Relaxed Parenting
My kids are relatively self-entertaining. Some of the women in my MOMS Club® talk about how they have to sit down and play with their kids constantly, and their kids cannot seem to entertain themselves. My kids are not like this. These same mothers also have their kids in swim school, preschool, gymnastic school, and many other "schools." My kids are only in one structured class a week. The great difference in my laid back child raising philosophy and these other mothers' philosophies has occasionally caused me to think, "Am I a bad mother? Should I be teaching my kids how to read at the age of 3? Should I have them in more classes?" After a little worry, I'd stick with my original laid back attitude.
Einstein Never Used Flash Cards eradicated those small spells of guilt and worry. After reading this book I am confident in my mothering skills, and I actually think it is good for the kids that I don't entertain them. Now, don't get me wrong, I do play with my kids here and there; however, I don't play with them constantly. I think it's good that I don't have every hour of the day mapped out for my kids. The book reconfirmed this idea for me and backed it with research.
One section of the book brought an image into my head of my great grandmother, who lived on a farm, working in the kitchen while my grandpa sat on the floor. Great grandma Goldie didn't have a washing machine, so she had to put forth effort and sweat on a washboard. My mental image didn't have Goldie teaching baby Rex his ABCs whilst she worked. I doubt Goldie had the time to do that with my grandfather or his three brothers on the farm. And you know what? My grandfather is one sharp dude.
The best thing about this book is that it reaffirmed my parenting style and helped me feel confident with it. Also, when a "hyper-parent" gives me a dirty look, I can just tell them about Einstein Never Used Flash Cards.
Labels: parenting, philosophy