By Les Huysmans
Do you ever wonder what sets apart children who grow up to be exceptional from the rest? Well, the secret often lies in the home, nurtured by parents just like you or your parents. Today, let me share stories from my 25 years in Thai and international education that will both inspire you and give you practical ways to support your own children.
หากคุณต้องการแปลข้อความนี้เป็นภาษาไทยโดยอัตโนมัติ โปรดคัดลอก URL ของหน้านี้ คลิกที่ลิงค์นี้ และวาง URL ในช่อง ‘เว็บไซต์’
The Remarkable Journey of Ordinary Families
The beauty of these success stories is their ordinariness. These aren’t tales of prodigies born to genius parents but stories of everyday Thai families who harnessed the power of love, discipline, and vision. Believe it or not, every child has untapped potential.
Stories that Inspire and Educate
The Coconut Seller’s Daughter
After the tsunami in 2004, I went down South to volunteer in Khao Lak. Besides doing some carpentry work (I love DIY) and a lot of simple cleaning up of debris, I also set up the beginnings of an outreach program with one of my earlier work places. During my time there, I met a coconut seller named K. Chai, and we got talking, half in English and half in Thai. At one point he mentioned his daughter, Pim, who loved math. He had not even finished his secondary school, and couldn’t afford extra classes but he had an interest in arithmetic. We chatted about how math is everywhere, and he explained how he made a habit of discussing patterns with Pim while sorting coconuts. They would count coconuts, sort them into groups, and even play number games to determine the price for a day’s haul. It was math made tangible. Years later, Pim attributes her love for numbers to those simple yet impactful moments. She eventually attended one of the better local schools because of a scholarship for her above-average mathematical abilities. She also won a math competition, helping to pave the way to a university scholarship.
The Novice Monk Who Became a Scholar
I have some family who live up North, in Chiang Mai. Years ago, I was on a trip there to conduct a workshop on integrating traditional teachings into modern education, and I ended up talking with a local monk. His name was K. Supachai, and he had had a fascination for Buddhist philosophy since he was very young. His mother, as a devout Buddhist, was naturally very happy with this and always encouraged him to explore his spiritual questions. This wasn’t academic philosophy though; it was lived wisdom that she practiced and instilled in her son. When I talked with him – I am a non-believer but I am open for all interesting discussions – it was immediately clear that Supachai had a lot of answers, sometimes based on ‘the company’s policies’ but mostly based on street knowledge, and I thoroughly enjoyed our chats. Most importantly, in my opinion, he did not try to have all the answers, and was happy to explore questions he had and what others thought. Supachai went on to earn a scholarship at a prestigious university, studying theology and philosophy.
The Tuk-tuk Driver’s Scientist
I was introduced to K. Prasert and his family during a parent-teacher meeting at a local Bangkok school where I was consulting. His daughter, Anya, was one of my students who showed great promise in science. Prasert himself had always been curious about how things work but never had the opportunity for formal education much beyond primary school.
Even with his limited educational background, Prasert never let that hamper his daughter’s thirst for knowledge. The family couldn’t afford science kits or luxury educational materials, but they had an abundance of curiosity. Prasert would ask Anya questions like, “Why do you think the sky is blue?” or “What makes a car move?” When she showed interest, and where it was possible, they would visit libraries or find places where they could use free internet to find answers. This culture of inquiry led Anya to pursue a degree in biochemistry. Today, she’s contributing to vital research on disease resistance, making everyone proud.
The Takeaway: Be the Change-Maker in Your Child’s Life
The coconut seller from Phuket, the devout mother from Chiang Mai, and the Tuk-tuk driver from Bangkok — all different, yet all committed to their children’s development. Their stories affirm that everyday people can raise children who achieve extraordinary things. If they can do it, you can too!
Are these stories resonating with you? Share your own tales of success and struggle in the comments below. If you’re looking for more hands-on tips, get in touch for our Thai Parenting Workshop, in-person or online.
Feeling inspired? Share your parenting goals and dreams in the comments below, or better yet, join our Thai Parenting Community to connect with like-minded parents.
If you would like to get in touch over the content of this post, or to work together, you can find my contact details on the About Les-page
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