Parenting 101: How to raise a celebrity kid

Team Kramer poses for a selfie with the ecstatic crowd during the PLDT HOME Telpad Quad Core consumer launch at SM Megamall

Parenting is, in many ways, one of the most taxing jobs in the world. The work is long and the pay is non-existent. Forget about perks, unless of course, changing diapers at the wee hours in the morning is your kind of thing.

When your kids grow up to be smart, loving and responsible, however, that’s a reward in itself, making all your sacrifices more than worth it.

Basketball player Doug Kramer and former model-actress Cheska Garcia are blessed in this department. Together, the hands-on parents have raised their bright and adorable kids Kendra, 4, Scarlett, 2, and Gavin, 1.

The Kramer brood became social media celebrities after their endearing photos and videos circulated on social media. Cute and candid, it’s easy to understand why they, the young ones especially, have become Internet darlings. The bigger question is, how did Doug and Cheska raise such loveable little kids?

Being Role Models

No matter how loaded their schedule is, Doug and Cheska always see to it that they have quality time with the kids.

“I think, a lot of parents forget that spending time with the children is such an important thing because if there are leaders that your kids will look up to, it’s always the parents,” says Doug.

Cheska adds, “When your children see what you’re doing, the kids pick up from that. The little things that you do in the house, that builds your child’s character.”

The couple is focusing more on their eldest, Kendra, already a fan favorite on social media.

“We tell her that ‘You know, God has blessed us with this and you have fans and you cannot be sungit to a lot of people.’ We also tell them, ‘Because God blessed us, we have to bless others also.’”

“It’s (the) small things, (like) when we’re stuck in traffic and we see may mga kumakatok na bata, then Kendra would ask, ‘Papa, what are they doing? Why are they asking?’ I explain to them, ‘You know, they don’t have much.’ And sometimes we give money to Kendra, si Kendra magbibigay sa kanila so she will understand the concept of giving,” relates Doug.

Team Kramer (Instagram)

Teaching Bible Lessons

Doug and Cheska have put God in the center of their family. They read the Bible to their kids themselves, and explain to them its many lessons. With this, Cheska hopes that their children will grew up God-fearing.

“When we read to them stories with moral values or (those from) the Bible, they pick up from them. That’s why you (need to explain) things to them. We consciously repeat things to them because they are still kids,” says Cheska.

Instilling Discipline

Doug grew up in Baguio and La Union, where, he recalls, “I saw a lot of parents, when they discipline their children, after the palo, ’yung bata umiiyak. Then the parents, parang, ‘O, matuto ka sa ganyan.’”

He says he wants his kids to be disciplined but not without explaning to them why.

“Right after the spanking, I talk to them, I reconcile and tell them I love them. We never use our hands, we use a discipline stick — a small plastic stick that is not meant to harm your child; it’s just meant for them to remember. They won’t be scared of me, they get scared of the discipline stick. If the children are scared of you, that’s a different thing.

Maintaining Communication

Communication is key to the Kramers’ healthy family relationship. In fact, the celebrity couple isn’t averse to using new technology and gadgets to boost this.

Cheska says, “Doug and I use PLDT Home Telpad to communicate with our family and friends, and the experience has really been leveled up. Of course, the kids love it, too. They love playing with it and it has been a tool for us to explore things together and bond even in the simplest way.”

According to Patrick Tang, PLDT vice president and head of Home Voice Solutions, the Kramer family represents a new paradigm for Filipino families – young, dynamic and socially active. Their ability to hold on to strong family values and mix them with sense of fun makes them the perfect brand endorsers.

Parenting 101: How to raise a celebrity kid

Source: Mb.com.ph (April 30, 2014 at 06:53PM)

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