Nurture. To care for and encourage growth and development.
Nurture has been synonymous to parenting. I think once you become a parent it becomes part of who you are. Though providing basic needs such as food, shelter & clothing is one way of taking care of a child, nurturing goes beyond that. To mindfully encourage & support not just physical growth but as well as cognitive, spiritual and emotional. This for me is what nurturing is about.
More than being at my children’s beck and call and make sure they have everything they need–at home and for school, I also want to make sure I’m a nurturing mom. So before 2018 ended, I had some time to reflect & it made me realise, I want my kids to have a happy childhood, And having a happy childhood means having a nurturing environment. So come 2019, I promise I’ll level up my nurturing game and so here I am sharing with you some of the steps I’ve taken to make sure I’m more mindfully nurturing my kids in all aspects of their lives.
IT STARTS WITH A YES
It all starts with saying YES more. My kids like any kids are always up to trying something fun & new. They’re creative juices flow naturally & instinctively, and play is their natural way of learning. For some time I’ve become the typical busy parent, who is so focused with work & chores that NO has usually become one of the most frequently used response to any question my kids throw at me. But over the years I’ve learned that being open to try things & do things along with my kids is the first step in nurturing them.
FEEL THE SAME WAY THEY DO
I learned that in order for kids to be confident in trying new things, as a parent you have to be as equally excited as they are. While giving them opportunities to unlock a new skill is always a sure way to help nurture their gift or at the very least know what they’re capable of, being on the same emotional level as they are can make a huge difference. If they want to try something new (be it a sport or an activity to harness a new skill) encourage them but if they don’t want to pursue don’t pressure them into continuing it just because you’ve invested time, money and effort towards it. Remember that it’s not about you but it’s about encouraging them to try.
LET THEM GO AT THEIR OWN PACE
I feel guilty sometimes for expecting a result that favors. Sometimes as a parent, I tend to expect a lot from kids. Especially after giving them opportunities to learn & grow. But this isn’t what parenting is about. It’s about encouraging but not pressuring. It’s about letting them decide what they’re interested in and what they’re willing to learn. As part of nurturing my kids, I’ve learned to consider their emotions & sometimes even prioritise it over anything else. More than the physical & mental growth, it also is equally important to encourage expressing their feelings.
Another way of nurturing is nourishing. This cutie got his sweet tooth from me. And while I allow him to have his sweet treats once in a while, I’m glad he still loves drinking milk. He still drinks a glass or two of PROMIL® FOUR. It contains NUTRISSENTIALS® – a unique combination of essential nutrients such as Iron, Iodine, Zinc, Vitamin A, Niacin, Potassium and Biotin, plus Lutein. Now, it contains DHA and AA.
I’m not in a hurry for my kids to figure out what they’re good at. I am however excited to see them thrive in every opportunity given to them to learn & grow. If they end up not pursuing something, I’ll be right behind them. But if there’s one thing I know, it’s that I’ll be here to nourish & nurture them as long as they need to.
*this post was made possible by Promil® FOUR. All thoughts and opinions are of my own.*
Leave a Reply