As a retired middle school teacher, I watched as my students ran around their school carrying little baskets with hard boiled eggs in them. The girls always added little blankets and bows on the top of their eggs. (One boy left his basket in his locker where that egg rotted!) The students were told this would teach them about the responsibilities in parenting…hoping to show them some realities and stop the rate of teen-age pregnancies. If the egg fell, it was “egg abuse”. If they didn’t want to watch their egg, they had to get someone to sign a paper saying they had egg-sat. Do you feel the schools are teaching enough about what the job of parenting entails? Do you feel it’s the schools job?
Childfree Reflections
With Marcia Drut-Davis
April 2nd, 2011 by Marcia Davis
My church is offering a series on “Overcoming disappointment with your children”. This topic is real yet no one tells you when you are seeking to be a parent that the day will come (and it will come) that you will not be happy with your childs life choices. Whether the disappointment is small and insignificant or large and life changing, the fact of the matter is, you just aren’t prepared for the hurt. We are made to believe that you have these beautiful bundles of joy and the life you have laid out before them (in your mind) may not be the life that materializes. They may NOT like school, they may NOT get good grades, they may NOT go to college, they may NOT want to get a good job, they may NOT even want to work. They may NOT even want to leave your couch. There are no guarantees that a happy, healthy, beautiful baby turns out to be a happy, beautiful, successful adult. Just like a big, expensive, elaborate (you really can’t afford it) wedding does not get you a successful, till death do us part marriage.
Yup, that’ll do it. You have my appecriatoin.
I think the desire to fly in a baby-free zone is talltoy legit and it\’s really not personally about anyone actively disliking any particular child, it\’s about enjoying peace and quiet.I\’ve been on flights with many a crying child, and while it isn\’t a picnic, I try to have sympathy for the parents, who are usually dealing with things the best they can. On only two exceptions have I been really upset at a child\’s behaviour -in both cases, the parents were letting the child entertain themselves by actively kicking and hitting the back of my seat, which was really not pleasant. In one case, I asked the child to stop their behaviour myself, which perhaps was overstepping a parental line, but I got absolutely no response from the parent (at least the kid stopped the kicking). So, parents, as long as your kid isn\’t actively smacking anyone\’s seat while you encourage them, you\’re probably good!
These topics are so cfonuisng but this helped me get the job done.
Such a powerful, honest and heart felt post. Those tiny bundles of joy are precious until they say their first “No!”. Or, until their choices don’t meld with your own expectations.You are right;nobody teaches how to adapt to these real experiences because there are no required preparations for the job of parenting.
I wonder what will be “taught” at this series in your Church. Keep me posted if you take it or know of anyone taking it.The trouble is these series or classes are often given after having children are born.Many chose having children to fit their own needs or wants. Or, they will go on trying to change their childrens dreams to fit their own. And, sadly, most will wind up very disappointed.
Short, sweet, to the point, FREE-eaxtlcy as information should be!
No more s***. All posts of this qaultiy from now on
Urgh. The requesite middle-school parenting class. I remember when my 7th grade class did this, and I wanted to opt out. “How dare this school assume I’m going to be a ‘mommy’ some day. How sexist!” was my line of thinking.
I think the schools need to de-emphasize parenting and concentrate more on explaining family composition, and that families of two are just fine. Inasmuch as I don’t see the schools as the primary agents for parenting education, the focus does need to be on making thoughtful, educated relationship decisions and not just parenting decisions. Educating youth about healthy relationships and sound decision-making goes so much farther than just parenting education.
As for the parenting assignment in my middle school class? The teacher listened to my argument, penalized me for being a non-participant and assigned me an essay instead.I hope kids today fare better.
Lenaring a ton from these neat articles.
Thought it woldun’t to give it a shot. I was right.