Board exam: Parents take leave to help kids prepare

Mahithi KC, who has applied for 15 days leave, says her younger son is preparing for the Class 10 examinations. “I have learnt from previous experience,” says the sales professional. She further explains, “My older son fell sick right before the Board exams. He couldn’t finish last-minute preparations as he had to be taken to the hospital. I felt extremely guilty that I wasn’t by his side. This time I have taken time off from work to ensure that my younger son eats healthy and doesn’t fall sick.” 

Board exams are strenuous and children face a lot of stress. Some mothers want to be around to provide moral support to their children. Subbalakshmi Raghavan, a medical professional, says, “My son is good at academics and doesn’t need constant monitoring. But I wanted to stay at home throughout his exams to offer him moral support. It is a crucial year for him and generally among children, stress levels are high. Having their mothers by their side during such times can offer a stress-free environment. It will also ensure that they eat food on time and remain healthy.” 

Not just mothers, even fathers are arranging their schedule in a way that they can be around when their children to help them prepare for the exams. “As soon as the dates were announced, I had applied for leave. On a few days, I will work from home to be by my daughter’s side. I want to make sure she reaches the examination centre on time,” says Sathish Kumar, an IT professional. 

However, there are some parents who do not want to make a big deal out of it. “I want my children to relax. These examinations are not the end of the world. As a parent, I am supporting them as much as possible and ensuring that my kids think that it is just a part of the process. In fact, I am not in town for a few days during the exam period. My husband will take care of my son who is writing Class 10 exams,” says Vidhya S, a communications professional.