From Leader to Mother – A Story From Our Alumna
“For this year’s National Mother’s Day, I want all mothers to recognize how much they’ve accomplished in raising their children,” says ‘Toey’ – Nasawan Phosuwan, a Teach For Thailand alumna from cohort 3 and a mother herself. “No matter how your kids turn out or whether they express gratitude, I hope you take pride in your motherhood and prioritize your well-being. If you’re unhappy, your children aren’t either—they can sense our emotions.”
“For this year’s National Mother’s Day, I want all mothers to recognize how much they’ve accomplished in raising their children,” says ‘Toey’ – Nasawan Phosuwan, a Teach For Thailand alumna from cohort 3 and a mother herself.
“No matter how your kids turn out or whether they express gratitude, I hope you take pride in your motherhood and prioritize your well-being. If you’re unhappy, your children aren’t either—they can sense our emotions.”
Reflecting on her time as a Fellow at Pianpin Anusorn School in Bangkok, Toey realized parents’ critical role in a child’s life. “Children’s quality of life and academic success are closely tied to their parents’ involvement. Many students lack parental care because their parents are busy with work or struggle with financial issues.”
“These children often have to fend for themselves, taking on jobs that disrupt their sleep schedules, causing them to be late to class or miss homework deadlines. This shift in focus from education to earning money hinders their learning, skill development, and potential future careers. These issues can be addressed with greater parental involvement.”
Toey emphasizes the importance of a mother’s role in a child’s development, stating, “A mother is crucial in shaping a child’s skills, physical and emotional growth, and mindset. By being a positive role model, she can teach resilience and help children cope with real-world challenges, pursue their passions, and develop properly.”
She further explains, “From my experience, many problems stem from a wrong mindset and lack of mental resilience. Students often know that studying is beneficial, but label themselves as incapable. Without proper support, they believe they can’t excel and shift their focus to earning money.”
“When faced with repeated failures, some students struggle to recover.”
Toey also highlights the impact of unrealistic expectations, particularly those shaped by social media, which often showcases success without the accompanying efforts, struggles, or resilience
.“We can’t rely solely on schools to raise our children. They spend 8-10 hours a day at school, and the rest of the time, they’re with us. We can help enhance their academic abilities and encourage qualities like patience, resilience, and self-awareness, as well as the ability to find joy in small things around them.”
“We can praise their good behaviors or help them reflect on their actions, recognizing what they’ve done well and what needs improvement. These are lessons I’ve carried with me from my time as a Teach For Thailand Fellow.”
“At the very least, providing attention and care will help them decide who to turn to first when they encounter problems,” Toey concludes.
Toey’s insights demonstrate the crucial role parents play in a child’s education. Beyond academic success, they help foster mental resilience and a positive outlook. This National Mother’s Day, we hope all mothers see the value of their role and take pride in their dedication to their child’s happiness and success.
Happy Mother’s Day.
Become part of the change to improve education for children in Thailand through Teach For Thailand’s Fellowship Program at www.tft.vh-projects.com.
