Instead of striving to be perfect parents, aim to be good enough. Parenting is not just a skill—it is an art, and above all, a lifelong journey. This was the key message of the ninth and final session of the Positive Parenting course.
As the course came to a close, parents reflected on their efforts and perseverance throughout the journey. Over nine sessions, they actively applied the lessons at home—building deeper connections with their children through family meetings and creating meaningful quality time.
As the course came to a close, parents reflected on their efforts and perseverance throughout the journey. Over nine sessions, they actively applied the lessons at home—building deeper connections with their children through family meetings and creating meaningful quality time. Ms. Phan Trang, one of the participants, shared that since the course began, she had written 20 handwritten letters to her child to express her thoughts and practice active listening. Meanwhile, Ms. Bùi Thị Xuân noted that instead of imposing decisions, she had learned to respect her child’s choices, which brought more harmony and understanding into their family life.
In his closing remarks, Associate Professor Dr. Lê Văn Hảo—who accompanied the parents throughout all nine sessions—emphasized that parents often react with anger when children fall short of expectations. Many may choose to yell or even resort to physical discipline as a quick release of frustration. However, Dr. Hảo encouraged parents to pause for a few seconds to calmly recognize the situation instead of reacting impulsively. “Think of it as something minor—whether your child refuses to eat, insists on watching TV, or forgets to fold the blanket. What matters more is giving children time to reflect on their own behavior.”
Dr. Hảo believes that while parents can’t change their children overnight, they can influence them in ways that help shape self-regulation. “Parenting is as demanding and challenging as any profession. The pressure to be ‘perfect parents’ can leave us exhausted, anxious, and easily discouraged. But parenting is a journey of lifelong learning.” According to him, loving our children is instinctive, but practicing positive discipline takes more—it requires understanding, awareness, patience, and resilience. “To accompany your child doesn’t mean doing everything for them or being by their side forever. It means empowering them to take charge of their own life. That’s how we become trustworthy companions to our children.”
Reflecting on the course, Ms. Thu Hồng—a parent at The Dewey Schools—shared: “What stayed with me the most was the saying: ‘Parenting is a journey.’ And because it is a journey, no one can be perfect or get everything right from the start. That realization has helped me stay calm. Whenever my child doesn’t listen, I now take it as a moment to reflect on myself. Positive discipline isn’t just about correcting children—it teaches parents how to grow, too.”
