What an awesome experience to watch your child grow. What else is awesome (and very scary too) is how you can see yourself in your child. My son just turned three last month and he is at the age where he mimics everything he sees. It's sweet, it's funny, it's... a whole lotta pressure! I influence him in ways and he picks up on things that I didn't even realize were obvious or me for that matter.
On Saturday we were at a small quiet playground. There were two other boys there, one my son's age, the other I'd say was about 5 years old. What was great was that they were all kinda sorta playing together (which meant I could actually sit) and what was even better was to watch how my son interacts with peers. OMG... what a little dorky goofball my son is. At first I couldn't help but to laugh at him. Then I got a little bit panicked because I began to wonder if he is a bit too odd which would lead to teasing later in life. Then, I realized that he was actually the leader of the group and in a quiet behind the scenes sorta way, he dictated how the game was being played (beam :).
But this is what I saw... the older boy was pretending to be some kind of monster. My son would look at him and scream (like a girl... okay, like the way I scream when I play with him) and he'd run away (also like a girl... okay, like me, but I never knew I ran like a girl and I was pretty athletic back in the day). The other boy just egged the older one on to "scare" my son (all in good nature). My son was the one who talked the whole time. Nonstop. He even changed his voice to a low manly one (I do this with him to either distract him from a tantrum or to get him to continue walking vs. being carried) which I think frightened the other little boys. It was definitely funny, but okay a little weird too. Wherever my son ran, the others followed. My son was definitely the life of that party. It was just a real neat thing to watch. And I learned so much about my son and about me as a parent and the awesome responsibility that I have in raising him.
I have been having a bit of an issue at my son's daycare. I guess technically I should call it preschool since his days now are more curriculum based. The main issue is that his teacher has been working on hand grip with the class. She talks to me everyday about what they did that day and how my son is doing (which is great). But, then that also means that everyday I am told to practice at home with him and that he hasn't improved in the few weeks of doing this.
As a teacher, I respect his teacher. Now, I am on the other side and its very different. However, there are some similarities too. As a teacher I always appreciated students' differences in abilities and talents and although I held them to high standards, I did my best to not let my teaching be confined by the state tests. So, as a parent I see what my child is capable of doing... loves books and comprehends them, very logistical, very much left brained. He's very intelligent and I am not worried about his abilities to be successful in school. He does however gets frustrated easily and depending on the task will give up on his own. He also isn't completely potty trained yet. So, knowing him and what I know as an early educator, development is crucial. It's okay for him to not hold a marker/crayon the right way right now. I do show him how to hold it correctly. But he switches to a more comfortable grip which allows what he produces to be better. He's just not ready yet. But also too, I have to admit, I don't want to do "homework" with him right now. I know what school is like and how demanding even kindergarten is. My son doesn't color or draw everyday, it's just not his thing and I am not going to force into it. I want him to be a creative little kid for as long as he can be!
So I feel a bit of pull from both sides. I understand the academic part. But my instincts as a parent are stronger. Right now, I am more focused on making sure that my son is developing the critical necessities for becoming a confident little man. I want him to learn how to be kind and respectful to other people and to the environment. I want him to develop strong social skills. I want him to be able to communicate his thoughts in a positive way. I want to foster his interests and talents. And I want to expose him to as much as I possibly can and give him as many different experiences as I can. That is what is important to me and I think that is what would have been important to my husband as well.
I did succumb to some guilt (sorry 4 Agreements) and bought some colorful workbooks and special toddler scissors. Today was the first day and my son loved them! I showed him how to hold the marker and he tried. But, it looked uncomfortable and I showed him an in between grip which seemed to work. It'll come... but when the time is right (just like everything else in life).
I'm learning too as I do this, so I guess my son is raising me too in a way. What an important and equally awesome job we have.
On Saturday we were at a small quiet playground. There were two other boys there, one my son's age, the other I'd say was about 5 years old. What was great was that they were all kinda sorta playing together (which meant I could actually sit) and what was even better was to watch how my son interacts with peers. OMG... what a little dorky goofball my son is. At first I couldn't help but to laugh at him. Then I got a little bit panicked because I began to wonder if he is a bit too odd which would lead to teasing later in life. Then, I realized that he was actually the leader of the group and in a quiet behind the scenes sorta way, he dictated how the game was being played (beam :).
But this is what I saw... the older boy was pretending to be some kind of monster. My son would look at him and scream (like a girl... okay, like the way I scream when I play with him) and he'd run away (also like a girl... okay, like me, but I never knew I ran like a girl and I was pretty athletic back in the day). The other boy just egged the older one on to "scare" my son (all in good nature). My son was the one who talked the whole time. Nonstop. He even changed his voice to a low manly one (I do this with him to either distract him from a tantrum or to get him to continue walking vs. being carried) which I think frightened the other little boys. It was definitely funny, but okay a little weird too. Wherever my son ran, the others followed. My son was definitely the life of that party. It was just a real neat thing to watch. And I learned so much about my son and about me as a parent and the awesome responsibility that I have in raising him.
I have been having a bit of an issue at my son's daycare. I guess technically I should call it preschool since his days now are more curriculum based. The main issue is that his teacher has been working on hand grip with the class. She talks to me everyday about what they did that day and how my son is doing (which is great). But, then that also means that everyday I am told to practice at home with him and that he hasn't improved in the few weeks of doing this.
As a teacher, I respect his teacher. Now, I am on the other side and its very different. However, there are some similarities too. As a teacher I always appreciated students' differences in abilities and talents and although I held them to high standards, I did my best to not let my teaching be confined by the state tests. So, as a parent I see what my child is capable of doing... loves books and comprehends them, very logistical, very much left brained. He's very intelligent and I am not worried about his abilities to be successful in school. He does however gets frustrated easily and depending on the task will give up on his own. He also isn't completely potty trained yet. So, knowing him and what I know as an early educator, development is crucial. It's okay for him to not hold a marker/crayon the right way right now. I do show him how to hold it correctly. But he switches to a more comfortable grip which allows what he produces to be better. He's just not ready yet. But also too, I have to admit, I don't want to do "homework" with him right now. I know what school is like and how demanding even kindergarten is. My son doesn't color or draw everyday, it's just not his thing and I am not going to force into it. I want him to be a creative little kid for as long as he can be!
So I feel a bit of pull from both sides. I understand the academic part. But my instincts as a parent are stronger. Right now, I am more focused on making sure that my son is developing the critical necessities for becoming a confident little man. I want him to learn how to be kind and respectful to other people and to the environment. I want him to develop strong social skills. I want him to be able to communicate his thoughts in a positive way. I want to foster his interests and talents. And I want to expose him to as much as I possibly can and give him as many different experiences as I can. That is what is important to me and I think that is what would have been important to my husband as well.
I did succumb to some guilt (sorry 4 Agreements) and bought some colorful workbooks and special toddler scissors. Today was the first day and my son loved them! I showed him how to hold the marker and he tried. But, it looked uncomfortable and I showed him an in between grip which seemed to work. It'll come... but when the time is right (just like everything else in life).
I'm learning too as I do this, so I guess my son is raising me too in a way. What an important and equally awesome job we have.
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