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Thrilled to inspire kids' creativity
By Maureen Ni |
December 26, 2012, Wednesday
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MY name is Maureen Ni and I have three daughters, aged 15, 14 and 12. My previous employment included a business analyst and project manager.
My life here in Shanghai as "a trailing spouse" is filled with both challenges and adventures.
As my spouse is busy navigating the often perplexing world of commerce here in China, I feel my role is to stabilize the family and ground it. Whether by helping my daughters settle into school with homework, afterschool activities and busy social lives; or tracking down clothes that fit and suit their American size and taste; or maybe just making a home-cooked meal when we've had enough local cuisine, I'd like to think I take care of enough of the details so our lives here feel less foreign.
I am used to being active in my children's education and enjoy the opportunity to get into their classrooms. I get a chance to contribute something and in return, get to see the interactions and personalities. I can put a face to a name they might mention or understand why an assignment was given. All of these small things add up to support and enhance and possibly make things a bit easier for my kids.
When my children were younger I helped as a parent volunteer in the classroom, so feel I know their friends and feel good about the decisions they are making.
I had a special moment one time when I met a parent of one of my daughter's classmate. This parent connected me to a project I had brought into our children's class, and her son was so thrilled with it that they had to go out and get the supplies so that he could continue to work on it at home!
What a thrill to know that something I had brought into the classroom had made such an impression and inspired a young boy.
My life here in Shanghai as "a trailing spouse" is filled with both challenges and adventures.
As my spouse is busy navigating the often perplexing world of commerce here in China, I feel my role is to stabilize the family and ground it. Whether by helping my daughters settle into school with homework, afterschool activities and busy social lives; or tracking down clothes that fit and suit their American size and taste; or maybe just making a home-cooked meal when we've had enough local cuisine, I'd like to think I take care of enough of the details so our lives here feel less foreign.
I am used to being active in my children's education and enjoy the opportunity to get into their classrooms. I get a chance to contribute something and in return, get to see the interactions and personalities. I can put a face to a name they might mention or understand why an assignment was given. All of these small things add up to support and enhance and possibly make things a bit easier for my kids.
When my children were younger I helped as a parent volunteer in the classroom, so feel I know their friends and feel good about the decisions they are making.
I had a special moment one time when I met a parent of one of my daughter's classmate. This parent connected me to a project I had brought into our children's class, and her son was so thrilled with it that they had to go out and get the supplies so that he could continue to work on it at home!
What a thrill to know that something I had brought into the classroom had made such an impression and inspired a young boy.
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