Why a Topic on Growing Up Children ?

These are some unsolicited comments from parents of kids that I have taught ... (names are changed to preserve privacy):

- "very good at teaching for lifelong learning and values" (Abdurrahman's father wrote in a feedback form last year; this is especially touching for me because it came from the father of Abdurrahman... ).

- "I know that my daughter is in good hands." (the mum of Qurashi, a little Malay-Muslim girl, wrote in a feedback form after our Parent-Teachers' meeting earlier this year)

- "Thank you for expending your concern & love to teach young children. I can see my Nellie has grown to be more responsible. Enjoy your weekend!" (Nellie's mum in an SMS to me in September .. Even though this is a short and simple message, this is meaningful to me because we had a hard time for months in the beginning as we didn't agree on methods of discipling her child over various issues. We spent a lot of time talking & I also had to respond to her queries, demands, phone calls, emails, etc., before she was won over.... It was a drain on my time and resources during those months of having to convince her that what I was doing would help her child to become more responsible & independent... but thank God that God was in control every step of the way......
It is also interesting to me because this is a Christian mum who is serving actively in church... In a way, this showed me how even Christian parents who are serving actively in church need to learn principles & skills in parenting their children. One cannot assume that just because one is serving in certain church ministries, one will naturally parent one's child well.....
Even God-fearing parents can be clouded by subjectivity, emotions, failure to consider others, and other inadequacies when it comes to their own children.... there are many challenges along the way and , though parents should never expect themselves to be perfect, all of us can grow in the area of nurturing children wisely..... I hope & pray that when I have my own kids next time, I will make wise decisions for their sake....)

- "thx for guiding him. He is very blessed to have you who cares and supports him." (Siao Chee's mum in an SMS)

- "would like to take this chance to thank you for teaching and guiding Sand throughout the year. Heard that u had injured your ankle. May the Lord bless you with Psalm 21 and get well soon!" (Sand's mum in an SMS to me at the end of the year; this was meaningful to me because I had formed a unique friendship with this parent through the year... including asking her if she would mind me if I prayed for her when I was moved to do so after she shared some personal problems with me ... she graciously accepted my offer and I prayed for her... I thanked God for giving me the chance to share with even the mum though it was not physically easy for me as it took extra energy & time... I'm really glad we did it. )

- "heard u injured yourself. Thanks for being a great teacher. I am pleased with Kev's result. Take care." (Kev's mum in an SMS to me)

- "Hope the sch would accede to our requests (to have you as our child's form teacher again) [going to email the person in charge to request for you] ...... In case she has other plans, juz want to encourage you to continue to be a gd teacher... can see that you are a v dedicated n responsible teacher... All the children lov u so much. A teacher who cares n loves the children regardless of their academic abilities... Cont your gd work..... Can tell u all the schools in spore need more teachers like u. So strive on...."
(Mrs Lee, Van's mum in a long SMS to me; she also helped to collect Get-Well-Soon cards made by all the kids in the class and sent them to my house... I was touched that she took the trouble to show her appreciation.)


Far be it from me to hold myself out as an infallible authority on the topic of how best to raise children! As a single without biological children (yet?), my credentials, if they can be called that, are years of helping to look after others' children (cousins and other relatives who stayed together or nearby in our extended family) since I was in elementary school until I reached adulthood, helping in children's ministries in church, and teaching in public schools. . . Of course, a love and passion for issues in raising children and families has also prompted the start of this topic. God bless!