"The XX method is best," "It's too late if you don't do XX"—what I, who was swayed by such information, want to tell you now

📢 What do you believe in as you raise your child right now?

"I heard that everything is decided by age 3, but my child is already 5..."

"Is it too late if I don't start English education early?"

"Montessori? STEAM education? Which one is actually the right answer?"

Are you wandering through a sea of information again today while holding onto such anxieties?

Open your smartphone, and you'll find an overflow of educational information. On social media, there are success stories like, "My child was able to do XX after doing this!" Bookstores are lined with books titled, "Things you absolutely must do by age X."

Are you feeling unsettled by each and every one of them?

"Is my child okay?" "Am I doing something wrong?" "If only I had known sooner..."

🌪️ Actually, it is precisely in this age of information overload that we become "lost"

As of 2024, we are living in the era with the easiest access to information in human history.

But, precisely because of that.

There is so much information that it has become unclear what is true and what is necessary for you.

In fact, according to a survey by the Benesse Educational Research and Development Institute (2023),

About 70% of parents areon the verge of being swallowed by the waves of information.

And, as a result.

• You feel anxious comparing your child to others

• You try methods that are said to be "the right answer" only to get frustrated

• Prioritizing "public opinion" over your child's feelings

• The parent-child relationship becomes strained, and parenting becomes painful

Falling into such a vicious cycle...

💡 Actually, I was once "lost in education" too

I confess this with embarrassment.

I, too, was once one of those "parents swayed by information."

No, perhaps I was the very person who was searching for the "correct answer" more desperately than anyone else.

Just like you who are reading this note now, or perhaps even more so, I was wandering through a sea of information in search of the "correct answer to parenting."

And in that process, I had an experience where I almost lost sight of what was important.

📌 If you read this article to the end, you will:

✅ Learn how to have a "core" that isn't swayed by information
✅ Understand the importance of the "ability to correctly interpret" educational news and information
✅ Gain a perspective to find "our own family's answer"
✅ Know what kind of presence this note wants to be for you
✅ Be able to connect with "friends" who learn and grow together

Today, please let me share a little bit of my personal story.

Why I go to the trouble of interpreting educational news and continue to post on this note.

I will tell you the reason honestly.

💡 The content of this article is also explained in an easy-to-understand video.
Please take a look at this video👇

📖 Chapter 1: The me back then was completely "information-illiterate"

😰 First-time parenting, and the vortex of information

My eldest son was born eight years ago.

I was full of anxiety about raising a child for the first time.

"I have to raise him properly," "I want to maximize his potential," "I must be a good parent."

Because those feelings were so strong, I was trying to aim for "perfect parenting."

And I ended up seeking the standard for that "perfection" in the information overflowing in the world.

📱 Days spent being swayed by information

Whenever I opened my smartphone, information like this would jump out at me one after another:

• "80% of the brain is developed by age 3! Now is the time!"

• "Become a genius with an IQ of 140 with the XX method!"

• "If you don't start early English education, you won't become bilingual."

• "If you don't read this picture book, their sensitivity won't develop."

Each and every one of them came with the threatening phrase, "It's too late if you don't do it now."

And I was reacting to every single one of them.

"What! It's a race against time until age 3!?" "My child is already 2 and can't even speak a word of English..." "What is the XX method? I have to look it up!"

Every single day, I chased new information, bought teaching materials whenever I heard "this is good," and increased extracurricular activities whenever I was told "that is also necessary..."

😔 Before I knew it, I was "comparing" my child

And the worst part was.

Before I realized it, I had started comparing my child to others.

"I heard that XX-chan can already sing English songs." "I heard that △△-kun is also doing piano." "My child can't even write hiragana yet..."

I would look at social media and feel anxious about other families' "success stories," read parenting magazines and try to fit my child into "developmental milestones," and in conversations with mom friends, I would end up trying to show off that "my child can do that too."

Instead of seeing my child's "true self," I was trying to force my child to fit into "society's standards."

💔 And then, the "worst moment" arrived

One day.

As I was pulling out workbooks and teaching materials one after another, saying "Do this" and "Let's do that next,"

my son said this, quietly.

"Mom, I'm tired now."

In that moment, I was startled.

There were tears in my son's eyes.

I realized that what I thought I was doing "for my child's sake" was actually cornering them.

The workbooks he did reluctantly because "Mom would be happy." The lessons he forced himself to work hard at because "Mom would praise me."

I hadn't been looking at my child's feelings at all.

I was just trying to force my child to fit into "society's correct answers."

That night, I cried alone.

"What have I been doing..."

I felt pathetic, regretful, and sad that I had been swayed by information and had lost sight of my own child's heart.

🌅 Chapter 2: A turning point, a certain encounter

📚 A book changed my perspective

At that time, there was a book I happened to pick up at the library.

It was a book by educator Toshiyuki Shiomi.

There was a passage in it that went like this.

These words struck me as if I had been hit by lightning.

"There is no correct answer in education."

Even though it is obvious, I had been searching for that 'correct answer' all along.

And in the process of 'searching for the correct answer', I had lost sight of the most important thing: 'my own child's true self'.

🔍 Learned to 'question information'

Since then, I have changed my way of thinking 180 degrees.

Instead of 'taking information at face value,' I decided to start by 'questioning it.'

"Who is spreading this information, and for what purpose?" "Does this method really have a scientific basis?" "Is it really suitable for our family's situation?"

That is how I started to think.

And what was necessary for that was to **"consult primary sources."**

📰 The reason I started reading the newspaper

It was around that time that I started reading the newspaper.

Information on social media and summary sites often contains someone's subjectivity or commercial intent.

However, newspapers (though not perfect, of course) report primary information based on interviews from multiple angles.

News on educational policy, expert interviews, the reality of school sites, overseas examples...

By coming into contact with this 'raw information,' I developed the ability to see things from multiple perspectives..

💭 To find 'our own family's answer'

And then, I realized.

What's important is not searching for the "world's correct answer."

**It is finding "our own family's answer."**

To do that,

1. Gather reliable information(consult primary sources)

2. Think from multiple perspectives(don't take one opinion at face value)

3. Observe your child closely(the child in front of you is more important than information)

4. Don't fear trial and error(there isn't just one correct answer)

I realized that this process is necessary.

🌱 Chapter 3: That is why I will continue to post on this note

🎯 The mission of this note

And so, I thought.

If there are parents out there who are suffering from being swayed by information like I once was, I want to be a "compass" for them.

This note is,

• not a place to force "This is the correct answer!" on you

• nor is it a place to assert "If you do this, it will definitely work out"

Instead,

it is a place to interpret information together, think together, and find "our own family's answer" together

That is the kind of place I want this to be.

📰 Why a "newspaper"?

I am often asked.

"Why do you read the newspaper?" "Isn't information on the internet enough?"

Of course, there is a lot of wonderful information on the internet as well.

However, newspapers have their own unique advantages.

Reasons to read the newspaper:

1️⃣ Primary information based on reporting

• Written by reporters who actually conducted the interviews

• Information that is verified

2️⃣ Provides multiple perspectives

• Both supporting and opposing opinions are included

• Provides "material for thought" rather than "answers"

3️⃣ Understand the social context

• Understand not just education, but also political, economic, and social trends

• See the background of "why this policy emerged"

4️⃣ Advertising and commercial intent are clear

• Articles and advertisements are distinguished

• Less likely to be deceived by information where the intent to "sell this" is transparent

That is why I use the newspaper as a "compass for information."

🤝 What I want to achieve with this note

What I want to achieve with this note is simple.

I want to aim for "flexible parenting that isn't swayed by information" together with you.

Specifically:

✨ 1. Deciphering the "background" of education news

Rather than superficial information,

• "Why did this policy come out?"

• "What kind of issues are there?"

• "How will it affect our lives?"

I want to decipher these "backgrounds" and "contexts" together with you.

💬 2. The perspective of "So, what do we think?"

Instead of just passing information from right to left,

"So, what do we think?" "What would we do in our home?"

I want to provide "opportunities to think" like these.

I don't want to force answers on you, but rather provide the materials for you to think and choose for yourself.

🌐 3. An open "place for learning"

This note is not a place for me to send information one-sidedly.

I want to make it an "open place for learning" where I can learn and grow together with you, the readers.

So, please write your opinions and experiences in the comments section.

"I think this way," "We do this at home," "Here is some other information."

Such voices will be a great learning experience for me and for other readers as well.

🌈 Chapter 4: A Promise for the Future—I Want to Walk This Path With You

📝 What I Promise

In running this note, I have some promises I want to make to you.

✅ Promise 1: To be sincere

• I will clearly state my sources

• I will say "I don't know" when I don't know something

• I will honestly correct myself if I am wrong

✅ Promise 2: Not to impose my views

• I will not say "This is the only right answer"

• I will respect your choices

• I will value diverse perspectives

✅ Promise 3: To keep learning together

• I am not perfect either

• I want to grow alongside you

• Please let me learn from the voices of my readers

💌 What I would like to ask of you

And, I have a request for you as well.

🙏 Request 1: Please don't aim for "perfection"

There is no such thing as perfection in parenting.

You don't need to know everything.

Let's take our time finding "our own family's answer."

🙏 Request 2: Don't compare your child to others

When you look at social media, it's easy to compare yourself to other families, isn't it?

But, the only thing you should compare is "your child in the past".

If they have grown even a little bit compared to six months ago or a year ago, that is enough.

🙏 Request 3: Let me hear your voice

I don't want this note to be a one-way street.

Please, let me hear your voice in the comments section or on social media.

• "This article was helpful!"

• "This is what I think"

• "I'd like you to cover this topic too"

Any feedback is more than welcome!

🌟 Finally: To you, who feels like you're drowning in information

If you are currently,

• feeling like you're drowning in a wave of information,

• lost and wondering "what is the right answer,"

• tired of parenting and feeling like you're about to break,

please, do not carry it all by yourself.

I hope this note can be, for you,

• a "compass" when navigating the sea of information

• a "harbor" where you can take a deep breath and relax

• a place to meet "friends" to worry and think with

That is my wish.

🌸 There is no "correct answer" in parenting. But there is a "best way."

There is no single correct answer in education.

However, there is a "best way" for each moment.

And that "best way" is,

• not something decided by someone else

• not something taught by information

but something you yourself choose by looking at, thinking about, and observing your child right in front of youis.

🤗 Won't you walk this path with me?

Flexible parenting that isn't swayed by information.

Warm parenting that cherishes your child's individuality.

Parenting that finds "our own family's answer" instead of chasing after a single correct one.

Wouldn't you like to aim for that kind of parenting together?

I am still halfway there myself.

I am growing alongside my child while using trial and error every day.

That is exactly why I want to walk this path with you.

I want to enjoy this parenting journey while learning together, worrying together, and laughing together.

💬 At the very end

Thank you so much for reading this far.

Today, unlike usual, I ended up talking only about my personal story.

However, by knowing these thoughts, you might be able to read future articles from a slightly different perspective.

I want this note to be a "bridge" that connects me and you.

So, please.

I would be happy if you could click the "Like" button on this article.

I would be even happier if you could write your thoughts in the comment section.

"I think so too," "I'm thinking from a slightly different perspective," "I'm worried about this"

Any voice is a great encouragement to me.

I will continue to post on this note.

I am sincerely looking forward to learning and growing together with all of you.

Thank you for your continued support.

📌 The essence of this article

✔️ There is no "correct answer" in education. What is important is to find "our own family's answer"
✔️ It is important to have an attitude of "questioning and thinking" rather than "taking information at face value"
✔️ Let's cultivate the ability to look at things from multiple perspectives by accessing primary sources such as newspapers
✔️ This note is an "open place for learning" where we can learn and think together
✔️ Your voice is a great learning opportunity for me and other readers

May your parenting be a little lighter and warmer.

I am rooting for you from the bottom of my heart.

In 2025, thank you for your continued support.

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