Today as Paige and I shared a typical Friday morning, stopping at Starbucks for my cup of heaven and Paige's chocolate milk, followed by a walk through the shopping center to pause at Diddam's Halloween decorations and peruse the latest magazines at Safeway (P: Disney Princess and Fairies, Me: Us Weekly), I had an epiphany: Aren't there other things I should be doing right now? I am slackin'! Here are some other areas I've been slacking in lately:3) Miss P's school readiness: P attends a play based preschool three days a week. I hear she is doing great (i.e.: she cooperates, takes turns, is attentive at circle time, etc). I know she's a pretty bright cookie in terms of language development and general knowledge. I also know she is only writing the first three letters of her name independently. Developmentally appropriate? Yes. I also know as a kindergarten teacher, that it will behoove her to have strong fine motor next year. Do I do anything to support this at home? Very little. Seems like we are too busy having fun singing and dancing...
2) Program watching: Thank heavens for the high quality children's programs out there, or I'd really be mortified. (I can hear 'Steve' singing now: "line, line, circle, circle..") P doesn't really watch that much I guess, but there has been an increase lately. Last year P would go three to four days a week without watching any TV (yes, I counted), and now I feel like I give in too quickly when I have something important to do, you know, like talk on the phone or blog.
1) Nutrition: Oh lord, this is the biggie. Again, P used to eat very healthy as a baby and toddler. Now as a preschooler who obviously only eats people food, she has adopted my sub-par eating habits. I'm one who longs to eat healthy, but totally caves for fast food and sweets. Like one who tries every diet and fails, I have tried many healthy eating regimes, that end up going south after a few weeks. Making matters worse, she has received, I don't know, 5? goody bags at preschool filled with suckers and hard candy, along with a full-size bag of cotton candy at a back to (pre)school carnival. 1 point for me for at least trashing that stuff ASAP. However -1 point for the fruit snacks and granola bar she had for dinner (in my classroom) when I was working late last Wednesday night...
So, there you have it. I'm a slacker... : )
How about you???
Update: Paige turned off the TV and is now on the floor next to me practicing her name and drawing people. Maybe there is hope for us yet!!!
2 comments:
3 -- every child has their strengths. Your child is a big singer, mine is not.
2 -- I just gave in and Spencer gets 1 hour of TV/day. I am trying to find the balance between shows I think teach him, and ones he finds exciting (but not too exciting -- some shows just get him CRAZY)
1 -- Your child likes something that is fairly good for her -- focus on that. :) For myself, Conner loves tomatoes, and Spencer loves cucumers. Needless to say we grow a lot of both of those in our garden. And all moms suck on the food chain every now and then, what do people want from us?
You sound like a wonderful mom to me! I used to feel the same way you do, but trust me, you are doing a great job. And in the years to come, you little one will have wonderful memories of singing and dancing. All that "school stuff" will be fine. I have living proof of what I am saying - my two grown children :) Keep singing and dancing!!!
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