In multiple chat groups, homeschooling communities have been excitedly sharing developments and articles about Singapore’s sporting, Maximilian Maeder, or Max. The teen world champion kitefoiler is Singapore’s youngest Olympic medalist—and a homeschooler.
News articles dropped many gems that resonated with the homeschooling community—like how Max’s father, Valentin Maeder, told his son that he was not going to be a world champion by “sitting in the classroom most of the time” and that he intended for his son to receive an “education built flexibly around his ambitions” and raised as a “decision-maker”. As for his mother, Hwee Keng Maeder’s frequent message to parents to “be the safe space” echoed in the community from a psychological and strategic standpoint.
We would like to take this opportunity to also encourage more parents to be the safe place for their kids, to support them in fulfilling their ambitions, not ours, and their dreams, even if it is different from everybody else’s… A fast-evolving world means more learning and relearning for our kids anyway… Let them follow what sparks their interest and their curiosity now and in the future.
Hwee Keng Maeder
Our excitement peaked in light of Max’s bronze medal win and the 17-year-old’s endearing response to his performance in the competition. Nationwide attention would have understandably cast immeasurable pressure on anyone. However, Max demonstrated an exceptional ability to balance his emotions and introspections under public scrutiny.
I’ll speak the truth and say I haven’t finished sulking but I’m putting a smile on right now, not because I have to but because of the way I feel… Perhaps in retrospect I may label more things correctly, however, right now I need to process everything that’s going on because it’s a lot.
Max Maeder
Inspiring Other Homeschool Athletes and their Families
The stories that excited people about Max’s success shed light on the parenting style that nurtured a world champion. Homeschool mom Sylvia Huang, whose 11-year-old Noah plays tennis competitively, read them closely in full awe.
His mother’s genuine belief in him and her emphasis on the process rather than the results are evident! His convictions and upbringing shine through in all the post-award interviews. The Maeders definitely have the right mindset. I love that they see this as developing him as a person.
Sylvia Huang
In addition to Sylvia and Noah, the homeschool community includes several aspiring athletes. Until recently, Avel and Sage Chua, two brothers who are accomplished competitive swimmers, were also homeschooled. Their mother, Veil Ng, mooted and organised the inaugural Homeschool Swim Meet. Therefore, the Maeder family’s story gives much-needed insight and inspiration to these families in competitive sports.
Watch this space for an upcoming interview with Naomi Minejima, mother to the solo freestyle junior champion of the World Cup of Indoor Skydiving, Kai Minejima-Lee.
The Homeschool Community Celebrates
Along with scores of Singaporeans who came out in yesterday’s rain to cheer for our Olympians during the open-top bus parade, homeschoolers also celebrated their achievements. Initiated by Sue Ong, a veteran homeschool parent, who encouraged us to make placards for the Olympians, a designated gathering point was suggested in the chat groups. Those who could not arrive at the spot in time either scoured for alternative points along the route or watched the live telecast instead. But everyone was feeding one another updates to maximise our experience and chances of getting to the right spots.
The scramble to reach the optimum points along the parade route paid off. The early birds were amply rewarded with the opportunity to meet Max’s parents. As the parade went on, our chat groups lit up with celebrations of successful encounters. The comment “for the win” was:
The bus stopped for a few seconds, and we were screaming and cheering. Haha. Then Max saw us and shouted, ‘Homeschool!’
The euphoria went well into the day, as some parents followed the social media updates of Team Singapore.
The homeschool community wishes Max Maeder and his family a restful and rejuvenating season with their loved ones and all the best for their future undertakings. We’ve got you!
References
‘Be the safe place’: Max Maeder’s parents urge support for S’porean children after NS deferment news, 8 Jul 2024, MustShareNews
How Olympic medal hope Max Maeder was raised as a ‘decision-maker’ – who would choose Singapore’ over and over again’, 8 Jul 2024, ChannelNewsAsia
How Maximilian Maeder’s parents raised a world champion, 4 Aug 2024, ChannelNewsAsia
Commentary: The untold story behind Max Maeder’s Olympic medal – former national sailor Ben Tan gives an insider’s view, 13 Aug 2024, ChannelNewsAsia
