“They’ll think that having absent parents is normal” – M’sian Urges Parents to ‘Fill The Cup’ of Children

Raising children is not an easy task. That is why it is always nice to see Malaysians sharing their experience and parenting tips online, where everyone is free to contribute.

Malaysian Twitter user, @m0d0 recently took to the social media site to share his thoughts on the intricacies of parenting and the importance of parents to be present when they are with their children. 

He dubs it the ‘fill my cup’ concept, and likens children’s behaviour of straying away from and coming back to their parents as a cycle.

“Children have cycles. Which come and go and have ups and downs like a circle,” he explained.

For example, the curious nature of children means that they tend to wander around, looking at and touching different things. However, when they are done, he says that it is important to see how quickly they return back to their parents.

“So the cycle is completed”, said Afif in a screenshot of a text message he shared.

He believes that it is important for parents to complete and be a part of this cycle. 

1/ pic.twitter.com/uIQSHKIaRp

— Afif Rus ? (@m0d0) May 16, 2022

Whether the child is drawing, doodling or having a meal, regardless of what they are doing and whether their parents’ are watching, they will always be inclined to glance at their parents from time to time.

When this happens, it is important for parents to ‘fill the cup’ of their children by being present and available as it will allow children to feel seen, safe and heard from a young age.

“Whatever they do, we have to be there to complete the cycle.”

By not being physically and emotionally available, children may grow up with the (wrong) idea that absent parents are normal.

They may also start to believe that neither their presence nor their thoughts and emotions matter as their parents did not take an interest in them when they were younger.

In this case, parents would have failed to ‘fill the cup’ of their children.

He also emphasised that children are way more aware and observant than we believe. 

“We don’t notice it but trust me, they do. The 2 seconds that they look at us for acknowledgement but we’re instead looking at our phones, completely unaware of them… Then they’ll just go back to whatever they were doing.”

“So we don’t want to be at that stage. So make sure to always ‘fill their cup’.”

Can you relate to what Afif said about how important it is for parents to be there for their children? Let us know in the comments.

Also read: M’sian Teacher Urges Parents to Stop Fighting Infront of Their Children as it Has a Long Term Effect