SOMEONE ELSES OPINION OF YOU IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS

Parenting is an extremely strenuous predicament that every parent finds themselves in whatever the age group. What makes it even harder is when we try to live up to other people's expectations. The beauty of an Asian community is that whilst there is always someone to help if need be, on the downside, there will also be an “inquisitive” auntie or “a know it all” Uncle, who will never fail to tell you their opinion of things. Irrespective of your thoughts and ideas, you start to hear yourself telling your children, “what will the neighbours think, you all are so badly behaved!” Unwittingly, you fall into the the trap of other people's expectations of you, of your children, of your family. You start to live a life that is someone's frivolous antiquated idea, rather than your own. You start to forfeit happiness, your children look on bewildered as you shout orders of expectations and you forget your true happiness. The only opinion that counts is yours. Your ways of how you want to run your lives, raise your children. It might not the the everyday norm, but what is the every norm other than something we are able to create for ourselves. Live your life on your terms.