Dear H & A,

Empathy, more than being a mere emotion or sentiment, serves as the golden thread that binds humanity together. As your parents, we dream of a world where you both understand, embrace, and exemplify empathy in your daily actions. It’s a journey, no doubt, and we’ve embarked on several paths to ensure that empathy becomes a part of your core.

Modeling is Key: Our actions often echo louder than words, especially in the eyes of observant little ones. The basic principle here is that children will mirror what they see. It’s not just about telling you to be kind; it’s about embodying that kindness ourselves. This is why we’ve made a conscious effort, H, to encourage you to offer a warm greeting to our neighbors. It might seem trivial, but that simple gesture of a smile or a wave can be the highlight of someone’s day. In addition, our small gestures like buying snacks for your friends and teachers are endeavors to teach the significance of appreciation. In our Asian heritage, where emotions often remain unsaid and feelings unexpressed, we hope these gestures lay the foundation for you to understand and express empathy as you mature.

Books, Our Silent Teachers: Among the plethora of lessons, stories often introduce children to a world of emotions. You have a fondness for Peppa Pig tales, H. George’s anguish on losing Mr. Dinosaur and Peppa’s ensuing mission to alleviate his sadness is more than just a story. It’s a testament to the bonds of understanding, of acknowledging another’s pain, and making an effort to comfort them.

Life as the Best Classroom: Beyond books and words, life presents situations that resonate deeply with our feelings. H, your remembrance of your classmate X’s brother’s nervous first day, the tears, the fear, mirrors your own experience. But it’s not just about understanding; it’s about the action that follows. The little ways you show care, like covering me with a blanket when I doze off or rushing to offer water when mum coughs, are clear indicators of your burgeoning sense of empathy. Those moments, as parents, make our hearts swell with pride.

Celebrating the Little Acts: Every act, no matter how minuscule, can ripple into larger waves of impact. H, every time you willingly share your toys, or soothe A when she’s upset, or even when you share a snack with a friend, you’re planting seeds of empathy. These seeds, with time, grow into strong trees of understanding and compassion. We don’t just notice these acts; we cherish and celebrate them. For in these fleeting moments lies the essence of a deeper connection and understanding.

My wish for both of you is not just to understand the world but the hearts of those around you. Empathy will guide you when the path seems unclear, bridge gaps when words fail, and more than anything, it will connect you to the heartbeats of countless souls you’ll encounter in this grand journey of life.

With all my love,

Dad