Parenting: Don't jump in to help.
Parenting is a life long learning journey. Did you realized that from the moment your baby is born, you have gone through multiple emotional adjustments, and probably read the most number of books in your lifetime and received the Most number of advises you've had before.
By now, you and I would have fully understood, down to the core, the bitter sweet taste of parenthood, and it is a marathon of no return.
One of the most valuable lessons that I learnt came from my son's teacher and my husband. As a mother, our natural instinct is to provide, to the extent we could even anticipate what our little cubs would be needing next, and just jump in to help or just stand by the solutions.
During the teacher's feedback session, I struggled to understand what was the teacher's concern when she mentioned my boy needs to be more independent. She shared that most of the time he does not seem to know her requests, nor remember instructions given earlier. However, his assignments are always completed on time and he is able to follow through what was taught in school! So what was the problem? &
It was only after a long conversation and with my husband's help that I was able to identify the issue. The issue was myself, as I had been always providing, and checking my son's work, filling up forms myself making sure all is ready and submitted on time. As a result my boy was oblivious of what's going on.
From then on, I constantly reminded myself to hands off, do not jump in to help and refrain from checking his bag. Instead, simple verbal reminders are provided. It was tough at first, and I started receiving numerous text messages from the teachers. However, it was a phase and slowly my boy is more alert to what is happening at school, forms and papers requiring signatures are brought to my attention.
By now, you and I would have fully understood, down to the core, the bitter sweet taste of parenthood, and it is a marathon of no return.
One of the most valuable lessons that I learnt came from my son's teacher and my husband. As a mother, our natural instinct is to provide, to the extent we could even anticipate what our little cubs would be needing next, and just jump in to help or just stand by the solutions.
During the teacher's feedback session, I struggled to understand what was the teacher's concern when she mentioned my boy needs to be more independent. She shared that most of the time he does not seem to know her requests, nor remember instructions given earlier. However, his assignments are always completed on time and he is able to follow through what was taught in school! So what was the problem? &
It was only after a long conversation and with my husband's help that I was able to identify the issue. The issue was myself, as I had been always providing, and checking my son's work, filling up forms myself making sure all is ready and submitted on time. As a result my boy was oblivious of what's going on.
From then on, I constantly reminded myself to hands off, do not jump in to help and refrain from checking his bag. Instead, simple verbal reminders are provided. It was tough at first, and I started receiving numerous text messages from the teachers. However, it was a phase and slowly my boy is more alert to what is happening at school, forms and papers requiring signatures are brought to my attention.
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