Global Q&A: 'What's your greatest concern about being a parent?'

Jasmine Leoard, Brisbane, Australia. (The Epoch Times)

Ensuring children are healthy in mind and body and they grow to be well-adjusted, caring, and confident individuals. These are the responsibilities many parents feel they have.

This is what Epoch Times reporters from Dubai to Chile found when they asked locals.

 

Dubai, United Arab Emirates Amor Roska, 31, Executive Assistant Parents play an important role in bringing up a child. For me, education starts in the family and as a young mother, it is quite challenging. My greatest concern is building that foundation of faith, trust, and confidence in a child. I do believe that nurturing these values will make them a better person, and then make a difference.

Athens, Greece Sissy Fragkiadaki, 35, Yoga Instructor, Former Marketing Manager What we fear the most is not to be able to provide our baby everything he needs—food, health care, and education. Our main concern also is to raise a calm, (mentally) healthy, and caring person.

Hamilton, New Zealand Mayuri Unka, 26, Early Childhood Teacher The first thing is the health and safety of the baby. Our family has big health issues. I am preoccupied that an unexpected illness may crop up—so my biggest concern is just the health of the baby.

Stockholm, Sweden Matilda, Nelly, 38, (Josefin 2,) Test leader in Computers (IT) My greatest concern for my daughter is that she will be a healthy and harmonious person, and not feel bad in her life.

Medellín, Colombia Ana Milena Gómez, 34, Manicurist My biggest worry is that my daughter develops her individual identity and autonomy. These are the essential tools for a child as an individual person to develop suitable behavior and to incorporate values, principles, and character, having certainty of action and expression. Also, for my child to acquire a well-balanced awareness of freedom and happiness. I focus on these things as a mother to guide my daughter.

Puerto Montt, Chile Natalia Andrade Troncoso, 22, Kinesiology Student Well, the biggest concern is a serious illness that could happen; something that is beyond the normal care you can give as a mother. But one cannot rule out a disease that could threaten a child's normal growth, for example, meningitis or worse. That's the biggest concern as a mother and being a novice, I can become overly concerned. If he cries, I immediately notice and follow to the letter the advice of a pediatrician. If he is bothered, tummy rubs to relieve gas is the most you can do and pray that he does not have any serious illness.

Spain María Gamiz, 36, Restorer of Art Works To educate them in a good way. I don't want them to be selfish. Another problem is that the influence of society can be very bad. For example, my son coming back from school saying things like, "I will kill you." At school, he can learn bad things, like how to use drugs.

Brisbane, Australia Jasmine Leoard, 33, Finance/Homemaker Greatest concern at the moment with a baby is just about her health and wellbeing, and keeping her safe. And when you're a new parent there's so much information about bad things that can happen such as drownings, burns, and all those things, so at the moment my focus is just on keeping her safe—protecting her. After that my greatest concern is setting a good example for her as she is growing up, because I look back on some of the things I did in my late teens and early 20s, and I survived that, but I don't want her to do what I did. So I think some of the things we do, we need to change our behavior—like drinking, or even how much TV we watch. Look for the Global Q&A column every week. Epoch Times correspondents interview people around the world to learn about their lives and perspectives on local and global realities. Next week's global question: "What invention do you think the world is lacking?" The Epoch Times publishes in 35 countries and in 19 languages. Subscribe to our e-newsletter.