“What are you most proud of in the past 3 months?”. I am trying to make Wendy’s son speak English.
Her son keeps silent and I realize that my sentence is too complicated. I should use simple words…her son could not understand it so Wendy smiled and translated it while at the same time encouraging her son to answer. “Sophia will ask your mother the same question so you have time to think about it. Yes, I should ask Wendy, the son’s mother, first and then the same question for father Mr Zhang followed by the question for the son…
Wendy is wise to encourage her son and to avoid the embarrassment of me waiting too long for an answer. The question is sent to Wendy automatically and she quickly provides the answer: “keep running, keep learning. In the past I run in the evening so there was less time to accompany son and husband. I changed the time schedule getting up at 5am to enjoy running and see the sun rise while having the evening to stay with son and husband”.
ACCOMPANY! High quality accompanying time is setting up a warm family!
Mr Zhang’s answer is almost the same, to keep running and to lose 30 kg! The idea of running is to show the son that we need persistence in life.
A lot of parents set up goals for their child but they never achieve those goals themselves. Wendy and her husband make the difference.
Finally the son said that he is proud because he keeps reading. So I asked the name of the book and Wendy is trying to let her son talk more. Keeps asking why (you like it), who (is the main actor)… She asks one-word questions, easier for the son to understand. What a love!
A child should be proud of its parents. What makes the son to love and to be proud of Wendy and Mr Zhang? I am curious.
This time I ask the son to select one word to describe Wendy’s good personality, such as working hard, pretty, gentle, wise…. The son selects the word “gentle".
“Gentle" is the soul of being a mother, to bring a pretty woman. It is not only to talk patiently but also to include wisdom in talking, to keep learning, to being positive and confident, to have great belief and love.
The son is asked to select one word for which he is proud of his father as well. He picks “generous”! His father. Mr Zhang, says the reason is that he seldom rejects his son’s requests. I forget to check with the son if that is true or not. From my perspective his father loves his job, is positive, and has passion for his profession and life. I guess it is the soul of generous that 心有所属，心向太阳.. It allows him to be willing to spend time with family. It is generosity!
The language model of Wendy and Mr zhang is quite typical as well.
Wendy guides and encourages the son to follow the some rule, such as being polite, being active in talk by saying “look at Sophia” “apply Chinese to answer it”. “Use two hands to accept things” says.
Mr Zhang used to say "No being shy," " no moving, " "no jumping, " "do not eat too much".....
How does Wendy apply the great conversation model? I guess she benefits from her earlier work as assistant sales manager.
I guess she used to give clear instructions instead of criticizing. She says she tries to catch opportunities for her team members to see the big picture, sending team members to attend annual overseas exhibitions opening eyes and mind from that. She thinks she should do so on behalf of the company to provide and create a good environment for the team so the members can be their best in their position.
Wendy, there are hundreds of possibilities in front of you because you are gentle , you keep learning and applying what you learned! Your son has a great mother, Mr Zhang has a pretty wife!