Friday, March 12, 2010
Success!
Alex just pooped on the potty! He'll be five in less than three weeks and I've been kicking myself for not being more consistent with the potty thing. There are plenty of children at the center where I work who are lower functioning than him but are potty trained. I want so badly for him to be trained by September, and I'm afraid the longer we wait to do it the harder it will be. But I think he's ready, I really do. I'm so excited!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Sending My Boys to Public School
I called the local elementary school and made appointments for kindergarten registration today. It's hard to believe that Alex and Spencer will be five at the end of this month. Where did the time go? For awhile, probably when they were 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 (the worst of the younger years, IMHO) I wished that they would stop growing so fast and be my babies for a little longer. Now I'm really enjoying their growth and learning. We have so much fun together now. They understand so much more and are curious, funny, and so smart.
I'm a little worried about what public school will do to them. As I've learned in my educational administration studies, public schools were created in part to socialize our children into the particular beliefs and values of our culture. Intentional or not, schools have a homogenizing effect on our nation's children. I don't ever want Alex and Spencer to lose their individuality, don't ever want them to become uncomfortable with being who they are. I don't want them to be afraid to admit that they don't know something and ask questions. I don't want them to feel that they have to pretend to like something because if they don't they'll be "weird". We are a family of wierdos and we try to let them know every day that it's wonderful that they are unique. I hope that message will ring stronger for them than any message they might get at school.
There is also such a strong focus on standards and assessments now and that worries me. School should not be all about learning facts and skills. Children need to retain their thirst for knowledge, their creativity, imagination, and ability to think for themselves. I don't want my children to grow up to be people who need someone to tell them what to do. I want them to grow up to be people who think outside the box, who question and challenge, who explore and create. Critical thinking and autonomy are lost when children are told what to do and how to do it all day every day. Unfortunately our nation has become so focused on outcomes and competition in the global economy (which are important, I agree) that raising children who are great thinkers is neglected.
So here we go on the adventure of public education. I have a feeling I'll be a very involved parent! Like every mom, I want my children to live to their fullest potential, and I'll do everything I can to help them be the best possible people they can be.
I'm a little worried about what public school will do to them. As I've learned in my educational administration studies, public schools were created in part to socialize our children into the particular beliefs and values of our culture. Intentional or not, schools have a homogenizing effect on our nation's children. I don't ever want Alex and Spencer to lose their individuality, don't ever want them to become uncomfortable with being who they are. I don't want them to be afraid to admit that they don't know something and ask questions. I don't want them to feel that they have to pretend to like something because if they don't they'll be "weird". We are a family of wierdos and we try to let them know every day that it's wonderful that they are unique. I hope that message will ring stronger for them than any message they might get at school.
There is also such a strong focus on standards and assessments now and that worries me. School should not be all about learning facts and skills. Children need to retain their thirst for knowledge, their creativity, imagination, and ability to think for themselves. I don't want my children to grow up to be people who need someone to tell them what to do. I want them to grow up to be people who think outside the box, who question and challenge, who explore and create. Critical thinking and autonomy are lost when children are told what to do and how to do it all day every day. Unfortunately our nation has become so focused on outcomes and competition in the global economy (which are important, I agree) that raising children who are great thinkers is neglected.
So here we go on the adventure of public education. I have a feeling I'll be a very involved parent! Like every mom, I want my children to live to their fullest potential, and I'll do everything I can to help them be the best possible people they can be.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
January 19, 2010
This morning Mike asked Alex to come to the table for breakfast. Alex whined and said something to Mike (he can't remember the exact words) to indicate that he needed a new diaper. He was poopy! This is the first time ever he has let anyone know he needed a diaper change! Whoo hooo!!!
I noticed this morning that Spencer looks even taller next to Alex than he did a month or so ago when he was measured an inch taller. I put them back to back and I swear he's got close to two inches on Alex. He's a Spencer sprout!
I'm beginning to think I have ADD. I can't concentrate on one task for more than five minutes. My mind is always wandering and I can't keep track of my thoughts. I can't remember something somebody told me two minutes ago. It's making schoolwork exceedingly difficult!
I noticed this morning that Spencer looks even taller next to Alex than he did a month or so ago when he was measured an inch taller. I put them back to back and I swear he's got close to two inches on Alex. He's a Spencer sprout!
I'm beginning to think I have ADD. I can't concentrate on one task for more than five minutes. My mind is always wandering and I can't keep track of my thoughts. I can't remember something somebody told me two minutes ago. It's making schoolwork exceedingly difficult!
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Paging Dr. Conklin
Spencer diagnosed me with an "ear injection" this morning. "I have an ear injection?" I asked. "Yes," he said, "because your diaphragm isn't working." Guess during all our anatomy talks I forgot to mention that your ear is nowhere near your diaphragm. Sigh...
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Our Not So Simple Lives
How do you teach children not to take what they have for granted when we live in a society where most people have so much more than they need? I feel as though most of the children I know have a sense of entitlement about things. I understand our inner desires to be comfortable and be entertained, and I see how our society feeds into this. From within and without we are pushed to have more and live better. There are children all over the world who live with so much less and aren't any less happy. Our children place far too much value on things: video games, computers, television, toys, etc. I wish I could make my own kids understand that we don't need stuff to lead happy and fulfilled lives. I'm influenced by the same forces as everyone else, but I long to live a more simple life, both for myself and as an example to my children.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Growing Sentences
A few days ago when I asked Alex why he was upset he tearfully replied, in a spontaneous five-word sentence, "The Leapster TV is gone." Just yesterday he uttered a spontaneous ten-word sentence: "I want to get into the van and go home." Only problem . . . we were already there!
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