Learn From the Things They Say

"My eldest daughter, Mirabelle, is dyslexic. One night, before putting her to bed, I read her The Tortoise and the Hare. After I finished the book, she turned to me and said, 'Mama, I am slow like the tortoise, but it's okay because like the tortoise in the book, I will keep going and I know I will make it.' Suddenly I was full of hope because I could see how determined Mirabelle was to not let her dyslexia define her." - Mita Kelder, 35, photographer and writer, and mum to Mirabelle, seven, and Merel, four

"When my son Reiez came home from school the other day without his brand-new lunch box, I was upset and started lecturing him on the importance of being responsible for his belongings. Sensing that I was on the verge of freaking out, Reiez took my hand and said, 'Mama, you need to calm down. It's just a lunch box. Take a deep breath and breathe out. Everything will be fine and I will get the lunch box back tomorrow.' I was floored. My own son had to remind me to get a grip!" - Savita Gupta, 45, teach, and mum to Reiez, six

"A few months ago, my eldest son Adam received a stress ball. I explained that he could squeeze it whenever he felt angry, upset or frustrated. Several weeks later, he noticed a photo on the front page of the newspaper, depicting the Thai political crisis. I told him some people in Thailand were angry with their government and were protesting about it. His response: 'Why not just give them each a stress ball?' Could Adam have the secret to world peace?" - Nicole Lim, 37, stay-at-home mum to Adam, five, and Jude, one

"Our family was on our way to Disneyland in Los Angeles when my husband lost his way. A minor argument ensued and voices were raised. And then a little voice from behind said, 'Well, Mum and Dad, expect the unexpected.' It was our then-eight-year-old daughter. What an enlightening remark! We were driving in a foreign country, so there were bound to be a few hiccups." - Mishaelle Chua, 38, teacher, and mum to Liu Qing, 10

"Last year, out of the blue, my son said to me, 'Mummy, I know why a woman is called a woman. It's because God made Woman from Man, and He gave her a womb, so that's how the word woman came about.' I thought it was amazing that my son could make a connection between the words 'woman' and 'womb' on his own." - Collette de Souza, 36, stay-at-home mum to Ben, seven, Isabel, six, and Ayden, one

"I was on the bus with my eldest daughter, Robyn, when we noticed an elderly woman getting on. She was alone. Robyn looked at her and then turned to me, saying, 'Mummy, when you're old, I'll take care of you and I won't let you ride the bus alone.' I was at a loss for words. To have such compassion and empathy at such a young age is really something." - Elsie Chok, 30 , stay-at-home mum to Robyn, five, and Kayla, 22 months

Get the May 2014 issue of Simply Her for more interesting stories. Simply Her, published by SPH Magazines is available at all newsstands now. Sasha Gonzales is a freelance writer with Simply Her magazine by SPH Magazines. Check out more stories at Simply Her online, www.simplyher.com.sg. Also check out the May 2014 issue for these stories: a) Create the Perfect Base Get the most flawless-looking skin ever with these foundation pics and tips, whether you like a matte, radiant or dewy finish. b) Mum's $15 Dinner Sounds impossible? These mums do it every day - and still come up with tasty, nutritious meals for a family of four or five. Feel free to steal their recipes here. c) Face Your Financial Fears If money jargon or budgeting scares you, you're not alone. Experts tell Cheryl Leong how to tackle your fears and start growing your savings.