On the 6th day of her Std 1, when was about to take her bath after coming home from school, Ling suddenly remembered she left her BM text book and activity books in her drawer. She started to cry, start asking whether her books will be lost or not, whether the teacher will scold her or not, will punish her or not..

I was like … sigh … trying not to scold her, I walked away, picked up the phone and called Mr Daddy, “commanded” him to drop by the school on his way home to pick up the books.

Then taking a deep breath, I told Ling to stop crying. “No one is scolding you. You made a mistake, then first thing is to admit it and apologize. Then think of way to correct it. “

“Tell your teacher first thing in school. Apologize. If the teacher is upset and scold you, just apologize again. She will stop scolding after all. “

Ling stopped crying, and wiping her tears.

“What if I cannot find my books?”

“Teacher will help to find it and if still cannot find, teacher will have solution for it. Don’t worry.”

She was not tensed any more. And me too…

…

After bath, I felt I need to reassure her this.

“Ling, you did the right thing though. You told mummy immediately when you found out you forget your books. This is very good. You didn’t hide your mistake and let the problem grows bigger. “

“Ya, I told you the first thing I remember it.”

“Ya, very good. Then we can help. We have more time to help. Imagine. If you keep it until midnight only tell us, no one can help. The school is closed. No one can go and find the books. Tomorrow when the morning session students come, they might throw it, take it, or put it some where else. Then harder to find.”

“Ya. ….” she nodded.  ”I hope Daddy can find it. Then I still have time to finish my homework.”

…

@9.30pm, Daddy came home. Mission accomplished ! Ling put on a big smile on her face.

…

p.s. Daddy said, he is not alone. Another mummy and little girl was there searching in another classroom.

…

GIRLS,  always always remember. Don’t try to hide a problem. It won’t disappear. It will grow bigger instead. Seek help as early as possible.

(I have been through a lot of hardship cleaning up others’ big mass in life, just because those people lied and hid the problem when it’s small. So I don’t want you two to have that bad habit.)