Someone bought me a book by Penelope Leach when my kids were babies that I loved because almost everything was answered with the idea that there was such a huge range of variation in children's development that "it was probably normal"...so I never really worried about anything. Kids teethed on frozen peaches and dill pickles. Ate everything in sight that wasn't nailed down and traveled to Sudan and Egypt as infants and every year after that. Hardly ever got sick, never needed help with homework, finished? school in the top ten of their classes. My theory was that a dirty kid was probably a happy kid...I mean, isn't that why God invented the bathtub? They learned to drive my jeep in the desert and a Bobcat in the holds of corn ships in Alexandria harbour with their father. I'm sure that they did all sorts of things that they "weren't supposed to do or be able to do", but our theory was that if it was dubious it was better done at home with mom and dad around to help out.?
Nice people now, my kids. And still adventurous and brave as all get out.
Maryanne
On Mar 9, 2006, at 7:22 PM, Tracey Lomax wrote:
The recent discussions on Ridecamp have got me thinking....how many horse riding parents are there who voraciously join every horse list known to man, but don't belong to a single "parenting" or "child-care" list....or is it just me <g>
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I became a mom three years ago.? I insisted from my first gynae appointment on having a c-section, didn't go to ante-natal classes, didn't pick up a book or magazine.? I basically just "winged it" and still am.
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My child is happy, healthy and gorgeous.? When she was three months old I flipped through a baby care magazine and discovered I was doing everything wrong.? I immediately vowed never to read another baby care magazine.
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I wonder what my reaction would have been if a veterinary mag would have said the same thing??
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Guess it's just one of life's little ironies.....excuse me, I'm going to tell my child that it's not polite to steal the dogs' bones and chew on them....
