Each day begins with a cooing from the bundle in the bed, followed by my daughter wriggling off the bed and saying “morning!” She has breakfast and then we move on to our morning playtime. Sometimes, she plays contentedly… but there are also those times when she demands my attention and insists that I “sit down, mama!” although I have to also somehow prepare her lunch and juggle other chores.
And then there is lunchtime. Again, sometimes she has a good appetite, but at other times, feeding can be challenging, especially when she insists on being let out of her high chair mid-meal, or spits out food, or takes out half-chewed food from her mouth and hands it back to me.
In those moments, I have learned that patience matters. Staying calm, listening to her cues, and respecting when she says “enough” even when I feel she hasn’t eaten enough, helps build trust. It reassures her that she is heard, understood, and respected, and helps us avoid turning mealtimes into a struggle or creating negative associations with food.
After her nap, she wakes up ready for her favourite snacks. We usually head out together, whether it is running errands or grocery shopping followed by some outdoor play. We might go to the park, or to a playground, or if the weather is bad, to the nearby MRT station so that she can run all along the underground corridor. Even the simplest of these excites her. It can be trying at times, to have to dash after her to stop her from getting onto the escalator, or touching a particularly grimy bit of the wall, but that pales in comparison to her joy, and by extension, mine, in those moments.
I have realised that what my daughter wants most isn’t perfection, it’s my time and patience. I make it a point to talk to my daughter as I would to an adult: explaining, reassuring, and listening. Over time, this consistent communication builds trust and emotional understanding. Motherhood has taught me patience in ways I never expected. It requires listening, repeating calmly, and explaining the same things in different ways until understanding clicks. It’s about ensuring my daughter feels safe, heard, understood, and deeply loved.
In the evenings, once my husband is home, she happily spends time with him before eventually curling up in my arms for the night. I sing her to sleep as she gazes up at me, until her eyelids gradually droop and then close. Through play, routine, and shared moments, I have learned that patience isn’t only something we teach our children; it’s something they teach us, every day.