Does your child know you?

“What is mummy’s name?” I asked an agitated five-year-old boy I had bumped into in a supermarket who seemed to have lost his mother. “Mom,” he replied amid tears.

“No, mummy must have a name. What does daddy call her?” “Sweetie,” he replied, seemingly confused.

Thank God his equally stressed mom spotted us as I tried to prod the boy further.

She thanked me repeatedly for keeping an eye on her son. Before I let her go, I made sure I gave the young mother, who happened to be a banker, a good lecture on the importance of telling your child both of your names and phone numbers, and making sure this facts stick in their mind.

In this day and age, an educated mother should know the importance of making sure their child knows such basic facts.

And it is not just your personal information details that your child should know from an early age, even what you do for a living is important. Unless you are a night runner or a robber, your child should know what economic activity you are involved in to provide for the family.

Tasha not only knows mummy and daddy’s names and phone numbers off head, but also what her parents do for a living.

She knows this so well because from the time she was three years, my hubby and I made a deliberate effort to make sure she has internalised this information.

We have made it a habit to be going with her to the office occasionally to familiarise her with our jobs.

If your employer is accommodating, it is important to take your child to your place of work on certain weekends, so that they know where you go every morning. This also helps to shape their minds into what careers to pursue.

And if you run your own business, it is even better for you, as you can take advantage to integrate your child into the family business from an early age.

You can start teaching them the ropes of the game from an early age so that when it is time to retire; you leave behind an empowered mentee. On that note, does your four-year-old know you?