Mr. Pham Chi Lang took his grandchild to school, marking the beginning of a new school day.
Every morning, Mr. Pham Chi Lang, residing in Phu Loi Ward, Can Tho City, has to wake up early to urge his two grandchildren to school. The younger child is in first grade, the older one in ninth grade, and their class schedules are different, so he has to carefully plan the time and route to take them. After school, Mr. Lang's children arrange their schedules to pick them up and bring them home.
On days when the children have extra classes, Mr. Lang's family divides the transportation responsibilities according to each person's circumstances. According to Mr. Lang, taking the children to and from school is to "support" his children so they have more time to focus on their work. However, his children don't rely on him and take advantage of the time to take their children to and from school themselves.
Mr. Huynh Si Xa Qua brought his grandchild to class, checking the pens and school supplies before the lesson began.
In Ngoc To commune, Can Tho city, Mr. Huynh Si Xa Qua almost single-handedly takes care of transporting his four grandchildren, who are in four different grades (grades 1, 3, 5, and 7), to and from school every day. According to Mr. Xa Qua, his children are either teachers or factory workers in Ho Chi Minh City, so they can't regularly pick up and drop off their children. Therefore, he handles everything himself. Although he's busy every day, Mr. Xa Qua finds joy in supporting his children, allowing them to focus on their work. For his grandchildren, he is their "companion" on their journeys to and from school each day.
Besides families who have the "help" of grandparents, some parents have to manage their own daily routines of dropping off and picking up their children. Ms. Nguyen Thi Nhung, from My Xuyen ward, Can Tho city, rushes home every day after dropping her third-grade child off at school, juggling her grocery business and household chores. When school ends, she rushes to pick up her child, and if the child has extra classes, she makes time to drop them off and pick them up again. "Even meals have to be planned in advance to fit the child's school schedule. The whole day is spent taking the child to and from school," Ms. Nhung shared.
According to Ms. Chau Ngoc Thuy, a lecturer in Psychology and Education at the Faculty of Education, Soc Trang Community College, a child's school schedule is also part of how the family arranges their life. When parents are busy with work, grandparents can share the responsibility of picking up and dropping off children; when conditions permit, parents can still proactively arrange to take care of their children.
"What's valuable is that each member is willing to allocate a portion of their time to help care for the children. These seemingly small trips to and from school create opportunities for adults to bond, talk, and understand their children better. When support is shared appropriately, it not only reduces pressure on parents but also helps family members maintain closeness," analyzed Master Chau Ngoc Thuy.
In every family, parents cannot always be present for their children at all times. When family members voluntarily dedicate their time to picking up and dropping off children, it demonstrates sharing and harmony in family life.
Text and photos: KIM NGỌC
Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/dong-dieu-trong-nhip-song-gia-dinh-a217001.html
