Skip to main content

Parenting: Hands Off Hands On

The past two days we have been snowed in (well, snowed in for Tennessee) and I have been amazed: by my daughter.

At six years old, Shiloh still prefers NPT (channel 8 around here) programming to the Disney Channel.  She would rather watch "The Cat in the Hat" than "Jessi".  She would rather watch "Word Girl" or "Super Why" than "Austin and Alley" or "I Didn't Do It".  If you had asked me a week ago, I would have said those programs were beneath her. That she was too old for such programming.

 Hmmmm, maybe not.  Maybe, I'm the one pushing her to grow up.

What is more, she actually prefers to NOT watch TV.  What? She would much rather be working a puzzle, drawing, baking or playing make believe.  Electronics really are a last resort for her.

 Hmmmmmm.

These past two days are really making me re-evaluate my parenting with her.  Obviously she is not a mini-ME.  She does not have the same passion for movies and video games that her brother does.

She is her, and she is wonderful.

With that being said, I'm going to let her teach me. I am going to be hands off in picking activities so her natural interests develop in their own time and in their own way.

I will be more hands on, in doing these activities with her.

I want to encourage her to grow and try new things, but never push her. Never squash her spirit.  She is amazing. She is smart, funny, creative and caring.  She is also still so innocent.

 And I am going to let her be.



Please join me in this parenting journey.  I am turning off the TV and letting my daughter pick our activities, movies, etc during play time. I will encourage her.  I will let her grow. I will watch her blossom.  Please, slow down with me and let our children be our children.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Another Frugal Friday

It has been a while since my last frugal Friday. We survived summer and found out just how much carpooling could save us! We used the saved money to take the kids to the Knoxville Zoo, Space and Air Museum and The Adventure Science Center. We actually bought a family pass for $90 to the Adventure Science Center so we can take the kids back during the fall, winter and spring. They change exhibits often and truthfully, their “Adventure Tower” is better than any indoor play ground I’ve seen, so it is a good investment in our world. I have also jumped on the “a deal a day” bandwagon. Most people have head about Groupon , where every day they have a deal for a local business. It is usually about 50% off, for food, drinks or service. It seems that *most* of their deals seem to be for food/drinks and salon services, but earlier this year they did have a family membership to the Adventure Science Center for $45 (and yes, I missed it.) Today’s deal is 3 Laser Hair-Removal Treatments for $...
3 comments
Read more

I'm a WOH! Mom

I am a WOH! (Work Outside the Home) Mom. I don’t have a choice. My Husband and I both have to work to afford a 1200 sq. ft. house in a small town 45 minutes out of Nashville. We both have to work to afford two older vehicles (2002 and 2003). We both have to work to pay the electric bill, water bill and car insurance. We don’t have cable or satellite, we don’t have internet and we don’t spend money eating out. Most months we barely get by. If one of us decided to stay home and we got rid of one vehicle, we could only afford to pay $200.00 in rent. We would still make too much to qualify for any kind of state or federal assistance. So we both work. But, if I had the choice, I would still be a WOH! Mom. Don’t get me wrong, I would LOVE to not HAVE to work, but I would still work. I would still send my daughter to preschool five days a week. For me, Preschool is a God-send. The group of teachers at her preschool are brave. They let the one year olds finger paint!! Preschool has taught my d...
3 comments
Read more

Disney World, What You REALLY Need to Know.

After a full year of saving and a lot of research and budgeting (and a tremendous amount of help from my parents) we did it.  We took the kids to Disney World.  I went to Disney World several times as a child, but neither of my kids nor my husband has ever been.  It had also been 18 years since I myself had been.  A LOT has changed. After doing tons of research, Pinning everything Disney related, talking to my Disney expert friends and budgeting EVERYTHING, I was in information overload.  Not all advice was practical for our situation (we avoided character dining due to our budget) and admittedly I blew off advice (read: ponchos) because I thought I knew better.  There were also some things that I wish someone had told me (Breakfast in the Magic Kingdom? Good Luck!) So below is what I learned and what I would want to know before visiting Disney World: BUDGET HELPERS: All Disney souvenirs can be bought off Disney property and online, usu...
1 comment
Read more