Multilingual Parenting & Education
Reflections on raising a child with Chinese, English, and German, as well as school, language learning, childhood, and family education across cultures.
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We Keep Saying “Bitterness First, Sweetness Later” — But Some Sweetness Has an Expiry Date
This essay reflects on what children may lose when joy, play, and curiosity are repeatedly postponed in the name of a better future. Through Alicia’s childhood, the author’s own memories, and the image of her grandmother saving good oranges until… Continue reading
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Why Shouldn’t a Gift Be “Wasted”? Because Developing a Gift Is Not the Same as Forcing Someone to Succeed
This essay reflects on a simple but important question: why shouldn’t talent be “wasted,” and does developing talent always mean forcing someone to succeed? My answer is no. To help a child develop their gifts is not to demand fame… Continue reading
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Have We Been Reading Shāng Zhòngyǒng Wrong All Along?[1]
This essay returns to the familiar Chinese story of Shāng Zhòngyǒng and asks whether we have focused too narrowly on the lesson that “talent is useless without hard work.” It argues that children also need to be truly seen and… Continue reading
![Have We Been Reading Shāng Zhòngyǒng Wrong All Along?[1]](https://chinesewayofseeing.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/chatgpt-image-2026e5b9b48e69c8813e697a5-22_43_39.png?w=1024)
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Why Are High-IQ Children Also Called Lazy? It Took Me Time to Understand That Intelligence Comes in More Than One Form
This essay explores why high intelligence does not always translate into strong school performance. By looking at different ways children think, learn, and adapt to school systems, it asks us to move beyond the simple equation of “smart” with “top… Continue reading
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Ten Days After Mother’s Day, My Daughter’s Note Made Me Cry on May 20
Ten days after Mother’s Day, a handwritten note from my daughter moved me in a way I had not expected. Her natural way of expressing love made me realise that raising a child is not only about what we give… Continue reading
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The Most Expensive Part of Taking a Child Out Isn’t the Toy — It’s All the Little Purchases Along the Way
What began as a simple Children’s Day outing soon turned into a series of small spending decisions, from food and toys to a craft book and yarn. The experience made me realise that the real cost of taking children out… Continue reading
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When a Child Can Already See Far Ahead, but Her Hands and Emotions Haven’t Caught Up
Some children can already see clearly what they want to create, while their skills and emotions still need time to catch up. This essay explores how failure, positive labels, and a narrow sense of self-worth can shape a child’s frustration—and… Continue reading
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I Told My Daughter: Happiness Isn’t Something You Buy. It’s Something That Grows
When my daughter wished she could have anything she wanted instantly, we began talking about why getting more does not always make us happier. Lasting happiness grows through waiting, choosing, caring, and learning to find stability within ourselves. Continue reading
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Why Do Some Children Keep Interrupting?Maybe It Isn’t Rudeness. Their Brains May Simply Work Differently.
Some children interrupt not because they mean to be rude, but because their thoughts arrive faster than they can hold them back. This essay looks at how parents can help children pause, wait, and express themselves without silencing their curiosity… Continue reading
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My Child Is Good at Reading, but Reading Doesn’t Make Her Happy
A child can be a strong reader without finding joy in reading. Through my daughter’s experiences with books, videos, crafts, and bedtime reading, I began to understand that every child has a different way of focusing, learning, and connecting with… Continue reading
Jane Sonnenschein | A Chinese Way of Seeing 