Comments on: M is for Mother… http://www.cherryblossomadventures.com/2008/04/03/m-is-for-mother/ An Aussie girl living in Tokyo with her Japanese boyfriend trying to make sense of her crazy yet funny Japanese life... Sat, 13 Mar 2010 03:05:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Mandy http://www.cherryblossomadventures.com/2008/04/03/m-is-for-mother/comment-page-1/#comment-1583 Mandy Mon, 07 Apr 2008 18:05:06 +0000 http://www.cherryblossomadventures.com/2008/04/03/m-is-for-mother/#comment-1583 I was always quite envious of your ability to handle little kids. You seemed to have a knack from a very young age. I'm trying to remember the family, but I think the youngest was named Alex who had red curly hair and you used to take care of him a bit when we were really young. And the kids who lived next door to you. They completely loved you and I'm sure the kids you look after will miss you dearly! I think you will be an absolutely wonderful Mum - and the advice here is all very good. There is no perfect way, mistakes will be made but with good intentions and love, a lot can be achieved. Plus your Mum is pretty damn cool and a very plucky woman so I know where you get it from! Mums rock! xxxx I was always quite envious of your ability to handle little kids. You seemed to have a knack from a very young age. I’m trying to remember the family, but I think the youngest was named Alex who had red curly hair and you used to take care of him a bit when we were really young. And the kids who lived next door to you. They completely loved you and I’m sure the kids you look after will miss you dearly!

I think you will be an absolutely wonderful Mum – and the advice here is all very good. There is no perfect way, mistakes will be made but with good intentions and love, a lot can be achieved.

Plus your Mum is pretty damn cool and a very plucky woman so I know where you get it from! Mums rock!

xxxx

]]> By: billywest http://www.cherryblossomadventures.com/2008/04/03/m-is-for-mother/comment-page-1/#comment-1582 billywest Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:35:41 +0000 http://www.cherryblossomadventures.com/2008/04/03/m-is-for-mother/#comment-1582 My mom wants me to get married and have a kid or two before she kicks the bucket. It's one of the reasons we don't talk on the phone so much these days (That and the phone call from japan is expensive). I do miss my mom, though. Nice hanami pics, by the way. My mom wants me to get married and have a kid or two before she kicks the bucket. It’s one of the reasons we don’t talk on the phone so much these days (That and the phone call from japan is expensive). I do miss my mom, though.

Nice hanami pics, by the way.

]]> By: katherine http://www.cherryblossomadventures.com/2008/04/03/m-is-for-mother/comment-page-1/#comment-1573 katherine Sun, 06 Apr 2008 23:13:12 +0000 http://www.cherryblossomadventures.com/2008/04/03/m-is-for-mother/#comment-1573 Thank you Lu Lu, love mum. xxxx P.s. I love you too. Thank you Lu Lu, love mum. xxxx
P.s. I love you too.

]]> By: Sueblimely http://www.cherryblossomadventures.com/2008/04/03/m-is-for-mother/comment-page-1/#comment-1566 Sueblimely Sat, 05 Apr 2008 23:31:49 +0000 http://www.cherryblossomadventures.com/2008/04/03/m-is-for-mother/#comment-1566 If you needed to submit a CV to the Stork before becoming a mother I think what you have written above would show your suitability and qualifications :-) The main points that stood out to me in the above "application": You realize the importance of hugs. :-) Showing anger to children is not a solution. You are not wearing rosy glasses and understand that parenthood is not always all sweetness and light but your experience with your mum shows that the light still shines through. Having a terrific mother, you know what it takes to be one yourself. A couple of observations though (I am not a teacher but have had charge of a multitude of the little darlings many times in the 26 years I have been a mom) I love all kids but there are many I do not like very much - I love my own kids fiercely and like them (well at least most of the time). You do have to keep emotions in check as a teacher. If you remain emotionless as a mother, how are kids to learn how their behavior affects others. I think losing patience with your own kids is natural - if we came across as perfect then we would be setting a path to failure for them. How could they reach such lofty heights. What is relevant is not that we feel this way but how we react when we do. Sorry for the length of this. This has partly been a weekend of reflection for me - My daughter moved away to Perth last year with her job but is home for a few days. All my precious brood are together again for a while and we have been able to spend some time together - when daughter has not been out catching up with her mates at least :-) If you needed to submit a CV to the Stork before becoming a mother I think what you have written above would show your suitability and qualifications :-)

The main points that stood out to me in the above “application”:
You realize the importance of hugs. :-)
Showing anger to children is not a solution.
You are not wearing rosy glasses and understand that parenthood is not always all sweetness and light but your experience with your mum shows that the light still shines through.
Having a terrific mother, you know what it takes to be one yourself.

A couple of observations though (I am not a teacher but have had charge of a multitude of the little darlings many times in the 26 years I have been a mom)

I love all kids but there are many I do not like very much – I love my own kids fiercely and like them (well at least most of the time).

You do have to keep emotions in check as a teacher. If you remain emotionless as a mother, how are kids to learn how their behavior affects others. I think losing patience with your own kids is natural – if we came across as perfect then we would be setting a path to failure for them. How could they reach such lofty heights. What is relevant is not that we feel this way but how we react when we do.

Sorry for the length of this. This has partly been a weekend of reflection for me – My daughter moved away to Perth last year with her job but is home for a few days. All my precious brood are together again for a while and we have been able to spend some time together – when daughter has not been out catching up with her mates at least :-)

]]> By: Justine http://www.cherryblossomadventures.com/2008/04/03/m-is-for-mother/comment-page-1/#comment-1562 Justine Sat, 05 Apr 2008 13:53:38 +0000 http://www.cherryblossomadventures.com/2008/04/03/m-is-for-mother/#comment-1562 Lulu, my mum is a kiwi and moved to Australia (Sydney) when she was 17 too! I loved this post and like everyone else wanted to add that being anxious about becoming a mum is natural. I believe that in the way you describe how you relate to the children you teach, you already know more about kids than some parents! Recognising that a hug can often be just as effective as timeout and that allowing them to develop without crowding them will make you an outstanding mum. As for patience, I don't know a single parent who hasn't lost their patience with their kids at some point. The difference is in the parents that own this reaction and can apologise to their child and model the behaviour they wish to see in their children. You seem very self aware which is a massive advantage in becoming a parent! Xxx Lulu, my mum is a kiwi and moved to Australia (Sydney) when she was 17 too! I loved this post and like everyone else wanted to add that being anxious about becoming a mum is natural. I believe that in the way you describe how you relate to the children you teach, you already know more about kids than some parents! Recognising that a hug can often be just as effective as timeout and that allowing them to develop without crowding them will make you an outstanding mum. As for patience, I don’t know a single parent who hasn’t lost their patience with their kids at some point. The difference is in the parents that own this reaction and can apologise to their child and model the behaviour they wish to see in their children.
You seem very self aware which is a massive advantage in becoming a parent!
Xxx

]]> By: Kelley http://www.cherryblossomadventures.com/2008/04/03/m-is-for-mother/comment-page-1/#comment-1559 Kelley Sat, 05 Apr 2008 11:02:05 +0000 http://www.cherryblossomadventures.com/2008/04/03/m-is-for-mother/#comment-1559 Lovely post Lulu. Your mother sounds wonderful and I am sure you will be just as fantastic as a mummy. Lovely post Lulu. Your mother sounds wonderful and I am sure you will be just as fantastic as a mummy.

]]> By: PlanningQueen http://www.cherryblossomadventures.com/2008/04/03/m-is-for-mother/comment-page-1/#comment-1558 PlanningQueen Sat, 05 Apr 2008 05:43:56 +0000 http://www.cherryblossomadventures.com/2008/04/03/m-is-for-mother/#comment-1558 Speking as a mother, I would be so happy if my daughter wrote that about me! Speking as a mother, I would be so happy if my daughter wrote that about me!

]]> By: Christelle http://www.cherryblossomadventures.com/2008/04/03/m-is-for-mother/comment-page-1/#comment-1553 Christelle Fri, 04 Apr 2008 12:04:18 +0000 http://www.cherryblossomadventures.com/2008/04/03/m-is-for-mother/#comment-1553 I just wanted to say that I think it's better that you don't want kids yet. You're look soooo young! I was never ready for kids (until now :) My maternal clock didn't kick in until I was 35 and here I am 37 and about to have my first baby. But I'm glad I waited cause I've done so much and had my selfish time. I hope I'll be a good mother, but it reassures me to know that at least my baby will have a great dad in my husband! (And I was also blessed with a great dad so that's really important to me). It's so nice to see how close you are to your mother (I envy that). Sounds like you had a great role model and when the time is right, you'll be a pro at it the motherhood thing too! I just wanted to say that I think it’s better that you don’t want kids yet. You’re look soooo young! I was never ready for kids (until now :) My maternal clock didn’t kick in until I was 35 and here I am 37 and about to have my first baby. But I’m glad I waited cause I’ve done so much and had my selfish time. I hope I’ll be a good mother, but it reassures me to know that at least my baby will have a great dad in my husband! (And I was also blessed with a great dad so that’s really important to me). It’s so nice to see how close you are to your mother (I envy that). Sounds like you had a great role model and when the time is right, you’ll be a pro at it the motherhood thing too!

]]> By: Amy http://www.cherryblossomadventures.com/2008/04/03/m-is-for-mother/comment-page-1/#comment-1552 Amy Fri, 04 Apr 2008 11:43:55 +0000 http://www.cherryblossomadventures.com/2008/04/03/m-is-for-mother/#comment-1552 Awww, wonderful! I'm really close with my mum as well so I know where you're coming from :) I know you'll be a wonderful mum, I think once you've got that baby in your arms and you know its YOURS you'll realise you're made to be a mummy :) Awww, wonderful! I’m really close with my mum as well so I know where you’re coming from :)

I know you’ll be a wonderful mum, I think once you’ve got that baby in your arms and you know its YOURS you’ll realise you’re made to be a mummy :)

]]> By: suzy http://www.cherryblossomadventures.com/2008/04/03/m-is-for-mother/comment-page-1/#comment-1550 suzy Fri, 04 Apr 2008 09:38:47 +0000 http://www.cherryblossomadventures.com/2008/04/03/m-is-for-mother/#comment-1550 Such a great post :) Don't let teaching make you think you won't be a good mother, it is totally different when you have your own baby. xx Such a great post :)

Don’t let teaching make you think you won’t be a good mother, it is totally different when you have your own baby.

xx

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