My 7,5 year old daughter who is now on her second year of elementary school, came home as cheerful as usual.
She said, “My math got 40! It was 25, but I took remedial and now I got 40!”
Still with a big smile on her face :D
I couldn’t help but smile with her :))
No, I wasn’t pretending. It was a sincere smile, knowing that she’s eager to try again. I smiled, knowing that she’s happy to get a progress. I smiled, knowing that she tried her best.
I couldn’t believe myself if I remember the contrary last year.
That time, she came home and showed me she got 80 for english. My reaction was kinda disappointed, expecting her to get better than that. I focused more on her wrong answers, which is only 20%, pushing aside the right answers, which is 80%.
My best buddy J who overheard the conversation via skype call, said to me directly in firm tone:
“Oh come on, have mercy. 80 is not bad! So Indonesian, wanting a perfect result, under-appreciate the effort.”
Such a hard slap in my face.
A moment later I said sorry to her. She smiled and said, “That’s okay!” and hugged me.
From then on, I promised myself not to let a score define her self value.
#parenting #parentips #parenthoughts – View on Path.