Parenting Journey Archives - Viet Bao Louisville KY

Di Tran, the author of the forthcoming book, “Drop the FEAR and focus on the FAITH”, opens up about his deeply personal, emotional journey of becoming a father. He candidly shares his fears and insecurities, offering a genuine look into the heart of a parent.

In a recent conversation, Tran revealed, “It’s emotional. I never thought that I would be moved to tears when I held my youngest child and sensed the fading babyhood in their actions.” The journey of parenthood is indeed fascinating, full of learning curves and poignant moments. Tran, like every parent, grows with his child, learns from his child, and along the way, he finds himself evolving.

In the early days, Tran admits that his parenting journey was dominated by fear. The fear of potential health issues when his children were in the womb, the palpitations experienced during ultrasound appointments, the silent prayers for the little one to have all their limbs and a healthy heartbeat. Then came the fear of childbirth, of witnessing his babies being brought into the world in the sterile surroundings of a hospital.

As they grew, new worries surfaced: the fear of his children not hearing, of speech development delays. And then the fear for their character development, of them not becoming good learners or kind individuals. Or perhaps, not giving their one hundred percent in everything they pursued.

But as time passed, Tran found his fears slowly being replaced by faith. He came to understand that he cannot control every aspect of his children’s lives. Instead, he realized that the universe would lead his children towards the path that was best for them. “All I can do,” he reflects, “is be the best version of Di Tran I can be. An image that my children can look up to and mimic.”

In this realization, he found a profound truth that has shaped his parenting philosophy: “It’s not what we say, it’s what we do and how we act that children mimic.” And so, he strives to be an example of the values he wants his children to imbibe.

With his children surrounding him – on his arms, by his side, ahead and behind – Tran found his faith deepening. He learned to surrender his fears to a higher power. “God, thank you, I surrender them to you and so myself too to you,” he states, acknowledging that his role as a parent is as much about faith as it is about love and care.

Through his journey, Di Tran shares an inspiring message for parents and soon-to-be parents. Fear is natural, but so is growth, and as we navigate the uncertain waters of parenthood, we learn, evolve, and ultimately, find faith. So, let us not only drop our fears but also cultivate faith, for ourselves and for the little ones who look up to us.

Every once in a while, as a parent, you may catch yourself immersed in a pool of questions. Am I doing this right? Am I good enough? What if I fail my children? These are just a few among many doubts that may occasionally cloud your mind. Di Tran, renowned author of the compelling book, “Drop the ME and Focus on the OTHERs”, and the soon to be released, “Drop the FEAR and Focus on the FAITH”, offers some profound insights that shed light on the joys of parenting and the intrinsic beauty of this role.

Parenthood isn’t about being perfect; it’s about striving each day to be the best version of yourself for your children. It’s about fostering a nurturing environment that shapes your children into kind, smart, loving, capable, independent, creative individuals who understand the value of contributing to society.

As parents, we often invest the best of ourselves in our children. We offer them the best guidance we can, we instill them with the best values, and we hope for the best outcomes. We continually learn from the best sources and implement these lessons in our parenting, all with the goal of nurturing the best possible versions of our children.

One of the most gratifying experiences in parenting comes from witnessing the tangible results of these efforts. A recent event in Di’s life perfectly illustrates this point. His three children recently had their first piano lesson with a gentleman who, despite being in his 60s, still actively plays piano at their local church. After their lesson at their own home, the children spontaneously showed their kindness and respect to the elderly man, making sure he had water to drink, chocolates to eat, and thanking him profusely – all without any parental prompting.

Observing such moments from behind the scenes, parents feel a sense of overwhelming pride and fulfillment. The fear of not being a good enough parent dissipates, replaced with a sense of profound satisfaction and bliss. This is one of the unspoken joys of parenting – witnessing your children reflect the values you’ve instilled in them, and to see them extending kindness and respect towards others.

But even in such moments of joy, there will be instances when fear and faith intersect. Parenthood is often a balance of these two – the fear of failure and the faith in one’s abilities as a parent. How does one choose between the two? Di’s advice is to simply act, do your best, and let faith guide you.

Faith is about believing that you’re doing your best, even when you stumble, and it’s about trusting that things will turn out alright in the end. Let your actions be driven by faith and not by fear. Leave the rest to the divine, or to the universe, or to whichever higher power you believe in.

The journey of parenting is as challenging as it is rewarding. It’s full of self-doubt, but also brimming with moments of joy, pride, and accomplishment. So drop the fear, focus on faith, and embrace the journey, for it is one of the most beautiful and fulfilling roles you will ever play.