When it comes to parenting practices, there’s no doubt that it has changed over the years, especially with the rise of the Internet and social media, and a deluge of approaches and advice at our disposal. How are parents doing it now? What has changed compared to when they were kids? In conjunction with Mother’s Day, the Weekly speaks to four modern mums, on their mantras when it comes to raising their kids, how their own childhood has shaped their parenting styles, and their journey and struggles as a working mother.
It’s oftentimes hard enough for adults to deal with their feelings, not to mention young children, who may not necessarily be able to regulate their emotions. That’s when meltdowns, acting out, and impulses enter the chat. For Karen Fong, being present for her children and listening to as well as validating their feelings and experiences is crucial. “I want them to be more confident in how they feel and express themselves. There is so much more research now on how children feel, as well as alternative ways to handle ‘big feelings’, both the parent’s and the child’s.”
The Singapore PR, who just turned 40 and spent most of her formative years growing up in Singapore, is a travel and lifestyle writer as well as The Weekly‘s contributing associate editor. She tied the knot to her husband, who is British, in Singapore where they’re both based now, and have two girls. The first is a toddler who is 26 months old, and the second was born at the end of March and is five weeks old.
She lets on about why she wants her children to grow up trusting their feelings and why it’s important not to dismiss them, and being a strong female role model to her girls.