bossy know-it-alls
Today I have been blessed by the presence of people who clearly know more about child rearing than me, and really wanted to share their wisdom, which I in turn would like to share with all of you. Here are a few of the special tidbits I have learned. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.
1. My son's reading comprehension and abilities are clearly delayed.
We were picking up some photos at London Drugs, and Boy-o was asking me what different signs say around the store because that's his thing right now. I read a lot of signs. A lot. It's amazing I haven't had a car accident from reading all the signs we pass. But I digress. The photo lady pipes in to this conversation and tells Boy-o that he "needs to get on the computer and learn his ABCs." Then she turns to me and says "You really should teach him to read on the computer." I tell her, somewhat distractly as Boy-o is practically flinging himself in various directions past breakable things, and I am trying to juggle a 21 pound baby in my arms, along with keys, a wallet, and now a year's worth of baby photographs. "Yeah - he's only 3 and he does know his ABCs. He's just not reading yet." And still she persists: " But my grandson learned to read when he was 2. On my lap. On the computer." Um that's great lady. I'm not really sure where this pressure to make kids learn to read while practically still in the womb comes from. He's 3. I didn't figure he needed to know how to read The Iliad yet, or signs in line ups at London Drugs for that matter. I thought we'd leave something for him to learn at school so he isn't appallingly bored there. But apparently Boy-o is dreadfully behind in his learning curve. So much for those college scholarships we were counting on.
2. My daughter's learning is also sadly delayed.
After London Drugs, we head to the doctor for Girlio's one year check ups. We are late because there is no parking to be found within a ten block radius. Consequently, we (that would be me) are also sweaty and grumpy when we arrive. We see the nurse first for our pre-check up check-up. The nurse goes through a variety of developmental milestone kind of questions and I'm all like, yes, yes blah blah. Then the nurse asks me: "Can she understand simple commands: Like go get your shoes?" And I'm kinda surprised at this one, having never really considered asking the baby that can't walk or talk to go and get her shoes (or fetch me anything else for that matter- and am I the only one that thinks it's weird to ask your baby to fetch her shoes? Anyhoo...). "I don't know..." I go for the truthful answer. The nurse looks at me with a very concerned look on her face: "Oh, well she really should!" This time I go for the full out lie route and I assure her as earnestly as I can manage that we will get right on the shoe fetching business when we return home.
3. Fat people must not know about healthy eating and exercise habits for their children, since they obviously have taken such poor care of their own slovenly selves.
The nurse seemed to really want to impress upon me the importance of eating properly and exercising for the baby (who again, can't walk so probably isn't ready for jazzercize just yet). Anyways - nursey, after already confirming with me that we do in fact feed the baby appropriate and nutritious foods, felt the need to quiz me on the types of food we feed our child (who is, by the way in the 50th percentile for both height and weight!). "Do you feed her whole grains?" Yes. "All four food groups?" (SHIT - THERE ARE FOUR?!) Yes. Then she actually proceeds to list the food groups for me, in case I am a total idiot. "Meats and alternatives?" Yes. "Dairy?" Yes. "Fruits?" "Vegetables?" Yes. Yes. Breads and Cereals? Yup. Check. Wow. There really are 4 food groups.
Next, she impresses upon me the importance of physical fitness for children. I try to make a joke of it and let her know that Boy-o never, ever stops moving and Girlio is fast following in his footsteps. However. You should know. Exercise for children is NOT a trifling matter (and again, I suspect doubly so because their mom's a fatty, but whatever). "Here is a booklet on exercise and healthy eating for kids. Do you need it?" Here again, I mistakenly go for honesty. "No thanks, I think we're good." (And my recycle box is full). This is met with total disapproval (and I didn't even say the recycling part out loud!) This was not the correct answer. "Oh, well you really should!" And she proceeds to take me through several of the pages to convince me. I take the booklet, which is currently sitting in my recycling bin.
Lotta learning for one day. Tomorrow we'll be sure to do better. Reading, (possibly some simple algebra so we don't lag too far behind), fetching and all four of those new fangled food groups. Mama's honour.
1. My son's reading comprehension and abilities are clearly delayed.
We were picking up some photos at London Drugs, and Boy-o was asking me what different signs say around the store because that's his thing right now. I read a lot of signs. A lot. It's amazing I haven't had a car accident from reading all the signs we pass. But I digress. The photo lady pipes in to this conversation and tells Boy-o that he "needs to get on the computer and learn his ABCs." Then she turns to me and says "You really should teach him to read on the computer." I tell her, somewhat distractly as Boy-o is practically flinging himself in various directions past breakable things, and I am trying to juggle a 21 pound baby in my arms, along with keys, a wallet, and now a year's worth of baby photographs. "Yeah - he's only 3 and he does know his ABCs. He's just not reading yet." And still she persists: " But my grandson learned to read when he was 2. On my lap. On the computer." Um that's great lady. I'm not really sure where this pressure to make kids learn to read while practically still in the womb comes from. He's 3. I didn't figure he needed to know how to read The Iliad yet, or signs in line ups at London Drugs for that matter. I thought we'd leave something for him to learn at school so he isn't appallingly bored there. But apparently Boy-o is dreadfully behind in his learning curve. So much for those college scholarships we were counting on.
2. My daughter's learning is also sadly delayed.
After London Drugs, we head to the doctor for Girlio's one year check ups. We are late because there is no parking to be found within a ten block radius. Consequently, we (that would be me) are also sweaty and grumpy when we arrive. We see the nurse first for our pre-check up check-up. The nurse goes through a variety of developmental milestone kind of questions and I'm all like, yes, yes blah blah. Then the nurse asks me: "Can she understand simple commands: Like go get your shoes?" And I'm kinda surprised at this one, having never really considered asking the baby that can't walk or talk to go and get her shoes (or fetch me anything else for that matter- and am I the only one that thinks it's weird to ask your baby to fetch her shoes? Anyhoo...). "I don't know..." I go for the truthful answer. The nurse looks at me with a very concerned look on her face: "Oh, well she really should!" This time I go for the full out lie route and I assure her as earnestly as I can manage that we will get right on the shoe fetching business when we return home.
3. Fat people must not know about healthy eating and exercise habits for their children, since they obviously have taken such poor care of their own slovenly selves.
The nurse seemed to really want to impress upon me the importance of eating properly and exercising for the baby (who again, can't walk so probably isn't ready for jazzercize just yet). Anyways - nursey, after already confirming with me that we do in fact feed the baby appropriate and nutritious foods, felt the need to quiz me on the types of food we feed our child (who is, by the way in the 50th percentile for both height and weight!). "Do you feed her whole grains?" Yes. "All four food groups?" (SHIT - THERE ARE FOUR?!) Yes. Then she actually proceeds to list the food groups for me, in case I am a total idiot. "Meats and alternatives?" Yes. "Dairy?" Yes. "Fruits?" "Vegetables?" Yes. Yes. Breads and Cereals? Yup. Check. Wow. There really are 4 food groups.
Next, she impresses upon me the importance of physical fitness for children. I try to make a joke of it and let her know that Boy-o never, ever stops moving and Girlio is fast following in his footsteps. However. You should know. Exercise for children is NOT a trifling matter (and again, I suspect doubly so because their mom's a fatty, but whatever). "Here is a booklet on exercise and healthy eating for kids. Do you need it?" Here again, I mistakenly go for honesty. "No thanks, I think we're good." (And my recycle box is full). This is met with total disapproval (and I didn't even say the recycling part out loud!) This was not the correct answer. "Oh, well you really should!" And she proceeds to take me through several of the pages to convince me. I take the booklet, which is currently sitting in my recycling bin.
Lotta learning for one day. Tomorrow we'll be sure to do better. Reading, (possibly some simple algebra so we don't lag too far behind), fetching and all four of those new fangled food groups. Mama's honour.
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