Parents to the Rescue

This is pretty common, to every parent who loves their children so much that they will do anything in their power not to allow any unpleasant experience to befall their children, right ?

Imagine this scenario:
Forgot to bring book to school - call parents to the rescue, else a caning on the hand is the consequence.

That's the Confucius discipline most Chinese primary schools live by, in order to instil the sense of problem ownership in the children from young, which is to face the consequence.

I had my share of answering to rescue phone calls. And quite irritated at why they aren't learning after each "mistake".
When they are in the desperate call, turning away and not helping seems cruel and give you the guilt feeling. The kid would also feel sad.

My teenage boy forgot to bring his necktie on Monday and we were already at his
school gate. He requested to turn back home as we still had time, or else the punishment is detention during P.E. class cleaning up a room or something.

I thought for a moment to let him face the consequence but an idea came.
I said, I would rescue him this once. And next time around, better plan not to miss this again, like keep the tie in the bag at all times, etc.

It was brilliant. I felt good I helped him and he felt good that his mommy was sensitive to his needs. But most importantly is that he learns about taking action to prevent this from happening. That's what we want them to learn, right ?

My other boy, upon hearing this exclaimed, "OK, I have one unused rescue call !"