For one Chinese mother, promises are meant to be broken but contracts are legally binding.
A lawyer mom has signed four contracts in the past five years to help a special client – her 10-year-old son – understand that everything should be done in accordance to regulations and law, reports Red Star News, a Sichuan-based news outlet.
Lyu Yuanxia said she has handled many cases related to lack of awareness of law and ignorance of the spirit of contract and hoped her child would understand there are rules in the society.
Lyu's signed the first contract with her son, nicknamed Xiao Ming, in 2013 when he was five years old tackling his TV watching habits.
The mother came up with the idea in an attempt to help her son behave well. According to the contract, Xiao Ming can watch TV only after he had completed his duties, such as finishing homework on time, being disciplined at kindergarten and sorting out his own clothes.
As Xiao Ming started school, another agreement was drafted and signed. The agreement outlined a system of rewards and penalties. Xiao Ming would get a certain number of stars in accordance to how much he follows guidelines. When he collects 100 stars, Lyu would help him realize a wish.
The family seems to be accustomed to parenting through contract signing. With Xiao Ming growing up, Lyu has been modifying the content of the agreements, adding an annex on money management to their latest deal.
In the supplementary terms, Lyu will reward Xiao Ming extra pocket money if his performance is satisfactory and Xiao Ming also needs to learn how to manage money and obey the rules of "borrowing" from his parents, like interest on late payment.
Lyu told the Red Star News that she has also offered some chances to help Xiao Ming "earn money" through his efforts.
"During summer and winter vacations, I often ask him to do some easy chores with me. He could get five yuan for collecting files," said Lyu.
Rewards and penalties are not the point of Lyu and her husband's novel parenting techniques.
They hope their son and all children can understand what it means to abide to law and regulations, and function accordingly.
When asked whether her son will be at disadvantage when facing undisciplined people, she said that the spirit of contract and awareness of law would let children know what kind of impact their words and deeds would bring about.
Yang Haiyu, an adviser on children issues said educating children using contracts is a good attempt, which can help form awareness about respecting rules, but noted that society is not only dependent on contracts and parents should also pay attention to their children's interpersonal relationships.
