Transformational Stories

When my children were under 10, daily frustrations drove me to enrol in parenting courses. Homework battles, annoying behaviours, and constant sibling fights seemed overwhelming — making me fear losing control during their teenage years.

The parenting courses and workshops transformed my perspective; I realised the need for personal change and adjustment of my mindset and expectations. I learned to appreciate my children’s strengths, enjoy their company, and understand their thoughts. I learned to speak less and listen more, making me a more patient, calm, and appreciative parent. Now, in their teens, my children are loving, independent, sensible, filial, and emotionally healthy. They confide in me, and our close-knit family is my most fulfilling investment. I owe this transformation to Eric’s parenting courses, for which I am eternally grateful.

Parenting is a journey. Unfortunately, it is one that cannot be charted clearly on a map… We assumed parenting is a cookie-cutting process — mimicking other parents’ steps. Our journey became exhausting and strained our family relationships.

Reflecting on our journey, we sought areas for improvement. It was during our elder child’s higher primary school years that we were introduced to the Appreciating Education programme through Eric and connected with a supportive community of parents. This programme revolutionised our perspective on love and taught us the importance of self-love as a foundation for nurturing our children. We learned to appreciate and affirm our children’s efforts and attitudes, fostering stronger bonds and communication. Through ongoing support from fellow parents, we witnessed positive transformations in our family dynamics. The success of our parenting journey lies in our conviction to internalise these teachings — leading to self-transformation and, ultimately, happier children.

Thanks to Facebook, a post from October 2012 brought back memories, reminding me of someone I’m grateful for — Eric Lim. I want to thank him for bringing “Appreciating Education” into Singapore, which corrected my misconceptions about children’s education.

My son faced challenges in primary school, and my efforts to change the situation failed. Frustrated, I stumbled upon a parenting program, and it turned out to be a transformative experience. The course enlightened us, improved communication with our son, and brought consensus between my husband and me. Eric’s follow-up sessions and ongoing support ensured practical implementation. Now, my son is grown, I’m a Chinese school teacher, applying what I’ve learned to inspire my students. Eric’s impact continues, guiding me in resolving misunderstandings with my 20-year-old son. Gratitude fills me as I reflect on this transformative journey.