This week a woman asked me if Ani (2 years) will be attending preschool this year. At first I was surprised that she would ask me something like that when obviously my daughter is a bit too young for mainstream public school. Then I realized she asked me because her own son who is 3 will be attending preschool this fall. She was so proud to share that he is ready for school, she just has to get him potty trained first.
Learning about trees
It saddens me to think how parents today can be so eager to get their little ones out of the house asap, learning from someone who is out of touch with the child’s character as well as placed into a room full of other little ones in the same shoes. Why are we handing our children off to someone else to “babysit” when what our children really need is guidance, attention, training, teaching, hugs, and praises from their guardians?
The excuse of money is so lame. “I have to work a part-time job, we can’t afford for me to stay home.” First of all shepherding our children is our most critical “job,” every minute with our child we are planting seeds, either good or bad. Someday those seeds will grow and bloom as weeds or beautiful flowers. It is up to us as parents to plant good seeds, our child’s life depends on it. Secondly, there are ways around not having to work, you just have to decide first that your children are more important than your house, car, clothes, food,vacations, TV, fake nails, magazine subscription, even your “tithe”. We live incredibly simple to most standards, everything in our house has been given to us, we can’t afford to buy things so we say a prayer, wait and sure enough it shows up sooner of later. We rent a dilapidated house, and could care less that is looks awful, being at home enjoying our family is more important to us then nice carpet, green grass, picture frames etc. I could go on and on, but then I would forget to write about my original point: teach your own child, do not pass them off to someone else.
So after thinking this over a great deal, I realized that Ani has been “in school” since the moment she took her first breath. Everyday she has been with our family she has learned a huge amount of useful knowledge and understanding. Here are a few samples of the life lessons Ani learns each day.
- Tying her shoes, early on Ani showed interest in buttons, snaps, zippers and strings, so I thought tying shoes should be a perfect fit.
- How to sew on a button, yep she will help me thread the needle and pull the needle on each stitch.
- Why we have to water our plants, plants need light, water and air.
- How to find shapes all around the house
- Why chickens have gizzards to help them digest their food since they don’t chew.
- How to chew with your mouth closed while eating.
- How to fold washcloths.
- Why bugs have antenas for smelling.
- How to sign letters and find letters around the house.
- Why onions need to be sauteed longer than garlic.
- Where her food goes after she swallows.
- How to ask for help instead of yelling and loosing control.
- How important it is to be gentle to animals and babies. Which areas are best to pet and touch.
- How electricity works like energy/food for appliances.
- How to do jumping jacks and how to skip.
- How some children have very little and need our help. Showing compassion.
- Why we have to mix and fluff the compost pile for air circulation.
- How to tuck the sheets under the mattress.
Oh the list could go on forever. One thing I try to remember is that Ani will be gifted in a few areas but less interested and talented in others. It is not healthy to compare our children to other children their age. Instead, really focus and encourage areas of interest, but also keep an open mind for new interests to arise. There are many aspects of life I have not yet covered with Ani, such as molecules making up everything we see, how government works, how to play baseball etc. But that is why it is so crucial and special that I have years, days, moments, minutes to share life with her and guide her footsteps.
No moment with our children is waisted time, just a seed waiting to germinate, grow and bloom!
This is so great– you have such amazing insight and it inspires me! We too, try to live without some common things, like tv… but we definitely have too much stuff and are too “busy”. It is refreshing to read what you write.
Thank you! I understand how you feel about being so busy…I love when I leave the house once a week to do all my errands…but I know ladies who go to town once a month!!