Meet Jessica! She’s one of the most intentional parents we know. We had the joy of meeting Jessica during one of our Plinkit Masterclasses, and from the minute we met, we could see her shining dedication and intellect. We’re so grateful for Superfans like Jessica!
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5 surprising things about parenting:
On your child’s learning: The importance of narration. Simply talking through what’s happening for both my 20-month old and 4-year old is so critical in their development. Anything from how I’m making lunch, to the big meeting I have that day, to how a caterpillar becomes a butterfly. They learn so much from just hearing how we manage through the day, and I have to remember to *talk* through it out loud so they can learn.
On school: I never expected to have such meaningful relationships with my daughter’s teachers. They are 100% on this journey of parenting with my husband and me, and we trust them so much with their perspective on development, play date suggestions, learning guidance and more.
On toys: They really do like the bright colored plastic ones! Also, a toy won’t solve anything. You as a parent have to play and teach and model. Then, they will be able to play on their own.
On food: My husband and I love to cook, and love to eat even more! It’s an important part of our lives and we try to make it an important part of our daughters’ lives. Bringing them along to the grocery store or farmer’s market is not only efficient, but lets them understand the process and lets them have choice on what to get at the store, which makes them more excited to see it when it’s on their plate.
On childcare: It’s 100% needed to be a sane parent. Don’t try to be a martyr by not accepting help just to prove you can do it – a happy parent is better than a perfect parent. We are lucky to have family around and I never say no to offers of help!
Biggest parenting challenge right now:
- Giving both kids the right amount of attention, and entertaining my 4-year old in a constructive, educational manner.
- Whining! My 4-year old is whining a lot and talking a lot, and needs a lot of stimulation and engagement. I grapple with how much down time to give vs. stimulation.
What do you wish you would do more/less of as a parent?
- More: I wish I could play all day and be super engaging and educational in everything that I do. I also am trying to let my 4-year old do more of what she can do on her own. Right now, she’s really into cracking the eggs at breakfast and while I’d rather do it because I can do it faster and less messy, we make a concerted effort to let her help with breakfast. She’s just picked up making her bed and it’s definitely not done in an organized manner, but she feels really proud of herself and that self-confidence will carry her through many other points in her day.
- Less: I wish I could hear the sound of my own voice less – HA! Parenting really is listening to your own voice ALL DAY LONG.
When your child doesn’t want to do something, what do you say/do?
I talk about how excited I am to do it. Or I change the subject and divert to something they can make a choice on. For example, if they don’t want to get in the car. I say, “OK. We are getting in the car, but you can pick the song. Do you want to listen to A or B?” Allowing them to feel some sense of control usually alleviates the push back on the other task at hand.
What does your morning routine look like with the kids?
- Each morning our 4-year old comes into our room dressed and ready. She loves getting herself dressed and while the outfits are not always great, she feels good in them so I let her wear what she wants (to an extent, no costumes or swimsuits allowed at school). We practice writing letters, sometimes do a puzzle, and she helps me make breakfast.
- Our younger daughter is really into her picture books so she sits at the counter reading those while waiting for her favorites (eggs and sausage).
What are your child’s 3 favorite books?
- 4-year old: Stop This Birthday, Minnie in Paris, The Button Box.
- 20-month old: ANY book with pictures of food and any Daniel The Tiger book.
Rainy days – What do you do?!
Play dough, puzzles, drawing, blocks. Sometimes, a show like Nature Cat (for my 4-year old) if everyone is bouncing off the walls and needs a moment of respite. And let’s get real – sometimes even a movie!
Words of wisdom you’d share with a new parent:
- Days are long, years are short.
- Be present.
- If you want your kids to do something, do it yourself and set an example. If you want your kids to love reading, show them how and why you love reading.
- Every kid and every family has their issues and struggles that you may not see or know about. Reserve judgment; we are all in this together.
*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.
