I think I blinked and my daughter turned 2 . Just like that she is no longer a baby. But with this has come the terrible two's. The tantrums, the persistance and no doesn't mean no in her world. No just means "O.K I will stop for 2 seconds and do it again. Then I will see how long it takes to wear mummy out"
Boy has she been wearing me out. I remember my son being a willful child at that age, but usually you could distract him with something and he would sit and watch a movie or play a game. He would then be quiet for about an hour. But with my daughter there are no distractions. She just zooms through everything she wants to do. She is fast and very rarely walks. Any time I open a gate or door of any kind I have to be ready to sprint after her. (Future marathon runner over here)
My son on the other hand is almost 5!! (July). I don't know where that time went either. It's true when they say the time with your children goes very fast. I'm going to try and stop blinking maybe that will slow the process.
He is now at Kindergarten and absolutely loving it. It's a different world to day care. More learning a little bit more structure and a change of environment. At his particular Kinder they let children negotiate their own friendships and battles as well as watching them develop. They guide the children and give them tools for the life skills they will need in future and they also tell us parents what they feel would be beneficial to each and every child.
I appreciate that. It's always good to hear a different perspective or a new way of dealing with certain situations. These people have a degree in childcare so they may have learnt something that would be paramount for me to use with my child. Some people may not like this but for me it's great. There is never a book that can teach you exactly how to bring up your child. ( yes there are plenty of parenting books) But sometimes these books do not apply to your child. Some might say then your doing it wrong. I say your doing your best. I think spending time with your child teaches you tolerance and understanding. You really need to sit down and work with them.
I am learning a lot about my children as they grow. Their different personalities, the way they tackle situations and just the funny things they say. Words that you didn't even realise they knew how to pronounce. I am enjoying their affection and the "I love you mummy". Sometimes when I think things are just out of control my children remind me that through it all they are here and they are here to stay. Their love is unconditional, without prejudice and no matter how bad my day is they are there to greet me with their hugs and their smiles. ( and they are still going to drive me nuts)
Also I have noticed my son bringing home a lot of homework. Now I didn't think this would start happening until he was at school. However, every week he comes home with a project we are to do together. I'm not sure how I feel about this. I don't know how parents who work long hours have time for the homework. It's not like it's a couple of sentences either. You have to attach photos, ( so then you go and print them out at a store which takes time), then you have to attach or draw pictures, build objects, glue things, and write essays. This at the age of 4!!!
Learning has become competetive at this age. Or was it always like this and I just didn't know. I'm always for children working at their own pace but it seems to me everyone has very high expectations for children at this stage in their lives. And if children don't meet these expectations then they are given labels.
My son went through a stage where he wasn't interested in mainstream learning. He loves technology, science and thinks outside the square. He also is not a conformist and likes to be the leader in play. But 6 months later there he was drawing pictures playing with other kids and broadening his interests. Although technology and science is still his number one and he still likes to lead, he is learning to fit into every day life with other children. And this is what I thought going to school was for.
I think it is important to notice if their are major issues awry, but I think just let them be kids for a while. There is so much going on in this world that it would be nice to not have any pressure on them. Homework should be once every 2 weeks. They have plenty of time to be bombarded with this stuff in their teenage years.
It's all a learning curve for me too. No matter how much you think you know everything, really you don't. When I was on my own I had a lot of preconceived ideas about how being a mother should be. I was very much mistaken. I was an Auntie for many years before I became a parent and I thought that prepared me. But really your never prepared and the way it actually is, well let's just say it isn't anything like I imagined.
I am not complaining by all means. All I will say is I have become much less judgemental of other parents. And I thank God for my two munchkins because they are my greatest teachers of life. But they are also the two little human beings who keep me grounded, focussed, strong and ready to take on anything that comes my way.
Even the homework!!!
I leave you with this today:
It's not only children who grow, Parents do too. As much as we watch to see what our children do with their lives. They are watching us to see what we do with ours. I can tell my children to reach for the sun, but all I can do is reach for it myself. Joyce Maynard
