The Parent’s Dilemma: Choosing the Crowd or Your Child
Let’s be honest.
Most education decisions are not made in the living room.
They are shaped in
relatives’ houses,
temple conversations,
neighbour chats,
and WhatsApp groups.
Almost every parent wants the same things for their child:
a good future, safety, stability, and respect.
But behind many school admissions and education choices lies a much stronger question:
“What will people think?”
When School Questions Are Really About Social Approval
When parents ask about:
exam results
ranks
discipline
reputation
they are often not asking about learning.
They are asking:
“Will this decision look safe to others?”
In small towns especially, the crowd’s opinion often feels stronger than logic.
The crowd doesn’t shout.
It whispers.
“That’s risky.”
“Why experiment with your own child?”
“Better go with the safe option.”
Slowly, something dangerous happens.
Your instinct fades.
The Moment Parents Realise the Hard Truth
One day, many parents realise something uncomfortable:
They didn’t choose what was right for their child.
They chose what was easier to explain to society.
This is the sentence we hear all the time:
“Everything you are saying makes sense… but…”
That “but” is almost never about the child.
It is about fear of judgement.
Why Following the Crowd Feels Safe but Isn’t
Following the crowd gives:
social comfort
shared responsibility
shared blame
But your child still faces:
the same pressure
the same comparisons
the same race
Even though your child is not the same as everyone else.
The education system treats children as identical units.
Children are not.
The Truth Every Parent Must Face
Here is a truth nobody can escape:
The crowd does not live your child’s life.
You do.
There are only two real regrets in parenting:
“I tried something different and it failed.”
“I knew this was wrong for my child, but I still did it because everyone else was doing it.”
The first regret fades with time.
The second stays for life.
Choosing Your Child Over the Crowd
At Vruksha Montessori Internationale, we meet parents at this exact crossroads.
We don’t push.
We don’t scare.
We don’t manipulate.
We do one simple thing:
We help parents choose their child over the crowd.
That is not bravery.
That is the minimum responsibility of being a parent.
Why Montessori Education Supports Individual Growth
Montessori education is not about:
rushing children
forcing comparison
chasing ranks
It is about:
respecting each child’s pace
building confidence naturally
nurturing curiosity and independence
When parents step away from the noise of society,
children finally get space to be themselves.
Final Thought for Parents
Choosing differently will always invite questions.
Choosing blindly will invite regret.
Choose the path you can stand by,
even when nobody else is watching.
Explore Montessori education at Vruksha Montessori Internationale