People disappoint me...

I have a gripe this morning, and I promise to keep it short.

What in the world is wrong with people. Our kids are buried heads down into electronic devices or in front of a television. Parents can’t stay off of their cell phones, ipads, iPods, i-whatever the hell is in their hands at all times. We don’t disconnect from our jobs, people or anything anymore. There is no such thing as “unplugging” unless we go on vacation, even still, people have all of their devices….

Children are being started in playschool when they are 2….2? Really? Why are we sending our 2 year olds to school….my gosh, why are we sending our kids to school before they are 5? Why can’t we as parents be responsible for their early education? When did we start handing over something as important as the ground laying bricks of our child’s curiosity in learning to other people?

I have been doing some research recently on homeschooling curriculum for my 2 1/2-year-old daughter. Yes, I know, it is early and she is young, but at the same time, she is very advanced intellectually for her age. It is not because I have pushed her, it is because I am a stay home Mom and we “play” a lot. Just that when I play with her, she doesn’t realize it, but she is learning at the same time. She has the vocabulary of someone twice her age, and the comprehension that mirrors her vocabulary. I often times forget that emotionally she still is only 2 1/2 with what she understands.

I may be accused of “pushing” her, but we play. Our play is outside, in the world, exploring and having fun. We admit, she does watch TV and yes…I do use it as a babysitter when I am cooking supper. I know all the experts tell me this is wrong, but then again, if I am working over a stove with hot items…a bit of “mind numbing” Little Einsteins isn’t going to upset me too severely. Besides, thanks to Little Einsteins…my daughter has an appreciation for music and art, already!

Back to my gripe though, why are more kids not outside? We are outside playing everyday. I look forward to taking her out there and exploring in the sandbox, chasing bubbles around the yard, picking up sticks in the yard that fell.

I actually can answer this myself though. Most of the people I see now days have the mentality of my husband (whom I do love dearly, but is really quite lazy when it comes to parenting). After a long day of work, everyone just wants to sit and relax, so it has been easier to give the kids either a game to play with their hands, or a show on TV for them to watch so Mom and Dad can relax after a hard day at work. My husband is notorious for plopping my daughter in front of the TV and letting her sit there. When I say something, I get the telltale, “I am tired, I am sore, I just want to relax” attitude. Which in turn I get the “It isn’t like you work all day, you don’t understand” remark. Let me be the first to tell you…staying home isn’t a picnic. My work just differs…yet isn’t any less important.

As adults…why are we not more interested in outside activities? I get the “That sounds dumb” from my husband when I ask him to go and play with his daughter and blow bubbles while I finish housework or supper. What is “dumb” about sharing a bit of joy and play with a small child?

There are probably no easy answers to any of the above questions. Someone will always have an excuse for why things are the way they are. I don’t have to like it, nor do I have to agree with it. The only thing I can do it keep doing what I am doing, and hope that someday, my daughter will appreciate that I stayed home and nurtured her the way I did.