Miss brought home Ozzie (the teddy bear) from school the other week; Miss would learn responsibility while taking care of her charge and involving him our all our daily routines. While watching Miss and Master (and Ozzie) at play, I suspected that actually, I was learning a few lessons. Here are a few things I have learnt from Miss and Ozzie about being a good parent.
Back to basics
While preparing to take Ozzie for a spin
on the ‘spinning donut thing’ in the playground, I overheard Miss quietly reassuring Ozzie “It’s
okay, Mummy is keeping you safe. Mummy has you” (meaning Miss, not me, Mama).
Keep taking those quite moments to assure Miss or Master of your love, their safety and security.
Ebb and flow
For the initial period it was ‘Ozzie,
Ozzie, Ozzie’ - all about Ozzie. Later, Ozzie was forgotten (literally) and
left aside.
We all need ‘me’ time and life cannot be
lead solely through those in our charge. Of course, ‘forgotten’ and ‘left
aside’ are excessively extreme methods of making ‘me’ time.
Making it count
Whatever it is. The simple,
everyday act of enjoying breakfast was made more enjoyable for Miss when she
shared it with Ozzie. Miss would sit Ozzie comfortably and proceed to explain what
she was eating for breakfast, how it tasted and that because it was healthy it would
give her good energy to spend learning and playing during that day.
You don’t need to plan amazing daily
adventures to ensure Miss or Master have a great day – just be amazing at whatever
activity you are doing.
Document
“Ozzie’s Adventures” is the aptly named
journal we (read: Mama) were tasked to update with drawings and photographs as
abridged testaments to Ozzie's adventures with our family. Miss loved
'making' the adventures as much as reliving them with images.
This lesson speaks volumes to me. I have a
lovely little camera and I have lots of lovely images from it. But I really must get around to printing some of them. Thinking more widely, (and in the context
of parenting and blogging), looking at the images of Ozzie’s adventures was Miss’s way of
reliving the fun. There are many more ways of reliving the fun with a Miss or
Master - write a blog, make a scrapbook or a collage. Share
the ‘doing’ with them and/or bring out the final product(s) on a rainy day.
Responsibility
The day Miss brought home her charge I am
certain she walked an inch taller, stood a degree straighter and gave a tooth-width
wider smile.
Be proud of your responsibilities. Enjoy
them. And don’t forget to empower Miss and Master by delegating them responsibilities so that they can be proud too.
