Thursday, October 11, 2007

Worst Mom Award Winner

Okay, so kids should come with personalized handbooks. For example, one section should be on basic learning skills. Here is an example entry (I wish I had) I am right handed. I am a visual learner. I should know my basic colors and shapes by my thrid birthday. You can get me to potty train by... (still havn't figured that one out yet.)

So ywah right now I am a litle frustrated. Found out today that my almost four year old should be able to identify basic colors shapes and write most letters including his name. He does none of this. He can't even copy a circle. So whose fault is that? mine! All mine! Great now I have to play cacth up! I am just super frustrated. I can't even get him to potty on the toilet. How the heck am I supposed to get him to write his name????? What the blankity am I supposed to do now?

I know there are worse things to complain about but his is my little world and I am having a meltdown. I will be better later. I just want to cry right now. I am feeling quite overwhelmed and like I don't know when or where to start.

Help me lord!

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

All that stuff you got dumped on you is a load of CRAP with a capital BS. Boys don’t usually get the writing thing going until age 7. Whoever told you that line of garbage just doesn’t want their kindergarten teacher having to actually do any work other than teaching reading so those kids are ready for 1st grade, which is also absurd because most children’s eyes are not ready for reading until they are 7-9.

In fact, there are studies that show that ADD as well as eye problems are related to our pushing our children to do too much too soon.

Jen, your boys are fine. If you want, I’ll send you some books to read with them. All you have to do is get a nice soft rope that won’t cause burns on their skin, lasso them, tie them down, duct tape their months closed, and somehow make their eyes stare forward. Then you will be able to teach them things that they don’t need to know at age 4.

And if that doesn’t work, you can do just want all the other parents do so their children can fit and the parents can look good—label the children with a learning problem and dope them up so they have a higher disposition for drug use when they are older, a crappy self-esteem for their whole lives, and an ongoing need to perform to get approval.

Am I cynic or a mom with great kids? You’ve met my kids. You decide.

If you want academic resume, I can tell you about the doctor who dismissed Robert’s sleep issues as “normal for a gifted talented child” or Anna who didn’t read until she was seven and was reading and understanding the Lord of the Rings trilogy six months later.

Sweetheart, are your boys secure? Do they know they are loved? Then don’t label them because they don’t fit into a box created by a broken educational system that wants to pretend every child is just like every other child and makes them feel like failures when they are not.

If you need more opinion and proof, call or email.

Seriously, I have educational suggestion for boys, and books, pencil, and paper is not involved. You need blocks, cars, sand, cake pans, clay, and other kinesthetic high motion stuff. That whole writing gig is...well, stupid just isn't quite as intense as I am looking for, but the absurdity of what was dumped on you has just left me unable to find something that truly fits.

Love you, dearly!!!

Anonymous said...

Jenn,

I have an 11 yo boy - who was in TEARS when I tried to sit him down at 3.5 to have him write. It caused me to think that I was a failure and it ultimately shot us straight into the school system - not a good idea for a high energy - high sensory kid!!

I now have another 3.5 and only because I've already gone down this road, am I not sweating it!! He is just now pottying on the potty, but only because I decided to ditch the pull-ups - he couldn't feel that he was wet. Guess what - he still wears a diaper at night. He'll be 4 in March.

Am I sitting him down with pencil and paper? Nope!! We do talk about shapes and colors, but I don't drill it into him - that would be cruel!! I know that know that I almost messed up my older one! LOL

We read to him and work on sensory issues with him. It's a fine line and you just have to know your child - not let someone else tell you what they should do be able to do!!

BTW, my kids are: 11.5 yob - read at 4, wrote at (well, we are still working on that!), 8 yog - read at almost 7 and wrote at 3!, 3.5 yob - doesn't write at all, but has memorized his letter and about 2 colors!, 1.5 yob - says some audible words and follows me around like a little puppy!!

they are all different and you simply can't lump them together. I'm pregnant again and only God knows what our future holds with this little on - when he/she will read, write, talk, walk, do cartwheels. Don't sweat it - just enjoy it!!!

If you want to visit my blog - you are most welcome, I usually talk about the weird things that go on in our house!! LOL

http://littlebitofeverythingmama.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

BTW, I know Christine's children. I love Christine's children.

Debra said...

Okay, so for starters, whoever "shoulded" on you should be shot! Children are individuals and gifted in areas that the Lord knows and reveals and thank God we are not all the same. Do NOT worry about the toilet training (my girlfriend with boys didn't even try until her boys were 4 AND, they were very ready and it was very easy at that time. The other thing is my kiddo's didn't start to write, really write, until they were around 4 1/2 and 5 ... they are both above grade level in reading. Oh, and did I tell you my youngest, who is left handed, wrote everything backward FOREVER! All that said, do NOT be discouraged and do NOT compare your parenting or your kids or their talents or yours to anyone else. God made us all unique and different. I can't tell you the number of things my pediatrician would roll over on if I had told her (if it was your pediatrician). Break the curse of comparison right now, at this age. We are all fearfully and wonderfully made by the Heavenly Father, who has GREAT plans for us. Be encouraged. Ask the Best Parent in the world and He will lead you in what is important and help you to tune out and trash the rest. Be encouraged sister. You are doing just fine!