Dear Coach Wendy, Thank you for the invaluable lessons on emotional intelligence so far. Today, as I reflected on my journey, I couldn’t help but feel immense gratitude for how far I’ve come. This morning, I was in my bedroom when my seven-year-old son walked in and said, "Mom, I’m sorry. The tissue paper fell into the toilet last night when I was in there. You may have seen it wet and wondered who did it. It was me. Please pardon my error." I was overjoyed because I know where I’m coming from. Just last year, when my daughter was seven, she looked me in the eye and said, "Mom, this is not how to be a mom. You’re always yelling at us." That moment was a wake-up call. As I looked at my son today and thanked him for telling me the truth, I realized how much has changed. In the past, he could have simply thrown the tissue away and replaced it without anyone knowing. But now, he chose honesty. Thank God I didn’t launch into one of my long lectures—I used to preach like Mrs. Paul of Tarsus because I could preach for Africa before now! 😄 I also can’t forget the heartwarming surprise they gave me on Tuesday. When I got home in the evening, my nine-year-old daughter collected my bag at the door, my son ran upstairs and brought Vaseline, asking me to take off my shoes while he massaged my feet. My five-year-old fetched water for me, and they even programmed my two-year-old to present me with a gift box—a collection of their toys and a sweet note. I was completely caught off guard, wondering if there was a special occasion! 😄🥹 Emotional intelligence truly is a game changer. I now see how our reactions to our children’s mistakes can either nurture honesty or push them into hypocrisy, shutting the door to real connection. I remember another defining moment early last year when I noticed a jumper hanging on the door that didn’t belong to my son—but it had his name on it. When I asked him about it, he admitted that he had lost his own at school and, fearing my reaction, went to the lost-and-found area, picked up a jumper, and wrote his name on it. That realization hit me hard. I felt cold chills and saw clearly what I had been turning my son into. That day, we had a conversation, and I took responsibility for my actions. I apologized for the way my reactions had shaped his choices. Then, I asked him what he thought we should do to make it right. He said, "I will return the jumper to my teacher and tell her what happened." And he did. He was pardoned, and I learned a powerful lesson. With each passing day, I see more reasons to fully embrace this journey of becoming. Thank you, Ma, for being the teacher God has sent my way. ~Nkonye Odozi (Inner Circle Parent) Learn More About the Inner Circle Program Here : https://bit.ly/TIPInnerCircleProgram Book Your Slot For The INNER CIRCLE PROGRAM Next Cohort Now ⬇️ ©️ The Intentional Parent Academy ™️ #wendyologe #africasnumberoneparentcoach #theintentionalparent #theintentionalparentacademy #intentionalparenting #parentingtips #parenting #motherhood #childhood #fatherhood