Lest you think we take ourselves too seriously... you must check out Baby Bush Toys: Simple Products for Simple Minds. My favorite is the Li'l Looming Disaster Pillow, but they're all great. Be sure to read the testimonials too.
We all know parents who take waaaaay too much stock in believing that Baby Einstein and products like that will make their baby a genius. If you find yourself confronted by that competitiveness, just look at this website, relax and have a good laugh.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
no worries!
I love the title of this book: Einstein Never Used Flashcards: How Our Children Really Learn -- and Why They Need To Play More and Memorize Less.
Ain't that the whole truth. There is so much pressure these days to turn your child into a super achiever before birth (if you think I'm kidding, google "prenatal education"). But there's no real evidence that these fetal lectures lead to genius adults, much less happy ones.
D is an extremely talented physicist with an intimate knowledge of the work and life of Einstein. I trust him- and my own instincts- in the decision to make like Einstein, and give our child plenty of free play time. We don't have to put pressure on ourselves as parents or on our children to achieve a cookie cutter model of success. We simply need to nurture them, observe them carefully, and encourage them to explore and to have fun!
To enjoy the lightness of childhood, to learn to be low-stress and naturally curious, to be loving-- these are the things I will nurture in my child.
Ain't that the whole truth. There is so much pressure these days to turn your child into a super achiever before birth (if you think I'm kidding, google "prenatal education"). But there's no real evidence that these fetal lectures lead to genius adults, much less happy ones.
D is an extremely talented physicist with an intimate knowledge of the work and life of Einstein. I trust him- and my own instincts- in the decision to make like Einstein, and give our child plenty of free play time. We don't have to put pressure on ourselves as parents or on our children to achieve a cookie cutter model of success. We simply need to nurture them, observe them carefully, and encourage them to explore and to have fun!
To enjoy the lightness of childhood, to learn to be low-stress and naturally curious, to be loving-- these are the things I will nurture in my child.
Friday, February 1, 2008
the weight of Minkie
Last night during the Democratic debate, Minkie decided she wanted to color. So I put some paper and crayons in front of me. She climbed on my lap and colored.
I thought about what this would have felt like before I became a parent. I had about as much exposure to people under 3 as your typical 20-30-something-- which is not much. I remember how special it felt when they chose me to hold them, when they wanted to hold hands. When, on very few occasions, they settled into sitting with me. That sweet weight of a little one on my lap, the soft little hands, the downy hair.
I realized that it still feels special.
I thought about what this would have felt like before I became a parent. I had about as much exposure to people under 3 as your typical 20-30-something-- which is not much. I remember how special it felt when they chose me to hold them, when they wanted to hold hands. When, on very few occasions, they settled into sitting with me. That sweet weight of a little one on my lap, the soft little hands, the downy hair.
I realized that it still feels special.
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