In our community, many parents talk about their children's academic pressure with anxiety and helplessness. Today, I want to share a real family story: 

that of Teacher Wang's family. Due to educational anxiety, they relocated from Shenzhen to Bangkok. Two years have passed. How has their life changed? Was the initial choice worth it?

Behind this lies the profound reflection of a father, a psychology expert, on his child's future growth.

I. The Departure: Why They Decided to Leave Shenzhen

Teacher Wang himself is a psychology expert. What he noticed first was his child's physical and mental health being gradually "worn down" by high-pressure education. 

After his eldest son entered middle school, they realized that the domestic education system brought not only academic results but also long-term tension that impacted the soul. 

As a professional, Teacher Wang understood well:

*   Long-term exposure to high pressure has a significant psychological impact on children.

*   In traditional education methods, rote memorization and cramming dominate, but creative thinking is not sufficiently cultivated.

*   In the AI era, relying solely on rote learning and excessive homework does not truly foster a child's innovative abilities.

He pondered for a long time: Are we raising children for grades, or do we hope they become imaginative, problem-aware, and intrinsically driven individuals?

With the help of the Taylor Senior Team, Teacher Wang's family finally made up their mind: move to Bangkok to give their children a more relaxed, open, 

and growth-friendly environment with more "breathing space."

II. The Initial Period: A Transition of Novelty and Confusion

For the first few months after moving, Teacher Wang's family was filled with joy and novelty. They were drawn to Bangkok's culture, diversity,

and international schools, and were full of expectations for the future.

However, reality soon presented challenges:

1.  A Sudden Shift in Learning Pace:

    In Shenzhen, their days were packed: early starts, late returns, tutoring, extracurricular classes... In Bangkok, 

school pressure plummeted. Children finished school earlier and had more free time. Consequently, parents noticed the children seemed "less diligent,"

 "seemingly relaxed," and even worried they weren't learning enough.

2.  Language and Cultural Adaptation Challenges:

    The children moved from a non-English speaking country to study in an English-speaking environment. They often wondered: Was the initial choice wrong?

 Was this decision worth it? Conflicts sometimes arose between parents and children—even Teacher Wang, a psychology expert, couldn't avoid them entirely.

3.  Adjustment for Accompanying Parents:

    Besides the children's adaptation to school, the parents also worked hard to figure out how to integrate into life abroad and establish their own rhythm. 

Teacher Wang and his wife joined a community of accompanying parents, exploring together how to adapt to life in a foreign country and build their own pace.

III. Transformation and Growth: Gradually Finding Their Own Rhythm

After about half a year of adaptation, Teacher Wang's family finally found their own rhythm:

1.  Children Discovered Interests and Built a Social Circle:

    At the international school in Bangkok, children could participate in sailing, tennis, golf, and other sports; they had time to explore their hobbies, 

not just for grades. These activities not only strengthened their physical fitness but also gave them confidence and release

—the previous state of being weighed down by academic pressure slowly dissipated.

2.  **Steady Improvement in Language Skills:**

    Although language was initially a barrier, through daily interaction with classmates, classroom participation, and extracurricular activities, 

the children's English improved imperceptibly. They became increasingly able to express themselves and dared to participate in communication.

3.  Family Atmosphere Returns to "Relaxed":

    Teacher Wang says their home is no longer a "homework battlefield." He and his wife no longer micromanage homework and corrections daily.

 Instead, they have returned to the roles parents should have: companionship, listening, and participation. They rearranged quality family time, 

exploring the city, nature, and culture together on weekends. The parent-child relationship consequently became warmer and more natural.

This relaxation not only nourished the family but also allowed Teacher Wang to find his own work rhythm. 

Bangkok's tranquil environment provided the space and focus needed for deep thinking. Now, most of his professional work can be done online; 

he only flies back for offline lectures or counseling when necessary. For him, this is a comfortable state in sync with life.

IV. The Wisdom of Education: "Breathing Space" is More Important Than "Filling Up"

From the experience of Teacher Wang's family, I see several important insights:

1. International Education is Not a Panacea:

    While international schools reduce academic pressure, they are not without challenges. Language, integration,

and family adaptation issues are real. More importantly, international education is not an escape from reality but a strategic decision.

2.  'Breathing Space' is More Important Than 'Filling Up':

    Teacher Wang often says, "We give children more time and space to learn through practice, not just through rote memorization.

" He views education from a professional perspective: true growth often occurs during moments of free exploration, autonomous decision-making, and interaction with the world.

3.  Parental Companionship and Mindset Shift are Crucial:

    The children could walk this path largely because Teacher Wang and his wife were willing to let go of some of their obsession with grades and accompany their children sincerely. 

They discovered: children don't necessarily need electronic devices or every minute filled. What they need is a growth space where they are listened to and respected.

4.  Spiritual Fulfillment is Far More Important Than Material Abundance:

    "The richer the material life, the emptier the spirit," is the sentence Teacher Wang feels most deeply. 

At home in China, parents strive to provide every material condition but often neglect the power of "breathing space."

V. If a Fish is Sick, Do You Treat the Fish or Change the Water?

Teacher Wang's family is one that the Taylor Senior Team has accompanied and served throughout their journey. 

Their courageous change and continuous adjustment in practice provide a unique educational reference: education should not be confined to exam scores. 

Children can be explorers, creators, and thinkers, while parents should be guides and companions.

As a psychology professional, Teacher Wang understood well that children's issues often stem from the family. He once encountered a child who had been out of school for two years, 

would suddenly scream, and tremble at loud noises. After spending four hours with him, Teacher Wang discovered the child was extremely insecure and engaged in self-harm, 

feeling a sense of release when seeing blood flow. The child had drawn a picture where he looked like he was wearing a mask, trying to tear his face off, showing intense self-directed aggression. 

Such highly sensitive children are kind and acutely perceive the family atmosphere. When the family atmosphere is poor, they internalize all negative emotions. 

The creators of the family atmosphere are the parents.

Teacher Wang notes the increase in families "where the wife is more successful than the husband." Accomplished women crave emotional value but often feel unsatisfied, 

projecting accusations and complaints onto children or husbands. Husbands, feeling blamed, also have their emotions affected. When parents cannot process their emotions effectively, 

they unconsciously project them onto the children. Highly sensitive children don't resent their parents; instead, they believe something is wrong with themselves, 

that their poor performance makes their parents unhappy. They constantly attack themselves. When they can't find the cause, they release pressure through self-harm, 

which is also why they are prone to depression. The essence of depression is self-denial—feeling incapable, unworthy, and guilty.

Just as you can't just treat a sick fish; you must improve the water quality. When accompanying a child, you can't focus only on treating the child; 

you must also enhance parents' awareness and address their past emotional blockages. We all have trauma from our era and background to some extent, 

such as son preference. Parents need to face and process these traumas to provide better companionship for their children.

If the family has the means, taking the child out of the high-intensity learning track, such as coming to Thailand for international school, can release pressure on both child and parents. 

In a new environment, parents have more time for healthy interaction with their children.

If accompanying the child abroad isn't possible, and the child continues in the domestic public school system, parents need to grow. 

Take specialized courses to broaden their perspective. Anxiety stems from fear and catastrophic thinking. They need to join group learning to grow, 

break past cognitive influences, and simultaneously learn family education methods. Remember, "Before loving a child, you must first understand them; otherwise, love can easily become harm."

VI. Family-of-Origin Trauma is a Gift for Growth

I used to agree that "family-of-origin trauma takes a lifetime to heal," but my view has changed with age.

Teacher Wang states that family-of-origin is not everything in life. A life without trauma is impossible; trauma is a resource for growth. 

Psychology expert Carl Jung said, "What controls our life from the unconscious is called fate." Most of the unconscious is formed in the family-of-origin. 

We explore our family-of-origin not to blame but to find reasons. Today's problems are not directly caused by the family-of-origin but by the cognition formed there. 

There are no perfect parents, nor perfect us. The more trauma, the more resources. Past experiences help us develop unique abilities and qualities, stimulate potential, 

and create value. Turning stumbling blocks into stepping stones leads to greater heights in life.

I have observed that children who experience hardship and need to forge their own path from a young age often achieve more as adults.

Teacher Wang also believes this indicates family-of-origin trauma isn't necessarily bad. Behind pain lies a gift for growth; 

it is precisely pain that sets us on the path of learning. So, when pain comes, don't blame yourself. Explore its roots; the key to happiness might lie behind the pain.

In our parents' generation, the older generation believed providing food, clothing, and schooling fulfilled their duty, paying little attention to children's mental health. 

Our generation of parents pays more attention to children's physical and mental well-being; grades aren't the most important. When I was young,

 I read Liu Yong's books and envied his educational approach. He let his children explore interests and hobbies; both children attended Harvard. 

When I was young, I often shared viewpoints from Liu Yong's books with my mom. She said that was in America; in China, we use Chinese methods. 

When I grew up and became a parent, I wouldn't use that method to educate my child. Grades are important, but physical and mental health are more important. 

I believe the parents I interact with, who bring their children here to study, share this consensus.

VII. Families Who Put Children First Are All Wrong

Teacher Wang also emphasizes that psychological research shows the person one should love most in life is oneself, then one's spouse. 

The marital relationship is the core beam of the family. A good marital relationship gives children the greatest sense of security. A child's sense of security stems from a stable marital relationship.

 If the beam is tilted, the child will feel fearful and anxious. The father is crucial in the family. He can break the symbiotic relationship between mother and child and lead the child into the world. 

The mother needs to acknowledge the father's position, allowing family roles to return to their proper places. Children come third. The nuclear family takes precedence over the extended family.

 We hope children surpass us. A child's success and excellence are the greatest return for parental love. After establishing a nuclear family, it should come first.

VIII. Adolescent Children: Understanding and Guidance

Adolescent children have significant emotional fluctuations. Parents report they are hard to communicate with. When a child says, 

"It's not because you told me to; it's because I wanted to," parents are left at a loss.

Teacher Wang believes the greatest psychological need of adolescent children is to be seen and be the protagonist—to have a sense of existence.

They want to decide things for themselves. If parents arrange everything, they lose self-identity.

There is an eight-character mantra for interacting with adolescent children: "Turn a blind eye, turn a deaf ear, be broad-minded, and be lazy with your hands.

" Don't see, don't hear everything; don't always think the child is doing wrong and try to correct it. Don't do things for the child; let them make mistakes and grow on their own. 

Children will learn and grow from this. Parents should make children feel their role is self-determined, not forced. This way, children will have a sense of existence and become masters of their own lives.

IX. Conclusion: A Message for Families with Educational Anxiety

If you are considering international education or an overseas study path, you might first ask yourself: What do I truly want to give my child? 

The halo of high scores and prestigious schools, or inner satisfaction and creativity?

Relocation is not an inevitable choice for every family, nor the only way to solve problems. But the experience of Teacher Wang's family reminds us: 

Changing the educational approach might allow children to thrive in a healthier, more relaxed environment.

Education is not the unilateral responsibility of parents, nor a task completed by "stuffing" children into a tutoring system. 

It requires the family to jointly build the future together. Parental companionship and active participation are the most solid force on a child's growth path.

Family is crucial in a child's development. We need to correctly view the family-of-origin, parent scientifically, understand adolescent children, 

and let children thrive in a healthy family atmosphere. If you are also anxious about your child's education, feel free to come chat with me. 

Let's explore another possibility for growth together for your child.