I always take pride in having learned how to parent from my own mom — the best example. Not just from what she taught me to do with my kids once I had them, but also from the way she brought up my siblings and me.
Unfortunately, she is no longer with us. But her countless memories keep me going and help guide my parenting every day. One of the best parenting hacks I learned from her was to nurture your child’s strengths from the start.
I have always enjoyed writing. stories, poems, recipes, letters — everything. In school, when we were assigned a simple five-line paragraph, I used to go past the word count, letting my creativity just spill out onto the paper.
My mom was the first one to observe this talent. She used to tell me and everyone else that I was a gifted writer. She proudly showed my stories and poems to family and friends, and was always supportive of my reading habit, which helped hone my writing skills. To her, my writing was more than just a hobby.
She didn’t just label me a writer, but even treated me like one. She read what I wrote, appreciated it, and made sure I felt that it mattered. When one of my short stories got published in the local newspaper’s kids section, she was over the moon. She made sure I got enough appreciation to keep nurturing this special skill. She knew something I didn’t realize at the time.
Things took a turn for the sake of practicality
I never really gave up writing. My diaries were packed with stories, poetry, and fanfiction. Writing was always there. But I never seriously considered it as a career.
Despite my love for words, when it came time to choose a major, I chose biology. I was good at science, and fields like genetics and microbiology felt like safe bets for a successful future. On paper, it was the logical choice. But logic doesn’t always satisfy the soul. Even as I passed my exams with flying colors, I knew I never truly wanted to work in a lab.
Courtesy of Ariba Mobin.
I married right after graduating and planned to take a year off to settle into my new life. When I had my first baby, my perspective shifted. I realized I didn’t want to leave my child in day care while I did the 9-to-5 grind in a field I wasn’t really passionate about.
That feeling of having potential in my words came back with full force
By this time, my mom had spent twenty years telling me I was a writer. And when I needed work that aligned with my values as a parent, I decided to trust her label.
I tried freelance writing, not entirely sure where it would lead. To my surprise, I thrived. Working from home while being there for my baby was exactly what I needed.
A decade later, I have built a career as a content specialist and copywriter. The science professional path is long gone, but that’s for the better. It has been replaced by the career my mother saw for me before I could see it for myself.
The time came to carry the legacy forward
Now, I have three children of my own, each with unique capabilities, and I have made it my mission to be their strength-spotter, just like my mom was for me.
My eldest son has an incredible interest in sports and an impressive level of emotional control. Whenever he has a tough game day, I remind him that his discipline and calm head are the typical qualities of a great athlete.
On the contrary, my second son is a natural negotiator with mental math skills that are even better than adults. I tell him his ability to convince people and manage numbers will make him a fantastic entrepreneur one day.
Courtesy of Ariba Mobin.
My daughter, who isn’t even 5 yet, is already great at storytelling, organizing, and crafting. When she proudly shows me her little creations, I make sure she knows she has a creative eye.
Even with unique capabilities, every child has flaws, too. My eldest son shows almost no interest in creative writing, and my second son is far from organized, which can be frustrating at times. But I always try to focus on what they can do rather than what they cannot. I don’t want their small struggles to overcome their confidence because I want their internal voice to be filled with their strengths.
Parents can help write their children’s future with their words
I believe that how your parents raise you ultimately shapes how you raise your own kids. My life is proof that a parent’s label can shape a child’s destiny.
Parents have the power to spot potential before the rest of the world does. I truly believe our children become exactly who we tell them they are, so I’m making sure mine have a huge supporter in their corner to guide them.
