nonetheless, observed something really annoying when i was eating my singaporridge at mcdonalds. mcdonalds ginza plaza has this little art and craft corner for kids to dabble in some activities and this little 5 to 6-year-old girl did this "shrink plastic" keychain thing and showed it to her mother. i think she had to pay something like $10 (and she gets a happpy meal along with the package).
anyway, the mother was not happy with what she did (cos it apparently wasn't "perfect") and started going on and on about how she had wasted her money and how the girl should not have written her name on it cos "it spoils the thing" and dunno what else... the mother sat down at the table right beside mine and went on for at least 15 minutes in this monologue (cos the filipino maid was clearly ignoring her and the girl had meanwhile nonchalently skipped away), picking up the completed artwork repeatedly and staring at it in a dissatisfied way, grumbling and grumbling. When the little girl finally told the mother that the "uncle" at the art and craft corner was the one who told her to autograph her work, the mother actually got up and went to "scold" him and told him he shouldn't have made her daughter do that 'cos it "spoilt" the work. the guy could only nod his head apologetically..
I think the whole incident (or rather the mother) was rather silly - the little girl was clearly delighted with what she had done and was proud to autograph it.. why should it matter if it wasn't "perfect".. was that really the point of doing the craft? wasn't it so the girl could enjoy herself and be a little creative? I blame the dearth of creativity in Singapore largely on how many parents still bring up their children to believe that everything has to be perfect and how a little imperfection means "the whole thing was pointless"...
hey alb! the nice auntie at the pasir panjang shell station gave me a furry pink dolphin magnet! :)
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