Lately I've been reflecting on how intense this job of parenting can be.
There's just so much I want to teach Burkley; so much I want him to know; and so much he is unable to comprehend at this young age. I find myself yearning for him to be older so we can play, talk, explore, and learn. I know we can (and do) do all of those things now, but it often feels like if we can't start now, I'm going to forget all I want him to learn! Just today it hit me that I've never sung the ABCs to him. I couldn't believe it. Not in a, "Man, how devastating" kind of way, but just...sheesh, how has that never occurred to me? He loves music...it's a kids' song...hello. I often assume that he will just learn things like the ABCs by hearing it in school or seeing it on TV. But, he doesn't watch TV. And he doesn't go to school. This is when the reality of my job hits me.
If I don't want him to spend much (if any) time watching TV and I don't intend on sending him to public school (not at first, maybe not ever?), then where will he learn about the world? Where will he learn how to read (and thus have access to oodles of information about anything his heart desires to learn)? How will he be surrounded with music enough to grow to love it and choose to use it to enrich his life? Where will he learn about our Savior and grow in his understanding of what it means to have faith and choose it for his own?
Right here at home and from the experiences he's exposed to and offered.
And that's a lot of pressure!
But, I will choose not to panic. I will not be anxious. I am excited! I am eager! A ready teacher waiting for an eager student. But until then, we will play, we will explore, we will laugh, we will sing, and we will LEARN every day in all we do. Because he's 14 months old and that's just what he does. Inherently. The pressure's off of me. He's going to learn because it's what his little brain is wired to do.
There's just so much I want to teach Burkley; so much I want him to know; and so much he is unable to comprehend at this young age. I find myself yearning for him to be older so we can play, talk, explore, and learn. I know we can (and do) do all of those things now, but it often feels like if we can't start now, I'm going to forget all I want him to learn! Just today it hit me that I've never sung the ABCs to him. I couldn't believe it. Not in a, "Man, how devastating" kind of way, but just...sheesh, how has that never occurred to me? He loves music...it's a kids' song...hello. I often assume that he will just learn things like the ABCs by hearing it in school or seeing it on TV. But, he doesn't watch TV. And he doesn't go to school. This is when the reality of my job hits me.
If I don't want him to spend much (if any) time watching TV and I don't intend on sending him to public school (not at first, maybe not ever?), then where will he learn about the world? Where will he learn how to read (and thus have access to oodles of information about anything his heart desires to learn)? How will he be surrounded with music enough to grow to love it and choose to use it to enrich his life? Where will he learn about our Savior and grow in his understanding of what it means to have faith and choose it for his own?Right here at home and from the experiences he's exposed to and offered.
And that's a lot of pressure!
But, I will choose not to panic. I will not be anxious. I am excited! I am eager! A ready teacher waiting for an eager student. But until then, we will play, we will explore, we will laugh, we will sing, and we will LEARN every day in all we do. Because he's 14 months old and that's just what he does. Inherently. The pressure's off of me. He's going to learn because it's what his little brain is wired to do.
And it's so much fun.
I get that same sense of 'overwhelm' sometimes, Adrienne. It helps to remember how LITTLE our children are and how they have their whole lives to learn the stuff that makes them into mature, intelligent adults.
ReplyDeleteIt also helps to observe how much our children learn without us even actively engaging in teaching them! Case in point--my son (18 months) knows how to scan a shelf of books with his finger to find the one he is looking for. By contrast, I've taught Grade 8 students who couldn't scan an article to find a particular piece of information. Experience is really the best teacher, isn't it?
I'm sure Burkley is living a rich, stimulating life in a nurturing, happy environment and learning like crazy every minute. And he sure is a cutie-pie!
I know at least one kid who is has learned to read without knowing the ABC song. It will all sort itself out eventually.
ReplyDeleteI realized the other day that we had never even mentioned the existence of 911 to our 3.5 year old, or shown her how to dial a number on our phones. I should probably get on that.
um, even if you haven't sang the ABC's to B, you're still an amazing mommy! The things you come up with and do are seriously wonderful! Things I certainly never would have thought of. Burkley is blessed to call you mama and he'll arise and say it aloud one day. Until then, know that I'M blessed and honored to parent along side you :) lovies! (crap, I'm tearing up!)
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