I love my kids. I am a great mother. It's that simple. I know there are other people who aren't. They project themselves to the world like they are, but it's all for show. Mommie Dearest comes to mind. Some women are more concerned with the world's view of them, and how they look to other women. I have never cared. My kids are awesome. Both of them could read and write at age three. When Tyler went to kindergarten, the teacher had HIM read the books to the other kids so she had time to do other things and the kids loved it. He was that good of a reader. Did it happen by accident? No. I spent time teaching him his letters and the sounds they make. He didn't go to preschool. Why would I pay money to have someone do a job I could do as good or better? It's not rocket science. I think its a shame when kids go into kindergarten and they still don't know the sounds the letters make. Especially when they have a parent at home.
But some parents are happy just sticking their kid in front of the TV while they play on the internet or do whatever, instead of taking the time to teach their kids. Same goes for things like potty training. Both my kids were potty trained by 18 months. Others let their kids sit in poop until they are three. I can't figure that one out. If I can teach a dog with a brain smaller than my fist to poop outside, I can teach a human to use the toilet.
When my kids were both in elementary school, their daycare teacher came into my restaurant for lunch. He said "You know what? Your kids have the best morals and values of any kids I have ever had. They always do the right thing." This is because I taught my children those values. Not to lie. Note to cheat. Not to steal. The values they learned by example. Not "do as I say, not as I do" rules. My kids don't do those things. They never lie. I think some people are just born liars but I think alot of it is learned behavior as well.
I taught them about giving. For over 5 years when they were little I delivered Meals on Wheels with them. They learned a valuable lesson about giving. You can talk all you want about things, but children learn by actions. They used to argue over who got to take the meal up to the door. They still remember our clients.
When my kids were little I used to wonder what they'd be like when they were older. Now I know. They have both grown into the people I would have wanted them to be. Honor roll, straight A's, honest, caring, giving, hard working. It's not easy making honor roll in Junior High, and Tyler's about to learn how hard it is in high school. Kayleigh is involved in every school activity there is, math superbowl, you name it she does it. Her guitar teacher gushes about her talent. Wow. Her guitar teacher told her she's lucky that I am her mom, that many kids' talent goes unrecognized.
I have always helped my children pursue their interests. Some parents don't. Some parents are selfish and all about themselves. They would rather their children don't do any activities, cause it means they have to DO stuff. Such a shame. Of course then there are the parents who finally figure out they can get recognition this way, then they do a 360.
My children are both of above average intelligence. Tyler has been labeled as "gifted". Not that it matters, but I am sure it helped them in their school careers. Not all children will be able to read and write by age three. But by Kindergarten, all kids should know the sounds the letters make. If they don't, it means they haven't had anyone spend the time it takes to teach them something that simple.
Then there is the emotional damage some parents do to their children. Dragging their kids into stuff, poisoning them against people. I am divorced. My ex has had girlfriends. I encourage the relttionship. If this woman is spending time with my kids, I want to have a good relationship with her and I want her to like my kids. Seems pretty simple. Everything has always been great. My ex has good relationships with my boyfriends. This is the way it should be. When it's not, it's cause there's one common denominator.
Enough rambling to myself for the day. I changed the title of the blog because I realized people I know might find it somehow.
