麻烦阿姨

Youve got questions？ Shes got answers

（But you probably wont like them）

Dear Ayi， I think my sons elementary teachers are irresponsible！ He always comes home with his water bottle still full despite my repeated messages to his teachers， reminding them to encourage him to drink more water. Should I move him to another school next year？

An anxious parent

I remember during my 學生时代 （xuéshēng shídài， school days）， no one cared if I drank enough water. I didnt even own a 水瓶 （shuǐpíng， water bottle）， and look at me now—still 生龙活虎 （shēnglóng huóhǔ， full of energy like dragons and tigers）. Parents now 溺爱 （nìài， dote on） their children too much. Kids need to learn how to survive on their own. Most of them arent stupid！ They know they need to drink water when they are thirsty and eat when they are hungry. Its called 生存本能 （shēngcún běnnéng， survival instinct）. Also， teachers are not your 保姆 （bǎomǔ， nanny）！ They have better things to do than following your kids every move. Teachers are busy enough these days. So dont go messaging teachers after work hours unless you pay them 加班费 （jiābānfèi， overtime fee）！

Dear Ayi， every year， after returning from the Lunar New Year holiday， I find myself really homesick. I miss everything from the comfort of my old bed to my moms home cooking. Now the takeout boxes in my small rental apartment just seem so sad. How can I get over the post-holiday blues？

Eileen

I wish my son was a 好孩子 （hǎoháizi， good kid） like you. Its not fun when your kid is always hanging around your house， 吃白食 （chī báishí， eating your food for free）. If he were to only come home during the Lunar New Year holidays， I would attend to his needs like your parents did. But trust me， if you live at home all the time， youll be desperate to get out for some 自由 （zìyóu， freedom） from all the 唠叨 （láodao ， nagging）. Plus， if you dont want your apartment to look sad， clean it， 装饰 （zhuāngshì， decorate） it， and learn how to cook your own food！

– Illustration and design by Cai Tao and Gao Fei

Got questions for Agony Ayi？ Send them to agonyayi@theworldofchinese.com