CHRISTINE DYCHIAO:
Seek experiences you can share with your kids
At 31, a pregnant Christine was filled with mixed emotions — excitement, nervousness, happiness, and a fear of the unknown. “I knew how to take care of babies because I watched my mom and helped her take care of my younger siblings,” she shares. “But the idea of disciplining my own kids, instilling the right values, and helping them navigate the world with confidence — I admit that I had doubts about my abilities.”
Motherhood then taught her how to be more open, to seek out more enriching experiences so that she could share them with her children. “Before having kids, my interests were very limited as to what I liked, but now my research goes beyond what I care about.”
Her secret to maintaining a happy life is to “be mindful and learn how to live in the present. Don’t be attached to the past or fearful of the future. Being grateful to God for today, setting goals and doing our best to achieve those sets the course of the future.”
Her advice for other moms is not to think too far ahead to the future, but to just focus on raising happy, healthy kids. “Be unconditional with your love, cherish their individuality, and do not benchmark them against other kids.”
She likes to keep her style simple and streamlined, sticking to the classics like the linen fabrics of British India’s liberty printed dresses from Esprit, Clarks’ easy-to-wear, durable and comfortable sandals and Esprit for their trendy yet timeless styles.