With the help of Ah Zuo, Ah Gong and Ah Ma, Papa supported himself through polytechnic and university studies by giving tuition and a scholarship. He could even remembered that he brought his own water in a bottle to class and cycled to the train station daily during his undergraduate days to reduce his expenditure.
Papa lamented to Mimi how to “impart” the virtue of savings to me. My generation of kids generally have a better standard of material comfort where parents, including my Papa and Mimi who are willing to spend on my needs.
Small little steps; Mimi bought me a small blue piggy bank when I was about 1.5years old. Papa and Mimi will pass me coins every other day and tell me;
“Qi, can you save the coins / money in the piggy bank? It is very important to save up for the rainy day. You can also use some of the money to buy your favourite books and toys!”
Papa will also ensure that he explains to me the reasons for reprimanding especially when he used the cane on me (phew… not often though). Papa and Mimi try to set good examples to be my role model. Papa told Mimi frankly that he does not know if I really understand it (e.g. responsibility, trust, sharing) now. He hopes that over time as I grow older, I will understand and appreciate it. Things may change later when I grow up and be exposed to new things and thoughts. Papa believes that at least Mimi and he played their part to impart the right virtues and values at an early stage which is most likely to form the fundamentals blocks of my character building. No one is perfect but we should learn to be better.
Counting my coins...
Here you go...yeah yeah!
Give my piggy bank a big kiss!
