November 9, 2005, 9:23pm

I'm still thinking about the kid and his mother I saw yesterday outside the driver license office. Both are so happy, so I suppose the kid got his license.

My parents never show any happiness when I got my MSc, BSSc, just whatever.

When I told my mother that I'd go for my PhD, the first words out of her mouth was: "Do you have a lot of money?"

Sounds like, I have a lot of money and I don't give her.

They never help with my school work. Never show any support. I didn't expect them to teach me developmental psychology, gender studies or journalistic writing. I only asked them to turn down the TV volume when I was working on my GRE.

She fired back, "Only you have freedom? We don't have freedom?"

Well, it's me who really didn't have any "freedom" or "option." The TV's on no matter what. I was just asking. And my request was never satisfied.

The thing I learnt from them is that, they didn't put any effort, so they wouldn't get any satisfaction, happiness or joy in return. That's fair.

But I just have to wonder, how is it like to have someone to cheer up with you when you have accomplished something? Big or small?