Sophie enrolled her daughter as an Early Years 1 pupil at Hiba Academy Shanghai last year. Talking about her daughter always brings a smile to her face. She believes that a mother's love will empower a child to explore the world fearlessly. She also knows the role of mother is a constant work in progress, so she is always reflecting and learning, incorporating the latest research into parenting and education.
Let us take a look at how Sophie has learned to be such a patient and loving mother in the second part two of our interview.
Building character
Sophie likes to think and plan in advance. As such, she has carefully considered what measures to take if her daughter does not get good grades when she transitions to primary and middle school.
She ultimately came to the conclusion that although parents cannot decide what grades their children get, they can instil in them a system of positive values. Children with positive values will be true to themselves and live a fulfilling life regardless of other people's ideas of success.
Sophie wants to imbue in her child the qualities that will help her navigate life's challenges independently. She wants her child to be resilient. Her daughter may get angry when she accidentally knocks over a tower of wooden blocks. Sophie simply tells her that sometimes things fall apart. This teaches her that failure is acceptable and that all we can do in the face of it is to get back up and try again.
Sophie also wants her daughter to know herself and her own values. Some parents choose bilingual education for their children thinking it will fast-track them to an Ivy League university education. But Sophie thinks there is more to it than this. She believes pupils also need a personalised education because every child is unique.
Moreover, she believes that, with a positive mindset, her daughter can be true to herself and grow to be a strong, independent person who is capable of thriving.
Reading together and growing together
One way that Sophie likes to educate her daughter is by reading together. Sophie's mother read to her as a child and she benefited greatly. It broadened her horizons and instilled in her a sense of optimism about the world. She wants to share that benefit with her daughter as well.
Picture books often teach our children about important concepts like sharing or being a good friend. They can also help them to understand some of life's challenges like negative emotions, separation, poverty and loss. One time, Sophie read a story about a poor and ugly child who gets ridiculed for his big hands and feet. The character's old grandmother has many wrinkles and tells him that the size of his hands and feet do not matter and that it is more important to have an open heart. It is a sad story, but it teaches a valuable lesson about being inclusive and kind.
Experiencing real life
Sophie recently had a conversation with her friend about what the most important aspect of education are. They both agreed: experiencing real life.
Sophie has always been her child's sole caregiver. She does not share this responsibility with other family members or a nanny. Books serve as an excellent resource on parenting practices, and she is constantly keeping up with the latest scientific literature.
As such, she teaches her daughter to fold her own clothes and help with other tasks like cooking and cleaning. These little tasks help Sophie's daughter experience real life first-hand. She learns how to contribute to the household and be an active member of the family, which has its own power.
Sophie once took her daughter to see an exhibition of paintings titled "Wanderings of Sanmao". Looking at one of the paintings the portrayed hardship, Sophie explained to her daughter how important it is to be grateful for what she has. She then asked her daughter what she would do to help Sanmao. Her daughter suggested that they could bring Sanmao to their home to live with them. Her daughter's compassion moved her.
Parenting being one of the most important experience
Sophie says she is grateful for the opportunity that her child gives her to be a better person. "I constantly think of how I should treat my child", she says, "and I think about how I should treat myself, too." She counts becoming a mother as the most important and rewarding experience in her life. If, with the help of Hiba Nursery, her daughter grows up to become a strong, resilient and happy adult, she sees that as a success.
Article | Virginia
