Out of the people that I've encountered quite recently, this probably left the biggest impact on me. Out of possibly traumatized victims, elderly needing help, parents patiently taking care of their handicapped child(ren).. This boy, completely got to me. Out of countless of people that I pass by every day, there this boy was. Rather chubby, wearing probably something bought from a pasarmalam, and a cheap mock army helmet likely bought from the same place, just walked up to the bench I was sitting on and sat himself. He started mumbling to himself, probably narrating some fantasy imaginary  scenario he thought up, before finally saying "Hello" to the stranger on the bench.

So I responded likewise, "Hello". And the boy shyly left the bench to another some distance away, where his Ah Ma was. And soon it was my time to leave the area. As I passed them by, I could hear the boy happily explaining his toys and what more toys he wants to get to his Ah Ma, as well as what he's going to do when they get back home. Something along the lines of eating dinner, watching TV and then play, something like that. And Ah Ma was just quietly nodding and agreeing to his plan of action upon their return home. My heart just warmed up from all this.

Yet after giving things some thought... I realized that the boy I met, was probably the boy I was in my younger days. Happy-go-lucky, full of imagination and entirely not conscious of how people might think about the way he's dressed. He just does what he delights in doing and that's good enough for him in life. And that probably means playing the role of a soldier saving the day in his imagination, and that's a great day by that alone.

But that's what nobody wanted. That's what so many people scorned and bullied that boy in the past for. Why are you so fat? Why are you so childish? Why are you so selfish? Why don't you have a single bit of dress sense? The questions go on and on... It's true, there were many big flaws about that boy back then to be fixed. Some may say it's cruel to have a young boy go through such things, while some may say kids these days must learn to grow up and mature quickly.

I now personally believe in the latter, but I will strive to achieve that without the compromise of my child's happiness and mental wellbeing. Yet I can't exactly not enforce the social norms upon the child, the society would forcefully do the same anyway, the hard way.

I wouldn't want them to learn things the way I had to. And with that, that means better preparing for the world out there before they attack him/her for not being normal enough. But not via some dictatorship or strict regime, it should be done with proper nurture, care and guidance. And no leaving out of the fun of being a kid slowly growing up of course.

Lastly, a big shoutout to my own Ah Ma, you will get better, you already are getting better. Stay positive and strong and take good care of yourself :) Of course, I'd tell you that whenever I can XD

Until if there's ever a next time.