Parenting
by gleefulblogger

A Zeal for Gleeful Parenting

April 30, 2018
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‘An Enthusiastic Heart Finds OPPORTUNITIES Everywhere.’ – Paulo Coelho

This is my last post in ‘Gleeful-Parenting’ series! We started with ‘A‘ and today it’s over-whelming writing the last alphabet – ‘Z‘. Over these 26 letters, I have learned many things and introspected through the journey of writing. It is funny how positivity leaves it’s marks everywhere. This series by Blogchatter is the Live example of spreading cheer and positivity. I have made many friends over the #BlogchatterAtoZ journey and rekindled with old ones too.

Zeal for Parenting Goals

Enthusiasm and energy are directly related to kids, they get pepped up for anything big or small. A walk in the park, or evening stroll by the beach. Car wash or grocery shopping; a yes greets you with twinkling eyes. By nature kids are over-zealous, and it is our duty to divert this raw energy to positive efforts.

I am an avid follower of ‘Calvin and Hobbs’, during pregnancy ‘What you wish for?’ is the most common question we face. My reply would be same across nine months – naughty kid like Calvin! And they say – “when you truly wish for something, the whole universe conspires to get it for you“. God wholeheartedly fulfilled my wish and blessed with a super naughty daughter. Ms. Chatterbox, I was anxious about her energy levels and even reached experts seeking if she is ‘hyper child’, but she laughed it away. Saying, she is just full of energy, utilize her energy in the best way.

Over-Zealous to Zealous Parenting

With children, it’s easy to divert their energy into constructive work, how to work around with over-enthusiastic parents? I have narrated an incident earlier in one of my hyper parenting posts. This parent who wanted to check tenth and twelfth class workbooks, before finalizing her son’s admission in the nursery (pre-primary). Read the post here. There is no harm in foresighted, but there is always a threshold of everything. Deciding on if my child will be taking competitive exams in future, or study in IIT is as equivalent to as ‘khayali pulav’. (Build castles in the air)

co parenting

My parenting goals are to provide happiness and imbibe few basic things to my child. Compassion, Empathy, and Courage. Education and scores are all part of living, we cannot make them our goals. If she grows into a humble compassionate person, who is capable to manage her life I will be the happiest parent in this world.

‘Zeal without knowledge, is like Fire without Light’ – Thomas Fuller

With this note, I would like to thank all my wonderful friends – Mayuri, Anagha, Ruchie, Deepa, Varsha, Roma, Sudha, Meenakshi, DeepaK, Anshu and many more who helped me with my debut AtoZ journey. Blogchatter, thank you for challenging us to take #AtoZ2018 head-on and keeping it lite with all secret activities and enthusiasm. Hope to convert the Gleeful parenting series soon into my very first e-book.

PREVIOUSLY FROM THE SERIES –

W for Word of Wisdom.

X – xfactor of parenting.

Y for Your Parenting Fears.

COPY-WRITE NOTICE –
@Dipika Singh Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Dipika Singh (Gleefulblogger) with right and specific direction to the original content.
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What’s your X -Factor of Parenting?

April 28, 2018
4

What’s your X-Factor?

We all have that one thing, which makes us proud of yourself and others, isn’t it? In marketing, we call it USP – Unique Selling Proposition. We all have this X-factor, however, at times take few attempts to realize it. Like for me I always had a flare towards writing, but never tried it as passion. Reading is always been, and even today my first love. But when friends coaxed me to start writing, I gave it a try. Eventually, weaving fiction came naturally to yours truly. For creating a captivating story, all I need is just a happy place and calm mind.

Today, I use the same skills to explain good behavior and life’s principles to daughter. In the family, this ‘narrating-stories’ skill has gained quite accolades, and I am truly proud of that 🙂

So what is your X-Factor as Parents?

As parents, we don many hats, few are innate and some we learn over time. The aim is to provide the best of everything to our children and encourage them to give their best shot in whatever challenge they pick on.

I have seen parents who are really good at sports, instead of encouraging by words they participate in sports and spread the positivity around. We know that positivity has this ripple effect, and seeing parents being sporty kids come out their inhibitions. This is win-win for parents as well as kids.

With the current scenario knowing our innate abilities is very crucial, today when children are young and in learning, stage find that hidden x-factor. Parenting roles and relations have evolved for the better good, we are their friends, mentors, teachers, and providers.

Family and peers overburden children in today’s competitive world with over-expectations. As parents, we should act like sponges and absorb that pressure. The x-factor of parenting today – Be their friend more than the parent. guide them while stepping into their shoes and understanding their perspective.

For me, x-factor of parenting is when you let go your usual parenting avatar and bring more children connected version.

This post is written for #BlogchatterA2Z series by Blogchatter, and my theme for this challenge is Gleeful Parenting.

PREVIOUSLY FROM THE SERIES –

V for Vision.

W for Word of Wisdom.

COPY-WRITE NOTICE –
@Dipika Singh Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Dipika Singh (Gleefulblogger) with right and specific direction to the original content.

Jumble Bumble – All the Trouble of Forced Ambition

April 11, 2018
6

Jumble Bumble – Forced Ambition Trouble

Dance Bonanza – Dance Summer Class; Early bird discounts.

DIY child craft – Special Craft classes for kids aged 3 and above.

Skating/ Swimming/ Football/ Chess – First come first serve basis only.

Music Summer Special – Choice of Instrument – Guitar/ Violin/ Keyboard/ Piano and many more.

Vedic Maths / Algebra / Elocution / Art & Drama / Theatre – Enrol in One get One free.

These are the flyers we get with the daily newspaper every morning. My morning cup of ‘garma-garam chai’ winds up reading details about these vocational training courses. I discussed few with husband, who patiently listens to my babble while gulping his breakfast down and pushes it for evening discussion.

Last week I saved few flyers of Swimming/ Skating and Music for my girl to check out. While she was excited to know about these activities, at the same time inconclusive on which one to join. We left the trickiest task for Dad to decide. He was briefed about the scenario in evening and gave options to pick from. His loss of interest got on my nerves and had to give my two-cents to explain why these activities are MUST for every child.

Scene at Home

‘Do you know such activities refresh kids from daily school life’ I said giving my justification. ‘Even her best friends have joined these courses’ in addition to prove I am RIGHT. (mom aka wife is always right)

‘Then what are holidays for? Aren’t holidays to break the monotony, let her have peace of mind for one month’ said concerned dad.

‘Well yes, holidays are to enjoy but she can also attend these classes for an hour or so? Art is relaxing, she will enjoy for sure.’

‘Okay then, enroll in whatever she likes, but do not force ambition into it. Let her Enjoy’, he replied.

‘Of course, this is just fun.’ Yes, I was super excited to hear him say OKAY. ‘Looks like you are more excited than her for this whole thing’ he remarked seeing my excitement.

Next day I made few calls to inquire about the charges and location, most camps had trial class options and we went for two/three trials. Skating and swimming top the chart.

A day at the trail class –

We checked out few training centers and finalized to take trials. They took her inside and made me wait at reception when counselor came to discuss the course structure. She informed about how their training centers have made champions and parents are very proud. Some digital testimonial from parents to prove they are the best. She also mentioned different types of course plans – beginners, intermediate, advanced and champions.

I asked her to differentiate between all types, her response startled me to the core. Beginners course at summer camp with a certificate of participation. Intermediate course to boost child’s interest in the course with new activities. The advanced course is to harness the skills and Champions is taken by subject experts only, for competitive stages.

Well, all I thought of these training courses is to break the monotony in child’s life and bring some relaxation.

Clear Case of Forced Ambition

Summer Camps and many such activities are to engage the children during holidays or free time. Let it be that way, take a small plunge into memory lane and try to remember our childhood times? How relaxing summer or winter vacations used to be. Fun, friends, frolic and carefree few days. Playing from early morning to late in the evening, visiting friends houses, pajama parties, and much more. Today morning, read a beautiful post on summers from a dear friend and wonderful blogger – Mayuri. Summer Soliloquy, she beautifully explained summer fun in her post.

Reading Mayuri’s post made me introspect, why do we force our children with the burden to learn, perform, excel in everything? Our parents did not, and we are doing fairly well in life. So why this maddening rat race with our kids?

force ambition

Summer camps or any such crash course is to fill the gap. If a child has interest in any art based activity harness it as a creative addition. We as parents have to understand and respect every child’s decision and understanding. I often hear parents saying – ‘wasted my money on you’, ‘why couldn’t you perform well in competition?’. This is peer pressure which makes children vulnerable to break.

As a parent, I have learned my lesson and do not add my likes/dislikes to her decisions. Childhood is the BEST phase of life, let children have most out of it.

This post is written for #BlogchatterA2Z series by Blogchatter, and my theme for this challenge is Gleeful Parenting. Previously from the series –

H for Housekeeping.

I for Ignite creativity.

COPY-WRITE NOTICE –
@Dipika Singh Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Dipika Singh (Gleefulblogger) with right and specific direction to the original content.
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