Meet Asawari! She has a natural sensibility to see the world from her children’s perspective and embrace the magic, fleeting nature of childhood. It’s that empathy that makes her parenting wisdom shine – a realization that connection is far better than perfection. We admire how deeply she thinks about the little people she is raising, and how she brilliantly characterizes parenthood: “Enjoy every bit of this special journey, but you don’t have to enjoy every single day. Make it uniquely yours.”
. . .
On Parenting
5 surprising things about parenting:
- On your children’s learning: How capable children are – even the littlest ones. If you trust them and give them the opportunity, they will rise to the occasion. From helping around the house, to cooking, to diving deeply into whatever they are passionate about. My favorite thing is to allow them to be the “experts” – my teachers – whenever possible.
- On school: That you can really fall in love with your kids’ schools. Our kids’ teachers are amazing and know each of our children so well. It is wonderful when you find a place where you know your children will be cared for, exposed to things that will stretch their minds, develop the courage to try things they might not initially be comfortable doing, and where you feel like your children’s teachers will be true partners in raising them.
- On toys: Children need far fewer toys than we often think.
- On food: As you try to get your children to eat things that they might not initially like, you might have to eat things that you personally shied away from.
- On childcare: You can’t do it all yourself. I believe that the most important thing is to find other people who will truly love your children and that you trust. All other things will fall into place over time.
What do you love most about parenting?
- The ability to see the world from my children’s perspective and relive the magic of childhood with them.
What do you wish you would do more / less of as a parent?
- More: Laugh more with my kids – incorporate more humor into our days.
- Less: Take myself less seriously. Yell less. I’m trying to change patterns and not pass these things on to my kids, but it is very hard work.
Biggest parenting challenge right now:
“That I can’t slow down time. I’m loving the stages that my children are in right now, and would love to spend more one on one time with each of them. My challenge is accepting that I can’t meet each of their needs every single day, but knowing that over the longer term, I have spent time with each one, connecting in a way that’s meaningful to that child, and that all my children feel my love deep inside them.”
How do you get your children to do something they don’t know how to do?
- Not in the moment, but at other times, I often point out things that I’m scared of, or things that my kids are much better at doing than I am.
- That it is brave to try new things, and that grown-ups are scared of trying new things too.
- That I’m here with them, supporting them and cheering them on, and that all they have to do is to take the first step.
- That mistakes are helpful.
On Your Family
Describe a favorite family tradition.
- Not really a tradition, but I constantly remind my kids that they are a team. We put a lot of emphasis on spending time with each other. I praise them when they do something nice for each other, help each other out, or take the time to teach each other.
- I have started reading books that remind me of my childhood with my kids – all of us cuddle in bed: me reading, all three of them listening.
- We love traveling together as a family. We have found that all of us bond together in a very special way when we are out of our comfort zones and daily routines. The kids step-up when things don’t go the way they are supposed to. I have no doubt that some of our most cherished memories will be of trips we have taken together.
- I often thank them for picking me to be their mamma. In our home, gratitude is a daily mindset in how we approach our relationships with one another.
What are your children’s favorite toys these days? What was one of your favorite toys?
- Thanks to basketball season, all three of my kids love playing with balls. Sometimes, simple is best.
- One of my favorite toys was probably a doll. But more so, I think it was the make-believe world my sisters and I created with our dolls.
What are your children’s 3 favorite books?
- 3-year old: Mercy Watson, The Invisible String, Little Excavator.
- 8-year old: SEEKERS series, The Baby-sitter Club series, Pony Club Secrets series.
- 11-year old: The Heroes of Olympus, The Unwanteds, Harry Potter.
On Your Wisdom
What’s something from your childhood that is true for your children? What’s different?
- True: How much fun imaginative play is. Children are so creative and have the best imaginations! The joy from playing outside is truly timeless.
- Different: Access to too much information anytime, anywhere – almost more than young children need to have.
Words you’d like to share with your children’s teacher:
- I thank you from the bottom of my heart every single day. Thank you for loving my children, investing in them, and being true partners to me in this wonderful, and sometimes challenging job of raising my children. I love each and every one of you, and you will always have a very special place in my heart.
Words of wisdom you’d share with a new parent:
- Ask for help; don’t be a martyr. It’s ok and normal to not do it all on your own.
- You will make mistakes, but you get a chance to re-do things many, many times.
- Enjoy every bit of this special journey, but you don’t have to enjoy every single day. Make it uniquely yours.
- Your children love you deeply – don’t compare yourself to anyone else.
- Trust yourself. No one knows your children better than you.
*Plinkit is proud to share these parent profiles as they authentically represent the diverse voices of our Plinkit readership. The views and opinions expressed in these parent profiles are those of the authors and may not necessarily reflect those of Plinkit Pte. Ltd.
