Lunch with Jennifer

Jen noticed that we tend to meet once every 3-4 months. We met up today cos I sent her an email last week, going: "End of Q2 already, when's our meeting?" The consistency is considered quite a feat given that she practically lives out of a suitcase (her biz trips are so frequent!) and I'm caught up with family life.

She always has stories of her friends' kids to share and of cos, they don't come without her interesting analysis. In one of the many topics squeezed into 1 hour, we discussed about job (and salary) satisfaction. I said being parents, we can't be contented, not with salary. But she said having kids isn't all that expensive. They eat simply, they treat anywhere their playground, they read books found readily in the library or big book stores, school fees are regulated by MOE...it's the extras that the parents want to give their children that cost.

For e.g. 3 kids - one learns the violin, one the piano and one ballet. 2 musical instruments and 1 dress and pair of shoes. Hell, the parents can just sign all of them up for piano lessons to minimize cost...but no, parents don't do that.

Montessori or PAP: does it make a difference for a 3-4 year old? The benefits that can be reaped may be marginal considering the difference in school fees is a bloomin' $800 per term.

When we meet an inspiring CEO of a company, do we wonder: Hmm, he could be from Bridges Montessori Class of 1965 man....