Parenting

 I had an opportunity today to be filmed together with Amy Cheng as she host a program for mothers while I stood at the back playing with my kids. Heh-I happened to be near the room she was filming =) I asked one of them why they had chosen my centre. She said she saw the latest newsletter that was featured and thought that it was nice. I received it last month too. My colleague was the one who first told me that my face was in it and later to realised that I was actually at the front cover pushing my kids in the wagon at the pond when I saw it =) I didn't even know my picture was taken then. Heh...really thank god for such opportunity as I'm still new to this place and profession. More to come =D it's quite an experience. Amy certainly is a beautiful mum. May I be like her too one day. Looking slim and pretty in my final stage of pregnancy =)
It was this morning too while I was walking to work that I was pondering about the role of a parent and how one should train up his/her child. This thought came about during my trip home or maybe after spending four full days with my nephew, the parents, and the grandparents - my parents to be exact.
I saw myself telling my brother or parents what is good or not good for a child.
"He shouldn't watch too much tv", "Read more books to him", "Don't spoil him"(esp my father =))
Now that I look back, I pity the child under my care ;) He may be under so much do/don'ts I learnt from books, media or what I know and term it as "the right approach to parenting".
I questioned myself then, what is right or wrong? How much is too much? Every family is different. For example, my nephew has been staying with my parents this year till August while mum had to study in another state and dad had to work. I didn't' like the thought of it at first, having know that from books and advice that a stay home mum is the best thing for a child.
But He had me looked back at my own childhood and taught me a great lesson. I found the answer in my own life. Did my parents did all that has to be done?
My brother took care of me alone at home when I was only four while my parents went to work. I had no high tech toys, expensive clothes, rich food to go with everyday. But I was happy. A two dollar dress then was a joy to me. I enjoy digging in bags of clothes pass down from my cousins and frens as much as shopping for new once.
I never heard my father said no to any of my request before(spoilt?), I get to go holiday with my mum to places I suggested, I never heard my parents scolding me for my results, I dun remember reading more than ten story books up till when I was in Sec 5, I play lots of computer games(non violent ones like Tom & Jerry =)), I do not understand what a curfew meant as I had none before, I had no savings - I live by 'ask' basis, I had no tuition till I was Sec 5, I play truant when I was in Secondary school, I eat in class, my closes frens all goes to pubs...to name a few....
I do not know how my parents did it, for I find it hard to give such freedom to my own child if I had one. I think a common word I would use is 'no' =p something I see myself already doing to my kids now. But it's amazing how my dad is able to do it. That's why my nephew loves him so much now more than any of us. All kids do anyway, he's a yes man =)
Then what Lord is the right thing to do for a child since my parents didn't do most of it...and I grew up pretty fine I would think =) He showed me that it was where I was grounded in. I remember that I always won the top prize for full attendance in Sunday School. I had a great support of church frens. My mum would recite the Lord's prayer with me on her bed at night. And that was the thing that had kept me 'safe' all this while.
"All your children will be taught by the LORD, and your children will have unlimited peace" Isaiah 54:13
My mum did the one thing. She taught me bible stories about Jesus. In fact, this may be the only stories I remember. Many times, my life, the correction I receive or the change you see in me is by the Lord Himself. Afterall that was said, I still believe in discipline. But to me the greatest thing you can give to a child is Jesus =)