I don't really like my previous post. I almost feel like killing it, but in the spirit of being transparent, I'll leave it there. I don't like it because it sounds (to me) like I think playing with your kids or reading with them is not necessary. Or that I don't think educating your kids is important...I don't really believe that, if you can read with your kids and play with them etc etc, that is all good, but I guess what I was trying to get at, albeit poorly, is that parents should never feel guilted into being the "perfect" parent. Do what you can with what you have. If trying to get those 20 minutes of reading time in with each of your children each evening stresses you out because you actually have alot more on your agenda than school...don't do it. Do what you can, be inventive - get an older sibling to help - or granny if she's over. Or have them read silently sometimes, look at books etc etc.
I don't like this post either. I feel like I'm making excuses when I'm really trying to explain myself. And I know that many teachers out there would feel like I've jumped the fence, when actually there is no fence, we're all on the same side. And sometimes I wish parents would spend more time reading with their kids and playing with them(gasp), than shipping them off to hockey and soccer and football and piano and voice and swimming lessons. Not that any of that is bad...but maybe they shouldn't all happen at once :)
Maybe I'm just trying to rationalize my own lazy parenting style. Maybe this is all crap and I'm completely wrong and my kids will turn out to have a home in the local or not so local jail. I don't know.
What I do know is that I don't know it all...and that anyone taking advice from me (miss M) or even scarier-passing on that advice (miss M) needs to know that they can't hold me responsible for anything that happens...unless it's good :) Then you can send me cookies.
I also know that this isn't a good day to be writing a post about parenting - after sitting in the staff room at lunch and hearing a couple of teachers talk about which student has good parents and which students have bad parents and what good parents do with their kids....all the guilt wants to come slamming back down on my head...I tell you, sometimes us teachers are the worst when it comes to guilt trips!! isn't that funny? I guess I'd better keep the other post too and read it again. self talk.
3 comments:
being an excellent parent is not that hard to do...if that's all you want to do. Unfortunately, most of us also want to be an excellent spouse, employee or employer, volunteer, friend, etc. And while parenting is the most important job out there, a huge part of that job gets done as we do other things that don't directly involve them, because they are watching & learning how to be a well-rounded, productive member of society. I prefer this method of parenting as opposed to "it's all about me".
Oh wm, this is a good post and so was the other one. And BTW- if you think you have a "lazy parenting style" then so do I, all of us parent how we think works or what will work. Could I do better? Of course, but I'm always learning. And everytime I think I have something mastered, boom! it changes....So for tdoay, I'll do the best I can and what is essential.
love you ...
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