I joined PlanetSpark for my child.
I stayed for myself.

When my daughter started her public speaking classes, I treated it like any other extracurricular activity—English, communication, storytelling… good for her growth, good for her future. I sat beside her during the first few sessions, ready to “supervise,” “guide,” and “ensure she pays attention.”

But somewhere along the way, something unexpected happened.

While I thought I was helping her, I ended up learning a lot about myself—my communication habits, my confidence, my gaps, and my hidden strengths.

This blog is a letter to every parent who thinks they’re too old to learn, too busy to reflect, or too stuck in their ways to grow. Trust me, I felt the same.

But PlanetSpark changed something in me. Quietly. Naturally. Almost accidentally.

Here’s what I discovered.

1. I Realised I Overcomplicate My Communication

When the teacher asked my child,
“Describe your favourite toy in 30 seconds,”
my daughter spoke simply, directly, and confidently.

Then I tried the same exercise later.

I rambled.
I added unnecessary detail.
I tried to sound “correct” instead of clear.

That’s when it hit me:
Children aren’t afraid of simplicity, but adults are.

Supporting my child made me realise that my communication wasn’t unclear because of language—it was unclear because of overthinking. I was trying too hard to be formal, polished, and perfect.

PlanetSpark’s child-friendly frameworks—like Point → Reason → Example—showed me that even adults benefit from structured simplicity.

2. I Noticed How Often I Say “Umm,” “Actually,” and “Basically”

Kids have the funniest honesty.

One day, during her speech practice, my daughter said:
“Mumma, why do you say umm so many times? It sounds like you’re searching for words.”

I laughed at first.
Then I reflected.

She was right.

I realised I constantly used fillers whenever I was unsure, hesitant, or nervous—even in regular conversations. Watching her learn to pause, breathe, and deliver sentences clearly made me notice how messy my own speaking patterns were.

This awareness alone transformed how I communicate at work and socially.

3. I Learnt That Confidence Isn’t Just Loudness

I always thought confident speakers were the loud ones—the people who dominate a room.

But PlanetSpark taught my child something different:

Confidence = clarity + calm + conviction.

And while guiding her through the sessions, I realised that I wasn’t lacking vocabulary—I was lacking presence. I rushed through my points, I didn’t pause enough, and I doubted my phrasing.

Helping her practise voice modulation and pauses unexpectedly helped me speak more gracefully and confidently.

Turns out, confidence can be quiet and still powerful.

4. I Underestimated My Own Fear of Speaking

Yes, adults fear speaking too.

Listening to my child talk about “stage fear,” I found myself thinking:

Wait… even I get nervous speaking in meetings.
Even I avoid being the first one to present.
Even I rehearse in my head before unmuting myself on calls.

And yet—I had never addressed it.
I had accepted it as “normal.”

But watching my daughter tackle her fears pushed me to confront mine. I started practising small speeches with her, recording 1-minute videos, and even participating in her speaking games.

Somewhere in those moments, my own fear softened.

BOOK YOUR FREE DEMO

5. I Saw How Much Mindset Affects Fluency

My child learnt something beautifully simple:

“When you think in strong sentences, you speak strong sentences.”

Helping her practise storytelling helped me reflect on my own thinking. I realised:

• I rushed my thoughts.

• I doubted my words.

• I second-guessed myself.

• I added disclaimers like “I may be wrong” or “This might sound silly.”

When she confidently framed her ideas with phrases like:

• “In my opinion…”

• “What I believe is…”

• “Let me explain…”

I noticed how empowering it was.

Gradually, I borrowed these frameworks for myself.
And my fluency improved without me even trying.

6. I Learnt That Good Communication is a Habit, Not Talent

Watching my daughter’s progress week by week showed me something powerful—
fluency is built, not gifted.

Every session at PlanetSpark has:

• warm-ups

• speaking triggers

• new vocabulary

• structured frameworks

• fun performance tasks

• reflection exercises

Slowly, through small consistent practice, children gain confidence without pressure.

And that’s when I realised:
Adults need practice too.

We are not “done learning.”
We just stopped practising.

I started doing small activities with her—30-second stories, 1-minute debates, “sell this object” games, daily speaking challenges—and I noticed my own communication becoming sharper.

7. I Learnt to Listen Better (The Most Unexpected Lesson)

Public speaking isn’t just about talking.
It’s about listening.

To the audience.
To your own pace.
To the subtle pauses in your thoughts.

Helping my child with feedback sessions taught me to truly listen—not just wait for my turn to speak.

I began practicing active listening at home and work:

• maintaining eye contact

• nodding with intention

• summarising before responding

• asking thoughtful follow-up questions

This made my conversations richer, calmer, and more meaningful.

8. I Learnt I Can Grow at Any Age

This lesson was the most emotional.

As adults, we often believe:

• “My English is average, but it’s okay.”

• “I’m not confident; I can’t change now.”

• “Kids can learn quickly, but I’m too old.”

But learning alongside my child showed me that growth has no age limit.

I improved without enrolling in a course myself. Just by being involved.

And it reminded me that life gives us chances to grow—
even in moments where we think we are only supporting someone else.

9. I Became a Better Communicator… and a Better Parent

This journey impacted my parenting too.

I learnt to:

• speak gently during arguments

• express instructions clearly

• explain consequences calmly

• listen without interrupting

• talk with my child, not at my child

Communication transformed our relationship.

And that’s something I never expected when we first signed up for PlanetSpark.

10. Supporting My Child Ended Up Supporting Me

When I reflect now, I realise PlanetSpark didn’t just teach my child communication skills—it gave me a mirror.

Through her lessons, I saw:

• my gaps

• my habits

• my fears

• my strengths

• my unrealised potential

And I’m grateful for it.

Helping her made me braver.
Made me clearer.
Made me calmer.
Made me… better.

Final Thoughts: Parents, You’re Growing Too

If you’re a parent reading this, I want to tell you something honestly:

Don’t just sit beside your child during their PlanetSpark session.
Grow with them.

Do the activities.
Join the games.
Practice the frameworks.
Reflect with them.

You might think you’re helping your child speak better.
But somewhere in the process…
you’ll find your own voice becoming stronger too.

And that—
is the most beautiful and unexpected gift this journey gives.