The Imaginary Child
Every time after listening to other experienced parents sharing parenthood tips, ‘thunderstorms’ gather in my head, rolling up all sorts of unwanted feelings like guilt, self-doubt and self-criticism. I would suddenly feel that on the matter of Heng Heng’s upbringing, my standards are not high enough and my plans are too short-sighted, that there are so much more I could do but not sure where to start…. How to break free from the anxiety caused by our own "emotional trap" and face this life-long role as a parent with more calmness and confidence ? The first antidote to anxiety I prescription to myself is called making a clear definition of what a good enough mum is for me. It is not about listing all the relatable standards, but rather about knowing what is more important for your and setting priorities. It is not about being precise and detailed, but rather about distilling the values and principles that matter the most to you. The executions can be improved through...