From the moment a child is born, we, as parents, get swept into an endless list of responsibilities—how to care for them, what to teach, what’s right, what’s wrong. What we often forget is that while we’re busy shaping our children, they’re quietly shaping us too. They watch us, imitate us, absorb how we react to life. Every smile, every sigh, every giggle becomes their silent guide.
What if we stopped worrying so much about getting everything right or about what others say, and instead focused on what’s right in front of us? A parent’s instinct is rarely wrong. The simplest, unplanned moments—your baby wrapping their tiny fingers around yours, the warmth of that first giggle—are the real milestones. These memories don’t need photos to last; they’re etched in our hearts. In that simple grasp, your child is forging a bond of trust and friendship that no selfie can capture.
So, let’s forget the noise for a moment. Forget the pressure of what’s next, of how we’ll manage when they’re grown. What truly matters is this—your presence, your voice, your willingness to just be with them. Tell them stories, the ones passed down to you and the new ones born from your own life. Sing to them, let play lead the way, and watch as they learn and grow through these playful, imperfect, magical moments.
As a mother of two, I’ve lived this. With my first, I was in a hurry—hurry to return to normalcy, to see her grow, to help her become “someone.” Luckily, she slowed me down. I listened. I paused. Now she’s a wise, witty teenager, taller than me, and I celebrate every bit of who she’s become. But I miss those tiny hands. That’s why, with my second, I hold on to those moments longer. Reading to him, inventing playful tools to tell stories—that’s my joy. One of my favourite creations, the StoryWheels, was born out of this phase—when juggling both kids left me time-swamped, but I still wanted to keep our storytelling tradition alive.
Learning through play isn’t just for children. It’s for us parents too. It reminds us to pause, to connect, to be present. And in those simple, playful moments, we build the memories that truly last.