Happy New Year!
It snowed for a few days on the East Coast, but much less than Chicago or Seoul. The weather’s cold but pretty decent. Seoul is currently 5°F (-15°C), so I won’t complain here.
While I finish writing my upcoming post, I would like to carve out a little side corner for Rebel Rebel for parenting advice.
Why would anyone my parenting advice?
I am a parent.
I would love to provide camaraderie as a fellow parent. If you know me personally, you know I’m all about solidarity! Less judgment and more support make this world a happier place.
FOREVER FREE
I hate when I think it’s free to ask a question then I get redirected to pay for a program or if you want more advice… buy xyz. I don’t like it. Yes, I know some people make a living out of this. Yes, I wish them all the best. Yes, I spent over $100,000 for doing two master’s. Yes, I’m funded by my partner for a living. Yes, this is my privilege. And you know what? I’m gonna use that privilege, because this is my passion. So be it. All power to the people.
“My child said, “I love you,” for the first time in years. Thank you.”
Former client
Field experiences!
“My child said, “I love you,” for the first time in years. Thank you.” This shook me. Organizing a reflective parenting workshop, "Parenting with Empathy and Respect," sponsored by the Los Angeles County, I facilitated parental social-emotional growth to foster stronger parent-child relationships.
Invited talks on SEL at local schools also helped me create a bridge between families and schools. Family-school partnership is one of the well-documented components in child school success and development.
Culturally responsive approach. I have led an online and offline parenting workshop in Korean for marginalized immigrant communities. How do you balance between fidelity and flexibility? You try, communicate, and collaborate.
Research experiences!
Providing systematic AND individual academic perspectives. I earned my Master's in Public Policy from the University of Chicago, focusing on early childhood education and family policy. I wanted to learn more about developing individuals and earned a Master of Arts in Human Development & Psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles.
These two degrees have equipped me with a comprehensive framework in early childhood development. Now I am focusing even more specific individual learning process by working on my doctoral study on playful learning, which lets me read all the hot articles in the field!Working as a research assistant for the Behavioral Insights and Parenting Lab at the University of Chicago, I learned about intricate dynamics between caregivers and children as well as early education interventions.
Leading a policy consulting project for the city government in Chicago, I broadened my perspectives on early childhood education while working with diverse parties.
Life experiences!
I was not a straight-A student all the time. I don’t know (and know) why, but I was always drawn to “out-of-control behaviors.” I hated children. I was a private tutor for high schoolers, and my students called me a “rogue one.” One of my friends made a drink named “bitch drink” for me. I was an international fashion buyer. Still could not resist the temptation to spit at the conglomerate and quit. Came to the U.S. to work on animal rights policy but could not give up sashimi. Love the dance between fuck this shit and love is all you need.
How this works
So simple! Send me a question via DM, comment, chat, email, whatever! It can be hypothetical or real. Specific or broad! The more specific the questions are, the more specific my advice will be.
Helpful information to provide:
age & sex of the child
# of siblings
Basic family routine of the day
Attending school or daycare? Y/N
Question?
Age range 0-8 will receive a better response as my expertise is in early childhood education.
I will then post your question (anonymous, consent-based) and the answers!
I don’t know everything.
The more I learn, the less I know. That’s just my positionality. I will say I don’t know if I don’t know and redirect you to different resources that I might think helpful. I can’t give you all the answers, but I can provide guidance and think together.
My Framework/ Mindset
Mister Rogers, Gentle parenting, authoritative parenting, social-emotional development, play-based, Reggio Emilia, relationship-based, reflective, metacognition, rock ‘n’ roll, Kurt Vonnegut, George Orwell, social and educational equity.
I hope the love inside me lights up the love inside you.
Seoyeon