Mommy Minute: Assaba Linda Akwei

Hi Mommies,

Today, I am featuring a mom who is a home educator like myself. Her family is a creative family and she has a deep appreciation for teaching her daughter in a way that is personal. I love to see her posts and read her reflections on parenting; they are thought provoking and intriguing. She is a seasoned business professional who is currently prioritizing her child’s education while still using her own education and experience in her child’s instruction. She lives by the quotes “You must be the change you wish to see in the world”. ( Mahatma Gandhi) and “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you [...]”. ( Matthew 7:12) I am sure you will enjoy reading more, so please do. :)

Meet: Assaba Linda Akwei

“Hello! My name is Assaba but I also go by my middle name, Linda. I was born and raised in Togo, a French-speaking country in West Africa, then I moved to New York in my teens. I now reside in Virginia, where I made a home with my husband and our 5-year-old daughter. She is a joy and keeps us on our toes.

I am currently a home educator. You can find me on Instagram @theparentlearns where I share homeschooling best practices and parenting lessons learned. Before this, I had a 10-year career in project and program management for a consulting firm. I also have an MBA, and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Sociology and Anthropology. When I think of a family as a mini “firm” my MBA skills come into play a lot in planning my homeschool and home affairs!

One lesson I have learned since my motherhood journey began is that my child is almost always a step ahead of me, in my awareness of her understanding of the world. Your child will likely ask questions on common yet seemingly delicate topics before you even realize he is aware. I will not always have a speech ready. I take these instances as opportunities to practice telling my child the truth in a calm, simple, and age-appropriate way. I must be mindful of the message I convey about a topic based on my reaction to her questions. If I want to be a safe place for my child to discuss things, I must not regularly freak out when she asks me questions.

A piece of advice I have for other moms is to do the next best thing. As parents, it is natural to want to give the best of everything to our children. We may get discouraged if we fall short of what we envisioned. If an original plan fails, do the next best thing. Progress over perfection. ”

I just love Assaba’s perspective on parenting and teaching her child! Thank you for sharing a bit of yourself with us, Assaba. :)

xx,

Ker-Leen