Road to lifelong happiness is not about stereotypes

Yao Pan, 41, lactation consultant in Shenzhen, Guangdong province

As a single mother raising three children, my journey through parenthood has been a transformative experience filled with challenges. My eldest is a 17-year-old boy, followed by a 15-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy. I used to push my children and have them engage in intense competitions with their peers. After introspection and growth, I embraced a laid-back parenting style. I realized the importance of balancing attention between my children and myself.

In the past, as a full-time stay-at-home mom, my focus revolved solely around my children. However, this intense scrutiny led to unintended consequences. While their academic performance improved, their happiness and intrinsic motivation suffered.