Every parent hopes their children will excel academically — even more so when the parents were star students themselves.
But for one Malaysian mother, that expectation has turned into confusion, worry and disappointment.
“Why can’t my kids catch up?”
In a post shared on Threads, the woman revealed that both she and her husband were high-achievers during their school days, having studied in a fully residential school (SBP) and scoring straight A’s in every major examination.
She described herself as an active and award-winning student who continued to perform exceptionally well into adulthood and her career.
Yet despite that academic pedigree, none of her children seem to have inherited the same learning abilities.
According to the mother, her children consistently struggle in class and score at the bottom of their cohort.
It’s been bothering me for a long time. Why do all my kids find it so hard to catch up in school? Their rankings are always at the bottom. What mistake have I made?”
She added that she always believed intelligence was genetic — a trait that could be passed down. But observing her children’s difficulty in absorbing lessons made her question that belief.
What confused her further was seeing other children, from families with ordinary backgrounds such as factory workers, traders, office assistants and security guards, outperforming hers academically.
Like many parents aiming for academic discipline, the woman said she tried her best to limit distractions at home.
“Their father is very strict. They don’t get gadgets like other kids. I’m really at a loss about where I went wrong.”
Despite tight gadget control and firm household rules, her children still show the same learning difficulties, leaving her feeling helpless.
Netizens offer comfort
The post quickly gained wide attention, with many Malaysians offering encouraging words, advice and personal experiences.
