, you scolded me so hard. When you get angry, your facial features gather in a hurry, shouting at me and treating me as your "safety valve." It really stinks! After a week of studying, I’m already tired enough. On weekends, I want to go out and play, but you firmly object. I can’t win against you, so I have no choice but to surrender—stay home obediently. Mom, you not only don’t understand me but also intrude into my "secret base"—my room. You threw all my treasures—various toys and small crafts—into the trash bin. That day, I cried so heartbrokenly, so heartbrokenly. Mom, don’t you have a "magic box"—a safe? You told me it holds your wonderful childhood memories. Mom! Please understand me, please give me a piece of freedom, so I can also dream about the future.
Little Teary Eyes (Female) 11 years old Clever Girl’s Advice
Dear Little Teary Eyes, unfold your letter, and I found it covered in dried, smudgy tears, making my heart feel as heavy as a sponge soaked with water. But when I learned that your mom also has a "magic box" and that it’s filled with her childhood "fun stories" instead of piles of money, I couldn’t help but burst into laughter. Don’t think my joy is based on your pain—I’ve found three "weapons" to deal with your mom. Dry your tears and listen carefully:
Weapon 1: Softness Overcomes Hardness. Find some free time, some time when your mom is in a good mood, and coax her to open that "magic box" with you. Together, admire the precious little things inside. When you look curiously at everything, your mom will surely be moved to tell you stories about her childhood. When she’s telling a particularly touching story, it’s your turn to "strike": "Mom, can I also open my own personal 'secret base' and let myself dream about the future, just like this 'magic box' here? You have these wonderful memories today, aren’t they thanks to this magic box? Mom, when you roughly tore the kite into pieces, did you know you were tearing apart my beautiful childhood memories?"
Weapon 2: Since Mom’s Every Action Follows the Command of 'High Scores,' sit down with her and discuss some issues like "Scores Don’t Equal Ability." Tell her that if she keeps studying so hard and only focuses on the basic knowledge learned in class, she might not be able to adapt to future society’s needs. Well, just tell her directly about the many benefits of doing small crafts: For example, "It’s good for both your heart and hands!" It allows you to develop your imagination, enhance your spatial awareness, which will definitely come in handy when learning 3D geometry later on. With so much material from the process—your love for crafting, the beauty of your ideas, the detail of your observations, the pain of failure, and the sweetness of success—you’ll have plenty of inspiration and insights for writing essays. Who needs to worry then? "It turns out doing small crafts is related to learning Chinese, math, and more!" After hearing your detailed analysis, your mom will surely be moved and "feel" your words.
Weapon 3: Tell Mom That the Future Society Will Be Highly Competitive (and she’ll definitely agree with this). Without good health, there’s no "capital" for competition. No company would hire a sickly employee to take care of. Also, tell her about the games you play, how you cooperate with friends, how you consciously exercise your abilities—don’t tire of explaining these to her. The more she understands your ideas, the more she’ll trust and support you. So, crying and sulking are useless—only wisdom and communication will work. Try these "weapons," and I believe you’ll definitely "win" against your mom.
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