My child told me: "I can live without you.” | Boarding School Parent Story

“What would happen when you are no more?” For many parents, sending a child to a boarding school is not an easy decision. In this conversation, we speak to Ashwin, a parent from Mumbai, whose daughter Eva moved to Sholai School in Kodaikanal. He shares what made them look beyond a regular city school, why one-size-fits-all education did not feel right for his child, and how Sholai’s slower, more relationship-based environment helped Eva grow in confidence, independence, reading, food habits, and self-expression. In this conversation, we reflect on: • Why some children may not fit into one-speed, one-size-fits-all classrooms • Why letting go can be harder for parents than for children • How a boarding school can build independence, friendships, and responsibility • Why teacher-child relationships matter deeply in learning • How parent involvement can become part of a school ecosystem • Why studies are not only about speed, marks, or textbook answers • How children retain learning when it is connected to nature and real experiences • Why writing in one’s own words is an important life skill Sholai School is located in Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu. The school describes itself as a green school inspired by J. Krishnamurti and is situated on a 70-acre campus close to the Reserve Forest. It is also a Cambridge International centre offering IGCSE and A Level pathways. Sholai School website: https://www.sholaischool.com/ This is not a recommendation or endorsement of any school. It is one parent’s honest experience of choosing Sholai School and observing his child over the last few months. ⸻ If you are choosing a school for your child and want to understand boards, school philosophies, admissions, infrastructure, parent reviews, and what really matters while selecting a school, please explore our course here 🔗 https://tinyurl.com/tcp-courses ⸻ ⏱ CHAPTERS 00:00 – “What would happen when you are no more?” 00:49 – Why we wanted to speak to a Sholai parent 01:28 – How Eva ended up at Sholai 02:10 – The problem with one-size-fits-all education 03:00 – Why parents need to let go 04:18 – The trial month at Sholai 05:17 – Was boarding harder for the parent or child? 05:52 – Parent involvement at Sholai 08:10 – What changed in Eva after Sholai? 08:56 – Screen time, reading, and free time 10:26 – Changes in food habits 11:36 – What about studies? 12:36 – Learning through nature and real experiences 13:38 – Communication, comprehension, and original writing ⸻ 🔔 Subscribe to The Curious Parent for more conversations on parenting, childhood, schools, and raising emotionally secure children in a noisy world. #SholaiSchool #BoardingSchool #AlternativeEducation #Kodaikanal #SchoolSelection #IndianParents #Parenting #ChildIndependence #TheCuriousParent