Wisdom of the crowd

As part of Samuel's current cycle for Royal Ranger (Outpost 19), the whole family went for an outing to the LTA Transport Gallery.  It was a really cool place. 

This is a mock train platform. 
The door opens up to another secion of the Exhibition.

We had loads of fun making fun of the cost of the COEs and the exhibits.

A three panel screen!

"This is where our COE goes to!"  "Now it's not touchscreen, but after one more COE, it will be touchscreen!"

There is an audience interaction element in the movie

We voted for our choices from our comfortable seats

We were told why our choices were right/wrong (INDOCTRINATION...)

While the children saw it as a time to have fun, it was much more than that for us.

The children, inevitably drawn to computers...

Elias, trying to "climb" the pole. He is so "boy".

We went together with other parents and children whom we have spent more than 2 hours every Sunday over more than 30 weeks, in the past 2 years.

That's Elkan, Elias, Samuel and me! Edmund went to get the car...

It is not just an enjoyable social group to be with.  It plays a large part in the upbringing of our children. In our mind, it has such a important role that we persevere to remain in it, despite the high "time cost".  Including travelling time, it takes up to 4 hours of our time every Sunday, after about 3 hours of church.  As a result our entire Sunday is spent out of the house (since we also have dinner at our mother’s place on Sunday evening). 

Once in a while, I wonder whether we should stop bringing the boys for Royal Rangers, because the boys can do so much studying (and I feel a slight blush saying this) in these 4 hours.  However, we continue to do so, week after week.  When we brought Elkan and Elias for the activity last week, they still had two more examination papers to sit for, in the following week. 

The reason we do it, is because we believe that children learn from their peers more than from their parents.  Their peers will have greater and greater influence over their lives (and the parents have lesser and lesser influence) as they mature.  In fact, our children may also be more influenced by other adults in their lives, than their parents. 

As a result, we believe that it is important that we create a community of people, consisting of adults and children, of different ages, for them to observe and engage with. 

The reason we formed this community is that we want a community whose values we agree with.  The reason we participate in this community is that we want to play a part in shaping it.

Edmund and I are still working through and working out our parenting philosophy.  It is difficult to parent against the culture, because sometimes, we really do not know what is best for our children.  It is much easier to follow the "wisdom of the crowd".

In this case, we have chosen to go against the wisdom of the larger crowd, and to follow the wisdom of a smaller crowd.  We believe, from the depths of our hearts, in the correctness of our choice.  Of course, we have had many moments of doubts, instances when we regret, and other times when we rejoice.

Only time will tell.