Dear husband and I visited a garden last weekend to shop for herbs that I use frequently in my cooking. All the plants were clearly labeled with care instructions - frequency of watering, how much sun and most importantly, different types of fertilizers. I commented that they must have tested each type of fertilizer to see with which one would the plant grow the best. Perhaps grow bigger leaves or larger fruits.
We were talking over breakfast this morning, it was about one of our favorite topic - our 4 beautiful kids. They were all different - No.1 is a creative story writer, No.2 a fantastically accomplished dancer, No.3 is a visual artist and No.4 is the crazy musician! As we joined the dots from the different types of plants to our 4 different kids, we realized that we need to use different "fertilizers" for our different kids.
Kids were gifted to us, created differently. They have different talents, different interests and different needs. If we encourage, stimulate and support in the ways that they need, they would flourish and grow to the fullest potential. Conversely, if we remove the stimulations they need, they may be stunted and will not grow as well.
Port that idea to our modern day life. No.3 watches a lot of television. He even calls himself "The TV Man". I had worry about this and tried on many occasions to distract him with other activities. Dear husband then made a good point this morning when he said that No. 3 is so visual that he probably needs the stimulation from the television programs. The images are not merely images, they are tools to him. Tools and skills that he is building up to be used. Just on Sunday, our dear boy used 2 spades of different shapes, put them against his face and then proceeded to tell everyone he is a diver. We were amazed as he would have to have the image in his head to make it up! Trust me, he really looked like a diver! Obviously he has a very different and interesting visual perspective on things.
Okay lady, you are trying to justify letting your kid watch TV on your blog? Maybe but I think when it comes to my offspring, I will do whatever it takes to help them grow. If it means going against the general societal norms, I am willing to take the risk. I did not even talk about the growth in academic performance as I believe that if I "fertilize" my kids in the right way, success will come, with or without academic brilliance.
After all, I am taking a leaf from my daughter's book.
I was told after 4 years of ballet lessons, that anatomically, she is not suitable to be a ballet dancer! But this was followed by her teachers saying how she has methodically corrected and eradicated each and every one of her weaknesses. All these time, I had no idea that she was struggling and working so hard to get to the standard that was expected of her. However, I am happy to say that both dear husband and I were always supportive throughout, whether it was time, money, being there to attend all her performances and moral support before all the events. Now, with 3 public performances, 2 examinations and 1 competition behind her, she is one of the best dancers in her class.
Perhaps I have a rock star on my hands if I give No.4 an electric guitar and the next Stephen King if I give my eldest professional writing classes? The possibilities are endless, if we would just allow them to happen.
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